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Author: Liz Soolkin

A Deep Dive into the Layers of Netflix’s New Promo Spot

Date: December 4, 2024 Category: Corporate, Corporate Film School, Uncategorized Comments: 0

Netflix's latest spot is more than just a promo, it's a layered masterpiece of coded storytelling.  From subtle (and not so subtle) use of film language to reference the style and themes of some of its shows to cameos (some quite obscure) by stars of Netflix Originals, the spot also rewards careful viewers with a clever sonic Easter egg only film nerds will catch. In this video, I go in deep (too deep?) to unpack the layers: https://vimeo.com/1036073686?share=copy

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Why Don’t More Companies Have Sonic Brand Identities?

Date: November 6, 2024 Category: Corporate, Corporate Film School, Uncategorized Comments: 0

We were recently producing content for a client in the midst of a rebranding and we were trying to figure out which version of their branding package to apply to the videos while at the same time thinking about music to underscore the narratives and wearily reaching for the same stock music libraries… It struck me that, for the same reasons that companies invest in distinct visual identities to distinguish their brand, including logo, typeface, palette, photographic style and specific guidelines for their use in every medium, they should also create a sonic identity with a recognizable musical theme translated into stings and beds for…

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Corporate Film School #13: Music

Date: July 29, 2024 Category: Corporate Film School, Uncategorized Comments: 0

Music may be the Language of Love but it's also useful for propelling and punctuating your video narrative.  And because music has its own language, it can be intimidating to talk about.  In this episode of the hit series Corporate Film School, we strip down to the underscore and boogie, corporate-style. 

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Corporate Video & AI…5 Amazing Things AI Can Do For You Right Now

Date: July 10, 2023 Category: Corporate, How To Tags: , , Comments: 0

At Pickerel Pie we help our clients make better corporate videos and one of the ways we do that is by keeping them aware of evolving technology that is constantly changing the way videos are produced and delivered. I'm sure, no matter what business you're in, you've been hearing about the (potential) impact of AI on what you do and how you do it.   In terms of corporate video production, the impact of AI is really interesting, in part because of the inherent mix of creativity/originality and technology in creating video content. Even knowing that AI's impact and application to video production is in the very early…

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Bees, Rockstars and Pollination 

Date: July 10, 2023 Category: Corporate, How To Tags: , Comments: 0

AI-generated image of a “Summer Office Party with Watermelon” (disturbing or impressively expressionistic?) This is the season of the Summer Office Party – woo hoo! – one of the few times a year that some companies gather to hang out and get to know one another; a social cocktail of liquor, chlorine, watermelon-crazed bees and dissolved office hierarchies.   Companies may also have a Holiday Party (liquor, egg nog and dissolved office hierarchies) and/or an annual meeting (coffee, liquor and reinforced office hierarchies) but that might be it for the human side of so-called corporate “culture”.        Almost every company (except, perhaps, Twitter?) says, “our strength…

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Top 10 Tips to Make Better Corporate Videos

Date: June 27, 2023 Category: Corporate, Corporate Film School Tags: , Comments: 0

Concepts Every Producer and Client Should Understand  We call it Corporate Film School because, after a couple of decades of producing videos for top companies, and coming from a film school and broadcast background, we’ve realized that the basic (and fascinating) elements of film language not only help you make better videos but enhance the collaboration with your creative partners.  #1. Film Language   To figure out how a video or film is working (or, crucially, not working), it’s essential that you understand that film is a kind of language with its own particular grammar based on the placement and/or movement of the camera, editing and other production elements.  Being able to “read”…

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BETTER Remote Video Captures (e.g. Zoom): Buyer’s Guide

Date: June 23, 2023 Category: Uncategorized Comments: 0

As we discuss in the episode, a few key upgrades can make a huge difference in capture quality. 1. Platform Conducting your video capture on a platform other than Zoom offers a lot of advantages. While Zoom is ubiquitous, it was not designed for high quality video capture. Some of the podcasting platforms offer much more control over the process. We like Riverside FM. for its array of pro features including: High bandwidth recordings stored locally on the interviewer’s computer Lossless and separate high quality audio The ability to use your IOS or Android cell phone as a capture camera , greatly increasing your production quality. You may…

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zoom captures

Corporate Film School #11: Zoom Capture

Date: June 7, 2023 Category: Corporate Film School Comments: 1

So, it only took a global pandemic but you've mastered Zoom for meetings.  But, Zoom has also transformed corporate video; if you can capture Zoom recordings effectively, you have instant access to voices and expertise all over the world. https://vimeo.com/832688064Here's our handy buying guide to the tech mentioned in the video with links to purchase.    Edited by: Angelo Tantuico Filmed by: Ted King

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Corporate Film School #10: Talking Heads

Date: June 5, 2023 Category: Corporate Film School Comments: 0

In this new episode of Corporate Film School I appear as a talking head, referencing the Talking Heads to talk about the problems with talking heads, including the prevalence of so many people like me as talking heads.  It will make more sense when you watch it.    Editor: Liz Soolkin   Cinematography: Theodore King  Filmed at the Pickerel Pie Loft   https://player.vimeo.com/820893347

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