Blog Archive

August 16, 2010 - Videos for success & succession planning
I uploaded two new (<3min.) customer videos on YouTube; one customer is dealing with success, and the other video as part of a succession plan. Both videos are the first of a series for each customer.

Videos celebrating success. Becoming popular in any field is a long journey. If successful, you find yourself inundated with requests; your popularity mushrooms for the sheer reason people have heard of you, or your product or service.  Over the course of many years Dave & Joanne Weatherill have been growing their business.  BRITELAND serves many types of customers in many ways. Their roots are in agricultural supply, gardening supplies etc. but they’ve become so much more. Some years back they created a series of ‘problem solver’ documents which you could pick up at the store or print off the website. Problem Solvers allow the staff at BRITELAND to consistently provide the same information about reoccurring gardening, and other, problems. I am pleased to be working with the BRITELAND team to bring those Problem Solvers to video. This is the first of many to come. As with everything BRITELAND does, these videos will explain solutions in the most earth friendly terms. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqZ2PlVMLYY

Succession planning videos: Imagine this is your company. You have a piece of machinery, or way of doing things, that very few people know inside and out. Maybe it’s just one person and that person is retiring! Capturing their story, their way of doing things, their use of the machinery on video will help preserve the knowledge. In the case of the Greater Vernon Museum & Archives (GVMA) their fully operational linotype has been operated by one man, a retired pressman, for many years. Who will operate it next? The tour of the GVMA Print Shop, includes models of the first presses ever made as well as a Platen Press, a Linotype machine and Proof Press. One of the draw backs until now has been, if you wanted to see all the machines in action, you had to visit while a school group in the building. When the remaining videos are produced, everyone will have a chance to look in on the presses and watch the video explanation of how it works. The videos will loop all day, all week, all month long until the next school group or pressman comes along. The videos preserve a way of doing things that is no longer easy present. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwlilcFhQpE

August 11, 2020 - PowerPoint 2010 - You've come a long way baby!
I've been using PowerPoint for years, decades I think. The end product of the first versions I used were sent away to make text slides, the text slides were then interspersed with photo slides in a carousel projector. Got it? This is before jpegs, scanners and colour printing. We're talking WIN 3.11

I've seen a lot of changes in PPT over the years and made goodness knows how many slideshows and, working as Tier II MS support for a company of 2,000 users, I've seen, fussed with and fixed countless slideshows. I've seen all the mistakes and, as an in-class instructor, warned of the many PowerPoint perils which plague presentations. I won't review those problems.

What I did want to note is that PowerPoint 2010 has some awesome video features that, I think, have the potential to change the face of video animation. Previous to the 2010 version, if you had a PPT file and wanted to switch it to video you had to screen capture it with WME9 or Camtasia or the like. Using those products always created some disappointment in the way animation and transitions were rendered.

Last year I converted a presentation of mine from PPT to WMV then on to YouTube. Yesterday, using PPT 2010 I saved the slideshow as a WMV and folks, what a difference!

Compare the Old version http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ASZBRm_sPI
to the New Version http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1a1iJ9OcLTg (no audio)

I just wanted to show how clean the transitions and animations are and point out that this is a marvelous potential - for educators at least - to move their transition and animation rich PPT to video.

PowerPoint has many uses other than boring people at conventions. Yup, it's true! The kisok mode is used to make presentations that are timed and, often, replay endlessly. When I was working education and software support I made kiosk mode PowerPoint Shows (PPS) as solutions to common problems. Using screen print and animated arrows, I illustrated some common solutions. The problem was that the PPS takes up the whole screen and the user can't stop it to try something. Converted to video the animation was jerky and annoying. Other products, like Captivate (which I really like) did a better job of capturing screens and mouse movements but getting the boss to approve development time was difficult.

The reason I think this will change animation is that thousands of PPT users are now poised to be animators. Not 3D modeling, I'm referring to the rich selection of tools PPT has to animate objects along paths - mostly instructional purposes. The potential is huge. BUT that's not all. Other new features include more robust methods of adding video to PowerPoint making it far easier to place the talking head with the slideshow. Geez! I mean, I like to see this sort of stuff but it makes me wonder how I'm going to make a living when the next version of PPT arrives!

August 10, 2010
I've been 'tweeting' about Lisa Redl today. I had to laugh during and after her self deprecating video  http://www.loriandlisa.com/comedy/faves-top-ten-only-shorts/lori-and-lisa-top-5-reasons-to-hire-lisa-redl/

July 28, 2010
From Speakers Presentation to Video Learning Object
One of my clients is private college who are contemplating various ways to move their educational content on line. They have their printed resources, PowerPoint presentations and a 1 hour video made 8 years ago. They also have an upcoming school year in which to video record  lessons. Sounds good? Well actually, there’s a problem and it’s the same problem many speakers discover after watching themselves on video. Video lessons recorded in class (or on stage) lecture or presentation do not retain the same ‘live’ appeal as being there. A recording of a great presentation can seem ho hum, an ok presentation is boring and the reputation as an engaging speaker is suddenly at stake. What’s going on? 

Actually, you know what’s going on; it’s another ‘you had to be there’ moment. Something is lost in the translation. Who’s the culprit? Who is responsible for bring what the speaker says to life? Is it the speaker or the video producer? Let’s do a quick check to see how media conversion savvy you are. IF you are not aware that all the various forms of media have their own language and that a translation has to occur between languages THEN you are probably that person who cut and pasted paragraphs from your lecture notes into PowerPoint and thought ‘that looks great!’ Wrong, it’s not a presentation, it’s an eye test.

 Video presentations have to be more than text and more than a speaker moving around a stage. The message has to be massaged to meet the medium. Yes there are excellent live videos of speakers, but bear in mind the best ones are done with captive audiences, multiple cameras and if the speaker flubs, they do a re-take.  Comedians on TV only come across well if the production team mic’s really closely to capture all the nuances of the language.  The professional camera operator closes in on the comedians face to see the expressions in the eyes and pulls back just enough to capture body movement.

For the private college I’m working with, recording lectures is a great place to start collecting information for translating a into learning objects. But how do you do that? 

Most often I recommend the following. If the speaker (instructor/presenter/lecturer) is using PowerPoint, record the speaker and arrange to get a copy of the slide show to mix in afterwards (post production). If the speaker is not using anything projected get copy of the speech, or main points, and use them as titles during the production of the learning object.  

If the speaker is using props, bones, books or bats, get a close-up afterwards of the speaker holding those items. Get the shot from the same angle you are shooting from if it’s a one camera operation. Oh, and don’t try a close-up during the presentation, you’ll probably miss something.  

Record in as high a quality as you can. Going from HDV down to DVD allows you to do double duty with your recording. When you record in hi-def (1920x1080) but need only have a DVD resolution (720x480) or less, you have the ability to make it look like you have two cameras; one near and one far. Your mid shot can render as a mid or close-up. Your close-up can also be an extreme close-up. It adds a little variety and breaks the monotony. Remember, in the live experience speakers may wander around. The camera operator keeps the speaker in the frame so, in essence, the video viewer doesn’t see much movement of speaker.  

Translating a classroom lecture into a learning object requires the video producer re-introduce movement via: changes in perspective, the addition of images (panned and zoomed), use of visual organizers such as flow charts, or numbering systems, taxonomies, and titles etc. to help viewers keep track of where they are immersed in the material rather than drowning in it. 

July 16, 2010
The evidence is increasingly compelling in support of Social Networking (SN), not only is it making the large world smaller it is making the small world larger; I mean, in the small economic confines of the North Okanagan (NOK) virtual SN has added quite a lot to my real life (RL) SN. RLSN scenarios include Business After 5 (BA5) BORG meetings and pretty much any excuse to leave the house and meet people.

I'm not a shining example of  real or virtual networking. It's work to mingle and introduce myself and it requires a lot of effort sit and write. Sometimes I wonder if I lack the self preservation in business gene. Most times though I just enjoy meeting people, listening to them, passing along their name or connecting them to people who could/can use their services.

My business, the video creation business, is one of those business types that requires numerous exposures before I get a customer. After a few fits and starts, I've decided to try to make my personal name and face more recognizable than my business name. It's a direction all o/o's contend with. Do I sell  myself or my business? American small business pundit Michael Gerber (who's books I recommend) would say I'm going about his all wrong. I should build my brand so I can sell it and retire. Except, well, I may not retire! I like what I do and I'm happy with my decision to be the person of the business. Coincidently, with virtual SN, it's turned out to be a good decision to make it 'personal.'

If you aren't on Twitter and Facebook, LinkedIn or similar, and you are trying to find or make work, then you are going to have a tougher go at it. I've been there. When I moved to the NOK with my freshly minted Masters in Education and a keen interest in Teacher Training, I was sure I'd be working in a matter of weeks, which became months. Just to illustrate it's who you know, a former employer asked me back to Vancouver for 5 months, when I returned to the NOK I was no further ahead with local work. That's because I hadn't adapted and accepted a fact of life, it's not what you know... 

How Networking has worked for me.
I could write pages about doing free work, or work on spec, the various merits and pitfalls. Instead I'll just use my current customer set to illustrate the who theory. For free, I am creating a video for the group I blogged about on June 25th (see archive). I met them through BORG members, who also donated their time for free. I'm making a video for the local museum because they were so helpful last year when I was working on the documentary When Duty Calls. I'm helping with TYPECAST for many personal acquaintance reasons - many of whom helped me with my doc.

For pay, I am currently working with BRITELAND with whom I've connected in various ways, through my B in Law; a Rotarian, through BA5, through building my own square foot garden (buying supplies), and through Vernon Chamber when I made videos for them in May. For Okanagan College I'll be conducting courses this fall in Vernon and Kelowna. I got that job because of two personal referrals (people who were offered the job but thought I'd be better suited to it) and not because my resume was on file. I'm most excited about working with the BCCET because it brings together curriculum development with video production. I got that job because one of the part employees there is the mother of one of kids in a home schooling program I've been volunteering my time with.

Want to give it Social Media some serious thought? Connect with one of the local Social Networking pundits. It was @willisetech (twitter name) John Willis at http://willisetech.com/ that got me going on the Virtual stuff.

June 25, 2010
For five full long days beginning last Sunday I've been video recording  "Behind the Scenes" on the movie set of TORA. For me, a videographer who often arrives at a work site with not much more that the Canon camera pictured above, arriving the first day and seeing  5 people dedicated to the ARRI camera and a dozen other setting up generators, lights, props, sound, set decorators, craft workers, actors, extras, volunteers, caterers and goodness knows who else, was a bit overwhelming. An aerial shot might be able to capture everything; my head was up there, but my body was on the ground.

The richness in experience those next five days offered goes beyond words. I learned so much! The purported 3 Most Difficult Things of movie making, Children, Animals and Mirrors, were handled with great aplomb by consummate professionals. Wendy Ord & Glen Samuel put together a great team...DoP James Tocher, AD Peter Dashkewytch, focus puller Sandes Ashe, camera operator Kim MacNaughton, Steadycam Tamara Jones, lighting Josh Alkoff and sound Roderick Matte. Everyone was as  generous with their time, as time allowed,  to answer my questions on and off set, on and off camera.

The set was populated by many others I have not been able to list, we had a number of students from the Centre for Arts and Technology in Kelowna as well as a number of Kelowna & Okanagan resident cinema professionals who spend a lot of time in Vancouver, the centre of BC's film universe.

Lots of Vernon talent as well. Set designer Gina Hanfstingl and carpenter/set builder Alex Hanfstingl of Event Crew prepared some lovely sets and Gumtree Catering did an awesome job. Vernon residents also provided vintage cars for the 1940's street scenes.

One of the technical things I found most interesting about this production was the ARRI camera which was modified by Claremont Camera for 35mm 2-perf a.k.a. Techniscope. This is the same film format  Sergio Leone used in his many spaghetti westerns. I'm not sure if Sergio was able to use Kodak film though.  The view is beautifully wide and, because of recent developments in both hardware and software, the grain of film is no longer an issue. Film makers can now depend on the lushness of film to come through the digital process and distribution channel via companies like Digital Film Central in Vancouver. See their demo here. It truly brings together the best of both worlds.

I haven't even mentioned the talent yet! How can you beat this for a line up; up and coming actors Kate Bateman and Kevin Ohtsji , a seasoned professional - David Suzuki, a new to acting youngster - Christa Shepard, and Lucy the (wonder) dog. See the trailer the producers made here.

UPDATE: I forgot to mention the importance (and fun of working with) the people in props and effects, wardrobe and make up. Levi, Donna, Megz, Margo-Anne and Chrystal. And, duh! I didn't even mention Anna Jacyszyn who did all the running around getting people organized, and the PR and the talent handling. OH! and the set photographer was Lydia Ross.

June 16, 2010
I just learned that I'll be providing some training to an independent college in the North Okanagan via this grant process http://www.aved.gov.bc.ca/workplace_training_program/welcome.htm
If you work for a company that has less that 50 people have a look!

For once my eclectic background comes in handy as I prepare a college employee to make lesson plans, create a media plan and then create video for that plan including setting the scene, capturing excellent audio and video and then editing/producing an on-line video series to be distributed via their LMS.

I'll be using instructional material I use in my Instructor Development college course www.trainingtutor.ca/develop as well as video production lesson Adobe provides free to video editing instructors plus a host of personally learned tips and tricks.

I just signed up for http://shiftingdirections.ca/ conference in September, have a look if you live in BC's interior, it really looks like a worthwhile endevour.

June 4, 2010
The pleasures of independent videography were evident in my life this week. I love learning new things and finding ways to communicate those things visually. I just posted a video about Horse Reining (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aq8UHEj-7bo ) of which I knew nothing about until 2 weeks ago and now am absolutely amazed how closely horse and rider can work.

Besides making videos, I love running and bicycling. Last weekend I participated in the 1/2 Corked Marathon in Oliver BC and brought along a camcorder to record the race start and some stops along the way. The trouble is, once I get running I hate to stop so I just took pictures along the way and recorded video before and after. Video still to come but I did get some press in this mornings Morning Star newspaper (see http://bmidd.com/images/sowahalf.jpg ).

I worked on two great video keepsakes this week that you won't find on my YouTube Channel. Not all the videos I make end up on YouTube, that isn't appropriate for private messages (corporate video) and keepsakes.

The first is a keepsake video for the Vernon Community Music school. This year we decided to do a little bit of behind the scenes commentary and so, last Monday, I was recording Charity Van Gameren and Karina Hettler talk about the latest production. It is so hard to be behind the camera and not laugh! I won't be surprised if when I review the video if I hear a few distant chuckles. It'll make for a great addition to the keepsake.

The second keepsake I worked on this week was for a customer with an an awesome problem. He had a DVD of his fathers 100th birthday celebration and now had to add pictures to it because he is tuning 105! That's right, one hundred and five years old and still cracking jokes about coming out of retirement!

May 25, 2010
I added two videos to my YouTube Channel on the weekend; one was for laughs (if you know the person involved) "You saw it here First" (23sec.) and the other is about a group of teens who really inspire me. At the beginning of May I video recorded behind the scenes at this teen production. Anyone who has watched kids chaotically put together a video will be impressed with the teenagers shown here. I've been working with the parents and children of this home schooling group to produce a video from a concept. We've met a number of times and have previously published a video when we were discussing the Rule of Thirds and editing on action. In this video I am behind the scenes to see how they are putting all the lessons together. I think you'll be impressed by the seriousness in attitude that all the participants are exhibiting and the leadership offered by the writer/director/sometimes videographer and her motherMay 23, 2010
MULTI-TASKING! I can't seem to pull it off in a big way. Oh sure, I can breath and chew gum, I can even do laundry while I'm cleaning the house (Thursdays) BUT DON'T ask me to do anything, even TWEET while I'm video-editing. It just doesn't seem possible. The load in the washer can be there 7 hours before it gets in the dryer. Weeks will go by before I recall to write in my blog or even Tweet! Writing it down here makes it seem like I reach my cognitive overload quite quickly. A distinct portion of my friends believe it is because I am non-female and therefore lack the 'organized' jean. But I am organized, I'm also focused and that is what makes me a great project worker and, perhaps, a not so good single person business owner. I know I should be trying to find my next customer, or should already have my next customer, when I am editing a project but I can't seem to pull that off. Recall, I can't even find the time to Tweet or put something in FACEBOOK. I decided to take the long weekend off of editing and, therefore, tweeted 3 times yesterday, a couple today, replied to emails and my LinkedIn inbox.

It's hard work self managing a one man show. I was very glad to recently meet some people who expressed the same sentiment but have managed to pull it off in better ways than I have (so far). I am referring to the 26 people I interviewed for the Vernon Chamber of Commerce Excellence awards. In a hectic week of interviews and 4 subsequent days of editing and consultation and editing, I produced and recently posted the video interviews I conducted for the Chamber. Click here to go to YouTube and see the 9 videos of 3 people each, and 1 video of the Business of the Year.

Val Trevis, at the Vernon Chamber, succinctly expressed my feelings about the videos. It's one thing, she said, to see a list of names and their businesses, it's another thing entirely to see/hear them talking about their business. I'm paraphrasing. Seeing a list doesn't let you appreciate the differences.

Meeting the people behind the nominated business really gives you a feeling of the variety and the sincerity of the the business owner.  They all work at their business, they all multi-task to ensure there is business to work on tomorrow. I'd be jealous if I weren't so in awe! Plus, no time to be jealous, I have some editing to do, I can feel jealous next week when I have no work in the pipe!

May 3, 2010
Bike To Work PSA #3 at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x842ITCL_Z8 It's my favorite to date!

Busy Busy Busy! Three projects have kept me hopping and will keep continue to do so for 2 more weeks. The Bike To Work PSA's were awesome to get going on and they have received a lot of hits. Right now I'm working on a huge series of interviews for a customer that has to be done by Friday and, the day before that, I begin video recording the latest offering of our community dance school "Lights of Broadway" at the Performing Arts Centre. 

April 29, 2010
Moving from Media Cynicism to the amusement of the Media Circus. Thanks goodness for our recent abilities to post on websites and sites like YouTube; we can promote what we think the world needs to hear. Taking those personal messages to the larger media outlets, like TV, and popular local internet news agencies is still not much different from the 60's when media critics said - I mean WARNED - the public that 'those who control the media, control the message.' And so I find out this week that the PSA's I made for Bike To Work Week are not welcome because of some very lame excuses. How's this for a reason to NOT play them on a popular local internet news agency "they're too short." Huh? Or how about this from a cable rep who shall remain nameless, " you can apply, we'll play all four once, back to back." Yup, very helpful that one! So just keep in mind, when you watch the local news outlets for information about upcoming events, they've chosen what to tell you about and what not to tell you about. You may wish to cultivate some other news resources and check websites that are geared towards providing information about your particular concerns. Good Media Hunting!

April 26, 2010
Just uploaded a new Bike To Work PSA at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0tLxkqMC0Q

April 24, 2010
Watched AVATAR on Blu-Ray at a neighbours house. I liked it! I was a little concerned about the length of the show but when it ended I looked at my watch and couldn't believe the time had passed so quickly. Having recently watched NETWORK I am a little cynical about obligatory menaces, i.e. the guy that won't die, and how love stories have to end happily,  but I got sucked right in. It did remind me of Dances with Wolves though, though this would be more like Dances with Dragons; many of the plot elements were the same. The music for Avatar was interesting. I was going to, but haven't yet, see if the composer of the Avatar music is the same as that of Disney's Lion King (the non-Elton John parts).

April 21, 2010
During the week I've been re-Watching the 30+ year old movie NETWORK and all the DVD extras. The Movie was far better than I remembered it - perhaps because I can appreciate the lighting, mood, cinematography and black humour. A thought occurred to me at the end - was it because of this movie that I decided not to have a TV? Yes folks, I've never seen Survivorman or Dancing with the Stars, nor have I seen any of the 'Idol' shows, except YouTube clips, nor have I seen a CSI.

March 30th, 2010
I made a video PSA for Bike To Work Week (with which I am keenly involved) See the video, Join the fun, take the challenge. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_G3Ul6fNrY

March 10, 2010

Things are looking good at the first live edition of the Business Okanagan Referral Group website (BORG). As I have written before (and you can read on my archive page Jan 25, 2010 entry) we are a bunch of business people, mostly but not all self-employed, who are out make obtaining products and services a lot easier for individuals and business in the North Okanagan. Click on the BORG logo above and go to our members page (tab) to meet the businesses and people - most of whom have made the time and effort to introduce themselves via video.

That was shameless self promotion! I made most of the videos.

March 9, 2010
Thank You to yet another Rotary Club in Vernon for asking me to come out and talk about researching and producing documentary video. For you early morning Vernon Rotarians who meet at the Vernon Golf Course, good luck with the Free First Aid courses, you folks are doing a great job.

The documentary video I spoke the most about is available at the Museum & Archives for $25 but you can also try before you buy it for your big screen. Here it is in it's entirety, DVD extras and all http://bmidd.com/ohf/movie/ When you get there click on PLAY MOVIE - or watch the DVD extras, they're shorter.

March 4, 2010
“50 Years of Royalty”
I just posted 7 musical selections and 1 bonus video on my YouTube Channel. For more info about the show see http://www.bmidd.com/samples/50years/

In late January I attended rehearsals for the show, to check out staging and figure out how to make a performance keepsake DVD. The cast and crew were marvellous and I got a good feeling for the play and for the phrase, “Well, that’s show biz!” I used this opportunity to create a dual DVD set and 2 DVD extras. No one but my wife, Roger Knox and I knew about the ‘extras’ until the DVD debut at the cast party last Sunday.

     For DVD’s of other stage plays, I had made DVD adhesive labels and hadn’t done cover art. For this project I wanted to cost out the time and expense of painting the DVD’s and providing a DVD menu, case, cover art. Thankfully the graphic designer of the shows poster, Liz Stanley, made her art work available to me. That alone made the finished product easier to manage and extremely attractive to look at. Click the above link to see how the art work turned out.

     I learned a lot about working with multiple recording nights – versions – and technical problems related to recording live shows. Theoretically I could record and mix various performances. In practice though, mixing versions doesn’t work easily. Based on theory I recorded the Wednesday night performance concentrating on all the stuff on the left side, the next day on the right – in the mix the actors were often in the same place for their lines but their gestures were off a bit so I could not cut from one ‘2-shot’ to another. Ahhhhh! And I couldn’t use one soundtrack because inflections and breaths changes minutely, which caused sync. problems, which made my initial efforts to use one track for both nights akin to a bad samurai movie. Well, at least I know how to do that now!

     As if it weren’t rewarding enough to work with such talent as the show’s creators, actors and crew, I took to the opportunity to approach Roger Knox, another local writer and actor, who was referred to numerous times during the show, as the ex-boyfriend of the star of the show. I asked Roger if he would like to seek some sort of revenge on playwright Mike Poirier. So, between us, we discussed and dismissed a number of ideas leaving us with two excellent thoughts which turned out very well. Roger wrote and performed an intro as was used at the beginning of Alfred Hitchcock’s shows from long ago. All I had to do was make it look like that! Usually I’m one to ‘up pace’ things but I knew, in this instance, the real fun would be the tease of the cast waiting for the intro to end. I took my time introducing the profile drawing and then slowly filling it with Roger incorporate, but so dark you can’t make him out, then, when he turns to face the camera you still can’t see him. During the debut, cast party, people were straining their eyes, ‘who’s that???’ ‘Is it Roger? IT’S ROGER!!!’ Hilarious! We had to play it again so people could actually hear his monologue.

     The intermission piece I titled “Roger & Me” was received with equal hilarity as Roger pretended that the fictional Brenda was a real ex-GF. To make it extra convincing, I used a high school grad picture of actor Janet Walmsley – which she un-suspiciously provided – to which I promptly removed her grad date, made a warm burgundy background, added a crown, sash, added a love note and an old frame, so that Roger could hold it and show how much he treasures it! OMG!!! Roger did such a fine job as the ex-BF – he should be nominated for a daytime drama award!

See http://www.youtube.com/user/bruceamol#p/u/9/k4tMiicNw-k

It’s only 8 minutes long but, knowing the circumstances, you will laugh, guaranteed!

March 1, 2010
All about Marmots
I just posted my websites most popular video on YouTube. It was made in 2008 in conjunction with a video contest I organized for the Allen Brooks Nature Centre in Vernon BC. The version on my website includes a 'making of' segment. See http://www.bmidd.com/samples/marmots/

January 25^th, 2010
Society Marketing and Social Marketing

This is an exciting time for a business referral group I belong to because we are taking the social marketing tools, many of us use individually, into a larger forum to market our business society (our referral group) socially. What I mean is this; the business referral group I belong to consists of several businesses who, individually, use their websites to list products and services and use Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn etc. to get people to their website. We are now embarking on putting a website together that features all the individual business after which we will engage in social media messaging modes that encourage people to visit that, and our own, websites. We are leaving the realm of the individual and entering into the ‘collective.’ STAR TREK fans may recognize that hive ideal, and get a snicker or two, but, in the nicest way, we are joining our collective business heads to raise our society’s profile and, with that, attract people to our individual business and society.

Raising the profile of a society is not a new idea; what’s different is how we are going about it. Right now in ‘business world’, many small and medium size businesses that don’t have the money to ‘brand’ themselves as high quality providers of some product or service, rely on other associations to transmit that message. That’s why you’ll see advertisements indicating associations with/to the Chamber of Commerce, the Better Business Bureau or any number of organizations who have already taken the time and energy to establish themselves. You will also see businesses and other organizations getting involved or ‘partnering’ with charitable organizations such as the United Way or Vernon’s own Hospital Foundation etc. for win-win marketing.  

Society Marketing has evolved over the years. Think about how the numerous cancer societies have differentiated themselves over the years, or tried to I might say, as they first embraced door to door solicitation (think March of Dimes), then the various organ & disease runs & walks (I’m still waiting for the Canadian Bladder Association 100 yard dash!), and now they  are turning to the new way, the social marketing way, of raising their profile in the community and across the nation.  Volunteers and staff (if they can afford it) are setting up Facebook groups and Tweeting about this or that.  

You might think I am writing about joining the bandwagon, but I’m not. I’m writing about a new way to incorporate the strengths of others, a new way to market individuals businesses as a conglomerate – the ‘whole’ being greater than the sum of it parts. Business referral groups aren’t new, what is new about our group is that we are becoming a virtual shopping mall for products and services; one stop shopping! That’s exciting!  

We all, as individual businesses in my business referral group, have a great respect for our local competitors. We strive to find ways to differentiate ourselves from others in significant ways, not just the blah blah throw away lines you see on business cards about service and integrity etc. Everyone ignores those lines now-a-days; or is it just me? I think we have found an excellent way, and reason, for other businesses and the public to come to us, our society members, rather than go elsewhere. We are offering a node into a product and service realm. Within or referral group of over 30 members, we have someone or know someone, that REALLY IS trustworthy and dependable – we already checked that out, we have rules about service, integrity and more. So, when the business group I belong to debuts our new website in February, and you start receiving messages about the ‘Business Okanagan Referral Group’ (the BORG) in the North Okanagan, make sure you visit us. We’ll have something for everyone and it would be futile to resist us!

January 4^th, 2010
Followership: A story about limited Vision, variable Goals, Leaders and Followers.

Between Christmas & New Years I joined a group of around 25 people for a snow shoe trip in the hills around Sovereign Lake; from the Nordic Centre to a cabin some 90 minutes away by foot. On the return trip, following a now familiar trail, but in the reverse direction, I was situated mid group when I had a thought about a large government organization I used to work for. Why was I thinking about work at 8PM while out snowshoeing? Because, from where I was in the group, I couldn’t speed up, I couldn’t slow down; it was difficult to talk to the people ahead of me and behind. I couldn’t see the leaders and I didn’t know where we were. Also, I was disappointed I hadn’t achieved my goal for the trip (see below), so I just settled into trudging along – like so many of my former co-workers – waiting for retirement (the trip to end); a typical day at the office! 

My own goal was different from the leaders and some other group members. I willingly agreed to participate in the event because, when I did, it was a bright sunny day and the phase of the moon indicated I’d be snowshoeing under an almost full moon. That was my hope, desire and ‘goal’ if you will, for the trip. I hadn’t fully contemplated the possibility it would be cloudy and what that would mean to my feelings about the evening.

It was a pleasant group of people including friends, family and a group of leaders & support staff that would take us safely to the cabin provide us with supper and lead us safely back to the Nordic Centre. Note the goals of the leaders were different from my own. It's not that I didn’t share the need to arrive safely at both destinations, but that was their goal, I had my own desires to fulfill by participating. If any of those leaders would have asked me how it was going, I would have lied; I would have said everything was great. But it wasn’t, I wasn’t snowshoeing under the full moon.

Being a ‘modern’ guy, office worker, husband, business owner, educator, I have been exposed to a variety of personal development workshops and know that happiness must come from within.  This was one of those times where I had to pull up the Alpaca socks, put on the smile, find the beauty and happiness in the world around me and fake happiness if needed. Indeed, I was in a beautiful place (sure beats an office) I was with some great people, getting exercise, the air was fresh, I was dressed appropriately, no one seemed to be in distress; it all looked good, in fact, it was great! Finally I smiled, let go of the need to see the full moon and really enjoyed the next 15 minutes or so of follow the leader. The moon peeked out, the clouds blew off, the moon shadows from the tress grew long, the snow turned bluish and we even saw some stars. Make one happiness and get one free!  

So much is written about Leadership that, perhaps, the Followers feel they have no obligation in the success of the venture. My goal – to be happy (snowshoe under a full moon) – was beyond the scope the leadership could provide. I knew there was nothing the leaders could say about that; how can a leader be responsible for everyone’s personal goal? Clearly there were others who were reaching their goals. Some revelled in the experience of shoeing at night, or challenged by the terrain and/or their ability.

I think it’s important for followers to recognize that Leadership is a difficult function. Followers have responsibilities too; to the leader, the group and to themselves.

I was wrong in my thinking that not much has been written about followership. If you ‘Google’ you’ll find a lot of the usual crap, but I did find one worthwhile article to read on the subject – see http://www.allbusiness.com/human-resources/employee-development-leadership/121760-1.html

December 24^th, 2009
Year end thoughts Part 1: 2009 Ends.
From the perspective of creativity, I’ve had another really great year in the video production business. I’ve accomplished many personal firsts: a 45 minute documentary DVD, with all the extras, which took 11 months from start to finish. I also made two music videos; a genre I had never entered before. Then there’s the usual video work; I made a promotional video for a local Rotary Club, two stage play video keepsakes and three tourism videos – all of which, except the stage plays, are either on my website or YouTube Channel.

 I learned a lot on this year BIG project “When Duty Calls.” I love the intricacies of how things fit together; systems within systems, plans within plans. Large scale video projects require a lot of planning and combinations of many skills. Not only did I have to plan how to approach the story (who, when, where, etc.) to video record as the videographer, I also was the audio technician, lighting director, site scout, crowd controller, director, budgeter, salesperson, PR, gopher, caterer, casting director, project manager, secretary, and at some point I had to clean the house too! Then I became the video editor, special FX department, Foley and graphic artist. And that’s just the stuff I did most of the time, there were lots of other little jobs. So, as jobs go, I don’t think I’ve ever been challenged, both artistically and in practicalities (like time & project management), as I was this year making longer videos.

I also did a few VHS to DVD conversions, I’ve bid on jobs I didn’t end up getting – that still takes time. I’ve written over 30 ‘posts’ in response to questions on the Videomaker.com community forums. Geez, that’s almost one a week! I enjoy helping new videographers overcome the problems I’ve already overcome.

Another enjoyable video related ‘fun time’ has been helping some youngsters develop their video techniques and ideas.

Lastly, in business, I’ve recently joined Twitter and LinkedIn and I’m trying to post regularly to those networks to develop an expanded social/business network.

In non-video business I am began teaching a 3 session series of instructor development (Adult Learning & Teaching, Course Planning, Classroom Management) courses at our local college in Vernon. They’ve worked out great, I’ve taught the series twice now.

Another fulfilling endeavour has been to chair the Greater Vernon Cycling Advisory Committee; it’s now my third year as chair. We are making headway on many fronts and I have only wonderful things to say about the experience; it’s so positive!

Year end thoughts Part 2: 2010 Arrives.
From the financial perspective, 2009 was unrewarding because I really couldn’t pull off the multi-tasking of editing and engaging in business development efforts. I’ve remarked about this to a number of o/o’s and they say it’s something they had to learn to juggle too; work and finding work.

Funding provided, there are a number of video projects I am interested in developing throughout 2010. My experience working with the local museum & archives, historical & heritage societies, has got me thinking about other projects highlighting local history. I’ve already let a number of people know that I am gathering information about the Grey Canal; a once incredible bit of irrigation technology, which is now being developed into a trail system. Makes a good title too! “From Triumph to Trail.” This time, instead of documentary, I’d like to tell a human interest story about the development, the people who had the vision, the people who built it and, apparently, the hostile difference of opinion about irrigation that resulted in at least one murder.

Another area I would like to explore is something cultural about attitudes and abilities; almost anything really. So many things about our lives change very quickly, sometimes we hardly notice how much except in retrospect.  I would like to document the way we are NOW for comparison in the future; a time capsule of where we are at with our attitudes about work, gender, technology, health, environment, entertainment and whatever develops. I want to create a cultural milestone.

A familiar milestone for many is high school graduation year. When I graduated I did so without the use of a calculator, all homework assignments were handwritten and all research was done with books. There were no cell phones or faxes; instant communication around the world was via telex. Sales work was easy to find, there were practically no women in any trades or management and being a ‘stay at home Dad’ meant you were unemployable. Gay Pride was an oxymoron, almost everyone went to church and the threat of Sunday shopping divided sacred from secular neighbours. Bicycles were for kids, computers were for mathematicians and dishes were for women. Yoga was only done in India, gymnasium had only free weights and only the svelte athletic types were allowed in marathons. M*A*S*H* was the apex of Reality TV. The wish for robots that do everything, laser guns and jet packs turned out to be software that does everything and DVD players. Jet packs were probably killed by the auto industry – like electric cars – too much of a threat of competition.

I’m going to continue working with the youngsters. I’m really looking forward to our next meetings and the challenge of making what I know accessible to teen’s way of thinking – alas, it’s been so long since I was a teen!

I’ve been invited back to our local college to teach the instructor development series again; that begins February 2010, in Vernon.

Now that I’ve joined Twitter and LinkedIn, I have to get a little more active in those communities. I have a separate Twitter account and Facebook group directed at stimulating participation in the May 2010 Bike To Work Week festivities.

December 14, 2009
ANALOGIES -
When enough is enough!
Some analogies have been incarcerated in our language far too long, time to let some of them off on good behaviour.

On the weekend I was thinking about the proverbial 'Are you a team player?' type question during a job interviews. Besides the obvious fact that any interviewee will say 'they are' or agree 'it's important,' the team player analogy has had it day; send it to the minor leagues or leave it on the bench. Why? Because people don't sit at their desk waiting for the fly ball, they don't walk around waiting for the puck to score, they don't Terry Tait tackle people around the office or competition.

Analogies enter our language in correlation to what the culture finds important. I'm not saying sports isn't important to our culture, I'm saying the analogy is tired, it's done it's work, let it rest.

There are plenty replacements. When steam engines were important to our culture we had people who 'blew their top' and workers who became 'cogs' in the machinery of life. Now we have people who lack 'CPU power' who work in 'clouds' and 'parallel processes.'

I'm not against analogies - I only suggest using them cautiously and making an effort to determine if they are appropriate. I must admit though, I'm not a team player. I don't and haven't played on sports teams. I don't seek out partners to run, bicycle or work with. I am a project person, a soloist and an entrepreneur who has presented the following slide show video as a cautionary, but humorous, tale about unthinkingly accepting business analogies.

YouTube: Converted from PowerPoint

Original PowerPoint presentation (needs a few minutes to download)

December 12, 2009
After many months of contemplation, numerous emails requests and under strong recommendation of friends, I have joined LinkedIn, created a profile yesterday, corrected typos today! Lets see, I guess I join networks now!

My LinkedIn Profile!

December 9, 2009
I just added two BC Tourism video's to my YouTube Channel. One is about Cycling in the Christina Lake area, the other is about Hiking the Sandon area.
Both videos are from recordings I made while on vacation in 2008.

Tourism videos come in various forms travelling the gamut of production between glitzy high energy commercials to sedate documentary channel type infomercials. I like to think I've struck a balance, as an educator, by neither overselling with hyperbole or underselling with boredom, these two fine areas of British Columbia.

December 3, 2009
en⋅thu⋅si⋅asm - noun

• absorbing or controlling possession of the mind by any interest or pursuit; lively interest:
  • He shows marked enthusiasm for his film studies.
• an occupation, activity, or pursuit in which such interest is shown:
  • Building his video business is his latest enthusiasm.
• any of various forms of extreme religious devotion, usually associated with intense emotionalism and a break with orthodoxy.

Origin: 1570–80; < LL enthūsiasmus < Gk enthousiasmós, equiv. to enthousí(a) possession by a god (énthous, var. of éntheos having a god within, equiv. to en- en- 2 + -thous, -theos god-possessing + -ia y3 ) + -asmos, var., after vowel stems, of -ismos -ism
Synonyms: eagerness, warmth, fervour, zeal, ardour, passion, devotion.
Antonyms: indifference.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/enthusiasm

December 1, 2009
I've been blogging about helping youngsters develop the eye and the skills to make interesting and appealing video. Here's a link to a short video recorded by two teen videographers. More info in the video notes on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zmx9le3wsY

November 30, 2009
I uploaded some videos to my YouTube channel and while I was at YouTube I was reminded of an excellent series of videos in their Video Toolbox. I think these videos are great for developers but what occurred to me today was that people who hire videographers should also watch these videos so they know how to shop for video making services. Quite frankly, there are a lot of crappy videos out there. Crappy in the sense of poor lighting & audio, the two most obvious things to notice. But many budding and just plain amateur videographers don't know how to frame their subject and how to choose camera angles that flatter the talent and emphasize a message.

Better yet, look at page 3 of this 4 page hand out I prepare for video production students.

From a recent example...
Pity the Personal Development coach who is is videotaped below eye level, sitting at a desk, from the left side only...How can the message possibly get through! Visually monotonous single cam views aren't the worst mistakes, but when you video record Personal Development programs, in the one on one setting, the camera should be at eye level or a little above - this view increases the sincerity of the talent and helps the message get through. Amateur videographers don't know that and many other things. They don't know how to maximize the message because they learned their craft at family BBQ's or on vacation. Video production buyer beware!

November 29, 2009
Newly loaded on YouTube
Vernon Fire Dept c1960's
Julie Armitage sings to Mike Holmes

November 28, 2009
See one of the WDC DVD extras on YouTube.
This is a promo for O'Keefe Ranch where we videotaped some re-enactment scenes for WHEN DUTY CALLS. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09RXS9UOIrE

November 24, 2009
Tutes for Teens!
I had the pleasure of conducting a video making tutorial for four youngsters on Sunday. For anyone thinking of conducting such a thing, I encourage you to 'get to the action' as soon as possible. The parents and children showed some interest while I conducted an equipment overview but the real fun was setting up the shots, with the two videographers, and coaching the actors in the finer points of running and karate chopping for video!

If there is one difference between how adults learn and how teens do, it's that they need less of a world view of what they are learning about. For adults you explain 'why' so they have a context they can remember the information in, with kids you can really cut that context down. If  they arrived interested, then just do it before they lose interest!

Ah! I am remembering those heady days in class at SFU learning about Vygotsky's ZPD and how applicable it turned out to be on Sunday. 

I can't wait to see what the edited footage turns out like.

November 16th, 2009
One of the Perennial Problems educators face is “proving” that education is effective; that the course of study worked how it was supposed to. Unlike training, where you help someone balance on two wheels, or see them competently role play in sales training, education has a less immediate gratification curve. The ‘planting the seed’ analogy is often used to describe education. It takes longer to realize the benefit of education but we assess continuing studies instructors ASAP. Therein lays the conundrum of the Continuing Studies instructor – wondering if, in a ‘leisure study,’ a subject was well received, ‘learned’ and whether or not it will have some lasting effect.

 The other day, while leading a course on Adult Learners and their Teachers, I made a remark about pointing the way. Most people forget that you have to teach children to look where ‘you are pointing,’ (this is not a natural ability, it’s ‘learned’). The job of the educator is to point the way, or at least help people look in the right direction. Depending on the course of study these ‘pointers’ manifest themselves as motivation. Sometimes it takes a few years for the learners to recognize the signs pointing in the direction they should be going.

 The other day I met a gal I hadn’t seen in about 3 years. She had been a gas station attendant and had no idea what to do with her life, now she was in college working on a business degree. And how did that abrupt change take place? Through the coaching help of Teresa Proudlove http://www.yourlifework.com/Meaningful-Lifework.html

November 13, 2009
Women in Science: Stickney Crater, the largest crater on the Martian moon Phobos, is named for mathematician  Chloe Angeline Stickney Hall.

November 12, 2009
Video recording stage productions. I recently posted on the Videomaker forum. Read it here
http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/filming-play-what-do-i-need-please-reply#post-52080

November 11, 2009
Charity Van Cameron Studios & Lights of Broadway present, The Sounds of Christmas
You are invited to usher in the season with an evening of enchantment with sights, tastes & sounds of Christmas. December 4, 5, 6, 2009
see http://www.bmidd.com/community/

November 10, 2009
A month ago I was on the very west coast of BC watching and recording ocean waves and surf, gulls and people too. I made a long DVD for me of the recording but also thought other might enjoy 10 minutes including the sunset just off Tofino BC. See my YouTube Video

November 6, 2009
Friday Space News: RT @physorg_com Hubble Image Showcases Star Birth in M83, the Southern Pinwheel http://www.physorg.com/news176638796.html

Great Idea for Vernon office workers. Brown bag lunch delivered; Fresh, organic sandwiches, chili, soups & more. www.organicbaglunch.ca

November 3, 2009
Sherrie Erickson featured on Canadian-women.ca  Music samples, video and lots of interesting info about Sherrie. Currently at http://www.canadian-women.ca/new-content (but that's the type of link that constantly changes content).

November 2, 2009
movie thought: 2001 (1968) would be tough to create/edit in today's action action action movie world. Thank goodness for archival material!
Also see first computer to sing - Daisy Bell http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41U78QP8nBk

October 26, 2009
A great experience with volunteers on Sunday made me look up these quotes  

October 23, 2009
Friday Off World Feature! Cassini orbiting Saturn, go to http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm and check out the current position & pictures

October 21, 2009
Hilarious & accurate image matrix to help storytellers with plot twists

October 20, 2009
Vernon Ghost Tours just in time for Halloween, October 28 & 29. "Paranormal guide," Gabe Newman makes it fun www.members.shaw.ca/ghosttours

October 19, 2009
DOCS PLUS 09 7th Annual Documentary Film Festival at Vernon Towne Cinema.

October 17, 2009
More Press for Movie Premiere WHEN DUTY CALLS See http://www.bmidd.com/ohf/images/091016.jpg - The story of Vernon's Hero Oct 25th at the Vernon Performing Arts Centre.

October 16, 2009
Coming up next week Part1 of 3, "A Guide to Adult Learning for Adult Educators" See course descriptions http://www.trainingtutor.ca/develop/  Okanagan College Vernon Campus

October 15th, 2009
PERFORMANCE UPDATE !
Sherrie will be bringing her band POTTERY ROAD when she performs at Movie Premiere Oct 25 in Vernon. Thanks Betty Anne Northup, Ellie Young & Sheila Odney. See  them here...

October 14th 2009
Great News! Sherrie Erickson will be performing at Movie Premiere of WHEN DUTY CALLS Oct 25 in Vernon. See http://www.bmidd.com/ohf/news.php

I won't do that again! I spent yesterday using PPT Producer 2007, crash crash crash! Not any different from buggy 2003 edition, get Camtasia if you want to easily join video to PPT slides.

October 12th, 2009
MOVIE PREMIERE - PRESS RELEASE "When Duty Calls" matinee performance Oct 25th in Vernon at the Performing Arts Centre see www.bmidd.com/ohf

October 11th, 2009
Whoo-hoo! Ran the Kelowna Half Marathon this morning. Finished with 02:03:16 Starting temp was about 0 degrees - kept gloves on entire race.

October 09, 2009
Currently updating my business website. Goodbye green Hello grey! The challenge was to reduce home page clutter and still show link options www.bmidd.com

October 08, 2009
Trying out MS PowerPoint Producer 3 (for 2007). I'm hoping it will have less upload baggage than 2003 ver. It was a bandwidth hog back then, my hopes may be dashed!

October 07, 2009
Just watched Love Cake via my favourite blog boingboing. Wonderful talent, very funny, short,  see gaysong too!

October 06, 2009
Producing a short 'feel good' video of ocean surf, sounds and sites, I really miss the salty smell, the squishy sand and the wind on my face.

October 05, 2009
For a good laugh about TWITTER - see DILBERT in the weekend colour comics. Dil & Wally convince pointy head boss to TWEET- hilarious usage!

October 02, 2009
Nothing like an very positive email query from a prospective customer, while I'm on vacation, to make me feel my business is on track!

October 01, 2009
I'm on the west coast collecting HDV footage of ocean & surf. Tried 30 min to get gulls to fly over - turned off camera, looked up, seagulls!

September 30, 2009
Wow! just noticed Sherrie Erickson YouTube video now at 335 viewers! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPRmlPpsVeI