This morning I came in to the office and checked email (as I always do). There in my inbox was a message from a one-time client, needing files for a job I did back in 2005. I immediately thought, “There’s no way I have a copy of that. I gave everything to her.” So I went and checked the job file, and sure enough, I had filed away an extra copy for my own records. Let that be lesson #1 - Always keep duplicate copies for yourself. Don’t give everything to the client.
Here’s a quick run-down of how I store and archive client projects:
In video production it becomes very important to have an efficient and organized archiving system, because video files take up so much hard drive space. Your system is probably different from mine. Some people put everything from a single project onto an external hard drive, then label the drive and store it on a shelf. Some people use big rubber maid tubs to store everything from a particular client. Me? I use a CD/DVD tower to organize my clients’ master DVDs, tape racks for all raw footage and master tapes, and file folders for all paperwork. It’s important to find a system that works for you.
I’d be interested to know what everyone else is doing to archive old projects.
But how are these initial meetings conducted? What do you talk about? How do you know if you’re asking the right questions?
Ultimately, being able to conduct an effective initial interview will come with practice. And the questions you ask will depend on your particular discipline. I might not ask the same questions as a graphic designer would, because I deal with video production.
As you work with more clients, you will be able to refine your interview skills and quickly mine those nuggets of information that will aid you in your creative development. Here are some questions that I usually like to cover in my initial creative meeting:
From this initial interview, you need to find the core PROBLEM that your efforts will SOLVE. These questions are by no means set in stone, and you don’t need to limit yourself to asking only 10 questions. Sometimes the client has thought about these things, but often they need you to prompt them into evaluating themselves and their brand. Be sure to take a lot of notes throughout the meeting and feel free to jot down a few ideas during the meeting as they come to you.
Ever since Changeling was released last fall, I have wanted to see the film, for a couple of reasons:
I finally had the chance to see the film a couple of weeks ago and found that the story connected on a number of levels. Changeling tells the true story of Christine Collins - a single mother living in LA in the late 1920s, whose only son suddenly disappears. What follows is an expose of corruption within the LA police force and the strong-willed determination of Christine to find the truth about her son.
The driving force behind the film is Angelina Jolie’s portrayal of Christine Collins. Critics of the film have argued that Jolie does a disservice to the actual Christine Collins by playing some scenes with intense emotion and angry outbursts. Critics say that the real Mrs. Collins was calm, collected, and strong. However, I found nothing in Jolie’s performance that gave any hint that this woman was weak or submissive. I became thoroughly invested in her plight and cheered her on when she stood up to an authoritative system that saw women as hysterical and vulnerable.
In filmmaking, a balance must be maintained between developing character and moving the story forward. If you ignore the story for the sake of character, the film can become a meandering mess with no direction. If you ignore character and go for the story, the movie will disconnect itself from the audience and no one will be interested in what happens to the characters. Eastwood walks this line perfectly in Changeling. He knows when to slow down and take the time to explore Christine’s character, and he knows when to ramp up the story and hold the audience’s interest.
Once again, Clint Eastwood delivers a strong, emotional film that delves deep into the human condition of pain and loss. The more I see from this director, the more I am engaged and inspired.
8 1/2 out of 10
- THERAPIST’S OFFICE - Our main character is attending sessions with a hypnotherapist and I’d like the look of this space to be like a loft - open and free-spirited, comfortable, relaxing, with shelving areas where we could display books, credentials, etc. Perhaps a large window allowing a lot of daylight to come in.
- STREET SIDEWALK - In the film our main character leaves a restaurant and walks down the sidewalk toward her car, parked along the curb. This location should look urban, but not run-down. Perhaps light posts are situated along the street. Curbside parking. It should look as though there are restaurants, bars, etc. along the street, but it doesn’t need to be such a hot spot where people are spilling into the street. Our character should still look somewhat isolated. There should be just a hint of danger.
- HOUSE - Our main character lived with her boyfriend in a modest house. We’re looking for one with a separate dining room. Although the house is modest, it shouldn’t be falling apart. These characters have jobs and can pay their bills. We never see the exterior of the house - just the interior.
If you have any ideas/suggestions on these locations, please send your ideas (along with a few snapshots) to clint@ParcEntertainment.com.
1. Re-branding is a part of a company’s life cycle.Usually, existing marketing materials, logos, etc. are good for 5-10 years. After that time period, businesses evaluate existing materials and will re-brand…
· to reflect current design themes
· to embrace current marketing strategies
· to announce the transition into a new phase of their company
· to communicate the company’s vision for its future
Think of how quickly our world is advancing, especially in the technological realm. A computer you purchase today will be obsolete within the year. A corporate video produced with today’s technology will look a lot different from one produced in 1995. And so it’s important for businesses to assess their brand and its effectiveness every 5-10 years in an effort to remain competitive and current.
2. Re-branding tells your audience that you are committed. A business that takes the time to update its marketing materials is a business committed to the long haul. You want your clients and potential clients to feel safe and secure, knowing that you will be around for years to come. When the public sees that a company has taken the time and invested the money to re-brand, they understand that this is a company that is looking to the future and plans to increase its strength and position in the marketplace.
3. Re-branding is about looking your best. A company’s credibility among audiences depends on the image they put forth for public consumption. Presentation is everything.
a. When a candidate walks in for a job interview, the way he/she looks is important.
b. When your employees show up for work, how they present themselves is important.
c. When company representatives go out for sales or service calls, the way they look and act is important.
d. When customers, clients, or potential clients come into your office building, how it looks is important.
Everything reflects back onto your business, either positively or negatively. It’s easy to overlook the current status of your brand with other daily tasks filling your calendar, but it’s important to take the time to review that brand on an annual basis. Updating that brand communicates two things…
· Your company is growing, and
· You are concerned for its reputation.
An updated brand can positively affect public perception about your company encourage them to do business with you.
Elance is an online workplace where businesses connect with qualified professionals to get work done.
With the largest network of certified technology and creative talent, Elance helps businesses succeed by connecting them with the people they need to get work done. Elance facilitates the entire work process from hiring to collaboration to payment.
Businesses use Elance to get work done by qualified professionals whenever they need it. Service providers use Elance to meet customers and get paid for doing what they do best.
To be more specific, E-Lance is a place where freelancers can go, create a profile, upload references, skill sets, portfolio pieces, etc. and network with businesses who are interested in hiring freelancers to complete certain jobs. Let’s say Company X needs some graphic design work done and they’re looking for someone with a specific style or a specific set of skills. They can head over to E-lance, peruse the directory of available freelancers, and hire one for the job. It’s a way for companies to keep overhead costs by employing someone only when they need them. And it’s a great place for freelancers to find work. I just created my profile today, so I’ll have to wait and see if it pays off. There are a number of different categories in which you can create your profile. It might be worth investigating. Every little bit of exposure for you and your business can pay off.
Yes, it’s important to learn about your client, but it’s more important to learn about your audience. If you put together a great ad, but it doesn’t speak to your audience, then you haven’t accomplished anything. In fact, you might do severe damage to your client’s brand and create a PR nightmare. Consider the online Motrin campaign from last fall that offended so many moms. In the ads, Motrin speaks to the audience from the perspective of a mother — a mother who needs pain relief from carrying her baby in a sling or papoose, or other baby carrier. It sounded good, right? Moms need relief sometimes. However, for moms who actually use and love their baby-carrying devices, the ad completely missed the mark. They found it offensive and insulting and Twitter feeds lit up with posts from moms who have nothing but great things to say about their baby carriers. Motrin may have had a decent idea, but they seem to have fallen way short of connecting with their demographic.
