As Creative Director for media73, I have noticed more and more film production businesses croping up recently
all hoping to make a quick buck for the forthcoming video boom. What sets media73 apart? Why should we be
still growing after 5 years? and gaining more business now the credit crunch is here?
My name is Andy Lunn I am the Creative Director for <b>media73</b> a film production business based in Bramley, Leeds.
Would you like to offer our services under your banner, meaning you too could also offer the following to your clients.
1) Full high definition film and audio
2) Corporate, web, viral, day coverage, events, promo film
3) Motion grx
4) Full motion dvd production
5) Sound tracks
As with all business’s your agency needs to keep up to date and show current technology, web video and dvd are massive currently and only going from strength to strength. Many companies now use sites such as youtube and myspace as part of their advertising marketing, something we are involved with a lot. Some of our recent clients have included:
mtv2
York Marina
ITV2
Premier Inn
Screen Yorkshire
Cool Pink
It would be great to work with your agency either as a subcontractor or under your banner. As a few quick examples of what we can produce please view our last two projects, created by media73. More samples are available to view on our website. If you would to have a quick chat or a general meeting please let me know.
I thought we should take the time and discuss costs and charges involved
with video production, whether that is for a Corporate video, Web video or DVD.
There are many people out there who don’t know the first thing about photography,
what an f stop is, why we use, aperture, white balance, depth of field, shutter speeds,
over crank, under crank, crossing the line ect, the list goes on and on.
It was only recently I spoke to somebody in my field who was telling me they
had just produced a corporate video for a fairly large company, they had charged
the client £5,500 for the production, they went on to tell me, there was only 2 of
them, and that they had rushed the job out to make a quick buck.
I was disgusted…
Part of the reason I became a film maker was because of my love for films
and photography, and the poor quality of some of the productions out there,
(its 2008 not 1988) it’s a real passion of mine, and anybody who is involved in
this industry should feel the same. His production was bad, really bad, audio
levels all over the place, bad colour correcting, appalling sloppy editing.
His background was in Marketing but decided that video was going to big
and made the jump, it really saddens me that the industry is taking a nose dive
becasue people are greedy and want to make money, this affects us all.
As a business we need to make money to survive, but it is not the main factor
as to why the media73 team, do what we do, I have a degree in photography
and spent 10 years in the creative industry as a Creative Director, so I feel
these factors have really helped me, to get where I am today, and give me an
advantage over people who have no creative or design background, video is
just the first stage, presenting this in a non cheesy way is something I see many.
many production houses and videographers doing.
I have also seen many people offering video that would take 20-30 seconds
to film and charge £400+ well good luck to them. media73 provide a full
corporate film, fully animated dvd with menus, webvideos in flash and
quicktime including a talk through to get the most from your videos all
for an average cost of£1700.
Our industry is going to change, it has too, no longer will people be able to
provide shoddy work or overly priced costings, the industry nor the public
wont accept it any longer. I only hope that day is sooner rather than later.
Having been away in Cyprus and finding the prices of el beer’o stupid (£6-7) a bottle and a holiday that could be described as awful. I now find myself back in blighty, browner, skint, and fed up, holiday blues I guess. Its the monotony that gets me. The same old process the same old trying to gain new clients. Isn’t there more to life than this? and to top it off I now have a stinking cold and head ache which i got after seeing my girlfriend, ohhh please.
As we have many self employed people here in the network, do you feel the same sometimes? all this hard work and for little return? I sometimes feel like jacking it in and going full time, you can only run uphill for so long. Sorry for the rant don’t feel good today.
OK so I have hit past the 35 years young stage, but does that mean I have turned into a grumpy old man?
I am starting to watch the TV program with the same name and am starting to relate to them ha ha.
Now what really is peeing me off currently is things like the following:
“Oh hello Andy I was surfing around ecademy and found your profile, I think we should network.
By the way we have a great offer on at the moment why not buy my ebook on toilet cleaning its really
really useful and will help your business marketing in no time”
Let me translate this for you…
“Oh hello Andy
I was just surfing around looking for chumps to buy this ebook that I didn’t write, I want your money,
I don’t really care what you do, plan on doing, or are going to do, I only want your money. I can’t
be bothered reading your profile, why should I? I am not interested, I just want your money.
I will flatter you and say your picture is great and you have a great profile…er now what was it you do again?
Sorry about flattering you, if you don’t buy this ebook or hell even if you do you will never hear from me again.
give me your m-o-n-e-y.”
—————-
Its so transparent and a complete turn off business wise, I instantly delete the message but you know sometimes I really do feel
like getting back to these cretins. You would think it was Monday morning! Anybody else fed up of this people? I am.
This is a general view, their have been people who have generally helped me, please take this topic with a pinch of salt
it’s meant in a light hearted way!
Video promotion has seen a massive increase in it’s effectiveness with research
suggesting that many sectors have seen an increase in 400% in sales over the
traditional way of marketing with door drops and printed materials.
With 2/3’s of the UK now online and broadband the standard connection,
web video has never been so powerful and relevant. Web video represents
the same message as TV adverts with a 10/th of the cost. With websites
such as Youtube, Google Video, and Vimeo having an online webvert can
be one of the most effective forms of advertising and marketing available.
If your advertising is falling short of the mark and want to really get out
there and be noticed web video is the number one choice. It can help to
get your message across, show your services show happy customers,
and give a real feel, that flat pictures and words cannot express effectively.
media73 have helped a wide range of differing clients who have all
realised the most powerful way to get their message out to the masses
is with web videos on the internet and intranet. Ian Donghury of
The Deepend’ said
“We took a chance with film & video and with media73, we were
shocked, the end result was not only far beyond the quality we
were expecting but it helped generate interest and bookings in
a way no other form of advertising we had tried before had
managed, our bookings increased from an average 500 to
1500 within 3 months, it’s bloody works”
The Deepend are the UK’s best know corporate entertainment
company providing a stars in your eyes type event. Their problem
was not enough people buying tickets and the difficulty in showing
organisations such as 02, Next, Ventura, and Greenflag, what,
how and where these events took place.
media73 devised a solution, a web promo including a dvd and
also a live show highlight reel, with feedback from participants
and the audience, this was placed in a well designed mail pack
for company directors and staff members to view. The result was an instant booking from NEXT.
It works because the visual medium is a powerful tool, able to
show emotion, feelings and the real message in a way a static
pictures cannot.
Some of our many clients have included:
media73 are a Leeds based business dedicated to bringing that little
extra to the corporate video sector. As a business we love to create
and the team really do enjoy producing cutting edge films for web
and dvd. How many people can truly say they love their job? most
of the team are passionate about film making and cinematography
and have backgrounds in multimedia, graphic design, and illustration,
this gives us a massive gain over our competitors as how to present
your film is as important as the initial message.
The average cost of a corporate dvd and web video from media73
is less than £2500* but what do we provide for this cost? A recent
project for The Yorkshire 4×4 centre included the following:
• 2 days filming in High Definition
• 3 days editing
• Custom Royalty free customised music
• Custom sound effects
• Custom graphics titles overlays
• Web video creation Quicktime and Flash version
• Video uploaded to youtube, myspace ect
• Dvd disc design
• Dvd animated menu with 3d graphics
• 60 dvd duplicates.
And all this from an award winning team. Many of our larger
competitors would charge £6000+ for the list above. So how
do we keep our quality up and prices down? As a small team we
feel many clients are paying too much for their video work, and
with a smaller team we have smaller overheads. media73 intend
to maintain the smaller team and by staying smaller our clients
benefit from a more personal approach and we think this helps
us maintain such a good working relationship with our clients.
*Cost is based on specific project.
Contact media73 today to discuss how we can help you increase your
bookings, provide a more engaging method for your advertising and
marketing needs. Web video and dvd have been proven to increase sales
and bookings, got an idea but not sure where to begin? want a promotional
film or dvd, again not sure how to get going? speak to us today for a no
obligation chat we are a friendly small team always willing to advise and
help, it’s what we are here for.
Software king of the world Microsoft has defended its ad-targeting practices, claiming that it is a lot more responsible than others.
In a document for a House committee Microsoft has more or less admitted collecting data on its Web users. Redmond said that it began collecting data outside its own Web sites in 2006, when it launched a third-party ad network, and that activity accelerated after the acquisition of aQuantive in 2007.
Microsoft said that while it started by offering an “opt-out” option on all pages on which it serves ads starting in the Spring. Users were falling over themselves to sign up to give their data to Microsoft. Only 1,800 users had said no.
Although apparently finding the opt-out option on Microsoft’s page is just as easy as hunting a Snark or finding the Holy Grail.
Microsoft says it’s getting caned in the online ad business and the committee should look at Yahoo and Google if they want to see who the bad guys are.
A new industry report released by IBISWorld, reveals women and older adults –
not the proverbial nerdy teenage boys — are the new driving force behind the success
of the video games industry as console manufacturers and software developers race to
expand their offerings beyond the traditional action genre which has always appealed to
youngsters. According to the report: *38 percent of U.S. gamers are women and the
average player is 35 years old, *The average purchaser of video games is 39 years old,
*24 percent of game players are aged over 50, *around a third of American households
have a gaming console.
A new industry report released by IBISWorld, Inc. (http://www.ibisworld.com),
reveals women and older adults– not the proverbial nerdy teenage boys — are
the new driving force behind the success of the video games industry as console
manufacturers and software developers race to expand their offerings beyond the
traditional action genre which has always appealed to youngsters.
Recognized as one of the nation’s most respected independent publishers
of business intelligence research, Los Angeles-based IBISWorld publishes
more than 700 industry reports covering virtually every segment of the U.S. economy.
According to IBISWorld’s latest research report on the video
gaming industry, 38 percent of U.S. gamers are women and the average player
is 35 years old — not the teenage boys of the past.
“The average purchaser of video games is 39 years old — proving that
video gaming is attracting a much broader audience,” said Senior Analyst
with IBISWorld, Mr. George Van Horn. “In fact, 67 percent of household
heads play computer or video games; and besides the rapidly growing number
of women taking up the hobby, 24 percent of game players are aged over 50.
“When video game consoles began to appear in the 1980s, they were
dismissed as a short-lived craze, or at the very least, the domain for
awkward adolescents,” said Mr. Van Horn. “How astonishingly wrong we were.
Our research has revealed that the teenage boys that played Atari back then are still
playing video games now, largely being drawn in to new, advanced electronic gaming
that simulates real-life interaction that their kids love as well.”
“And while we’re not suggesting the market for teen and young adult men
is not a strong market, men between 18 and 45 still represent 37 percent of the
game playing market — it’s the other demographics which are posting significant growth,”
added Mr. Van Horn.
New Formats For New Markets
“The average American gamer has been playing for 12 years, and is now,
on average, 35 years of age,” said Mr. Van Horn. “When comparing today’s
industry climate with that of 20 years ago, there is a marked shift in the
sector’s target client base. It is apparent that women and many adults are
no longer shunning the fun.”
Mr. Van Horn added, “Companies are frantically at work developing games
for what they hope will be expand into fresh, new markets.” For example,
the major players in the gaming segment are working on games that will
appeal to older adults and women of all ages. Nintendo’s new console format –
Wii — and Microsoft’s Xbox have been a major factor in changing the landscape
of the gaming industry. With these games’ party-style format, and innovative
products, such as the phenomenally successful Wii Sports, IBISWorld believes
the major market players such as Sony and Microsoft, are sitting up and taking
notice that there is an untapped market which could substantially enhance the
industry’s current and future growth.
Fortunately for the gaming industry, its broadening appeal suggests the
industry’s robust growth is set to continue for some time yet. “Until those original
gamers cease playing, either due to death or physical incapacity — losing interest
appears unlikely — meaning new gamers entering the market will not be replacing
those leaving, they’ll just be adding to the swelling numbers worldwide.”
Tomorrow’s Gamers
The percentage of female gamers has increased from 33 to 38 percent in
just five years as women flock to purchase not just Nintendo’s Wii Fit, but interactive
group games such as Singstar, Rock Band, and Lips, as well as The Sims, The Movies,
Nintendogs and NeoPets. Games targeting girls, such as Bratz Rock Angels and Dora
the Explorer have also succeeded in introducing a new generation of female gamers
to the console format.
“Wii Fit is the perfect example of how recent developments in game
design and marketing are opening up female gamers as the potential growth
market in the industry, and the fact women comprise 38 percent of game
players indicates the level of growth available to the industry, as there
are still very few titles designed specifically to target that demographic.
Wii Fit shows the attention women can expect to receive as manufacturers
and developers actively chase the female dollar,” predicted Mr. Van Horn.
As the young male demographic is comprehensively served by existing
game titles, and the female market is the latest focus, IBISWorld expects
one of the remaining markets ripe for the picking is older gamers.
Until recently, the teenage pioneers of video games 25 years ago were
under 40 years old. Today, those gamers are approaching their mid-to late-
forties. In order to retain those original fans, games are being designed
specifically to appeal to older players are most likely the next, and
perhaps final frontier for developers and publishers to cross. This has
already begun, with Nintendo’s DS ‘Brain Age’ testing games, and IBISWorld
anticipates it will continue as the industry faces a diminishing number of
potential new customers in the longer-term.
“Parents also fall into the ‘older gamer’ category, and the sheer
number of them playing games with their children is another factor driving
industry growth,” said Mr. Van Horn. “Some surveys (NPD) suggest that 93
percent of parents playing video games have children who are playing too.
In fact, nearly half the games sold in 2006 held an ‘E’ rating, and with 39 the
average age of a game buyer, that would suggest the Mom and Dad market is a major one.”
Future Forecast
According to IBISWorld, the gaming industry is somewhat
“recession-proof,” with the sector expected to grow 9.5 percent this year
to generate total industry revenue of around $38.9 billion, despite
flagging consumer sentiment and lower disposable incomes.
Today the video games industry, including development, production and
retailing, is a $40 billion business, with more than 34 million consoles
sold in the U.S. last year alone. It seems the spotty teens who originally
took to gaming never grew out of it, and today’s youth adopt
next-generation consoles with even greater vigor than their parents.
“The result is a healthy balance sheet for the video games industry,”
said Mr. Van Horn, who forecasts growth of 10.2 percent per year to reach
$63.2 billion by 2013.” He adds, “This is an industry in an enviable
position with a loyal client base regularly topped up by a fresh generation of
users with older players failing to desert the sector at the age originally expected.
Around a third of American households have a gaming console, which means the
industry can still achieve considerable growth, spurred on by constantly evolving technology.”
IBISWorld predicts, as long as older players remain unwilling to give
up gaming, the industry’s future will be unambiguously upbeat. By
attracting children with family-friendly games and the latest technology,
drawing in women with fun communal games, retaining the key male
demographic, and expanding the offering to aging gamers, IBISWorld sees no
limit to the growth in the gaming industry in the foreseeable future.
It’s important to test the various elements of your website as you build it, and double check everything both before you go live and after you’ve launched.
There are lots of free tools around that can make this easier. In no particular order, here are six of the best.
1. Firebug and the Firefox developer toolbar Ok, so this is actually two different extensions for Firefox. Our resident developer reckons Firebug is the better of the two (see the comments), so we’ve added it to the list. You can use them together - essentially, they let you examine every aspect of a website.
See how your pages look with images disabled, or JavaScript turned off. You can edit and test JavaScript and view all HTTP requests made by images and other linked files (like Flash movies) … and that barely scratches the surface. If you design websites, you need these add-ons.
2. SEOMOZ keyword extractor Enter a URL into this tool and it scans the relevant web page, before reporting back the keywords and terms which are most prominent on that page. Basically, you tell it where your website is, then it tells you which terms your site seems to be trying to rank highly in search engines for. If the results aren’t the keywords you’ve been targeting, you’ll probably want to make some changes.
3. Sloppy Sloppy simulates a dial-up internet connection, so you can see how well your site loads over a slow connection. In fairness, this tool is less relevant these days because, in the UK at least, most people now use broadband rather than dial-up (see the figures). However, it’s a good reality check for your site, particularly if a higher-than-average proportion of your visitors use a slow connection.
4. Browsershots Browsershots lets you see how your website looks in different types and versions of web browser. It takes a few minutes to do its stuff, but it has a comprehensive list of browsers and you can’t argue with the price. It’ll never be as good as setting up a proper testing environment and installing the browsers yourself, but it’s not bad - and a great way of avoiding the trap of only ever testing on the web browser you use yourself.
5. Wave When building your website, it’s important to think about how accessible it is. (An accessible website is one which usable by as many people as possible.) It’s good practice to adhere to to accessibility guidelines, and means people with disabilities will find your website easier to use. Wave is a tool to evaluate how accessible your site is - it will show you what you’re doing right, and where you can improve.
6. W3C link checker It’s easy to get links right when you first add them to your website. But as your site grows, pages change. The same happens to external sites too, so links which once worked often end up at a ‘page not found’ error. This link checker scans every link on your web pages, telling you which ones work, which ones don’t - and exactly what’s wrong with them.
Which website tools can’t you live without? Leave a comment and let us know.
Have you considered offering web video, corporate videos, video testimonials ect as part of your services?
Do you currently have to outsource your video needs to various different people?
We are looking to either partner up or become a subcontractor and build a relationship with some established Marketing, Web designers, Web Developers, even other production companies, who would
like to be able to out source and work along side us to provide a whole range of film & video production services.
If this sounds like you, or you would like a chat or further information, contact me on
01132 252 418 or drop me an email on hello@media73.co.uk
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