Video Producer

Last week our film crew spent an afternoon locked inside a forensic maximum security psychiatric hospital, where we are shooting a series of training films to illustrate techniques that can be used to implement the principles of a genuinely new way of approaching psychiatric care.  Trauma Informed Care is a deceptively simple idea that has proven to significantly reduce stress for care-givers and patients alike, especially within a hospital setting.   It is an unconventional idea that is wholly supported by a committed staff; men and women who know first-hand of its calm effectiveness, and the value that it provides by restraining screams with empathy.  Despite constantly squeezed resources and significantly reduced operating budgets, I’AMedia will continue to produce engaging media to effectively communicate and train compassionate staff members.

 

We also just filmed a live production of what could be likened to a brand-new fairy-tale.  But this is a story that anyone who has ever hoped for something better in life can relate to.  The stage production with music and multi-media is a Big Idea that is presented by a small group of hard working performers; a tremendously fun-loving group who believe in sharing their faith and proclaiming the truth about standing up to others who would like you to believe that you cannot succeed.  The Dream Redeemer was conceived by a regular guy in suspenders and brought to DVD by another who sold a motorcycle to pay for the filmed production.  This message of faith and redemption will now be effectively shared with many more people who will be strengthened and provided with a welcome relief, something that is especially needed right now during these confusing times of flagging confidence and shifting perceptions.

 

Then we packed it all up and headed to a late meeting with the district manager of a fashion-forward clothing retailer that has stores in 26 states, including 7 here in Ohio.  Like many others these days, sales are down and conventional marketing from the home office says to just hang “50-70% OFF” signs outside the door in the mall, and all over the walls and displays inside the store.  But this kind of increased cash flow doesn’t really improve the bottom line, it just postpones the inevitable; cheapens the perceived value of the products; and does nothing to position the brand correctly.  Our conversation centered on her thoughtfully presented idea to enter the social media arena with some interesting YouTube videos.  We discussed many creative ways that could help the brand effectively connect with the desired demographic, including an excitement-generating spot to post online, and designing a social media campaign that will help to generate some much-needed buzz about the brand.  Ultimately, the Boss thinks this is all fine as long as there is no company cash required to get it done.  Hollow support from the Home Office really means that this inventive and committed district manager is totally on her own to bring her ideas to life.  Without any budget to work with, even if she succeeds she gets ripped-off.  And if she fails, well, then I guess the Boss is right either way.

 

In this cash-starved economy, everyone is looking for creative ways to communicate and connect with just the right market segment.  Information is everywhere- but how much of it is good?  How can you know what is truly effective?  Where is the measuring stick?  The social media phenomenon is just the latest twist in the hot air where instant thoughts and ideas get flung through the ether.  No One wants to waste money, but how much real value is there in communicating even a good idea that is not well presented?  If good ideas are so darn cheap, then just let the monkeys sling them around for free and see what might stick.  I’AMedia can help you make the most of whatever budget you can invest- big or small- to support and promote your ideas.  We bring your Vision to Video through fun and creative media productions of all sizes and scope.  We work for you to communicate the best message to connect with just the right audience,   www.visions2video.com

In the last month, four people-not businesses- have called our company to produce TV show pilots, digging deep into their own pockets with the hopes of making it big. I sit back and wait for the usual questions: How do you get it on the air? How do I get sponsors? How much does it cost to pay for the program air time? Will someone buy it from me? Before I answer, I must admit that without even owning a camera I produced an outdoor fishing and hunting TV program which ran for three seasons-Quite popular with the locals.

Now for the answers: Your local TV stations do have air time available to air your great idea of a television program. Youwill most likely have to pay (”You mean THEY don’t pay ME??”) $500-$3k for a half-hour slot, probably between 11-4pm on Saturday or Sunday. The idea is to find sponsors to pay for all this. They love being on T.V., so put in a few 30 sec. commercials (which hopefully they already have) and/or product placements and you’ll soon be good to go. The details important to smart sponsors are the quality of program, target demographic and actual ratings. You can ask the network rep about all of this-and you should before approaching said sponsor. Once you do approach them, and agree on the price, be sure to get your money. People are all aboard until it’s time for the wallet to open, then it’s a car chase. If you’re lucky, you’ll pull a “1 share” early. This is a Nielsen rating term meaning on an average day, a couple thousand people are watching your show in a million person populated city. Don’t think for a moment that just because you’re finally on TV now that you’ve made it. There are occurring (and recurring) production costs, sales overhead, and that weekly air-time bill of $2,500+. Its important to gain and hold an audience. Try running a 13 week season, re-running better episodes to get back your investment. The big money for any TV show is syndication, syndication, syndication. This means airing the show in all related markets with the budget it took to produce the show to begin with. Newcomers often find it difficult to recover their original production costs, since they tend to air only on a local level and in only one market.

I’m talking on-line with a friend in Memphis. She shows me a photo of her with a Boy Scout troop. We briefly debate the superiority of Boy Scouts over their female counterparts. The cookies are all they have over us. That night for the life of me I couldn’t remember my Scout Oath or Pledge. I pull out my old Boy Scout Handbook, and spend the night reliving some childhood memories-not all of which are pleasant.
I wake up and feel like a new man. Morally straight, mentally awake. Ha! I get to the office. Right off the bat we get a call. The producer has a friend who’s friends with a Cub Scout Troop Leader. Can they come see a real film studio? Pretty please? We get a van and two car loads of 7-10 year olds. They’re touching the antique radios and televisions we have on display. They fondle the plants and the curtains. Anything within range. The leaders get them to sit and the producer takes a few at a time around on tour while I give the remainder a quiz from my freshly revamped memory bank. They know more than I do, but I play it off. Meanwhile the groups are down on the green-screen set. The producer fires up a Star Wars image on the monitors, and the kids start an epic light-saber battle. They come up and tell the other kids. Pandemonium!
Later they file out chaotically. All of the client candy is gone. Business cards, gone. Anything small and within reach has been manipulated or bent. Luckily the studio xBox360 was suffering red-ring. They probably would have beaten me in Call of Duty.

I had a friend working in the marketing dept. of the local dispatch and decided to make a tribute to him losing his job at the dispatch and the rest of us losing our local printed newspaper.

[vodpod id=Groupvideo.2603111&w=425&h=350&fv=%26rel%3D0%26border%3D0%26]

The auditions have started for the select few for the time being but come next month open auditions will start for a local independent film being shot in Columbus, Ohio. See very first interview below:

For audition appointment and times email us at: info@visions2video.com

We get a call from a local elementary school: They want us to film a documentary of the teachers leading the students in community events-The whole philanthropy angle. Sounds great, and the kids will really earn from it in the long run. We film the first class as they explain Cinqo de Mayo to citizens at a retirement home. Great contrast in ages, and the kids wore ponchos and sombreros. Class two did a community clean-up; a few rolling shots from the Honda Element we were driving, then a lot of footwork following the kids as they picked up litter. Lots of before and after, though we couldn’t film the people who came out of their homes to thank the kids for something the homeowners should be doing themselves.
Day three was the crux. Read the rest of this entry »

With cream pillars adorning a spacious front patio, the boxy brick house at 325 W. Hubbard St. appears cheerfully inviting. Inside, though, it’s a fixer-upper’s nightmare: decades of neglect, sagging wallpaper and asbestos problems.  

Viewers can follow the step-by-step renewal of the 103-year-old Victorian Village home as it receives up to $500,000 in cutting-edge updates on the new show Ohio Home & Garden, airing Saturdays on WSYX (Channel 6). The 24-episode season kicked off in early March, and archived episodes are available online.

 “It’s like watching HGTV, but with local people you know,” said Joshua Porter, the show’s executive producer. 

Ohio Home & Garden is the brainchild of 30-year-old Porter and his Columbus-based company, I’AMedia Productions. The goal is to inform homeowners — and future buyers — about local companies and products available for home improvement. 

More importantly, though, the show strives to entertain, Porter said. Read the rest of this entry »

Gather round, yous chillun’: ol’ papa pooey has a tale ta tell yins.

O.K., so that’s not the best example of writing out there, but it does hit a few key ideals, at least one of which I hope to expound upon.
So. Writing. I hear it all the time: “I have all these amazing stories in my head, I just have to get them down on paper”, or, “I don’t know where to start!” Well, here’s my solution to that. Will it the best answer? Maybe. Maybe not; But if you’re totally at a loss, then at least you’ll have more than you did. Read the rest of this entry »

The Ohio Film Office welcomed actor Will Smith on Thursday, November 20 when he visited Independence,Ohio, for a sneak preview of his new film, “Seven Pounds,” at the Cinemark Theater in Valley View. Ohiowas one of five states the actor visited in support of his new movie. Peggy Zone-Fisher, wife of Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher, presented Smith with a proclamation that recognized Smith’s charitable work. The actor spent the day visiting schools and contributed to the Cleveland Food Bank.

Those who came to the film screening were encouraged to bring a canned good with them to support the effort as well. The crowd gathered around the red carpet to greet Smith when he arrived and camera flashes were plentiful as Smith took time to sign autographs for the crowd.

Cleveland Cavaliers star Lebron James also was in attendance. Ohio Film Office Director Christina Grozik encouraged Will Smith to bring his next project to Ohio, explaining all of the many reasons to do so. The night displayed a wonderful example of teamwork and partnership in making Ohio shine.

On behalf of the Ohio Film Office, thank you to all of our partners who assisted in building the initial phase of our location photo library by suggesting interesting sites. We have covered a lot of ground throughout 2008 (at least 15 counties!) both on FAM Tours and general scouting trips to develop a library of location photosThe photos will be used to promote Ohio as a potential location for film/video/commercial productions. Following is a list of the counties covered to date: Cuyahoga, Erie, Huron, Licking,Lorain, Lucas, Mahoning, Miami, Muskingum,Ottawa, Richland, Stark, Summit, Tuscarawas, Washington, Wayne.

If you have a site you think would be a great location for shooting a project or if you are interested in coordinating a FAM tour for the Film Office, please contact Christina at (614) 644-5156 orChristina.Grozik@development.ohio.gov. Your continued interest and assistance is greatly appreciated.