Ignite Bend #ib1

If you missed it here is the stream we produced for Ignite Bend. I am really excited about the opportunities of doing more streaming. Got an idea of something you would like streamed?

Video Production on the cheap?

I have run across a blog post with the title "What Expensive Video Production Companies Don’t Want You to Know" and I have to admit it is quite frustrating to read. I thought about not putting in the link, but the rational of the author is not very sound so go take a look.

In this YouTube era anyone CAN do a video and post it online. This is no different than anyone can build a webpage, anyone can be a mechanic, or anyone can be a high rise window washer. Okay so I admit the last two are a bit of a stretch, but the point I am trying to make is just because you can doesn't mean you should. What the author is trying to get from you is to buy their products. He is trying to illustrate how easy it is without giving all of the information so let's break this down bit by bit.

1. Video production companies don’t want you to know about hosting companies who can store these large files online for you. I am not sure who he is talking about here as all of our clients I either recommend them place their videos out on YouTube or other video sites or host themselves on their sites. The trick to doing this is compression and we want you the client to succeed on the web.
2. A video ad marketing campaign requires a good camera to do the job. These cameras are not required or only held by expensive companies but can be rented at local camera shops for a small percentage of what you would pay the company. Good cameras are required for this however you can't go down to your Joe's camera shop and rent one. Good cameras are only really obtainable from a rental house and you can assume $250 plus a day.
   
3. There are cheap editing packages out there you can find to edit your videos for free or even at a very low cost. Yes there are, but how much time are you willing to invest in learning the package.
   
4. They also don’t want you to know that your video is compatible with other platforms and sites. I think I stated this before... You need to be successful
   
5. One of the major costs of a video marketing production company is usually the costs of marketing. I think the author is talking about "large" groups, but ultimately the true cost of a lot of business is marketing. We feel differently about marketing and do not invest large sums into print and online.
   
6. The number one thing a video marketing or production company that is expensive does not want you to know is how easy it really is to make your own videos.
   

This last item is where we all should learn an important thing. Easy = cheap. While the costs of equipment have dramatically come down in the past few years experience with lighting, audio, compression, and scripting go to how your product looks on camera. This is the true cost of hiring a professional. The first video you do personally can take hours if not days. A professional video production company digs in knows what you as a client really needs and gives you a product you will be proud of for years to come not just until the next great internet marketing idea comes around.

If you are not doing video on the web drop us a line at info at pinnaclemediainc.com and discover the benefits in working with a company with the experience in this form of production.

The story of the day....

BACK UP YOUR HARD DRIVE TODAY....

Sorry for the yelling. I have been unfortunate to have been in contact with two drives in the last week that are nothing more than bricks. In one case the person had their life's work on it. In classic "Sex in the City" fashion the comment was made no one ever told me to back up my hard drive.

How easy is it? Well if you are on a Mac first start running Leopard and go down to Best Buy and get yourself a 500 gig hard drive and plug the drive in. I prefer firewire for speed, but USB will work. You will be greeted with a box that says do you want to use this drive as a Time Machine backup and you will choose yes. That is as simple as it is for us Mac users.

If you are on a PC I have been told that Acronis True Image is quite good.

The other option is to sync your files into the "cloud" for truly safe backups, but you will only want to do selective backups as the time required even over a fast connection is lengthy. Examples include Amazon S3 (paid) and Mozy (Free for a small amount).

The important thing is just do it today.

PLEASE NOOOOOO

Okay so this may be the worst thing. Production value no! He is reading off a prompter and I really wonder if he knows what is going on with the digital transition. Did he "partner" with them or did they pay him. Talk about a bad choice for a spokesperson. I shouldn't post, but it just is so bad to not.

iTunes losing DRM?

So I was reading my news feed tonight and came across this post in regards to iTunes and DRM. It looks like the record labels may be finally allowing Apple to sell their songs without the blasted DRM that causes so much frustration when moving the files. I have gone in and checked my songs and was greeted with the the following screen.

So maybe we can cross DRM off for good on iTunes? I certainly hope so.

BendFilm Press Release

I realized I never did post this so for your enjoyment... or maybe shameless self promotion.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact: JoAnn Hand, Pinnacle Media (541) 633-7476

BENDFILM WORKS WITH PINNACLE MEDIA ON NEW DIGITAL SCREENING
Pinnacle Media Enhances Viewing Experience for Bendfilm Attendees

(Bend, Oregon) BendFilm recently announced a unique partnership with local film production company Pinnacle Media to offer the for all films shown during the upcoming festival. This technology will significantly enhance the viewing experience for all moviegoers.

Putting BendFilm ahead of the curve, this partnership is also particularly timely as digital theaters are a growing national trend supported by an October 1, 2008, announcement by five major studios – Fox, Disney, Paramount, Universal and Lionsgate – to transition to digital theaters across the U.S.

Specifically for the 2008 BendFilm Festival, Pinnacle created a digital system that allows high definition playback as well as digital playback of standard definition films to vastly improve the overall viewing experience.

“We’ve spent the last few months testing and re-testing the system to ensure it will withstand the rigors of a four-day festival,” says Matt Hand, Pinnacle’s Media Head. “We worked locally with Regal Cinemas – one of the national partners in the digital cinema transition – to ensure the playback will be seamless.”

In addition to testing work with Regal, Pinnacle designed the playback system to work with the editing systems that are in use by the majority of independent film editors. To save time and money, filmmakers can also send their films directly to Pinnacle in their native digital format. Approximately a quarter of the filmmakers have already taken advantage of this service and Hand expects more to do so in the days ahead.

“Why not bring the newest, in-demand technology to Bend right now?” says Hand. “Video and film production is the heart and soul of what we do at Pinnacle, and I am so excited that we will have the best quality possible at our own festival.”

With over 15 years experience in Central Oregon, Pinnacle specializes in work that gets results. From one-camera documentaries to multi-camera, complex productions, Pinnacle provides guidance, creativity and solutions in partnership with small and large businesses.

For more information, call (541) 633-7476 or check out www.pinnaclemediainc.com

# # #

Link to the pdf is here

Better presentations... PLEASE!

Seth Godin has a great rant the other day about presentations. He is really very correct. As a person who hates bad presentation it is important that you take the time and energy to make your impressions remarkable. Rehearse and then do it again. Always make sure you know what the venue is like or hopefully they have someone that can help you when you get there. Just make it worthwhile.

MBSEF Schlorship Video

Here is a piece we just did for MBSEF to raise awareness on the benefits of donating to their scholarship program.

The state of YouTube

Watch and enjoy.... This isn't real.

YouTube Contest Challenges Users To Make A 'Good' Video

Production in the video world is changing

I am really excited because I think that the new crop of DSLR "Video Cameras" is changing the way we look at video. While RED did it a couple of years ago we are seeing Canon and Nikon adopt this thinking.

Here is a new clip from AkiHabra News

Tokyo Reality ( Canon EOS 5D Mark II )
by lejapon

While the video could definitely benefit from the use of a tripod for some shots the imagery is absolutely stunning. The list of lenses used is at the link above.

Also this post from the RedUser.net Recon-
"We are so excited that we can hardly stand it. The whole RED team has been working more than I could have ever imagined on this. Probably because we are so motivated by the program.

We listened. We have found ways to do what many dared to dream. I am sure that some of the requests will not be met. We just cannot deliver things that are not possible. But we are going to announce things that some wished for but were afraid to ask.

Thursday cannot come soon enough. Tell all your friends. I will be very surprised if this is not the single most defining day of RED. The one day in our history that will mark the changing point. Days like this will never be duplicated.

If you are disappointed, we will never satisfy you. If you are blown away, the future just begins.

Know this. The RED team is on fire. I have never been a part of something as exciting as what we will present in a few short days." Jim Janard

I am looking forward to tomorrow.

What this really is showing is a shift in thinking. For years we have been locked into either two schools, one being film with great depth of field or video with decent depth, but a struggle to achieve that depth. Now with the new generation the two schools are combining. This is really a revolution in the way things are being done. My choices for my next camera keep getting a bit harder.

Thoughts Of The Day

I have been going over my status messages from Twitter and find it pretty interesting the highs and lows that I have gone through in the last week when it comes to technology. While all of the computers and to an extent our phones are backed up bad things happen when the phone and computer fail at the same time. I mentally struggle as I try to deal with no information. In a way it is like withdrawls and I really don't like it.

The good news is that thanks to Don at Apple I should be getting my Mac back tomorrow. What started out as a bad experience is starting to get a lot better. We just want to know as customers or clients what is going on.

Posted with LifeCast

I like this picture!

Thanks Buck!!!!!! BendFilm late night at McMenamins.

I Am CORIL

This is a piece for CORIL that we premiered at an event this afternoon.

BendFilm '08 Tech - Volume 1

Monumental undertaking or just plain fun!

This year has been an interesting year in many different ways from the tech standpoint. First we will be playing all films digitally with the exception of 35mm. No tape. No DVD. Second filmmakers are given the option of ftping their films. This is actually a big deal and in many ways represents the future of distribution. We are probably jumping ahead a couple of years, but we have seen a fairly steep adoption curve. If anything this has shown that independent cinema is adopting HD quickly. The requests have all been from filmmakers that have done there film in HD and most have been using Final Cut. The ability to deliver digitally saves money, time, and energy.

Pictures and examples to follow shortly as I want this documented.

Game changer...

Fist watch this video- HD is changing. (I have it opening in a new window or tab)

Now here is the game changer. This was shot with a DSLR. I know there are a lot of people that have known about this for a bit, but I feel this is the first video that shows the capabilities. The capabilities of craft and not technology for a price.

I have posted a few times on how GUI is the barrier between the next generation of media deployment, and for the film/video world it has been the sheer cost and tech driving this HD revolution that we are going through. Canon and also Nikon have a new line of camera in the form of a digital SLR that have broken this technology barrier and in my opinion will enable really great still photographers to be really great cinematographers.

The good still photographers in the world understand light. They understand composition. They understand how to make really good pictures. Combine these people with great story tellers and hopefully you will get really great videos. Film in its current incarnation is a dying breed.

I am excited...

More information can be found at Vincent Laforet's blog.

Battery Frustration...

Being a heavy user of my laptop I figure it should go for a while. Well that while is probably about 4 months ago. I just got off a frustrating call with Apple and was told that my battery is "consumed" their words. I just confirmed it in looking at a couple of boards. I just wish they would say it to begin with or let me know how many charge cycles I should get.

Here is something to live by according to Apple's website when operating 10.4:

Calibrate the battery in your MacBook or MacBook Pro every month or two to keep your battery functioning at its fullest capacity.

To calibrate the battery:

1. Plug in the MagSafe power adapter and fully charge the MacBook or MacBook Pro battery until the light on the MagSafe connector changes to green and the Battery icon in the menu bar indicates that the battery is fully charged.
2. Allow the battery to rest in the fully charged state for two hours or longer. You may use your computer during this time as long as the power adapter is plugged in.
3. Disconnect the power adapter with the computer on and start using it with battery power. When the battery's charge gets low, you’ll see the low battery warning dialog on the screen.
4. Continue to keep your computer turned on until it goes to sleep. Save your work and close all applications when the battery's charge gets low and before the computer goes to sleep.
5. Turn off the computer or allow it to sleep for five hours or longer.
6. Reconnect the power adapter and leave it connected until the battery is fully charged. You may use your computer during this time.

Repeat the calibration process every two months or so to keep the battery fully functioning. If you use your MacBook or MacBook Pro infrequently, it’s best to recalibrate the battery at least once a month.

If you purchased additional batteries, repeat the calibration process with those batteries as wel

A great new mac ap...

I am not sure how many web based services you use, but I have a bunch. I recently came across Fluid and have been using it ever since. Take a look at the included screen cast of the creation of my google reader account. There is also a Flickr group that has been started to create application icons. I highly recommend it as they load quicker and reduce the tab shuffle.

This Morning on Frank Deford

So I have mentioned Frank Deford before. I enjoy his commentary on sports. This mornings cometary was on the costs of sporting events. Interesting thoughts, but what I really enjoyed is his rant about black outs in sports. The theory is black out your local coverage and you force people to come to the game. I actually believe as Frank says in today's rant that you show how much fun it is and people will flock to it.

This is the same with products. Show how much fun it can be and let people talk about it.

I have to remember this

Sometimes all we want to know is that it sucks. I only say that because when it comes to customer service we hear well we have to follow the process.

So here is how the conversation goes.

"Well what is the process?"
"Really aren't sure."
"Okay isn't it your job to know."
"Well they change the process so much that I really have stopped following."
"So I am in this crappy situation and there is really nothing you can do for me?"
"Well sir the process is beyond our control and I really think that you should just call the 800 number."

Just imagine a difference if you could make a difference.
"I am sorry sir that it really sucks. Here is what I know about the process and let me call the 800 number with you and see if I can find out more information."

May build a different feeling about your business.

Clever Marketing???