Why the TSA should think differently

Marketing guru Seth Godin rants on his experience in travelling in the last week and why the TSA should be different. On a more personal note Jo Ann flew to Denver last week and had a very similar experience as Seth writes.

read more | digg story

Why have you stopped posting?

Well... BendFilm.

This is an exciting time with the "buzz" that goes on around Bend. Independent cinema for the filmmakers and fans. We are proud to be providing the AV logistic and consultation for this years festival. It is an exciting time. I will post photos of the happening this weekend.

So now a quick multi billion dollar thought on gootube...

Do you really doubt you should have video on your website? I think it will take Google to monetize YouTube. Just my thought, but it makes sense. I am not sure that it is worth the amount, but Google I think needed the technology and had the cash to buy it.

Just my humble opinion.

Okay finally back....

It was a wonderful ceremony and I am so happy.

A few thoughts on convergence and media:
1) Apple and their news. First I applaud their increasing the size of their resolution to 640 X 480. This will allow a better quality viewing experience as they migrate with their "iTV" project. Now I feel this is important because their are not many devices out there that will just plug in and work and as I have mentioned before Apple seems to at least understand that. This device will allow you to automatically (not sure how they are planning on it completely) allow you to play and watch your iTunes library content on a TV connected to it. There are some other interesting ideas like taking your photos and having those play with music as a nice different background for a party or a slide show. I have 3 hours of photos from our last vacation wan't to watch? Okay maybe not.

The other interesting thing that this will make possible is targeted delivered video podcasts on subjects that people enjoy. Easy all I have to do is go down to the podcasts and watch them. This could be interesting.

2)Amazon- They launched their new download service. I am trying it out with the pilot episode of Studio 60. The challenge is that Joe consumer still will have a challenge. Amazon became easy because all one had to do was find the book they wanted and click buy. Once their details were entered it came right to them. The challenge I still feel is how are we going to make that jump between easy and hard. I will let you know tomorrow the whole details of the experience.

"Labor Day"

A labor of love. That is what it is and will always will be. A business is about a way of love if it is done correctly. You must have that feeling of love for it. You work long hours and at often times for an unsure future, but if you are staying pure to your thoughts and why you do it you will succeed. Do it for the love of it and not the money. Do it to make a difference and change something. Oh and truly love those around you that help you make these things a reality! Thank you Jo. I love you.

A quick post and a thought

Check out this little tidbit in Guy Kawasaki's Blog about word of mouth advertising.

I was having this conversation in regards to Zappos' return policy with my fiance and she mentioned she would not shop at Nordstrom because she had an experience that was bad. When I asked what it was she mentioned that many years ago she purchased some clothes that simply fell apart and that colored her experience. This is interesting because how many of your customers may be out there with that one experience. Nordstrom has very good customer service, but the one experience they could not control was the life of the clothes and have lost a customer.

This sort of measurement and feedback is essential to continued growth and development of a company. When is the last time you talked to a long term client or customer about their satisfaction level?

Your authentic voice

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable.”
-Helen Keller

Daring, scary, hard, but can be rewarding in many ways. Today now more than ever we owe it to ourselves to have that authentic voice and as companies we need to be able to handle those voices. The success of YouTube, Google Video, MySpace, Flickr, and many other social networking sites are built on having an outlet for that authentic voice. Some would say that this is a niche market and yes it is, but the case can be made that as that niche grows being authentic and real leads to an even wider succeess. That is one of the conclussions made in the book "The Long Tail". We are increasingly a culture of choice and we enjoy showing how we execute that choice.

The real challenge as a company is how do you stay true.
1st Find it! Take some time and get inside yourself. Really spend some time in that uncomfortable or comfortable place. This is crucial as not only does this really allow you to explore your thoughts and feeling, but it can help chart the course to that voice.
2nd Make a statement. Now this does not and should not be a long winded blah blah blah speech, but how does it relate and empower me to do what I/We want. Make it a few words.
3rd Follow it. Try living in that statement for a week. Does it hold true? Can you live with it?

We owe it to our employees to listen to their voices as well. Some of the advantages of Google is that they try things. I am sure they are trying things behind the scenes that never make it to prime time, but they try them. Yes they have lots of money, but if the risk is low try it. Maybe even if the risk is high maybe you will help change the world. Be bold!

Probably my longest post to date, but I hope it gets you thinking. Don't believe that it can work?

Guy Kawasaki: Video about entrepeneurship
Chris Anderson: "The Long Tail"
Seth Godin: What you should be learning about marketing with your voice.

New media alert..

So over at TechCrunch they have a post in regards to Amazon's upcoming launch of their store. This is an interesting find and I applaud the guy who found it. I just hope they don't go mess it up with DRM issues.

Also this little tidbit about iTunes and a Lions Gate tie in. Now this really isn't news, but it does show that all of the larger players are moving to make downloads of video content a reality. I put the Digg link in because if you haven't seen digg go check it out.

Is this truly revolutionary?

Okay normally I post links to the stories I quote, but today I am going to copy and paste this from Mediaweek.


Mediaweek-
Couric's Show to Be Simulcast on Web

Marc Berman

AUGUST 17, 2006 -

The CBS Evening News With Katie Couric, which launches with the former Today Show co-host on Tuesday, Sept. 5, will become the first network evening newscast to be simulcast live on the Internet.

Viewers can now see the CBS Evening News live, as never before, said Sean McManus president, CBS News and Sports. This is a groundbreaking development in making the program available to the largest possible audience. For people who can'’t be in front of their televisions when the Evening News is on, they can now watch the program live on their computers. It's another giant step towards providing CBS News content to people wherever they are in their homes, in their offices, in their cars, on their computers or on their cell phones.

In addition, CBS Evening News With Katie Couric will also be available as an on-demand program any time after the live simulcast, via daily blog Couric & Company, via Web-exclusive Eye to Eye, and daily Web exclusive on-camera rundown CBS News First Look with Katie Couric.


Groundbreaking? It is more of a what took them so long. They should have been streaming the show to the world a long time ago. Now for the more subtle it is time for everyone to wake up moment. Big media companies are realizing they are losing eyes and hence ad revenue. The model is shifting to the when you want it and CBS may be moving in the right direction with this one. So who is next?

Oh yeah kudos go out to KTVZ for already thinking that the VOD idea makes sense. I think this has been on there since they relaunched the website.

Web 2.0 Experience

With these sites popping up all around I thought I would dabble with one. I have made a lens about Bend. Let me know your thoughts. The process is easy, but time consuming. I think these tools will empower us all to be experts in our fields and allow others to interact with us much like blogs have already done.

Media Consolidation In Bend

So this was posted on Mediaweek as of around 12:00.

AUGUST 16, 2006 -

Meredith Broadcasting announced Wednesday it is exiting the Bend, Ore. market with an agreement to sell KFXO-CA, its low-power Fox affiliate to NPG of Oregon, Inc., for undisclosed terms.

The deal gives NPG, a wholly-owned subsidiary of News-Press & Gazette Co. a duopoly in the market, where it owns KTVZ-TV, the NBC affiliate.

Jerry Upham, vp and general manager of KFXO has resigned his position with Meredith and will be replaced by John Edwards, sales manager of the station, until the transaction is finalized.

So media in this market is changing. Any thoughts?

Streaming VS Downloading

In this Mediaweek report there is discussion about CBS and their streaming of shows for free the next day. While I applaud CBS for doing this why not take the next step and allow purchase of these shows? Broadcasters need to develop another model for their content. I realize their is other negotiations with rights holders, but they are not helping their future by not allowing purchase.

My belief is that even YouTube should develop a model like Google Video that allows videos to be sold and to share in that profit. Google Video at least allows you to download the video in iPod or PSP format. That is forward thinking for sure.

We want content when we want it and how we want it.

Another video

Here is another video that we put over at YouTube. Nice to know they are back up after being down for a few hours today. This was for a local organization called On Track Ministries.

Today's Link List

So a few things have stuck me as interesting in todays blast of emails:

Google coupons: Google maps to add coupons in this deal. Could be an interesting way of tracking direct customer to interaction.

Cable upfront flat: Television is not the king it used to be.

Seth Godin: Some interesting thoughts on the current state of travel and customers. This even has implication for marketing.

Prosumer video production: Read this and then email me.

FOX/IN: Proof that it is what and when we want it. Not thrilled about their pricing, but it is a step in the right direction.

That is it for now.

Tech Geek Alert!

I think this has potential. Leave it to Sony and forward thinking. This is definetly let's try and make it work product. It would appear that it is a high risk, but may offer a high rate of return.Tech geeks of the world unite.

The battle of the titans

So it would appear that MTV Networks is making a play to out fox Mr. Murdoch and Google will be in the middle of it all. In today's news MTVN as they are known has aquired Atom. Now while this doesn't seem very interesting they put up $200 million to aquire them. MTVN has quietly been aquiring properties and repositioning themselves to aquire more eyes and hence make their properties much more attractive to the potential on-line ad dollar. MTVN will be basically running into the 20 ton gorilla that is MySpace/Fox online. This will be an interesting thing to watch. Anyone want to take bets who will come out on top?

Oh yeah and also MTVN has made some of their content available on Google Video on a pay to own basis. The model is changing for distribution and the big networks are beginning to shift as well.

Seth Godin at Gel

How can we do it better?

Here is the Google Video version

Which do you think looks better?

First of many!

Embrace the change!

The swan song...

Okay so first read this.

Now my 2 cents. I find it interesting that they find these finding shocking. Watch my 12 year old son and you will see he would much rather use the computer than watch TV. We are a fractured world and my feelings are that the only kind of television we are going to watch is the kind that we have delivered when we want it. A shift has been started and we will need to figure out a way to shift our dollars to the new model. The article also talks about there is still a future. Oh yes be sure to hang on to that future. Television is changing and in order to truly compete we have to provide better programming or deliver it to our customers when and how they want it.

EBay Changes Advertising

In the changing face of advertising this may allow all of us to buy ads across the country.

read more | digg story This may be an interesting future. This levels the playing field and just maybe will bring prices down. Well we can hope.

UPDATE:
I just found this much better post on the WSJ.It is interesting how AdWeek says that this will not replace the upfront and yet WSJ suggests that this is the future. Read them both and let me know what you think.

The end of the AOL Coaster

I will miss it...


Sometimes you have to adjust your model. It really is amazing at what AOL helped do for the early adopters of this so called internet. "A series of tubes"... Just a dig there.

Speaking of that dig if you support net neutrality go here.

Ch Ch Ch Changes....

Okay you have to sing the song when you read the title. A couple of interesting things in the news.

First has to do with Apple. With building anticipation to Steve Jobs' keynote on Monday regarding the new Apple products, this little tidbit has been released in regards to the Apple and iTunes legality in foreign countries. Now in my opinion Apple is going to need to adapt and figure out a way to make this work out. Apple has been sitting a top a virtual monopoly because they designed a great player and made their software as easy to use. They will need to be careful to not alienate consumers while navigating these new legal waters. Maybe a licensing program? I know they fear this because of their last dealings, but maybe a strategy.

And also this one. Time to go start shooting some video. I use iStockPhoto all of the time for stills as they have some great contributed stills, but with this change projects may get even easier.

One laptop per child project prototype

The first working prototype of the laptop for children of third world countries. A noble endeavor! Not really marketing, but this is definetly a different way of looking at computers and could help empower other parts of the world. Also I am curious about what people will watch these days. From a production standpoint not the best, but interesting content.

Embrace the change

So Amazon is embracing the new age of digital media with this new service. From a marketing standpoint I wish they wouldn't have called it "DV" as in the production world DV is a tape format, but I think this shows that there is a demand for this service or they are going to at least give it a try. The article also talks about Apple and Microsoft strategies for the future. What excites me is that increasingly this will allow "Jo Schmo" to sell their products to a larger audience.
Hopefully digital rights management and GUI don't mess it up.

Your way today!

Some thoughts today revolve around what media is to people today.
1) Have it your way
2) Tell us your story
3) Be authentic
4) See number 1

I only put number four on there because this is truly what today's digital age is about. You Tube, Google Video, MySpace, and a host of other social networking sites is about having it your way. Now your way is not a slogan that was used by one of those burger joints it is about the freedom to choose. People have chosen that is why MySpace truly does rank up there because people have chosen to have it their way and yet also tell their story. Hence number two which combined with number three is again the reason why we are seeing this influx of social networking and video sites.

The face of advertising is changing. Media is about you not about someone else. Each of us has the power to let others know how we feel and make it authentic. As advertisers we owe it to our customers to reach out and share our feelings on our product. Make it real and authentic not sanitized. Empower the customer to make a choice through the experience.

If you doubt what I am saying see number one again.

Links:
Seth Godin (Social commentary)
Washington Post (free registration)
Media Works
(How people have it their way and yet ad retention went up)

The changing face of MySpace?

So I posted a while ago about a commentary on how they could kill MySpace. Do you suppose this little tidbit is the forshadowing of things to come?

Now every provider of "free" content reserves the right to cancel said service at anytime it is just interesting timing. Now I am not a conspiracy theorist, but I would imagine that there are for more objectionable MySpace pages.

This one will be an interesting one to watch.

UPDATE: So it is back up.... Ted Stevens Fan Club

Oh and you need to learn more about what this is about!

Cutting through the clutter... How not to

So in this article in the USA Today there is great discussion how Honda is using a 5 second ad to thwart DVRs, but do you need to spend that money to thwart something? Why not spend the time developing loyal customers who will sell your product. I can see the trend now more and more shorter ads to get around the commercial skip function. This will only improve the already prevalent clutter in the broadcast market. I think that broadcasters who will increasingly become more and more hungry for revenue will back right up to this model. People choose DVRs because they both want to cut through the clutter as well as watch the shows when they want to.

Let's not clutter it up more.

New term or viable for marketing

So there is a new word out there called freedbacking. What is proposed is this will be a tag that will allow users to post feedback on a product for all to see. What this could mean as a marketer would be the ability to spot early trends on how your product is actually being used. Thoughts?

What do you project?

Each of us projects an image to those around us and to our customers. This fact struck me as I went to the recent concerts this last Saturday in Bend. Both acts were good musicians, but they did not do well with the audience. What I mean by this is they played well, but there was no interaction. Today more than ever we want people to relate to us and this was not done.

We owe it to our customers and clients to give them the same simple form of interaction. They are there to relate to you and your business for the long term unless you don't want them.

Future of mainstream television

The easiest way to fall behind is to not look ahead. I found this story this morning on NPR very interesting. I particularly enjoyed the piece where NBC's Zucker appears like he really is not sure how they are going to pay for shows in this new era. So if you are a big agency thinking that television still has power listen closely. I think even he may be a bit worried.

My Space...

So My Space is successful at networking, but this article posses some interesting questions.

My Space is tough to commoditize. How do you "sell" a site that has a lot of users, but they are there to network not be sold.

The changing face of television

Anyone who may think that TV is still king may well read this article. It seems there is a vast digital wasteland out there besides TV and media buyers may be interested in shifting resources.

Makes perfect sense to me.

I couldn't resist

Okay this is just embarrassing! Does anyone else see a problem with this or am I just being picky?

If you are trying to convey important information make it easy. Maybe just a click here button?

Where am I?

So we are on a job right now. I took this yesterday. Any ideas where I may be?

I just like them!

Creative funny and true to life... Well if you believe everything that the spin meisters want to tell you!

Event last night

We helped produce an event for the Cascade Festival of Music. It went very well. I guess I can't stop fighting this strange feeling of the amount of hours it takes to do an event right and yet it goes by so quick. I used some new software from Serious Magic called Ovation that does amazing things, but it still takes some time to get it to look right. When I put together a show I prefer to layer graphics with transparencies. Now I am not a Photoshop wizard, but at least feather and make the edges softer. This takes time and a lot of it. Do people notice? I hope so. I think I do it because I can and feel it is right.

This time is the difficult thing because when you say I will put together your PowerPoint people think okay well it should take you about an hour so I will pay you accordingly. Now I am not saying this is the case with the production we did last night, but it goes to show the perception that people have.

This thought goes towards how each of us as contractors should value each others time. We should be thinking about not trying to underestimate, but overestimate on our projects. We should do this not in the interest of gouging the client, but to allow the time to do the job right. If we take less time then we bill the client for less.

Let all of us take the time to do things right.

Course charting 101

The first thing you must do is establish it!

Hmmm.... That seems to be a bit hard. We dabble as a company in so many things!

Current projects include:
1) Church History Project DVD
2) Events for
Cascade Festival Of Music
Red Cross
PIA Weekend Conference
3) Promotional DVDs

And this is just a partial list. I think the thing I enjoy most about owning your own business is you get to pick the work, but it can be exhausting with all of the difference in it all. So how to chart the course?

In order to focus you need to have a goal. Mine is to support my family, but more importantly provide the best production that I can provide for the clients we serve and when it comes to the events we produce how can we make them different and unique. Now the goal can become a bit askew from time to time, but it is important to allow minor course corrections occasionally. Time for one....

Man I am vague. Anyone want to read between the lines?

The seeds of an idea

Sometimes the randomness of the world will collide and germinate an idea. These ideas grow until you have to listen to them and act. I know a bit cryptic, but more to come soon...

So we went to NAB last week and saw HD for everyone as Sony coined it. Interesting use when not everyone can enjoy watching it due to things like in this market only having one true over the HD outlet. The further fighting over HD DVD vs Blue Ray DVD is beginning to put a damper on what consumers want which is true HD that they can watch. Only when the final battle over the next DVD format has been one will we have the answer. Meantime I think I should go shoot some HD to see how it works out.

Apple's announcement of the 17" Mac Book Pro is another advancement in the future of media. I found it rewarding to have Apple demonstrating how easy it is to use Garage Band to create Podcasts. I wonder why Adobe doesn't get that?

So the future is HD and in so many other things. With the course uncharted it is time to chart a course.

Events

Here are a couple of pictures from what we worked on this last weekend. It is enjoyable working with such a professional group. Furthermore it was a vey uplifting event. The Oregon FFA Association is a positive uplifting group and it was wonderful working with so many talented youth. We helped produce an IMAG feed as well as DVDs of the event for sale.

What it means to be a marketer

Read this post from Seth Godin and you may learn a few things about what you may want to do with your own business. Authenticity

What could you do with 1.68 Million

That is a very good question and as we approach the second highest viewed Television event that is what you would have to pay to get your add on ABC's telecast. It is amazing that there are budgets out there to support that. How do you measure ROI on $1.68 million? So maybe a time to change is in order here. The ability to leverage that $1.68 million is at hand with existing technologies and to engage your clients and customers and pull them in.

Imagine investing in a digital signage platform that utilizes your media that you are preparing for video podcasts. Video that you have produced and prepared to reach out to your customers because you know they are your customers.

Am I dreaming or would you rather spend that $1.68 million on a chance of capturing your audience?

Where did you go?

Okay so no posts for a while because I was unwinding from the Drake Awards. I am big into truth in everything I write on these pages and with that in mind a little about the event. I say truth because it did not go well. I can remember writing many months ago about technical challenges and that is what happened again. A glitch during the dry run set us back a few hours and unfortunately that was to many hours. We did have one of the two screens completely functional and that was a saving grace. It all went okay in the end and I think I am probably my worst critic, but needed to at least comment on it. Learned a lot and mainly never volunteer for a show of this magnitude as it is probably the largest show in existence with a huge amount of awards and graphics to be built. Definitely will change the way we do it again.

Well back to convergence next week.

Pictures posted from today

Click on the link above and check out the pictures from today. It went smoothly and the room looks great. I am excited about the show tomorrow.

T Minus 3 Days

Full production mode for the upcoming Drake Awards. Most of the details are worked out and we are preparing and programming close to 200 elements in order to completely automate the entire show. We will post photos starting on Thursday. It is enjoyable watching the production come together and watching the production when it starts. All of the work is sometimes very much worth it and this is one of those occasions.

Some podcasting stats

I found this interesting.

Over 4.8 million people downloaded a podcast from a radio station or other source in 2005, compared to just 820,000 in 2004, according to Bridge Ratings, which measures radio audiences. By 2010, podcasts may reach 45 million users. Other findings include:

* 20% of those who download podcasts do so weekly. This group downloads an average six podcasts per week.
* Only 20% of this group currently listen on MP3 players.
* ‘Innovators’ pull the change in technology use and comprise 2.3% of the overall population.
* ‘Early adopters’ comprise another 13.5% of the population; these opinion leaders try out new ideas and technology, but carefully.
* The skeptical ‘Late majority’ are 34% of the population.
* ‘Laggards,’ at 16% of the population, are traditionalists who tend to be the last to adopt a technological innovation.

So with that said we will be producing our own podcast by the end of the month. I am not sure what the topic will be, but look for it soon.

How to cut through the clutter

During this week of ultimate hype how can you cut through the clutter or the noise of all of the hype. The simplist way probably is just tell your story. As I have gone through this business I lost that fact somewhere. I called myself the ultimate geek that everyone knows, but no one knows how I can help them and their clients. So one of the best ways to market is to just tell your story, but make it better. I don't mean make a lie out of it, but figure out how you can do things better and do it. As small business owners we have the ability to move quickly and make mistakes and correct from them. So I guess it is really time for me to go make some mistakes.

A new paradigm

Something I am working on to again have a wider reach. Let me know what you think.

Podcasting Production Value

I would like to take a few moments and talk about why you shouldn't just hook up a microphone and record a podcast. I have been listening to different podcasts and the ones that engage me are the ones that in my opinion are producing them the correct way. I recently was following one of the links for a large advertising weekly and discovered they had a podcast. I thought it would be interesting to listen to and found it on iTunes. If you aren't in iTunes you should find a way to be in there. Listening to it I was shocked. Image is everything in today's business and with technology now at such an amazing cost point it is fairly easy to make a decent sounding podcast. Theirs is not and that is to bad. Podcasts are not just being listened to on those tiny headphones, but are listened to on large home systems now and we owe it to ourselves to make good sounding ones and if you don't know how contact me and I can give you some ideas.

Okay stepping off my soapbox.

Frank Deford On NPR

So I was listening this morning to Morning Edition and Frank Deford had a commentary piece. For those that are not familiar with Mr. Deford he is Senior Writer for Sports Illustrated. He has an interesting paradigm for the motion picture folks to consider in relationship to professional sports. If you want to listen to the entire thing click here.

His question is that movies as we know them have reached a point where they may start to have declining sales. It truly is an interesting thought that movies are bent on saying that they have x dollars in sales the past weekend. As a consumer this may just anoy us even more. What would happen as Mr. Giford wonders if they said this weekend we had 1 million people come see this movie. I think many would want to check out the movie and see why people are going. An interesting paradigm to think of. I think the rest of his piece is humorous and you will enjoy the changes he recommends for the Oscars. What changes would you make with the traditional movie theater experience?

Mainstream Convergence

I think it is a sign of the times when the NFL puts the Super Bowl ads on their own platform. The NFL announced that they will be distributing just the ads to VOD platforms and cell phones. It truly is moves like this that continues to change the playing field in how we distribute our message to the general public. How are you distributing yours?

The Big Build Up!

The only time that people truly are waiting to watch television ads is you guessed it the Super Bowl. Now I am not much of a sports enthusiast, but I will admit that I have watched the super Bowl and sometimes for the game. I do enjoy watching the commercials. It is the only time that a hush goes over a room so that you can listen to what is on the commercial. An interesting thought is how many of the viewers of the Super Bowl are just like me watching for the ads.

Watching the trades right they are filled with the buildup to their ads on the Super Bowl. In one recent trade publication I saw three press releases about upcoming ads on the Super Bowl. With this much marketing for the marketing it is no wonder people watch for the ads.

This year though I have a reason to watch because the one team I occasionally watch is the Seahawks and they made it finally this year.

The intellectual power struggle

With only days remaining to find out if my BlackBerry goes dead it strikes me that the new frontier in technology is truly the assets of knowledge. At stake for RIM (Research in Motion)is if they can continue to transmit data over cell providers. Now I will spare you the lengthy discussion of court and legaleeze, but really the future stake holders of this digital wasteland will be the knowledge barrens. So only in a half a decade we have gone from the oil barrens to the knowledge barrens. I wonder if this term is on Winkipedia? So the keys to the future may truly be in design and this knowledge mining. What does it take to be on the new frontier these days?

Planning an event

With only a few weeks to go to the 2006 Drake Awards I am excited about how many entries we have. This has been a great year with over 50 companies represented by over 380 entries. Management of this much content is definitely a team effort and it is wonderful having such an incredible board around us as we go down this road. We will again be driving the show as automated as possible with the use of two screens to showcase the work appropriately. Stay tuned for more updates as we get closer.

Features and Big Companies

This week Adobe announced an upgrade of their production bundle. What surprised me is that within Audition they have no quick way to make a podcast. I am not sure why as I have not seen the product, but it surprises me in that this is such a major trend going on. I am sure they would say that you could prepare one with it and you certainly can, but why not include and easier way to do it.

That is the secret of being the small company. The small business owner can spot these trends and adjust their strategy. In fact as a small business owner you must adapt. We do not have the ability like the big companies to just get by with status quo. Challenge the way you do things and you may find a brand new trend.

The power of customer service

The almighty buck is very much tied into the all mighty customer. I know that goes without saying, but what are you doing for your customers? What experiences are they having when you greet them or even how they feel about the service they receive? I ask this because we were at a local restaurant the other day. This restaurant has very good Mexican food and has good service also. We had finished our meal and were waiting for our check and it had not come. Some time went by and still no waiter or check. We actually were beginning to wonder what was going on as this usually never happens. Finally we asked another of the staff and within moments our waiter came over and we joked that we thought it was free the next thing out of his mouth made us a customer for a long time. He said that he was very sorry and that indeed it was on him. What a way to turn a situation. Now we were not in a hurry, but it made a difference and now we will be going back with no hesitation and will probably recommend it. SO how are you treating your customers?

Leveling of the playing field

Google has announced that it will acquire a company that specializes in radio buys in local markets. Now people are probably wondering why, and it would seem that they want to own not the production, but the distribution. What this means from a marketing standpoint is simply that once Google figures out how to do it you will be able to place an add with them that will get a spot on their video site, have links in text searches and now will be able to place your radio adds in select markets. This is some power for advertisers and gives that power to the small guy. It may be time for some entrenched agency to start listening to their clients and do work for them as opposed to for their reel. Google has the muscle to go toe to toe with the big guys and will use that muscle. Another convergent strategy to watch.

14 million

Often times we forget that simply changing a paradigm can create a huge market. Apple has done that with an over 80% market share they have created a unique market. As I posted earlier they have excelled in making the interface easy to use. They have created a new paradigm with video that now google is following. Video is a new convergence and the distribution model is changing also. What will the next change be?

Instant Information

Okay so as I posted a long time ago about mac versus pc I do enjoy using a mac and so I am reading a live transcript of the goings on. I think this is a testament at how quickly you can truly move the information about your brand if you are set up properly. Kudos to Mac Rumors.

Dreaming of convergence

Here is the link to the blog posting in regards to Google's CES announcement. Interesting to see what Steve Job's says tomorrow.

Do you think this will backfire?

Okay so just read it and tell me what you think about the fine telephone company. Message - Tell customers what they are getting and what they can't do upfront.

Traditional Media Today

I decided to let a bit of the edge of this weeks events calm down before posting. First let me say that I have all of the sympathy in the world for the miners families and I hope that the one remaining miner will continue his recovery. With those things said I find it interesting in this day and age of instant information that it is so easy to get it wrong. Before I went to bed on Tuesday I had heard that they had found the miners alive and yet only one ambulance left the scene. This puzzled me as time went by and I went to bed thinking I am not so sure that all of them are alive. I listened to NPR the next morning and heard that truly only one was alive and the families were struggling because only hours earlier they had been told they were alive. Maybe it is human nature that we seek hope in our deepest hours of despair, but why do we lead with that on the news? Even today CNN has the post from that evening still up. I just did a Google search and it was 5th on the list. The hardest thing is reading the paper and just like the Dewey wins headline there it was the next morning "Trapped Miners Found Alive". I guess if I am trying to make a point with this it is that local media should concentrate on what is around them. There are true journalistic stories waiting to be told, but aren't. Today's information society also owes something to checking facts and just because some family member hears it from someone else and then tells CNN that it is true shouldn't we make sure that it is true?

Okay stepping off my soap box now. Any thoughts?

Marketing and early adopters

Okay so I have been doing some very serious thought about convergent media and how we can cross the chasm that Geoff Moore talks about in his book Crossing the Chasm. For those that are not familiar the curve looks like this:


Already Apple is positioning itself to try to cross the chasm by deploying another unique product to an installed base that knows how to use an iPod, but there are also even more winds of change blowing. The problem is crossing the chasm and moving the technology into the hands of the middle of the curve users.

I consider myself an early adopter of as much technology as possible if it will make what I do easier, but I also am very conscious of cost associated with some early adopter technologies. The key here is how the marketing can demonstrate how easy it is to use the technology so the middle majority, as I will call them, will adopt it. My feeling is that is why experiential marketing has truly grown in recent times. This power of experience gets the product into the hands of the buyer of the technology and empowers them to use it and see how easy it is to use.

All of this talk of convergent media will mean nothing unless the tools on the final end become easy to use. iTunes certainly has made it easy as have TiVo and others, but when you go forward and look at how you can now through Slingbox get your television delivered to you at any time through the net that changes another paradigm but only if it is easy to use.

So how do we design the product to make it work with ease?

Upcoming event

As one of the co-chairs of the Drake Awards we are fast approaching the event. If you are not familiar with the Drake's it is the event that we hold to recognize both the creative work and those who do it in the advertising field. It is a fun event to attend and we are worjking hard to make sure this next years is as good as ever. Let me know if you would like more information.

Happy Holidays

I think we have some of the best clients in the business. It is so great to have the ones that we do and I am looking forward to next year!

Happy Holidays!

Clients and feeling of warmth

One of the reasons to own your own business is to work with great clients. When you do a job for an appreciative client it makes it so wonderful. I was fortunate to get to work on an event this last weekend that we put together quite a show and this morning the client was so appreciative. It makes all of the hard work so worth it. I guess that is also a statement about this time of year. Everyone around us deserves a little thanks. Look up from the ground and thank the next person that holds the door or does something nice for you. Maybe even thank the person who makes your coffee, but when you do it say it with sincerity because people can tell when you are not. Feel the warmth of saying thanks and you really have found the spirit of this time of the year. Just some thoughts.

The world of technology

Okay so the biggest challenge I think I face today is being able to unplug. In an ever increasing world of instant on I lack that switch to turn it off. This is both a positive and a negative. I love being able to answer questions from our clients as they come in, but when I really should be taking a break and relaxing I feel lost. I think that part of this is a product of my age and growing up in this wired world, but I need to learn how to turn off the gadgets once in a while.

Along this wired note I am really excited about this solution. This will be a very powerful tool that will allow us to be in constant contact with our clients and be a truly mobile team. We will be able to send and recieve emails while on the road from our phones as well as update contacts and schedule meetings. take a look at it and see for yourself some of the advantages.

Oh yeah did I mention I need to find a way to unplug...

Opportunity Foundation Release

Here is the press release on The Opportunity Foundation Of Central Oregon. This was indeed a very fun project for a tremendous organization.

A couple of press items in regards to BendFilm

I am so glad to be working with this organization. take a look at the great press they received from this years event.

DVD Talk
Willamette Week

Tomorrow I will post the press release on our last event for the Opportunity Foundation of Central Oregon.

Enough Said!

Okay let the revolution begin! This is the next paradigm shift in media that is on the horizon. We need to embrace this change and make it even better. Apple is providing the tools we need to move to utilize them.

iTunes Music Store Sells One Million Videos in Less Than 20 Days
CUPERTINO, California—October 31, 2005—Apple® today announced that iTunes® Music Store customers have purchased and downloaded more than one million videos since they debuted on October 12. Customers can choose from over 2,000 music videos, Pixar short films and hit TV shows for just $1.99. Top downloads include music videos from Michael Jackson, Fatboy Slim and Kanye West; Pixar’s “For the Birds” and “Boundin’”; and episodes of ABC’s hit TV shows “Lost” and “Desperate Housewives.”

“Selling one million videos in less than 20 days strongly suggests there is a market for legal video downloads,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “Our next challenge is to broaden our content offerings, so that customers can enjoy watching more videos on their computers and new iPods.”

Music videos are available from artists including Madonna, U2, Eurythmics, Coldplay and Kanye West, and animated shorts are available from Academy Award-winning Pixar Animation Studios. In a landmark deal with ABC Disney, the iTunes Music Store also offers current and past episodes from the two most popular shows on television, “Desperate Housewives” and “Lost” as well as the new drama series “Night Stalker” and the two most popular shows from Disney Channel, “That’s So Raven” and “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.”

Coming full circle

Podcasting and you! Okay maybe a different form than audio. A series of tips that you could play on your new iPod. I think I need to invest in a new one and experiment in putting my own videos in it. I see a unique possibility opening up in ways that you could use it as a tool to reach your customer and maybe even educate them at the same time. Interested?

Things of note this morning

A couple of things:

First the Above The Noise DVD/CD will officially be released October 29th at Westside Church. To celebrate the release we are bringing in a few cameras of IMAG and switch the feed to their screens. This should be fun and I am looking forward to getting my hands on an actual release version.

Second I have determined that I will officially announce here our support for Podcasting and adding it to our services full time. I encourage all of our clients to think about how they can deliver their message in this form. It will be of great use to many of them in the near future as it will allow them to deliver their message directly to who wants to hear it.

Current Project:
Opportunity Foundation of Central Oregon

Launch Pad 2005

Not a very great picture, but one I snapped earlier today before we installed the AV. This was a first year event called Launch Pad. It was a high tech event that was very enjoyable and satisfying to do. The keynote speaker was Dr. Moira Gunn and it was interesting to listen to what she had to say about innovation and technology and how it relates to Central Oregon.

I am also struck at how dynamic a presentation has the potential to be if you take a little time to plan. I guess why I say this is most people in my viewpoint only view PowerPoint as a way to an end, but imagine if you could use it to create a dynamic presentation. Now PowerPoint is probably the worst at playing back video clips, but it does excel at facts. Now imagine if you were to mix those facts with live dynamic media from a DVD or even from the web. This would involve your audience and tie them into your message. What if you were even able to make a podcast of the speech and have it available for a small fee on a CD for them to take home. Something definitely to think about.

We really did have a unique environment at Launch Pad because we had at least 2 live sources of wireless internet. What this would allow is truly the ability to use the web as a realtime tool to show off websites or other tools online. Increasingly venues offer this sort of option and you could then also do realtime graphics that pull from a website. Just some rants for the night!

Above the Noise thoughts

So I have in my hands a final authored version of Above the Noise that is now in the hands of the duplication facility. There is a bit of relief, and yet at the same time I am having a hard time letting go of this project. Sometimes the toughest part of a project like this is just saying you are done. As an editor and producer I always am pushing for better and better and yet sometimes it just has to be what it is. This project will change lives and it will bring a new style of contemporary worship to those that need it the most, but perfection is my benchmark. This project was both trying and yet extremely rewarding. Is it done? Well for the time being I would say yes, but would I like to revisit it if there is a second production run, absolutely. If you are interested in knowing more go ahead and email me and I will be happy to share what ever I know or point you in the right direction of those who do. I think I will put a link to a streaming version in the coming weeks that will be a couple of songs.

Time goes on...

So I am intrigued. Podcasting is really quiet a revolutionary way to reach your clients and potential clients. It gives you the power to reach and talk to those people that want to listen to what you have to say and if you speak honestly you are actually an expert. This allows an even greater reach into those precious pockets of your clients or customers. When you listen to a podcast you are an active listener because they have subscribed. Makes me wonder what kind of podcast I could do. Any ideas?

BendFilm final day

With the festival winding down I am struck with how much it takes a great group of individuals to pull off something of this magnitude. For only the second year this really has evolved into a wonderful festivsl. BendFilm builds itself around the filmakers and tries to put the priorities of them first. I feel strongly in this. In talking to some of the filmmakers they have put a lot of time and are very passionate about their films. That is why I am greatful that I have a great group of associates that look out in that interest too. I am greatful for all that they have done in the last few days and look forward to working with them in the near future.

BendFilm's team is as important. They have an outstanding team that is very focused on the best experience and it shows in every way. Several filmakers have stated that they get that feeling of importance also remarking that BendFilm seems to be doing things right. I am excited to be apart of this and will work hard to make sure that it continues.

The light is near!

As I post this we are close to finishing the Above the Noise DVD. It is one of those projects that as I get closer in a way I will be sad to see it over. I have learned a lot about business and a lot about myself as a editor. I will miss the interaction of Casey and Beth, but I know our paths will cross very soon again and this time the product will be even better because we will have a better vision of the project from the start. Look for a windows media file or two to be linked on the side bar. Up next BendFilm.

The random post of the day...

So for all of us production people out there it looks like there is hope in sight! Okay maybe we shouldn't live this way, but for those long editing session day after day help is on the way.

The random thought of the day!

Change in projects

You know that you really are pushing the envelope when you pull several all nighters and when all is said and done you just aren't happy enough. That is the way that the Above the Noise DVD is going. We are pushing hard to get this done and delivered by tomorrow, but we all sat down and said you know it isn't ready yet. This is a powerful DVD that will have a broad reach and yet we seem to be pushing it. The message will get lost unless we do it correct and that is just what we are going to do. We sat down and talked to the client and they agree that it needs to be done right and not let the message get lost. New deadline is August 1st and we will have an amazing DVD then.

other projects going on right now include a new edit for Working Wonders and 2005 campaign video for United Way of Deschutes County.

Reinventing the ????

So it is interesting to think that I am awake at 2:50am. Maybe it is the hot summer night or the restlessness of the next step. So what do I do I turn on the computer and contemplate just that.

Steps within every business happen. You open your doors. You make your first sale. You may even have a great group of repeat customers, but how did you get here? It struck me as I sit here on this warm summer night that first; this really is unlike any post I have made recently and second; we all reinvent ourselves or at least we should. From time to time we should take a breath, look around and take a hard look at where we are in life. Now sometimes that is a scary thing to do I realize, but I guess I was fortunate that events happened that made me look at my life a year ago. As I begin year 2 in business and almost a full year in the blogasphere it is time to take those steps again.

The reason I started this business was because I really only wanted to work for myself. I find this incredibly rewarding, but the one thing I do miss is the amount of interaction with the other employees. People and your relationships with them are really some of the rewards in life. I am fortunate that I have worked for some great clients so far and it really was the people. So I guess I have traded one form of relationship for another and some would say you are able to really take the time with clients that you may not be able to do with co-workers. Personal gain only gets you so far in life it is how you form those bonds with your clients or I guess the way that I would treat them would be friends. I think I have made a pretty good trade in that regard, but what about the other reasons which were, Family, Time, and personal satisfaction.

I think that those are the things I am struggling with the most. I really am blessed to have a great girlfriend. She has opened my eyes to many things and we just recently had the conversation about working conditions. For all of you out there that operate home based businesses you can appreciate what I am about to say in that it is tough to run a business out of your home and have kids that are home during the summer. Plus side you can go out on a nice summer day and do something, but it also can make them a tad stir crazy. So I think it may be time to get an office. Now Bend is not exactly the best place for real estate, but it may just be workable. This will mean I may have to actually have office hours again which is not exactly my favorite, but it will give a feeling of okay here is where I work and here (home) is were I relax. Increased overhead, but I think it may be time.

I really am feeling a strong pull to grow the business. Not necessarily to make it bigger, but better. More focused on what I love to do and that is live events. I realized that I have not produced an event for a couple of months and would love to do another. I just love the adrenaline rush you get when everything is working and you are enjoying the event. I may need some reinvention here. I think I need to go back to my roots and develop some marketing materials that can help sell those services better. Show people why they need to hire us.

You know the reason you should be doing anything though is because you love it and I most certainly do!

Yes More Functionality

So as you will see by the post below I am working on adding even more functionality and include even better photo links. We are working fast and furious on the DVD for Above the Noise and I hope to go into authoring by the end of next week.

Thought for the day: How will HD filter down into use by everyone in the home?

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Mac VS PC

Okay why the heck would I take a swipe at this one... I am definitely treading in uncalm waters! Let me get this out of the way. I edit with Premiere Pro on a PC and have in one way or another edited on a PC for the last 7 years. So with that disclaimer out of the way let me talk a bit of the reasons that I would go to a Mac for doing what I do.

I am in the business of creating media. I want a tool that will do the job in a cost effective manner and one that has many features built into one piece of software. I think for everything that has been done Microsoft has done an outstanding job when it comes to tools for the office, but that is what they have focused on. Apple has focused on developing tools for media professionals.

I recently did a job for a client that required me to edit some video pieces into a short movie and then play it back during the final banquet. Now I have been editing on a PC, but I had access to a G4 laptop and decided to give it a whirl. The process went so much smoother and I was even able to burn a simple DVD in less time than with my PC. I know the Mac may be slower, but the workflow is in my opinion much better and even quicker on a mac. I encourage Apple to take this opportunity over the next 2 years to really develop fast efficient computers with Intel.

Okay now back to work on my PC... Oh but I crave a new G5 with Final Cut Pro.

Podcasts?

So the question of the day for me has to be the natural extension of podcasting into video. Apple deserves some credit here. I know that they are the little company that people either love, hate, or love to hate; but they are changing the landscape of how media is delivered. With the new update of iTunes they have included a feature for podcasting. This alone leads to greater equalization in media by allowing anyone with a way to record audio to publish their thoughts on the matter. What this means from a marketing standpoint is podcasting can be an extremely useful tools with tips of the day or even speeches from CEOs or even more. I know that the more traditional marketing people would tell you that the potetial for your message to be copied and diluted is also there, but I think this is just another way that we can reach out to our customers. I think I really went off into a tangent though.

I think that the engineers are working hard on how can they include video podcasting. Imagine the ability to not only deliver audio, but deliver your commercials or other content directly to your customer. Now the trick here is that customers know when they are being sold something so you have to give them something that is real about your product or better ways to use them. This seems to be a natural extension of even events with the ability to deliver your conferences at first in audio, but also long term with video as well.

This is going to be fun!

A post a day will keep what away?

Greetings to all of you who may read my Blog. Apologies for not posting sooner! Just wanted to give you folks some quick updates on projects and talk a little about a great easy read for business owners.

The DVD is progressing and we will have a rough version by the end of next week to be looked at. Just shot an Iron Chef like competition at our local Bite Of Bend. We pumped it to a smaller screen for people to watch the food being prepared up close.

So I also wanted to talk a little about a book I just finished which is "Raving Fans". For anyone who has ever thought about making a difference with their customer service programs I encourage you to give a quick read to this one. This book has been out several years, but even today the lessons it teaches is simple and easily implemented!

PIA Version 2

So I am currently in a hotel in Coeur d'Alene Idaho after finishing a banquet for PIA and ready to go home. I wish I had some more time to look around here, but oh well it is what it is.

I am getting a kick out of doing what I love for great clients! In the last week I have done events for the Red Cross and PIA. It is a lot of fun to just combine what you love with work... Or is it really work?

The gorillas with the airline obviously however appeared to have droped my brand new case for some of my gear. When I got here I opened it and have noticed the rack rails on the inside are a bit bent. Need to figure a better way of shipping gear for projects like this.

So in the next week I have to get another rough cut done on Above The Noise and also go ballooning! Yep Balloons over Bend is this weekend and I am looking forward to crewing for Skydancer Balloon Company. For those of you who haven't tried it you must go ballooning. It is a very gentle feeling and very enjoyable!

A great performance

So the Sunday came and went and what a whirlwind day it was. It really is amazing at what we put in that room. Visually I got some great shots by Fluid Images and the rest of the talented crew.

I was really struck on Sunday after the show by all of it. I guess I become numb to the sense of live production. It takes a lot to pull off a good show and it has to be done by good people as well. When a good show comes together you have a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment. I think these pictures show how well it looked.

I also am really blessed to be around some incredible people. Not only are they very supportive, but they allow me to continue to push the envelope. Conor keeps raising the bar higher and higher and in turn challenges me to think of different things in unique ways.


Back stage picture

Picture of concert in progress

Not only though is it Conor, but on this one it was an entire group of talented individuals from Above The Noise LLC. Every time I have done a production for them I learn a couple of more things about myself in the process. A good client is one that challenges and rewards through the process of the creation, and they are just that kind of client.

Really though with this kind of production you have an even deeper thanks for those around you that support you. In this case I am really blessed to have a wonderful girlfriend who supports me and the wierd hours of production!

Well on to the next!

T Minus 2 Days

The stage has been placed a day early and the audio has also been placed. Things are taking shape very nicely with completion of the front video piece nearly complete as well. Another really busy day ahead tomorrow, but it is all worth it.



With four subs a side it shakes the entire facility. Pretty amazing sound!

Our front of house engineer, Josh, hard at work dialing in the sound.

T Minus 3 Days

Picture of group working on the platforms for the cameras and Front of house consoles.


This is a picture from rehersal on Sunday night.

Future Filmmakers

So here is a picture from an event a couple of weeks ago. I ran an entire awards show for young filmmakers as well as bringing in a PA for the room. There is a lot of talent that those kids have. The winner of the "Best Of Show" was a spoof on the Lord of the Rings and was very humorous.

T minus 10 days

Here is obviously not a very good picture, but one of a logistics meeting we had the other day. Stage design is in process and final preparations are being made. I will attempt to post daily for the next week to give you the readers a better picture of what we are doing.

T Minus 18 Days

So with it fast approaching we are finalizing the details on the concert DVD for Westside Church. The event is Above the Noise and we will be doing 6 cameras including a crane. As we get closer look for a daily update with pictures of the event each day.

I think I need to write a few press releases about what we have been doing as it has been a lot of great events and a whole lot of fun.

Celebration Of Kids 2005

This is a couple of images from the event last weekend.

This is what it looked like to the audience with the occasional use of IMAG (image magnification) on the screen to the right.


This is a dancer from Warm Springs that helped entertain before the event.

Drake Awards 2005 Images

Here are a couple of images from the awards last month.

This is a picture of the stage before the night began.


Our emcee in action during the event. We drove the 2 screens completely automated. With over 100 images alone on the right screen it took quite a bit of programming by this guy below.


For those of you who read this blog you have seen pictures of him, but this event came off so well largely because of the tremendous work done by Conor of LJ3 Entertainment.


Okay me hard at work during the event.

One more complete

One more event completed! We produced an event for Central Oregon Boys & Girls Clubs and they seemed to be happy. We had some challenges with a drama group, but as a whole it was a great event and I think their was great excitement when it was completed.

This next week:

Produce as many DVDs for Westside as possible.

A month without a post....

Okay I know it really has been a long time. I had a great event this last Saturday and many great things going on. I will post some stuff next week, but I just wanted to let the 3 readers of my blog know that I am alive and kicking.

Productions done in the last 30 days:
1) 30 Second spot for auto repair company
2) Shot some footage for BendFilm
3) Shot 4 DVDs and posted one for local church
4) Major awards banquet (Pictures to come)
5) Pre-production for event next Saturday
6) Began work for production of concert DVD

More details to come early next week on a few of these. On an interesting google note I have had 3 people ask for help in regards to a type one error in Adobe Encore all from this blog. I guess another testament to blogging.

You are doing what?

Okay I have to admit it I took a job for a local TV station producing a commercial because their production schedule is something like 4 weeks out. I know that I will enjoy doing it because it is using my skills, but at the same time I really don't want to get back into the spot production business at least on a small budget scale. It is rewarding helping a fellow small business owner get their message out in hopes to drive customers to their door. Just not very profitable, but something to add to my reel of things I can do.

Creative spam for the day!

Okay so I don't normally read spam, but this one caught my attention because of the phrases around the outside... Click on it and view it full size and see what you think. Someone went to a lot of effort to bypass a spam filter.

HDV Update

So I said I would post a little on HDV and it's inroads. I came across this interesting post on HDV and HD. It is a bit on the lengthy side, but it does show that there is a strong belief from a consumer standpoint HDV will equate to the image quality of HD. I will say that there will always be advantages with using HDCam or Panasonic's Varicam, but for smaller corporate clients they will be getting maximum bang for their buck. One other thing of interest that I recently overheard from fairly reliable sources (Panasonic and Sony reps) Sony will be unveiling an HD camcorder based on their current XDCam technology which will be very intriguing from a standpoint that it records to optical disc which means that you will be able to bypass the whole encoding step and load right into your editor. Panasonic will also have something like this for their P2 system which records to flash memory cards. It is exciting to see how technology within the HD market is beginning to really make inroads into a lower pricepoint making it possible for all producers to produce in HD. Food for thought.......

An incredible weekend

Some images from Sunday nights performance. It was an amazing time and thouroughly enjoyable. It really has given me an idea of the direction that I need to head in. I need some gear and some other things, but this will really work. Conor from LJ3 and I together put up 2 screens for a total of 3 including the tower's one in the center and all of the stage mics and gear for sound reinforcement. I did IMAG and VJ on the center and left and Westside put up words for the songs on the left. This was just the culmination of an incredibly busy weekend. More to come on that including some more images.

Working for yourself gratification!

I came to a realization this morning that I must stay the course for one reason alone, I deeply am moved by doing pieces that effect and change lives for the positive. I am putting the final touches on a fund raising piece for my kids school and I was moved by the way it spoke to the small parent "focus" group that saw it. I would have not been able to do that before. Certainly with my previous job we did things that were great for the community, but seldom was there the opportunity to do smaller pieces for groups that I was effected by. I need this flexibility in my life as I know that in the long run I need this as a cornerstone of my own personal life. Yes I am getting a bit personal here, but I need to realize that my business is founded on my core beliefs and will follow those.

The dream that I will follow will be to direct not necessarily produce for a non-profit production company. A company to do pieces for non-profits that need a bigger bang, but don't have the bigger bucks. The idea is to work with those that have the bucks to help offset the ones that do not. Keep costs down and make it a training ground for younger visionaries and people that are just getting into the business. A dream, but one to follow.

Okay now out of the ethereal and down to reality:
Friday-Media Mania For Winterfest (The promo piece premiers during this event at a separate location)
Saturday- Cascade Festival of Music
Sunday- Westside Church "Above the Noise"

Next week a quick update on HDV and HD in general.