Forrester Media's Atlanta Video Production Blog

Wishes for a prosperous 2009

As 2008 nears an end, we naturally look forward to a new beginning. It's a chance to reflect, learn from mistakes and set goals and resolutions for the new year. We do it personally and professionally.

2009 marks the 19th year I've been in the video business. First in corporate communications, then broadcast, now a mix of both. 2009 presents an opportunity to formally extend our business into an arena we've unofficially been in the last 10 years - the Internet. Most of our work now involves distribution for the web, so we've become quite good at creating content that works well on the 'net, along with creating distribution and integration with that content.

Further, our growth this past decade can largely be attributed to clients finding us on the Internet via a search engine. Our skills at Search Engine Optimization have not gone unnoticed by our clients - or even our competitors. No we're not going into the web site building business, but we are ready to share our expertise in this field when it comes to our clients needing to maximize exposure of the content we create for them.

I may call us a video production company, but we're much more than that. We've really grown into a content creation company and we not only create the content, but help our clients utilize and distribute the content effectively.

Helping our clients succeed continues to be our top priority as begin a new year. Happy 2009!

Are you watching TV and movies in HD? You should be!

I read an interesting post last night stating in part that the new high definition Blu-ray DVD players need to come down in price. The writer, Henry Blodger argues that 'Blu-ray offers incremental improvement over standard DVD.' I wonder if he has ever watched a Blu-ray disc on an HD monitor?

During a recent visit to Costco, I saw a Blu-ray player for less than $200. Prices on the players have dropped nearly 50% in the last year - and that's even with the competing format (HD-DVD) going away.

Back in 1980, prices for VHS players were in the $400 range. Early DVD players were in the same range, and I remember paying $1000 for an early DVD recorder. Put those prices in today's dollars, and I'd be inclined to say that technology has made Blu-ray affordable at a faster rate than anytime since the introduction of the VHS player.

If you haven't invested in HD - whether it be on a TV, DVR or Blu-ray player, you should. It takes TV and movie viewing to a higher level. Watching classic movies or even the Rose Parade pop with incredible color and resolution is almost like watching them for the first time.

HD television sets and Blu-ray players have already seem dramatic price drops, and that should continue to some extent in 2009. Come February 17th, 2009, the US finally drops the current TV standard, know as NTSC, and fully implements the ATSC standard which includes the high definition version of digital television.

While many people consider HD a new technology - it isn't. We've been shooting HD since 2003 and it's been around for 20 years in one form or another. It's simply taken a long time to get the legislation in place for the transition to the format.

Now is the perfect time to make the switch to High Definition. You will see the difference!

Season's Greetings from Forrester Media

We wish all our readers and friends the very best this holiday season. Please visit our holiday e-card here: http://www.forrestermedia.com/holiday

Not something you see everyday!!!

Last week I took a little vacation. When I was younger (that was a long time ago) I would always take a camera with me to take pictures of everything that moved or famous stagnant landmarks.  It was important to me, back then, to be able to document everything I was doing. Of course, the older I got the more cynical I became (the old 'I've seen it all before why do I need a camera' kicked in and I dispensed with my camera).

Well, on my vacation I saw one of the most most incredible sights I've ever seen and I wasn't able to capture it on film or video and I'm afraid words just don't do it justice. I know, I know, the suspense is killing you what was so wild that it deserves a blog with no pictures to back it up.

Well I spent the week in Las Vegas, no winning the slots wasn't the big deal. It snowed...yes it snowed (first time in thirty years). But I'd left Vegas and was in Laughlin, Nevada so all I witnessed was heavy rain (it rain's there about four times a year) so they had enough rain in one day to make up a year's worth. It snowed just to the north of us and that's where the story really kicks in (about time).

On my way home I drove the ninety miles to Vegas through the desert and for most of the way the mountains on either side where covered in snow. By the side of the road snow was everywhere at least three or four inches deep. It was really cool to see all kinds of desert plants and shrubbery covered in a layer of snow. The one snow plow (to cover the 90 miles or road) had done a great job of keeping the roads clear but snow was piled up along the highway and all I could think of was where was my camera.
As I've just proved words cannot do justice to the great visual image. One I'll remember for as long as I live even without pictures to jog my memory.
The wonders of mother nature combined with the holiday season. It was perfect......

Happy Holidays

Looking behind, looking ahead

I've been told you have to look at where you've been to truly see the direction you're heading. It's a phrase I believe. But I also believe that in studying your past, you have the opportunity to change direction. Use the television industry for an example.

Growing up, I had three networks to chose from (back then, no one really counted PBS). They monopolized their content and put on shows they thought you would like to see. If you didn't tune it, you missed it - and missed the water cooler conversations the next day. Advertisers paid big bucks to sponsor shows. The networks ruled the airwaves. Then came cable.

Cable started to change viewing options. Suddenly you had over a dozen networks to watch - and MTV was groundbreaking. You were no longer tied to the broadcast choices. Over the years, additional channels began digging out niches to attract a target audience of viewers and advertisers.

The Internet changed the game of entertainment entirely. Each year websites became more informative and video was introduced. A bit rough at first, but now mastered. Individuals became empowered and gained a voice in how they want to be informed, educated and entertained and often create it themselves.

All the while, the broadcasters remain - but with a heavily fragmented marketplace. No longer do they carry the weight they once did. They (and Congress) have finally agreed to the digital switchover in a couple of months, which puts an end to the antiquated television format we now watch (known as NTSC).

But where do they go from here? What is their future? Will they take a look behind and evaluate their journey so far? Will they look ahead and see opportunities or difficulties?

It's a question I also ask myself. What can I learn from my past to help shape my future? How about you?