Why I Won Video Producer of the Year

“Rich story development… exceptional and insightful interviews.” These comments from the judges that deemed me Video Producer of the Year (that still hasn’t sunk in yet!) meant more than the award itself. My biggest commitment was apparent in my work: I always spend most of my time seeking out the best story and piecing interviews together into a compelling narrative.

#ProTip: When creating a video, dedicate the most time to STORY

Why? Because humans LOVE stories. Millions of stories are exchanged every day, ranging from the epic tale of your coworker fixing her flat tire to the latest international headline. The key to a successful video is to find the underlying story, then tell it in its most compelling form. I’m not just talking about narrative videos; this is also the key to great commercials, testimonials and highlights of products/services! The story might be how a new acne cream makes a teenager feel confident again or how a seminar inspired a HR professional to put 120% into their job. But if you are planning a video, look to the wisdom set down by one of my favorite PBS shows: “What’s the story, Wishbone?”

Katie Rutter is the executive producer of Thing in a Pot Productions. She has received multiple awards for her videos and the overall quality of her work, including being honored as Video Producer of the Year in 2018 by the Catholic Press Association. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our video Pro Tips in your inbox every month!