MANTO FILMS -­ CAMERA OPERATOR/EDITOR JOB AD (Min 3 years experience)

What we’re looking for:

This is an exciting opportunity for a creative and enthusiastic individual with a real passion for the filmmaking process and a head for business, to come in and help the company continue to grow. The role will primarily be split between production (camera operating, camera assisting, sound recording) and post ­production (editing, grading, motion graphics). But beyond that we want someone who can contribute creatively to our projects; who can work closely with our clients; who can help with the day to day running of the company where required. We work as a team and everyone is given the opportunity to contribute ideas, and to bring their ideas to fruition.

We’re looking for someone with at least 3 years’ industry experience. For us ability wins out over qualifications every time. If you can show us that you have a real gift for filmmaking, that you’re hardworking and enterprising, and that you’ve done filmmaking in a professional capacity for at least 2 years then don’t worry about not having the right qualifications.

About Manto Films:

We’re a team of experienced filmmakers who craft compelling stories for brands you’ve heard of. We’re creative, responsive and genuinely in love with film – and with a background in television, we make content that people remember. Our work is hugely varied; we work with organisations ranging from Bettys and Yorkshire Tea to Yorkshire Cancer Research and Harringtons Pet Food, from G4S to Schweppes.

How we work is based around our values. They are:

Be kind

Building strong relationships with our clients and within our team is key. To do this we strive to be trustworthy, to act with integrity, to display professionalism, to be present, to ask for and offer help, and to create a great experience for our clients.

Be brave

We are driven by creativity and a genuine love for what we do. We are risk-takers; we produce work that is innovative and daring. We have the courage to try new things and are not afraid to make mistakes.

Be humble

We have confidence that we produce fantastic work but we have the humility to recognise our imperfections, and so are always striving to learn and improve. We are inspired by other companies and their work, not driven by negative or competitive comparison.

Required Skills:

3 years professional experience
Camera/sound/lighting experience, incorporating a range of equipment
Strong working knowledge of Adobe Premiere Pro and Adobe After Effects
Familiarity with working on Macs
Good understanding of the online film and video market

Salary:

Basic Salary £24 -­ £27k (depending on experience)

How do I apply?

Drop us an email to info@mantofilms.com, which must include the following:

Full CV
Showreel link (video files not accepted so please upload to YouTube/Vimeo)­
The following information: Driving Licence Y/N, Own Car Y/N, Availability to start ­
A video of yourself answering the following questions:

Why are you suitable for the role?
Why do you want the job?
What is your dream project to work on and why?­

**PLEASE NOTE, APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED WITHOUT THIS VIDEO**

Closing date for applications is Friday 23rd June at 5pm

Creating a video marketing plan can seem daunting at first, but it’s really not that difficult. You just need to know what you want to achieve with your video, who your target audience is, and what kind of video will best suit your needs. Once you have those things figured out, you can work with the Manto Films team to start putting together a video marketing plan that will help you get results.

So let’s begin!

The first step is to determine your video’s purpose. What are you trying to achieve with this video? Are you looking to increase brand awareness, generate leads, or drive sales? Once you know the purpose of your video, you can start to create a strategy that will help you achieve your goal.

When it comes to video marketing, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. The best way to create a successful video marketing plan is to tailor your strategy to your business’s goals and objectives. For example, if you’re looking to increase brand awareness, you’ll want to create videos that are shareable and informative. On the other hand, if you’re aiming to generate leads or sales, you’ll need to create videos that are highly engaging and persuasive with a clear call to action. No matter what your goal is, the key to creating a successful video marketing plan is to start with a solid strategy.

Here are Manto’s five steps to creating a video marketing plan to help you achieve your desired results:

1. Define your goals: What do you want to achieve with your video marketing campaign? Are you looking to increase brand awareness, drive traffic to your website, or generate leads? Clarifying your goals from the outset will help you create videos that are more likely to achieve results.

2. Research your target audience: Who are you making your videos for? What are their interests and priorities? Take some time to understand your target audience before crafting your videos.

3. Engaging your audience: What do you want your audience to learn? (and how do you want to make them feel?) Define what key messages you want your viewers to remember you by.

4. Decide on your platforms: Is it for your website? Is it for a TV Ad? Or are you looking to make a splash on your social media?

5. Allocate budget & resources: What budget, time and staff do you have to kickstart your video process? These factors will help determine the scope and scale of your video marketing campaign.

Well, there you have it. Our five-point plan to help you going. If you want to hit the ground running, our friendly team are on hand to talk you through the video process. Video is a great way to connect with customers and create an emotional connection. It can also be used to build trust and credibility. Contact us and let’s get started! 

Manto Films is a video production company in Leeds. They’re creative, responsive and genuinely in love with video.

Laura Clark is our newest member of the team. We luckily found her through the Kickstarter scheme. Find out more about her and her motivations for becoming our Video Production Assistant.

So, where did it all start?
I’ve always had a love for film which was why I studied film, photography and media at Leeds Uni.  Having moved up from the South, I’m a northern girl at heart. I am big fan of Leeds: a city abuzz with culture and creativity.

What is the Kickstarter scheme?
Having been introduced to the Kickstarter scheme through my work coach, I think it’s one of the best initiatives that the government has introduced.  I had taken a break from uni and was receiving universal credit.  I initially thought the jobs advertised would be for admin roles but was pleasantly surprised to see lots of creative Kickstarter jobs to apply for.  Manto Films really caught my eye. Having checked out their website,  I was really impressed by their work, their craft and their creativity. They ticked all the right boxes.   I sent in my video application and here I am, having landed my dream job! They also pay a living wage and not minimum wage, bonus! The Kickstarter scheme has given people like me the chance to get ahead in their careers and get into the working world. 

The Kickstarter scheme brings benefits to businesses too as they get to bring young people (16-25-year-olds) who are keen and full of fresh ideas, which really enhances diversity.

Which aspect of the job are you excited about?
Personally, I really enjoy the production side; being on a set and seeing it come alive.  From the joy of capturing a moment to the fun of collaborating with the cast and crew- I’m really just taking it all in! I’m also happy to get back into the office and spend time with the team in person. 

What has surprised you about the job in the first few weeks?
Really the whole process from receiving a brief, to producing, and then finalising the video. Even a two-minute video can be really exciting. It’s been a great experience writing scripts and working with clients on their briefs to give their audience more value.

What are some highlights of the job so far?
On my first day, I worked on a shoot for Harringtons Pet Food. Who wouldn’t love being bombarded by dogs on their first day at work?! 

What is the best thing you’ve learned so far?
The extensiveness of what goes into a project and the attention to detail.  I’ve learnt a lot about video workflows on projects too. I also have my own habits for editing and perhaps some of them aren’t the best, so learning from the team and how they do things has been insightful.  

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?
Like most, I’m a big foodie! I’m a vegan so I’m enjoying plant-based cooking and spend a lot of my weekends in the kitchen. I’m also taking part in the 30-day Yoga Challenge.

Give us a fun fact that not many people know?
I’ve been to Fiji: the furthest place to go from the UK! I volunteered in a school and lived with a rural Fijian family for four weeks. 

Where’s your favourite place in the world?
Iceland. I’ve been there twice and I could see myself living there – everything appeals to me like the beach, the values and the culture. I’m a huge environmentalist. Iceland’s how a place should look. The people are so friendly.

What are your words to live by?
“Everything happens for a reason”. It always gets me out of a hole and into a much better place. Try it!

And, the one thing you can’t live without?
My notebook. I’m very traditional and write things down on paper.

Who are your video idols?
Greta Gerwig, a female director, who directed Ladybird and Little Women – two of my fave contemporary modern-day cinema films. Then there’s also Alice Aedy, she’s the epitome of what I want to be when I am older; an environmental documentary maker who stands for climate and social justice (my purpose in life!).

Your fave film picks?
This is so hard. Goodfellas was the first film that I watched that really got me into cinema. Then there’s Little Miss Sunshine. I recently watched a common age Norweigan film called The Worst Person in the World, it was beautiful! 

Do you know that the average person spends 100 minutes each day watching online videos? 

People are consuming online videos more than ever before. Not only that, they share videos with their family, friends and colleagues—a huge opportunity to raise brand awareness. 

Video is the most effective way for audiences to connect with your business. Here’s why:

-84% of people say that they’ve been convinced to buy a product or service by watching a brand’s video

-85% of people say videos help them connect with a brand

-94% of people watch explainer videos to better understand a product or service

-75% of people are more likely to follow a brand’s social media if it has a video

-People retain 95% of a message when they watch it in a video, compared to 10% when reading it in the text

Video marketing has the power to attract, convert and retain customers.  It is one of the most effective forms of content when it comes to conversion and leaves a lasting impression on your audience. 

Here’s a video we made for Harringtons Pet Food. This was used across the company’s website and social media. Check out the  behind the scenes video that received over 1.3k reactions on Facebook.

We’re experienced content creators who craft compelling stories for brands, businesses and charities.Get in touch if you have a video project in mind, phone 0113 269 2814 or email info@mantofilms.com

We’re on the look out for a Camera Operator/Editor to join our team

Job Description

We’re on the look out for a Camera Operator/Editor to join our team

Job Description

We’re honoured that so many students get in touch with us and ask whether they can get some experience or work with us. Unfortunately, due to the volume of requests and type of work we do, there are only a few shoots a year where we need an extra pair of hands. We’ll be sure to put out a post on our social channels when we require some extra help with filming.

In the meantime, we wanted to give something back and provide to give some tips. We hope that these are helpful in following your goal to becoming full time filmmakers or working in a video production company.

• Tip 1 – Experience

Experience is second to none. You’ll probably need to create your own projects outside of your course by approaching people you know or local charities and offer your services free. Whilst this isn’t sustainable long term, it’s a great way to learn and offer something back to people that might be able to afford video.

Skills such as client, budget and project management will prove that you understand every step of the process. Time management is a crucial part of the job, so start to estimate how long things will take and stick to your deadlines as this will be useful throughout your career.

• Tip 2 – Mistakes are ok

It’s not a matter of if, it’s when. And when you do, learn from it. There are often things we get wrong, so we’ll chat about it as a team, test things out, watch some training videos, create checklists, so that we’re constantly improving. It could be a technical mistake, a communication issue, or budget issue. Whatever it is, make sure that you learn for next time so you’re raising the bar.

• Tip 3 – Be passionate

Having a degree in filmmaking is a great step towards a career in video production, but as employers we want to see that you are truly passionate about what you do. For us, it’s often what people get up to outside of their studies that shows us what a person is truly passionate about. If you’re constantly thinking about video, and can’t put down a camera, this shows us a real dedication and passion.

• Tip 4 – Get a showreel

A showreel is incredibly important in showing the variety of work that you’ve been involved in. Make sure it’s the best of the best that you have, make it short and memorable. This is one of the most crucial bits of work that’ll grab people’s attention and make them want to work with you.

• Tip 5 – Be creative  in your approach

We get hundreds of emails every year, that can sometimes feel like it’s been copied and pasted. Our advice would be to be creative in your approach and to stand out. Add us on LinkedIn, send us a bag of coffee, Tweet us….use your creativity to grab people’s attention, it will be much more memorable than a standard email.

We hope that these tips have been useful. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with us.

With the dust of 2020 finally beginning to settle, we can certainly afford a moment to sit back, take a sip of coffee and reflect on the challenges we faced throughout this historic stinker of a year. I for one am so proud of the team I work with and what we have been able to accomplish in these last 12 months. As a relatively small video production company based in Leeds, I think the odds have been stacked against us – particularly as many of our clients have had to scale back their marketing budgets. Nevertheless, we’re still going strong and ready to turn our attention to 2021.

When the first lockdown was announced we needed to adapt quickly. Not only were we split up as a team having to work from home, but we had a number of projects at various stages of production that faced uncertainty. Our priority was communication and providing reassurance to our clients that we would work things out. We take real pride in our business relationships at Manto Films and I like to think we helped ease some of the noise and confusion around that time. As months passed, it became clear that we would need to change our approach to video production and think of new ways to keep ahead of the game and keep work rolling in.

Providing Post-production and animation are great ways to remain at home and socially distanced, so as 2020 progressed it became clear that we would need to shout about these services a little louder. We took the opportunity to learn new skills during downtime and further build our knowledge of the equipment we use. A highlight for me personally was when we directed a series of short cooking films for one of our clients over everyone’s favourite video communication app of the year – Zoom. This meant getting the most out of camera phones, basic sound gear, and clever lighting techniques to ensure the end results looked professional and high quality. Certainly, this wouldn’t be the preferred approach going forward but proved we were capable of adapting.

Upon being given the green light to shoot again we had a series of precautions in place to ensure both clients and our team were kept as safe as possible. Equipment was wiped down, social distancing was observed and crew kept to a minimum. Looking back, we actually ended up shooting some of my all-time favourite projects. Between getting Kalvin Phillips of Leeds United to do kick-ups with a Yorkshire Pudding to trying to tame a 12-week old puppy to sit still long enough to get the shot we needed, we certainly have some fond memories to look back on that don’t feel as if they were affected too much by the limitations around us.

I believe we have set ourselves up nicely as we head into this year. We’ve shown we’re able to adapt to constantly changing situations and our client’s confidence in us to achieve their vision is higher than ever. Sure, there’s still a lot of horrible uncertainty surrounding us, but I have faith that between us at Manto Films we will be able to take on anything that is thrown our way.

This past year has been… well we all know what it has been. As a team we have certainly had our low points and we’re not going to pretend it’s been fun.

But through everything there have been some incredible moments of light. From being overwhelmed by some incredible shows of support from our clients, to some exciting and creative film projects, to brilliant big new client wins. Our work ranged from filming an England football star to a line-up of canine hereos. We filmed from Bournemouth to Belfast. We worked with brand new clients and some we’ve worked with for over a decade. So we’re heading into 2021 with our heads held high, excited for what’s in store and ready to tackle anything that’s thrown at us.

And it’s in that spirit that we present our brand new 2021 showreel, showcasing some of the best of our work from the past few years. It’s been exciting for us to look back over the past year and see that, even through the carnage, we’ve done some of our best work, and made some striking, impactful videos.

So grab some popcorn, have a watch and let us know what you think! And if you have an idea for a video project then please get in touch, we’d love to here from you.

www.mantofilms.com/showreel

With the government lockdown in place, more and more people have been asking us for tips on recording videos at home, using phones. Matt, our Head of Production, has put together these two videos, giving you some brilliant tips for getting the best possible results from home recording. If you have any questions or need any more hints, please do get in touch, we’d love to hear from you.

Live Streaming – Beginner to Pro

In this unprecedented time, companies, brands, religious gatherings and charities all suddenly have a need to live stream. We thought we’d share some recommendations on where to start.

What and Why?

The first step is work out what you’re communicating and why. Each different option will work for different budgets and knowledge, but will also depend on whether you’re a company or an individual. Decide best how you want yourself or the brand to come across, then move forward accordingly.

Platform:

Think about where your audience already is, or where is accessible, as this will be the best place for them.

Periscope

Twitch

YouTube Live

Facebook Live

Twitter Live

For those not sure, we’d recommend using YouTube, as it is very familiar to people. Once you have an account, you need to get it verified before you can LiveStream, and this can take up to 24 hours.

Simplest setup:

Requirements: Phone.

Knowledge Level: I watch cat videos daily.

You can LiveStream straight from your phone to one or many platforms. It’s best to use the native app to live stream, such as the YouTube app itself. Alternatively, there are third party services that are able to stream to many platforms at once.

Mobcam: Mobcam iOS Link 

Make sure you have a speedy Wifi connection, or plenty of mobile data. Secondly, you probably want to plug in the power cable. Well, says the guy with a Rose Gold iPhone whose battery lasts 5 minutes. 

Medium set-up

Requirements: Camera with HDMI output.

Knowledge Level: IcanfigureitoutwithGoogle.

HardWare: Elgato Link

Software: None

For this option, you’ll need a DSLR, mirrorless or another camera, which will help boost your production value. Make sure that the camera supports a clean HDMI output and unlimited runtime. You’ll also want to step-up your audio game. There are two ways of doing this

On-board Shotgun Microphone

Lavalier Microphone

At this stage, you might also want to look at what you can do with lighting.

Pro set-up

Ok, now you’re talking. 

Requirements: Multiple cameras with HDMI output, microphones, lighting.

Knowledge Level: Knows how to decode the matrix.

Hardware:

BlackMagic Design Atem Mini

Roland – VR-1HD

Software: VMix, OBS Studio

This set-up is going to be great if you’re needing to use several different inputs of cameras, and want to mix several sources for your livestream. OBS Studio is a great free option for mixing cameras, and VMix is great for running pre-recorded video, screen sharing and inputting from external sources such as Skype.

You’re going to need to think carefully as to what hardware you’ll need. If you’re happy to be switching the cameras and inputs using the software, and still want multiple cameras, you could use one or two Elgato HDMI sticks. For a more robust method of switching multiple cameras, you’ll need a hardware device capable of this, hence the BlackMagic Atem Mini and the Roland VR-1HD suggestions.

We hope that this has served as a starter for Live Streaming. Do let us know if you have any questions. As always with recommendations, please read the specification of each product to see if it is compatible with your requirements before purchasing.

Recently our MD, Paul and I had the opportunity to film in Africa for one of our clients, The Wood Foundation. They are philanthropists who create opportunities for smallholder farmers in the tea industry for a fair, sustainable and equitable economy in fields and factories.

Our adventure took us over several regions of both Tanzania and Rwanda and had us covering thousands of miles by both car and plane. While Paul has filmed in Africa on a number of occasions, it was completely new to me so I was keen to record some of our challenges and accomplishments, and the weird and wonderful things we got to see whilst working in this completely new environment.

Monday 22nd April

After a dark and quiet drive across the Pennines to Manchester airport, our first stop was Amsterdam, where we would wait for our connecting flight to Tanzania.

(In-flight entertainment)

Ten or so hours later we arrived in the bustling capital of Tanzania, Dar es Salaam. Our taxi driver Allan was waiting outside and the muggy 30-degree climate hit us instantly. The hoodie was off and the insect repellent slapped on. Upon getting to the hotel we were both very hungry boys so got straight onto room service for some chips and spring rolls. Hey, we’d been travelling all day so needed comfort food alright?!

Tuesday 23rd April

After a good night’s rest and some hotel brekkie, we were on our way to our first shoot. We interviewed the CEO of the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT), a charming chap named Geoffrey. Everything went smoothly and, as our second shoot was pushed back, we had the chance to try the local beer before heading out for a nice seafood dinner. How lovely!

(The first of many interviews)

 (Got to stay hydrated)

Wednesday 24th April

Our stay in Dar was short-lived as we soon had to be on our way to Mbeya. After nearly missing our flight because we were at the wrong gate (oops), we set off on a short journey across the beautiful terrain of Tanzania.

(Sat at the wrong departure gate)      

(Pretty views help me forget that I hate flying)

Our stay in Mbeya was fleeting as we were soon on the road to Njombe. After a quick four hour drive, we arrived and met Filbert – the CEO of Njombe Outgrowers Service Company (NOSC). He discussed the plan for the next couple of days and we had some delicious frozen pizzas.

(Pizza makes Manto happy)

Thursday 25th April

After a late-night battle trying to kill a mosquito, strong coffee was needed as we had a full day ahead. We began by interviewing Filbert in his office before we hit the bumpy roads to some of the local tea farms. 

This was my favourite day from the trip as it came with so many memorable highlights. Not only was it fascinating learning about the ways in which the project helps smallholder farmers but we were treated to a song and dance from the student farmers in the local farmer field school.

(It was great to meet so many happy folk)     

(Loving the camera)

A productive day was topped off by being gifted eggs and corn by one of the local farmers. This helped me get over coming face to face with this beast earlier in the day!

 (A dangerous encounter)

Friday 26th April

Friday was another busy day as we began by filming the Unilever factory built specifically for smallholder farmers.

(Steve looking super fly)

That afternoon, we drove for four and a half hours to grab a quick interview before an additional four hours to back to Mbeya where we had first landed! The journey back was long and tiring and we could only imagine how knackered our driver Alex must have been! Luckily, he had his 90’s love ballad CDs to keep up entertained (there’s only so many times you can listen to the same Celine Dion track though). When we finally arrived, the hotel was a surreal place covered in neon lights. We had some late food and a couple of celebratory beers for Paul’s birthday whilst watching some local football on the tele. A nice reward after a long day.

(Happy Birthday, Paul!)    

 (Our Celine Dion loving driver Alex. What a legend)

Saturday 27th April

Today was a travelling logistics nightmare! We had to fly back to the capital Dar, to interview the UK commissioner of Tanzania, then jump on a flight to Rwanda. Luckily, the interview went smoothly, as we only had about 15 minutes (due to flight delays) to set up, interview and put the kit away before heading back to the airport. It’s a good thing we’re such an efficient and professional production crew (just to add that we waited in the right part of the airport this time!)

(Interviewing the UK High Commissioner of Tanzania)

We finally got to our hotel in the Rwandan capital Kigali and we were blown away by how nice it was! Before supper, we took advantage of the late open pool and treated ourselves to something new – a couple of delicious cold beers.

(Ah beer. Lovely beer)

Sunday 28th April

Sunday was our day off on the trip so we took it upon ourselves to visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial. It was heartbreaking to learn more about what happened but great to see how far the country has come in only 25 years since it happened.

For lunch, we met Sanjay, the head of The Wood Foundation’s Rwanda operations, and he chatted over our work for the next few days. That afternoon, we were back on the road to our next destination – Kibeho, Nyaruguru.

(The remote region of Nyaruguru)

Monday 29th April

We travelled around with Vincent, the CEO of Services Company Outgrowers Nyaruguru (SCON), and he introduced us to some of the farmers benefiting from the help of The Wood Foundation and its partners. When it came to his interview, the Sony A7Sii we had with us (renowned for being very good in the low light) was our saviour as a thunderstorm had knocked out all the power from the lights!

(The A7Sii – A low light BEAST!)

Tuesday 30th April

That morning we jumped back into the car and headed to Rugabano. We met Frank, the CEO of Rugabano Outgrowers Services, and documented more of the tea growing happening across Rwanda. We were excited to learn that our hotel for the evening was on the coast of Lake Kivu – a beautiful part of Rwanda and definitely worth visiting.

(Steve flexin’ the DJI Ronin M and A7Sii combo)

(Relaxing by Lake Kivu)

Wednesday 1st May

Our final day was spent visiting a factory being built in Rugabano by Luxmi Tea (similar to the one in Njombe, Tanzania) and further documenting some of the farmers and locals that are part of the tea production there.

We travelled back to Kigali where we got to meet and interview some of the members of The Wood Foundation and its partners. We finished shooting and it was finally time to head home to the UK.

It may have been tiring at times but overall the trip was a huge success. We got to meet so many interesting people and see so many naturally beautiful areas. I’m so grateful for having the opportunity to explore parts of Africa that I wouldn’t typically visit! 

Until next time, Africa!