3 Types of Video That You Can Still Produce During COVID-19
April 16, 2020

Due to the nationwide quarantine, video productions have been put at a sudden stop. Like with all other industries, this is a devastating blow to the industry.  According to the City of Toronto , production investments in film, television, digital and commercial media contributed $1.96-billion to the local economy in 2018.

However, just because video production has come to a halt does not mean your business can’t still be looking at producing content. In fact, now may be a more important time than ever to promote how your business is changing gears to respond to COVID-19 or maintain business as usual. Whether you’re in healthcare and need video content to easily provide instructions to new recruits or volunteers, or whether you’re in the restaurant business showing how you’re spicing things up in your takeout menu, there are still ways that video can make an impact.

The best part is, there are types of video that can be produced and used to great effect even without needing physical production with cameras. Here are some ideas to get your ideas spinning.

Animation

The first solution, of course, is animation! There’s no camera required at all for animation, as it’s created from scratch or manipulated using existing graphics. Choosing between animation and live-action is a common debate when producing corporate video content. What we tell clients that ask us this very question is to consider what they want to get across. At the end of the day, are they trying to teach something, or get the viewer to feel a certain way?

Live-action is an ideal choice for getting audiences to feel a certain way, like excitement or pride towards the brand. This is because people connect with other people, especially when there is a story that can be told. That engagement drives strong brand and company appeal.

However, for more complex, information-heavy or informational subject matter, (think complicated software, brand-new tech, or finance), then, going with animation is a great choice. It lets you explain big concepts in simple, appealing and visual ways, which helps viewers understand quicker and remain engaged.

Stock Footage

We just mentioned the effect of seeing real people, but that comes with the difficulty of not being able to assemble many people at once to conduct a proper video shoot. However, this opens an opportunity to instead make use of high quality, professional footage that has already been shot and is made available for purchase to use! Many available stock footage on sites like GettyImages use content shot by professional videographers that also join on large productions. This is an incredibly cost-effective method as sometime going out of your way to procure a specific shot can cost thousands of dollars. As stock it might only cost a small fraction of that.

We recently shared a thank you to our nurses, and many asked us how we got into a hospital to shoot. Actually, it was all stock! We never had to walk into a hospital and endanger ourselves or anyone onsite.

The natural limitation with stock footage is that you’re really able to work with what’s available. It’s also worth noting that different stock libraries are associated with different costs, and potentially even different legal rights for use.

Creating video content that is largely reliant on stock footage requires a different kind of storyteller, one who is capable of putting existing pieces of a puzzle together to create a cohesive narrative rather than coming up with an idea from scratch. The benefits of contracting a video production company to produce content based on stock footage are that they can potentially leverage their partnerships with stock resources for better pricing, and they will know how to best make use of stock footage so that they don’t come off as felling like stock.

Self-Shot or DIY Video

We believe that all content is good content. In these times of global pandemic the best thing a business can do is stay relevant with continuous communication. Owners especially have good reason to put themselves forward with video content to share with employees, like Galen Weston (Executive Chairman, Loblaws) has done:

Maybe you have a camera and can record your message that way. If not, perhaps it is more likely that you have a smartphone. We recently released a video all about how powerful your smarphone can be for video – and ways to make smartphone video look professional!

The COVID-19 crisis has been a test of every business’s mettle, and we’ve seen many brands step up to the plate and display their faith in their causes. Now is the best time to put out video content to show how your brand is responding, or make an impact on your business.

Interested in producing video content with us? Share with us your needs and we’ll send you a free quote!

April 8, 2026
Self-recorded video is becoming one of the most effective ways for Toronto-based companies to communicate internally, train teams, and build a strong, authentic brand presence—without relying on full-scale production for every piece of content. But most teams hit the same challenges: What should we say? How do we make it look professional? How do we keep it consistent across teams? This guide breaks down a simple, repeatable self-recorded video process designed specifically for businesses in Toronto looking to scale their communication. In fast-moving industries like finance, healthcare, and tech across Toronto, video has become essential for: Internal communication across hybrid teams Employee training and onboarding Leadership messaging Company-wide updates Self-recorded video allows organizations to: Move faster without production bottlenecks Create more authentic, human content Reduce ongoing production costs Build a scalable internal content system The key is having the right structure and support in place. Step 1: Start With Clarity, Not Guesswork Before hitting record, successful teams align on strategy first. What Toronto Businesses Should Focus On: Define your objective Are you creating training content? Internal updates? Executive communication? Choose the right format Talking head, screen recording, or guided presentation? Work within your team’s capabilities Whether you're a downtown corporate office or a growing startup, your process should fit your resources. Structure your messaging clearly Simple, direct communication performs better than overproduced scripts. Get expert guidance when needed Strategic support early on prevents wasted time later. Clarity upfront saves time, budget, and internal friction. Step 2: Capture Content Your Team Feels Confident Creating Once the plan is clear, recording becomes easy and repeatable. Most Toronto teams are already equipped to film using: Smartphones Laptops or webcams Basic lighting setups What Makes the Biggest Impact: On-camera confidence Professionals aren’t always natural on video but some training can dramatically improve delivery. Simple technical setup Clean audio, proper framing, and lighting matter more than expensive gear. Test recordings A quick trial run avoids common mistakes. Flexible workflows Recording should fit into your team’s schedule, especially in busy corporate environments. The system ensures consistency and quality. Step 3: Turn Raw Footage Into Branded, Ready-to-Use Content This is where your videos become valuable business assets. Post-Production That Elevates Your Content: Edit for clarity and engagement Remove filler, tighten messaging, improve pacing. Repurpose content Turn one recording into multiple internal or external assets. Add branding Graphics, captions, and visual consistency reinforce your company identity. Deliver ready-to-use videos Content that can be immediately shared across teams or platforms. For Toronto organizations, this step is key to maintaining a professional standard at scale. Make Your Video Content Work Across Your Organization Creating content is only part of the equation—distribution drives impact. Teams often integrate self-recorded videos into: Internal communication platforms Learning and development systems HR onboarding processes Marketing and employer branding With the right system, your content doesn’t just get created—it gets used consistently across the business. Build a Scalable Video System (Not Just One-Off Content) The most effective companies in Toronto don’t treat video as a one-time project. They build a repeatable workflow that allows them to: Produce content consistently Maintain quality without slowing down Scale communication across departments Self-recorded video becomes a long-term business tool. Looking for Self-Recorded Video Support in Toronto? If your team is exploring how to implement self-recorded video effectively, having the right structure can make all the difference. From planning and on-camera training to editing and delivery, a clear process ensures your videos are not just created, but actually drive results. Contact us for more info https://www.arcandcrown.com/contact
Group of people in a meeting around a table, laptop in the center, discussing ideas, and taking notes.
March 26, 2026
Discover how Toronto businesses can use corporate video to improve internal communication, engage audiences, and strengthen their brand with Arc & Crown Media.
A professional in a white shirt types on a keyboard while working at a desk in a bright, modern office.
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Learn how corporate videos enhance communication, simplify complex messages, and strengthen brand identity—crafted by Toronto’s video specialists.
January 19, 2026
"Volunteer advocates are at the heart of Diabetes Canada’s efforts to bring about positive change. They represent the voice of the 11.7 million Canadians living with diabetes or pre-diabetes and speak for those who cannot speak up for themselves. Advocates help raise awareness of diabetes and the daily burden of living with the disease. They participate in Diabetes Canada advocacy campaigns and events across the country, and they help influence public policy by building relationships with elected officials in their ridings and promoting Diabetes Canada’s policy recommendations through their personal and professional networks. To support and grow this vital community, Diabetes Canada launched a new advocacy training series designed to make it easier than ever for people to get involved: Speak up & speak out Getting involved is easy Introducing Diabetes Advocacy 👉 Watch the videos and learn more here: DIABETES CANADA Bringing Advocacy to Life With Video Arc + Crown Media partnered with Diabetes Canada to help bring this important advocacy training to life through strategically designed animated videos, we helped make the training: 🎥 Clear and accessible Animation helped break down complex concepts into simple, visually engaging sequences, so viewers instantly grasp key ideas — like what advocacy is, how it works, and how they can participate. 📈 Action-oriented and motivating The pacing and progression were intentionally structured so someone watching could move from curiosity to confidence — ready to take action. Our approach ensured the advocacy training wasn’t just informative — it felt welcoming, inclusive, and empowering to volunteers from all walks of life. Why Animated Training Content Works Training and onboarding content — especially for volunteer programs and advocacy initiatives — needs to be engaging, easy to understand, and repeatable. Animation is uniquely suited to this because it lets you: Illustrate abstract ideas visually (e.g., advocacy processes, decision pathways) Keep attention with motion and visual cues Streamline complex information into digestible chapters Adapt content for web, social channels, and virtual learning platforms By combining animation with thoughtful narrative structure and live footage, Arc & Crown Media helped create a training resource that volunteers can come back to again and again — whenever they need a refresher or want to share training with others. How Arc + Crown Media Can Help Your Organization At Arc + Crown Media, we specialize in strategic video production that helps organizations educate, train, and inspire their audiences. Whether you’re working with: Volunteers Clients or customers Employees and stakeholders Advocates or community members …we can help you build animated and live-action video series that turn complex ideas into clear, compelling content. We specialize in corporate and nonprofit video production that supports long-term communication strategies, not just one-off campaigns. Organizations work with us to create: Animated explainer videos Training and onboarding video libraries Internal communications from leadership teams Culture and employer branding videos Educational and advocacy content This is especially valuable for companies and nonprofits that need to communicate consistently across departments, locations, or audiences. For many of our clients, video becomes a recurring communication asset — helping them save time, improve message clarity, and increase engagement. Here’s what we bring to every project: ✨ Message strategy & script development 🎬 High-quality animated and live action production 📊 Content designed for multi-platform use 🤝 Collaborative creative process tailored to your mission Video isn’t just storytelling — it’s a strategic communication tool that scales your training, expands engagement, and aligns audiences around your mission. Ready to Make Video Work for You? If your organization needs: Training and onboarding content Advocacy or awareness campaigns Educational or mission-driven storytelling Animated explanation videos …video can be one of the most effective ways to communicate. Looking for Animated or Training Video Production in Canada? If your organization is planning: Volunteer or employee training programs Advocacy or awareness initiatives Internal communications strategies Educational content for clients or stakeholders Professional video production can dramatically improve how your message is understood and remembered. Arc + Crown Media is a Canadian video production company specializing in animated and live-action video content for training, internal communications, and advocacy. We help organizations communicate complex ideas clearly and connect with their audiences authentically. 👉 Contact Arc & Crown Media to learn how video can support your communication goals. Arc + Crown Media creates video content that helps organizations communicate clearly, connect authentically, and scale their impact. Let’s talk about your next video project and how we can help you achieve your goals.
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