Pre-Show Videos:  A Treat for Early Arrivals

Hilltop Community Church puts on a Singing Christmas Tree production every year. Many people arrive as much as an hour early to claim good seats. In an act of compassion towards these faithful and possibly bored members of the audience, I put together a video that starts running as much as 45 minutes before curtain. These pre-shows consist of clips from previous Christmas productions, church promos, and finally a request to silence cell phones. They have become a welcome bonus to our live presentations. Here are some ideas for your holiday production video pre-show:

Clips and Behind-the-Scenes

Short videos for your presentation can include a simple behind-the-scenes documentary and clip montages from previous shows. This gives the audience an historic perspective, particularly if the production is a long-standing tradition. Cutting in montages of events from the rest of the year can give visitors a taste of other church activities. Having made more than a few of these over the years, we're trying something a little different this year and creating a "mocumentary" featuring staged behind-the-scenes gags. More on this in future posts.

Promos

Promos for various ministries will give visitors a good overview of your church as well. If you've made promos through the course of the year, you're set with these already. I don't recommend making these a big production with interviews and voiceovers, as there can be a lot of talking while it is being shown. Try to keep it visually oriented, with video clips and text. For our preshow this year, I have created a series of motion slides similar to those that run before movies at the cinema. They cycle a few times, giving everyone a chance to soak in the information.  There's more about this in my last entry.

Cell Phones Off!

But for us, the favorite of the video preshow is the cell phone announcement. Avid movie-goers know that there are all sorts of creative and elaborate ways to ask attendees to silence their electronic devices. We've dreamed up a new way to draw attention to these little noise-makers almost every year.  Such videos are also a great opportunity for the director to shamelessly insert his kids into the show. This year we're trying animation.

Have fun with this. It's just a bit of entertainment for punctual attendees, but they will appreciate the thoughtfulness and soak in the announcements. And they may even shut off their phones.

Comments:  Have you made a pre-show video?  Please tell us about it below.

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