At Commtract, our community of experts are the lifeblood of our business. One initiative we are taking on in 2019 is featuring more of our experts to showcase their unique talent, ready to be engaged on our marketplace!
We interviewed Baz Caitcheon, a video content guru – read all about him below!

Baz Caitcheon | Video Content Guru | Auckland, NZ

1. What are you famous for?
Training folk to make their own video clips on smartphones – to shoot, edit and publish on and from their own devices. Directing reality TV series and producing videos that honour stories. Interviewing people and directing energetic shoots.
And playing gigs! – I am a local singer/guitarist that’s never lost the love.

2. Any wise words to share with other professionals in contracting?
Stay networked – if you genuinely enjoy people and working with them, then this comes naturally. Follow leads and pursue (headhunt) the people/organisation/values that you want to work with. Get on their radar with your passion and focus.
If talking to people you’ve never met before doesn’t delight you then you could find the game a touch more tenuous.

3. And wise observations for clients who are considering engaging contractors?
Make no judgement till you’ve talked to a potential contractor. Emails are for later. Pick up the phone and talk to people. You cover a lot of ground in a short space of time, get the feel or vibe of the person via their tone, knowledge and awareness. If you’re looking for endorsements or references, again you need to speak or Skype those third parties. When you can’t meet in person, a phone call is the one. Anything digital is potentially fake news.

4. You clearly have a passion for video content. What do you love most about it?
Every video you make is like a song you write – an original. You pull all the paints out on the pallet and then start constructing a story. If you’re confident and back yourself, then it’s an organic process – the story reveals itself. Where it’s client driven, you find the stops they want to hit and then your toolkit of tricks kick in and you create original pieces that are honest, clever, empathetic and eye-turning. And there’s no reason why small budget vids can’t be clever, creative and memorable!

5. Tell us a little bit more about Bazzacam. How did you get it started, how have you maintained its success, and what do you plan to do differently for 2019?
These are good questions – at 21 I became a high school teacher, specialised in media, then joined the Ministry of Education as an advisor. I also moonlighted doing satirical sketches for a late night NZ TV show. This all led to becoming a project manager for TVNZ’s ‘new media’. I worked on one too many reality TV shows, left TV as YouTube was getting momentum and started Bazzacam in 2000, contracting video comms to PR & PU companies.
I have kept it in the black by always ensuring some over-delivery to client, leading to repeat business, longevity with clients and trust. I also have a top group of fellow specialists who contract to me when I need them, e.g. DoP’s, animators, editors, talent scouts etc.

I never thought I’d be teaching smartphone video DIY – a whole new market where we give clients a fishing rod rather than a bucket of fish.
For 2019 we’re looking to shape more defined communities of storytellers using smartphone video DIY, building capability and networks to share stories and help interest groups collaborate.

Anything for us to check out?
Click below for my website and blog.