Wild Kingdom

Marlin Perkins was an early video hero of mine. For years he held court on "Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom", introducing viewers to a world of animals. Marlin seemed to know everything there was to know about critters but he always made certain that somebody else on his staff did the dirty work. A typical voice-over went like this: "While I watched from the helicopter, Jim wrestled the ferocious crocodile of Borneo."

She may not wrestle crocodiles, but Katharine O'Brien has emerged as Stonefilms' answer to Marlin Perkins. Katharine produces "Pets on Demand", a video series for Comcast that introduces viewers to a wide variety of animals ready for adoption. And we do mean variety----dogs, cats, horses, pigs, goats, rabbits, you name it. Twice a month, Katharine and her crew work with the SPCA and the Houston Humane Society to profile 15 animals. And along with the cats and dogs there are some surprises, as well: the Houston Texans Cheerleaders made an appearance at the SPCA, and some hockey stars from the Houston Aeros were special guests at the Houston Humane Society.

Producing a video with horses and pigs is challenging, to say the least. Katharine has become an expert at animal psychology and insists that cats are the most difficult subjects. "We are on their schedule," she says, "and sometimes they are so wild or cranky that we have to switch them out with a calmer kitten." And dogs----"they are either calm or crazy," Katharine tells me, "no in between. We have to throw dog treats to them throughout the shot to keep them calm."

It is a parrot that has made the most indelible impression. This particular bird had apparently once lived with an owner that used a CB radio, because the parrot could do a dead-on impersonation of radio squelch before saying, "Hello." The folks at the Houston Humane Society arrived one morning to hear a persistent greeting from inside the building and were worried that they had locked somebody in overnight. But, no, it was just the parrot, giving them a "10-4, good buddy," to start the day.

"Pets on Demand" is not just fun to produce and to watch----its a program that gets results. Folks are coming in to the SPCA and the Houston Humane Society asking to adopt animals that they had seen on Comcast. There are so many cats and dogs and horses and rabbits that need a loving home. We hope you'll take a look at Comcast and "Pets on Demand." Who knows? There may just be a parrot in your future.
---Ronnie

CHRISTMAS ALREADY?

You knew the retailers were ready to increase sales when the Christmas items were coming out before Halloween even began. This has been a tough year for so many companies, and corporate budgets have never been tighter.

To help with our client's budgets, Stonefilms has been using our web review for projects more than ever. We are having fewer client supervised edits, and sending review copies of programs straight to our server, for review across town or across the globe. This may not make the airlines happy, but we have been able to reduce travel for clients exponentially, and although we have some of the most comfortable edit suites in Texas, most clients love the ability to review programs at the desk, at home, or on their Blackberry - anywhere in the world.

Speaking of the web, we have just wrapped production on a 22 part series of informational videos in Spanish and English for the Mental Health Mental Retardation Authority of Harris County.

And we, too, are getting into the holiday spirit. Our producers are working on the KHOU Thanksgiving Parade, and Santa has been contacted, and will be there to ring in the Christmas Season.

Happy Holidays!

Billy

Liz Chapman Comes Home

In August, 1983, a storm in the Gulf had the entire KPRC-TV news staff on high alert. From the crews in the field to the producers in the newsroom, everyone in the news department resigned themselves to long hours, little food, and less-than-perfect working conditions. And that's when Liz Palmer fell in love with video production. She was a college intern at KPRC as Hurricane Alicia roared ashore. Now married with 2 college-age daughters of her own, Liz Palmer Chapman has never forgotten the challenges of that long-ago storm---the ways in which a team of researchers, producers, photographers, editors, and reporters worked together to overcome any number of challenges and use the video medium to tell a compelling and important story.

Liz Chapman has been telling great stories ever since, and I'm extremely happy to tell you that she is the newest member of our creative team at Stonefilms. In a very real sense Liz is coming home. Even during her intern days, it was obvious that Liz had an intuitive feel for research and production work. Dad was anchoring the news at KPRC and he was very supportive of this young student with so much potential. After graduation Liz worked full-time at the station as a researcher and producer before leaving in 1990 to begin working freelance.

It's been an award-winning career, with projects for M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, UT Health Science Center, KHOU-TV, and, yes, Stonefilms. She's produced everything from telethons to parades (13 years with Houston's downtown Thanksgiving Parade), rodeos to reality shows. She won an Emmy Award for a documentary on immigration. And along the way she built a reputation for class and integrity that is second to none.

I made a reference earlier to Liz coming home and it's really true. She's a part of the family and it's wonderful to see her find a place here at Stonefilms. Liz will do all the things she did during that summer in 1983: she'll research, and write, and produce, and make us laugh, and keep us sane. Liz Chapman, welcome home!
-----Ronnie

Programming Results

At Stonefilms, we always love to receive feedback from clients, and today we saw a great article in Newsweek about the success of our production partnership with Comcast and Crime Stoppers.

We have been fortunate to work with Comcast on a series of On Demand programs that have yielded some great results. 

Our Dating On Demand segments have seen a marriage proposal, our Pets On Demand segments have helped in the adoption of dozens of animals from local shelters, and our work with Crime Stoppers of Houston and the Police Blotter segments that are shown on the Comcast On Demand site have become a great new tool in finding fugitives.

Newsweek Magazine and the Today Show have taken notice, and here's an excerpt from the Newsweek article:

For Comcast, the show has provided results worth bragging about. "Through tips directly related to the on-demand service, we've helped capture 50 criminals" in local communities, says Matt Strauss, senior vice president of new media for Comcast, which owns Police Blotter. "It's all amazing—just from using technology that didn't exist a few years ago." Nationwide, the program is drawing about a million viewers a year, a respectable number for an on-demand program.

The Delaware State Police was one of the first law-enforcement agencies to sign on to the program, in 2007. In the beginning, authorities were a little skeptical. But "the end product exceeded my expectation," says Whitmarsh, the police spokesman. Just three months after Police Blotter premiered on the local Comcast system, his department nabbed a bank-robbery suspect who'd eluded capture for a year. "Through my direct contact with tipsters, I know Police Blotterhas been instrumental in a dozen captures," Whitmarsh says.

Inspector Crouse and her colleagues, too, have discovered the pent-up demand among fugitives for the on-demand hit. "When we've captured fugitives in the past—say, a fugitive not even on the Comcast show—they will tell us that they've seen this show," she says. "Not only is it being watched by law-abiding citizens, but bad guys are watching. That was unexpected for me: criminals watching themselves or each other on on-demand television." And they're not just watching—they're dialing in tips. "They'll turn each other in," says Crouse. Why? "I don't know what the motivation is," she says. "Maybe it's a competition issue." Delaware's Whitmarsh even cites instances of fugitives surrendering "to avoid being on local television" and causing loved ones embarrassment.

The program is just one of the varied offerings being cooked up for on-demand television. Through Pet Adoptions on Demand, in which Comcast profiles 30 "furry guest stars" each month, pet lovers are introduced to animals orphaned in local shelters. There's also Dating on Demand, which the company touts as the "first-ever TV personals." "I've come home and found my wife watching it," Comcast's Strauss says. "What I wanted to believe is there's a voyeurism component to this. I have to believe that that's part of it. This is the ultimate reality TV."

For the police, on-demand television is just the latest weapon in a media arsenal for crimefighting—from newspapers and radio to billboards and broadcast Amber Alerts in child-abduction cases. And more than others, Police Blotter produces surprising results. Once, for example, the Atlanta task force discovered a fugitive's whereabouts through a tip from an Atlanta-area corrections officer watching the show to unwind while off duty. "There was a guy already in a jail that we profiled," recalls Crouse. "The information that this guy was in custody wasn't in the database." One more case closed.

---

Check out Comcast On Demand, and see how Stonefilms Producer Katharine O'Brien is providing results for her clients.

-Billy

Texas Business Hall of Fame

Ross Perot has a well-earned reputation as one of the greatest figures in the history of Texas business. He has another reputation---earned during his Presidential campaigns----as an intimidating and difficult interview subject. Last July, Perot agreed to be interviewed by Stonefilms for a profile piece on a new member of the Texas Business Hall of Fame, Dr. Kern Wildenthal. Perot, himself a Hall of Fame member, was to say a few kind words about the now-retired head of the UT Southwestern Medical School. Nothing to it, right? But I was nervous and fought to keep myself calm.

As videographer Larry Clifton and grip William Payne set up our equipment, I began to look around the office that had been designated for our interview, and my nerves began to settle down. There on the walls were beautifully rendered portraits, scenes of American naval history. I was so engrossed in a particular painting that I didn't notice Perot walking in. But he noticed my interest in the paintings. With a broad smile on his face, he introduced himself, and then said, "You like that? Wonderful artist. Have lots of works around the office. Great painting there. You know that battle?" It all sounded as if a telegraph was pounding away. I managed to answer. "Yes," I said, "that's John Paul Jones on the Bonhomme Richard."

And so it was that I not only got a terrific interview with Ross Perot; I also got a personal tour of the military memorabilia that filled his enormous office building----everything from medieval armor to a walking stick that once belonged to Osama Bin Laden. It was an incredible experience. Ross Perot could not have been more generous with his time. I think he really enjoyed having someone to talk to about "all that stuff."

This story underscores why, time and again, the annual Texas Business Hall of Fame video project is one of the most fascinating, surprising, enjoyable, and fulfilling experiences for the staff of Stonefilms. We've been working with the TBHOF since the early 90s, and in that time we've written and produced profiles of an amazing array of Texas business legends: Boone Pickens, Jerry Jones, Lamar Hunt, Corby Robertson, even former President George H.W. Bush.

These video profiles are shown at the annual induction ceremonies. Each year the team at International Meeting Managers plans and stages the dinner galas, and each year they manage to top themselves. This year the TBHOF gala will be held in Houston at the Hilton Americas, on October 15. The Class of 2009 includes: James Hackett, President & CEO, Andarko Petroleum; Philip Romano, the restaurateur who created Romano's Macaroni Grill, Fuddrucker's, and a variety of other dining concepts; Martha Turner, the legendary Houston real estate executive and philanthropist; and the Susser Family of Corpus Christi, owners of over 500 gasoline and convenience stores across the Southwest.

So now it's time to gas up the Stonefilms van and drive down the road to meet some brilliant people and have some wonderful surprises.
---Ronnie

A DVD Worth Millions?

There is no question that the economy has been rough for corporate America, but in the non profit world, things have been as tough as I have ever seen them. Corporate investment is down, and personal investment has fallen substantially. Well, enough of the bad news that you already know - now for the good part.

Stonefilms has been involved with the non profit community since our beginnings in the early 90s. From national organizations like the Holocaust Museum and Habitat For Humanity, to local start up non profits, our team of writers and producers work to craft a video message that will make you wipe away a tear, and reach for your wallet. 

We are fortunate to have a fundraising video played almost every month at a non profit event, and those videos will then be posted on-line, emailed at an "email blast", and played off of a flash drive at an office follow up meeting.

In a weak economy, some organizations don't see how they can afford to produce a video message, but with a Stonefilms' partnership, your investment in video will reap huge rewards. 

Targeted Audience. Consistent Message. Multiple Viewing Opportunities. Direct Appeal For Funding.

We can help you with all of these. 

I was behind the stage last year when one of our shows played at a non profit gala in Houston. And yes, watching it from backstage, the image was backwards and very disconcerting!

My client walked up and said to me, "you may have just made us a million dollars". I looked out from behind the screen. The audience was watching intently, and the message was hitting home. 600 guests that night got the same strong message and the same strong appeal. That was a great night.

I can't promise you a million dollar return, but I can promise you that Stonefilms has the right people to make your message stand out, and get results.

Let's fight this economy together!

-Billy

Father's Day

Tahlequah, Oklahoma, 1986. After a very long day shooting standups and b-roll for an educational video, our crew staggered into a motel room for dinner. Ron Stone---Dad---was very hot, very tired, and, like the rest of the crew, ready to bite someone's head off. We were giving Dad such a wide berth that when he insisted that dinner consist of, in his words, "baloney and rat cheese", we readily agreed to such an unappetizing suggestion. So there we were, making sandwiches in the motel room, when I began to have trouble with the condiments. Anyone who even vaguely knows me understands that I often have trouble opening packets of ketchup or jars of mustard. The culprit this evening was a squeeze bottle, and as I labored to extract the mustard, Dad muttered, "Oh, for heaven's sake," and walked toward me.

At that instant the mustard bottle, well, exploded.

My last violent effort to shake it loose had resulted in a volcano of yellow that covered my father's shirt. And as I looked at him, his face beet red, I feared another volcano to follow. What resulted was far different.

Dad looked down at his shirt, looked up at the mangled bottle in my hand, and began to roar....with laughter. The rest of us joined in, and it seemed as if that little motel room in Tahlequah, Oklahoma was shaking. The whole ridiculous thing turned out to be a perfect ending for a rough day. And it's a wonderful example of one of Dad's greatest gifts. All through his life, he had the ability to take a tense situation and turn it around with humor. There are a great many elements that make up a successful production. A sense of humor is definitely one of them.

I hope on this Father's Day that you can take stock of the gifts that your father has given you----not the golf clubs or the toolbenchs---but all those life-affirming gifts of wisdom that only your dad can come up with. Billy and I are lucky. Each day we walk into the Stonefilms office and are, in a very real sense, surrounded by the gifts Dad gave us.

Happy Father's Day!

Internship Lessons

Stonefilms has always enjoyed our summer intern program, and through this program we have met some incredibly creative young men and women. We have been able to mentor students from many Houston colleges, and this year we are lucky to be working with a high school junior from St. John's School in Houston.

He will learn from our team about storytelling, editing, shooting and graphic design. But we will learn from him, as well. Social media communications are a natural for students in high school, and admittedly our learning curve on Facebook and Twitter have been at times, quite steep.

And we will be reminded that there are so many ways to tell a story now. Many years ago, we bought some of the first Avid editing systems in town. We were so proud of our 320 Gig harddrives that were only $9,000 a piece! We would render effects overnight, and share stories with editors around the country about the latest tips and tricks to save time. We called ourselves "PowerUsers". 

Today we looked at the amazing new Hyundai web site, where users can edit a car commercial, complete with a soundtrack by The Smashing Pumpkins, and post the spot for all the world to see. All without ever downloading an application or file set. And as far as overnight renders - a distant memory.

We will learn from each other, and that is what makes the Stonefilms internship such a great program. We will brush up on MySpace and Twitter, and he will see how we light greenscreen sets to make the edit go smoothly. And we will both be reminded that no matter what the technology, even if your Tweets can have only 130 words, or your video can only be 25 Megs to fit onto a server - you have to have compelling content. 

And that's a great lesson to learn.

R.O.I.

When looking at allocating budgets for marketing, you will always hear about R.O.I. - return on investment. With video, that return is always higher than print advertising, and Stonefilms producers work with every client to make sure that every project yields the maximum R.O.I.

How? The same core message video can be produced with several endings, appealing to a specific audience. For fundraising videos that are shown at large galas, the videos often end with, "Tonight we honor Mrs. Jane Doe.." The very next day, you will find the video on the organization's web site, ending with "And with your support, we can make a difference".

Later that week, at a civic organization meeting, the video will be played to a much smaller audience, but will end with "Thank you to the Rotary Club of Dallas for being a part of our mission".

So the core message has remained constant, and the ending appeal has become specialized. We often produce fundraising videos that have five different endings; appeals to corporations, appeals to the general public, or appeals to specific people.

Where? To achieve the proper R.O.I., we have to make sure our marketing efforts are seen by the right people. Today, videos can be sent in many different flavors, ensuring maximum exposure. Content is sent via DVD, Flash, WMV, Quicktime, through a jump drive or an email blast. We can compress video for an iPhone or a Blackberry. We will get your message to where it needs to go!

So, in the current economy, every marketing effort will be scrutinized for its effectiveness, and it's R.O.I. - and at Stonefilms, we'll make sure the video sends a powerful message to the audience - and to the folks in accounting.

Does Online Video Marketing Really Work?

In the movie business, films that go straight to video are usually cut-rate fare staring the 3rd lead from an early 90s cop show and Miss October 2002. But in the world of marketing, videos that go straight to the internet have a much more impressive cachet. Here's what a recent marketing survey found:

57% of those surveyed said yes, they were satisfied with their video marketing efforts.

29% weren't sure, but said they would continue to use video marketing.

9% felt results were mixed; but despite their concerns, this group, too, indicated it would continue using video marketing.

5% said they weren't satisfied.

This survey, conducted by Marketing Sherpa in November 2008, concludes that an overwhelming 95% of those surveyed would continue to use video marketing in the future. Those results were echoed by another survey, done in December of 2008 by PermissionTV, which showed that more than 2/3 of the senior marketing executives participating planned to use online video as a "primary focus" of their 2009 digital marketing campaigns.

So if you're wondering, does online video marketing really work?----the answer is a reassuring, yes.

Blogs and Beginnings

When we opened our first cramped office, no one at Stonefilms of Texas knew what a blog was. We were lucky we didn't misplace our floppy disks. It was 1991, a world of Beta tapes and VHS, with the office computers handy as word processors. Stonefilms' founder, Ron Stone, was still holding down the anchor desk at Houston's KPRC-TV, but would retire the following year as he and his son Billy grew their business.

In 2009 we have, I am happy to say, a much larger office. Our once proud tower of VHS machines is dusty from neglect. The Avid Master Editors at Stonefilms use a high definition canvas. And our clients are demanding an ever-widening array of delivery options, from web content to broadcast television.

To help document what has become the most exciting time in the history of our company, Stonefilms is creating this blog. Here we'll explore our latest projects, take a look at the creative process, and tell a few stories from the field.

From floppy disks to blogs, we've had one constant over the years, and that is client loyalty. Stonefilms President Billy Stone is producing a new video for an old favorite of ours, BP. Our business relationship with the petroleum industry giant dates back to the mid-90s. Billy's latest project will result in an in-house production that codifies standards and practices for BP.

Another longtime client is MHMRA, the Mental Health Mental Retardation Association of Harris County. Several years ago we created an online virtual provider fair for MHMRA. Now Ron Stone Jr. is producing a series of pieces for the client's website, all designed to give a brief overview of programs offered by MHMRA. These pieces will be available in English and Spanish, and allow the agency to broaden its reach in the community.

Last year we began a partnership with Comcast Cable that continues to grow. Stonefilms Executive Producer Katharine O'Brien works with client producers in Philadelphia to create content for Comcast On Demand programming. These programs range from "Police Blotter" to "Pets on Demand"; but the most challenging assignment always seems to be "Dating on Demand", shot on location at various watering holes across Houston. Combine Saturday night, a few cocktails, and some embarrasing questions about modern romance, and you have some of the most memorable shoots in Stonefilms history.

There's much more to discuss, from our history to the here-and-now, and we'll bring it to you on this blog. You can read more about us at our website, http://www.stonefilms.com .