We’re heading to the “Range of Light” to master the art of time-lapse.  We’ll be spending more than a week at Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks in pursuit of beautiful imagery and new skills to bring back to our video productions.  Can’t wait to share photos and behind the scenes footage from our time there.  Make sure to subscribe for free.

Our goal is to be the best film/video production group in the world and this will be another step in that direction.

You can follow along using the #MKE2CA hashtag on Twitter and Instagram, as well as our Facebook page and this blog.

“Here ends my forever memorable first High Sierra excursion. I have crossed the Range of Light, surely the brightest and best of all the Lord has built; and rejoicing in its glory, I gladly, gratefully, hopefully pray I may see … Read More »

As we end another school year of filming and prepare for the next one, we proudly present our research and thoughts on using video marketing from behind the scenes.

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Private liberal arts colleges are struggling right now as parents question the value of an expensive school and incoming students say they are more concerned about finding a job.

However, small colleges have an advantage in several areas:  sports, extra-curricular activities, small class sizes, and access to experiences that would be impossible for most students at a large university.

We think video marketing can be an effective way for colleges to connect with current and prospective students, as well as alumni.

Here are 7 reasons why:

1) Small colleges have amazing stories to tell

Small colleges and universities typically have a higher percentage of athletes, actors, musicians, artists, and other students achieving remarkable things on a weekly basis.  This is … Read More »

Recently, I was able to sit down with several New Zealanders and chat about social media in their country, the challenges they face, and the potential for collaboration.  I made my way over to Hobbiton, better known as the movie set for the Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit series.  This was a long day trip, but well worth it to see the remote set most Americans have only seen on the silver screen.

I wanted to share it with you.

Hobbiton is the movie set where the hobbit scenes in Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit were filmed.  The village took over 8 months to construct and is about two and a half hours outside of Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city.  It was a very scenic drive with countless sheep, beautiful mountains, and rolling hills.

Once I got there, it was … Read More »

Little known fact, Milwaukee is home to the world’s oldest operating motor speedway, the Milwaukee Mile.  It’s sort of like the Lambeau Field of motor sports (the Packers even played there from 1934 to 1951).

An even lesser known fact is that social media is helping save it.

In 2011, it looked like the Milwaukee Mile was on it’s final lap.  A series of promotional missteps led to lower attendance and some people at the state capitol began discussing a new redevelopment at the site.  Then the IZOD IndyCar circuit left Milwaukee off the 2012 schedule due to attendance issues.

Enter Michael Andretti’s team.

In 2012, Andretti Sports Marketing brought Indy style racing back to Milwaukee at the Milwaukee Mile, in an event called IndyFest.  To help raise awareness, they teamed up 26 volunteers with the 26 racing teams to use social media to tell the race … Read More »

I was just in New Zealand at a conference and visited Hobbiton, the hobbit village set used for Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.  Pictures and a video coming next week. You can subscribe to our blog here.

While in New Zealand, I also had the opportunity to network with social media and technology professionals.  I thought I would share what I found.

When looking at a map or globe, you’ll see that New Zealand is somewhat isolated and is a long way away from its nearest major neighbor, Australia.  Consequently, the cost of internet and mobile is very expensive.  At home, 30 GB of data will run you $53 USD/month, while unlimited internet will cost $70/month.   Combine that with the even higher costs of mobile and you can see why social media, while important, is still growing in … Read More »

One day.  Two mountains.  Three snowboarders.

We called it “Whistler Takes a Snow Day”

Enjoy!

(Don’t see the embedded video?  Click here)

Big thanks to our friends at Tourism Whistler for premiering this short snowboarding film on their website and sharing some of the back story.  We were quite honored.

Whistler, British Columbia is unlike any skiing village in the world.  They have the most snow in the world (it’s in a temperate rain forest) and we fully enjoyed shooting some of the best snowboarders in the world as well.

We were up there for the Whistler Film Festival and decided to hit the mountain for a day with the boys from Tunnicliffe Racing and JP Fok.  These guys are not only great snowboarders, but great people as well.

Pretty typical for Whistler.

It’s an amazing place and we hope we did them justice with our work. Thanks for … Read More »

If you’re a fan of film, fashion, or just wanna see your favorite movie win the big award, we want to chat.  This is the big event for our industry and we don’t want to feel like the only nerds in town.  Help us out!

Step 1) Check out yesterday’s video guide to the Oscar nominations.

Step 2) Join in the discussion.  Don’t be shy.

Aaron and Caleb will be hosting a live online discussion throughout the entire Academy Awards ceremony:

- On our Facebook page
- On Twitter using @AttentionEra and the #AEoscars hashtag
- Right here below in the comment section as we update winners

First topic for discussion?

The red carpet.

- Who was best and worst dressed at this year’s Academy Awards?
- Do you like or hate Ryan Seacrest’s new hair?

Here’s the livestream replay of it:

Watch live streaming video from theoscars at livestream.com

The 85th Academy Awards Ceremony

- Discussion about Argo winning … Read More »

Every year, the Academy Awards (known as the Oscars) are the largest celebration of achievements in our industry. While we don’t have any films that were nominated (someday maybe), we do take time out each year to celebrate and discuss the works of art that inspire, educate, and challenge us.

Director Aaron Biebert and I will be hosting a discussion on Sunday here on the blog and on our Facebook page if you’d like to join us.

Here are videos featuring the films and people that were nominated this year:

Best Picture

Django Unchained

The Wild West just got a whole lot crazier.  The lastest from writer/director Quentin Tarantino gives us a whole new take on the American Western. Adult Supervision is Required.

Life of Pi

Based on the novel by Yann Martel, Ang Lee’s Life of Pi takes us on a journey of visual mastery in 3D. … Read More »

Two important trends you shouldn’t miss in the marketing world right now:

1) Twitter

I was featured in today’s USA Today Money section in an article about using Twitter to hire people.  I hired a social media manager back in 2011 for a new series I was producing and we only talked via twitter during the screening and interviewing process.  Now it looks like a trend is starting to form.

Twitter is being used for more and more things every day (Forbes offers nine different ways).  Some firms are getting feedback on important decisions in real time (Maker’s Mark should try that).  Others are using it for tech support (Best Buy), customer service (Zappos, UPS, XBox), hanging out with their customers (Applebees), and now interviewing potential candidates for a job.

If you’re not on twitter for marketing (yourself or your brand), now is the time.

2) … Read More »

Would you buy a business suit at Wal-Mart?

If so, then hiring the local TV station or cable provider (Time Warner, Comcast, etc.) to produce your commercial would make sense.

How much do they cost?  For a limited time only, these guys will shoot and edit thousands of cheap commercials for only $750 each.

Here’s why that’s a bad idea:

1) Just like Wal-Mart, they don’t care as much

Their primary job is selling you ad space, not making effective commercials.

2) Producing commercials at Time Warner Cable isn’t a dream

Nobody likes cable companies.  The best and brightest directors, editors, and producers don’t want to work at Time Warner.  Nobody does.

3) You get what you pay for

Pure and simple.  They don’t charge enough.  When you only charge $750, you can’t deliver much.   They don’t charge enough to have good people working on your commercial.  Cheap price, … Read More »