No? Well, now you might want to.

Let me explain.

IT'S BLOG ACTION DAY!

Now that the digital format is commonplace, I started thinking how much this industry has changed in the past few years and how television is "turning green." (Leaving aside for a rainy day the amount of electronics being produced.)

For years, the television industry relied on physical tapes and films to view programs. Just think about the costs associated for every single production created:

• Gather raw materials.
• Ship raw materials to manufacturer.
• Manufacture the videotapes.
• Ship the videotapes to distributors.
• Ship the videotapes to customers.

When television programs were finally duplicated onto tape, they were again shipped to their destinations. Talk about leaving a carbon footprint!

THE FOUR R's OF "GREEN" VIDEO

1. Reduce, 2. Reignite, 3. Recycle, 4. Regional.

Reduce
The video production industry today uses considerably less materials than years before. If weight matters, then we're heading in the right direction. Most productions still use tape to capture footage but we are seeing an increasing amount of digital cameras capturing images on hard drives, eventually eliminating tape, and discs, altogether.

Distributing finished programs digitally through the web has literally wiped out any traces of tape...a huge step for Planet Earth.

Reignite
It's time to reignite television. Remember, TELEVISION = communicating visions over distances. TELE (over distances) + VISION (the ability to plan the future with imagination and wisdom).

I believe television has an obligation and duty to educate, inform and enlighten. The proliferation of "reality television" programs is actually taking us further away from "reality." At a very subconscious level, these programs empower major studios with the ability to weaken and corrode our discriminative skills.

On the other hand, we do have much to celebrate. The enormous number of documentaries, including the sudden spike in environmental videos, and education channels is inviting audiences to see the world from a different point of view. Ultimately, this impact is about raising one's consciousness to create a better world.

One of my heroes, Journalist Edward R. Murrow, said it best:

"This instrument can teach, it can illuminate; yes, and it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it is merely wires and lights in a box. There is a great and perhaps decisive battle to be fought against ignorance, intolerance and indifference. This weapon of television could be useful." RTNDA Convention, Chicago, October 15, 1958

Recycle
Most productions require "work tapes." These tapes are used for reference or backing up shows temporarily and can easily be recycled for future programs. Often times, we can reuse work tapes thereby avoiding using more raw resources.

Regional
Tight Budgets = Local Crews. When video productions require travel, hiring as many local crew members not only saves production dollars but drastically reduces the total output of green house gases.

The future is clear. Zeros and ones not only change how we interact with each other, they just might help save the planet.

Pretty powerful stuff for "wires and lights in a box."

---Tom

...or, "Everything I Know I Learned from Being a Filmmaker." Well, almost everything!

The power of corporate videos has taught me many things over 20+ years. Here's a handful of "power tips" I've learned along the way.

1. THE POWER OF INFINITE POSSIBILITIES! While planning is obviously a critical component in pulling off a project, I've learned not to over plan. Film crews have what we call "Magic Moments." They're surprises nobody was counting on while filming. The cool thing is they happen on every job. Sometimes these are moments filming an amazing personal story never shared before, capturing that "hidden" smile that few ever see, filming a team working on a project and suddenly, out of the blue, someone shouts out a solution to a long-term problem. Magic, for sure. Deepak Chopra's work on infinite possibilities and coincidences can help you be more open to the "magic" of life.

2. THE POWER OF ORGANIZATION! A typical corporate video can have hundreds of separate elements that need to be quickly accessed during production and editing. I've used the Franklin Covey system for about 17 years now and it has been a life-saver. Being ruthlessly organized serves two purposes: one, it saves clients money and two, you can get on with the business of telling the best story without struggling to find things.
3. THE POWER OF QUESTIONS! One thing I'm convinced of: most people want to help you. They really don't want to say "no!" if you are seeking help or need assistance. BUT...they can't read your mind so the burden is on you to ask. Fear of asking questions will actually dampen your progress in life. Learn the power of asking questions and how to reframe your questions from my good friend, Rajesh Setty.

4. THE POWER OF STORY! Storytelling and business narrative is a big industry now. I think personal stories are holograms for corporate stories. A hologram is simply a piece of a whole that naturally contains the entire whole. Capturing personal stories for companies is a remarkable way for organizations to strengthen their brand. Annette Simmons thinks "Whoever Tells the Best Story Wins." I couldn't agree more. And knowing the "Elements of Persuasion" will help you get your message heard through the on-going noise we face everyday. You never know whose life you will change because of your story.

5. THE POWER OF DREAMING! Directing requires an intense amount of visualizing. The easiest films to direct are the ones I've visualized clearly and early on. Recent research has show that the brain actually has a hard time differentiating between what we call "reality" and previsusalizing a scene with our eyes closed. Hmmm...if the brain "thinks" what it's "thinking" is real, imagine how your life can change by incorporating previsualizing regularly into your life. Check out Dr. Joe Dispenza's work to understand more about the power of previsualizing.

6. THE POWER OF THINKING BIG! Nelson Mandela said it best:
"Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our greatest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, fabulous, gorgeous, talented? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. You're playing small doesn't serve the world."

Our ability to think big and to live with purpose is quite a responsibility. In my humble opinion, it is the duty of all those involved in creating corporate videos to create with purpose and meaning. Thinking big works!


7. THE POWER OF KINDNESS! Telling stories, regardless if it's video or any other medium, has the remarkable power to bring out the best in people. Everyone I've ever been involved with in a video story, from clients to celebrities to employees, has demonstrated our capability for being kind.

Powerful stuff, indeed!

---Tom