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Meet Concepts TV’s Newest Team Member!

Concepts TV Productions has been producing pet commercials for 40 plus years, so we’re proud to introduce Lucy Bear! Her ex-paw-tise and baby blue eyes have made her the perfect fit for our team. 

After her morning hike, Lucy will love getting pampered with Paw Shower. For a deep clean, Lucy will love Woof Washer! 

     

 

We look forward to brushing her silky coat with Knot Out. 

 

 

After a ruff day Lucy will love cooling off on her Chillow Pet Pillow 

 

 

Send your love to Lucy, our Toy Australian Shepherd, at collette@conceptstv.com! 

90 East Halsey Rd, Suite 105, Parsippany, NJ, 07054 

conceptstv.com | jonc@conceptstv.com | 973-331-1500 

Filming Safely During a Pandemic

 

Shooting commercials during the current crisis is challenging. Large camera crews, talent and production teams are unable to assemble. However, there are many ways in which a production company can still create commercials without creating a super spreader event.  

Recycling old footage, using graphics for the entire commercial, creating animation, filming with an iPhone, and using stock footage from an online source are excellent production resources. We have even directed commercials remotely by Zooming talent and crews. 

Use recycled footage to create a new opening or new product offer for an existing campaign. If new scenes are needed and you’re not a professional videographer, you can film using an iPhone on a 4K setting. Outdoor filming requires less lighting and is acceptable broadcast quality. When developing testimonials or product endorsements, producers send products to peoples’ homes and have the end users film their personal experiences on their iPhones. The director can even assist the end user via Zoom or simple FaceTime. Apple and other major brands have launched a series of commercials using these authentic clips of real people.     

Using stock footage is another great way to create a commercial. There will be hours of online research involved in trying to select the best videos or stills for your commercial and there is a usage fee, but the quality is exceptional. 

Another option is to produce commercials using all graphics or animation. A production company may also create its own YouTube channel, a popular platform. YouTube can provide a playlist with prior commercials organized by category like fitness, wellness, etc. New product introductions shot on an iPhone look more authentic.  

Video-chatting has allowed us to “Zoom” cross country and international clients into our studio shoots. Clients can provide live feedback without risking travel. We produced various commercials by directing talent while they filmed scenes at home locations via video-chat. Get creative, stay safe and don’t let the pandemic stop you! 

 

90 East Halsey Rd, Suite 105, Parsippany, NJ, 07054 

conceptstv.com | jonc@conceptstv.com | 973-331-1500 

 

Halloween Tricks & Treats!

With Halloween right around the corner, you may be preparing to host a spooktacular Halloween party. Hosting a party can be a lot of work. From decorating the outside and inside of your house, preparing food and drinks, and planning fun party activities, it takes quite a lot to be the head witch in charge. That’s why our team at Concepts TV is excited to share some of our favorite products we’ve produced for a variety of our scariest clients! 

 

An important part of being a great party host is the food you serve for your guests. With All Star Marketing’s Clever Cutter, you can serve spooky snacks with ease. The two-in-one knife and cutting board device can slice a wide range of foods in seconds. Two spooky snack ideas by Clever Cutter include Spider Cakes and Apple Monsters. With Clever Cutter, the black licorice legs for the spider cakes can be cut in half with ease, and the strawberry tongues for the apple monsters can be cut perfectly thin. “Wow” your guests with hauntingly good snacks in half the time with Clever Cutter! 

 

When it comes to decorating for Halloween, it seems like all the focus typically goes towards making the outside of your house look like the most haunted on the block. But what about the inside of your house? With Ontel Products’ Glow Candles, you can make your home spooky on the inside too! Made with LED lights, the candle stays cool to the touch, making it safe to have around trick-or-treaters and party-goers alike. Glow Candles come with a remote control featuring 12 color options and illumination adjustment, perfect for matching to the colors of your Halloween party and keeping the lights dim for a spooky effect. 

Want to make your Halloween party unforgettable? Try Southern Telecom’s Karaoke Duet, the fun, easy, and wireless way to bring your party guests together. The microphones connect to your phone via Bluetooth, so you can sing along to your Halloween party playlist with friends! With buttons for microphone volume, music level, and an option to add reverb, you will be sounding scary good. 

 

Decorating for Halloween can be a hassle. Untangling wires for spooky lights can take hours, and those spider web decorations on the front bushes get ruined in the weather. Want a decoration that is easy to use and won’t take hours to set up? Try TeleBrand's Star Shower Slide Show! Simply set up the device in your front yard, insert the slide of your choice, and watch the animations dance across the front of your house. The Star Shower Slide show is a unique way to get in the Halloween spirit, and your house will definitely stand out from the other haunted houses on your street!

 

Click to Watch:

The Best Zombie Video From

Concepts TV!

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Best Kept Beauty Secrets

After many months at home, it’s time to get out and show the world your best self! According to Vogue Business, “Beauty customers are changing their spending habits, gravitating towards products that allow them to mimic the salon experience at home.” With this rise in at-home beauty care, it's important to find great products to fit into your personal routine. Our team at Concepts TV is happy to share a variety of at-home beauty secrets we’ve produced for TV and the internet to help you look and feel your absolute best. 

Because of the pandemic, it’s safe to say that the past year has been quite stressful. Stress can have direct effects on the body, such as unwanted wrinkles. With Sensilift’s gentle massaging treatment just five minutes weekly, you can combat wrinkles and aging. Sensilift's advanced technology is clinically proven to target deep layers of the skin and show results within 8 weeks! Reduce wrinkles, improve texture, and keep your skin looking vibrant and stress-free. 

Smart Cover is the best kept skincare secret! A concealer or a foundation, it can be used to cover up acne-scars and birthmarks, as well as creating a flawless complexion. Smart Cover is waterproof and smudge-resistant leaving a flawless finish for any occasion. It’s time to get out in the world looking and feeling your best! 

Stress can also cause hair loss. In addition to the thinning of the hair, it also includes an increase in breakage and loss of moisture. The Keranique Hair Regrowth System deep cleans your hair while promoting regrowth, volume and shine. Healthy full hair helps you feel confident and powerful. Get salon-quality hair at home by using Keranique’s three-part system. 

Jerome Alexander’s Air Tint and Air Glow is the perfect final touch! This illuminating moisturizer looks natural and radiant both day and night. With Argireline, Hyaluronic Acid, and Matrixyl 3000, this tinted moisturizer works as both skin care and makeup. It’s time to nourish your skin while looking great!  

Elizabeth Grant’s Royale Imperial Honey is known for its all natural ingredients. Our team here at Concepts TV brought this project to life by combining the science of Elizabeth Grant’s Skin Care with state-of-the-art animation. Made with real honey from bee farms, along with Torricelumn, this product was created by the finest scientists. It ensures an even complexion and radiant skin, helping your skin to look softer, younger, and firmer.

90 East Halsey Rd, Suite 105, Parsippany, NJ, 07054 

conceptstv.com | jonc@conceptstv.com | 973-331-1500

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Shooting Commercials During Covid-19

By: Justin Curry / Collette Liantonio

Shooting commercials during the Covid-19 crisis is challenging. Large camera crews, talent and production teams are unable to assemble due to the potential spreading of the Corona Virus. However, necessity is the mother of invention so there are many ways in which a production company can still create commercials without gathering a camera crew. Read more

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Top 5 Must Have Products for the Best Summer Ever

The sun is shining, it’s officially summer time! I’m ready for it, are you? If not, don’t worry! Here’s the top 5 must have products for the best summer ever!

 

  1. Eagle Eyes Speed of Life 2 in 1 Sunglasses

Don’t you hate when you’re at the beach, playing volleyball in the summer sun and you look up to spike the ball but you’re blinded by the sun rays and miss the ball? Eagle Eyes 2in1 sunglasses are here to save the day. With the use of NASA technology, they created a blue light blocking lens that blocks out 99.9% of harmful UVA and UVB radiation. You’ll be a volleyball champ all summer with these stylish, effective sunglasses.

  1. Egglettes

Let’s face it; everyone wants to have that flat, lean stomach during bathing suit season. One easy way to get that is with Egglettes, the new silicone sensation that lets you cook hard-boiled eggs without the shell. Eggs are a great source of protein, and with Egglettes, all you have to do is crack the egg, twist on the top, and in the pot they go! You can also add your favorite veggies and make delicious bite sized omelets! Bathing suit season, here we come!

  1. Kegenix

Sometimes, eating healthy just isn’t enough, so that’s when Kegenix comes in! Burn fat for fuel with Kegenix patented formula. Kegenix is a keto dietary supplement that burns fat, curbs hunger, and ultimately gives you more energy throughout the day! During the summer, it’s hard to keep up with diets while on vacation. With Kegenix, you can just pack it in your suitcase to curb those vacation cravings.

  1. Flawless Dermaplane

Tired of that annoying peach fuzz on your face? Flawless Dermaplane is here to help boost your confidence this summer. Get rid of that unwanted hair with this facial exfoliator and hair remover. Flawless Dermaplane eliminates peach fuzz and ultimately makes skin look smoother and more radiant. Even makeup goes on more smoothly! Plus you’ll have better absorption of skin creams, like sunscreen! Feel younger and more confident this summer with Flawless Dermaplane.

  1. Star Shower Slide Show

One of my favorite things about summer is the family BBQ’s, especially on the big holidays like the Fourth of July and Labor Day. Use Star Shower Slide Show to easily decorate your house and make your summer party the envy of the neighborhood. It’s even water resistant so it can be used year around! How incredible, a product you can use in the 100 degree weather AND in the deep snow!

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Opening a New Door for Concepts TV!

 

Written By : Laraine Lamicella

With 10 years plus at Concepts TV, the growth I have witnessed is remarkable! I have seen the company grow from 9 employees in 2006 to the current 15. Of course the number one goal in any business is to grow the client base but the domino effect that takes place is endless. When I joined Concepts TV, we occupied the 2 upper levels of a charming Victorian home, with a swimming pool in the backyard which we utilized for shoots and an occasional afternoon swim. With the staff growing not only did we need more office space but parking was a nightmare! There went the swimming pool! Filling in the pool to accommodate additional parking spots became a necessity. And incorporating the 1st level into our office space was a huge help.

As the Finance/ HR Director, for me having a door on my office was unquestionably a must but somehow never possible! My first office, in the reception area had ZERO privacy, always needing to whisper or go to a different office should a sensitive issue arise. My 2nd home at Concepts was the 1st level living room. Although much larger, still no door! With the kitchen neighboring my new space, lunch time or kitchen shoots made confidential conversations quite challenging. So last year when Concepts TV realized a lifelong dream of building a 10,000 square foot new office with our very own studio, I thought finally a door!

We are currently under construction building our state-of-the-art studio and offices where we hope to bring our number of staff members to an all-time high and bring our business to a whole new level. Launching Concepts TV medical marketing division earlier this year is just one of the many areas where we plan to grow and reach out to new clients. With our new home scheduled for completion in the fall, we look forward to opening many new doors including Mine!

CTVBuilding

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Lights, Camera, SOCIAL MEDIA!

Written by Catarina Neto

We may be masterminds in Direct Response Television, but using social media takes a whole different skill set. Concepts TV can help your brand reach its greatest potential simply by knowing the ‚“best times to post” across select platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn). According to HubSpot, the best times to post for Facebook are as follows:

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The best times to post on Twitter:

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The best times to post on Instagram:

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The best times to post on LinkedIn:

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Knowing the appropriate times to post for optimal viewership is the first step in gaining brand recognition. The second step is to know how often to post before it gets ‚“annoying”. Don’t waste your time thinking, ‚“the more, the better”. I recommend sticking to a few posts that contain impactful content. According to eClincher, the ideal amount to post on Facebook is a minimum of 5 per week (one per day) and no more than 10 per week, while limiting it to one per day on the weekend.

Twitter is a different story. Tweets tend to get lost and overthrown by others tweeting, so tweet like there’s no tomorrow! The lifespan of posts on Twitter are significantly shorter than on Facebook. If 2 hours have gone by, your post will be long gone into the abyss. Due to the large range of frequencies and time zones, the appropriate amount to tweet on Twitter according to eClincher is 4-15 times per day (including retweets). Sharing similar content multiple times per day allows your followers to view it before it vanishes.

Instagram is easy to use and intriguing to scroll through. Since Instagram is more about visually appealing content, be sure to share ‚“behind the scenes” photos and/or videos of what happens within a business. According to a Union Metrics study, brands post an average of 1.5 times a day, but don’t be afraid to exceed that it all depends on the brand. Union Metrics states, ‚“Stick to a regular posting schedule, but generally don’t post more than a few times a day. One or two great posts a day is better than 10 mediocre posts.”

LinkedIn is sought to be the ‚“back up” social platform of choice, but think again. According to Buffer Social, LinkedIn is just as important as Facebook and posting a total of 20 times per month is key (once per weekday), but avoid weekends. Business professionals tend to favor LinkedIn over other networks in order to cater to a more professional audience for the ideal engagement.

Moving on to topics of interest how can a target audience find your brand? By using Hashtags’. According to Dictionary.com, a hashtag is, ‚“a word or phrase (on social media websites) preceded by a hash mark (#), used within a message to identify a keyword or topic of interest and facilitate a search for it.” In plain terms, a hashtag helps viewers find photos, videos, and information pertaining to topics of interest. When posting across social media, be sure to use multiple #hashtags’ as a tool, so that potential followers can find your brands’ content more easily.

Don’t have time to post every single day? Hate having to juggle all your social networking platforms individually? Using Hootsuite, a helpful social media managing tool, allows users to schedule posts in weeks even months in advance. It also provides analytical reports for each social platform and access to engage with audiences all in one place. With the busy schedule of productions here at Concepts TV, using Hootsuite at least once a week has definitely helped plan posts for weeks ahead.

Next time you think about posting across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn keep in mind when to post, how often, and the helpful tools for successful social outreach. Get noticed and make a difference with the content you share without being irritating. Be sure to check out Concepts TV’s social platforms:

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
LinkedIn

 

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Give us some ‘Props!’

By SKY HANSTEIN

For every project, the production team sits down for an initial project kick-off meeting. Among a variety of other topics related to the project, we talk extensively about props. Props as in give each other compliments? No... I mean we talk about what items we will need to have in both the foreground and background to make our product shine.

The ultimate goal of these meetings is to choose props that enhance the scene. While the product featured in the commercial is the star’, props can be looked at as the supporting cast’. As a team, every prop is chosen carefully so that it never distracts or pulls focus from our 'star' of the show, the product.

As the project continues, the script is written, and this is where the props team kicks into high gear. Every scene is dissected by what is written for the visual as well as the audio. Here is an example of a visual: ‚“NEGATIVE: Woman in kitchen creating a mess making soup”.

To the untrained eye, that vague description means very little. For my Producer eyes, it is a treasure-trove of information... It means we need to scour our prop warehouse to organize cutting boards, pots, pans, knives, ladles, hand towels, and kitchen trinkets for the background. I start making a list of items we need to shop for. For this example, visions of carrots, celery, onions and other soup materials start to dance in my head. And I don't mean just one celery stalk... We need to prepare for 10 plus takes to get the shot just right which adds up to a lot of veggies at the market! This list of items is just for one scene out of 20 plus within any given commercial, so you can imagine how quickly the list of props grows for one spot!

After days prepping, shopping, and packing we get to the shoot day. This is where I put my proactive producer hat on and the team kicks into overdrive. Every prop and background trinket gets organized on long tables by scene order. These massive tables of ‚“stuff” may look like a disaster area. To me, it is chaos organized and re-assurance that we have done our part to ensure each scene change goes smoothly and our shoot remains on schedule.

As the shoot day moves on and scenes are completed, the prop tables slowly empty out. Trinkets that appear in the background for a mere 1-2 seconds, are sorted, gingerly wrapped up and packed away into awaiting production cars. The prop warehouse is re-stocked, purchased items are returned and the cycle repeats itself with the next project kick off call

So the next time you watch a DRTV commercial, take some time to give us props’ for a job well done!

 

 

Prop table from a recent shoot, Note this is just for 3 scenes!

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A small sample of our prop warehouse

 

Prop

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The Magic of Post Production

BY: Steve Miller

As the Visual Effects Director at Concepts TV, the best compliment I can get is when you don’t notice my work. Blemish removal, object removal, color swapping, chroma keying, and on rare occasions adding a completely new product into an already existing scene in post production.

Case in point: If your talent comes in for a shoot riddled with sunburn, and with no chance of rescheduling. What do you do? You need an expert compositor to isolate the skin tone, and manipulate the hue and color. The work I do can save thousands of dollars, and eliminate headaches.

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When it comes to commercial content, we approach everything with a ‚“mute” button in mind. For example, if a consumer isn’t hearing what a product can offer. The visuals need to tell a complete story. By isolating the small of someones back, and adding a glow effect. You’re reinforcing the pain in that area. Add your talents movements to the mix, and you’re in need of motion tracking and rotoscoping to really sell the idea that they are in pain.

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Long Form Infomercial vs. Short Form Commercial

 

By: Dana Conklin

Which is right for your product? Here’s 2 questions to ask yourself before starting production:

Does your product need an explanation or does the demo speak for itself?

Shooting and airing a 2 minute commercial may be more affordable than a half hour infomercial, but will it be effective? Is that enough time to get your message across? If the demo demonstration or a candid testimonial can instantly explain what the product does a short form may be right for you.

Tip: Animation is a very effective tool to quickly demonstrate the inner’ workings of a product. Here are some examples of some winning short form commercials:

If the product needs more explanation, scientific research or a clinical test group, a long form infomercial allows you the necessary time to grab and hook the consumer. Here are some examples of some winning long form commercials:

What is your price point?

If you can part with your product for $19.99 short form is right for you! If your product is a high ticket item, you might need the extra selling time to convince the consumer. For example: If you are selling workout equipment, fill the screen with heartfelt testimonials and before & after photos so they can visualize themselves losing the weight. Compare your machine to others and why yours will make them lose more weight in less time. With a high ticket item, the more reinforcement the easier the sell.

 

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Balancing Work and Travel Life

By Jon Calderaro

In the business of production we are constantly multi tasking and juggling many projects at one time. Sometimes these projects bring us to different parts of the globe and force us to leave our home base in order to make the projects all they can be.

Working in New Jersey is great as we have access to amazing crews and talent. What we don’t always have access to is great weather, for example. Therefore we are sometimes forced to think outside the box on what location can help us achieve our visual goal. Traveling for work can be great but it is also time consuming and sometimes affects our personal lives. Its important to have a good balance and look ahead at projects to make sure we can keep up with regular work and life and still complete our projects with flying colors and with as little stress as possible.

Since rejoining the Concepts team in January I have already racked up a ton of airline miles traveling to shoots and networking events from California all the way to our latest project in India! It’s just business as usual here at Concepts. Being a seasoned traveler myself I am at ease on the road and embrace each new experience in its own way. It’s always nice though to return home and put things in perspective until the next trip. These days there hasn’t been a whole lot of time at home to reflect but Im trying although finding that balance has been a challenge.

Here are 5 things that can help achieve that balance:

1. Healthy diet An important key to maintaining balance is maintaining a healthy diet on the road. The road sometimes can be a place where anything goes diet wise but it is important to try to stick with good foods rich in nutrition and drink lots of water.

2. Exercise Before going anywhere seek out if your hotel has a gym or a jogging route that can be followed. Then allow yourself time to get there before meetings or in the evening before client dinners.

3. Calendars Keeping a calendar can help you remember important things such as birthdays and events of family and friends. Its easy to overlook these things when you are in a different city or country each week.

4. Vitamins Remembering to take vitamins daily is another good routine that will not only help you maintain your health on the road but it can also remind you how many days you have left at your current location. I like to bring just the right amount of vitamins with me where ever I go. As the vitamins dwindle down I know my trip will soon be coming to an end.

5. Sleep Getting at least 7-8 hours a sleep a night is one of the most important things you can do for your body to achieve balance. Our bodies and minds need rest and when we are traveling we need to still allow ourselves time for proper rest even if it some of the sleep happens to be on airplanes! Bring your favorite travel pillow and a sleep mask along with headphones and some music or podcasts. I find I can block out the elements on an airplane with these items.

These are just a few things that can help achieve balance for the traveling employee we must constantly remind ourselves of them!

REMINDER: Flight 1765 now ready for boarding ..Uh oh that’s my cue gotta go!

Roamaroo travel and photography blog

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Animals, animals and more animals!

By Rachel Leskanic

I will say that in my short time here at Concepts TV, if you consider 8 months being a short time, I have witnessed my fair share of animal productions. I used to watch these commercials and think, how the heck do they get these cats and dogs to do exactly what they need them to do? Now I know the secret the secret is patience, diligence, and LOTS of treats.

Every shoot is different but adding animals to the mix makes it a whole new ball game. It is no longer about getting the actor to smile or cry and telling them what to press and when. Now, it’s all about being completely silent so that we don’t scare the animals and stocking up on spray catnip. Does this make our jobs harder? Absolutely. Does this make our jobs more fun? Without a doubt! There’s nothing like hours of work spent cuddling with cats and playing with dogs (I promise we do work in between the cuddles!).

For cat shoots, we have our very own in house cat whisperer (VP of Sales Kristy Pinand) who always comes prepared, and by that I mean she has lasers in her back pocket and a cat toy in her hand at all times. One of the biggest differences between regular shoots and cat shoots is that we bring a select few people to our cat shoots. We could never keep the cats calm and collected with three crewmen, four actors, and five Concepts TV members stomping around! Another perk of cat shoots is we get to travel from location to location, which can even include a cat shelter or two. Shelters are the best, because we can get the most cats in the quickest way possible. Plus, we get to donate to the shelter and help a great cause!

For dog shoots, it’s all me, the self-proclaimed dog whisperer, organizing the massive amount of dog treats and squeaky toys. These shoots can be both easier and more challenging. Most dogs we use are pretty well trained, they know their commands and listen to their owners. However, these dogs are also bigger and generally much more energetic! Give a cat some catnip and they’ll roll around playfully. Give a dog some treats, and they’ll run around like a maniac.

No matter how tough they may be, you will never hear me turn down a chance to be at a cat and/or dog shoot. With lasers, dog treats and cat nips in our pockets, it’s time for another animal shoot!

me and puppy

 

 

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Creature Comfort Blog

By: Rachel Leskanic

Nothing fills me with more hope and happiness than sipping champagne and petting therapy dogs, and that’s just what I got to do at Creature Comfort’s 4th Annual Champagne Brunch. Accompanied by my father, we walked forward through the front door to greet Molly and Gracie, pet therapy dogs who were hired’ to lick the faces of every guest. Our next stop was to purchase raffle tickets from the volunteers at the table. Up for grabs were tickets to a few purses, Giants game, a bicycle, and various spa gift cards. After getting rid of every little green Admit One ticket, we proceeded to our seats.

As we sat down, our Table 5 partner introduced herself as Jean Baile and all three of us immediately broke into conversation. She shared miraculous stories about her tiny Jack Russel Terrier who had been a therapy dog for a few years now. She traveled with him to schools, hospitals and even nursing homes. The best part of her stories was hearing not only the joy from the clients, but the joy brought to her and her puppy.

Our next conversation was with the lady on the opposite side of us. Her miniature Dachshund, Lilly, had been in one of our commercials and the story she told us was truly a miracle. Jan Kulick had heard of a young girl who was suffering from a constant seizure lasting 36 hours. When Jan and Lilly arrived at the hospital, the young girl’s mother thought to bring Lilly to meet her daughter. In an instant, the seizures subsided; just by a simple pet of Lilly’s head. She then explained to us that miracles like these are only possibly with the help of Creature Comfort who provide the therapy dogs and their owners with so many choices on where to visit and how to get involved.

After the side conversations faded, the owners, Annie Murphy and Joan Beth Baer, began talking about how they got started with the company. They began working for St Hubert’s Hospital with therapy animals. After witnessing just how many people were impacted in a single hospital, they got together with the idea of beginning their own business where they could provide pet therapy for people at many different places ranging from children’s hospitals to elder care facilities. In November 2011, that idea became reality and the non-profit organization spent the next few years providing people who were in need of comfort or therapy with a dependable, expansive network of caring volunteers devoted to sharing their pet’s love. Today, they have a total of more than 160 pet therapy teams which even include several unusual animals. So if you don’t want a dog, see if their certified cat, rabbit, potbelly pig, or even miniature horse is available!

After hearing the history of the company and how it came to be, they invited a hospital worker and another therapy dog owner on to the stage. Both of their stories were what anyone would consider, absolute miracles. A completely unresponsive woman in hospice care, woken up by the simple pet of a dog’s head. A young cancer patient whose day was made by a kiss from a puppy. By the end, everyone in the crowd had watery eyes and tears streaked faces that could only be the product of the inspiring tales told. After a fifteen minute applause, they began calling out the raffle ticket winners. And guess who won the green Vera Bradley purse? Me!

 

If you are interested in the organization or want to see more, please visit their website http://www.ccpettherapy.org/.

P.S. I’ve already signed my puppy up to be a therapy dog, and you should too!

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Mapping Out Your Vision -How Storyboards Help Your Production.

 

By Jon Gregory

 

When it comes to production, it's crucial to have organization and a clear vision of what you're about

to capture through the lens of the camera. That's where storyboards come into play.

 

A storyboard is a graphic representation or map of your video production.

It's made up of a number of panels with illustrations representing each shot,

with notes showing what's happening in the scene and what's being said. When looking at the shot sheet you can

then determine what is a wide shot, close up, where product placement should be, etc.

It's basically a comic book version of your script.

 

Creating storyboards could add a couple of days to pre production, but the added clarity and time it saves

when the shoot day arrives is invaluable. It not only helps the producer, director and DP, it also give the onscreen talent a sense

of their place in the production. Storyboards don’t have to be highly detailed, just a rough sketch can get your vision across.

and post production. We are a creative boutique so it is our job to convey visuals to clients so we are on the same page

from start to finish.

 

They also come in handy during the edit process in post production. It's a clear guide for the editor to follow so they can

cut an accurate segment that's close to the vision of the producer.

 

We recently created storyboards for a beauty product that contained full color hand drawn illustrations.

Each scene from the script was represented including product shots, onscreen testimonials along with

camera angles for models doing demos. Each panel had script audio and detailed visuals

for the editor to follow. This made the entire process much easier for the production team and faster

getting the client their commercial to review.

Jon Storyboards

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TAPED! FROM NJ IT’S DRTV!

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BY: SKY HANSTEIN-

I have been producing branded live air segments on news programs and lifestyle shows for over 10+ years. As the newest member to join the Concepts TV family, I have to become an expert in a whole new game. What is different about being a producer for live air vs. producing a DRTV spot? In one word EVERYTHING!

Let’s start with the obvious difference Live is well, live! If a talent flubs the name of a product on live air, as a producer I have little control. It happened, and it’s out there. In DRTV producing, I have the luxury of everything being taped and having near total control of how our product is represented on camera. If the logo of our shooting product is looking a little dull? No problem it’s taped! We have the great fortune to tweak lighting, camera angles or even swap it out for a spare to make sure the product shines.

The next difference between producing live air and DRTV is ‚“Who’s the boss”. In live branded segment producing, the talent is the star of the show and my job was to make them look good. In DRTV the product is ALWAYS the star!! The talent’s job is to blend in’ and make the product stand out. I often hear on set from the Director ‚“that looks too interesting ” meaning something in the shot is pulling focus away from the product. Be it the color of a shirt, a painting in the background, or angle at which we are filming. All things I am able to change on set and that is a true luxury I have when taping DRTV vs. going live .

Finally in my transition from live to DRTV, perhaps the biggest difference I found is the ability to tell a story and capture genuine and heartfelt sentiments about any given product. During live air, I would sometimes have a Man on the Street’ segment where average Joe would try something out and give an opinion. I pause now to give a confession from this producer to you the reader There is nothing more terrifying than being in a control room, and watching an un-rehearsed everyday Joe slam your product live on the air with a room full of brand executives standing behind you. Thankfully, now that I am producing in the DRTV world, I no longer have that terror! Testimonials are nurtured and developed with care. I make sure that folks have time to try the product, get accustomed to it and be able to provide genuine and heartfelt feedback on all the positive aspects associated with their personal experience using it.

I could go on and on and perhaps write a yearlong series of blogs on the differences I have encountered so far in my transition into producing DRTV. But for now, I’ll just say

From Concepts TV in Northern NJ, we are going live in 5 4 3 2 1

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Pay it forward

It’s that time of year again and NO, I’m not talking about the amazing sales going on at Macy’s or the newest publicity stunt one of the Kardashian’s just pulled. It’s the most wonderful time of year, the holiday season! Not all of us have the same feeling about the holidays.

I did not want this blog to be about social media or the latest trending hashtag, but I think it’s important to recognize the post that has been shared over 140,000 times. Michigan, resident Lisa Sarber Aldrich went to get a birthday cake decorated at her local food store.

cake

Aldrich stated "I picked out a cake at Meijer. Asked a bakery-looking-employee if she could write on it for me. She said she would, and after a long time, she came and presented me with this cake. I looked her in the eye and said thank you before I even looked at the cake," she wrote on Facebook.

Then something truly heartwarming occurred while Aldrich was paying for her cake. "One cashier put her arm on my shoulder and said, 'The girl who wrote that has autism. Thank you for smiling and thanking her even though she's not supposed to write on cakes, you probably made her day,' ‚“Aldrich wrote.

I want to personally thank Lisa Sarber Aldrich because that small gesture touched my heart and has encouraged me to pay it forward. We all get so caught up in our own lives (especially this time of year) we miss the little moments that matter most to the people around us. And if you think about it- we spend more time at work with our clients and co-workers than we do with our families- it’s even more important to not take those moments for granted.

I am the Sales and Marketing Coordinator here at Concepts TV Productions where customer relations are my top priority. I strive to reach out to as many existing/potential clients as I can to catch up and if I can potentially brighten their day a little, I consider it a job well done. In sales, I’ve learned people sell to people. If I can establish a good relationship with that person, it will more than likely convert into a successful work relationship.

So thank you Lisa- because of you, I’ve made an extra effort in asking my co-workers and clients about their day, their weekends, their families, and their kids. I’ve made a bigger effort in picking up the phone to speak to my clients for that extra personal touch- versus just sending an email. And when one of my co-workers is overwhelmed or having a bad day, I’ve really tried to do anything and everything I can to help them out- even if it’s just to lend an ear. You never know the battle someone is fighting, so why not just lend a helping hand or at least a smile. It’s the little things that make the biggest difference.

By: Lauren Fahey

Greatest Shows on Earth!

My name is Cheron and you can call me a magician. I make the magic happen just kidding. My editors actually make the magic happen I just make sure the edits are executed successfully without any problems. So I guess you can call me the problem solver or ring leader of the post-production circus. My editors are the main attraction. Clients travel from all over the world to see their magic tricks. They can make editing mistakes disappear.

As the ring leader I oversee all aspects of post-production. I maintain good channels of communication between the editors, clients, producers, animators, voice over artists and dubbing facilities. It’s my job to ensure each stage of the project is delivered on time and within budget. I’ve mastered juggling many projects at once. No matter what the show must go on. We’re willing to jump through hoops to create a successful show.

So if you’re ever in our area you must check out our unforgettable shows. We wash dogs with hoops and make back pain disappear. I guarantee you’ve never seen anything like it.

 

 

CheronLegneds

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