Stonefilms of Texas

Technology and Storytelling

2011-09-02T10:31:00.000-07:00

At Stonefilms, we are always excited about new gear and new technology. We have been shooting a lot with the newer DSLR cameras, still cameras from Canon and Nikon that can use still lenses, but are recording at full HD streams. They look great, and can get beautiful depth of field in the smallest of locations.

If has been fun to see everyone in the office become "techno- geeks" and discuss which black levels look the best and the pros and cons of XD cards versus P2 cards. Our editors are diving more into color correction, and are dealing with audio sync issues - in some ways it is like editing many, many years ago - but the results are pretty amazing.

But mainly, I love the fact that our company has always been about storytelling first. We have been fortunate to be surrounded by the latest and greatest cameras and lighting, but our real strength continues to be the ability to meet with a client, and then make their story come alive on the screen.

If you want to talk "techno-geek", or about how Stonefilms can best tell your story, call us anytime - we love this stuff!

-Billy

Online Videos Score a Hit With Bosses

2011-01-14T11:32:00.000-08:00

Who has time to watch an online video? Apparently your boss does, and in many cases he'd rather view information in a video rather than in a text format.

Forbes Insights surveyed business executives in October 2010 to discover if they took a look at online video, and if so, how they reacted to that content. Three-quarters of the surveyed executives said that they watch business-related online videos at least once a week. Only 5% stated that they "never" viewed work-related online videos.

And what did they do after viewing that content? Over 50% made a vendor/product search for more information; and over 60% visited the vendor/product website. Executives in the survey aged 40 or younger were more likely to reach out to the vendor/product, with 51% of that group responding that they would make a business-related purchase following exposure to the video, and 43% saying they would contact a vendor whose business-to-business ad showed up in online video.

Our own experience here at Stonefilms supports these findings: more clients are coming to us for online video content, from You Tube channels to virtual provider fairs to online image and marketing campaigns. Let us work with you on your next online video project. We're sure your boss will watch it---and love it!

An Educational Jewel

2011-01-06T08:02:00.000-08:00

Its a prestigious private school that sends its graduates on to great universities such as Stanford, Columbia, Rice, and Northwestern. The average class size is 15, with a student teacher ratio of 10:1, with the majority of faculty living on campus. And 85% of the school's families have incomes below the poverty level.

This remarkable school is The Chinquapin School, located 25 miles east of downtown Houston in Highlands, Texas. Billy Stone is currently working with students, faculty, and alumni to tell an amazing educational success story. Some 37 years ago Bob Moore, a beloved English teacher at Houston's St. John's School, made good on a dream to start a challenging college prep school for able and motivated youth from low-income families in the Greater Houston area.

Over the course of their education at the school, the students (grades 6-12) receive lessons both in and out of class. Outside of the demanding course load students volunteer in various ways, from building houses for Habitat for Humanity to cleaning beaches in Galveston. They must give back to the school itself by doing daily chores. There are enrichment programs with the Houston Grand Opera and the Alley Theatre, and summer programs such as Outward Bound.

And for all of this marvelous education that their children receive, parents pay just a token tuition, in cash or services, that covers about 3% of annual costs. That means The Chinquapin School must rely on donors---foundations, corporations, and individuals----who support an annual budget of $1.8 million and maintain an endowment of $9 million. It is vital, then, that the story of The Chinquapin School reach as many people as possible.

For Billy, this has become much more mission than assignment; he positively believes in spreading the word about the school. When the video is completed, I think you'll agree that The Chinquapin School is an educational jewel. ----Ronnie

YMCA: A Place to Be Loved

2010-12-14T10:54:00.000-08:00

The YMCA of Greater Houston has 36 branches across our metropolitan area, places where people of all ages go to keep their bodies---and minds---active. It is the kind of organization (in this case, 125 years old) that has been around for so long and is so well-known that we tend to take it for granted, as if it is a machine that runs of itself.

Each year the Y's Partners Campaign reminds us that we can never grow complacent. The campaign raised over $5.5 million last year in a effort to make the YMCA available to all. Stonefilms is proud to join the YMCA of Greater Houston in the 2011 Partners Campaign. Liz Chapman wrote and produced a video that will be used to illustrate to potential donors the impact that the Y----and this campaign---make on our community. Interviews for this production were shot in the historic YMCA building in downtown Houston, one month before the structure's scheduled demolition.

A teenager interviewed in the video comments that the people he interacts with at his local Y in Huntsville are not just friends: they are family. It is our hope at Stonefilms that the 2011 Partners Campaign will allow the YMCA of Greater Houston to extend its reach to those who need it most. To find out how you can support one of the truly great organizations in our community, go to www.ymcahouston.org

Budweisers and Clydesdales

2010-11-16T09:23:00.000-08:00

Somehow my brother and I did NOT scare off the animal in the above photograph. Actually, the Clydesdales are used to working with all kinds of strange creatures, and we were all having fun at Del Papa Distributing's 100th anniversary celebration. That photograph was taken at the 2nd of 3 parties that the company held to mark the happy event, at the Beaumont distribution center.

The final and biggest party was held last Saturday night at the Lone Star Flight Museum in Galveston. An estimated 1200 people enjoyed great country music, an amazing spread of food, and, of course, some cold Budweiser beer! The Stonefilms crew had a welcome guest, Billy's beautiful wife Vicki. Our thanks to Jan Glenn for his excellent still photography; I can tell you with certainty that neither of these 2 photographs will make the cut for the final Del Papa book, but there are plenty of other photos to choose from. We continue to work with Bright Sky Press as we dig through a treasure trove of photos new and old to create the 100th anniversary volume.

Del Papa Party Season Begins!

2010-10-25T09:14:00.000-07:00

Del Papa Distributing packed a century of celebration into one terrific evening this past Saturday in Victoria. Our Stonefilms crew of still photographer Kim Christensen and videographer Larry Clifton documented the first of three parties marking the 100th anniversary of one of the leading beer distributors in the country. We'll also be on hand for parties in Beaumont and Galveston as Stonefilms continues an ambitious multimedia project: videos, newsletters, radio spots, and a book, all designed to capture Del Papa's past, present, and future.

An estimated 700 people came to Del Papa's Victoria headquarters for the bash, which featured delicious brisket, shrimp, Mexican food, country music, Clydesdales, and, of course, plenty of Budweiser beer! We've put a lot of hard work into this project, but we've rarely had so much fun with a client. And the folks at Del Papa always make us feel like part of their family.

The next event is November 6 in Beaumont.

2010 Texas Business Hall of Fame

2010-07-09T07:27:00.000-07:00

The 2010 class of the Texas Business Hall of Fame is notable for its variety, its members hailing from fields ranging from oil & gas, computers, commercial real estate, and beer distribution. That makes for a wonderful creative challenge as our Stonefilms production team puts together the video profiles of the inductees for this fall's TBHOF gala dinner.

We've been working with the TBHOF for nearly 20 years, traveling across the state and the country as we conduct the interviews with some of the biggest names in Texas business: President George H.W. Bush, Ross Perot, Boone Pickens, Lamar Hunt, Bob McNair, Michael Dell, to name a few. This year's class includes:

Carlos Alvarez, the man behind beer brands like Corona at the Gambrinus Company;

Robert D. Duncan, of Transwestern, one of the largest privately held commercial real estate and development firms in the country;

W.A. "Tex" Moncrief & W.A. "Monty" Moncrief (posthumously), father & son, two of the greatest oil wildcatters;

Harvey E. Najim, chairman of Sirius Computer Solutions, and one of San Antonio's greatest philanthropists.

Each video profile is about 5 minutes long, and we will interview the inductee as well as 3 other individuals (that he selects) who can provide us some additional perspective about career accomplishments, business philosophy, and character insight. We've been working with the inductees' respective staff members since the beginning of summer to collect research material and schedule interviews.

The TBHOF gala is planned and presented by International Meeting Managers, and IMM's president, Lynne Tiras, is as always a delight to work with. This year's Texas Business Hall of Fame gala will take place Monday, November 8, 2010, at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio.

KPRC Comes To Battleship's Defense

2010-06-15T09:07:00.000-07:00

Our recent video about the fragile state of the Battleship Texas and the need for a permanent dry dock at its San Jacinto location is making the kind of impact that the Battleship Texas Foundation was hoping for. Among the many people viewing that video on You Tube was Rusty Knight, a director at KPRC-TV here in Houston and a longtime friend. Rusty was so moved by the message that he went to the station's general manager, Larry Blackerby, and suggested that Larry devote one of his daily editorials to the subject. We're happy to report that Larry agreed. The resulting editorial is a strong reminder to all of us to come to the aid of one of the Houston area's---wait, forget that, one of America's---true treasures.

You can view the editorial at www.click2houston.com/video/23817917/

The Kids Are Alright

2010-04-26T11:21:00.000-07:00

We love kids. We love them so much that between us Stonefilms producers we have 7 of them, including a precocious set of twins, a couple of beautiful college co-eds, a Little League slugger, a high school journalist, and a middle school singer. So no wonder we were excited when our friends at Pierpont Communications asked us to set up shop for a weekend at the annual Houston Children's Festival.

For Pierpont's clients Toyota and Autotrader.com, Stonefilms set up a dynamic booth that included no less than 6 50-inch plasma screens, all designed to showcase live interviews with children about their favorite car trip memories. Mom and Dad got to see their kids on all those screens in full HD glory, and Toyota and Autotrader.com got a big audience to see the new Sienna Minivans.

The response was so great, in fact, that over the course of the weekend our crews shot almost 300 interviews in those 2 days. The work was virtually non-stop; lunch meant inhaling a sandwich in between tape changes. Shot in HD, the near-300 interviews were then edited onto individual DVDs for the families of the interviewed children.

And what's it like to interview hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of kids? The following video puts it all in (fast) perspective.....

TOO BIG TO FAIL

2010-03-11T11:01:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading Andrew Ross Sorkin's "Too Big To Fail", and was fascinated with his look at the financial collapse of 2008. It was fun to read about so many people that our Stonefilms crews have interviewed for various projects. I remember interviewing Paul Volcker, former Fed Chairman at his office in Rockefeller Center, and then the same day heading over to Bear Stearns to interview the legendary Ace Greenberg. That was my first look at a major Wall Street trading operation, and it is stunning to think that one year later, Bear Stearns would be on the brink of collapse.

Both Volcker and Greenberg were great on camera, and wonderful hosts. I ended up spending several hours with Greenberg at Bear Stearns - hard to believe that it does not exist anymore.

Our team here has been blessed to travel the world and meet amazing people. On that specific trip to New York, I was doing interviews with financial figures, and my dad was across town interviewing lawyers that were involved in Watergate. Pretty great day of shooting.

Below is the video piece that we produced on legendary Texas businessman Boone Pickens. Look for Ace Greenberg...

-Billy

Stonefilms Intern Reflects on Chilean Visit

2010-03-03T07:57:00.000-08:00

In the past few days we have all seen heartbreaking images from Chile. The death toll from the massive 8.8 earthquake has soared past 800. For some of us that information and those pictures may seem blurry, indistinct----a faraway chaos that is unreal.

But Stonefilms Production Intern William Payne has a different image of Chile. This past July he was able to realize a long-held dream. After saving several years of summer job money, William's scheme of snowboarding in the Andes Mountains of South America became a reality. William and several friends, equally passionate about snowboarding and skiing, traveled to Portillo, Chile, about an hour northeast of Santiago.

William writes, "The natural beauty of Portillo is stunning and the Andes Mountains were more majestic than I could have imagined. The Chilean people were incredibly friendly and interesting. Chile is a beautiful country and my prayers are with all the people of Chile as they recover from this massive earth quake. I am especially thinking about my Portillo friends and that special place."

Our thanks to William for sharing his thoughts and bringing Chile and its people into a clearer focus for us all.

Saints and Stonefilms

2010-02-11T08:25:00.000-08:00

One of the best sports stories in many, many years has to be the crowning of the New Orleans Saints as Super Bowl champs. For so long, the Saints were the little sisters of the poor of the NFL, and then the devastation of Hurricane Katrina threatened to cripple the city and the team for good. All of which made the Super Bowl victory a sweet moment for the many millions who make up Who Dat Nation.

And it reminded the Stonefilms staff of our 2007 interview with Saints owner Tom Benson. Benson was one of that year's inductees into the Texas Business Hall of Fame, and we discovered that, like so many other members of that elite group, he started his business career with absolutely nothing. Tom Benson was just another World War II veteran in the late 40s, trying to make a go in the business world; within 2 decades he was one of the most successful car dealers in Texas. Benson was approached by Louisiana's governor in 1985 to join a group of investors who were trying to keep the Saints in New Orleans. But as Benson soon discovered that the other investors weren't materializing---as he told Dad in the interview, "Hell, I was the group!"

He bought the Saints, and within two years the franchise was in the playoffs for the first time in team history. At the time of our interview, the Saints had made it all the way to the NFC championship game in 2006 and were just about to enter a new season. It was an extraordinarily busy time for Benson, and to make matters worse, he was battling a very heavy cold. But on that morning he was very gracious, and in the course of the two hours or so we spent with him it was obvious that he loved being a businessman. He talked about the simple joy of going to the dealership on a Saturday morning and meeting customers to show them the latest Chevy. And, of course, he was passionate about his Saints.

Once again, our work for the Texas Business Hall of Fame had given us amazing access to a truly remarkable figure. And two years later it has given us added insight into the great achievement of the New Orleans Saints----the beloved team that we can at last call World Champions.

Century of Success

2010-02-01T11:49:00.000-08:00

Galveston was still reeling in 1910, an island city trying to rebuild after the devastating storm of 1900. It took people like Omero Del Papa, Sr. to bring Galveston back to life. A young Italian immigrant, Omero believed in his adopted city and was certain that better days were ahead. So he went into business with his brother-in-law, Frank Celli, starting a company called Celli & Del Papa, a distributorship that handled everything from beer and wine to olive oil and ice cream. 100 years later we are celebrating the vision of Omero Del Papa and the company that today is known as Del Papa Distributing, one of the premiere Budweiser distributorships in the country.

The folks at Del Papa wanted to find out as much as they could about the beginnings of the company. So much of the story seemed to be lost to history. Susan Elmore of Elmore Public Relations was working with the company to plan their anniversary celebration, and she happily suggested that the Stonefilms staff might be a resource for research. And that led to a year-long search into the past: digging in libraries and archives across the Gulf Coast, interviewing employees in Beaumont, Galveston, and Victoria, and scanning pages of old newspaper copy. A wonderful story emerged. Omero Del Papa, Sr. was a shrewd businessman who at the same time loved listening to opera. He worked long, punishing hours but he was devoted to his family, and his sons all followed him into the business. "It is better to have a good name than money," he often said, and his lessons in work ethic and integrity have lived long after his death in 1959.

Stonefilms crews will be on hand to document Del Papa Distributing's 100th year, and we'll keep you updated as we continue to explore the past, the present, and the future of a great American success story.

The Art of Editing

2010-01-11T11:49:00.000-08:00

Editing looks like a science. The editor sits before the keyboard and works out what seems to be an algebraic solution so that the picture on screen will either cut, dissolve, spin, morph, or make a Denver omelet. But when you watch Stonefilms editor Stig Daniels at work----or, better yet, watch his results on-screen----you realize that editing is an art form. In the best hands, like Daniels', editing is not algebra; it is ballet.

Some of the true masters of the art of editing will gather in Miami on January 13 for the annual Editors Retreat, and we're delighted to see that Stig has been asked to lead one of the seminars at this prestigious gathering. The keynote speaker will be Christopher Nelson, editor for two standout programs, Lost and Mad Men. During the retreat, editors will discuss a variety of topics, from motion graphics to sound mixing to color correction. Stig's peer presentation, on the challenges of independent film editing, will focus on one of his ongoing projects, Dead of Night, a horror film by Houston indie director Joe Grisaffi.

It is a tribute to Stig's talent---and work ethic---that Dead of Night is just one of the many projects he is currently taking on. He has been Stonefilms' chief editor since May 1995, but he's also one of the most sought-after technical directors in sports broadcasting. Over the years Stig has worked as a TD for Astros, Rockets, Comets, Aeros, and Dynamo broadcasts, and this summer he'll be heading to South Africa as a TD and assistant director for Univision's World Cup soccer telecasts. "I enjoy having a dual career," Stig insists, "because one supports the other; it keeps me fresh."

But it is editing that he truly loves, and his artistry has been evident on a long list of Stonefilms projects. "Editing is always changing," he says. "When I first came here, I was 'just' an editor. Now I'm mixing sound, I'm an art director, I'm working with effects; I have so much creative control."

That creativity is a delight to watch in progress. Stig will plug in his Ipod, treating us to some of the most obscure music known to man, and then he will sit at the keyboard and go to work. He has the hands of a scientist, but the heart of an artist.
--Ronnie

The View from Janus

2010-01-04T11:24:00.000-08:00

The Romans stole most of their gods from the Greeks, but they came up with one deity with a terrific moniker and an even better gimmick. That would be Janus, who gave us the name for our year's first month because he could---you guessed it---look both forward and backward at the same time. Having spent the past year getting used to bifocals, I can truly appreciate that kind of visual talent. To look back and to look forward in January 2010 is instructive because it reinforces my belief that Stonefilms has broadened its reach in a marketplace that quite simply demands more from our profession.

And what is our profession? Stonefilms opened for business in 1991 as a video production company. It was very straightforward---we made video content that played on television sets. And in 2009, yes, we produced videos that played on television sets, but that doesn't even begin to tell the whole story.

Stonefilms projects ran the gamut from web content to audio book content, from historical research for a public company nearing its 100th anniversary to a whitepaper analysis for a non-profit, from producing On Demand cable content to the technical production of a gala fundraiser. As I write this post, Stonefilms producers are working on everything from broadcast to cable to internet to radio content, from commercial spots to half-hour programs, and seemingly everything in between. No wonder we expanded our staff in 2009!

It seems likely that we'll see a great deal more in the online arena in 2010. According to analysts at eMarketer, online video advertising will be on the rise in the coming year. Internet now reaches 66% of the U.S. population. That's over 205 million people.

The view from Janus' vantage point is breathtaking. I sure hope we'll see more of you in 2010. Happy New Year!
----Ronnie

Wild Kingdom

2009-11-19T08:02:00.000-08:00

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?

2009-11-11T13:03:00.000-08:00

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

2009-10-05T12:07:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-11T11:59:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-02T11:07:00.000-07:00

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?

2009-06-29T13:30:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-17T11:12:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-15T13:20:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-06-09T12:54:00.000-07:00

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?

2009-06-08T09:13:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-06-04T11:54:00.001-07:00

Blogs and Beginnings

2009-06-04T07:18:00.000-07:00

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 .