The world is literally awash with ideas and information. How do you standout? What makes you unique and different to clients, in a book proposal, in a blog post or to prospective employers? What’s your “special ...READ»
Have you read Daniel Pink’s new book, “Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us?” If you haven’t picked it up yet, don’t wait too long; this book will forever change how you think about motivating individuals ...READ»
Ever hear this at work? “Are you kidding? No one reads that newsletter.” “Hey, if it’s that important, someone will eventually tell me.”“C’mon, it’s the same ol’ stuff– over and over.”If so, you’re certainly ...READ»
Ahhh. The “talking head.” Just the thought of it brings an overwhelming yawn to you, doesn’t it?“Talking heads” are ubiquitous in many organizations but here’s the funny thing about it– hardly anyone watches them.Truth ...READ»
Smart leaders ask interesting questions. Questions often ignored by many; asked by a few. Here are a handful of questions to help you bridge the gap from cubicle to community. Your mileage may vary but I wonder which ones might work ...READ»
“Wow” answers need “wow” questions.If you’re hungry for new answers or different ideas from your team or employees, try changing the questions. Here are a few questions to jump-start almost any conversation you might be ...READ»
Here’s part two of my conversation with Ellen McGirt, Senior Writer for Fast Company magazine and Dean of Fast Company’s “30 Second MBA” website.Part one can be found here.5. Many organizations see and hear the potential ...READ»
I’m a big fan of Fast Company’s “30 Second MBA” site. The minute it launched, I felt it offered a simple yet highly effective way for organizations to integrate social media concepts into their internal communication ...READ»
Have you checked out Honda’s “Dream the Impossible” mini-documentary series? The video series features several big ideas in a series of mini-documentaries. And yes, they’re beautifully produced.But here’s the thing.If you ...READ»
It’s the small things that can make a big difference. Anyone can implement these ideas. And the cool part? They’re free or next to free. See if you can sneak a few of these tricks into your next project. It will help your video ...READ»
Think today’s filmmakers are stuck behind the camera? Or the edit room? Think again.Many filmmakers are harnessing the power of the web to tell another side of the story– their story. Readers enjoyed my earlier post, “7 ...READ»
Let’s say you’re about to bake a cake. You have a dozen eggs, 1 lb of flour, a carton of milk, etc. The recipe only calls for 2 eggs, 1 cup of milk, 2 cups of flour. What do you do with the remaining ingredients? Throw them away? ...READ»
It’s bound to happen. It’s just a matter of time. Imagine you are about to interview someone for your company’s video.They enter the room. Your interview guest sits in their chair. You sit in yours. The camera rolls. You fire ...READ»
So I’m on the phone with a fellow producer the other day and out of the blue I say…“Finally, after all these years, videos now have a home on the web…and they’re not homeless anymore.” “What do you mean?” he ...READ»
How would I describe myself?
What were my dreams as I child?
What am I most proud of?
What are my plans for the future?
How would I like to be remembered?
What is the most important thing in my life?
Do I have any ...READ»
"The eyes have one language everywhere." George Herbert / Welsh poet
Hooked. Captivated. Hynotized.
That’s exactly how I felt the first time I interviewed someone looking directly into the camera. And I ...READ»
I don’t know how I missed this, but I did.
In February of 2007, The Washington Post launched “onBeing.”
The concept?
We need to get to know each other better and what better way to do that than by capturing ...READ»
For some reason, we’re born to think that whatever we learn first about something continues to stay true.
“According to the first law of knowledge, people continue to believe whatever they learned first, regardless of later ...READ»
While I shared the basic concept behind Tony Schwartz’s “Resonance Principle” in a previous post, I think it’s worth sharing and taking a direct look at some of Tony’s most important quotes from his books and interviews that ...READ»
“How do you want your audience to feel after watching your film?"
I ask that question to every new client.
Intellectually, I never understood why I asked that question.
Emotionally, I understood why I asked it.
Your viewer ...READ»
"What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from.” T.S. Elliot
“Are we in sync?
“I hear what you’re saying."
“Are we on the same ...READ»
Hats off to Hitachi and their team of filmmakers.
Why?
Because they used the simplest code in corporate filmmaking.
Here’s the code:1. Real people.2. Real stories.3. Real emotions.It's pretty simple, yes?“Hitachi | True ...READ»
The conversation ends. The camera stops. The lights cool. You feel good. You caught it: a real candid conversation from an employee, a customer or senior management.Here’s the thingThere’s a pretty good chance your head is ...READ»
The crew is ready. Your interviewee, or hero, is ready. You’re ready.
Now, the second part of the “hero’s journey,” the “initiation,” is about to begin.
Of course, this initiation is not a series of tests in ...READ»
“C’mon. How hard is it, really, to ask a few questions to someone when the camera is rolling?”
Asking questions is easy.
Asking the right questions is the hard part
Your audience is begging to hear something ...READ»
