Le Blog - All About Film, New Media and More

Toward the Future of Branded Video: Web Series Success Story Unfolds

Eufemme Films, LLC — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 05:00:13 +0000

Great coverage in a recent AdAge article of a growing trend in web video. Paving the way to a viable business model for creating quality branded content for the web is the Ikea supported web series, "Easy to Assemble". Obviously an example of a great marriage that works between a brand sponsor, Ikea, and a web series creator, Illeana Douglas. The marriage is producing lots of offspring, (that would be its growing audience, of course!). Exciting times for marketers and content creators alike. 2010 should be an interesting year in this arena.

Dreams on Spec - The Movie for Aspiring Moviemakers

Eufemme Films, LLC — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 18:41:53 +0000

A couple of years ago, I embedded this film on my website. It validated what I already knew, and provided a good dose of reality about the trials and tribulations one experiences behind the scenes of making a film. I posted it because I felt it was a 'must-see' for aspiring screenwriters, directors and producers. I still do. So here it is again in its own blog post. It's a hollywood reality-check meets "hope springs eternal" story done in a really authentic way. Kudos to writer-director Daniel Synder for making it.

42 Ways to Use Video to Grow Your Business

Eufemme Films, LLC — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 22:06:35 +0000

When I read the title of this great post from a Canadian video marketing firm, I thought of Paul Simon's song, "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover." Go figure. Nevertheless, Jimm Fox, president of One Market Media, does a great job outlining "42 Ways to Use Video to Grow Your Business". All listed below, many of which I've produced for clients.

So to quote Paul Simon, "Make a new plan, Stan. No need to be coy, Roy. Just listen to me."

Wait for it ...

It's time to get your 2010 Online Video Marketing Strategy together and "get yourself free!"

Yes, we're here to help.

1. Video Customer Testimonials

2. Video Success Stories

3. Video Case Study

4. Man-in-the-street Interviews

5. Customer Presentations

6. Product Presentations

7. Product Demonstrations

8. Product Reviews

9. Visual Stories

10. Corporate Overview

11. Executive Presentations

12. Staff Presentations

13. Corporate facilities or equipment tour

14. Training

15. Overnight expert videos (Sales Support)

16. Just-in-time learning

17. Post sale support and maintenance videos

18. Internal Communications

19. Event/Conference and Trade Show Communications

20. Employee orientation

21. Health, Legal & Safety

22. Commercials

23. Viral Video

24. Email Video

25. Infomercials

26. Content Marketing

27. Landing pages and micro sites

28. Video Press Releases

29. PR Support Materials

30. Community Relations Video

31. Event Presentation video

32. Round table Sessions

33. Q&A Expert sessions

34. Recruitment Videos

35. VLOG

36. In Store Video

37. Company Lobby / Waiting Room Video

38. Mobile Video

39. Market research, focus groups and polling

40. Website FAQ Video

41. Video White paper

42. Video Magazine

BTW, for an accurate rendition of Paul Simon's classic song:

http://www.ilike.com/artist/Paul+Simon/track/50+Ways+To+Leave+Your+Lover?src=onebox

Ted Hope says, "Take Back What Has Always Been Yours"

Eufemme Films, LLC — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:24:10 +0000

I met Ted Hope last year at " The Conversation", a gathering of pioneers at the forefront of change in cinema, online video, games, media and technology that came together to share ideas, insights, and innovations. The focus was on new tools, new distribution channels, and new rules. Ted was one of the featured panelists. I have to admit, that day I was one of those people who approach the speaker after their talk to "connect". I never really do that. But Ted was exceptionally inspirational that day, speaking from the heart about the myth that independent film was dead. It's NOT dead!, according to Ted. Prior to the event, Ted had just written a rebuttal article dispelling the myth that indie film was no longer. I wanted to talk to him about it and express my support for his/the 'movement'. (See, Some Optimism for the Future of Indie Filmmaking - Ted Hope on How The New Truly Free Filmmaking Community Will Rise From Indie's Ashes) It really is a movement and new opportunities for indie film are emerging in the digital and online space.

I'm posting here Ted Hope's latest speech at the this year's "Power to the Pixel" conference in London, as he continues the argument that independent cinema is evolving. It's about 40 minutes long but worth the time. Have a seat and enjoy.

Online Video Needs Scale to Win Big Advertisers

Eufemme Films, LLC — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:31:23 +0000

Andy got some great interviews from his recent Online Video Roundtable in New York. Valuable learnings for everyone. Onward.

Madison Avenue Embracing Video Search, Sometimes By-Passing Paid Content

Eufemme Films, LLC — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:31:11 +0000

Independent Web Shows Attract Advertisers, Sponsors, and Viewers, but Marketing and Profiting Still a Challenge

Eufemme Films, LLC — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 18:24:52 +0000

A recent BusinessWeek article outlines the inevitable, "If Internet video continues to catch on as a marketing alternative for small businesses, . . . $20 to $30 billion in advertising that currently goes to the business and trade press could evaporate. Small firms that typically advertise in their industry trade publications, business publications, the Yellow Pages, and on cable television could shift their marketing dollars into producing their own video content."

Yes, it's true. Online video, web video, internet video, however you'd like to refer to it, is growing as a viable marketing vehicle. And yes, while the cost of producing a web video is dramatically cheaper than traditional commercial film production, as the article points out, one should try to keep the production value high. Web video doesn't have to look cheap. The cost of a well-planned and professionally produced web video is still significantly less expensive than traditional production. That's all I'm saying. But the article makes some good points, worth a read.

Developing a Brand Content Integration Strategy

Eufemme Films, LLC — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 21:56:36 +0000

The use of online branded content continues to gain momentum. In a recent ClickZ article, Christine Beardsell discusses, "what works best when it comes to balancing brand and content? How much brand exposure within a video is too much? And at what point does the brand lose its utility and become an annoyance to the very audience it is trying to reach?"

All good questions, and all potentially tricky to figure out. Of course, when considering these factors know your brand, but know your audience even better. Check out Beardsell's article on ClickZ where she outlines how brands should, "mix and match a combination of integration methods throughout a show's duration focusing on the brand's goals, the type of show content, and, most important, the audience's response." Beardsell outlines brand integration strategy as follows:

Custom Pre-roll

Custom Midroll

Post Call to Action

Custom Overlay

Brand Utility

Brand as Character

Brand as Hero

Bearsell further states, "Figuring out the right balance may take some experimenting. Dedicating media and production dollars for optimizing that ratio is key to the brand's and content's success."

Hear, hear! Well said. Keeping your audience in mind when developing an integration strategy should be paramount.

'New Orleans Mon Amour' debuts on Cable VOD July 15

Eufemme Films, LLC — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 04:53:19 +0000

"More and more, movies that ordinarily would get a theatrical release are taking the direct train to Video-on-Demand," reports Variety. One of the latest films to take this route is 'New Orelans Mon Amour', a film set against the backdrop of Post-Katrina New Orleans. The film will make its debut July 15 on Cable VOD via a new channel called 'Cinetic Film Buff', then subsequent release on iTunes and Amazon VOD. Unfortunately, the trailer isn't embeddable so I've included a link to the trailer here.

New Orleans Mon Amour

However, a clip from a scene in the movie is viewable below. You may recognize the actress, Elisabeth Moss (not related to me, that I know of anyway). Elisabeth stars on the hit AMC show 'Mad Men'.

Social Media for Storytellers

Eufemme Films, LLC — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:06:17 +0000

Lance Weiler, Founder of the Workbook Project, which is a fantastic resource for indie filmmakers, put together a great powerpoint slide show on social media and "how one can use social media to extend a story and generate a conversation around their work. In the end social media can be an effective way to build an audience / community around a project and / or a body of work,", says Lance. Check it out here.

Social Media for Storytellers

View more presentations from lanceweiler.