Trained Ears
25
2020
Listening… Listening carefully. Audio tells half the story in our business as content providers, and it happens to be my passion. And just like choosing the proper lens for a video shoot, or using the latest graphic treatment in video post, there are a few simple things you can do …
Adventures with Professor Highlander
09
2020
He will lead you through the jungle, a haunted house, to the bottom of the sea and to the top of the mountains. He’s here to guide you safely through the experience of automobile shopping. He’s Professor Highlander, the mascot for Toyota Direct of Columbus, and Brainstorm has made him the …
Passion Projects
01
2017
Brainstorm Media is a diverse team of media professionals with a passion for what we do. Being passionate about our craft is central to our company culture. To fuel that passion, we often take on projects that are of personal importance to someone on our team. The causes we support …
Things Have Changed
28
2017
As Brainstorm Media approaches our 20th anniversary in the media production business, I find myself reflecting on the changes in technology and techniques we use to reach audiences. When Brainstorm Media started, TV stations were taking BETA tapes, we were editing on a “huge” 200 GB Avid system, and YouTube …
Excellent Customer Service Is the Lifeblood of Business
12
2016
Do all businesses and organizations need media content for their marketing efforts? Sure. But many smaller organizations are hesitant because they believe that their production budget isn’t big enough. To insure a good experience, choose the right production partner and communicate your budget upfront. This allows the maximum collaboration. Your …
Cross promotion, sponsorship & partnering with other companies
14
2016
Mother Teresa once said “I can do things you cannot. You can do things I cannot: together we can do great things.” Whether you’re carrying out humanitarian work or working to achieve marketing objectives, this is wonderful insight. Cross promotion, or partnership marketing is everywhere these days. Cross promotion is …
How changes in media viewing habits impact advertisers
19
2016
It’s no secret that the way people consume video content is changing. In 2010, Netflix had 20 million subscribers. By 2014, they had over 50 million subscribers. 7 Sony owned “Crackle” says they have 18 million viewers per month.8 YouTube has over one billion users, and over 100,000,000 hours of …
Super Production!
17
2016
When the biggest dealer in town wants to be in the biggest game of the year, they teamed up with Brainstorm Media. We were honored to have the opportunity to help our client share their message during the largest television event of the year. This year, an estimated 111.9 million …
Going Pro with Action Cameras!
06
2016
GoPro cameras: you’re just as likely to see them on movie sets as you are on the helmet of some pre-teen rolling down your street on a skateboard. They are not the perfect camera, but they are the perfect tool for a variety of different situations. There are a lot …
Maximize Your Budget
10
2014
“How much does it cost to make a video?” With almost 30 years in the business, I have heard this question more times than I can count. But because each video is made to order, a better question might be, “How much (or what kind of) video can I make …
A Moving Lens
23
2014
I love a moving lens. I am always amazed how a small camera move can bring such depth and emotion to a production. When planning a shot my first thoughts are about where the Director wants the lens to travel and what camera/lens controls we need to achieve the desired …
The Power of a Story
02
2014
In the introduction of How to Tell A Story, his free e-book, author Donald Miller says: “…the world is beginning to understand that entire cultures are being shaped by the story tellers, and business leaders, pastors and parents are starting to wonder how they can incorporate more stories into their communication methodology.” And …
Production: Planning Your Shoot vs. On-The-Fly Recording
10
2014
Every project is unique, but sometimes we categorize video shoots into a couple of different types, “Run’n’Gun” and “Planned-out.” Run’n’Gun Run’n’Gun is slang for a video shoot that is expected to acquire a lot of material in a short amount of time without elaborate setups. This can result from a …
Knowing your audience
29
2014
Before we start a new project with a client one of the first questions we ask them is, “Who’s your audience?” Who will view this video or use this media? The answers to these questions lead to the way we approach the project. We like to know as much about …