WordPress.org YouTube video showing how release pages are created with blocks

[annezazu]

For the last few releases, microsites have been created to show off what you can do with the latest release:

https://wordpress.org/download/releases/6-5/
https://wordpress.org/download/releases/6-4/
https://wordpress.org/download/releases/6-3/

I've helped review these design & content wise and have always loved that they are using blocks. I thought it would be fun to create a YouTube video highlighting this that could be shared on the WordPress.org YouTube channel. I'm not sure what the best process is for this right now so opening this issue to get some direction and confirmation that this is the sort of thing to share there (relevant, impactful, engaging).

For now, I'll try my luck at creating a video and will share it here as I progress.

[eidolonnight]

Tagging in @jasmussen as he and someone from Design can likely advise on style.

@bjmcsherry can likely provide some additional YouTube insights regarding what videos are performing best.

[annezazu]

Awesome! Noting for now that I am stuck with this styling bug: WordPress/wporg-parent-2021#134 Once it's fixed, I'll dive into a video hopefully this week or next to at least kick off something.

[jasmussen]

Great issue, good suggestion. Just to make it more easily digestible to understand this suggestion, here's a screenshot of the editor for the 6.5 site:

As you can see it's a nicely WYSIWYG representation of the frontend, and all blockified. It's a nice way to:

• Showcase how to use the block editor and block themes on a very notable production site.
• Show tips, such as grouping, naming groups, moving sections around with the list view, how to drag and drop to sort or tweak columns, how to duplicate a section and edit it, etc.

What format were you considering for this? Short 1m featurette with no sound, and intro/outro? Or something narrated and more casual? If the former, it can just review the existing sites, show some things, perhaps delete a section and "re-build it". if need be, for practical purposes, can just make a copy of the page so we're not editing the production version. If the latter, it's less clear to me, and Anne you've skill there already, so let me know how I might be able to help.

[annezazu]

Always appreciate you chiming in on these things, Joen!

What format were you considering for this? Short 1m featurette with no sound, and intro/outro? Or something narrated and more casual? If the former, it can just review the existing sites, show some things, perhaps delete a section and "re-build it". if need be, for practical purposes, can just make a copy of the page so we're not editing the production version. If the latter, it's less clear to me, and Anne you've skill there already, so let me know how I might be able to help.

I was thinking of going the more casual, approachable route in line with the gist of the video: watch how the everyday blocks you use power WordPress.org. I aim to keep it fairly short (1-3 minutes) with some light narration. I like the idea of deleting and recreating. I want to talk about how we use renaming group blocks too!

Keep the thoughts coming and I'll drop an idea here when I get to it.

[annezazu]

Alrighty -- here's a script draft and what follows is a rough take to at least get the idea out there. I say rough because my audio isn't great (didn't record in my closet) and some of the edits are rocky (had to hide some stuff):

Release.page.youtube.video.draft.1.mp4

What do you all think? Does it cover what you'd expect folks to want to see? Is it compelling? I am aiming for approachable while also showing how there are design standards in place to ensure consistency across the site. I might add in a quick part where we go through how the page really is made up of everyday blocks but I don't want to get too long winded.

[ndiego]

This looks great @annezazu. A few minor suggestions.

• I think it would be nice to record using the "Modern" admin aesthetic if possible (I wouldn't rerecord for this though if you weren't planning on it already)
• It might be good to note something about the actual deployment process. To the casual viewer, it looks like contributors are able to simply hit "Update" and the changes will be live. Maybe just mention that there is a deployment process once changes are saved. The updates are reviewed by a member of the Meta team, approved, and then deployed to the live site.

[annezazu]

I think it would be nice to record using the "Modern" admin aesthetic if possible (I wouldn't rerecord for this though if you weren't planning on it already)

Agreed! The audio is bad and I need to use the modern profile. I am definitely re-recording so I'll be sure to do that.

It might be good to note something about the actual deployment process. To the casual viewer, it looks like contributors are able to simply hit "Update" and the changes will be live. Maybe just mention that there is a deployment process once changes are saved. The updates are reviewed by a member of the Meta team, approved, and then deployed to the live site.

Great idea. I can throw in a sentence at the end there without getting too far into the weeds ("Since this is such an important site, updates are reviewed by members of the Meta team before they go fully live").

[ndiego]

I can throw in a sentence at the end there without getting too far into the weeds

Yeah, exactly.

[richtabor]

I like it. The behind the scenes is nice.

• It could be nice with a cut showing the url for this page.
• I think we could use a standard-ish screenstudio preset that we can use across efforts.
• One note on cursor placement: I suggest either hiding the cursor when it's not moving (screen studio control) or placing the cursor strategically off canvas, or in the corner, when talking through something.

[annezazu]

Great notes and thanks for sending me your preset. I'll work on hiding the cursor (just stop moving it so screen studio can remove) or moving it off camera. I have a bad habit of spinning it around when talking haha. I'd need/want design help for a cut away to the URL but that would be an easy ask :) Will attempt another version today.

[annezazu]

Alrighty -- here's draft 2. I actually am pretty happy with how this turned out. I had to tighten up some points but what do you all think? Changes:

• Added in a sentence about the changes needing to be pushed live at the end.
• Changed profile to "modern".
• Updated preset to use a black background.
• Tried to reduce the amount my cursor is in the way.
• Recorded in my closet and spoke a bit louder to help with audio quality 😆

Release.page.youtube.video.draft.2.mp4

[ndiego]

Very nice @annezazu. I wonder if we should create a playlist for this sort of thing on the WP YT channel: "WordPress.org – Behind the scenes" or something more catchy.

[annezazu]

I dig it. I think this would be a fun series to do! "The ultimate wp-admin".

[annezazu]

I've looped in @admwgn who has done some awesome work on the release videos previously to help out here as I worry about this not being good enough for a more official video. Here's what we've chatted about:

• Add an intro that's reusable for future similar videos (“Behind the Scenes of WordPress.org)
• Outro with the CTA (“See the power of blocks: https://wordpress.org/download/releases/6-5/”)
• Light clean up — I don’t think we need chapter titles or anything too major but I’d love to have someone with real video knowledge to sharpen what's there.
• Sound track! We'll want to have an upbeat, jazzy vibe.

Will keep working on this together, sharing updates, etc.