VideoStory News

Norman Rockwell, Creative Director

The relationship of the well staged and photographed still image to creative direction in advertising and video / film is no more evident than in this article about Norman Rockwell from Photo District News.

Before he ever committed paint to canvas, he set up intricate photoshoots. These were as professional as any video or film shoot, and included casting, set design, lighting, and the directing of talent and expression.

It raises my estimation of Rockwell, perhaps because it makes clear that he wasn’t working from swipe files, but was in fact creating his own masterful photographic tableau’s. Take a look at the comparison of Rockwell photo to Rockwell painting. Each has their own genius.

He picked the right people. He directed the right expressions. He positioned them in a still life pose that rivaled the best photographers and painters.

Then, on canvas, he filled in the details, adjusted, added, enhanced, reimagined and yes, photo-realistically replicated what he had previously created in black and white.

It was quite a process. Probably not unique. But a definite unraveling of a great artistic process.

We need to imagine our own work in video and print as well as Rockwell did his. Great motion is made up of great moments.

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No Soup for You? Soupy Sales TV Legacy

I was lucky enough to grow up in New Jersey when Soupy Sales, who died yesterday at 83,  was in his heyday. Us high-schoolers rushed home for his antics every day at 4, Saturday as I remember at 6:30 (Saturdays were when the big stars showed up to be pied.)

I loved when he tuned in the radio on the windows sill with the puppet Pookie. It was a pop culture explosion– bits of teen hits of the day, followed by old time radio like The Shadow, The Hindenburg, and audio skits recorded for the radio bit, etc.

The song, “Do the Mouse”  was hilarious, as was the dance, which it was supposed to be– defining “irony” as a form of humor where bad equals good… or something.

When he returned from his suspension (for asking the kiddies to go through their New Year’s Eve hung-over parents clothes for pictures of George Washington) he blasted “Happy Days are Here Again” and showed film of silent movie pie fights, car crashes, etc. for almost five minutes before walking on set.

I did attend his big Soupy Sales Easter show at the Paramount Theater which featured The Hollies, Little Richard (and his guitar player, Jimi Hendrix), and as they say, many others.

Almost every TV show he did– five days a week– was outlined, but not scripted. And for all the hub-bub, he was only on in New York for two years.

But I think his kind of show– outlined, live, adlibbed, supposedly for kiddies, but really for teens who wanted to be treated like adults– was the exit point for the afternoon kiddy show and the entry point for things like SNL and “Fridays”– on the air barely ten years later. Letterman and Conan followed.

Just more proof that creativity is a continuum. Thanks, Soupy.

A Funny Take on Microsoft’s Web Video for Windows 7 Roll-Out Parties

James Lilek has a very funny take on a Microsoft “Viral video” concerning how to host a Windows 7 roll-out party.

Go here.

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-09-27

• http://bit.ly/3ZT7j5 via @addthis — finally, the truth about keywords and Google, according to Google.But I'd still use 'em. You never know #
• http://bit.ly/3ZT7j5 via @addthis a note of explanation– this is about keywords in metatags, not keywords as a concept. Content is king. #

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NBC’s On-Demand Multi-Cam is Awesome!

Really, you just have to experience it. Pick the angle you want. The best part is the pre-game, where you can see the camerapeople searching for shots, seeking out the stars, and grabbing quick looks at cheerleaders. You can watch all the pre-game lat minute hub-bub and rehearsals and warmups. Just watching the cable-cam is a unique experience. And the stuff that goes on during commercials shows what a… show… this all is. (Okay, I’ve never been to an NFL game live, so excuse me!)

Go to http://player.snfextra.nbcsports.com/player.htm

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-09-20

• RT @mediatwit: Source with knowledge of deal tells me video service Brightcove in talks with Google about buyout in $500m to $700m range. #
• RT @mediatwit: Brightcove deal for Google would give YouTube entree into paid video service with many traditional media co. clients. #
• RT @rmdaily: Baby Boomers Online: Where Are They?: While over 1/4 of the US online audience is made up of Baby Boomer.. http://bit.ly/hUcSQ #
• RT @glenngabe: Myna: Garage Band in Your Web Browser http://bit.ly/29TxKC -Multi-track audio editing in the cloud. Toss out the portastudio #

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-09-06

• The wy it was.. Mercury and Fond du Lac… Watch Mercury Marine: 50 Years of Leadership on Vimeo! http://vimeo.com/6231046 #
• They always took tragedy to a new level– The Jive Five. ♫ http://blip.fm/~cn9xa #
• There is, indeed. ♫ http://blip.fm/~cna3a #
• More tragedy– from McCormick Hall, Marquette University. Where is Barney Pip when you need him? ♫ http://blip.fm/~cnabl #
• I love the horn section in this. ♫ http://blip.fm/~cnagm #
• A great video, a great song. A great feeling. ♫ http://blip.fm/~cnap5 #
• Live, from Atlantic Highlands, 1985. Another tragic song. One of the few Ric Ocasek (the Cars) didn't sing. ♫ http://blip.fm/~cnawz #
• Always thought the video for this was kind of creepy, but the song is great. ♫ http://blip.fm/~cnb4q #
• And speaking of creepy….@Aluciel: "@dionroy And if you're going for a Taco song, you gotta go Puttin' on the … ♫ http://blip.fm/~cnb8d #
• Everything Brian Wilson wrote in this period had a hint of tragedy in it… ♫ http://blip.fm/~cnbgn #
• And with this, good night. ♫ http://blip.fm/~cnbli #

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-08-30

• I uploaded a YouTube video — Mercury Marine: 50 Years of Leadership (Abridged for YouTube) http://bit.ly/2AOygF #

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D-Day for Mercury Marine? Video as Corporate Culture

I was privileged to produce Mercury Marine’s 50th Anniversary video 20 years ago. It was a celebration of an entrepreneur’s vision,  a company’s impact on society, and, in much subtler ways, it’s impact on its surroundings– Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

The local impact– on employment, community growth, local pride, freshwater recreation heritage– was never pointed out directly. It was there in the amazing visual documentation founder Carl Kiekhafer left behind of his surroundings through 16mm film and pictures. Mercury’s founding in Cedarburg. It’s purchase of the Coriam Farm in Fond du Lac to be the home of it’s amazing growth. It’s incredible impact on watersports, including Tommy Bartlett’s Water Show in the Dells. The national dealer celebrations Mercury hosted in Wisconsin.

I write this because today (Sunday, August 23, 2009) Mercury’s union rank and file will vote on whether to accept concessions in order to keep Mercury’s headquarters and plants in Wisconsin.

I don’t have a bone to pick or a dog in the fight. What I do know is this video demonstrates the incredible impact Mercury’s corporate culture has had on Wisconsin. To see it go the way of so many other corporations that have left, merged, been bought, or otherwise disappeared from the scene would be a distraught moment indeed.

We have short memories, and more and more companies seem to want to forget their past. The man who hired me for the Mercury gig, Ed Huck, often said “What’s past is prologue.” But what prologue is there if you ignore your past?

Here in slightly shortened form, is “50 Years of Leadership.”

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-08-16

• 12seconds – 12 second meeting demo http://tiny12.tv/ZI4SJ #
• 12seconds – 12 second meeting demo rev a http://tiny12.tv/QSABR #
• Updated VideoStory Blog 12seconds – 12 second meeting … http://bit.ly/15qrjO #
• Updated VideoStory Blog Writer / Director 30 years now… http://bit.ly/IKD7f #
• Updated VideoStory Blog How to Make Money making the k… http://bit.ly/6uQzq #
• Updated VideoStory Blog How to Make Money making the k…. http://bit.ly/11goGk #
• Updated VideoStory Blog Updated VideoStory Blog The Ar… http://bit.ly/3kW38o #
• Updated VideoStory Blog RT @Sznq: Internet Video Threa… http://bit.ly/GZWAm #
• Updated VideoStory Blog Oh, my aching back. Sitting in… http://bit.ly/9cogz #
• Updated VideoStory Blog Re-entered the Atlantic ocean … http://bit.ly/1macvf #
• Updated VideoStory Blog RT @TheNextWeb The OMG-WTF Spe… http://bit.ly/NI2f6 #
• Updated VideoStory Blog Speaking of the arts, didn't H… http://bit.ly/wff1f #
• Updated VideoStory Blog Why the arts matter in bleak t… http://bit.ly/93jhJ #
• Updated VideoStory Blog How to stop carpel tunnel symp… http://bit.ly/SZbtX #
• Updated VideoStory Blog RT @sarahmorgan: Love this ide… http://bit.ly/KleJd #
• Updated VideoStory Blog Updated VideoStory Blog The De… http://bit.ly/YMsyU #
• Updated VideoStory Blog Updated VideoStory Blog Great … http://bit.ly/1j5rl #
• Updated VideoStory Blog Time for my 7am coffee ritual … http://bit.ly/mCpMl #
• Updated VideoStory Blog Good morning. Say, meeting pro… http://bit.ly/jaEOQ #
• Updated VideoStory Blog All former multi-image and cur… http://bit.ly/7exyE #
• Updated VideoStory Blog Updated VideoStory Blog Just B… http://bit.ly/s9W8C #
• I uploaded a YouTube video — 12 Second Video: Clap, Clap, Clap (Meeting Demo) http://bit.ly/btf16 #
• I uploaded a YouTube video — 12 Second Video: The Art of The Interview http://bit.ly/LM23b #
• Writing for video is not about words. Writing is about rhythm and feeling. You can mess with my words but don't mess with the beat! #
• Top 10 Hoaxes of All Time http://h7ykr.th8.us #
• 12seconds – The Art of the Video Interview; a "12 Second Sample" http://tiny12.tv/TP96W #
• A classic: 7 Vices of Highly Creative People– take that, Covey! http://bit.ly/TdPIP #
• RT @huffingtonpost Robert Nolan: The Early Ferris Bueller: Remembering John Hughes' Years in Advertising http://bit.ly/K5DM5.. amazing stuff #
• I just setup @EzineArticles to tweet my newly published articles: http://Twitter.EzineArticles.com/ #

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