Bay Area Pictures - Updated Site Live

Out with the old, in with the new. Website that is !

Funny how most small business owners, especially service providers, focus on their own web presence last. And when you tackle the project, it always, ALWAYS, takes longer than you think. Despite best efforts in project definition.

We've added more samples of work, a more concise description of our services, and more clarity of purpose - short form video, documentaries, and original programming.

Take a look. And as always, comments welcome!

Girls Rock! The YT Promo Machine

Like hundreds of other indie filmmakers, documentary film producers Arne Johnson and Shane King submitted the trailer to their new, unreleased film, Girls Rock!, to YouTube. Posted in mid-January, the trailer racked up a respectable 6,000 views over a three month period. However, someone in YouTube's programming caught wind of the trailer and decided to feature it on the home page last night. In less than twelve hours, the trailer has been viewed more than 35,000 times and the filmmakers's site is being swarmed (but not swamped!) with new traffic.

Trailer below, courtesy of YouTube, Shane, and Arne. And check out the film's site - given it's subject matter, girls under 18 dealing with, well being under 18, you'll have to sign-in to post a comment on the home page blog.

REVIEW: Internet Video Production services

We've moved from the online distribution of user generated content to the creation and distribution of professional and corporate programming. Several services. such as Blip.tv, Revver, and Brightcove, have tried to help indie producers monetize their programming with varying payment models based on pre-sold advertising and number of views.

With the increasing entertainment and production value of user-generated video, new services are attempting to apply these digital video production techniques to corporate America. TurnHere, originally a real-estate, travel oriented online video site (old tagline Short Films, Cool Places), has now relaunched as the definitive source of Internet Video prodution with its network of 'qualified' TurnHere, contract-for-hire filmmakers.

Utah based Podango has launched Podango Productions in San Francisco. With a history in radio production and podcasting, Podango now claims video production services for corporations of all sizes, ad agencies, and PR agencies.

HMR predicts more entrants - and more flameouts - in the digital, internet video production space. Visual storytelling takes many shapes and the requirements of a corporate video are unique, as are the needs of a music video, as are the needs of a Video News Release. This one size, fits all I-can-shoot-a-clever-travel-video approach won't be around for the long-tail.