Aug 18
I can’t quite remember how I spotted this App review show called Apps & Hats, Twitter maybe. All I know is there are so few Brit made Web shows out there, I take my hat off to these ladies for giving it a go. I pinged co-Producer Christine to find out more about the production:
JTV: What is Apps & Hats, and how many of you make it?
Christine: Apps & Hats is a quirky iPhone application review show. Every other week the girls (Christine and Hattie) review iPhone applications within a wide range of categories.
The 6 minute sessions are aired every 2 weeks. Each episode will have a particular item of fashion from Victorian Corsets to Uniforms. Hattie will try to find a free App and Christine is checking out if one is worth your cash. There will also be prizes, promo codes and other goodies along the way.
Currently we are me Hattie, Kate who does all our wardrobe, from either making or sourcing the outfits, and styling during the filming, Nick who does the filming, sound & photography and Kovshenin who does the dev and maintenance of our site.
JTV: Why did you decide to start a show?
Chrisitne: I really wanted to get into making more video after editing a few films. I then did a few test videos for my personal blog (in the education field, I am a Lecturer in Creative Technology), I spent several months looking at other video casts that were out there and started making notes of their formula, their topics, etc.
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JTV: Why the hats and the dressing up stuff (not that it isn’t nice on the eye) have you been influenced by glamorous shows like Hot For Words, and The Naked Wine show targeting male viewers?
Christine: That was never the conscious intention. Technology does seem to still be predominantly male area but it has been my passion since the early floppy disc days. There are so many shows on iTunes / the Internet that there really had to be some unusual factor to it that might make it stand out, as well as good content. Hattie had a background in fashion and it suddenly became an exciting idea to think of dressing up in fabulous clothes every show. Initial intentions was to have designer gear, but that proved to be difficult to secure clothing for a show with no history.
JTV: It seems like you are targeting both UK and North American audience, is that your strategy to gain a bigger audience?
Christine: I think the Internet has afforded us with a luxury of no boundaries, that’s exactly the beauty of it. I’m Canadian and Hattie is British, we film in the UK so although we thought we should target the UK market, it’s a fact that Apple, with it’s American roots, means it would be silly to not cater to them as well. I really don’t see our show in anyway trying to hit an audience in a “country” - our audience is iPhone users, in any location. (Keep in mind the promo codes that app developers get are still only used for the USA.)
JTV: I think people underestimate how much work it takes, to keep a Web show running regularly, what sort of commitment does it take?
Christine: I underestimated that myself! Once I decided to take the commitment to make it every 2 weeks, I know the importance of keeping that schedule. It takes much more forward planning than I initially realized, we decide app categories, contact devs for codes, look for their promotional materials and videos, book fittings, plan for outfits / hats / accessories to be booked certain days… then there is the video editing. I introduced a “one more byte feature to be sure our content was bang up to date - so this means I am up very late hours editing things a day or two before to be certain it’s fresh. Also, take all the criticism, it’s so important to keep trying to make it better.
JTV: What monetization plans do you have?
Christine: We are currently putting together a marketing strategy, to get folks behind us to “support women in technology”, we would love a sponsor to fit that. We would negotiate with them a return by way of appearing at a PR event for them, or a one off video etc … So if anyone is interested please get in touch.
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JTV: What has been the biggest thing you’ve learned over the past few months about running a Web show?
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Christine: Oh - make regular back ups!! Be sure you can upload & hide your content before it’s due to air i.e don’t rely on your connections etc to work on the day. Try to talk to your viewers, give them value for viewing. Make it better. Every show you should be thinking, how do we make this better.
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JTV: You need to get a tonne of views to make a Web show pay. Based on your experience any tips on how to build an audience?
Christine: Be regular. You have to be consistent give each/any changes a few months before altering something again. Target your specific field and then try to leave comments on the larger blogs / sites who have similar content. Tell people about it - don’t expect them to find it. But definitely most important seems to be keep doing it!
JTV: What does the UK need to help give independent editorial web video production a boost?
Christine: I don’t think the current internet provisions provided by our networks is particularly strong. Reading the Digital Britain strategy, I believe they think 2Mb connections are ample. This isn’t even happening, and it’s far far too low. I am still waiting on a 10Mb connection that I ordered months back and keep getting “we are working on it” emails from them. They need to up our networks for sure, I think this would make a huge difference.
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JTV: Other than your own of course, what is your favourite Web series at the moment?
Christine: Always been a fan of Diggnation because it was one of the first I watched. Love the regulars, Epic Fu at the top - Tekzilla & Mac Break. Sometimes I watch what Chris Pirillo is up to. Also was there since the start of The Guild after a friend told me about it. (END)
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JULES SAYS: As Christine mentions they like feedback. Here you go! My thoughts are less about the content but more that the daylight is out of control in the shot, maybe it needs to be blacked out and the whole shot lit more low key. Otherwise reduce the directness of the daylight (scrim or ND) and fill the light with soft daylight balanced lights to give the shot a big lift and even up the contrast on the faces. It needs to be warmed up too, and ideally use a 16: 9 widescreen camera.
Audio wise the mic placement doesn’t sound right and the room itself might need to be dampened down with fabric to give it less reverb. Also not a fan of the cuts between the 2 shot and the single, it doesn’t work for me. The second shot needs to be a clean single and I reckon it would work better if it was shot from right next to the wide camera rather than at 45 degrees. I like the quirky style and reckon there’s loads of potential to move forwards.
