Only the Black Market Matters

Only the Black Market Matters

Listen to Red - don't get burned!

My friend, videographer extraordinaire, Doug Baird is fond of a quote from the even more famous Red Adair, "If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur."

Wikipedia describes Paul Neal "Red" Adair (June 18, 1915 – August 7, 2004) as an American oil well firefighter - notable as an innovator in the highly specialized and extremely hazardous profession of extinguishing and capping blazing, erupting oil well blowouts, both land-based and offshore.

When we were kids, we all knew who Red was. Maybe you remember your Dad, pointing to stories of his exploits in the newspaper like mine did, "Hey,look at this guy!"

Throughout the sixties and seventies, if you had an oil well fire problem, you called for Red!  Brave and daring, Red was our action hero.  We played games in our backlot pretending to blow stuff up and calling for assistance. 

In 1968 John Wayne starred in the movie Hellfighters; the storyline based on the feats of Adair.  Now that is recognition.  

Even at the advanced age of 75, Adair was called upon to help extinguish the oil well fires in Kuwait set by retreating Iraqi troops after the Gulf War in 1991. He died in 2004 at age 89.

What's my point?  

Making and handling media is not nearly as risky as fighting oilfires, but you can still easily get burned.

Especially in a media crisis - better know who to call!

Save your money, time, and aggravation.  

Heed Red Adair.

Make More Media!  www.mooremedia.ca

The Parkinson's Enigma

Parkinson’s disease is painful reality for North Shore resident

 

In the spring of 2001, North Shore resident and television cameraman, Ray Fitzwalter was contacted by his colleague and friend, TV Producer/Director, Jerry Thompson to shoot an unusual documentary about a strange story concerning Michael J. Fox and a 1970’s CBC television series.  That program - called Leo and Me - launched the meteoric career for the star of Family Ties, Back to the Future and Spin City. 

The documentary showed that Fox was just one of four people who worked on the series and would later develop Parkinson's disease (PD).   All four, and possibly others, began to have the symptoms appear at roughly the same time in the early 1990s.  The evidence appeared to be more than just coincidence.

In the three months of hectic production that followed, Thompson led Fitzwalter and the rest of his crew back in time to the CBC studios, and around North America examining the latest evidence and scientific research into the disease.  They interviewed BC residents who were part of the original Leo and Me production team including Vancouver Island resident and former Script Assistant Sally Gardner, and finally interviewed Michael J. Fox personally in New York City.

The documentary, The Parkinson’s Enigma, telecast on CTV in March of 2002, created quite a storm of media interest.  It raised the question of whether or not Parkinson’s – a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system – could possibly have some sort of environmental trigger. The answer is still a mystery.

In an ironic twist of fate, just a few months after the documentary was released, Fitzwalter learned that he too, was facing a similar future. That cruel diagnosis cut short his career and changed his life forever. 

Today; this kindly, well spoken gentleman is the Coordinator of the North Shore Parkinson’s Support Group.

Ray Fitzwalter knows he had a charmed career – but all too brief.  His colleagues describe him as an excellent and sensitive photographer.  The carefully hand-framed photos on walls of his home reveal an extensively travelled and keen creative eye.  He was trained by the BBC “the finest...you learn everything - from how to coil cable - right on up” but immigrated to Canada in 1968 and soon found a regular spot in the Toronto television studios.

 

In 1980 he and his wife Pat moved west to Vancouver and settled on the North Shore.  They raised their family of two boys.  While Pat worked at an insurance company downtown, Ray freelanced around the world for all the major broadcasters including ABC US, ABC Australia, CBC, CTV, Discovery Channel, TSN, and History Channel.

Ray’s work was never just a job, but a window onto a fascinating world.  His lights and cameras, evolving from black and white through to High Definition, were instruments for illumination of many topics.

He modestly recalls some highlights, including an interview with Saddam Hussein at his palace in Baghdad, televising live opera from Covent Garden in London, and two weeks in Eastern Europe documenting the fall of the Iron Curtain.

So when Jerry Thompson hired him to shoot the documentary on Michael J. Fox, Fitzwalter was unfazed by working with celebrities and quite sensitive to challenging and delicate issues. 

What he learned would change his life.

“Working on the documentary was a pleasure.  Jerry is a very thorough, well prepared Producer.  Michael was very affable, very open about his condition.  His interview was the most important element of the film and we all knew that. We shot at his office in Soho, in Manhattan.  It went very smoothly.”

For the few months that followed prior to the release of the documentary, life continued as normal, but then one day around Christmas, Ray felt an odd twitch in his left leg.  “Having just done the documentary I just thought it might be that.”  

The twitch continued, and Ray went to his doctor investigate.  His diagnosis was confirmed just as the documentary was being released.

Fitzwalter had never questioned his good health. A non-smoker, he always kept fit and careful with food and drink. There are no genetic issues in his family.

Parkinson’s disease, for which there is no known cause or cure, is a progressive, degenerative neurological disorder which causes tremor or trembling of the arms and legs, muscular rigidity, slowness of movement and difficulty with speaking and swallowing.

“It’s different for everyone. For me, the worst part is the fatigue. I feel that I have to ration my energy.  And simple jobs that used to take me five minutes now take hour, or I can’t do them at all.”

In the years since his diagnosis, Ray and his family have been forced to make gradual but significant adjustments. Now both retired, Ray and Pat still enjoy some travel, although that has become increasingly difficult of late. They have had to do some modifications to their home for easier mobility and anticipate needing more in the future. More and more time revolves around therapists, physicians, and specialist visits. 

Like most who suffer with Parkinson’s disease, Ray’s physical symptoms have become progressively more severe.  His energy is limited, and his muscles are beginning to experience rigidity.  Writing is now impossible, and typing is becoming increasingly difficult.

Is it hard to cope? “I’m learning patience, I think. It’s a balance between accepting my progressive condition while not succumbing to it.  I don’t worry too much about ‘Why me’? You play the hand you are dealt; after all, there are worse problems.  My family are a great support.”

 “This disease prematurely ended the career I loved.  It has put a burden on Pat who has to do more than she should.  But worst of all, I can’t get down on the floor to play with my grandson, Tyson.”

The cause of Parkinson’s remains a mystery and researchers have found no way to cure or even slow the progression of this disease.

Ray Fitzwalter and Patrick Moore on location in the Yukon

For more information:

Diane Robinson, CEO, Parkinson Society British Columbia drobinson@parkinson.bac.ca  (604)-662-3240

Ray Fitzwalter, Coordinator, North Shore Parkinson’s Support Group, rayfitz@shaw.ca (604) 986-6885

The documentary maker, Jerry Thompson and his wife Bette reside in Sechelt, BC.  He can be reached at rainstory@telus.net. Telephone (604) 885-9813

Michael J. Fox is currently taping a new sitcom series which debuts on NBC this fall.  It follows the life of a newscaster who is diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.  The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson's disease (PD) through an aggressively funded research agenda and to ensure the development of improved therapies for those living with Parkinson's today.

News reports about the CTV documentary, The Parkinson’s Enigma, can be found at: https://listserv.utoronto.ca/cgi-bin/wa?A2=parkinsn;ygBfKA;20020323030014-0800d

Facts about Parkinson’s

·         Nearly 100,000 Canadians have Parkinson’s disease with approximately 5,500 new cases diagnosed each year in Canada. 

·         There are 11,000 British Columbians living with Parkinson’s disease.

·         In Canada and the United States, one person dies every hour from complications of Parkinson’s and one person is diagnosed with Parkinson’s every nine minutes.

·         According to the Brain Repair Centre at Dalhousie University, brain disease and disorders (like Parkinson’s disease) will surpass cancer and heart disease as the leading cause of death and disability to Canadians by 2040 yet at present, there is no national strategy to address this growing concern.

·         The present-day impact of brain disease and disorders like Parkinson’s cannot be overstated.  They are devastating for entire families; they result in an enormous loss of productivity; and they cost the Canadian health care system more than $30 billion annually.

·         Parkinson’s is one of the most pervasive neurological diseases – to date researchers and clinicians have found no way to stop, slow or prevent Parkinson’s.

·         Canadian Movement Disorder specialists estimate the cost of medication for a typical Canadian with Parkinson’s to be $1,000 per month.

·         The proper care for a person with Parkinson’s disease includes: family physician; neurologist or movement disorder specialist; Parkinson’s nurse specialist; pharmacist; occupational therapist; physiotherapist; social worker/psychologist; speech and language pathologist; and dietician.

·         Canadians with Parkinson’s rely on universal access to Home Care supports and services to achieve maximum quality of life.  Sadly, current access varies significantly from region to region, city to city, and town to town.

·         According to a 2003 economic burden document developed by Health Canada, much more information is needed to develop a true understanding of the impact of Parkinson’s disease including:

• Epidemiology
• Medical information
• Burden for individuals
• Burden for families/caregivers

Parkinson Society British Columbia

Established in 1969, Parkinson Society British Columbia (PSBC) is a not-for-profit registered charity that exists to address the personal and social consequences of Parkinson’s disease through education, outreach, scientific research, advocacy and public awareness.  The Society receives no government funding and is supported entirely by the generosity of individual donors and members, corporations, foundations and the dedicated efforts of volunteers. 

There are 11,000 individuals in BC, over 100,000 in Canada and over 1 million in the US who live with Parkinson’s disease. These numbers are expected to double by 2016. 

Programs and services offered by Parkinson Society British Columbia include:

·         Consultation at PSBC office or by phone.

·        Viewpoints quarterly newsletter with up-to-date information on research, medication, caregiving, nutrition and other relevant topics.

·         GroupLink – a monthly newsletter distributed to support groups.

·         Website – www.parkinson.bc.ca

·         Facebook -

·         Educational conferences and meetings throughout BC featuring national and international experts in Parkinson’s disease research and treatment.

·         Informational materials.

·         Library – books and DVDs.

·         Direct assistance to 53 support groups province-wide.

·         Advocacy for improved healthcare and access to medications.

·         Workshops and training for healthcare professionals.

Celebrating Joseph Pulitzer

Put it before them briefly so they will read it, clearly so they will appreciate it, picturesquely so they will remember it and, above all, accurately so they will be guided by its light.

Joseph Pulitzer

April 10, 1847 is the birthday of Joseph Pulitzer. He made quite an impact on American writing.   Perhaps most importantly he helped raise the profession of journalism to new standards while also making it more accessible to the average reader and more influential as a "fifth estate".

I am deeply interested in the progress and elevation of journalism, having spent my life in that profession, regarding it as a noble profession and one of unequaled importance for its influence upon the minds and morals of the people.
Joseph Pulitzer

According to Wikipedia, 

Joseph Pulitzer  April 10, 1847 – October 29, 1911), born Pulitzer József, was a Hungarian-American newspaper/publisher of the St. Louis Post Dispatch and the New York World. Pulitzer introduced the techniques of "new journalism" to the newspapers he acquired in the 1880s. He became a leading national figure in the Democratic Party and was elected Congressman from New York. He crusaded against big business and corruption.

In the 1890s the fierce competition between his World and William Randolph Hearst's New York Journal caused both to use yellow journalism for wider appeal; it opened the way to mass-circulation newspapers that depended on advertising revenue and appealed to readers with multiple forms of news, entertainment and advertising.

Today, he is best known for the Pulitzer Prizes, which were established by money he bequeathed to Columbia University, as was the Columbia School of Journalism. The prizes are given annually to award achievements in journalism and photography, as well as literature and history, poetry, music and drama.

I would rather have one article a day of this sort; and these ten or twenty lines might readily represent a whole day's hard work in the way of concentrated, intense thinking and revision, polish of style, weighing of words.

Joseph Pulitzer 

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/joseph_pulitzer.html#iv0qsLH6LOd0KJiJ.99 

Make more media!
www.mooremedia.ca

Is your Media Vision Shortsighted?

How would you rate the vision you or your company has regarding media?  Are you a bit clairvoyant - gazing into the future with confidence?  Or more like the myopic fellow here?

You probably have a business plan which details the milestones you want to achieve and the markers that will indicate those accomplishments.  But what about awareness of your Brand?  There are many ways you can increase your media outreach.   Lots of them are cheap and some even free.

Don't know where to start?

Begin with an analysis of your current situation and assets.  Website, videos, newsletters, blogs etc.

Then determine a goal and a message.  Do you want to be known as the the best or cheapest or deepest or fastest?  Pick one or two values.  And realistically determine your location - your sphere of influence.  Is it local, regional, national or global?

Develop a strategy to promote the message and reach those goals. Much of the work you can do with your own research and skill sets and you will have the satisfaction of "owning" the knowledge.  Some elements to your media strategy will require professional assistance.

A good plan and a bit of consistent effort can produce some great results.

Here are some resources to assist.

http://www.magnifydigital.com
www.gitomer.com
http://adage.com/

Make more media!
www.mooremedia.ca

Three Basics for Great Video

Here are 3 B's to help you create a great video.

1. Be There! 

Getting on location to understand the story is essential. 

Videographer Scott Lakey  arrives on set in N. Sweden

                                                            

2. Be Prepared! 

Rick Bennett (camera) and Patrick Brereton (sound) recording complex scene for BairdTV.

There is never enough time on set. A well prepared director will have a script or shotlist to guide the team through the process in an efficient manner.                                                                    

                                                                                                

3. Be Aware! 

Videographer James Aquila documents BTV story deep in the jungle in Guyana.

Often the story will develop during production.  Experienced directors will keep their eyes and ears open for telling details, interesting characters or context and will incorporate those elements to enrich the story.

Make More Media!  www.mooremedia.ca

Want Professional Results?

What's on Captain Jack's Mind?

A number of clients have asked me lately if they can use their own video for their company's corporate message.  The answer is another question.  What results do you want to achieve?  Amateurs, no matter how good the equipment, will deliver amateur results. If you want a top quality job, hire a professional.

You don't ask your dentist to handle your bookkeeping, your lawyer to fix the plumbing, or your plumber to represent you in court. Why would you select your nephew - who has posted up some YouTube videos - to tell the very important story of your company?

A camera is just like a saxophone.  The music depends on the artist, the band, the tune, and the conductor.

One of my favorite quotes about photography applies equally well to video.
"Buying a Nikon doesn't make you a photographer.  It makes you a Nikon owner.~ Author unknown". 

The professionals I work with have collectively scores of years of experience in creating great video stories. We've made lots of mistakes, and still make a phew few.  But hopefully most of them were made before we went to work with you.