Got Leadership? Ten Quick Resources for Hispanic Kids to Acquire Lifetime Leadership Skills

Businesses and organizations everywhere want to build a legitimately diverse and excellent workforce.  If you are a Hispanic young man or woman with drive, responsibility and smarts, individuals and organizations are looking for you!   Communication and leadership skills are most desirable.  Here are ten sources of leadership training available to most teens:

1. Little League, Pop Warner and AYSO Youth soccer leagues helps boys and girls develop physically and learn team leadership skills.  www.ayso.org/
2. Boys and Girls Clubs of America. www.bgca.org/
3. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.  http://www.scouting.org/    http://www.girlscouts.org/
4. Youth groups at church.
5. 4H Clubs.  www.4-h.org/
6. The Freechild Project.  http://www.freechild.org/youth_leadership.htm
7. Good neighborhood public schools offer kids leadership growth opportunities in academics, sports, clubs and school organizations like student council.
8. The Youth Leadership Institute has been an innovative leader in the field of youth development for over 20 years  http://www.yli.org/
9. The National Youth Leadership Council  develops young leaders by providing direct trainings, leadership opportunities, and the resources and support to tackle issues that matter to them in their communities.   http://www.nylc.org/
10. Rotary Youth programs mentor promising youngsters.  http://www.rotaryyouth.com/

These organizations offer solid adult mentorship and supervision.  Most have programs that expose kids of diverse backgrounds to healthy activities and greater responsibility over themselves and their peers. They may not be for everyone but thanks to the Web, the ability for individual youth and their parents to research opportunities for leadership growth has never been better.

I benefited greatly from a decade-long involvement in Boy Scouts and Explorer Scouts, and today give back through activities with the Boy Scouts of America/Los Angeles Council.

Many older teens learn discipline, technical skills and leadership in the biggest training opportunity of all, campus ROTC or service in the US Military, the route my own Dad took.  Good luck!

The 15 Second Video Ad

Studies through Nielson on mobile ad effectiveness are finding that consumers exposed to mobile video ads demonstrated significantly higher brand awareness, favorability and interest in purchasing. Mobile video has become a high performing vehicle to drive ROI and merits greater investment in cross-screen marketing campaigns. How can your brand launch an effective video ad for mobile platforms?

The ideal mobile video ad length was determined to be 15 seconds. Now a days even if your ad is motion picture quality, a mobile ad that is 6 minutes long will not produce the results you need. Our lives are very busy and keeping someone’s attention for that long on a video advertisement is difficult. How long would you spend watching a mobile video ad?

Before you start creating your next ad campaign, I’ve organized some valuable points for your perusal.

1. Always have great content. Interesting content creates effective video ads. Since the ideal ad unit in mobile is 15 seconds, it should probably be the most compelling within the first second or two. Aim to get your point across quickly and in a way that will resonant with the audience you are trying to reach.

2. Know your audience. Knowing who you are trying to market too will play a role in both the content and where you deliver the message. If you want to reach an audience that will actually watch your video, make sure your ads run on engaging, entertaining, long session time apps like TV viewing, video content, games and social apps. Users in these apps are more receptive and more likely to engage with ads. Context is equally important, particularly for brands, so be equally sure your ad is running alongside content that is appropriate for your video.

3. Optimize your video ad for all platforms. If your video doesn’t load in three seconds or less, your audience will just go on to something else. Make sure your video is not grainy and your audio doesn’t cut in and out. Don’t put your brand at risk with slow-loading, low quality video.

As you plan those creative campaigns for next year, keep the above thoughts in mind and I look forward to working with you on your next mobile video ad in 2013!

Capture Better Pictures of Your Kids

The holidays are here and you don’t want to miss any of those touching family moments. Some of the most treasured things parents can possess are pictures of their kids. Here are a few simple picture taking tips for your holiday events.

1. Have fun with Props. Think toys, teddy bears, books, a wreath, dreidels or a candy cane. Kids will be more at ease when they are holding something in their hands. Let them show off their personality in the pictures.

2. Photograph at a child’s level. Get down close. Squatting or sitting to take a picture of your kids will capture them at a much more flattering angle.

3. Shoot a lot. If you’re using a digital camera, there’s no waste. You never know what your kids will do next so keep the shots going. Kids don’t have to be posed and looking at the camera to get a great shot. Candid shots work too!

4. Try shooting in monochrome mode, black and white mode or use Instagram-type effects.

5. Shoot with the highest jpeg quality. If you know photoshop, shoot in both jpeg and raw. Having a large digital file is like having a longer zoom because it allows you to crop the picture and still have good resolution to print and share the cropped image.

6. Crop your photos to clean up the background. A cluttered, busy environment around your subject can overpower your photo. One way to avoid this is to frame the picture in such a way that the area behind your child is free of clutter and then crop the photo to zero on the main subject.

Happy Holidays!

PRVideo.TV Goes Over the Edge!

I feel fortunate to have traveled all over the world and work in places such as Fiji, Israel and Japan. After last weekend I can add a new adventure to my list. It’s a place few men or women have ever traveled, the top of The Westin™ Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles, 32 stories straight up! The Boy Scouts of America hired PRVideo.TV to take still photos of their Over the Edge 3 fundraising event. The goal was to raise $100,000 for the Boy Scouts of America and inner city programs for kids in Los Angeles. What an exciting event to witness first hand!

The news camera crews gathered below and helicopters hovered overheard anticipating the start of the event. Crowds of people gathered to take pictures and cheer on the participants. This year sixty brave participants rappelled along 367 feet of shimmering glass windows to the safety of terra firma. What a rush! Arthur “Tri” Fritz, Director of Annual Giving for the Los Angeles Area Council, Boy Scouts of America (Office: (213) 413-4400 x313 | tri.fritz@boyscoutsla.org) offered me a chance to handle the ropes myself but I passed. Maybe next year!

The Los Angeles skyline was a sight to see and everyone involved had a great blast. Best of all, we were all there raising money for a great cause!

Be sure to check out the website for Over The Edge 3 and if you happen to watch the ABC News Video see if you can spot me up on the roof! 🙂

-Marshall
PRVideo.TV

Animoto Gets You Going with Web and App Based Video Creation from Still Photos

A friend of mine introduced me to Animoto and in a nutshell Animoto lets you create fun videos from your own photos, video clips, texts and music. This can be a great tool for recreational or professional web users looking to expand their product offerings to their clients. You can also get Animoto’s iPhone and Android applications for those on the go or onsite moments. With the proliferation of mobile photography and video this could put more immediate options right in your hands.

To showcase the simplicity of how quickly and easily you can create a video upon signing up for your account Animoto asks if you’d like to create your first video using your Facebook images. I said “why not” and gave it a go. Within minutes I had a thirty second video showing my images in a fun and professional video collage with music. Sharing the video was a snap on a website, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Pinterest and via email. I could pick web friendly video resolutions 360p, 480p and 720p HD. Animoto has many “styles” to chose from and some good looking holiday themes for free. The Pro account which you pay for, has even more. Each “style” has it’s own unique effects, background and transitions. They look professionally done and polished.

Animoto offers you three levels of accounts. Lite is the attractive price of “FREE”. With a Lite account you get unlimited 30-second videos, dynamic themed video styles for all occasions and 600+ music tracks. You can also upload your own music like in all of the other plans.

To learn more and create your first video in minutes visit Animoto.com. It’s Fun!

-Marshall
PRVideo.TV

Blue September & Facing Up to Prostate Cancer

• In 2012, more than 240,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and more than 33,000 men will die from prostate cancer.

• One new prostate cancer case occurs every 2.2 minutes.

• A man dies from prostate cancer every 15.6 minutes.

September was Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and PRVideo.TV worked along side Blue September and Tellem Grody PR to capture the heartfelt mission of the Los Angeles awareness event at City Hall on video and in photo stills. Blue September is a critically acclaimed international awareness campaign founded to increase awareness of prostate cancer. During September people are encouraged to paint their faces blue to increase outreach and help save lives.

Councilman Tom LaBonge, Radiation Oncologist Dr. Howard Sandler, Kaley Todd from California Walnuts, Daniel Zenka from the Prostate Cancer Foundation, Geoff Burton, Blue September’s International Spokesperson, and other supporters gathered for the “Blue Tie” event and the lighting of LA City Hall blue. The event was a huge success for Blue September and we look forward to their Los Angeles return next year!

Helpful Tips on Cell Phone Pics

With the iPhone 5 now out and new panoramic picture capabilities, we can’t forget the basic tips for getting a better photo with your cell phone. Here are some of my beginning tips to consider when you are out and about taking pictures.

1. Remember Your Thirds

“Composition 101″ still applies to taking pictures with your cell phone. Try to imagine two horizontal and two vertical lines intersecting across your image, and place important elements of your image at the point where two of these lines intersect. Equally, try to place important lines (e.g. a horizon) across one of the third lines in your photo. Many cell phones now super-impose these lines over the image for you, which can be incredibly helpful. Be sure to turn this feature on if you have it available.

2. Lighting is Still Key

Although cell phones have advanced tremendously, they still can’t replace your SLR. One of the key areas that many phones struggle with is in capturing enough light. To help with this, ensure that your subject is well lit. Turn on the light, open the curtains, or wait until the sun is a little higher in the sky. Try out your cell phone’s camera flash and see what improvement that provides. It may be the slight boost you need. Try using it outside as a fill-flash and get that extra “punch” you were looking for.

3. Get Close to Your Subject

One of the most common mistakes with camera phone images is that their subject ends up being a tiny, unrecognizable object in the distance. Fill up your view finder with your subject to save having to zoom in on the subject when editing it later.  The best way to deal with a crowded and busy background is to fill the frame with your subject. Get close and avoid a photo with a tiny subject in the middle of a crowded background.

4. Don’t Throw Away “Mistakes”

Wait to see your cell phone pictures on your computer. You might find that they come alive on a quality monitor. You’ll also find that even “mistakes” and blurred shots can be usable for abstract ways.

5. Take it Everywhere!

The best camera is the one you have with you!  There is no need to carry around an extra point-and-shoot, or remember to charge a second device. The cell phone can’t replace a powerful digital SLR, but it’s an incredibly capable piece of equipment. Take it with you everywhere and shoot off many shots quickly and without cost. Experiment with different modes, composition, new angles, and perspectives.

Happy Shooting!
-Marshall

PRVideo.TV

Get Ready For Your Executive Portrait

Websites, LinkedIn, brochures, press releases, company publications and other media all require a head shot of The Boss or relevant executive depending on the story.  This picture can carry a lot of meaning as it may be the first and possibly only visual representation of your company and values a new client or the public may have.  As they say “there’s never a second chance to make a first impression;”  approach the creation of this image with some care.

First of all, a definition: we are talking “chest up” shots here, not wider environmental or group images.  Generally your photographer will supply a background of a drape or seamless paper.

Gov. Jerry Brown

I never thought I’d be writing a column like Emily Post, but here are a few suggestions to help the executive prepare for a photo shoot:

1. What to wear:  Simple and classic are best for professional portraits.  Unless you are the late Steve Jobs, a suit and tie are your executive uniform.  Keep colors and patterns muted but some color in a tie adds flair.  Your clothes are the frame for your face but they also reflect taste and professionalism.

Female executives enjoy a bit more freedom but I recommend avoiding distracting jewelry and decolletage.  As an executive the goal is to transmit an image of competency, intelligence and authority.

It helps to bring an alternative jacket, tie or scarf to see how they work on camera.

2. Colors to avoid: pastels, greens if your complexion has yellow undertones as green can make skin tones appear sickly; avoid multi-colored and busy patterns and bright red as the principle color.  No white, beige or yellow shirts without a darker jacket.

If you have a very dark complexion the best way to drive your photographer into another profession is to wear all white as lighting then becomes very challenging.  In general unless you’re a bride or a doctor, don’t wear all white!

Susan Tellem, RN, APR

3. Grooming:  gentlemen, this is a close-up so have a fresh shave and check out those pesky nose hairs if you trend toward “shrubbery.”  Likewise, if you are prone to a 5 o’clock shadow at noon, schedule your session as early in the day as possible.  Just before your session assess your reflection in the executive washroom.

  4. Make up and retouching: if your skin is very oily or shiny both women and men can benefit from some subtle pressed powder.  Thinning or absent hair can be supported by a little powder of the appropriate  shade to harness shine.

Gov. Brown’s portrait has almost no back lighting.  This avoided a “hotspot” on the top of his head from the usual back light. His photographer positioned the Governor in front of a light background which supplied the needed separation.

Near-miracles of retouching can take place in PhotoShop or other software.  But If you have an unfortunate cold sore, razor burn or other prominent skin eruption, allow the photographer to carefully apply a dab of cover-up with a new sterile applicator or fresh cotton ball.  This can really help the final result.

If you have a “trademark” mole or other feature that might typically get the Photoshop axe, let your photographer know in advance of any editing how far you will go in image “improvement.”

Meg Whitman

4.  Scheduling your session:  Time is money and many executives are scheduled to the extreme.  Yet this photograph will be your “public face” for years on news releases, websites, social media and company brochures, right?  So, if possible, try to budget a good fifteen minutes to work with your professional photographer once the shooting technology and environment are ready to go.

5.  Posing and expression:  What is less natural or spontaneous than a frozen grin in front of a camera?  If possible, relax a bit and be open to a few variations in posing and expression.  Use the spirit of collaboration, that way you will have a good number of images to choose from after the session.

If you are working with a photographer for the first time, let him/her know what you like and don’t like about your image.  A little friendly banter can help lower the stress of a photo session and result in a representation of you that reflects both your professional status AND your humanity.

All of these suggestions work equally well for a video interview.   For fun and more great tips on executive portraits, check out Five Easy Steps to bad Headshots    Happy shooting!

Case study: Using video to educate patients about advances in healthcare and beauty.

Video as a marketing and patient education tool has remarkable flexibility and power.  Done right, it can boil down complex technologies to clearly answer the question:  “What can this medication, device or treatment do for ME, the patient?”

I like to base this type of video around a specific case because it personalizes the “problem/solution” basis of the technology, medication or treatment and has the duo of physician and patient tell their story as it advances over time.

This video runs 2 1/2 minutes which I think is just about right for a complex video, but shorter is almost always better!  Get to the point, tell a relevant story for your audience, include some contact info and GET OUT!

Marina Plastic surgery, 4644 Lincoln Blvd. Suite 552, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292 877.298.9915 http://www.marinaplasticsurgery.com

Video by Marshall Thompson, marshall@prvideo.tv, 310-403-2507

The Daily Lens – Queen of Angels Grand Marian Procession 9/3/2011 Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles will be celebrating her 230th Birthday this year– and hundreds, perhaps thousands of people joined in a parade to honor our city’s birth. New Orleans has her Mardi Gras, Los Angeles has her Queen of Angels Procession and Celebration. Organizers are making this an annual event as it was a generation ago.