Content Creators: Brice Oliver Of The Hutchinson House On 5 Things You Need to Make Compelling and Powerful Videos

‘StoryBoard — Think of storyboarding as creating your road map to a successful project. Having a compelling storyboard with planned shots allows you to envision what the completed work could look like, plan everything you need in every frame ahead of time, and show up with more confidence at the shoot.

In today’s digital realm, videos are more than just visuals; they’re stories that captivate, resonate, and leave an indelible mark on viewers. From journalism and activism to education and marketing, video content has emerged as an indispensable medium that engages audiences like no other. But what does it take to create compelling, resonant videos in an age where nearly everyone has a camera in their pocket? Crafting a powerful video involves more than just technical skill; it demands an understanding of storytelling, the subtlety of editing, the emotional impact of sound, and an innate ability to connect with an audience. In this interview series, we are talking to content creators, video editors, sound designers, and digital storytellers to share the “5 Things You Need to Make Compelling and Powerful Videos.” As a part of this series, we had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Brice Oliver.

Brice Oliver is the talented filmmaker and strategic leader behind The Hutchinson House. Creatively gifted as a child, he went on to college to earn a music degree. But it was after he had landed work at a talent agency when he discovered an innate skill for film and photography. Learning firsthand from industry pros, he produced innovative films to effectively showcase the agency’s music talents. He founded Hutchinson House and today shares operational and creative management of it with his wife. Brice excels at a strategic approach to his projects, drawing inspiration directly from client goals to form a highly effective and collaborative process. He’s worked for major campaigns including Amazon MVP and Shop Lens.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you tell us the story of how you grew up? Can you share some formative experiences from your upbringing that shaped your creative instincts?

I was fortunate enough to have been raised by my late mother who nurtured me in an environment where creativity was prevalent and encouraged. For over thirty years, she was an inspirational teacher, who also happened to be an adept seamstress and a talented artist. She drew sketches and sewed clothes for herself as well as my father.

Although he was as consistently in my life as she was, my father, who was a designer, also informed my interest in style. His clothes have been featured in a number of publications and he’s dressed many artists from Jamaica. Witnessing both of my parents’ passions for what they did while growing up was absolutely instrumental in how I developed my visual aesthetic and eye in film making.

Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?

I was led toward my current career path by necessity. I had originally earned a music degree that secured me a position at a talent agency. One day, we needed to produce a video for a music artist I was managing, and guess who had to get that done?

At the time, I had just been approved for a credit card at a consumer electronics store, so I went ahead and purchased my first camera thinking I may as well do this myself. I had already been picking up pointers from the videographers we’ve worked with so I was fairly confident I could pull it off. I used that camera to shoot my very first music video.

And from that moment I had the bug. I was just so fascinated by the entire process — from framing various angles and the strategic placements of lights to the actual shoot and finally that satisfaction of preserving specific moments forever on film.

Who or what were your early influences in the field of video creation or storytelling

As far back as I can recall, I have always loved watching movies. I remember Spike Lee’s 1989 film “Do the Right Thing” as a staple in our house. And even though I was probably too young to fully appreciate its nuances I do remember being affected by the raw and unapologetic approach Lee took in showing racial stereotypes and the tension that they can propagate.

Of course that’s just one example. My mother ensured that from a young age I was exposed to a wide variety of films with different perspectives. Later, I learned a great deal more — about the fundamentals of composition, rule of thirds, and the relationship between light and shadow — from my good friend Mario, a truly talented photographer. He’s the first person who put a camera in my hands and the battery on my back. And I will always be grateful for the encouragement and guidance he provided.

Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

Honestly, there have been so many memorable moments. But the one that truly transformed my entire life was when I was commissioned to shoot exotic cars in Brooklyn. To be part of the team, I had hired this woman to do the photography and arranged for her to show at my place so we could go to the venue together. And somehow, the instant I opened the door and saw her for the first time, I just knew. People always talk about love at first sight and I have to say I’m not really sure about all that. But, I must admit I was struck by a sense of certainty upon meeting this amazing woman. I even confided to a friend of mine right away, ‘I think I just met my wife!’ Five years later and we are married with two beautiful children and working together under our company The Hutchinson House.

It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

This statement couldn’t be truer. And no matter how meticulous you are about getting ready, it’s almost inevitable for things to go wrong on any shoot. I’ve had instances where I’ve shown up to set and the memory cards were accidentally left behind, or batteries still need charging.

Our first studio was on the sixth floor of a walk-up in Union City. The building only had a freight elevator that had to be operated manually, meaning, it had no call button. If you needed to haul equipment or props up to our space, you have to walk to each floor to find it and bring it down to the lobby. And how many times did we have clients down there waiting while we look for the elevator — only to find it parked right up there on the sixth floor. Another time, we even found ourselves locked out of our studio with clients in the elevator behind us.

Mistakes are really the main catalysts for growth and learning. Those incidents really helped shape me. Because of them, I learned to be vigilant about double checking and even triple checking all the equipment prior to a shoot. I learned to think ahead and anticipate any problem that may occur with the goal of not repeating mistakes that have been made. But I think the most important lesson is accepting that, no matter how well prepared you are, things can still go wrong. Instead of wasting time and energy on blame and frustration, you’d be better off coming up with a solution. Because the reality is you can’t control everything. The only thing you can control is how you respond to a situation.

You have such impressive work. What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? Where do you see yourself heading from here?

Thank you! At The Hutchinson House we always have several ongoing commercial projects, but most of them I’m not really at liberty to discuss. What I can mention is we are currently preparing to film my second short film entitled “Be My Peace”, which is going to be both a New York Love story and a love letter to the city itself. It’s mostly based on a past relationship, but it delves into the heart of how people seek out meaningful connections in a mostly unforgiving city. We are really excited to begin this project. My wife always says the best stories are when you speak your truth and we hope people may also find theirs in our film. In the meantime, we continue to work on projects that aim to be meaningful pieces of art focused on showcasing and telling the best stories for ourselves and other companies. We like to think that at The Hutchinson House the sky’s not just the limit, it’s only the beginning.

Okay, let’s now move to the main part of our interview. Can you help articulate why video is such an important media form to master today?

At this point in our shared history and the state of society today, it’s more important than ever for voices to be heard, for stories to be told, especially from the very personal perspectives of those who don’t always have that privilege. And film is a way of preserving and documenting them for the future. So my job as a Director/DP is to master and utilize my craft as best as I can to convey those stories and to protect their integrity so that they can live on.

What are a few of the most common mistakes you have seen people make in their videos?

The most common mistake I’ve seen people make is failing to grasp the real essence of a story. Because then that cascades into more mistakes starting with not being able to tell it properly and possibly ending with something that only confuses the message altogether. In videos, you only have a finite amount of time for the audience to fully understand what you are trying to tell them. So if you don’t have a firm enough grip on what it is you want to say, nothing you do from that point will make any sense.

What do you think sets apart a great video from a good one?

A good video is technically well made. But a great video is something that immediately connects with its target audience and has the capability of lingering in the minds of your viewers and sparking conversations.

What are your “5 Things You Need to Make Compelling and Powerful Videos” and why?

1. StoryBoard — Think of storyboarding as creating your road map to a successful project. Having a compelling storyboard with planned shots allows you to envision what the completed work could look like, plan everything you need in every frame ahead of time, and show up with more confidence at the shoot.

2. Talent — As in any project, you are only as good as the talent you selected to be part of the video. Having a great subject and an amazing team allows you as the director or DP to do your job without worrying about everyone else’s. Knowing that you have a group of talented individuals all with the same goal just offers a line of support and a sense of peace during the creative process.

3. Lighting — I could go on forever about the importance of lighting. And when I say that I mean that to encompass where the actual light comes from, where it lands, and where you need the shadows to be. Lighting establishes the mood, adds nuance, and can even determine how your on-screen talents will move within the frame. The camera is just a tool to capture what we see, but the light is what gives it life, shape, and dimension.

4. Location — As the old axiom goes — it’s all about location, location, location. You need to pick the proper location for your scene. It may be outdoors. It may be within a controlled soundstage. But wherever it may be, the setting is as important to your story as your characters. Your location should either be the most logical place where your story unfolds or a sharp contrast that can give it an unexpectedly new dimension. Whichever one it is, make sure your choice is intentional.

5. Post Production — I am a firm believer of “keep it in camera” so make sure whatever you create, do your best to get as close as possible to what you had envisioned before post. Having said that — the reality is — Post is where magic happens. It’s in editing that pacing is established, how long to hold a shot, where to cut, when to shift perspective. In post, the raw material is shaped, refined, and elevated into a cohesive, emotional, and impactful experience. In post, the best takes will reveal themselves, performances can be enhanced, sound design will add depth, color grading can influence mood, and visual effects can even transform your story entirely. And as director or DP, it’s up to you to guide the process along to the final cut.

What are your favorite software, or online tools you use to make amazing videos?

I am quite partial to DaVinci Resolve because it provides pro-level editing, VFX, color correction, motion graphics, and audio post-production. It’s easy to navigate and makes it a joy to compose your work.

Are there any hidden gems or underutilized features you’d recommend?

Right now, Resolves Relighting Tool is a game changer. You can literally add new lighting to a project and make it look as if it was there when you first captured it.

You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?

If I could inspire a movement, it would be to get more people who look like me to step up to more creative roles. In my own way I am driven to create stories and hire diverse people in front of and behind the cameras. Too often major production sets aren’t as inclusive as they can be. I, myself, have never had the privilege of working on a set that features a crew and or cast with major diversity. And the truth is — talent comes in all shapes, sizes, colors, value sets, and socio-economic backgrounds. So I would love to get more of that become the standard instead of the exception.

Are you on social media? How can our readers follow you online?

Our Instagram is @thehutchinsonhouse

This was so informative, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!