Let's just say that our old production facility was feeling a little cramped.
Our clients who prefer to be in the edit room for short and long-term projects never complained once to us. But things were beginning to feel like we were doing our work in airline seats or the no-leg-room grandstands at Fenway Park.
We also have a brand new sign in our lobby, as our lovely graphic designer Ursula meticulously fine tunes above.
Our new production studio has been up and running since January 18.
The biggest change? An enormous expanded editing suite with enough workspace for clients to camp out overnight if they wish. The glass-enclosed studio also doubles as a video screening room for clients and focus groups -- with adequate space for a wine-and-cheese reception.
Our enthusiasm for the new carpets aside, our new office has a more logical layout and expanded work stations to make the collaborative process smoother and much more comfortable for all.
Stay tuned to this space soon for photos and an invitation to our Studio Open House!
For out-of-state and international clients who communicate with us only by phone and email, there obviously will be no noticeable difference. But we look forward to seeing the expressions on the faces of our clients who do consider us a second home.
Our Search Engine Optimization friends at HubSpot have a fantastic post offering up "Five Video Projects You Can Do in 25 Minutes or Less."
Their title sounds a little too Cosmo magaziney to me, but there are some great suggestions as to how to infuse your blog and Web site with some quick-and-dirty video.
HubSpot's mantra is that on-line video need not be a multi-million dollar Hollywood production, that you can just point and shoot your cheap HD flipcam at your subject and immediately post it to enhance your content. Think sprint, not marathon, they say.
We agree that grabbing your video camera should be as instinctive as bringing your laptop wherever you go. However, there are many projects that should be treated like a marathon rather than a sprint. When video is an integral part of your long-term marketing campaign, it doesn't make sense to just slap something together and put it on YouTube.
Although top marathoners don't hit the finish line in 25 minutes, they do only take two hours and change. A well-planned video project need not take forever, but the extra dedication to detail can make all the difference.
Here are some factors to consider when weighing the options of hiring a professional HD camera crew, video producer and video editor versus doing everything yourself.
1. SHOOTING -- We've seen our share of "Blair Witch Project" footage, but even if your do-it-yourself cameraperson has a steady hand, there's still compelling reasons to upgrade to the pro. It's about the ability to mix up shot angles and instinctively sequence them in your head. A professional shooter is already anticipating the way he or she will piece the video together in the edit room.
The results? It's the difference between watching a funny cat gymnastics video on YouTube and watching "60 Minutes." And if you are shooting all-purpose B-Roll or stock footage for the media, you'll want a broadcast cameraperson to deliver the goods.
2. EDITING -- You know that theory that people really only use 10 percent of their brain capacity? We don't know how true that is, but we can attest that many editors only tap into 10 percent of the power of Final Cut Pro. Experienced editors usually seize every opportunity to keep learning from more experienced editors. What might take a novice hours to edit, may take a professional editor only minutes. But more importantly, creativity is only one part of the equation. You need the skills to apply that creativity -- especially when there are complex graphics.
If you've never done it, sitting in the edit room while your project is being cut together is an AMAZING experience. It's quite remarkable how the editor and Final Cut Pro almost merge into one creative engine. We invite all our clients into our edit studio, and would be delighted to host you.
3. PRODUCING -- Network news shows and entertainment programs routinely use field
producers whenever there is not a “live” interview with the host. But it also makes tremendous sense to use them behind-the-scenes for corporate videos,
video news releases and other marketing projects.
A talented producer brings the talents of a journalist and a talk show host to each interview, maximizing the chances of capturing your subject's true passion and personality. Click here to learn when you should -- and should not -- consider adding a field producer to your video crew.
4. LIGHTING -- There's certainly such a thing as overkill. You don't need to prepare the set of your on-line video like you might prepare for the Oscars. But especially when the viewing screen is tiny, poor lighting can be a distraction, it can downgrade your subject's appearance and also undermine the whole mood of your video.
We've seen WAY too many CEOs look like they are being forced to read prepared statements by kidnappers. A few basic lighting tricks from a professional cameraperson can flatter both the interview subject and the setting.
5. PICTURE QUALITY -- HD flipcams are fantastic for reality TV confessional interviews and quite frankly, anything you'd want to post on YouTube. But if you want to maintain a rich, vibrant picture on those huge flatscreens, your best bet is to stick with high-end broadcast quality cameras. But back to point #1 above, the camera itself is often secondary to the person behind the camera.
6. CONTENT DEVELOPMENT -- Any creative team worth hiring must be able to take your ideas and effectively present them better than you can. Otherwise, why bother? Choose a production company that thrives on collaboration. The ideal situation is to have a cameraperson who thinks about the editing, an editor who can improve the writing, a sound technician who makes suggestions about the content, etc.
Collaboration also means teaming up with your best talent. A full-service media company -- one that takes a project from script development to post-production -- should be able to suggest plenty of ways to keep costs down.
Sometimes doing some of the production work yourself does make sense. Other times, it can be disastrous.
Going back to HubSpot's running metaphor, Award Productions is also well-suited to serve you when you do need a Olympic sprinter. Our camera crews all have broadcast newscast experience, which means that if you have an event or an interview you need to capture on a tight deadline, we are battle tested.
(Although to be frank, we do appreciate as much notice as humanly possible...)
Drop us a line and let us know what you're working on!
In the Massachusetts election to replace the late U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy, perhaps one of the most watched political stories this year, the Democratic nominee is fighting for an unknown Libertarian to be in the debates.
He's unknown, but happens to be named Kennedy. Joe Kennedy, even -- the same name as the controversial political patriarch. No family relation.
Favorite to win-it-all Martha Coakley, the Dems' Attorney General, is fighting to include Kennedy in the two WBZ TV and radio debates next week. Republican Scott Brown, who happens to be the father of American Idol heartthrob Ayla Brown, wants to keep the Libertarians out. Presumably because as the underdog, he needs to take on the Democrat with as few diversions as possible.
If you are a member of a third party in America -- regardless if it is the Green Party on the Left or the Libertarians on the Right -- the cards are stacked against you. The Democrats and Republicans make it virtually impossible for newcomers to get on the ballot, get into the debates and the media usually ignores you.
Experience the daunting challenges of third party candidates up-close-and-personal with "Crashing The Parties," our chilling documentary about life on the campaign trail.
Perfect for the political renegade in your life this holiday season!
Two fascinating developments in the world of politics:
2. A new call for third party presidential candidates to rescue America from the traditional Democrat-Republican quagmire.
Which idea is crazier?
In this Recession, will people shell out $15 plus shipping (rocks are heavy) for a stone with a cardboard podium?
Or will economics drive the people to oust BaRock and choose Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz or eBay's ex-CEO, Meg Whitman to sit in the Oval Office?
Here's a snippet of Fast Company's reasoning why the timing is right for a Libertarian Coming Out Party:
"If the two-party system is ever going to be
seriously challenged, this is the moment. The GOP, the stall-tactic
party, is reeling. The Democratic administration is struggling to turn
around the economy. And across the country, creative, engaged folks are
increasingly feeling politically homeless. More Americans consider
themselves independents (39%) than Democrats (33%) or Republicans (22%)
-- and the gap is widening.
Who will fill that void? Sarah Palin is rumored to be mulling the
idea of starting a third party, pulling together social and fiscal
conservatives alienated from the GOP. The Blue Dog Democrats, turned
off by President Barack Obama's spending, could reach across the aisle
to moderate Republicans and try to attract independents. But the best
third-party contender already exists. The Libertarians, like so many
independents and disaffected Democrats and Republicans, are fiscal
conservatives and social liberals -- and no one has yet built a lasting
coalition out of this growing force."
If you are fascinated by the idea of a third party seriously challenging the Democrats and Republicans at the national level, you are in luck. Our definitive look at the challenges of third party presidential candidates, "Crashing The Parties," is now available for sale on Amazon.
Perfect stocking stuffer for the special Green Party activist or Libertarian business executive in your life!
"Crashing The Parties," originally broadcast as an election special for PBS, was praised by The Boston Globe for "having all the political
intrigue, nuance, and subplots of the White House beat and none of the
hair spray."
If you have ever wondered what it takes to become a cheerleading champion, but don't wanna put on the skirt, then you are in luck!
Thanks to the new cheerleading documentary, "Blood, Sweat & Cheers," it is now possible to experience the grueling practices and heartbreaking competitions from the comfort of your living room couch. With bonus DVD commentaries from some of America's top Pop Warner cheerleading judges.
But don't take our biased word for it (we made the film). Here's what Boston Parents Paper, New England's premier parenting magazine, has to say about the film:
"The movie takes you inside youth cheerleading competitions, offering evidence that cheering is indeed a 'real sport.' And the storyline gives youth cheerleaders and coaches inspiration to strive for the best while enjoying the journey along the way."
And that, in a nutshell, is really why "Blood, Sweat and Cheers" belongs on the Christmas/Chanukah/Kwanzaa/Pick-Your-Holiday list for the cheerleader or coach in your life.
Inspiration. These girls working toward their dream of competing in the national Pop Warner championships are your sister, your daughter, your cousin or niece. These girls are you.
And as luck would have it, "Blood, Sweat and Cheers" is now available at Amazon.com. For an appetizer, watch the BSC movie trailer here.
For those of you outside of the Greater Boston area, let's get you up to speed. The gentleman on the left, 48-year-old Michael Chapman, just spent $12,000 building an elaborate four-story treehouse in his suburban backyard.
Citing code violations, the city of Worcester has demanded that the leafy McMansion be torn down -- under the threat of a $300 per day fine.
Chapman was widely mocked in the print media and talk radio for allegations that his nefarious clubhouse was meant to spy on his neighbors. We have no reason to doubt his claim that he is a nature lover.
However, we're most intrigued by this analogy he shared with The Boston Globe:
Yesterday, Chapman took reporters on
a tour of his creation, which is sturdy enough to support several
adults at one time. As acorns rained down from the higher branches,
Chapman said he will not appeal (the city's demolition) order.
He
compared the time that he has left with his treehouse - he did this for
himself (he has no children) - to a story by the Argentine writer Jorge
Luis Borges, in which time suddenly slows as the protagonist faces a
firing squad. Like the character in the story, he gets to complete his
work of art.
“It’s the act of creation, not the ownership that matters,’’ he said. “I’m never truly happy unless I’m making something.’’
Chapman's philosophy raises the eternal question: If an elaborate four-story treehouse falls in the woods and no one gets to use it, was it ever really a treehouse?
No offense to the Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges, but we starkly disagree with this approach.
In the world of video production and filmmaking, results and outcomes obviously matter. We certainly enjoy the artistic process. But creativity is useless if it is not applied with a project's final goals in mind.
A treehouse without occupants is meaningless. So is a promotional video or viral video without an audience.
Over the years, we've had the rare misfortune of working with a photographer, graphic designer or other creative type who puts their artistic vision ahead of the project. These working relationships inevitably do not last very long.
If we are editing a promotional video for your business or gathering a critical element for your news program or documentary, we are delighted to share our creative vision. But ultimately, when there is a conflict between our art and your message, there is no doubt about the final outcome.
Simply put, we don't like building treehouses that will have be torn down.
A few years ago, it would have been unimaginable for a bunch of friends to make a goofy home movie and have it shape the script of a top-rated "must see" network TV show.
A few years ago, the best the wedding videographer of the infamous "JK Wedding Entrance Dance" could hope for was cracking the finals of "America's Funniest Home Videos."
But this YouTube video, showing bridesmaids and groomsmen stunning their guests with a choreographed dance number down the aisle, inspired the final scene of Jim and Pam's long-awaited wedding on NBC's "The Office." Not only did it influence it, but it was directly credited in the dialogue.
Imagine the novelty of being that wedding videographer! Check out the clip from "The Office."
Now take a look at the original YouTube dance, which currently has more than 28.5 million hits.
This kind of viral success cannot possibly be planned -- it just happens. However, there are no limits to how far a great idea that is well-executed can spread!
Do you have a viral video idea that tells your company's story in a clever or funny way?
Contact us and let's brainstorm.
The challenge of grabbing people's attention -- and keeping it -- is the same regardless of whether you do it on a giant television screen or a tiny iPod.
(Beep Baseball Photo by the Louisville Courier-Journal)
Hand-eye coordination. Keep your eye on the ball. Staring down your opponent.
How is it even possible to compete in sports -- any sport -- without your sight?
Acclaimed documentarian Vikram Jayanti ("When We Were Kings," "Game Over: Kasparov and the Machine") is making a splash on the film festival circuit now with "Snowblind," the travails of a blind woman trying to win the grueling Iditarod dogsled race in Alaska.
Even with 20/20 vision, one unlucky turn and you can find yourself neck deep in icy waters. Instant hypothermia.
We've had the opportunity to spend some time with some other remarkable blind athletes. They don't have to worry about drowning, but taking a line drive in the face is a constant danger.
Beep Baseball is a game where players field and hit the ball by hearing sounds, and everyone wears blindfolds to even out the field of varying degrees of vision impairment. No guidedogs allowed.
Check out the action we captured between the Boston Renegades and the Lowell Lightning!
For additional information on the National Beep Baseball Association, check out the Wall Street Journal's coverage of the Beep Ball World Series between California and Taiwan.
(Award Productions HD camera crews regularly capture sports action ranging from Major League Baseball to competitive cheerleading to Paralympic sled hockey. Check out our Sports & Entertainment portfolio here.)
By Al Ward
If you watched TV at all last week you probably saw at least some of the non-stop coverage of Ted Kennedy's wake and funeral. Our HD camera crews were hired for 3 days of 24-hour coverage for ABC. When I arrived before dawn that Friday morning, about 50 people were already lined up in front of the JFK library even though it'd be three more hours before the doors opened.
We were filming live shots for network affiliates, and very quickly I saw the 50 people grow to 500, and then again to almost 5,000 men, women and children of all ages and backgrounds. One FOX cameraman turned to me amazed and noted that unlike the huge crowd in front of us, we were getting paid to be out there.
I couldn't help but think what it would take for someone to stand in line for several hours, waiting only for a 45-second walk past a casket.
Ted Kennedy had been my Senator my entire life. There were things I liked about him and things I didn't like about him. I never had really strong feelings either way for him. This final act in his storied life did finally reach me though. Politics aside, I am blown away by how he touched so many lives in such a positive way.
I could only dream of living a life that affects so many people so profoundly.
Let's face it: Sometimes the products or services we sell are not going to be on the lips of millions of people when they chat around the water cooler. The good news is that they don't have to be.
With the new explosion of social media and heavy marketing emphasis on "going viral," there is now an unspoken pressure for every blog post to be a hit on Digg or Reddit and every video to be a YouTube sensation.
But as our friends at the Hubspot Inbound Marketing blog point out (read their insightful post, "Six Reasons Videos That Aren't Viral Are Valuable"), viral videos are sometimes overrated.
Getting the attention of 25 people who might buy your product is far more vital than reaching 1,000,000 people who are trolling around the Internet for the latest dancing baby or cat that meows Gwen Stefani songs.
As HubSpot puts it, videos are annuities that keep paying dividends: "Once you've published your
video and it passes its intial burst of traffic, you'll continue to get traffic and branding value indefinitely."
Not that there's any harm in infusing viral video-style creativity and humor into your presentations. Once you've grabbed the attention of prospective clients, you'll want to keep them hooked.
Take a look at our PR & Marketing videos for examples of how we can communicate your message in an engaging manner -- without relying on dancing babies or singing cats!