Tribe Pictures

NEWS RELEASE: Tribe Pictures Welcomes Barbara Hennessy to Head Production

2012-01-24T09:58:00.000-05:00

Tribe Pictures is proud to announce the addition of veteran producer Barbara Hennessy to lead the growing company’s production department. Barbara brings her years of experience in commercial production and digital healthcare marketing to the newly created position, Vice President of Production.

“Tribe is growing and expanding into new market sectors, and that’s exciting,” said Vern Oakley, Tribe’s CEO and Chief Storyteller. “But it takes a consistent level of oversight to keep any number of projects running smoothly. This new position allows me to take the higher view as CEO of the company.”

Praised by her peers as intelligent, detail-oriented and unflappable, Hennessy has supervised projects as a film production executive for over 15 years. As Project Director at Medical Broadcasting Company she led a team of writers, producers and editors on a host of video productions for Merck on Medical News Network (a division of Whittle Communications). At a time when interactive television was still in its infancy, Hennessy rose to the challenge of strategizing brand specific messages delivered to physicians in a way that not only demanded their attention but also drove interaction. Medical Broadcasting Company was subsequently acquired by Digitas Health and is now one of the world’s leading digital healthcare agencies.

After Medical Broadcasting Company, Hennessy spent several years as an Executive Producer and Head of Production at SBK Pictures, Inc. It was at SBK that Barbara honed her skills at budgeting, scheduling and managing multiple projects with various demands. Hennessy oversaw the production of television commercials and worked closely with advertising agencies and their clients. She simultaneously spearheaded IMAX film projects for The Franklin Institute and The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, as well as other long format films for The Philadelphia Orchestra and Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.

Since joining Tribe, Hennessy has taken her skill worldwide by helming productions with locations ranging from mining operations in North Dakota to oil platforms off the West coast of Africa. She also shepherded a marathon of a project that required filming in four different cities simultaneously over three days and delivering the final film within 10 business days. Hennessy made the challenge look easy.

“I’m having a lot of fun here. Whether we’re launching an international production or sending out a couple of people to cover a news conference,” said Hennessy.

For more information on Barbara Hennessy and Tribe Pictures, visit http://www.tribepictures.com/vp-production.

Tribe Wins Cannes

2011-12-01T11:08:00.110-05:00

Meditations from the Mediterranean

By Vern Oakley

Late last summer, I took a phone call from Europe while at a Tribe goodbye lunch for our college intern before she returned to school. “Your film entry will receive an award this fall; we hope you’ll come to Cannes to accept in person.” This sparked our little celebration which now became even more spirited. The luncheon’s ‘tribal council’ wondered why I even considered not attending. Their mental calculus was simple. How could I lose: a trip to France, pick up an award, and visit my daughter studying in Paris for the semester.

Before I got home, my version of the math, while different, came to the same result: screen the world’s best corporate films, network with other directors and producers, get a fresh perspective on the global film scene (and new ideas), meet up with our Swiss cinematographer, have my daughter come down to Cannes and celebrate with us and hey, see how Tribe’s work holds up on the global stage.

I was not disappointed.

Director of Photography
Michael Spindler (Middle),
Co-Producer/Co-Director Jon
Huberth (Right) and myself
in front of the majestic
Negresco Hotel.

Fast-forward to the Cannes Corporate Media and TV Awards show. Before the awards banquet itself, I took the opportunity to screen about 50 entries. The corporate film appears to be held in high regard around the world, perhaps more so than in America, judging from the high quality and bounty of great films. The Europeans, I observed, seem to relish great style, design and production values. These entries were technically superb but significantly less emotional than I imagined – or what Tribe strives to achieve. Even though Tribe films are ‘corporate,’ I believe the power of our films comes from touching human emotions, capturing the genuine moments of humanity that help us feel something, feel connected, feel purposeful and belonging to one’s tribe.

By the time the banquet rolled around, I felt a real sense of excitement. Sitting at our table was the Tribe co-producer/co-director Jon Huberth, cinematographer Michael Spindler, and yes, my daughter Grace; I was confident yet anxious – how did the international panel of judges feel about this Tribe production?

Gold.

Check out the award winning "Echoes of
the Past, Voices of the Future" here.

Our film entry "Echoes of the Past, Voices of the Future," for Washington and Lee University’s capital campaign, was the only US film to win a Gold Dolphin in its category. We held up quite well out of the 400-plus entries from around the world. There were whispered rumors we had been hotly debated for best in show. Jeff Hanna, our client at Washington & Lee, received a congratulatory text after we got off the stage; he and his team were thrilled and raised a celebratory glass (from Lexington, VA).

Enjoying this moment with my daughter: priceless.

In my role as President of the International Quorum of Motion Picture Producers, I made contacts with several production company owners that were interested in our global network.

Hoisting the gold. On stage: Michael (left),
Festival Director Alexander Kammel (back),
Jon (middle) and myself (right).

My brain got a total ‘reboot and recharge’ ;-) I brought back new ideas and fresh approaches from the global marketplace of creative directors and film companies. I conceived a corporate film concept – later loved and bought by a Tribe client – while daydreaming on the beach in Cannes in front of the Carlton Hotel.

Wow, what a trip.

On the return flight, I recalled a quote I heard from Oprah that went something like: “the more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” Positive thoughts, feelings, phrasing and emotions attract positive outcomes. This journey began immersed in a positive moment and now I have returned with that positivity…in the shape of a dolphin.

After many years we have developed a culture of a “celebration” here at Tribe. Days are long, the work is challenging and life is ever ticking away so we find it important to recognize and reward accomplishments of all sizes. Taking time to honor those accomplishments is a great way to put the “DVD of life” on pause, reflect, and renew in our business and personal lives. Being storytellers who invoke emotions in our audience, it's good to let our own happiness soar when we can.

Here’s to life.

My daughter Grace and me at the Awards Gala.

Cheers.

Congratulations from Tribe!

2011-11-23T12:52:00.000-05:00

Tribe congratulates Greta Binford, Associate Professor of Biology at Lewis & Clark College on being named by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) as their 2011 Oregon Professor of the Year.

What an honor!

Tribe had the privilege of working with Professor Binford (she was featured) and the rest of the Lewis& Clark community while producing “Partners in Discovery,” a film about Lewis and Clark’s progressive attitude towards teaching the sciences.

Watch it here: http://vimeo.com/13687706

For more information on Professor Binford's award, visit http://www.lclark.edu/live/news/14279-greta-binford-named-oregon-professor-of-the-year

For more information on Lewis & Clark College, visit http://www.lclark.edu/

Tribe Celebrates 200 Years of Hamilton History

2011-09-29T15:55:00.000-04:00

by Jon Huberth

College President Joan Hinde Stewart introduced the film

Each time we engage a new client there is a rush of elation… before reality sets in. It’s not an easy task, stepping in to tell someone else’s story – especially an entire college’s story – trying to capture what best represents the college and its mission. Every film challenges us, but joining with the team from the college, a partnership is formed to tell the college’s story in the most nuanced and effective way possible.

By the end of the process not only is a unique film produced but also friendships are formed. This weekend was the culmination of such a process. Vern and I were invited to upstate New York to join thousands of alumni, parents and friends at one of the oldest colleges in the nation - Hamilton College.

With Vern at the International Quorum of Motion Picture Producers’ annual conference in Sydney, I was honored to represent Tribe Pictures at the premiere of our ten-minute film “Hamilton College: The First 200 years”. The film kicked off Hamilton’s Bicentennial Celebration and launched the school’s fundraising campaign.

As storytellers we spend months living the client’s film, capturing the proud history of a college, the vibrant campus life, its ambitions for the future. And in Hamilton’s case our film brought a crowd of 700 to tears and thunderous applause! Of course, it’s our job to trigger emotions, draw the viewer in, and command their attention. We want our films to move people. But it is always gratifying to witness their enthusiasm and appreciation.

During the course of producing films for colleges and universities, it’s always a thrill to spend time meeting new and interesting people, hearing about their lives, bringing those stories back, and incorporating them into our work. It’s my job, but it’s also like continuing education for me. Vern and I tend to fall in love with each college for whom we work, and since we’re not going to enroll, at least we can get to know them well and tell their stories.

And how do we do that? How do we touch a nerve, jog a memory, or motivate a response? Stories. Through stories ideas are communicated; people influenced; and history chronicled. Stories about educational institutions, at their heart, are stories about people. That’s what we love to do, and that’s what we do best. We are pleased we did it once again. This time for Hamilton College.

Two Tribers: “across the continent, across the times”

2011-07-12T17:17:00.009-04:00

Gina Angelone was Tribe Pictures' first employee in the late 80's. She worked as a producer on many projects before moving to the West Coast. After Tribe, Gina worked at New Vision Communications and Twin Pix Productions. She is currently working for SA KWA Pictures, and carries with her the wonderful memories of Tribe back on the other coast!

Like Gina, Arabella Hutter is a producer but is based in New York. Gina was responsible for introducing Arabella to Tribe and Arabella has now been associated with the company since 2006. Before Tribe, she worked at SA KWA Pictures from 1998-2002, and Decoy Films. She currently works with Tribe and SkuFlix. Arabella's work with Tribe is to increase social media activity as well as public relations.

The two women, on opposite coasts of the United States, still manage to find time to see each other, bound by their "Tribal" connection. Here they are in L.A., enjoying brunch under the palm trees. Still good friends, they frequently reminisce about past memories from both sides of the continent. Both truly deserving of the title of "Real Tribers".

From left to right, Gina Angelone and Arabella Hutter.

Tribe celebrates the Kenyon Film major!

2011-07-05T09:39:00.029-04:00

Vern discusses storytelling with the audience.

Maria and Neil discussing film, after the panel.

Tribe Pictures' director Vern Oakley was invited to be part of a panel of film industry members by Kenyon College. The panel members discussed how they became successful in the film industry with help from their Kenyon degrees.Vern shared his expertise in storytelling and how that has stayed with him since his Kenyon days. His synoptic major allowed him to discover the differences and similarities between storytelling in literature, theater and film. All of the panelists agreed with him that story is always the most important part of a film. Without an exciting story, the audience cannot be transported to the world of the movie, even if the entire cast is extremely well known. The speakers also gave advice to the young, ambitious students looking to make it in the ‘film biz.’ Vern was joined by others such as actor/director Chris Eigeman '87, Dan Shefelman '84 - story board artist on Ice Age, Jonathan Sehring '77 - president of Sundance and IFC, and casting director Paul Schnee '89.

From left to right, Paul Schnee, Chris Eigeman, Maria Krovatin, Neil Pepe, Gedney Webb, Dan Shefelman, Vern Oakley, Jonathan Sehring.

The evening was held in celebration of the brand new film major at Kenyon, as well as the department's professor of film, Jon Sherman. The event was generously held at the Atlantic Theater in Chelsea, NYC. 150 people were scheduled to attend and the evening was enhanced by a wealth of delicious food and cocktails.

Tribe has always been “Kenyon friendly” and continues to be to this day. Vern and Steve are both alumni, as well as Carl Kriss ‘10, who recently shot and edited a film for Tribe. Kelsey, a current Kenyon student, has joined Tribe for a summer internship. All of the Tribe employees in attendance agree wholeheartedly the event was a success! A special thanks to all the Kenyon alumni and professors who made the evening an unforgettable occasion, as well as a thank you to Patrick Shields who took all of the wonderful pictures from the night.

Jonathan Tazewell, Professor of Drama and Film, addressing the audience.

Tribe heads to Brooklyn!

2011-06-30T10:33:00.002-04:00

Tribe is shooting footage in Brooklyn for an upcoming project. The shots came out incredibly well, and everyone here is excited to see the outcome! As the sky faded from light pink to purple to deep, ocean blue the lights in the buildings lit up the sky like stars. Felicia Jamieson’s crew captured on film the beauty of the sunset fading behind the skyline. They enjoyed spending some time in Williamsburg and DUMBO with their artistic populations, and came out with some wonderful imagery.

Steve Block goes to annual NIRI Conference

2011-06-23T10:47:00.003-04:00

Steve with Adam Bryant at NIRI Conference.

Tribe’s Steve Block attended the NIRI conference in Orlando, Florida this past week. The NIRI (National Investor Relations Institute) Conference is held annually for leaders of companies who are interested in the ever-evolving market and how a company needs to grow in order to keep up. The conference involved lots of sessions, seminars, workshops and networking opportunities.

There were two particular seminars at NIRI this year that stuck out. Jeff Morgan, president and CEO of NIRI, addressed nearly 1000 conferees at 7:45am for the opening session, in discussing the state of business in IR management and communications. He thought it was remarkable that mastering the new digital world of communications is really the next step toward making a company expand globally.

Jeff Morgan speaking at a seminar.

The New York Times’ deputy national editor and author Adam Bryant spoke about ‘insights from the corner office,’ his take on corporate leadership based on interviews with CEO’s of iconic brands like Microsoft, Xerox, Ford, Wal-Mart, Disney, MasterCard and more. To a packed room of IR professionals, his insights, lessons and stories of leadership hit the responsive chord among the top investor relations crowd. Adam rhetorically asked the crowd why some people rise to the top of their company? Five characteristics, Adam concluded, were shared by the best: 1. Passionate curiosity; 2. Battle-hardened confidence; 3. Team Smarts; 4. Simple Mindset; 5. Fearlessness. For deeper explanations, Steve encourages all to read Bryant's book. Brilliant!

Adam Bryant speaking at a seminar.

Thanks to Steve for representing Tribe Pictures so well!

A Day in the Life

2011-06-01T17:54:00.012-04:00

Lori Schmon and Carl Kriss take on Franklin & Marshall College in order to create a film that displays a day in the life of a student there. In doing this, they learned about film technique, client relations, interviewing subjects and more! The two filmmakers are excited to see the final product!

Tribe has begun working on a series of films for Franklin & Marshall College in order to illustrate their greatest asset—their students. We sent Lori Schmon and Carl Kriss into the field to discover what a day in the life of an F&M student was like! They decided to follow three superstar students who fell in love with this college- Victoria, Josh and Katie. This was one of the first full assignments for both filmmakers, and it proved to be a great learning experience. Carl and Lori worked to capture raw, natural moments on film, rather than filming “talking heads” on the screen. The idea of filming a day in the life of a student would hopefully give viewers a more honest look at the college. Carl loved this because it gave the film spontaneity, allowing them to acquire some unique moments.

Lori and Carl agree that the best part of shooting at F&M was filming the women’s conference lacrosse game against Gettysburg. Katie (one of the students) was the captain of the team, and led them to a close victory! They were losing during the entire game and came back to win it by a close margin. The sort of spirit that was captured during that lacrosse game, is the spirit that Lori and Carl tried to produce in all of the students at Franklin & Marshall. With this experience now in her back pocket, Lori says, “It was so fun to be there and we learned so much. You realize so many things that you would do differently and things you would definitely do again. I hope to get better and improve as time goes!”

Jake Gyllenhaal shares his vision

2011-04-01T18:02:00.038-04:00

Jake Gyllenhaal arriving at La Pomme for New Eyes For The Needy fundraiser

Last night New Eyes For The Needy was holding a charity event at chic Chelsea venue La Pomme in New York City. Jake took time from his extremely busy schedule to show support to New Eyes For The Needy. He made it a priority to speak to the audience, and also to let Tribe film an interview before rushing to the premiere of his new film, Source Code, at the Crosby Hotel.

Tribe Pictures' Lori Schmon interviewing Jake, Chris Holt shoots.

The film has garnered some excellent reviews on Jake's performance so far. We're glad. We wish the film and him the very best for opening weekend, because he's a very cool and talented guy with a lot of generosity to top it all.

Jake Gyllenhaal knows first hand how important vision is. As an actor he couldn't read his lines, he would kiss the wrong lady, and might walk into the wrong space/time (see plot of Source Code) if he couldn't see properly. Jake's grandfather led him in empathizing with people who suffer from poor vision, by teaching Jake as a child to donate his old glasses to charity. This inspired the actor to embrace the cause of New Eyes for The Needy and become their spokesperson.

Tribe Pictures was approached by New Eyes For the Needy as they were looking for an efficient fundraising tool. We liked the fact that Eyes For The Needy operates on a very simple premise: for each donation of $60 someone in need gets his/her vision back. A small gesture with tremendous results. We devised a documentary showing the improvement New Eyes For The Needy brings to individual lives. A school boy can read the writing on his classroom blackboard, a woman can operate her sewing machine again, and an aging woman can read her medecine labels. Board members of the charity were delighted with the success the video (which can be viewed on their home page) in supporting their fundraising. The other video on the homepage, also produced by Tribe, is a call to donate from Jake Gyllenhaal.


New Eyes executive director Susan Dyckman with Chris & Lori from Tribe

Red Bull Stadium and ISS: sparkling!

2011-01-31T11:21:00.016-05:00

Still from branding video: ISS employee in Red Bull Stadium

Tribe working on behalf of IQ partner Citizen Dane (love that Danish humor - as well as the American cultural reference!) produced NY, NJ & SF sections of a branding video project commissioned by ISS. Not familiar with IQ? The International Quorum of Motion Picture Producers regroups members from all over the world. We'll soon have a scoop about IQ's board, but shhht...

And you might not have heard of it, but it's a pretty sure bet that you have been in a facility serviced by ISS. They're the largest facility services company in the world, sales in the billion dollar range. The branding video demonstrates the global presence of the company, its prestigious clients and state-of-the art practices. ISS is another company (see our previous blog entry) that takes CSR to heart, maintaining friendly relationships with unions and offering their blue collar employees the opportunity to climb up a career ladder. It pays. Employee turn over is lower, and the quality of the work better.

Activities? Facility management, security, catering, cleaning, etc. The Danish housekeeper wearing a starched apron that is whiter than white is not necessarily a cliché. A similar lady, or her husband, founded Danish ISS in 1901, but first as a security service company, a business at the vanguard of services at the time. Cleaning as well as the other facility management services were added successively over the next hundred years. It's now a global company which is in charge of managing corporation facilities such as SONY Ericsson, a new client, and many more types of venues such as the Harrison stadium, home of the Red Bulls in Newark, the Giants stadium in NYC. The trash left by fans after a game? That's a lot of cleaning!

Tribe is honored to have contributed to the branding of this superlative company.

Stills from the American section of the branding video:

Is there such a thing as internal CSR?!

2011-01-19T18:06:00.010-05:00

Many companies have made Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) part of their corporate agenda, and for good reason. Corporate businesses are now expected to hold themselves accountable for issues that hardly used to feature on their radar. Usually CSR is understood to relate to three domains: environment, technology and communities. Corporate efforts are dedicated to protecting the environment, to weigh in the effects of new technology, and to care for communities, whether globally or locally. These activities constitute what is typically understood as CSR, that is a responsibility towards parties external to the company, with the understanding that they benefit the company by promoting a better image, and from the good will created locally and globally. And of course, CSR raises the level of good karma in the world! The recent focus on CSR has veered from external efforts to internal. Internal CSR addresses the need and well being of employees, as well as job seekers, by encouraging diversity, by promoting health and well being in the work place, and by providing rewarding employee benefits. Sounds like nothing new? Maybe. Certainly many policies supporting diversity and improved work conditions were instituted in the 60s and 70s. What's new about it is the combination of both external and internal CSR as a unique ethical concept. Companies are not supporting diversity simply because they are under obligation to do so by law, but as part of a general effort to be responsible. We at Tribe were recenlty honored to help KPMG celebrate winning the Catalyst award which crowns their massive push to create company-wide diversity:

KPMG - "Catalyst" - Accolade award winner from Tribe Pictures on Vimeo.

At the moment our Tribe team is also working with Hess to develop an effective employee communications strategy, which will include raising CSR awareness, both internal and external. While external CSR inspires more confidence in customers and communities, it creates a climate of pride and dignity within the company. Employees are more likely to endorse ethical values in their work if they feel the company truly embraces them. Reciprocally, while internal CSR is of direct benefit to employees and job seekers, it improves the corporation's image to the public at large.

Here are several interesting articles about the current wisdom relating to CSR:

This project is being implemented in Trinidad and Tobago where high level of absenteeism and low productivity is crippling the private sector. The goal is of implementing internal CSR initiatives to create safer and healthier work environments linked real labour productivity gains including increased employee motivation, reduced absenteeism and rate of employee turnover, and higher productivity and efficiency in production processes.
http://www.iadb.org/en/projects/project,1303.html?id=TT-M1012

The two following studies concern themselves with assessing the level of CSR in the company, how it is perceived and what goals to set - an important part of an effective CSR strategy:
http://www.essays.se/essay/53556b2582/
http://www.accaglobal.com/general/activities/sustainability/acca/csr

A very clear look at what CSR is, historically, legally, and ethically as well as its definitions, limitations, and benefits:
http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/management/Comp-De/Corporate-Social-Responsibility.html

In this piece out of Canada, Maclean’s looks at the interesting trend of companies choosing to continue corporate social responsibility initiative despite the economic downturn. Expected to be the first budget items cut, most companies actually stood strong and continued their efforts. Others saw the weak economy as an opportunity, using the situation to jumpstart their own socially responsible programs at a discounted cost. This trend emphasized the importance of long-term planning in a business environment.
http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/06/14/a-conscience-choice/

In a blog post by Matt Kopac of email marketing company iContact, the firm highlights their recent corporate social responsibility efforts which led to a goal of becoming a “B Corporation.” B Corps are companies that use “the power of business to solve social and environmental problems,” and there are already 285 of them in the US. This is an interesting business trend that strays from the traditional “profits first” approach that has been followed in the US business culture.
http://blog.icontact.com/blog/icontact-getting-serious-about-corporate-social-responsibility/

This introductory post in a series on corporate social responsibility focuses on the factors and events that have caused the idea of corporate citizenship to grow so aggressively. CSR is first defined in a clear context, before author Gregory Unruh argues that the phenomenon began in 1995 with the birth of CSR reporting. This was followed by a series of events stemming from the twin crises confronting Royal Dutch Shell.
http://blogs.forbes.com/csr/2010/05/07/part-i-in-a-csr-series-corporate-citizenship-in-a-global-economy/?partner=whiteglove_google

with research and contributions from Andrew Chase

The solution: a gecko!

2010-12-20T11:14:00.001-05:00

What's so compelling about geckos? We felt we had seen enough geckos to last us a life time, especially ones with English -sorry, Australian accents. Then we fell in love with this little geezer (means "guy" in Australian, right?) all over again. He lives at Lewis and Clark College and is one of the principals in the fundraising film Tribe produced. Let Vern loose in a lab with a good story and a film crew: he is in pig heaven.

At Lewis and Clark a great emphasis is placed on the collaboration between the teaching staff and students, and between the various scientific departments. Funds are needed for a building which can regroup all teams in order to foster this crosspollination. Tribe's communication solution: to tell the story of how Lewis and Clark College solved the mystery of the gecko, an animal (zoology) with mysterious sticking feet. Do the hair on its feet (physiology) adhere to surfaces through some kind of glue (chemistry) or electrostatic forces or suction cups (physics)? This question baffled scientists until a multidisciplinary team of students at Lewis and Clark cracked it. For the solution to this mystery, watch the clip below.

Twenty-four!

2010-12-14T09:29:00.002-05:00

Tribe was blowing 24 candles this year. We've had Sweet 16, Eligible-to-vote 18, Coming-of-age 21. Every time it feels like a milestone well worthy of celebration. Particularly in these times of economic instability and rapid changes in media & communication. One more candle!

Time to recollect. We asked Vern to share his thoughts with us. Impromptu. Check it out. And expect spectacular celebrations next year.

Happiness, choice, and Dan Gilbert

2010-12-07T13:27:00.008-05:00

Dan Gilbert, Professor of Psychology at Harvard University

We keep on exploring the notion of happiness with our Tribe documentary project. Our aim is to tell the stories of people who have found happiness in small details, small solutions. We have been very intrigued with Dan Gilbert's views. And he still manages to stun us: he proves in the following talk that we should wish to become paraplegic over winning a $314 million lottery!

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/dan_gilbert_asks_why_are_we_happy.html

Gilbert's lecture is long. So we have asked young journalist graduate Justin Situ to come up with an abstract:

According to Dan Gilbert in his lecture Why are we happy?, happiness comes in two forms: natural and synthetic. Natural happiness is what happens when we get what we wanted, and synthetic happiness is what we make when we don’t get what we wanted. From field studies to lab studies, we see that events such as winning or losing an election, gaining or losing a romantic partner, or passing or failing a test all have far less impact, intensity, and duration than people expect them to have. Human beings have something that can be thought of as a psychological immune system, a system of cognitive processes (largely non-conscious cognitive processes) that helps them change their perceptions of the world so that they can feel better about the circumstances in which they find themselves.

To prove this point, Gilbert introduces an old experimental model called the free choice paradigm. It’s simple: you bring in six objects, six Monet prints, for example, and you ask a subject to rank them from the most to the least liked. After the subject is done ranking them, the subject is told they can take one home for free, giving them a choice between the 3rd ranked picture and the 4th ranked picture. Naturally, most people pick the 3rd ranked picture. Some time later the subject is brought back in and told to re-rank the pictures. Repeatedly the 3rd ranked picture goes up in ranking while the 4th ranked picture goes down. This is an example of how the brain manufactures synthetic happiness to make a given person happier in their circumstances. To further prove this point, the same experiment was conducted in a hospital of amnesia patients. Once again, the patients were told to rank a set of pictures and then told they could keep one. After the pictures were removed and sufficient time for them to forget had passed, they were told to re-rank the pictures. The results came out the same.

According to Gilbert there is one big difference between natural happiness and synthetic happiness, however, and that is the freedom of choice. Gilbert presented another experiment; this time is was a photography course consisting of two control groups. Students were told to go and take 12 photographs of things that were meaningful to them. Afterwards they were told to pick their favorites. One group was told that they could only pick one photograph to keep and that they couldn't go back on that decision. The other group was told that out of two favorite photos, they had to pick one but if they changed their minds within 6 days they could swap for the other. The results showed that the group who could only choose once were completely happy with their choice and their picture while the other group was unhappy not only with their picture, but that they stayed unhappy even after the 6-day window expired. Why is this? Because the reversible condition (i.e. freedom of choice) is not conducive to synthetic happiness. Even though this is a definitive difference between the two types of happiness, Gilbert says one needs to know how to balance what’s important to one’s self. Gilbert closed out the lecture by saying “our longings and our worries are both to some degree overblown, because we have within us the capacity to manufacture the very commodity we are constantly chasing when we choose experience.”

Thanks, Justin, and thanks to Kilian Duggan for bringing to our attention!

Le Storytelling

2010-11-30T11:10:00.004-05:00

graphic by Marc C. Scott

The French have discovered a new tool which is proving very effective in communications, whether related to politics, marketing or corporate communications. They call it ... "Le Storytelling".
http://www.rezonance.ch/rezo/classes/ft-first-tuesday/geneve/20101102/one-community?page_num=0#programme
Translation of the introduction to the conference: "Humans have always told stories. The Anglo-Saxons, aces of storytelling, have realized that the narrative is a powerful communication tool. It's the best means to remember a message. Telling a story helps to seduce, convince and stimulate an audience, whether addressing voters, clients and collaborators. Raising emotions, stories reach reason through the heart. A hero is worth a thousand statistics!"

We'll try not to be smug, but we've been saying so for years!

graphic by Marc C. Scott

What is Storytelling Without Relationships?
http://bit.ly/ddC7Cu
"As technology provides us with more and more ways to tell stories, we would be wise to ask ourselves the extent to which any given storytelling medium enables us to preserve relationships"
In this interesting piece by Dr. Kathy Hansen, PhD, the specific role of connections and relationships in storytelling are examined. She first looks at a publication from Mark Oppenner called 'Different Ways of Remembering: The Example of Storytelling' (http://bit.ly/dnMPyN), who suggests that storytelling not only involves the physical presence of the audience and storyteller, but also a relationship that is formed between the two parties. Hansen also analyzes 'Storytelling As a Connective Tissue' (http://bit.ly/9PnBaU), where Laura Packer uses a different angle of seeing storytelling as the tool that shapes individuals as the hear and repeat stories.

Storytelling: It's Role in Information Visualization
http://bit.ly/9bvcpz
In this paper based on the works of Thomas, Gershon, and Ward, the Wojtkowski's explore the use of storytelling to support information visualization. They suggest that the development of technology and computers over recent years has helped to create new media and methods which can be used to deliver information in a fashion similar to storytelling. They argue that designers in these areas of technology still use paper-based modalities as replicas for their new media ones.

Telling the American Story
http://bit.ly/9uVFoq
In this 'structural and cultural analysis of conversational storytelling,' Livia Polanyi asserts that stories reflect culture, and thus, American stories reflect American culture. Her book provides thoughtful insight into many features of conversational stories that have either been put aside or omitted from formal analysis in this area of study. She also examines the structure of autobiographical stories, specifically the storytellers own evaluation of the events he or she is describing. The later chapters move to examine specific stories of American culture, from which Polanyi draws broad cultural assumptions.

Mastering the Discipline of Business Narrative
http://bit.ly/9HvzYk
Former world bank executive and master storyteller Stephen Denning's work looks at storytelling with a specific focus on it's role within the business environment. He is interested in expressing how important the skill of storytelling is for leaders, particularly in businesses. Most businesses, however, need assistance in implementing these narrative skills to effectively inspire and guide their organization. Also check out Denning's book, 'The Leader's Guide to Storytelling' (http://bit.ly/bzcuZr).

In French:

http://www.paperblog.fr/1850451/enquete-le-storytelling-en-entreprise/

a very interesting article about communication tools

With contributions by Andrew Chase

Gleaning

2010-11-18T11:28:00.013-05:00

Helga, by Andrew Wyeth

In our world of technology we are exposed to a massive amount of information. Sometimes a voice pierces the noise, a message, a statement. Two interviews did it for me this week.

“The difference between me and a lot of painters is that I have to have a personal contact with my models. I don’t mean a sexual love, I mean real love….I have to fall in love with [my models]—hell, I do much the same with a tree or a dog. I have to become enamored. Smitten. That’s what happened when I saw Helga walking up to the Kuerners’ lane. She was this amazing, crushing blond.”
Andrew Wyeth

This quote from an interview with Andrew Wyeth echoes the way I feel about my approach to work. I hadn't realized until I read it, but that's exactly how I function, I need to fall in love with the subject. Whether it's a student aspiring to open a non profit or a CEO excited about redefining the brand of his/her company, I tend to feel completely smitten, and strives for it to translate in the final product. That's my process, that's who I am.

An interview on NPR with Tina Brown also caught my attention.

http://n.pr/chwbf4

"I've never been one who kissed off the world of print"

In a marriage of old media and new media, Tina Brown announced last week that her online 'The Daily Beast' will merge with the printed magazine 'Newsweek.' Brown will take over editing duties of both publications, making her the first female editor of the magazine which was first published in 1933. The two entities will be combined to form the Newsweek Daily Beast Company.

This is a landmark event given the struggles of the magazine industry in recent years. Brown and the 'Beast' team look to incorporate their experience in online journalism into the magazine world, which she says allows for "a different kind of narrative rhythm. In a magazine you can be more reflective." says Brown."

As she has worked extensively in both media, really interesting to hear what she has to say about the future of print vs web.. Twenty years ago, it was predicted that paper would disappear from the office in a matter of years. While it's really starting to happen now, we haven't gotten quite rid of our filing cabinets at the office yet! Many businesses are wondering whether the actual world will be completely replaced by a virtual one. Will people stop buying their bottle of wine from the local store to order exclusively online? Will they watch 40 second content on their mobiles rather than sit in a theater for two hours ? Will they commute or telecommute? Will they visit their doctor's office or will the doctor examine them through web consultation tools? Tina Brown says: both. I tend to agree with her.

An article with a more technical approach about the merge: http://mashable.com/2010/11/15/newsweek-com-tumblr/

One of our favorite actors, Lisa Eichhorn, honored at the Reading Film Festival

2010-11-09T09:08:00.004-05:00

Lisa Eichhorn in Yanks

The Berks Arts Council with the Greater Reading Film Festival are celebrating "Women in Film" in this year's edition of the festival. What better choice than Lisa Eichhorn, who was born in Reading and went on to a distinguished acting and teaching career? After studying in Oxford where legend has that she supported herself by gambling on races, she auditioned for the role of a young Northern English woman in Yanks, a film by John Schlesinger. Her acting and accent were so convincing that the famed director selected her even after she revealed she was not English, but an American. She later appeared in the Merchant/Ivory production The Europeans. Her role in Ivan Passer's Cutter's Way brought her great critical acclaim. In this powerful drama, she plays John Heard's depressive wife while he's an embittered crippled veteran.

Lisa in A Modern Affair by Vern Oakley

We might be biased, but our favorite Lisa Eichhorn movie has to be A Modern Affair. She plays Grace Rhodes, a professional woman who hears her biological clock ticking and decides to resort to a sperm bank. Curious about her donor, known only as "#247," Grace tracks down Peter Kessler, played by Stanley Tucci, a handsome photographer who is skirting any kind of commitment. When Grace and Peter finally meet, they begin the journey down the rocky road to parenthood and possibly from there to love. Lisa understands perfectly the balance a romantic comedy requires, between reflective moments and more comedic or joyous episodes. The film is a natural fit for this year’s festival theme as Lisa’s character Grace Rhodes is a strong female lead in a film exploring the dynamics of modern sex relations.

A Modern Affair will screen this Saturday Nov. 13 2010 at 7 p.m., followed by a Q&A panel. …Around, a film produced by Lisa Eichhorn and directed by David Spaltro, will screen the following day on Sunday Nov. 14 at 3 p.m.

For more information about the festival, go to their website at http://www.berksmoviemadness.com

In Prague, is illusion everything?

2010-11-03T11:00:00.028-04:00

View of Prague at dusk

I make a commitment to go to the IQ (International Quorum of Motion Pictures Producers) conference every year. My wife Mary-Jo was able to join me this year. She actually got to see quite a bit of Prague while we were in meetings and presentations practically every day from 7am until 12pm. While the use of Internet, iPhone, and webcam helps to some extent. spending one week away from business poses a real challenge when we have several projects at different stages of completion. At times it seems like a lunatic idea. Once at the conference, I realize how much it has to offer, and how belonging to the organization has helped me run Tribe over the years. The theme this year was "Illusion is everything". Pretty creative! The conference had a definite European flavor, with a lot of focus on style and techniques. Some of the issues presented at the conference are more business oriented - the 2007 issue of the conference was hosted here by Tribe, its theme: Show me the money! This year IQ members had the opportunity to present their work to the whole association, whether video clips, powerpoint presentations or any other creative format. I screened a pilot for a TV show entitled "The Call", which takes an unusual look at the spiritual side of the world. We will introduce it soon on our News blog, expect to be surprised and entertained.

Photo by Thom Gonyeau

The viewing of presentations from all over the world is compelling. It reminds us of our primary role: storytelling. The variety of creative solutions is inspiring. Mind boggling. Saga Films, the IQ member in Iceland, produces hundreds of hours of TV and commercials a year. An awesome output for such a small country. And the quality of the productions drives us all to do better and come back with even better products next year. I always return from the IQ Conference with a satchel full of ideas, new outlooks, creative solutions.

Tribe and IQ have some important news to announce for 2011, more about that in our next communications.

Enjoying a break between presentations: Mary-Jo & Vern Oakley

How Online Video Is Driving Global Innovation.

2010-09-24T10:05:00.000-04:00

TED's Chris Anderson makes a convincing argument for how online video is driving innovation.

This quote resonated,"Cisco estimates within 4 years, 90% of the web's data will be video. If it's all puppies, porn and privacy we're doomed." So there you go...video is the standard of communication now. How successfully we use it to communicate is up to us.

The Kids Are Back In School. And So Is Tribe...In 4 Of Them Actually.

2010-09-17T12:17:00.002-04:00

Tribe's films for colleges and not-for-profits have helped our clients raise over 4 billion dollars. We are honored to be part of their incredible campaigns and efforts to make a difference and impact. This fall Tribe is in production on films for four universities.

184-yr old Lafayette College in Pennsylvania is undertaking a bold initiative to invest in its faculty. Celebrating the power of teaching. Who better to tell this story than Lafayette's alumni whose contributions mentor and make possible the power of teaching? Tribe is producing a film that will capture both, the need and the generosity of investing in our teachers for Lafayette.

For Washington and Lee, Tribe will produce a film that will be used in its ongoing branding and marketing initiatives. The film will celebrate its storied 261-yr old history, vibrant campus life in Lexington, Virginia today, and aspirations for the future.

At University of Connecticut, School of Business, Tribe is producing a film that showcases the school's global presence and innovative training - of business leaders at the national and international level and for a competitive global workforce of today.

Tribe is also making a film for Pennsylvania based Swarthmore College. The film's goal is to thank donors for their participation in their last capital fundraising campaign. We're working with the good folks at Swarthmore to find a really clever and witty way to do this.

All very exciting and busy for the next few months. Of course we'll keep you posted on progress.

Have a great weekend in the meantime!

The New Twitter.com - Video Makes It Richer, Faster, More Exciting!

2010-09-15T09:53:00.003-04:00

The Internet is abuzz with Twitter's announcement to integrate multimedia into its stream. Exciting news for advertisers and companies looking to engage viewers with video and multimedia. Not to mention Twitter might finally be on a monetizing path.

Doubt Twitter's popularity or a huge fan of pretty infographics? Check out the ultimate list of 100+ Twitter Statistics.

What we're currently working on.

2010-08-23T14:02:00.000-04:00

August is a vacation month. Not for Tribers and the clients we are working with. Or maybe that's why we were getting so much done....making hay while the sun shone on the vacationers.

Exciting things on tap include an R&D film for a Fortune 100 pharmaceutical company, a series of corporate social responsibility films, two more campaign films for acclaimed universities, and a film highlighting diversity in the workplace.

We get to go places, interview movers and shakers, bring compelling stories of success and vision to life, while doing what we love to do - make films!

Who said you need a vacation to have fun?

Internet Reader: internal sustainability

2010-07-27T05:38:00.006-04:00

(Image on right from flickr.com)
While our previous Internet Reader about sustainability was concerned with PR we didn't address one important PR audience every company shares: its own employees. This audience has to be considered with as much attention as more obvious external ones such as investors and consumers: employee good will is crucial to the success of a company. Their motivation to deliver and their loyalty are dependent on the company's image and reputation, which builds pride and commitment. And many companies are finding that sustainability efforts, while often costly to implement, bring savings in the long run. Below are examples of companies who have committed to employee participation in sustainability efforts.

Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. recently released its first sustainability report, a 5 year plan which focuses on the areas of environmental sustainability, health and wellness, philanthropy, workplace environment and ethical sourcing. They have detailed goals for each of these, but their goals for environmental sustainability include:
1) Conserve more than 60 million lbs. of PET plastic through package reengineering and increased use of post-consumer recycled material.
2) Improve energy efficiency in manufacturing operations by 10% per gallon of finished product.
3) Increase product shipments per gallon of fuel used by 20%.
4) Replace 60,000 vending machines and coolers with Energy Star-rated equipment that is approximately 30% more energy efficient.
5) Reduce water usage and wastewater discharge ratio in manufacturing operations by 10% per gallon of finished product.
6) Recycle 80% of solid waste in manufacturing.
These goals were created to reflect the best interests of the people who make, sell, buy, and invest in the company. They expect to improve company efficiency and employee commitment.
http://www.packagingdigest.com/article/509303-Dr_Pepper_Snapple_Group_releases_first_sustainability_report.php

In an effort to save money and become more environmentally friendly, Verizon has been experimenting with alternative-fuel vehicles and other methods of cutting costs and emissions. Most of its vehicles have been replaced with Ford E-250 vans. These vans are able to run on natural gas (CNG), which is cheaper and cleaner than gasoline or diesel fuel. In addition to these new vans, Verizon has cut down on its CO2 emissions by cutting engine idle time. Since 2008, drivers of Verizon vehicles have conserved more than 2.7 million gallons of fuel, the equivalent amount of greenhouse gases emitted by about 4,580 vehicles annually. Every single Verizon driver has become aware of the contribution the company is making to sustainability through their efforts.
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/verizon-to-cut-co2-emissions-by-converting-501-new-ford-e-series-vans-to-run-on-natural-gas-96130124.html
http://www.statesman.com/business/fleet-operators-pushing-toward-green-744155.html?page=2

Wal-Mart switched over to recycled cardboard for all of its boxing needs, and the store’s shelves are now stocked with many eco-friendly items such as photo frames made from recycled materials. While conveying to employees its commitment to the environment, Walmart is finding the sustainable methods cost-effective.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/12/business/energy-environment/12sustain.html?_r=1

Once Wal-Mart realized that reducing carbon would help save the planet, as well as cut costs, the stores themselves and their employees took measures to save on energy and materials to dramatic results. The next step for Wal-Mart was to find a way to reduce energy use of its suppliers, and so Wal-Mart came up with these three goals:
1) 100% renewable energy
2) Zero waste
3) Sustainable products for customers and practices for employees.
Every Wal-Mart supplier recently received a 15-part questionnaire, asking for details on energy use and renewable practices. The company intends to use this information to issue a Sustainability Index for each of its products. These won’t be completed for a year or two, but all over the globe, companies are racing to reduce their carbon footprints to get business from Wal-Mart.
http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news13565.html

Our previous Tribe Pictures Internet Reader about sustainability:
http://tribepictures.blogspot.com/2010/06/sustainability-and-pr-internet-reader.html

http://www.examiner.com/x-12791-Bay-Area-Green-Careers-Examiner~y2010m3d14-How-to-engage-employees-in-sustainability-initiatives

Tribe's intern for the summer

2010-07-02T08:59:00.001-04:00

We are thrilled to have Leslie Wentworth (photo on the right) at Tribe, as a summer intern. Leslie is a student at Wesleyan where she will start her junior year in the fall. Leslie is interested in the creative aspect of filmmaking, particularly photography and art direction/costumes - check out her very stylish 40s outfit!

She's been contributing in various areas, in particular on Tribe's "Happiness project".
Here's what Leslie has to say about her experience so far:

"The last film I made was a short documentary on the removal of peanut butter from my high school’s daily lunch menu. That was in 2007—so clearly my filmmaking experience is somewhat limited. Of course, this is certainly not due to lack of inspiration or interest to make my own film, but rather a severe lack of time and equipment.

I was more than excited to join Tribe for the summer and gain more experience with filmmaking—not necessarily holding the camera and creating my own masterpiece, but learning about the process of filmmaking and all of the tasks and people involved. I find myself learning something new every day that I am at Tribe—and I’m not just saying this because it would probably not sound good if I didn’t.

Though I love being a film major at Wesleyan, the education that I am receiving there is more of a basis for what I want to do in the future, as the primary focus of the major if film analysis. Right now I could rattle off the stylistic elements of a typical Fassbinder film and the six types of documentary, but I couldn’t tell you how to pitch an idea for a project and then get it financed.

What I find most interesting about the creative process (at least what I’ve seen so far) is the amount of collaboration that is involved. In an analytical film paper, I discuss mostly the director’s choices in the film and how he/she creates comparisons, meanings, and images, but it is very rare to see a film made solely by one individual. When at the first creative meeting with recent Kenyon graduate and director of photography Carl Kriss and the Tribe team, Vern asked everyone what they thought about the project and if they had any ideas. I thought to myself, what do I know? I’m only a junior in college and have been here for six days!

I realize now that the creative process is not just someone sitting down at a computer and pouring out their thoughts that eventually congeal into a fully developed, cohesive project. While the “happiness project” may for the most part be Vern’s brainchild, the input of others is necessary so as not to pigeonhole oneself into something that might be totally incomprehensible or boring to everyone else.

Using my film studies knowledge, I suggested watching Chronicle of a Summer, a French documentary from 1960, as a starting reference to see what others have done on the subject of happiness in the past. While this film tends to concentrate more on simply getting the truth via cinema vertité at its purest rather than finding small, concrete, inspiring stories, at its heart is the question “Are you happy?” (Actually I thought the film was a bit dull and much too abstract in the sense that it eventually devolves into poeticizing the lives of a few everyday people instead of actually gauging the level of happiness in Paris in the 1960s.) I’m excited to see where the project goes and to be involved with it.

Here are some of the other projects similar to the happiness project. We looked at these to get a sense of what others have done in the past in terms of similar style and subject matter."

http://interviewproject.davidlynch.com/

http://www.imfromdriftwood.com/

http://www.wisdombook.org/

Leslie Wentworth

Tribe and Happiness

2010-07-01T11:00:00.013-04:00

Tribe has been working on the "Happiness Project". No, we are not planning on turning every human being into one happy trooper. If only. We are interested in producing a project about happiness as this is probably the issue most crucial to us human beings. Happiness is a daunting subject which has got a lot of philosophers going for centuries. For millennia. What does it mean to be happy? If people say they're happy are they really happy? Can happiness be measured? We brushed these extricate interrogations aside and went for a simple approach: finding out from a variety of people what makes them happy. On a small scale. Or on a daily basis. Carl Kriss, a young filmmaker, has started working on the project under Vern's guidance. We're going to keep digging, hoping for a compelling collection of gold nuggets.

A still from an interview with a passenger who finds solace in distributing food to the homeless.

All your voicemails, text messages, phone lines in one place

2010-06-26T12:30:00.001-04:00

Google announced last Tuesday that the previously invitation-only Google Voice is now ready for and open to everyone. Google Voice is a telephoning system, where anyone trying to reach you can call just one number and reach you at home, on your cell, at work, or wherever else you might have a phone. Google Voice provides the number, or you have the option to use one of your existing phone numbers. Additionally, voicemails (which are translated to text) and text messages are all received via the internet, in one E-Mail inbox.

Skype will get some competition from Google Voice, which provides cheap international call options, but is not a local call provider.

Finally, parents, pay attention: your teenagers can text directly from Google Voice on the Internet instead of using their cellphone. Might be able to redirect some of the savings on cellphone bills to college saving account!

Checked off the production slate so far - 2010

2010-06-17T09:09:00.020-04:00

We have not always returned phone calls in time. Nor replied to emails with proper Internet etiquette when it comes to length (2 words), time frame (2 weeks) and signature (none). Some meetings were rescheduled 5 times, lunch was postponed to ... 2011. We got a little bit frayed at times. But we're proud to have brought 43 new babies (see proud parents list below) to life so far this year! Watch a selection on our youtube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/tribepictureschannel

4 films for Lexis Nexis

10 films for Colgate Palmolive

13 films for KPMG

1 film for Lewis & Clark College

9 films for Stanley Black & Decker

2 films for UConn

4 films for Phillips - Van Heusen

Sustainability and PR - an Internet Reader

2010-06-14T13:14:00.006-04:00

Sustainability has become a buzz word in the corporate world. In the world at large in fact. Is it a fad? We don't think so.

We can look back at trends of the past, such as the advent of computers, the switch from analog to digital, from local to global, the explosion of the Internet. The buzz words were then "virtual", "chips", "bits", "Web", "gigs", "globalization". Have they disappeared? No, they were here to stay. The new terms were enigmatic at first until they became part of our every day vocabulary. And companies which didn't adapt to those trends got erased from the map without a trace, unlike dinosaurs which at least left fossil carcasses behind for paleontologists to enjoy.

The main pressure for companies to choose sustainability has come from consumers, and consequentially from investors. Sustainability is one of the main aspects of corporate social responsibility (CSR), another buzz word which should command attention. Consumers expect more and more green practices from companies, particularly the young who constitute tomorrow's main consumer force. While PR is a perfectly sound motivation to adopt sustainability it is not the only one. We will consider other powerful reasons to embrace this trend in our next Internet Reader.

Below are examples of how companies have approached sustainability in the face of consumer and investor demand.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/teco-energy-publishes-corporate-sustainability-report-2010-06-10?reflink=MW_news_stmp
TECO Energy just released their 2009 sustainability report, which details the company's efforts to sustain its businesses for today. The report focuses on the company’s priorities including providing long-term business sustainability, being stewards of natural resources, and exhibiting high ethical behavior. Topics in the report include reducing gas emissions, recycling and reuse of water, coal, and other resources, and programs to protect and enhance the environment, among many others.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/darden-launches-new-corporate-and-sustainability-websites-96045949.html
Darden Restaurants, which consists of Red Lobster, Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, The Capital Grille, Bahama Breeze, and Seasons 52, recently launched an entirely new website which includes a sustainability microsite to allow employees, guests, and business partners to understand their methods and monitor their progress. Site features include:

Information on Darden's commitment to seafood sustainability and how the company is working to help ensure the health of global fisheries
Key commitments, including the company's goal to reduce per-restaurant energy and water use by 15 percent by 2015
Strategic partnerships with third-party organizations including the Sustainability Consortium and the New England Aquarium
Video testimonials from Darden employees and partners

http://www.triplepundit.com/2010/06/timberlands-road-to-recovery-paved-with-earthkeepers/comment-page-1/
To boost sales, Timberland began incorporating green materials into their shoes just in time for Christmas 2009. At first this did increase sales, however the company soon found that while many consumers care about green materials, they are more concerned with fashion and affordability. Timberland is now looking into ways to further use sustainability in their boots, while still making a product consumers will buy. A good example of the fine art of balancing consumer demands!

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/campbell-soup-company-celebrates-grand-opening-of-the-campbell-employee-center-at-expanded-world-headquarters-2010-06-10?reflink=MW_news_stmp
Campbell Soup opened a new Campbell Employee Center as an addition to their headquarters in Camden, NJ. The new building is LEED-certified and its sustainable features include natural lighting, water conservation, recycled materials, and more. It is part of Campbell Soup's embracing of corporate social responsibility, including goals to reduce water consumption and childhood obesity.

Fiction imitates reality. Or other way around?

2010-05-25T16:58:00.006-04:00

Is Tucci the Right Man?

In A Modern Affair a professional woman played by Lisa Eichhorn hears her biological clock ticking. She decides to resort to a sperm bank as she has not found Mr. Right. Becomes obsessed with the donor. Meets the donor. A very charming Stanley Tucci who is unaware that the woman he just met ... is carrying his baby!

http://amodernaffair.com/

Here's another plot. A woman finds her self in the same situation, in Boston. She acquires a sperm sample and makes an appointment for insemination. But she meets a very charming man BEFORE she has time to use the sample. Sample 8282. She passes the sperm sample to a woman who's also single and desperate for a baby. She in turn immediately meets a man and finds herself without the need of the donated sperm. 8282, clearly a lucky number. She passes it on to the next woman in line. Who, you've guessed it, also meets a man. A bit contrived of a plot, isn't it? Except that it all happened in real life, as told in the book Three Wishes.

http://threewishesbook.ning.com/

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/23/fashion/23sperm.html?8dpc

Modern methods of procreation, as well as the unusual ways of meeting a partner they can lead to, were topical when A Modern Affair was made. And still are today. Witness the flurry of movies on the subject being produced this year. We mentioned The Backup Plan. Next one out will be The Switch - formerly knows as The Baster (don't ask)(trust me). This time the sample from the donors gets switched around. Hence the title. Obviously.

http://www.slashfilm.com/2010/03/19/the-switch-movie-trailer-an-artificial-insemination-romantic-comedy/

The chicken or the egg? A Modern Affair or The Backup Plan?

2010-05-11T10:03:00.007-04:00

A Modern Affair - Grace tells Peter she's pregnant from A Modern Affair on Vimeo.
We won't try to solve the famous riddle of which came first, the chicken or the egg. But we can tell you that A Modern Affair came way before The Backup Plan was even conceived. Several film critics describe in their reviews (below) how they have been struck by the similarities in plot. We'll let you judge which version they liked better.

From Trey Dominique, film critic at The Lafayette Times:
"While watching the trailer, I had the funny feeling that I’d seen this movie before, so I did a little digging. Sure enough, the plot is remarkably close to 1995’s A Modern Affair. A Modern Affair was more romantic-drama than rom-com, but the story is close enough for me to classify this as another Hollywood recycle that I probably won’t need to see."
http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/20100422/ACADIANA03/100420041

From Amy Steele, film critic at Entertainment Real:
"Of course as there are few original films out, The Back-Up Plan is a remake of 1995′s A Modern Affair with Stanley Tucci and Lisa Eichhorn. "
http://entertainmentrealm.com/2010/04/21/film-review-the-back-up-plan/

From Carol Cling, film critic at Las Vegas Review Journal:
"There's a potentially insightful movie tucked inside "The Back-Up Plan's" connect-the-dots premise. (It's called "A Modern Affair," an edgy 1995 comedy that starred Lisa Eichhorn and Stanley Tucci.) But "The Back-Up Plan's" too busy spinning its sitcom-style wheels to move beyond the most broadly obvious humor."
http://www.lvrj.com/neon/-the-back-up-plan--91893649.html

Genevieve's thoughts on the "fourth" screen

2010-05-05T12:32:00.006-04:00

Always interesting to consult with Genevieve Castelino, as she likes to keep up to date with latest business and technology/media developments.

Hello, Genevieve,

You pointed out recently to the Tribe team how more ads are seen now on incidental screens (in taxis, elevators, doctor's office, etc.) than on traditional broadcast (see link below). Nielsen published a report showing that the "fourth" screen outdid the television, computer and mobile screens. How do you see this change affect the way corporations might deal with their communication needs? And what does it mean in terms of what Tribe does?

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/12/business/media/12adco.html?8ad&emc=seiab1

I think what is most important for corporations and us (Tribe) is that non broadcast video is here in a big way and how it is being delivered continues to grow. Traditional/known methods of reaching our consumers and end-users are being challenged every day. Is it fragmentation or new and exciting new ways to reach out? A little bit of both. But the fact is that the only ones who will successfully benefit from new technology are those who embrace it with an open mind, and remain flexible enough to capitalize on it as it unfolds.

For example – Stefany Koslow, one of our collaborators, shared with me this morning this technology - http://www.zoomino.com/ - touting a webpage being “live, interactive, multi-layered interface”. I immediately wonder what its relevance beyond huge content publishers who could monetize it is. But what interests me is that it is yet another outlet (hence need) for web video, another media platform to explore and to possibly add to our range.

Thanks, Genevieve, interesting!

Tribe's Internet Reader II - Media news

2010-04-27T10:14:00.002-04:00

Haven't got time to read up on the Internet? Don't worry, Melissa has been doing your homework. Our second Internet Reader below, with a focus on media news.

Twitter used to predict box office hits

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8612292.stm

Micro-blogging service Twitter can be used to predict the future

box-office takings of blockbuster films, according to researchers at

Hewlett Packard. An algorithm was created to figure out how many

people attend an opening weekend at a film by how often and how

quickly users tweeted about the film. The box office earnings were

accurately predicted for The Crazies and Dear John by using this

method.

Why iAds Could Be Bigger Than iPads

http://www.nytimes.com/external/readwriteweb/2010/04/09/09readwriteweb-why-iads-could-be-bigger-than-ipads-84900.html

Apple will soon provide an easy way for app developers to put

advertisements in their mobile apps and keep 60% of the revenue; it is

called the iAd. The reason iAd has a chance to change how users

interact with ads is simple: The fear and unknown of clicking on an ad

is gone. Apple is throwing its brand behind an entire ad network to

create the perception that if you trust Apple, you can trust these ads

too.

Netflix Signs Rental Delay Deals With Universal and Twentieth Century

Fox, Gets More Streaming Titles

http://www.nytimes.com/external/venturebeat/2010/04/09/09venturebeat-netflix-signs-rental-delay-deals-with-univer-47096.html

Netflix has struck a deal with major film studios to delay the rental

of newly released movies for a 29-day period. With this deal, the

studios have nearly a full month where consumers can only purchase a

new DVD or blu-ray film rather than rent. In exchange for this delay,

Netflix has gained greater access to television series and films for

internet streaming.

Study Says Almost Half Of Americans Use Social Networks

http://hothardware.com/News/Study-Says-Almost-Half-Of-Americans-Use-Social-Networks/

A collection of statistical findings showing how technology is being

used by Americans. Approximately 78% of teens and 77% of 18 to

24-year-olds have personal profile pages. Nearly one in four Americans

has listened to audio from an iPod or other MP3 player connected to a

car stereo. For the first time, more Americans say the Internet is

"most essential" to their lives when given a choice along with

television, radio, and newspapers. Texting has become a daily activity

for nearly half of all mobile phone owners. Sixty-two percent of homes

with Internet access have wireless network set-ups in their homes.

Paramount Offers Seagate Buyers Preloaded Movies

http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/paramount-offers-seagate-buyers-preloaded-movies/

Seagate will soon release a 500GB external hard drive that will be

preloaded with 21 full length movies for users. The drives will come

preloaded with the 2009 release "Star Trek" as a complimentary film,

and the remaining 20 films can be unlocked for a price of

$9.99-$14.99. It is not known yet how much of the hard drive will be

used with this content. As of now, the preloaded movies will only be

available to Windows users.

Thanks, Melissa!

Google & Youtube create The Search Video

2010-04-20T13:14:00.003-04:00

Google has partnered with Youtube to create a new feature, the search stories video creator. Basically the user enters a series of 6 groups of search terms, and a video is created with the search results. A limited choice of standard music tracks is offered that can be added as sound track. Unless more tools are generated, creativity is severely limited. Here's our search story below (better watched full screen).

http://www.youtube.com/user/SearchStories

Is A Modern Affair A Backup Plan?

2010-04-16T11:17:00.002-04:00

In the film A Modern Affair, the backup plan of the main character, played by Lisa Eichhorn, is to resort to a sperm bank when Mr. Perfect fails to show up in her life. The idea behind this Tribe Pictures film (A Modern Affair! Not The Backup Plan!) directed by Vern Oakley is simple: what if a woman gets pregnant. Then meets the father. Then falls in love with him. While the subject is modern, as its title underlines, it is also timeless: bringing a child to the world, whether by natural or technological means, requires commitment. As does a relationship between a man and a woman. The Backup Plan producers concur, timeless and modern at once is good. Particularly for movies. The concept of The Backup Plan is of course vastly different from A Modern Affair: what if a woman gets pregnant. Then meets a man. Then falls in love with him. We take it as a nod to our film, a kind of homage. Well, Amy Steele thinks The Backup Plan is a straight remake of A Modern Affair (see article). We didn't say it. The Backup Plan is not the only film which followed A Modern Affair in tackling the issue of technology and babies, check out Switch (2010) and Baby Mama (2008).

While the two film share a similar plot, and New York City as the main location, the cast couldn't be more different. To A Modern Affair's subtle Stanley Tucci, hunky Alex O. To our delicate Lisa Eichhorn, JLO. Which couple will pull it more convincingly? The bet is on!

Competition of the month: spot the differences between the two films. You can start with the tag line of the two posters. Win a DVD of A Modern Affair if you identify them all.

Tribe's Internet Reader I - Techie news

2010-04-13T12:34:00.001-04:00

So much too read on the Internet, but who has the time? Melissa makes the time and shares with us. In short blurbs. Now we have no more excuses not to educate ourselves. Starting right away with the biggest news: the Tablet.

Google Android Tablet to compete with iPad

Google is about to release the Android Tablet, a new touch-screen tablet that

will rival the iPad. Running the Android OS, the tablet will allow all

the same functions as the iPad and more. Unlike Apple's applications,

which limit what user-created applications can be sold, Google allows

users to create new applications and sell them without limitations.

The Android will also run all Google programs including the soon to be

released Google Voice.

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/04/nyt-google-android-tablet-imminent/

Can't watch videos on your iPad? Check this out:

Apple and Adobe (the creators of Flash) are butting heads. Because of

this, the iPad and iPhone do not support flash videos. However, there

are many sites that will still provide video viewing on your portable

Apple products thanks to HTML5 video formats. YouTube, Netflix, Vimeo,

TED Talks, Flickr, New York Times, TIme Inc., NBC, ABC, CBS, UStream,

Myspace.

http://mashable.com/2010/04/03/best-ipad-apps-video/

FireFox gears up to attract bloggers

This is a list of great plug-in extensions for the Firefox browser

that are used by bloggers. FireFTP is a light FTP service that does

not slow your browser down. SeoQuake is a search engine optimization

tool. Domain Availability Search is a tool that quickly searches for

your desired domain name's availability. Shareaholic is a tool that

automatically posts your update to an incredible list of social

networking sites. Flagfox shows on a map where in the world the server

of the website you are viewing is located; this helps with security

issues.

http://www.smashingapps.com/2010/04/10/5-must-have-firefox-extensions-for-bloggers.html

Thanks, Melissa!

400 Million $? Absolutely!

2010-03-25T08:08:00.012-04:00

Jon Huberth and Vern Oakley in fine mood at NYU gala

In 2004, NYU Law School asked us to produce a fundraising film for their Where We Stand campaign. The goal: 400 million dollars. The result: ✓+. The 400 Million mark was reached several months before the 5 year deadline. 500 donors and contributors were invited to a celebratory gala at the New York Public Library. Which happens to be the same venue where our fundraising film showed five years ago. Our fundraising film demonstrated to alumni and other donors how their contributions would advance the Law School, making it one of the top in the nation. Nothing like a little pride to pull heartstrings. And purse strings!

Vern and Jon were there too. The Thank You film they were asked to produce was screened as the centerpiece of the event. (see video clip below). It was received as warmly as our initial fundraising film. In collaboration with the NYU Law School, we are working on adapting the footage to create new pieces for the web. And add to the collection of over 30 web pieces we have already produced for this institution.

The funds raised through the campaign have helped push NYU Law School into a new realm of excellence. The funds have financed the creation of new student scholarships, the hiring of 32 new faculty, the support of existing programs and the creation of new ones. A building was bought and renovated, another one is being built from scratch. We're very proud of having contributed to this effort. Our Thank You film showcases the experience of four students who have benefitted from these changes, as well as faculty expressing gratitude.

Where We Stand- Campaign for NYU School of Law: Thank You!

The full video is on the NYU Law School youtube channel:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWVDmBBM-t4&feature=related

Credits

A film by . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jon Huberth
   Vern Oakley

Producer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Genevieve Castelino

Production associate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris Sisson

Director of photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Craig Braden

Sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tom Bergin

Gaffers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Curt Jentsh
   Steve Becker

Editor   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ray Quaranto

Graphic designer   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael Millspaugh

   For NYU Law School:

Jeannie Forrest
Associate Dean of Development & Alumni Relations

Elyse Mall Klayman
Senior Director of Communications

Pamela Kruger
Writer

Nick Vagelatos
Campaign Manager

David Niedenthal
Director of Creative Services

Elizabeth Rohlfing
Executive Director, Office of the Dean

Kara Van Woerden
Graphic Designer

Follow our digital footprints!

2010-01-27T11:30:00.056-05:00

We used to meet in conference rooms. At screenings. Award ceremonies. Around a nice lunch. At the gym. We still do, but we meet even more often online. You're familiar with our website. Are you aware of our presence on the Web at large?

We have a youtube channel, tribepictureschannel.

We have a Vimeo channel: tribepictureschannel.

Tribe Pictures is on LinkedIn, and so are Vern and Genevieve and Paul and Felicia and Arabella and Elizabeth and Rodney, am I forgetting anyone?!

Vern is on Twitter as vernoakley. Arabella is anomyno (for some obscure reason), Paul is Ring94.

You will find our feature A Modern Affair ... in way too many pages to list. The most prominent are:

(rate it!)

(rate it! borrow it!)

(recommend it! Tweet it!)

(watch it! rate it!)

(Rate it! Review it!)

(Alright. You got the message)

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Websites we surf:

Vern stills likes to hold paper in his hands when he gets his news. He checks offline and online: NY Times, the New Yorker, American Cinematographer, MovieMaker, Forbes, Fortune, IMDB, WebInkNow.

Genevieve who is an insatiable reader covers the usual suspects, she says, as well as BBC, LA Times, and also techcrunch, wired, CIO Insider, ZDNet, Cnet, techradar.

Arabella reads her news mostly on lemonde.fr, is on bookmooch, iLike, blogs on blogger.com. She wishes she had more time to spend on ted.com. Has anyone mentioned mashable yet?

Michael, who is our go to resource for latest tech developments, gets his wisdom from AnandTech, DSLReports, and the TechReport.

Paul shares his wisdom on small business at opportunity-inc.com.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What about you?

Please feel free to let us know where we can find you. And your blog. And your website. And your photos. In comments section below!

Tragedy in Haiti

2010-01-14T08:00:00.009-05:00

We've been shaken by the tragedy in Haiti. Hard to go on with our daily lives when we know there is so much hardship not so far from us. Particularly sad that a country struggling with many difficulties has to face one more. We are hoping that the international help coming in will be helpful in saving more lives and in rebuilding. And that the solidarity we have witnessed on the news might create a new sense of unity within a country torn by internal factions.

While we at Tribe are contributing to the charity effort with donations (see link below for various charities) we are sending as a team our heartfelt sympathy to the people of Haiti and to all those in the United States who have family or are in some other way affected personally by the tragedy.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/livecoverage/2010/01/haiti_earthquake_how_to_help.html?hpid=topnews

7 Tips for watching videos online

2010-01-12T14:56:00.027-05:00

Our New Year resolution: to watch video clips online with better resolution. Watching an image that freezes and jerks can be infuriating. If you are also looking for a better screening experience, here's a list of tips we've put together - does not include "one rule for a flat tummy" or "a mother's tip to whiter teeth", promised!

Is this what watching videos online feels like to you?

1. Try using a different browser

Firefox might be a good browser for certain activities but it is not ideal for watching clips. It is programmed to save tabs every few minutes and that interferes with the streaming of clips. A good browser for playing clips is google chrome.

http://www.google.com/chrome/index.html?hl=en&brand=CHMA&utm_campaign=en&utm_source=en-ha-na-us-bk&utm_medium=ha

2. Mobile phones a different case
With many mobile phones youtube video need to be accessed through m.youtube.com. The Android, iPhone and PalmPre come with a built in Youtube application. But watching youtube videos on a mobile phone is an experience which will need improving in the future. At this stage some mobile phones don't play youtube videos and some youtube videos don't play on mobile phones! Better stick to a computer if a decent resolution and flow is desired.

3. Let the clip buffer

If your connection to the Internet is fairly slow (dial up, dsl) and/or the clip is large, let the clip buffer before you play it. Particularly valid for fullscreen video clips.

4. Choose a lower resolution clip

Some clips are uploaded to the Internet in various resolutions. If your connection is slow, choose a lower resolution clip.

5. Make sure you have the latest version of Flash

It's important to have the latest version of Flash as most video clips use Flash encoding: Flash 10. (If you are using a PowerPC Mac, you might need to use version 9.) Check on your computer which version of the software you have. If it is not the latest, here's the link for downloading:

http://www.adobe.com/support/flashplayer/downloads.html#fp10

6. Youtube offers special features
If you have a slow connection or are using a computer which can not handle the latest Flash, go to youtube.com/feather_beta. You will be ask to choose this feature. Your screening experience will improve, while some of youtube's features will not be accessible such as leaving comments. You can go to youtube.com/XL to see the videos in full screen, if you have that capacity.

7. Close all other windows/tabs and programs

Your email application will be checking for emails on a regular basis, using part of the bandwidth if it is downloading a large file. Other browser windows might be playing animated advertisements which will interfere. And shutting down your other applications will allow more memory to be available to player. Again, particularly valid if your connection is on the slow side.

If you are still having problems, shoot us an email!

arabella@tribepictures.com

Below is an exclusive interview with our wiz Michael Millspaugh which gives you some insight as to why we have issues watching videos and what the future holds for us:

"Michael, what's the word on improving Flash performance?"

"Well, there's hope on the horizon. Flash video (which is 90% of video on the web, inc youtube, hulu, et al) is right now dependant on the CPU to run. That is, every frame is written and decoded by the main processor in the computer, which is great for doing one long line of things quickly, but is terrible at doing multiple things at once (even multi-cores can really only efficiently do the # of cores they have). GPUs (Graphical Processing Units, as opposed to Central Processing Units) are processors as well, however instead of being optimized for doing one long task, they’re optimized for doing thousands upon thousands of small calculations simultaneously. This is great for working with video (both playback and compressing) because each frame/audio clip can be processed at the same time as another, preventing/drastically reducing stutter. GPUs are more commonly called “graphics cards” - they’re essential for video gaming on the computer, and they’re common in high-end computers. Lower-end computers tend to not have distinct GPUs, and instead block off some of the computer’s CPU and memory for “video processes”. This is a poor solution, and makes watching anything approaching HD video on them difficult."

"So what's the next tech improvement in store for us?"

"The upcoming release of Flash unlocks the GPU’s ability to play Flash video – essentially, a huge huge performance boost for online video (SD, HD) for anyone who has a distinct GPU.

The race in computing right now is to develop a processor/processor pair that can do both long-single-task-strings and short-multiple-tasks just as efficiently. Both nVidia and Intel (the two largest chipmakers) are working on solutions, and it should be the new thing by the end of 2010."

"Thanks, Michael!"

December 2009 Newsletter

2010-01-06T15:11:00.000-05:00

Just in time for the holidays

2009-12-22T15:24:00.014-05:00

We have been working on two films for the University of Connecticut School of Nursing. While in production, I was in daily contact with the teaching staff and with the nurses there.

I am awed by their commitment. It is inspiring. Touching. To watch these nurses, men and women, go about their business. The business of caring.

The primary motivation in their life is care. Of older people, of premies, of pregnant women, of sick children, of the handicapped. Looking after the emotions as well as the physical well being of their patients, by giving 100%. A beautiful thing. A breath of fresh air. We at Tribe are proud to be given the opportunity to showcase their contribution. Our small bit in this holiday season.

"A Modern Affair" film of the week on Fancast.com!

2009-12-12T13:03:00.013-05:00

We at Tribe are thrilled that A Modern Affair has been chosen as film of the week by Fancast.com. Andy Hunsacker, who picks the films, likes to alternate between big Hollywood blockbusters and more thoughtful independent films. He asks some interesting questions to Vern in the interview which is published on the site (see link below). And gets some interesting answers! Vern recalls how he came up with the idea for the story, which relates to his personal experience at the time. He tells of the casting: as the main male part had been written with Stanley Tucci in mind, it was a thrill when the actor got cast in that role. Included are some production crisis stories, which are always fun to talk about ... long after they happen!

http://www.fancast.com/blogs/the-movies/movie-of-the-week-a-modern-affair/

Watch the clip here!

Vern at IQ annual conference in Maui

2009-12-05T22:10:00.022-05:00

Vern has been attending the annual IQ conference. IQ stands for International Quorum of Motion Picture Producers. Pffew. It's as smart as it sounds: the only global organization dedicated to film production company owners. It's particularly exciting for Vern to participate this year as he's IQ's new President Elect. In 2007, Tribe Pictures hosted the IQ conference, welcoming over 50 friends and colleagues in New Jersey. The event was a success, getting a lot of attention from media and professionals. This year the conference is taking place in Maui, because its location is equally accessible from all world regions. Anyway that's their excuse!

Says Vern: "Just back from the IQ conference. The theme this year was R.E.A.L. Relax, enjoy, and learn. We chose the best location for it: Maui. Well, there was a lot of learning, a lot of enjoying and not that much relaxing! While it takes planning to fit into my schedule, attending the IQ conference is always stimulating and informative.

This year we've had a couple of events centered on new technology. IQ is a great forum to keep up with the latest advances in technology within a group of like-minded individuals. A video conference put us in direct contact with the head of technology for Red Camera. We discussed its impressive qualities and capacity, and were able to shoot film tests. Hard to tell the difference between these and tests shot with a 35mm film camera! 3D is another technology going through some fast changes.

We were given a demonstration of the latest 3D technology by a top technical specialist. 3D has taken giant steps recently in terms of quality and market presence. 3D screenings are becoming commonplace in local theaters. While this format has been used a lot for animation in theaters, we're seeing a move towards 3D live action. And 3D is expected to expand into new distribution platforms, including TV. Get ready to keep a pair of glasses by your TV set. Or by your iPhone!

The IQ conference always offers panel discussions. This year we looked at various strategies in surviving the crisis. Members presented their solutions, whether it's moving beyond core markets or redefining their activities. Besides the conferences and panels IQ is a great occasion for members to network, exchange experiences and learn about each other. I met Tope, a producer from Nigeria. I knew that Nigeria is a big country: over 100 million people in one of the largest countries on earth. Tope informed me that not only is it large with a big oil economy, it's in dire need of TV material, as each of its 36 states has two TV channels. A booming Nolliwood has emerged to create content for TV and for theatrical release. I was happy to reconnect with Brazilian producer Marcio deLemos. He's working on Imperfect Love, a romantic comedy set in Sao Paolo, which is half way through shooting. I happen to be one of the investors. Along with the city of Sao Paolo. Marcio, as a producer, is associated with Paraty, the feature film we are developing at Tribe. I enjoyed exchanging impressions and ideas with Josh Miller who produces comedy. His documentary about male belly dancer is funny and quirky. We talked about the advantages of shooting in the prairies of Edmonton where his studio is based. And with an Estonian producer about the ins and outs of shooting in Estonia. After having been around the world, at least that's how it felt, I was glad to come back to New Jersey, my family, my company. With a head full of new ideas, whether relating to new technology, or new alliances, or film opportunities. Enriched!"

April Newsletter

2009-04-08T11:00:00.007-04:00

A Modern Affair Website Launches

2009-01-05T11:56:00.001-05:00

The website for A Modern Affair has just launched, coinciding with it's release in digital format on Amazon.com and iTunes.

An intern tells it like it is.

2008-12-01T09:28:00.015-05:00

“A Baby Bird in the Spotlight”

By Eric Georgeson

With a teetering economy, a tough job market, an industry notorious for its cutthroat competition, and constantly evolving technology, entering into a career in film can be a frightening thing for even the most self-confident candidate. As the industry stumbles around in the dark trying to keep up with the Jones’, hope for the future comes in small anxiety ridden packages. Fortunately, Tribe Pictures is a ray of light amidst the fog. With over 20 years of experience in both feature and corporate films, Tribe takes a practical approach to film that has garnered them respect from some of the industry’s top clientele. As an intern at Tribe, I had a great perch from which to watch a thriving company in action. After comparing notes with friends about the rigors of being a greenhorn in video and film production, I realize how truly valuable my experience has been. Many of the “larger” agencies and production companies can offer a shiny gold star that might look decent on your resume, but they can also leave you discombobulated and proficient only in the art of gophering and coffee pouring. At Tribe, I got hands-on experience in everything from creative content development and script revision to editing and marketing - in addition to brewing the occasional cup of coffee and taking out the trash. Nestled in a quaint two-story Tudor house in the middle of Chatham, NJ, working at Tribe felt more like going to a second home in the morning than going to work. I was actually nearly sent home on my first day for showing up in a shirt and tie, attire that doesn’t fit with the casual laid-back feel of the place. In the two and a half months I spent at Tribe, I felt like I had been adopted by a family, rather than exploited by a company. I was involved in assisting in the production of the web series GetFitwithAlyson.com, an exciting Internet show created in conjunction with the Nintendo Wii and Alyson Stoner of the Disney Channel, an experience that I know will be valuable as online media moves to the forefront. I also got to associate produce a documentary with a senior producer from 20/20 and drop my two cents into the development of Paraty, an introspective feature film that Tribe is producing about coming to terms with loss and love set in the beautiful backdrop of the coastal town of Paraty, Brazil. With all this experience at my fingertips, I feel confident and prepared as I set my sights on graduating from Colorado State University this fall. And it’s all thanks to mama bird Tribe for helping me learn to use my wings to their full soaring potential… Now it’s back to sorting boxes in the basement. After all, it can’t be all glitz and glamour.

August Newsletter

2008-10-27T11:31:00.003-04:00

Tribe Newsletter - June

2008-06-05T13:40:00.001-04:00