We recently teamed up with Michael to turn the video portion of his vision into a reality. With Michael’s business-know-how and our video-know-know, the result (in our humble opinion) was a pretty great mix of high quality video, killer motion graphics and top-notch lesson content!  Check it out:

In addition to 11 beautiful, fact-filled video lessons, we also created two mini-docs about Michael and his teaching philosophy for the website. What better way to introduce the man to the world? Here’s a sneak peak:

In the end, the Michael Bush and the 8 Factor team walked away with over two hours of polished video footage, and we walked away with our MBA (Michael Bush Advice) on how to run a small business! In fact, inspired by Michael’s lessons, Studio B recently put our own Vision, Mission and Values down in writing and we’re all striving as a company to focus on the things that matter most. It’s all part of our new year’s resolution to be a better, faster, leaner, meaner small video production company.

We love working with companies that aren’t afraid to push boundaries. So it was quite a treat to have Benefit cosmetics come to us with a special task: “Show our product in a way that will make our audience blush!”

We got right to the drawing board shooting for something silly, sassy, and a little bit racy. Starting with their fun and beautiful marketing imagery, a lovely angel sitting in heavenly light, we imagined what this Angel’s back-story might be. How did she get there? What was she like before she became an angel? How did her face get so darn glowy? We rounded out the cast with one sleazy devil, an God who’s more than (s)he seems. Added a dash of comedy. And finished with some divine cosmetic product placement.

The result, we think, is heavenly:

A little shout out (harp strum?) for Amanda Huelse who wrote and produced, Joe Morgan who wrote the dialogue, Jane Selle Morgan who is our resident comedy director and David Collier captured the magic as the Director of Photography. Our new motion graphics artist Devin Earthman and his team of troublemakers created Heaven under the direction of Art Director Aaron Barry after Eli Olsen cut the picture.
The Studio B Team sure feels the Benefit of having such a heavenly, funny client!

Happy 2012 everyone! With the new year rolling around, we’re all brimming with New Year’s resolutions around here. Here’s a peek at the plans:

David (Owner/CEO/DP): “My New Year’s resolutions are to sponsor and run a half marathon with the studio b team, create a company retreat, to get my kids to put the dishes in the dishwasher, and to take more creative risks.”

Jane (Producer/Director): “My New Year’s resolution is to do yoga and meditate every day. Stress management all the way, baby!”

Aaron (Post Production Manager): “My New Year’s resolution is to make a piece of furniture by hand, and forage for seafood with the crab net that I got from my wife for Christmas.”

Rebecca (Editor): “This year, I’m going to sit down and write creatively in my journal every night. I used to write a lot, but I haven’t in a while. It will be fun to see what comes out!”

Kevin (Editor): “Uh, I’ll get back to you.”

Tim (Post Production): “I’m going to be a better husband. I don’t know how I’m going to quantify that one. I guess I’ll have to ask my wife. I think I have to listen better.”

Devin (Motion Graphics / Post Production): “Half Marathon!”

Rachel (Production Coordinator): “This year, I’ll tackle the backyard garden. Hopefully, I don’t kill everything in my path!”

Alrik (Rentals Manager): “To be able to do reps of 20 pull ups! Currently, I do three reps of 4. I gotta get that number up!”

In the sprit of getting carried away with things, we set some goals as a studio too!

We resolve to:

1. Do a mini-makeover of our website
2. Establish an annual company retreat
3. Get organized with basecamp
4. Run a half marathon together!
5. Not loose or break any rental gear in the year 2012!

There it is all in writing. Now we’ve got to stick to it!
What are your new year’s resolutions? What’s the likelihood you’ll follow through?

Studio B followed the yellow brick road this last month to see a wiz if ever there was – the wizards at Adobe of course. They’re releasing a series of 7 new creative software applications for touch tablets and mobile devices that all work under the same “cloud” system. Each one has its own unique purpose, but they are all seamlessly integrated to work with each other. Our team camped out at Adobe Headquarters, meeting with various product managers to produce a series of product launch pieces. Filming at Adobe’s offices in downtown SF is always a fun gig – beautiful architecture, sustainably farmed cafeteria food and gadgets everywhere. Armed with a nimble crew we sought out various locations within the Adobe building to produce 8 distinct looks that felt more like a home office and less like corporate headquarters. We think we pulled it off rather well all told – 8 different interviews, 7 demos, and 5 reenactments in 3 shooting days. Phew Toto! We’re not in Kansas anymore!

Studio B recently partnered with Ketchum to produce a social media video press release on behalf of Wendy’s and their newest menu item: Berry Almond Chicken Salad. Ketchum sent the Studio B crew down to Oxnard, CA to feature farmer Jim Carter at Eclipse Berry Farms, whose big, red strawberries are one of the salad’s key ingredients. The video, which now plays on Wendy’s website and various social media outlets – facebook, youtube, etc – gives a behind-the-scenes look at Wendy’s and their suppliers. Ketchum asked Studio B to craft the berries’ story – from the farm to table – that would showcase the wholesome quality of Wendy’s ingredients. One of the perks of product launch videos… getting to try out the product ourselves. Eclipse Berry Farms was kind enough to donate a crate of their strawberries to Studio B for research purposes. In the words of Farmer Carter himself “very fresh!” Or should we say berry fresh!

What’s more rewarding than producing videos for the big screen?

Try producing a video series for six large screens playing simultaneously at a live event. So we were thrilled when the high profile event production firm Opts Ideas approached us about producing a series of multi-screen videos for their client’s annual conference in Chicago.

The client, LPL Financial, is one of the nation’s largest independent brokers. Each year they hold a conference to inspire and educate their independent advisors. The theme at this year’s conference is “Focus on the Future”, examining the unique financial complexities, concerns and goals of financial advisor’s clients. The challenge was to produce a video series that would play over the course of this three-day event. Each video hat to be:

1) visually impactful
2) emotionally compelling
3) multi-dimensional
4) entertaining (these people are at a three-day conference about financing)!

It was the perfect project for our collective skills: short form story-telling and dynamic motion graphics.

With this in mind, Studio B produced a series of three documentary-style vignettes, profiling three unique families at different life stages and critical financial changes.

The real challenge began with finding the families to cast. Not only did they need to fit the age group and financial standing of LPL’s clients, but they had to be charismatic people, with a visually impressive pastime (rowing, skydiving, mountain biking) and a compelling storyline.

From dozens of families originally nominated, we ultimately landed on three sweet families – the Sutters, the Snows and the Crums  - all of whom had their own unique story to tell. We worked closely with OptsIdeas to craft three short docs that would compliment the style and message of the event. Our post-production supervisor Aaron Barry met the technical and creative challenge of orchestrating footage, graphics and audio for six different screens head on.

Without having seen the venue we had to determine the perspective of viewers in their seats at all angles and how to best utilize the three screens at the far end of the stage and the smaller screens in front. We determined the back screens would act as a moving “wallpaper” and the three smaller front screens would play the documentaries. For the graphical introduction to each segment, all six screens would fill with animation that would eventually reveal a live action portrait of the family.

How’d it turn out? In the end, thousands of people attended the conference and we sent our very own producer/director Jane Selle Morgan to report on viewer response. “They laughed, they cried, and most importantly, they got the message!” With this mega-galactic project now complete, we’ll be holding our own in-house screening to toast a mission completed.

Shooting on location in various Sephora stores has been a gaffer’s dream. Each retailer is outfitted with a stellar lighting system that already makes everyone look like a movie star. We interviewed different “cast members” (sales associates) on some of their best practices in customer care, with a “How to” look at “smart sampling” and fragrance sales. We were careful to keep the look of each video very Sephora – sleek, stylish and glamorous. With the help of two cameras, and of course, an endless selection of cosmetics at our disposal, we managed to make what could have been standard employee training videos, fun, charismatic and educational…Not to mention, we always left set smelling and looking fabulous!

Stay tuned for our next Sephora video: a humorous take on Safety Training for new hires. Think “The Office” meets “makeup.”

Each year millions of sharks are hunted for their fins to satisfy an expensive culinary trend in Chinese culture, sharkfin soup. Ming’s fame is stratospheric throughout Asia and he has used his celebrity to support the ban on shark finning and to highlight the cruelty of this unnecessary practice. Ming, who stands at just around 7’7” (towering over David, our 6 ft director and DP in the photo below),  joined the Studio B crew and over 50 kids on San Francisco’s picturesque Pier 7. The kids, who we managed to pull from various San Francisco schools (including the Chinese American International School), were directed to run and charge a thoughtful looking Ming at the end of the pier as he contemplates our children’s future oceans.

Nature herself gave us a helping hand on shoot day with the clearest blue sky and warmest weather of the year. A slew of documentary crews piggybacked on our production, taking the opportunity to talk to Ming about ocean conservation and to grab some candid footage of the basketball star on set.

The PSA is now in post, undergoing a serious amount of special affects work  - we won’t tell you what happens, you’ll just have to look out for the surprise when it airs. In the meantime, have a look at some of the fun production stills our in-house PA’s shot on location.

It’s not often we get to work on something so fun and rewarding. PSA’s are a great way for us to combine our love of documentary, story-telling and social commentary with our talent for commercial production. Thanks WildAid. Thanks Yao. And most importantly, thank you to the many kids and patient teachers who made it all possible.

We were recently approached by WCG, a renowned communications and PR firm, to create a branding video for their dynamic company and its lively staff. Creative Director, Walt Whitman (not of Leaves of Grass) came to us with a script, some imaginative ideas and a clear message of what he wanted to communicate to perspective clients and new hires. The result was an inspirational peek into the company culture and the work they do. Walt understood the greatest asset these branding videos have is their ability to bring not only the company’s portfolio to life, but to showcase the company’s process and personality, while remaining professional.

The Studio B crew ran around WCG’s San Francisco office for one day, filming everything and everyone we thought could speak to the company’s character. In keeping with WCG’s high-end production values, we filmed on the RED and featured a few different tracking shots, giving the space a very fluid, open look and the overall video a commercial feel.

Check out the end result. The music track is from local SF band, Collider. Like the opening credits of a feature film, music in a branding video is key to setting the right tone. We were lucky to stumble upon this group and their track “Translator” that really brought the piece together.