Production Stills from recent projects...
Who are we?
BizVid Communications is a San Diego based video production company owned by Bill Gruber and Caz Taylor. Together we have over 50 years of video production experience and we like to blog about video production, marketing and business.
Archive for the ‘Production’ Category
Spotlight on BizVid’s Caz Taylor
March 22nd, 2012
Caz Taylor with (automotive) JD Power and (financial) Diamond Awards
San Diego video production company, BizVid Communications would rather reflect our years of experience through our body of work. Even so, once in a while, it is of value to showcase our partners to illustrate their depth in video, and related fields of marketing, PR and advertising. Co-owner Caz Taylor is the company’s scriptwriter/producer. He has worked in broadcast production and advertising more than 30 years. Serving as vice presidents over creative supervision and client services, he has developed many award-winning campaigns. Those include JD Power & Associates recognition for an automotive broadcasting strategy and around a dozen Diamond Awards, which are the highest financial broadcasting and marketing honors within the credit union industry.
During his tenure as Marketing VP at U.S.E. Credit Union, one of America’s large cooperatives, Caz and his team were awarded an amazing eight Credit Union National Association “Diamond Awards” in a single year. These distinctions represented the top marketing honors among this type of financial institution. These national “best of” awards covered a vast array of disciplines, including Broadcasting, PR, Annual Reports, Point of Sale, Outdoor, Internal Marketing, Segmented Marketing and Complete Campaigns.
As a Creative and Client Service VP at several predominant advertising agencies through his career, Mr. Taylor has accumulated a vast knowledge and understanding in the development of powerful campaigns to showcase clients of all types and sizes. In these roles, he was honored with the JD Power & Associates Award for best broadcasting on behalf of Car Country Carlsbad, in final destination auto mall advertising.
BizVid’s love for helping small businesses, led Caz to host and produce a weekly BizVid-sponsored radio broadcast entitled SBA Radio. For more than two years, he has been joined by guest expert Ruben Garcia, District Director of the Small Business Administration.
Caz is also a prolific author, with two published books, numerous articles and guides to his credit. One of his books was a sci-fi novel and the other was a Christian study book. He also writes a monthly column entitled “The Praise Report” for a San Diego publication entitled Good News Etcetera Newspaper, distributing to about 40,000 readers.
Putting The Emotion in Motion Graphics
December 27th, 2011
BizVid's Motion Graphics Genius Dave Matthies
When it comes to video production in San Diego, BizVid Communications finds that the little extras on a video production can really add credibility and brand recognition to a client. One of the creative components we are adding to videos more and more regularly is motion graphics tied to the client’s name or logo. A sun flare here or a flying word there, blended with a sound effect and a burst of flame or smoke (as with BizVid’s animated logo) can add that sometimes illusive “wow” factor to any video project. Our video animator is one of the best in the business. His name is Dave Matthies. Dave also happens to be partner Bill Gruber’s son-in-law.
Besides being our ongoing motion graphics innovator, Dave’s work can be seen throughout the various television networks. He is responsible for designing those heavily animated openings for a variety of true life series’ that you’ll see on the screen.
Dave is a master of the blatant and the nuance. He can create an “in your face” graphic whose message is undeniable, or a subtle visual that implies the quality and excellence of a client. It’s hard to describe these elements in words, but easy to display them. Here’s an example of the creations Dave does for us and others. You can also find him at his cowboymustache website.
The work that Dave presents can cost from the hundreds to the thousands, depending on the complexities. His favorite software is the Maya system. Even so, Dave’s genius is found in the way he pushes the limits of his software to build visuals that have peers asking, “how did he do that?” Another amazing facet of the artist named Dave Matthies is his remarkable even tempered nature. When other creative minded geniuses are screaming and giving tantrums, Dave is gently hearing and answering client directives with a gentle demeanor.
When our clients want to stand apart from their competitors, there are always pleased in the graphics, whether simple or complex, that we have Dave create for them. He can turn a client logo into a work of animated art.
Video Production is a Collaborative Effort
December 18th, 2011
San Diego video production company, BizVid Communications, has been in business many years and is fortunate to be able to list a variety of clients who represent many different industries. It is this aspect of our business that we enjoy very much. And, while we at BizVid bring production expertise to the process, every video production project is a collaborative effort.
We learned a long time ago that no one person or organization can take full ownership of a video project if it is to be successful. There are so many aspects to consider and so many things that can “fall through the cracks” if not orchestrated carefully.
In this video blog, we introduce you to Amber who talks a little about what she and her company brings to the table. In her case, she is the liaison producer who is responsible for the crafting of the script, the hiring of agency talent, scheduling the arrival times of her company personnel and, most important, making sure the food arrives at the appointed time. A hungry crew and staff is not a good thing.
One might say, “all of this is no brainer.” That might be an obvious answer but the fact is that it is extremely important to distribute the duties so that a smooth flow of events is guaranteed. It is then incumbent upon BizVid to combine what the client brings to process with the skills and elements we bring to the process. When it all works together the result is a satisfied client and a continuing business relationship.
The Studio as a Location
December 12th, 2011
As a leading San Diego video production company, BizVid Communications is frequently called upon to video tape projects in a variety of locations. Where that location happens to be is dictated by the requirements as outlined in the written script.
Over the years, we have taken our cameras to many different locations. They include, Europe and the Middle East, the ocean and on lakes, in corporate offices and manufacturing plants in surgical centers and dentist offices. All of these areas are rife with certain audio and lighting challenges. This is not the case in a studio environment which is our favorite place to shoot.
The studio, besides having a glamorous ring to it, is the perfect environment. Unlike outdoor locations where uncontrollable light and sound are big issues, the studio poses none of these problems. All elements are perfectly controllable.
To illustrate, I will use the example of what happened recently. We were at an outside location taping a company CEO. Her duty was to deliver some dialogue then turn and walk off camera. This action was not her strong suit and we were several takes into the process when it looked as though we had finally achieved success. But, just as she was about to say the last words of the dialogue, a very loud airplane flew overhead and the take was ruined.
In this instance, the studio environment would have been ideal. Because of its sound integrity, there would not have been an interruption and the take would have been successful. And, while it is nice to travel and visit different locales, we prefer the sound stage and the control it affords us in the production process.
Handy Video Models
December 6th, 2011
The San Diego Video Production leader, BizVid Communications can attest that hand and foot models do a lot more than just plunk their body parts into a camera shot. Our recent blog interview with Ashley Frey of the Body Parts Modeling Agency offers a deeper look into the art of hand and foot modeling.
During a videotaping for CND, which stands for Creative Nail Design, model Ashley Frey detailed the discipline and professionalism needed. She said that it was demanding work that required paying close attention to client needs at all times.
Time is money in the video production business and an intuitive hand model can save lots of it. Many times a photographer and director will struggle to get just the right shot and a model who understands the industry can position her hand in ways most favorable to the camera. Further, it takes a tremendous amount of discipline to remain stationary when shots can take many minutes. A fidgeting finger or intemperate toe can cause big delays.
Ashley is one of only a few hand models frequently used by the beauty leader, CND Nails. You’ll see full color pages of Ashley’s feet and handy work in national and international fashion magazines. Miss Frey lives in the Los Angeles area and beyond her work with Body Parts Modeling, she offers her services to Mark Broumand Jewelry, also in Los Angeles.
So, the next time you see a really beautiful hand or foot in a magazine or video shot, consider the work that went into it and contemplate that at the other end of that finger or toe may be fashion and modeling professional Ashley Frey.