Fade to Black

Are you a hyphenated professional? I always considered myself as one. Once upon a time I was a shooter-editor, then a producer-director, a manic-depressive, a writer-producer and, more recently a model-slash-actress.
Lately, though, I have have been reassessing my status. And it’s a funny feeling. My mix of business is exclusively writing these days, for [...]

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There Are No Sick Days

The past ten days have been a fog.  A thick, mucous-y, Vick’s-Vapo-Rub-smelling fog. It started as a sinus infection  and morphed into a flu of the congestion/ fatigue/ weakness variety.
And this presented a new problem for me. The last time I was this sick, I was NOT terribly busy in the copywriting realm.  This time, [...]

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Trust Your Instincts

I learned a big lesson this week. I took on an unfamiliar topic and an unfamiliar work habit at the same time, on the same project. As Sheriff Taylor might say:

I was all happy about tackling this new biotech client. Big new client, new subject matter…just new, you know? And I have had some success [...]

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Health Care Communications

 
…I traveled to over 100 hospitals in over 30 states. I interviewed healthcare personnel including executive level, nurse management, environmental, purchasing, floor staff, maintenance, and so on. The result was several dozen testimonial videos built around the timeless question, “Would you recommend this product?” Pretty standard fare, but which offered the opportunity to learn about [...]

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Copywriting for Video

In a past life as a video producer/director in the marketing communications department of a major health care manufacturer, I hurled so many scripts in frustration that I tore a rotator cuff. Well, not really, but that’s the kind of vivid language you’re paying for!
…From Lively Exchange’s Copywriting for Video Page

That’s mostly the truth. I [...]

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The Self-Marketing Game

Successful freelance writers, video people, talent…entrepreneurs in general, live by a creed: It’s a Business First. This was the first piece of advice anyone ever gave me (thanks, Scott.)  And it’s the part of the business I am still endeavoring to master. Specifically, self-marketing.
Oh, do I hate cold calling. As a consequence, I do very [...]

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50th Post Blogstravaganza

Looking back on the LivelyExchange era…all 90 days of it!
Biggest Day So Far: April 17, 2008. This was the day I got a mention in the Low Country Blogroll, a compendium of Charleston-based blogs.
Most Active Post, Due to Content: Social Networking (Old School!) Imagine… MCAI people came out in force to defend their media production [...]

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On the Road with the Cat Killers

The scene opens on a farm in the foothills of Tennessee. A hitching post stands in the foreground, camera left.  A silver-haired man approaches, riding a donkey.  This is Gary, gentleman farmer and 6-time sales leader for a hospital supply company.
The donkey stops and Gary dismounts. He approaches the camera and says,
“Get off your ASS [...]

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Extremely Remote Video Production, Tape 3

Somewhere in suburbia, two video dudes sit in a breakfast nook sipping straight bourbon from dirty SONY coffee mugs. They smile wistfully.
1st guy: (sighs) “You know what this reminds me of?”
2nd guy: “That strip bar in Thailand?”
1st guy: “The drugs, the violence…”
Both: “The hookers!”
This General Foods International Bourbon moment was brought to you by the [...]

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Extremely Remote Video Production, Tape 2

The Story so far: After a heroic depletion of the stock at the Delta Crown Room, our video dudes head for France. They have some interesting video production experiences, but none of them seem to make it into the record. Instead, we get endless mockery of the fine French people and their customs. Enough of [...]

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