Screencasts, Video Demos & Post-Production Services: Smashcut Media Launched

Smashcut Media is my latest project, and is essentially a micro-studio for producing professional screencasts and other new media. Largely serving the Web 2.0 startup ecosystem, I’ve opened up a number of services and options for potential clients and now have a price guide available upon request. You can also download a brochure detailing what’s on offer (PDF alert!)I won’t pretend I’m not excited, as I’ve been working with (and continue to work with) some incredibly passionate, inspired web entrepreneurs these past months, and can now commit to doing that full time in my capacity as a professional screencaster and new media producer.Among the services on offer you’ll find promotional videos, screencast tutorials, social media seeding and consulting services, and e-learning packages.Styles range from sedate but cool minimalist screencasting, to mash-ups, motion graphics and breakneck promos.So what’s a “smashcut” anyway?I’m a film-geek at heart. Studied film, went on to do a masters in it, taught it at uni and shot and edited more videos than I care to remember. A smashcut is a film term for one of those edits where you suddenly jump from one frame to another, creating a jolt effect in the audience.So just as the killer is about to plunge his knife into the helpless victim you get a jarring cut to some random guy taking a shave. Bunuel was wild about them.Think of it as a jumpcut on steroids.And that’s what I’m trying to do with Smashcut Media. Not always literally, but at least figuratively.As we reach saturation point with web video, the need is there to create a jolt effect, a eureka moment, a surrealist mind-clash, call it what you will. With web video you have an infinitely short amount of time to catch your viewer’s attention and keep it caught. And there is no greater sin than sending them away bored, or worse having them reach for the back button before your message is through.That’s what I’m gunning for, and along with producing videos that hopefully have this effect, I’m offering a range of services to help clients get their videos seen and talked about in the first place.Here at Michael-Pick.com you can expect to see more of the same - videos shared, screencasting tools reviewed, and content connected to my professional, personal and video-entranced life. Thanks for reading so far!