Parc Entertainment - A Video Production Company - Birmingham, AL

Birmingham, AL – July 6, 2010 – Red Fox Media, Inc. (formerly Parc Entertainment), a digital production company in Birmingham, took home a bronze Telly Award for a promotional video created for the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham (RPCGB).

The RPCGB is an organization representing six counties and 84 municipalities throughout central Alabama. By leveraging state and federal funds, the RPCGB provides various services to its member governments that help encourage economic growth and development for the region. It’s an organization with many components, so they needed a brief overview video to introduce viewers to the RPCGB and explain the organization’s programs and initiatives. RPCGB Marketing Specialist Greg Wingo turned to Red Fox Media to handle the creation of the video, from conceptualization to completion.

“As a Birmingham native, I was extremely excited to work with an organization that is doing so much for the city and the region,” said Clint Till, President of Red Fox Media. “The work of the RPCGB is so important and I’m glad that we could help communicate their message through this video.”

The Telly Awards honor the very best local, regional, and cable television commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions, and work created for the Web. With over 13,000 entries per year, the Telly is one of the most sought-after awards by industry leaders, from large international firms to local production companies and ad agencies.

Red Fox Media, formerly Parc Entertainment, is a digital production company that specializes in video production/post-production and website design/development. You can visit them on the web at www.redfoxmediainc.com.

I started this blog in the summer of 2005 as an outlet to express my love of films and filmmaking. It soon evolved into an extension of my production company. However, in the time that I have been posting on this blog, I don’t think I have ever explained why I write and to whom I’m writing. In short, the purpose of this blog is to give you, the reader, some insight into the world of video production and how video can be used to its potential. My target audience consists of three groups:

1. THE VIDEO ENTHUSIAST -For this individual, I write articles that teach some basics about the craft of cinematography, direction, editing, production management, etc. I also post articles pertaining to particular types of cameras and other equipment and offer tips and tricks as to how one can best utilize the tools at his or her disposal. Some of these articles can be more technical in nature.
2. THE VIDEO PROFESSIONAL - This individual earns a living through work in video production, perhaps as freelancer or business owner. For this demographic, I write articles that focus on the day-to-day aspects of being a professional. Subjects may include: how to improve your workflow, how to be more organized, how to prepare for a shoot, how to earn new business, how to market yourself, how to maintain healthy client relations, how to pitch to potential clients, etc.
3. THE CLIENT - The third audience group consists of people who work on the client side of the equation. Over the years I have worked with clients who have had very little experience working with a video production company. I have also worked with clients who are seasoned pros and know exactly what to expect on a video shoot. And I have worked with clients who fall in between both extremes. To this particular audience I write articles to help both the client and the production company maintain a healthy working relationship. I want to help the client understand what it’s like working with a video production company. I want to give them a few creative ideas that they might use as inspiration in their own marketing efforts. I want to help them know how to prepare for a video production, how they can get the most “bang” for their buck, and how the whole process can run smoothly and efficiently.

Sometimes, in the course of writing these articles for each of these groups, I might offer a few tips that are solely based on my experiences. I understand that each individual and each situation is different. So, my advice might not apply to everyone. But that’s okay. Hopefully you can mine some little nugget of information that is applicable to projects that you are working on, and help answer certain questions you may have. I also realize that everyone has their own style when working on a video project and their own unique approach to the process. And that’s okay too. The beauty of working in video is that is a very fluid and collaborative art form. So, when I speak to clients, or video professionals, or video hobbyists, I am not asking that you change your habits. I’m not asking that you adhere to a certain standard. The goal of any advice I may give is simply to help you (the hobbyist, professional, or client) avoid potential problems and create the best video possible. And isn’t that what we’re all striving for? I know that’s what I try to give to each of my clients.

I thought it was important to briefly outline the purpose of this blog, so that all of my readers can get a clearer picture of my motivations. Thanks so much for taking some time out of your day to read my blog and I hope the information contained within can help you improve your craft, your business, and your marketing efforts.

The motivation behind the decision to transition to Red Fox Media came from two sources: First, much of the content we produce is for a client’s website. Since online video is becoming more pervasive and mainstream, more and more clients want to produce a video for their website. So, we believe that expanding our services to include website design and development is a natural move for us. Second, there have been many instances when I have been in a meeting with a client and they have asked if I provide website design services in addition to video. I have been able to pick up a handful of web design projects from these inquiries.

Although the Red Fox brand hasn’t officially launched, we have already built up a good portfolio of web projects. Most recently we soft-launched a website for Wade Sand and Gravel, a company that operates a quarry in Birmingham, Alabama and provides crushed stone to aggregate customers. They approached us because they have never had an Internet presence and were looking to create a practical, informative website for potential customers coming into the Birmingham market for construction projects.

Wade Sand and Gravel owns and operates three companies - Wade Sand and Gravel, Superior Products, and Red Bluff Sand and Gravel. We soft-launched the Wade site to meet with the client’s important bid deadline, with the plan of launching a complete package of Wade company websites at a later date. Eventually, Superior Products and Red Bluff will have their own designated sites, with a landing page that provides links to all three companies.

You’re a marketer. You might not be in the marketing industry, but make no mistake - you’re a marketer. That means you have a product/service/business/website/hobby/book/movie/etc. that you want to tell people about. And you want those people to jump on the bandwagon. So, what’s the best way to go about it? How do you persuade people to get on board? You have to have passion , and your audience has to feel that excitement. Only then will they be more willing to say “yes” to your offer.

Consider this: You go to the movie theatre one night to catch the opening night of Hollywood’s latest film. It’s outstanding. You exit the theatre completely blown away by what you’ve just seen. Now, what do you do the following day? You tell people about it. But you just don’t tell them. You re-live it. The excitement you felt in the theatre is conveyed in the way you describe the movie to your friends.

Now, translate this to business: When marketing a product or service, you need to communicate that same kind of excitement. However, your energy needs to be focused on your potential client, not on you, your business, or your service. When I go into meetings with a potential client to discuss a video project, I don’t spend time talking about how great our cameras are, how beautiful our images are, or how state-of-the-art our editing system is. When I go into a meeting, I want to learn more about my contact’s business. I want to hear about their goals. I want to show them that I am genuinely excited about their company. I am there because I feel as though our video production services can help them with their marketing efforts.

Your attitude needs to be the same. Be interested in your client. Get excited about their business. Only then will you be able to communicate effectively how your product or service can help. Then, when discussions shift to the price of your product or service, your lead will be more inclined to buy from you, even if your prices are higher than your competitor. Why? Because you have shown a genuine interest in who they are and what they’re all about. The old saying is true, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”