2011 Intro Clients

2011 is off and running - and fast!

With the new year came a new clear understanding about how nothing is really that important.  Don't misinterpret what that means...  Looking at situations and being aware that 'THERE ARE NO EMERGENCIES' really puts the fun back into make art for advertising.  This understanding of nothing being really that important allows you to do your best, and do what you can within your limits of peace... and if someone has a hard time with what you are doing (they are not handling stress well), that is THEIR problem.  Let them deal with it and keep doing your best.

NONE OF THIS REALLY MATTERS!  so play  and play hard!  Sink into the joy of what the experiences of work can do for you. We are all so blessed with opportunity if we want it!

To put it in other words: try and take a step back from the busy-ness of all of the details we get all worked up over.  Step back and see them for what they are - a means to an end - a small step that makes you more prepared for the next step.  As Martha Stewart quoted: "when your through changing.. your through".

Are YOU changing?

Thanks Martha

Here are some projects that started off 2011 (there has not been much else other than work):

Molson
A team was assembled to create a presentation for Molson.  I was in charge of character design, illustrations and animating 5 short pieces.  We had only a few days and tons of work.  I think it turned out great!  Ryan helped with the audio and Tad helped manage the project.

The Government of Canada (Canada Revenue Agency)
The CRA came to StoryStream for the creation of 5 videos.  Because of my schedule and not wanting to turn down this job, my wife Rebecca illustrated the assets, I animated, and Ryan did the audio.  The videos were created to show 5 ways that people can save on their taxes.  The videos were online supplements to 5 live action television commercials. (to be completed Feb.)

VISA/Scotiabank (video soon)
This is the second project I worked on for Scotiabank introducing the VISA Paywave system on all their Credit Cards.  It included some animation and compositing and clever transitions.

FedEx (video soon)
With the good ol' boys at VMG, I put together an intro video for the FedEx internal video series which has been ongoing for many years.  The series it titled 'Inside the Ex'

Opportunity International
I have been very involved in media product for the biggest micro lender in the world, Opportunity International.  Along with designing their homepage banners, creating a coffee-table book and numerous videos and designs, we have been working on a short 'xplainer video' that explains micro-finance in simple, normal-people language.  Art is a powerful catalyst for social change.

Yummy Mummy Butter
Rebecca got all excited about 'Alibaba.com' and as an experiment in importing, we recieved a massive shipment of 100% pure unreined Shea Butter.  Shea Butter is good for all sorts of things, including healing cuts, removing scars, being a natural and chemical free sunblock and mosturing skin... to name a few...we decided to package and market OUR chemical free goodness towards health conscious mothers who want to prevent stretch marks.  Yummy Mummy Butter is a new project we are excited about.

Xplainer
With so many requests for short animated videos to explain what a company does.. we decided to throw up a site and have a place where we can send people.  Still a WIP, XplainerVideos.com is sure to help us streamline the deamnd and XPLAIN what this powerful method of communication can do.  An xplainer video is a short, entertaining and educational video that xplains what problem a company solves in a short period of time using visuals, clever script writing and audio.  These videos and born and live in social media space, so the messages cannot help but be shared.

Zigi Solar
Zigi solar is another start up with my friends Matt Wilks of HomeBoy Automation and Casey White.  We have imported a bunch of solar backpacks and are private labeling them under our Zigi-solar brand!  This project is also in it's infancy, but a fun thing to work on together... and a good chance to lead more about the ins and outs of importing from China and bringing a product to market.

Cleeng (2 videos soon)
This was a fun project that included 2 videos.  Epipheo gave me a call and I had the honour of work with Ben.  'Cleeng', was the client, and I think they may be onto something!  We create 2 videos: ONE that was explaining to online content producer what Cleeng' can do for them, and a SECOND for the general web consumer, explaining how and why they should embrace what Cleeng has to offer.  Time will tell!

Ciniplex
Cloud Advertising Agents have called me a bunch of times with odd jobs for Ciniplex, one of their main clients.  recently I did some small edits and prepared a bunch of broadcast and radio ads for distribution on Youtube.

AllStream  (video soon)
VMG created a video that explains how Allstream works.  Allstream is an OFFSITE backup server that kicks in within 1 minute of the servers at your workplace going down...  Your work is always backed up but you don't have to invest in all the equipment and IT to have your own backup servers.  A great idea and based on a subscription model.  Brilliant!  I helped with some animation showing servers crashing and data being re-routed through 'the cloud'.

______

What could possibly happen next... 'The unknown' is the joy and anxiety of making yourself.