Today we’d like to introduce you to Bonnie Keith.
Hi Bonnie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Over 40 years ago, VideoMagic Productions was known as RBK Color Video. Back in the mid-to-late 70s, I had just moved from New York to California to pursue my acting career. When asked if I had “FILM on myself” to show casting directors and producers what type of actress I was and to show my “charisma on camera”, all I could say was, “NO, not really” because I had never been in a film or TV show, although I did perform in Theatre.
In a nutshell, we bought cameras and other equipment that we couldn’t afford at the time, I started filming myself and some friends doing acting scenes, and I started working on the soap opera “Days of Our Lives”. My husband and I recognized the need for actors and performers to have a “Video TAPE” of their work to submit to potential agents, casting people and directors. And thus, RBK COLOR VIDEO was born.
We would often go on location to film a performer at a club, such as an Elvis Impersonator, who was trying to get work in Las Vegas. Keep in mind that this was BEFORE the time of faxes, Federal Express, cell phones, pretty much everything “techy” and “electronic” that we now take for granted. The “World Wide Web” did not exist and there was no such thing as YOUTUBE. The only way for a performer to have his work or audition seen by the “industry”, other than traveling to Vegas, was to make a videotape of their performance. Then they needed to MAIL it to whoever was going to make the decision to hire them.
At the time, Rob and I and RBK Color Video were the only Video Production Company in Los Angeles outside of the major studios.
We had no idea how ahead of our time we were.
This is how I learned how to use cameras, lights, microphones, body mics, and do editing . I learned from hands-on “Doing” as I never went to school to learn any of these skills.
I now employ my expertise as a professional actress to share the power of video with the experience I have both in front of and behind the camera.
I have been Rated # 1 videographer in Santa Clarita by Threebestrated.com 2017, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, am a Yelp award recipient, was voted Ultimate Wedding Videographer in Santa Clarita 2018, 2019 and 2022, was awarded Best of SANTA CLARITA 2021 & 2022 for Video Production Services.
My approach to video creation is that of movie making. Every video, no matter the topic, MUST tell a story and have an emotional impact on the audience.
This year VideoMagic was also recognized by Upcity as: Sunland Videographer Bonnie Keith has been selected as one of the Top Video Production Companies! UpCity!!
My passion for the video medium includes a strong dedication to learning, teaching, and creating beautiful videos for both business promo and personal life events.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I believe if one doesn’t have struggles in their life or their business, they don’t grow quite as much. Adversity leads to greater satisfaction and ultimate achievement.
There have been roadblocks and obstacles every step of the way.
At first, learning enough and acquiring the right equipment. Learning is ongoing as new technology continues to be developed for both software and hardware.
Differentiating myself from other videographers and finding a way to be uniquely “magical” was my goal.
I dreamt of being “the Queen of Video” in the Santa Clarita area of Los Angeles and I eventually became exactly that.
As time went on, putting a qualified team together when hired for large projects and multi-camera shoots became a struggle. Finding and training qualified videographers and photographers who were professional in the way they worked and dealt with our clients, talented and yet open to critique for improvement, and, of course, my team needed to genuinely LOVE what they were doing and give their all every single time.
When everyone thought they are a videographer because they have a cell phone or a camera, how do you rise above the notion that “who needs a videographer”? This became a challenge, especially at weddings and other celebratory-type events where the guests would be getting in our way because THEY needed to use their phones and IPads.
Learning how to charge appropriately and fairly while maintaining the integrity and quality of my work. This is still a struggle.
And for me, how to balance work and personal life. An ongoing struggle.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I have learned the intricate ins and outs of all aspects of video through on-site and hands-on experience and am passionate and dedicated to creating beautiful videos for both business promo and personal life events.
I am continuing my self-teaching and have been working on 2D and 3D animation. Both creating human-like avatars as well as Cartoon animation. I have also been honing my skills in live streaming.
I recently have been hired on several occasions to live stream and provide a video of a funeral or memorial service.
Most videographers set up their laptop with a webcam in the back of the venue, film in one position and one angle, and the end product is the recorded video from that livestream. Keeping my prices extremely fair and competitive, I offer a 3-camera video filming session while also live streaming the event. I can pan and zoom and switch between cameras which offers a much better viewing experience for those watching the livestream. I then perform a multi-camera edit using the footage from the three stationary cameras and one hand-held camera, and that becomes the full edited documentary that my clients receive.
I always try to go above and beyond. I “Give” much more than is originally “promised”.
I truly want each video that I create to be a work of art and I believe that is the reason I have won so many awards over the years.
I have experience both in front of and behind the camera, Therefore, I can help my clients relax and bring out their true essence in front of the camera. When working with me, my clients actually get a free acting workshop.
I literally employ my expertise as a professional actress to create videos and also to share the power of video.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I do see my industry changing a great deal over the next 5-10 years. Technology will continue to improve and render much of what we now do as unnecessary.
Live Streaming will become second nature. We now have Facetime, Duo, Instagram Live, Facebook Live, Youtube Live……the easy access to these mostly free platforms will allow people to create their own videos via a livestream, record the livestream and save the video.
More social platforms will continue to emerge with their own rules for using videos allowing users to share and promote their ideas or products. No need for a professional videographer
I am personally working on a program to offer clients the ability to be on a zoom call with me. I will record the call (after having worked with the client on their lighting, background, scripting, posture, etc) and will then take that footage and edit into several video teasers or video interviews.
This allows those business owners who are “afraid of the camera” to be at ease in their own homes.
Yes, much more remote filming in the future.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.videomagicpros.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/videoprobonnie
- Facebook: facebook.com/yourvideopro
- Youtube: https://www.bpkvideo.com
