Spider Video
Ever watch an online video so engaging that it seemingly reached out from the laptop monitor or Blackberry screen and hand-extracted your belly deep laughter or jaw dropping awe?
Sometimes videos are so cleverly scripted, crisply filmed and expertly edited they stir our emotions and leave us wanting for more.
Videos as powerful as this would likely conjure images of extremely elaborate production platforms: the stereotypical director’s chair behind cameras inside luxurious Hollywood studios.
Such is not the case for Spider Video.
Craig Moore, owner of Spider Video, a web-based video production company, makes world-class online videos that are viewed (and enjoyed) all around the world. But he doesn’t sit in a director’s chair in a luxurious studio, and his office is nowhere near Hollywood.
In fact, Moore doesn’t require a storefront at all. He operates his shop from his home office in Dartmouth, and calls on Nova Scotia’s deep pool of talent to aid him in web-based video productions.
Spider Video sounds like an odd name, but it’s perfectly logical. Spider… spider web… web-based video production.
“Spider Video is a full-service video production shop,” explains Moore. “But my passion is in web-based video production.”
Moore is a unique ‘jack of all trades’ when it comes to video production. He can work the camera and edit films, but he also offers strong business acumen and great customer service.
When Moore completed his studies at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, he thought he had it all figured out: he wanted to get into traditional film directing and producing. However, things took a different path.
“I did a few film sets, but quickly realized it wasn’t the right fit for me,” explains Moore. “That type of work is very contractual. I found myself constantly relying on other people and it wasn’t great for married life and raising a family.”
So he tweaked his plans to better coincide with his home life ambitions.
“Once I made the decision to transition to being my own boss, I quickly saw my opportunity to really shine,” says Moore. “I’m able to be a creative professional, to let my artistic side come out, and to nurture a healthy work-life balance.”
Moore slowly built a client base, producing various internal training videos, promotional videos, and broadcast public service announcements here and there.
Conveniently for Moore, his transition occurred around the same time that podcasting and iPods were gaining immense popularity. He took advantage of this web-based trend and seized the opportunity to put his videos online.
Today, he produces a variety of unique on-message online content for various small- to medium-sized businesses and, more recently, an expanding client-base of larger organizations. He has a keen interest and a particular knack for producing branded entertainment.
“Producing branded entertainment is what I love doing,” he says. “And that’s where I’d like to create more work.”
Moore’s resume is bursting at the seams when it comes to producing this type of content. In fact, his commitment to web-based entertainment is what sets him apart from the rest, what showcases his above-and-beyond capabilities to his clients.
“I have my own show called Surf Donkey, which illustrates what it’s like to surf in East Coast Canada,” explains Moore. “It’s pretty well known in its niche target circle amongst surfers.”
Moore has produced 15 episodes of Surf Donkey, and has scored guest appearances from well-known artists and Canadian celebrities like Sam Roberts, Matt Mays and Sean Majumder. And Moore was hand-picked to submit his show for last year’s Amstel Surfilm Festibal in Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain, to boot.
“The organizers were fans of the show and wanted us to participate, so we made a special Spanish subtitled episode specifically for them,” explains Moore. “Apparently, our show screened to a full house. We were honored to be asked.”
He produces another show, too, called Bad Dad. That’s not surprising for this father of three, who says he splits his time 30/90 between his kids and his work. (And in case math isn’t your thing, that means between his family life and work life, Moore’s juggling a major chunk of overtime with some serious multi-tasking!)
“Bad Dad is like the HBO show Entourage, plus 20 years,” explains Moore. “It’s about guys being guys, and features a bunch of local dads. It’s fun because we all treat shoot days as a man date, a guys’ night out.”
Moore says that although he has tons of fun producing these shows, that’s not his primary purpose in producing these videos. He does it to push the envelope for online video, perfect his skills and get the hands-on knowledge to further his business.
“What’s great about these shows is that Spider Video is actually out there doing the very thing we’re pitching to clients,” says Moore. “I believe it’s critical to show my authenticity, and these shows help me do just that.
“Through Surf Donkey and Bad Dad, I’m creating integrity for my clients,” he adds.
Moore says it’s not difficult to create cutting edge products for his clients, especially when he has a wealth of knowledge and experience, as well as a rich pool of talent to draw upon throughout Nova Scotia.
“People may assume that in the creative industry it would be easier to succeed in large centres,” says Moore. “But that’s not the case. What I’ve seen here in Nova Scotia is that I can create a great product that’s as good as – or better than – content produced anywhere else in the rest of the world.
“The opportunity comes not just from Spider Video, but from the abundant talent that exists in Nova Scotia,” he adds. “I have an amazing crew at my fingertips – web designers, developers, social media experts, the list goes on.”
Moore takes pride, not just in knowing that world-class talent exists here, but that we’re putting it to good use.
“We’re making some of the greatest content in the world right here in Nova Scotia,” he says.
Moore says he’s very impressed with the caliber of work that comes out of the province to which he and his family have very deep ties.
“I grew up in Dartmouth, and I run my business here,” he says. “My wife grew up in the very neighbourhood in which we now live. And we’re both immensely proud to be able to live, raise a family and find success in this great province.
“More than that, I’m proud to say we hail from a province that houses some of the world’s leaders in web-based content production,” he adds. “Nova Scotia is overflowing with all kinds of artistic talent, of which we should be proud.”
Moore feels lucky to be able to stay in his hometown, running a successful web-based video production shop, creating world-class and world-renowned material, having access to some of the greatest talent that exists, and following his dream.
Moore’s is a dream that includes stimulating laughter and admiration from behind computer monitors and Smartphone screens with his captivating online videos. And he does just that, for viewers all around the world, from his Dartmouth office, using our beautiful Nova Scotian backdrop, with the aid of the rich pool of Nova Scotian talent at his fingertips.
