EventStreams News

Coca-Cola Refreshments Live Town Hall in Oklahoma City

noreply@blogger.com (EventStreams) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 20:18:00 +0000

The stage is set. Oklahoma City State Fairgrounds

The gear arrives.

Intensity makes me stronger.

What should I plug this into?

Building a Coke wall.

Coke products are not just for drinking.

We can actually make walls out of it!

Steve Summers doing laps during rehearsal. Gotta' get a workout in today.

Is the internet what powers this broadcast? Or is it the coffee?

Nice!

You can never have enough computers.

Please don't distract me when we're about to go LIVE.

What did I just say!?

Audience Participation

EventStreams Dream Project: SREB Production Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (EventStreams) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 15:55:00 +0000

Our production manager works hard at making sure the logistics of each project is outlined and solidified. But with multiple projects to juggle, not only is it excessive to have the tiniest detail defined before a shoot, it's not really necessary. A lot is worked out when the crew is thinking on their feet.

With SREB's main event, there were initial concerns with audio and lighting, but the A/V company working the event allowed us to plug into the sound board. We didn't have to worry about mics for individual speakers. The A/V company also put up some spot lights for us, so we were able to get great exposure.

For the shoot in one of Georgia Tech's classrooms, the walls were all concrete with very high ceilings which can cause echoing. We were afraid we'd get terrible audio quality, so we used a boom mic and tried to keep it out of the frame as much as possible, while staying close to the speakers.

The last impromptu shoot we did to get more footage was at Kennesaw State University. There were large windows with natural light pouring in. In some cases sunlight is wonderful - but in others, it risks ruining the shot. And the weather that day was cloudy, which made the light even more inconsistent. Solving this issue involved a solution as simple as adjusting the blinds a certain way.

These are all common challenges, but in the end, with a few adjustments and good coordination with available resources, we're able to overcome them.

The video is now under final approval, and is just about ready to show. Check back with us in a few weeks for feedback on the final video.

Community Engagement is Very Important to Suntrust: Behing the Scenes

noreply@blogger.com (EventStreams) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:07:00 +0000

Here is a behind-the-scenes look at SunTrust's Live Solid Video Scrapbook. We worked with Realm Advertising to produce the video. Watch the completed video here.

Getting Creative with SREB's Story

noreply@blogger.com (EventStreams) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:38:00 +0000

EventStreams Dream Project: SREB's State Doctoral Scholars Program - Creative Aspect

Video is undeniably powerful, with the potential to invoke a wide range of emotions and reactions that can result in major social and political change. Video engages audiences more effectively than any other communication medium. Just think for a second about the monstrous film industry that runs like its own country, with its own rules, key players, and followers.

That said, there are a number of creative decisions that need to be made to best convey the "heart" of the story during the editing process. And for SREB, the heart of the story is found in the graduates' deep sense of accomplishment after successfully completing a PhD program. In some cases, it is a road less traveled among peers, and the participants gain encouragement from a community of like-minded, driven, and hard working individuals. In addition, the financial burden is much lighter, allowing the students to really focus on the task at hand.

Julie is the designated creative editor of the project and she focuses on developing a sense of nostalgia with a few basic techniques. She uses soft transitions between shots, and at certain points in the video she uses time remapping techniques, known more commonly as slow motion (or "slo-mo"). This allows the viewer to take the time to empathize with the graduates as they beam with a sense of and pride.

She also includes some vintage-looking, kenburns-ified, childhood photos during an interview. It makes the piece more personal, as if the viewer is sitting in a living room hearing the testimony of success with a family album opened on the coffee table.

The video is meant to provide a glimpse into this program's true value in the lives of its participants, and with a visually rich medium such as video, there are countless creative decisions an editor can make to convey the message successfully.

Intern Jay shares his experience working at EventStreams

noreply@blogger.com (EventStreams) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:43:00 +0000

Happy Holidays!

noreply@blogger.com (EventStreams) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 15:20:00 +0000

Click here for a more humorous look at the holiday party... We hope you all have a wonderful holiday weekend!!

Kris Kringle's Year-End Webcast

noreply@blogger.com (EventStreams) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:07:00 +0000

Greetings AMB teammates:
Click below to view the year-end update. Remember to ask questions during or after the event. Mr. Kringle will answer all of your questions and concerns before December 24. **This webcast requires Internet Explorer or Firefox with the Windows Media Player plugin**

Watch the behind-the-scenes look at how we prepared for this event.

Coca-Cola's Secret Formula featured in a Secret Webcast

noreply@blogger.com (EventStreams) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 20:45:00 +0000

Our team behind the scenes at World of Coca-Cola for the live webcast event.

During the last few weeks, there was a lot of buzz around a "top secret" webcast happening December 8 at the World of Coca-Cola. Our executive producer Nate Haskell knew what it was about, but after signing an NDA, the rest of us were left guessing in our production meetings, hallway conversations and on the company's event calendar.

There were some clues in the media prior to the event, but now it's confirmed! Here's what the webcast was about - Coca-Cola Moves its Secret Formula to The World of Coca-Cola.

HUGE NEW CLIENT - Holiday Video, Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (EventStreams) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:55:00 +0000

We have landed an influential new client, the CEO of AMB. During this busy season, he asked EventStreams to help webcast his year-end update to his globally dispersed team. Click below for a behind-the-scenes preview of the live event.

A NEW ES Dream Project!

noreply@blogger.com (EventStreams) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 21:14:00 +0000

EventStreams Dream Project: SREB's State Doctoral Scholars Program - Getting the Story

After completing our last EventStreams Dream Project with CFY-Atlanta, not a minute was wasted in developing and planning the next Dream Project with the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB's) State Doctoral Scholars Program. The opportunity was first introduced to our Executive Producer Nate Haskell by friend and fellow Paideia parent Collin Siedor, who has a background in broadcast television. The story behind this program was compelling and we proceeded to learn more from program director Dr. Ansley Abraham, who also happens to be a Paideia parent and assistant coach of the girls basketball team.

During the initial meeting, the three discussed the importance of a program such as SREB's Doctoral Scholars Program to encourage and aid minorities pursuing their doctorate degrees. Having a more culturally/ethnically diversified faculty at various universities will more accurately represent the students they teach, and ensures a more meaningful educational experience overall.

We were sold. Dr. Abraham needed Collin's and EventStreams' help to leverage video as a powerful storytelling medium to reach two distinct audiences - the potential candidates and the potential supporters/donors of the program.

Below are some production stills from two different shoots. A select group of program graduates were invited to share how they each benefited from the program, and how the experience continues to impact their lives. We also filmed at the program's annual event, The Institute on Teaching and Mentoring, the largest gathering of minority doctoral scholars in the country.

Collin is volunteering his time and effort as scriptwriter and producer to help refine the story to capture the heart of the program. He will be working with editor Julie Grimm to take what footage we gathered and construct it into an inspiring story of passionate people pursuing a challenging yet rewarding path in higher education.

ES Dream Project: CFY-Atlanta is Complete!

noreply@blogger.com (EventStreams) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 20:02:00 +0000

2011 EventStreams Dream Project: CFY's Story Shared at Inspire event

The final video was debuted at CFY-Atlanta's Inspire event. According to Jeanne Artime, Executive Director of CFY-Atlanta, the video really hit home with the attendees. Congressman John Lewis's interaction with former CFY participant Derek Boston and his mother Melissa Boston was a powerful scene, which connected CFY's influence at both the personal and big picture levels. We are so glad that we were able to get on the Congressman's schedule... (whew).

The Inspire event helped raise over $140K for CFY-Atlanta! Though the video was produced specifically for CFY's Atlanta location, it is being referenced and shared throughout the organization nationally and has resonated with CFY's CEO and President based in New York. Emails have been sent out to a number of people with the video, and it's also being used in presentations with potential donors as we speak! We are thrilled to be a part of this great cause - using video to help others realize the educational need that CFY passionately strives to meet.

This is the final piece in our series for our 2011 EventStreams Dream Project.

Welcome Aboard, Lawson Cox!

noreply@blogger.com (EventStreams) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 16:42:00 +0000

EventStreams is proud to announce that Lawson Cox has joined our team as our new Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing! We are very sad to see our beloved Bridgit Motes go, but we support her noble decision to take on the challenging role of being a full-time mother at home with her 2-year-old son Evan, and her soon-to-be-born daughter! She will be missed, and she has been working closely with Lawson for the past few weeks to make the transition as smooth as possible.

Lawson has more than 22 years of experience in corporate communications, in both online and print--designing, rewording, laying out, editing, publishing, and managing the visual language for a wide range of clients. He has been actively involved in the Atlanta chapter of IABC, and is this year's chapter president. As a veteran communicator, he will be able to support and connect with our dear clients, who have relied on EventStreams to produce and deliver video as an effective tool in their communications strategy.

Connect with Lawson on LinkedIn and join us as we welcome him aboard!

Derek Shares his Story with Congressman Lewis!

noreply@blogger.com (EventStreams) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 18:17:00 +0000

2011 EventStreams Dream Project: CFY Final Shoot with Congressman John Lewis

Finally, we were really there--it wasn't a dream! We were thrilled to be at Congressman John Lewis's office in downtown Atlanta, ready to shoot the interview that we almost had to forego due to Lewis's busy schedule during the national debt ceiling issues in D.C.

Derek read the "Thank You" letter to the Congressman, and we caught his response on camera (it's sort of our specialty...). The participation of such a strong historical figure in the shoot was a true gift, and his ability to relate to young Derek was the perfect finale for the video!

We are making a video for CFY-Atlanta as part of our Annual EventStreams Dream Project. This post is part of a series covering the development of the concept, production considerations, as well as key takeaways from the project. If you're just tuning in, here are the other posts -

The final piece will be completed shortly. Check back with us later to see the final video!

EventStreams wins a Telly Award!

noreply@blogger.com (EventStreams) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 14:07:00 +0000

EventStreams won a bronze in the 32nd Annual Telly Awards with The Mother Goose Alumni Fundraising video we produced for The Paideia School! We also won an IABC Atlanta Silver Flame Award last year for the same video. Here is the follow-up video for a tour of the new and improved Mother Goose Building!

Our Acceptance Speech...
To all of our clients and friends, thank you for your ongoing consideration and support of the work we do here at EventStreams. By thinking of us for your video and webcast needs, you have made this project possible! The video helped the Paideia School raise enough money to rebuild The Mother Goose. It is now an important part of the community of students and faculty for inspiration and education!

To our individual team members, thank you for your creativity and dedication to the medium! Your expertise in video production paired with your boundless pursuit of creative storytelling has been recognized! Cheers!

This is our team, very well behaved. Click here to see how we really celebrate winning a fancy award!

A day in the life of a (maybe not-so-typical) Production Crew

noreply@blogger.com (EventStreams) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:41:00 +0000

Rolling @ 8am

At 8:16 Ryan and Emily get impatient, but the day is

young, only two cups of coffee thus far.

8:17am, Action!

8:33am, The shot looks good!

8:45am, debating the shot - should we change

the angle?

8:55am, No, let's just go with it... don't worry, Terry

is off camera in the background. Someone has to

police the crowds from walking in and ruining the shot!

9am, first pose of the day

9:30am, Ryan sets the next shot

10:20am, script supervisor detects a slight problem...

nothing that can't be fixed in post!

11:15am, Bryan just before burning a pinkie on the Arri

12:05pm, is there going to be a vegetarian

selection at lunch?

12:15pm, pose #2

1:30pm, pose #3

1:35pm, Julie confirms lighting

2:02pm, Bryan is taking too long to set the mic.

2:05pm, final lighting tweaks

2:08pm, wait a minute... Nate and Emily confer on

a new script addition

2:20pm, pose #4 (awkward moment)

2:55pm, lunch was good - how about a healthy snack?

3:22pm, 3 - 2 - 1 - Action!

3:33pm, Emily's been waiting all day to

Hollywood the light

3:44pm, pose #5

4:05pm, this take is a good one. Ryan and Terri review.

5:01pm, mystery intern (young Nate)

5:30pm, Nate mics the CEO while Ryan takes a

picture of Emily with his non-Android device.

24 hours later, Crash celebrates with some cake!

A Hot Mid-Summer Farm Shoot!

noreply@blogger.com (EventStreams) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 21:22:00 +0000

The ES team set out on a mid-summer farm shoot Wednesday as the mercury approached the centennial mark. We had a blast trying to wrangle farm animals and survive one of the hottest days of the year in Georgia. Here's a client hint: Live Solid, Bank Solid.

This was not your typical bank shoot though. Here are a few snapshots from our day...

The cows... before we milked them.

The pig... before he got a bath.

Video farmers... before shedding a few pounds.


The chef... getting ready to make some bacon.

Emily takes charge and coordinates the action.


Creating a false traffic jam.

"There's a spider over your head Ryan, let me help you out."

The summer intern... gets all the good jobs.

It was tight quarters in the diner.

And a little close for comfort... but no complaints from us, we love this Game!

Crash Braves the Bermuda Triangle

noreply@blogger.com (EventStreams) — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 14:18:00 +0000

Crash has just returned from his excursion from the island of Bermuda. He found the water exquisite!

Explored the amazing geologic formations and pink sand beaches of Horseshoe Bay.

Quenched his thirst with a refreshing SmartWater.

Explored the undersea world with a mask and snorkel.

And unfortunately was stung by a nasty jellyfish. The Portuguese Man-O-War!!

Not to worry, Crash was resilient. There's nothing a little rum can't fix.

EventStreams - Studio Management and Staffing

noreply@blogger.com (EventStreams) — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 20:10:00 +0000

In addition to the work we do in our own green screen studio in Buckhead, EventStreams has recently helped two long-term clients implement their own in-house studios and is currently managing ongoing staffing and production.

These clients have a strong interest in significantly increasing the number of videos and webcasts being delivered to employees, and in having their facilities be as conveniently located as possible -- e.g. on campus in a central location.

In both cases, due to our existing relationship as a trusted adviser and go-to partner, EventStreams was able to provide valuable insight and recommendations on configuration, equipment, software and staffing, and is providing ongoing operational support.

This includes recommendations on:

1) Studio gear - the cameras, lighting, green screen (cyclorama wall), monitors, microphones and acoustic treatment.

2) Control room design - editing software, editing hardware, switchers, audio board, wireless audio systems, audio mixers, video switchers, ISO monitors and recorders,program recorders and streaming encoders.

3) Technical details - streaming configuration, network integration, streaming and hosting servers

4) Operational aspects - ongoing staffing

5) User interface - layout and functionality of the broadcast tool & player design

We are excited about extending our business in this new arena. It is a perfect complement to our 10 years of experience with webcasting and online video streaming. Please keep us in mind for new corporate studios in the Atlanta metro area!

BreakAway Loyalty: Winning new customers with video - A Case Study

noreply@blogger.com (EventStreams) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 19:44:00 +0000

Situation

BreakAway Loyalty consults designs and administers loyalty rewards solutions for financial institutions. Key clients include BBVA Compass, First Hawaiian Bank, BancorpSouth, First Citizens Bank and Amalgamated Bank, among others. In its first nine years, BreakAway Loyalty's business grew organically through word of mouth and referrals. In 2010 company leadership agreed to invest in marketing, and designed a unique campaign to strategically grow the business. With a targeted list of prospective clients and a creative idea in hand, BreakAway Loyalty selected EventStreams to bring the campaign to life.

Solution

Together we produced a high-energy video featuring BreakAway Loyalty's clients and partners, with each interviewee providing an on-camera testimonial about working with the company, and the impact that BreakAway has had on their loyalty business. Just another testimonial video, you say? Not exactly.
The twist on this campaign is the highly targeted audience of 30 Financial Institutions that BreakAway wanted to engage. In order to reach them, BreakAway bought 30 Apple iPod Touch devices; EventStreams designed the video from the ground up to be viewed on a 3 1/2 inch screen, and iPod Touches were loaded and shipped five days before a major industry trade show.

"We enjoyed the creative challenge that this project represented," says Nate Haskell, Partner and Executive Producer at EventStreams. "There were several unique factors to consider to make sure the content translated well on the iPod Touch, including the shots, the audio, the on-screen graphics and the file resolution."

"We are thrilled it had the positive impact that was intended, and that it is such a powerful tool in BreakAway's marketing tool kit" adds Bridgit Motes, SVP Sales and Marketing, EventStreams.

Results

Immediately after sending the iPod Touches, BreakAway Loyalty received the positive feedback and tradeshow buzz that management hoped to receive. They are currently in discussion with several Financial Institutions about new multi-year contracts. Some of the recipient comments include:

"I was most impressed with the video that you guys did; that's the most unique way to convey a calling card...there are no words to describe it compared to what most people would be used to seeing...and the device is cool!"
"It was really very clever and the video was so well done."

Feedback

"EventStreams came highly recommended to us by a friend when our company was looking to develop a very unique marketing campaign and a unique way to deliver it. They did an outstanding job and we are very pleased with the results! Everyone was professional, and they offered excellent creative solutions for us - from the initial concept development meetings to the onsite production and the completed piece."

- Greg Trzaska, Partner at BreakAway Loyalty

Workshop: Catalyzing Your Brand & Strategy Through Audience-Centric Communications

noreply@blogger.com (EventStreams) — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 20:16:00 +0000

EventStreams is sponsoring a workshop by Bonfire Communications.

Enter discount code EVENTSTREAMS for 50% OFF!

SESSION OBJECTIVES

Led by Bonfire CEO and Campaign Director, Gordon Rudow, in this session you will learn how to:

Facilitate an audience-centric brand development or communication strategy process
Create the most effective company stories, brand statements and mantras to enable a clear focus for employees
Design communications processes and structures that enable rapid responses to external dynamics
Benefit from templates that help ensure your messages are relevant by focusing on audience concerns in times of major change

DATE & LOCATION

Date: June 21, 2011

TIme: 8:30 am-12:30 pm

Location: Cox Enterprises: Atlanta Journal Constitution Building, The Auditorium

223 Perimeter Center Parkway

Atlanta, GA 30346

REGISTRATION FEES

Public: $75

Members of Sponsoring Organizations: $35

Cox Enterprises Employees: FREE

Download the brochure, and register here.

Hope to see you there!

EventStreams Mascot - The Infamous Crash

noreply@blogger.com (EventStreams) — Tue, 10 May 2011 13:35:00 +0000

EventStreams is a company of creative people. So what if our company mascot is a pen named Crash... He's fully equipped with our logo, website, AND our phone number. The power he carries is limitless--and there's a whole army of Crashes! He is always there when we need him! (Like when we need to jot down some crucial details regarding a shoot.) Below are some previous pictures of Crash working hard on the job.

At the Mayor's office

Crash likes trucks

Oversees the technical delivery

Flies like a bird

In Miami!

"Did you get that shot?"

Checking levels

Playing "where's Crash?"

Production & Technology: Then and Now

noreply@blogger.com (EventStreams) — Mon, 09 May 2011 19:56:00 +0000

Online video has become ubiquitous in the past several years. Its prevalence has been impacted by the growth of video sharing websites like YouTube and Vimeo, by the growth of online video hosting platforms like Brightcove, and by the ever-increasing amount of readily available bandwidth. Needless to say, in the past 10 years our business has grown and changed along with the times.

On the technology front: gone are the days of posting in 160x120 pixels streaming at 40kbps! Also gone are the days of posting multiple bit rates for every single video (high @ 325k, medium @ 170k, and low @ 40k) and in posting everything in multiple formats (remember Real Media Player?). On-demand video has become expected at most major companies. The road blocks and technical challenges to successful live video streaming are manageable. Embedding video into websites is commonplace.

On the production front: No more tapes! No more 4x3! No more "talking heads only" because of the limitations of compression and streaming. Smaller cameras are commonplace. We're entering deeper and deeper into HDSLR territory, while at the same time, lower production values are A-ok for companies with small budgets for videos with limited shelf-life. We're looking ahead to streaming live video to iPhones, Blackberries and other smartphones.

Even though how we produce and how we deliver our videos has transformed over time, our core clients are still companies and corporations headquartered in Atlanta who need to use video to communicate effectively with employees, clients and prospects. We are looking forward to the next 10 years!

2011 EventStreams Dream Project - Creative Aspect

noreply@blogger.com (EventStreams) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 18:32:00 +0000

Our current EventStreams Dream Project with Computers for Youth (CFY-Atlanta) is making some good progress. The interview with former CFY participant Derek Boston (mentioned in our Telling the Story post) exceeded expectations. He wrote a letter to CFY after participating in the program, expressing his gratitude for the opportunity.

"...Computers for Youth came into my life, and I was a new boy. I felt like I could do anything. I felt like I was Superman... "

He then vows to "always use my computer for good things", as if CFY just gave him a new super power.

Editor Ryan was very impressed with Derek's on-camera presence. "Some people just freeze on camera, but Derek was a natural!" Now in high school, he looks back and shares with us how CFY made an impact on his life.

So now that the bulk of the filming is complete, it is Ryan's chance to work his magic and bring it all together into one visually inspiring story. Anyone can take a camera and film an event, but how the material comes together creatively is what sets the video apart from others.

One way Ryan puts the pieces together creatively is by using multiple shots on one screen as a way of transitioning into the next scene (see below). The composition is split up into several parts, showing Derek in multiple views. This style of transition is a great way to engage the audience with constant movement, which highlights the various nuances of Derek in person.

This effect was used similarly in the First Tee Atlanta video, another project that falls under the EventStreams Dream Project. As Ryan continues to use his creative decision-making in the editing process, all the pieces will come together for the final product. Our goal is to help CFY-Atlanta continue to equip middle school children with the technology and resources to succeed.

Here's the Team - Then and Now

noreply@blogger.com (EventStreams) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 21:00:00 +0000

Sam Austin and Nate Haskell are two of the four original founding partners. Our 4 man team was increased to 6 in 2001 and to 10 in 2005. Since then we've consistently had a team of 10-12. Here are a few team photos from over the years!

On location in Gainesville, GA

noreply@blogger.com (EventStreams) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Nate, Ryan, Bryan and Julie traveled all the way to Gainesville, Georgia this week to record on-location footage and interviews for a marketing video for new client MyCelx. The Nikon D7000 is getting a workout lately! We also captured some behind-the-scenes footage for another fun "making-of" video. We'll post both in the near future - stay tuned...