I was always fascinated by video and the people who made them.

It didn't matter if it was animation movies by Pixar, music videos on MTV, or YouTube videos by some influencer — I just loved video!

(I even worked in a Blockbuster Video for a couple of years.)

As a generally introverted kid, I knew that I never wanted to be an actor or ANYTHING like that. I actually hated to stand on a stage, at the blackboard, or to perform in any way.

I rarely said anything in class, although I loved school, paid attention, and did well on the tests. The teachers always said the same thing to my parents; "We'd love to HEAR more from Rued..", but I didn't like to raise my hand and speak up.

So, what do you do, when you're an introverted kid with a love for video, but don't want to stand in front of the camera?

Animation!

It all started with a red ball.

In school, we had this super simple animation program, where you'd place a red ball, click add scene, then place it slightly different, click add scene, and so on. 

When played in sequence, it looked like a video of a red ball jumping up and down.

This was my first encounter with the simplest form of animation — and I LOVED it.

Years later, when a colleague asked me; "Could you finalize this video, I'm making? It's in a tool called GoAnimate."

Sure.. Let me see - log in, open project, and BAM! I was sent back to primary school with the animation of my red ball. 

After a bit of trial and error, I managed to put together a 2-minute explainer that eventually was viewed by 60,000 people!

I was amazed by the power of a simple video, and how fun it was to create it.

Fast-forward a couple of years, and just about to hand in my Master's Thesis. While writing it with my partner, I founded an agency called "Cheap Animation Videos".

We used GoAnimate to create 60-second explainers for small- and medium-sized enterprises and charged WAY too little for it..

From "cheap animation videos" to 6-figure agency.

The video agency was such a fun time—solid videos, great customers, amazing colleagues, and the freedom to do pretty much what I wanted. 

While my animators created amazing videos, I shot iPhone videos to educate our target group on the value of explainer videos. And I slowly started enjoying the role in front of the camera.

We also created our first video course that combined 3 formats; animation, screen-recording, and camera footage. A real turning point.

I started a YouTube channel and posted how-to videos, tutorials, reviews, and all kinds of content. 

My first course and my first YouTube videos did well, despite the fact that I was in the early days of my video production career. 

(After all, I was just an introvert stumbling my way forward into this field.)

But what had changed inside me was the "stage fright" I always experienced when talking in front of people.. GONE. At least when I was in front of a camera, and not in front of a live audience. 

Video was the perfect way to influence people from a distance. An asynchronous "performance" without the nerves.

Video doesn't have to be complex. It's a simple superpower anyone can have.

Forget about video editing software. Camera lenses. Advanced animation programs. Expensive lights. Make-up. Actors. Copyrighted music. Forget ALL of that for a second. 

A laptop. A phone. That's EVERYTHING you need to create solid videos. 

"Nah, Rued—look at all these popular YouTubers with editors, assistants, the wildest gear, and a pace that makes me lose my breath."

You don't need that to succeed with video. There are 3 phases (Prepare, Record, Edit) and 3 formats (Camera, Animation, Screen) you need to master to create simple, but effective videos

That's all you need to create pretty much any type of video you can imagine.

Sure, videography can be much more complex, but we are not aiming for awards here.

We use simple video to TEACH, TRAIN, and EXPLAIN.

Most online video schools teach the top 5%.

The other 95% of us simply use videos to teach, train, and explain. No need for fancy equipment. Or tedious production plans.

We utilize video to get a message across. And we wrap it in video, to make it engaging to consume and scalable to distribute.

A lot of the students I have in my courses say the same thing: "I tried this other course, and it was okay.. but it was quite a mouthful, and way too much for what I need."

No need for fancy.

To my surprise, some of my most viewed videos on YouTube are some of the "worst" from a production perspective. 

This is a testimony to the fact that it's more about what's inside the package than the wrapping.

(But sure, if it's nicely wrapped, it makes it more enticing to unwrap and discover what's inside.)

This is why you should aim for a balance between medium and message. The medium is video, and the message is what you want to say with that video. 

I was always afraid to dive into video because of the overemphasis on format. Now I know that SIMPLE production quality is enough to carry any important message - and have a positive influence on the people. 

So, where do you go to learn this?

Get a helicopter perspective on the video production process, then dive into each of the 3 steps to learn how to Prepare for, Record, and Edit the 3 core formats, you'll learn how to create: Camera footage, Animation, and Screen-recordings.

PREPARE

"If you fail to plan, you're planning to fail." Benjamin Franklin wasn't wrong about this — also not when it comes to video production. Good preparation of your video script is alfa omega for your video. In this phase, you set the bar for how good your video can be.

RECORD

Your raw input is what you create in the record phase — the raw material, you will mold into a beautiful video. You'll learn how to set up your camera, your microphone, your lights, and yourself—so your footage or sound file is ready for the final phase of production.

EDIT

Editing doesn't have to be hard. A little goes a long way. And it's in this phase, you turn your well-prepared, well-recorded footage into a professional digital asset. For camera footage and screen recordings, the editing happens in a video tool — for animation, the editing is the visualization itself and we do that in an online animation tool.

CAMERA

You know how to handle a smartphone, and that's all you need to get started. When you get more ambitious, you'll learn how to handle a real camera to take your videos from good to great. We'll cut through the noise and only deal with the key insights you need to succeed.

ANIMATION

Animation takes over when cameras aren't enough. For abstract concepts, storytelling, and complex explanations, animation allows us to build any context we want. You'll learn a simple and fast way to create characters, design scenes, and bring it all to life.

SCREEN

For software introductions, customer support videos, reviews, and tutorials, it's just easier to show the actual user interface on a screen. But these can easily become boring and ugly — unless you have a couple of pro-tips up your sleeve.

BECOME A 'MIX MASTER'

My ultimate goal is for you to master 1) the process and 2) the formats to a degree where they become second nature. At this point, you've become a Mix Master, and can easily produce any video type you want — using the PRE process and the three CAS formats. 

• Template talk: How to begin any project to save you from repetitive setup for every new video.
  
  
• The Fish, The Better World, and The USP Uzi: 3 Script templates to structure your script.
  
  
• Benefits vs. Features: How to make sure you talk about things your viewer truly cares about
  
  
• ASAP Principle: How to convert your technical topic into narration-ready spoken language
  
  
• AHA Moments: A simple method for identifying the most interesting parts of your product/service/subject
  
  
• Juggling Stakeholders: Best tips for how to ensure a smooth production process with timely approvals from everyone
  
  
• Animation Principles: Must-know design basics that will make you a better visualizer in any tool you use
  
  
• Vyond basics: Get off to a flying (and time-saving) start using Vyond as your animation weapon of choice.

• Pro lessons: How to go beyond the basics and apply professional animation principles inside our simple tool. 
  
  
• Sound-effects and Music: Where to source good and cheap copyright-free audio assets for our videos (and how to use them well)
  
  
• 15+ professional explainers: Real-life, paid-for animation videos made by me in Vyond — to get inspired by (read: steal from!)
  
  
• No-BS Voice-over editing: How to rough-cut, fine-cut and master your sound files, so they sound their best inside your video.
  
  
• Layering formats: How to add animated characters to your screen-recordings — and how to include camera clips in your animation video.
  
  
• Tool talk: The video gear, editing tools, and software I use and recommend (for both Mac and PC users)
  
  
• Branding a video: A simple way to make your videos your own through the use of fonts and colors.
  

Video Made Simple University is for you if..

• You're passionate about a topic and you're looking for powerful way to share that with other people.
• You're tired of running around like a headless chicken and want the flexibility that comes from scaling yourself via video
• You're overwhelmed by all the advanced courses and YouTube videos on how to produce Oscar-worthy videos.
• You've always wanted to start a content-based side-hustle that can eventually turn into a full-time income.
• You're willing to put in the work and go through the tried and true steps required to succeed with video.
• You don't want to sink thousands of dollars into a project or business idea just to hear crickets when no one understands or knows about it.

This is NOT for you if..

• You're looking to become the next Steven Spielberg. I'm teaching the "bottom" 95%.
• You expect results without putting in the effort. You have to be passionate about your topic and about video as a lever for explaining, marketing, simplifying, and sharing that.

The VMS University isn't based on theory. It's all real-world experience!

I never went to film school. I'm a business student.. who later became an entrepreneur. 

What you learn from me is based on my experience from creating 250+ animated explainer videos for paying clients, 150+ video lessons for online courses, and 100+ YouTube videos about animation, video creation, scriptwriting, voice-overs, marketing, and more.

I'm an explorer of how video as a medium can carry messages across to another person — in an entertaining and effective way. And what I've refined over the years is the simple method, I use myself and teach today.

And this simple video format is what companies pay me $3,000-5,000 to make.

I've even charged $14,000 for a single 3-minute animation video one time when a big corporation needed to simplify and market a new product. 

Why?

Because with such a video — that simplifies and communicates their message effectively — they are then able to go turn it into hundreds of thousands of dollars in sales.

That's the power of a simple video!

But when I decided to package my knowledge and system into a course anyone could follow, at their own pace, I wanted to make it accessible to any teacher, trainer, and explainer out there.

Don't forget: it's 100% risk-free

 I've put together a LOT of high-quality course content in this program. Because I want you to experience the power of video like I have in my life.

And to make it a complete no-brainer to go through the doors, I'm giving you 60 days to take a look around and decide whether this is for you.

That's right: You can join Video Made Simple University, go through the curriculum, claim the bonuses, follow the steps, put in the work, and if you don't love it during the first 60 days, just send me an email, and I'll refund you 100%. No questions asked.

If Video Made Simple University doesn't work for you, or you thought it was something else, I'd rather give you back your hard-earned money and have you invest it where you'll get the results, you desire.

What's important to me is that you unlock the power of video!

To quickly recap, here's what you get:

• All 130+ core Video Made Simple lessons with over 6 hours of entertaining, step-by-step training ($4500 value)
  
  

• The Ambitious Student Classes including 5+ additional bonus videos and guides to help you take the core training to the next level ($1500 value)
  
  

• My easy-to-use video script templates and production blueprints to kickstart your own video projects ($500 value)
  
  

• BONUS: My insights from running a 6-figure video agency making 250+ explainers for corporates, universities, and startups ($2500 value)
  
  
• BONUS: A simple approach to content marketing, where you'll learn how to find topics and rank for them on YouTube and Google ($1500 value)
  
  
• BONUS: Discounts on my favorite software and video gear I use to create my videos, my podcast and all course materials ($500 value)
  
  
• BONUS: Access to me and answers to any question you have related to any of the lessons and modules you go through ($200)

Total value of all this training: $11,200

If all this course did was..

To give you the skills and confidence to express yourself via various video formats, would it be worth it?

To save you hours in your preparation, recording, and editing, would it be worth it?

To get you started on a side-hustle that could eventually turn into your job, would it be worth it?

No need for bonuses?

If for some reason, you don't want all the bonuses, I'm offering you a basic version of the course.

You still get all the 130+ core lessons, as well as all the templates and resources that come along with it.

But you won't get the Ambitious Student Classes, my newly-developed script templates, a simple topic research blueprint, and my 6-figure agency insights.

• All 130+ core Video Made Simple lessons with over 6 hours of entertaining, step-by-step training ($4500 value)
  
  

• My easy-to-use video script templates and production blueprints to kickstart your own video projects ($500 value)
  
  

• The Ambitious Student Classes including 5+ additional bonus videos and guides to help you take the core training to the next level ($1500 value)
  
  

• BONUS: My insights from running a 6-figure video agency making 250+ explainers for corporates, universities, and startups ($2500 value)
  
  
• BONUS: A simple approach to content marketing, where you'll learn how to find topics and rank for them on YouTube and Google ($1500 value)
  
  
• BONUS: Newly script templates for more industries and use cases for you to kickstart your own video projects ($500 value)
   

The BASIC version of Video Made Simple Academy is available for a one-time payment of $397

There are 2 types of people ..

Some people stick with what they know (and don't really feel the need to change anything).

Others adopt the mindset of a lifelong learner, go out and acquire new skills and make change happen with their newfound superpowers.

Which is more appealing to you?

Many of us know that change is the only constant in life. It's like riding a bicycle; to not fall on your face, you gotta keep moving forward!

This isn't easy. Where do you invest your time in order to learn the right things?

What should you spend money on with all those free resources out there?

How do make sure you don't waste your precious time on resources that aren't connected properly?

Is there are way to see the full picture—and to also put it into practice right away?

If you adopt the mindset of a learner, dive into the VMS University and come out with a whole new take on video production, you are ready to do work you care about, for people you care about, and on your own terms.

Imagine a year from now..

Imagine a year from today. Maybe you've created your first 10 explainer videos, you've started a YouTube channel with 10 videos on it, you've been promoted for your media skills and impact on the workplace, and you've started to make a little money on the side as well, with a video side-hustle.

Imagine watching your levels of joy go up, your stress levels go down, and a couple of hundred dollars streaming into your account every month in passive income.

That's the power of video. Unlocking time, potential, joy, experiences, creativity, community. And that's what's inside Video Made Simple University!

You can do this—I'm living proof that even an introvert business student can. And now, I'm here to coach you every step of the way!

Join Video Made Simple Academy today, and let's put the power of video in your hands.

Your Virtual Video Coach, 

Rued Riis

P.S. Don't forget that you can join 100% risk-free. My 60-day money-back guarantee is there for you to look around and confidently decide, whether you've made the right choice with me. Go through the course, complete the exercises, make your first couple of videos with my method, THEN decide if you've invested your money well.

P.P.S. Believe me when I say, once you get a sense of what the medium of video can do for your life, you'll be hooked for life!

I know what introversion, stage fright, and staring at the lens is like, and I made it through it - just like you'll be able to adjust the medium to your unique self.

The beauty of Video Made Simple University is that it's a methodology with room for adaptation. I give you the exact building blocks to start creating. But what you decide to create is up to you—and I'm looking forward to seeing it.

Do your future self a favor, be brave, and step over the doorstep. Invest in yourself now, get the craft down, and build your OWN powerful assets.

Your life will never be the same!

See you on the inside..

Rued Riis