Monthly Archives: October 2014

Authentic Not-For-Profit Video

The Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center - An incredibly active place!

When asked by a friend to create a video for the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center to show at their annual fundraiser and donor appreciation dinner I simply said, "Yes." This is what one does when a friend asks so nicely and has done you several solids in the past.

Thus began a fairly amazing journey into the world of the aging here in the Santa Clarita Valley. I found that age does have its downside for many, but for the most part you are only as old as you and your health want to be. I found people well into their 80's exercising, learning languages and computers, going on trips and playing cards. Yes, cards are a great social and mind-maintenance pastime.

I also found an adult day care center that deals with the range of stages of Alzheimer's disease. Many seniors there were in the early stages and just a bit forgetful. Others were further advanced and needed almost constant supervision.

In all the various programs there are leaders, staff and volunteers, that truly care about each person there, that take the time to teach at the given person's level of understanding and ability.

The volunteers in all areas - food prep and delivery is huge - range in experience from first timers to decades-long contributors. Each has their own story of how they got involved, why they stay, and usually a favorite memory of one person that they touched along the way making an impression on them that stuck through time.

I hope you enjoy this video and that it inspires you to volunteer somewhere near you, or, if a senior yourself, that you find a desire to get out of the house and go meet some new and interesting people.

Authentic Commercial Video

Yes, there is authenticity in work.

A bit of a plum gig has been being a "marketing consultant" for a local business, Priority Pak. I hadn't even thought about what a fulfillment shop might do, never mind that there was such a thing. Being asked to re-brand the company from logo through an advertising campaign is a wonderful responsibility. Working with the two owners as creative liaison with an agency I found for them was made easier from my years of being an observant agent while in client meetings with big agencies and clients. I hope I am a good client now!

What I found at Priority Pak was a dedicated and hard working crew.

From the shop floor into the front office, these people stay on task, find solutions to complex problems, and work in a collaborative manner to get things done efficiently. Imagine have 400+ big boxes to pack with 200+ different assortments of marketing materials and having to get each of them to the right place with the right stuff. That is just the start of their day with several other projects all going out at the same time.

My thanks to Ray Davies for the opportunity.

Charity Event Video

When a business supports a charity through hosting an event, it is an ideal opportunity to show that good deed.

Realtor Tracy Hauser is a phenom of energy and good will. She is also one heck of a realtor in the Santa Clarita valley, knowing every neighborhood and the vast details that a real estate transaction requires. She has been nominated as woman of the year and continues serving the community in many ways.

The Closet on Main is the retail store for Single Mothers Outreach.

DaAnne Smith, Executive Director of Single Mothers Outreach, gives a great overview of the services that organization offers, and they are many. Worth noting - the services are not just for women, single men are also welcome. If you haven't shopped The Closet on Main it is much more than a thrift store, with very high quality items being sold are incredibly reasonable rates.

YMCA Adventure Guides

YMCA Adventure Guides is a great program that connects parents and their children.

It sounds a bit funny - that parents need to connect with their kids - but for many families, mine included, that can be the case. I joined the program with my two daughters when they were ages 7 & 5. At the time I was working 8-10 hour days with a commute of an hour and a half each way. By the time I got home they were often asleep. When dinner time rolled around at the first YMCA campout we went to my daughters came up to me and asked "We're hungry, Dad, where's Mom?" That may have been the first time they saw me as provider.

Adventure Guides is a program for one parent and their child(ren).

This video was shot in one long day. Travel to San Diego with an assistant early in the morning and return that night. No prep on the interviews other than names of likely candidates. No worries. We shot with one of my cameras - a Sony NX-70, and a GoPro Hero. All natural light and on-camera microphone. Edited, as all my work is, in Premiere Pro.