eTrafficKort.com hired us to create an animation to promote their service. We setup lights and a stop motion camera to record the artist then animated the frames. We created both an english and spanish version of the video.

I’m producing a feature film entitled, Neshima. We are currently in production and are shooting in north county of San Diego.

The best camera in the world right now is the Red Epic which was just recently released. It is the first digital cinema camera to finally provide a greater image quality, more efficient post production, and is far, far cheaper to utilize compared with 35mm film.

We are shooting on two of them!

Check out our facebook page for pictures of our production, cast and crew, as well as videos in HD.

Neshima Movie

Cast

Lakshmi		Shoshanna Chagall
Kshat		Jaden Dinsmore
King Buddhi	Charlie Glackin
Queen Raddha	Danielle Baker
Master Vyasa	Mike Burnell
Trailanga	Michael Young
Bhimala		Kyle Lawrence Wright
Achala		Michael Geretz
Vishwanath	Vishwanath Iyer
Karna		Ed Zajac
Drona		Danny Morris
Rajarsi		Larry Paul Van Loon
Uma		Shawn Kathryn Kane
Satyavati	Alycia Grant
Mirabai		Fiammetta Cavatorta
Ba'al		Nahesi Crawford
Oak		Mike Tenenberg
King Erbai	Aaron Hammond
Kael		Tommy Friedman
Akrim		Michael R. M. Evans
Lon		Rhoads Osbourne

Crew

Producer			Cory Petkovsek
Director			Tommy Friedman
Art Director			Mike Tenenberg
Director of Photography		Blair Paulsen
Assistant Camera		Bill Bork
Assistant Camera		Stuart Allman
Assistant Camera		Greg Lefevre
Assistant Camera / Key Grip 	Stephen Mickelsen
Studio Lighting director	Jim Teiper
Fight Director			Jason Barnes
Asst Fight Trainer		Jorandy Chavez
Script Supervisor		Edgar Fernandez
Costume Designer		Cheri Dennis
Costumer			Sandra Lea Deakins
Costumer			Lindsey Payne
Costumer			Hope McCracken
Costume	Assistant		Amanda Saffold
SFX Artist / Key MUA		Afton A. Adams
SFX / MUA Assistant		Yoni Baker
Sound Recordist			Brian Frye
Grip				Peter Mickelsen
Grip				Adam Foster
Production Assistant		Zach Luczynski
Production Assistant		Oscar Gamboa
Production Assistant		Ryan Pearo
Production Assistant		Robin Kunimune
Production Assistant		Vic Nandal
Production Assistant		Elena Buenrostro
Production Assistant		Mingzhao Dong
Production Assistant		Richard Mendelson
Production Assistant		Chris Caton
Production Assistant		Ian Holaday
Production Assistant		Justin Shane
Production Assistant		Mike Shane
Still Photographer		Elsa Mickelsen
VFX Consultant			Jonah West

We recorded Rick Rule, president of Sprott Asset Management USA, introducing his business. Rick regularly appears in the media discussing natural resource investments.

James Anderson had us come out to film his Key Note address to the National Indian Education Association. James is the son of America’s Rib King, “Famous Dave” Anderson. He inspired his audience of American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians from his experiences helping others improve themselves.

The video above is an excerpt from his speech.

Red Circle hosted this Cufflinks Networking event on the same night as the owner’s birthday party. It is a pretty classy place and the business owners in attendance really enjoyed the venue and the networking. See the promo video we made for Cufflinks and check out some of the business owners at the event.

Most individual interviews are below. Feel free to download them and upload them unedited elsewhere. Contact me if you don’t see yours or if you’d like an HD version.

Apex BASE specializes in the manufacture of high performance parachutes specifically designed for B.A.S.E jumping; the community who jumps off of bridges (B), antennae (A), structures and buildings (S), and earth or cliffs (E). They tell me you don’t start BASE jumping until you’ve performed at least 100 sky dives in order to develop the requisite experience!

They tell me that in sky diving you might have a minute of free fall time, then pull the chute at about 2000 feet. When BASE jumping you usually start well below 2000 feet. Thus ensuring the parachute unfolds and expands out of the container in short order is absolutely critical for safety. This means the parachute must be packed properly to begin with.

Apex BASE hired us to develop a training DVD that would show their clients how to safely and effectively pack their parachutes.

Performing Arts Workshop has had me produce a handful of DVDs of their dance performances. Earlier in the year they hold a spring performance. During the winter months they perform to Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” which this video and DVD art is for.

Photography by Chad Sorlie.

CuffLinks Networking hosted an event at RedZone downtown in the Gaslamp district in San Diego. We recorded Mark Anthony and interviews of some business owners who attended the event.

Most individual interviews are below. Email me if you don’t see yours.

From the desk of Mallory K. Lee
Public Relations Consultant for CuffLinks Networking SD

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RED ZONE TO HOST NEXT CUFFLINKS NETWORKING SD

SAN DIEGO, CA- Red Zone Sports Bar and Grill is hosting CuffLinks Networking SD’s next networking event, scheduled for Thursday, August 19, 2010. This will be the 6th event for CuffLinks since its start in February 2010. July’s networking event brought over 300 business professionals together at the Miami Grille in UTC.

Mark Anthony Cedre of Western Financial Planning Corporation along with the help of Michelle Goldbach, Founder of Path for Healthy Living began CuffLinks Networking SD to help serious business owners and professionals meet. They found that in San Diego, the quality of networking was not up to their standards.

In July at the Miami Grille, this standard was exemplified by the quality of professionals that were in attendance. Jay Brown, CEO of the Jay Brown Network, INC., Adam Rowe, President of Erowe Design and Cory Petkovsek, Producer at Corporate Video were among the many professionals who attended.

“I have attended few networking groups that approach the caliber of CuffLinks,” said Adam Rowe, President of Erowe Design. “Through their events I have established an ever growing circle of clients and acquaintances that truly are a cut about the rest.”

CuffLinks Networking SD is sending an open invitation to all established business owners and professionals in San Diego County. Red Zone Sports Bar and Grill is located at 1100 5th Ave, San Diego, CA 92101 and the networking event will be from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. There is a $5 cash only admittance fee for general admission and VIP specials are offered, but space is limited. The admittance fee for VIP is $20 in advance and $25 at the door. It is recommended that if an individual is planning to attend, that they RSVP on www.cufflinksnetworkingsd.com and is required to RSVP if they would like to join the VIP list.

Daniel Gutierrez, author of “Stepping into Greatness” will be attending and speaking with business owners in the VIP section. Gutierrez is also known for his radio show on blogtalkradio and his public speaking appearances.

Many San Diego businesses are sponsoring the CuffLinks Networking SD event, such as: Western Financial Planning, Corporate Video, San Diego Corporate Law, Path for Healthy Living, Sundance King, Seacoast Realty, Red Zone Sports Bar and Grill, Xango, Payne Mason Cigars, The San Diego Symphony, Capriccio Salon and Spa, Giles Baseball Sports and Fitness, and Genesis Career Systems.

For more information call Mallory K. Lee at 858-997-5965 or e-mail pr.cufflinks [at] gmail.com.

The premiere networking group in San Diego, Cufflinks Networking brought us out to film an event they held at Miami Grille in La Jolla. We recorded Mark Anthony interviewing many of his guests in front of a press wall to record this promo video for them.

Most individual interviews are below. Email me if you don’t see yours.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CUFF LINKS NETWORKING SD ANNOUCES FIFTH NETWORKING EVENT

SAN DIEGO, CA- Cuff Links Networking SD, a prestigious networking organization in San Diego County is holding its fifth networking event in 2010. The last event Cuff Links Networking SD held was at L’Auberge in Del Mar, CA in June 2010. Nearly 1,000 business owners attended the event at L’Auberge.

Many business owners and professionals like, Tony Hranek, Principal of Res Struct, Sarah Nance CEO of All Star Accounting, David Levy, First Vice President-Investments of Wells Fargo and Michael J. Leonard, Owner of San Diego Corporate Law were in attendance at L’Auberge among many other business owners and professionals.

“Mark Anthony Cedre always hosts the most exclusive and impressive cast of individuals and businesses at his Cuff Links Networking events,” said Michael J. Leonard, Esq., owner of San Diego Corporate Law. “Anyone seeking to do business with the who’s who in San Diego County should be attending.”

The next event will be held at Miami Grille on Thursday, July 22, 2010 at 4354 La Jolla Village Drive, San Diego, CA 92122 from 5:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.

Cuff Links Networking SD is known for its red carpet interviews and photo opportunities at each event it holds.

“The economy has taught business owners to look outside the box for new clients. Cuff Links Networking is a catalyst for business owners to find new clients,” said Mark Anthony Cedre, founder of Cuff Links Networking SD.

Current sponsors of the upcoming event are San Diego Corporate Law, Western Financial Planning Corporation, Payne-Mason Cigars, Path for Healthy Living, DMC Cigar Club, San Diego Symphony, The Sundance King, Seacoast Realty, Corporate Video, Miami Grille, Lone Wolf, European Collections and Angel’s Share Wine and Spirits.

Cuff Links Networking SD is extending an open invitation to business owners and professionals in the San Diego County area to attend this free event. There will be a free raffle that consists of fine wines and local business gift certificates.

For more information call Mallory K. Lee at 858-997-5965 or e-mail pr.cufflinks [at] gmail.com.

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Phone 858.997.5965 ● pr.cufflinks [at] gmail.com ● http://www.meetup.com/Cuff-Links

This 30-second spot was created specifically to broadcast on digital signage around town and advertise our business. We used a lot of motion graphics, a little bit of client footage and some sound effects to bring it all together. Though the ad will be played silently, the sound effects make it fun to watch online.

The purpose of business video is to express a message that ultimately increases your bottom line.  This is true for training videos, marketing videos, and really most business decisions.

As with any form of communication, to be effective it must be received by the viewer. This means it is interesting and focused.

Image

A basic youtube or home video type production will get your point across to an astute viewer and I recommend it for smaller, personal businesses. Note though that any video communicates an image about your business.

Will a home video image interest your clients, inspire your sales staff, or excite shareholders? Is low production value consistent with your website and other marketing materials?

When a professional image is important and is already being applied to a retail location, on printed marketing materials, uniforms/dress code, and so on, it also needs to be conveyed through video.

How to get your message heard

Even if we’re making a training video or a movie, we’re still selling our ideas and story to the viewer. We are selling them at least on continuing to watch the video and possibly on our methods and techniques, our abilities, or on our product or service.

It is worth breaking down the individual elements we need for maximum effectiveness. We can do so with the basic questions we learned in elementary school:

1. What is the message?
2. Who is the message for?
3. How, where, why and when will they be watching the video?

What

I have a friend who is great at coming up with ideas, but is very vague in communicating them. Naturally, overall effectiveness could be improved.

Before the viewer will understand our message, we need to understand it ourselves. If we like a painting is it because of the reds or the greens? The lights and shadows? The textures? The shapes?

What are the core elements of our message? What is the most important point? What is the second most important point?

Let’s create a communication structure around our ideas; a beginning, middle, and end; a central point and purpose. Every other detail supports and is supported by this structure. This is like the body hanging off it’s skeletal structure, supporting and supported by it’s muscles.

Who

I express myself to my friends differently then I would to a police officer, my mom, or my employee. I may share the same message, but it will be factored differently depending on my audience.

In video we also need to know who we are approaching so we can effectively refactor our message in their language.

Three W’s and an H

Our clever message targeted directly at our intended audience will still be received differently depending on where, when, why and how they watch.

If our video is a commercial played before a movie in a theatre, they will have little distraction with a 50 foot screen and a THX surround sound system. However they might be walking in with their drinks, looking for a seat, or running to the bathroom.

Our video might be on the web where they’re likely to give us 5 seconds to make an impression before they click off.

Maybe we’re making a training DVD to show people how to do a fun activity like base jumping.

Or maybe it is a generic, 30 minute safety training video they are watching at 5am in their cubicle during work.

The website visitor might be tired, rushed, or in pain and needs to quickly see that you have the solution.  The employee might groggily watching, anxious to get to work so they can go home. The base jumper might be excited to watch at home with his gear out.

Wrap Up

All of the above variables will change how the audience receives it. We should consider this when planning for the video. It may mean critical changes in all aspects of the production such as the type of music played, the overall pacing, the structure of the content, the selection of the talent.

Every production is different and every story is different. However the same basic principles of marketing and communication apply. Clearly expressing your message, with the right image, the right method, and to the people who want to hear it is the most effective means of communication. The same principles apply whether we’re making a movie, a commercial, or a corporate shareholder “feel good about investing in us” video.

We produced this public service announcement video for the Water Resources department in the City of San Diego. They wanted to promote the conservation of water with the theme, “No time to waste. No water to waste.” San Diego’s Mayor, Jerry Sanders, came out to thank us during our screening.

Cast & Crew

CAST

Son                     Tyler Desharnais
Daughter                Hannah Stone
Mother                  Connie Herman-solis
Father                  Brandon Macer

CREW

Director                Cory Petkovsek
Producer                Brendon Keeley
Director of Photography Greg Lefevre
Sound Recordist         Katy Katz
Sound Recordist         Kris Keooh
Makeup                  Ashlee Danielle
Special FX              Amy Richardson

Location provided by A New Kitchen – Kitchen and bath remodelling.

This is a trailer for a short film I directed. We shot it on the Red One. The film was shown at the LA Femme International Film Festival held in Los Angeles. Contact me to view the complete screener.

Synopsis

A businessman goes to a tarot card reader hoping for advice on the stock market, but finds himself looking for meaning after receiving the ‘death’ card.

Production Information

We produced this film for our entry in the 48 Hour Film Project, an international film festival. We wrote, shot and edited it in 48 hours! (We’ve since taken more time to polish the editing.)

In order to ensure the contestants do all creative work during the contest, each team picks a genre out of a hat and is given certain elements to place into the movie. We pulled Drama and had to include a crayon, a character Amy Belanger who is a historian, and a line of dialogue, “That’s not what I meant.” See if you can spot them in the film!

We shot on location in Encinitas and Solana Beach, California. In addition to the 48 hours, significant time was spent preparing the crew and equipment, as well as final editing, color grading and sound design afterward.

There were about 40 entries in the San Diego contest alone, which included a lot of great films. We all had a great time pulling together and creating something so quickly.

Cast & Crew

Our cast and crew consisted of 30 fantastic people from San Diego, Los Angeles, and Taiwan.

CAST (links to IMDB)

Eric Jones		Eric Poppick
Tarot Card Reader	Sandra Ellis-Troy
Steven			Stefan Cap
Mrs. Belanger		Antoinette Oesterleinz
News Reporter		Mei-Ling Downey
Neighbor #1		Krishna Jehoshua
Neighbor #2		Katie Franke
Gardener #1		Kyle Lawrence Wright
Gardener #2		Shane Chase
Housekeeper		Lynae DePriest
Lily			Ally Blumenfeld

CREW (links to websites)

Director 		Cory Petkovsek
Producer / Writer 	Alia Ella Henderson
Director of Photography Aaron Moorhead
Editor 			Cory Petkovsek
Editor 			Hunter Venable
Assistant Director 	Tommy Friedman
Script Supervisor 	Michael Jones
Set Designer 		Thomas George
Assistant Set Designer 	Veronica Lynn Harper
Sound Recordist 	Jesse Watts 
Assistant Camera 	Mike Deas 
2nd Assistant Camera 	Greg Lefevre
Gaffer 			Charlie Heimsath
Key Grip 		Ricky "Azrael" Daniels 
Wardrobe / Prop Master 	Sylvia Enrique 
Makeup 			Afton A. Adams
Production Assistant 	Krishna Jehoshua 
Production Assistant 	Michele Arnesen 
Production Assistant 	Yoni Baker 
Production Assistant 	Katie Franke
Sound Designer 		Dominic Pesce
Opening Titles 		Light Ray Visual Effects

Special Thanks to Craig M. Hart.  

Shot on the Red One camera.

I helped Tommy Friedman produce this web commercial for his client’s internet video marketing. This is Justin Shane of Yogi’s Drain Service in Encinitas, California.  The actress is a client of Yogi’s Drain Service.

What I did: I helped Tommy film the skit, I guided the whole green screen shoot, then I edited this spot with color grading and motion graphics.

Jeff Bibler, Director of San Diego based Better Report Card Tutors hired us to produce a short introduction video for his website.  We helped him develop his script, coached him through his monologue and recorded his video in front of a green screen.  As you can see the green screen allowed us to place motion graphics around him.

We shot this video on 8mm film stock in a beautiful location out in Vista, California.

This particular project had some specific requirements to shoot everything in order (which is not normal), not use any artificial lighting, and no sound or dialog.

The digital footage we got back from the film to DVD transfer house was particularly challenging to work with. It was extremely jumpy, the footage flashed, colors were off, etc. We spent a lot of time in post production stabilizing the footage, color correcting, and cutting around film jumps and flashes in order to smooth out this final piece.

Cast & Crew

CAST
(in order of appearance)
Joel                     Benjamin Fogelstrom
Dylan                    Samantha Johnson
Bruce                    George Lofland
Waiter                   Shane Chase

CREW
Director                 Cory Petkovsek
Writer                   Samantha Johnson
Director of Photography  Jessica Seda
Set Designer             Lisa Schreifels

Music
"Sunshine"
"Somewhere Sunny"
"There is Romance"       Kevin MacLeod

This short portrait web video was shot to promote services for Adaptable IT, Inc in San Diego. We shot it in front of a green screen then replaced the background with motion graphics.

This short video was produced on the spur of the moment when we had an opportunity to go backstage in the cheetah pit at the Wild Animal Park in Escondido, California. The three female cheetahs, Etana, Poyo and Mombe were just like big kitties! Etana is the boss and doesn’t fraternize much, but the other two girls were very friendly and purrrrred continuously and loudly! They love licking humans. Maybe because they are sweet girls, or maybe because we taste good….