You Gotta See This!: Hidden Secrets To Making Unscripted Videos People Will Talk About

By Paul Steven Forrest

There are a million YouTube videos available for learning technical skills, but those skills are meaningless if you don't know how to assemble a compelling story. "You Gotta See This!" doesn't just offer up Paul Steven Forrest's best tips and tricks for making better videos, but this book delivers practical direction and tested techniques for more effective storytelling through all visual formats. His passion for sharing his vast experience in unscripted filmmaking to help storytellers make an impact is evident in every word he shares. Take advantage of Paul's wealth of knowledge, wisdom and insights to elevate your content and get people saying, "You Gotta See This!"

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Paul Steven Forrest got his start working in an editing bay building promos for a television station in a top-ten market. He then took what he learned and started creating award-winning short and long-form projects for dozens of non-profit organizations. Along the way, he learned to write for television, find story focus, condense content, and move an audience. Valuable skills he wants to share with you. Every assignment taught him something new, helped him fill his creative toolkit with experiences, and develop a creative workflow he's only shared with a handful of people, until now.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Sep 23, 2022
• ISBN: 9781667848587

Book preview

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Copyright © 2022 by Maple Street Media

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the author, addressed Attention: Permissions at [e-mail]

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Anaheim Hills, CA 92808

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Ordering Information:

For details, contact [e-mail]

Print ISBN: 978-1-66784-857-0

eBook ISBN: 978-1-66784-858-7

Printed in the United States of America on SFI Certified paper.

First Edition

This Book is Dedicated to…

My Sparkle Girl, Kimberley, who has supported

and encouraged me to take this amazing journey.

And to walk through the doors God has flung open.

My Killer B’s, Brendon & Brittany. You have been with

me every step of the way with your unconditional love.

My heart is with you.

My eDaughters, Betsey, Sarah & Molley.

Thanks for accepting me into the family & into your lives.

The 9 Young Men in my life. Beleif, Jaden, Noah,

Crew, Greyson, Beckett, Braedon, Jax & Kai.

You are Special. Strong. And Smart. Papa loves you!

PEOPLE ARE TALKING

These chapters are phenomenal. Not too wordy.

Direct and to the point. Wisdom packaged in the

perfect way to apply application immediately.

- Chris S.

You have a gem. This book and project is going to

turn out great! I love how you take your insight

and experience and making it multi-generational!

- Victor V.

Each chapter is practical and rich with wisdom,

and allows everyone to tap into the game. If you’re

already on the game, you can sharpen your skills.

- Nick B.

I love what you’ve created and the years of wisdom

you’re releasing. I’m excited to see the movement of

creatives that will be launched from this book.

- Jesse R.

The practical steps and wisdom that’s shared in this book

will help me elevate my work from good to great.

And stand out from my completion.

- Matt B.

Lots of wisdom in this read. Concise.

To the point. And easy to grasp.

- Eric L.

Table of Contents

CHAPTER ONE: FIND YOUR LANE

GREAT TO MEET YOU!

WHO ARE YOU?

NOW IS THE TIME

THE CREATIVE LADDER

SUPER BOWL SKILLS

4 KEY BUILDING BLOCKS

CHAPTER TWO: RETHINK YOUR HUSTLE

DOUBLE DOWN

OVERDELIVER

CHAPTER THREE: SET UP SHOP

7 BRANDING TOOLS

A MISSED OPPORTUNITY

A GREAT RÉSUMÉ

GIVE YOURSELF A RAISE

CAN I GET A DISCOUNT?

BACK TO YOUR RÉSUMÉ

JUST SAY CHEESE!

GOT A CARD?

PENTHOUSE, PLEASE

OWN YOUR NAME

A GREAT WEBSITE

LET’S MAKE A REEL

WORK EXAMPLES

GRANDMA MAGIC

SINK OR SWIM

HOW DO YOU CREATE?

CHAPTER FOUR: LOOK FOR MOMENTS

A STORY-FIRST APPROACH

IDEAS HAVE VALUE

A DRIVE, A LINK, OR AN EMAIL

HAVE A HOPPY DAY!

SEND US YOUR TRASH

5 PRACTICAL STEPS

MAKE IT FRESH

VISUAL STORYTELLING

TREND-SPOTTING

HOW TO CAPTIVATE AN AUDIENCE

MAXIMIZING MOMENTS

A CURIOUS MIND

CHAPTER FIVE: ELEVATE YOUR WORK

4 CHALLENGES OF COMMUNICATION

MY SECRET WORKFLOW

PAN FOR GOLD

HOW FAST CAN YOU TYPE?

STAND HERE

THE DARIÉN GAP

SCRIBBLING

AVOID PAPER CUTS

SCISSORS AND TAPE

CHAPTER SIX: FIND A FRAME

FIND A FRAME

6 BASIC FRAMES

11 STYLE CUES

CAREER ADVICE

SCALPEL, PLEASE

SET THE SCENE

INSERTING PICTURES

TWO SWEET ‘N LOWS

BOX IT UP

CHAPTER SEVEN: CREATE A BUZZ!

CONNECT TO YOUR COMMUNITY

A FIRST TEN APPROACH

FORGET MARKETING

CLEAN YOUR PLATE

PRESENTATION IS EVERYTHING

VULNERABLE OR VALIDATED

JUST DON’T LISTEN

RETURN ON INVESTMENT

GO FOR THE SILVER

SUBMIT YOUR WORK

TOSS YOUR BRUSHES

I STILL GET BUTTERFLIES

CHAPTER ONE:

FIND

YOUR LANE

Super Bowl Sunday is not like any other day of the year. For over 50 years, this unofficial national holiday has been reserved for friends and family to stop everything. Pick up the remote, turn on the big screen TV, and spend the afternoon watching two NFL teams compete on the biggest stage in professional sports.

Today at Super Bowl parties, everyone will cheer for their favorite team, eat football food, drink ice-cold beer, experience a spectacular half-time show, and watch Super Bowl commercials. For millions of viewers, watching these commercials is as important as the game.

Maybe more important!

Over the next few hours, advertisers will spend millions of dollars buying ad time, and even more money producing commercials people will watch for only 30 seconds.

So, why do companies buy Super Bowl ads? Because there is no other day on the calendar when a business can deliver its branding message to a worldwide audience. Produce a winner, and the BUZZ is priceless!

Somewhere in the middle of all these Super Bowl commercials are a handful of spots that are so creative, unique, and different that viewers are instantly drawn to them.

That’s usually when somebody in the room says,

"Hey … Come in here!

QUICK!

You Gotta See This!"

GREAT TO MEET YOU!

If we’re meeting for the first time, my name is Paul. I am a writer, director, and creative coach who grew up on the West Coast. I got my start working in an edit bay, building promos for a television station in a top-ten market.

Then I took what I learned and created award-winning short and long-form projects.

My creative journey began by asking a lot of questions, volunteering to go out on shoots, and assisting talented creatives produce and direct their videos. I watched a lot of television shows for clues and ideas and looked for anything I could find to help me improve my work. Because I was driven to understand how to create better content.

Since then, I’ve produced and edited promos for movies and television shows. Directed testimonials for television specials. Created commercials for products and companies. And developed stories for social media.

Along the way, I learned how to write for television. Find story focus. Condense content. And move an audience. Every assignment taught me something new and helped fill my creative toolkit with experiences and develop a creative workflow I’ve only shared with a handful of people. Until now.

As formats change, I continue to adapt the style and approach I’ve been using since my analog days and up-res my creative process to work in today’s ultra-high-definition world. I’m constantly hustling to stay at the top of my creative game.

And, I’d like to help you raise your game too!

WHO ARE YOU?

Now that I’ve told you a little bit about me, let’s