Ideas, Money & Art

You Get 2, Not 3. Choose Wisely

This diagram was introduced to IMA a few years ago. This week it landed on our whiteboard again. It is a great way to explain value to clients.

The premise is simple. When a new project starts you can choose 2 of the 3 options on the triangle. You can get speed and quality but it won't be cheap. You can get low price and speed but you won't get quality. Or how about price and quality? It's going to take awhile.

Plastic Packaging

I bought a new 2 gig jump drive last night at Best Buy to replace my iPod shuffle which I'm going to use for drum songs. I just went to open the package and was stumped. I just held it in my hands and stared. There was no way in, no chink in the armor, no achilles heel. I grabbed a screwdriver, then a pair of scissors and almost went looking for my Wustof chef's knife. I thought better of it. You have to be careful or you'll end up in the emergency room. Seriously.

The thrill of buying a new gadget or toy can vanish if it comes locked in hard plastic "clamshell" packaging. Those sturdy crimped edges defy scissors, knives, even teeth, and frustration mounts as jagged shards of plastic fly. But the clear, airtight packages threaten more than our mental health: In 2004, nearly 6,500 Americans were admitted to emergency rooms with injuries sustained while trying to liberate portable CD players, memory cards, and Bratz dolls.

This from Wired's Why Things Suck issue.

FEAR

I remember when I was a kid and my trusted local news anchorman told me that Killer Bees were flying toward the Bay Area from Mexico. It freaked me out in a big way. But guess what? The bees never arrived.

Now we get this article in today's San Francisco Chronicle. It's the Killer Bees Pt. 2 and such a fine example of journalistic integrity. The "reporter", Steve Rubenstein, should be proud. Here are some choice quotes:

In regards to whether or not a snake could slither from Florida to the Bay Area.

"It would be exceptional for one animal to be that unidirectional in its movement, but it's mathematically possible," Rodda said.

"We have not yet identified something that would stop their spreading to the Bay Area," Rodda said.

On snake food.

As for other potential prey, human beings - like rodents, beavers and deer - are mammals, government scientists confirmed.

That's right, government scientists have confirmed that human beings are mammals. I feel better paying my taxes now.

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I actually just went back and read the article again because it is hard to believe this isn't something out of the Onion. But it isn't. This is hard news.

Don't get me wrong. I know what makes the world go round. IMA currently has clients advertising with SFGate.com. Nevertheless, using irrational fear to sell papers pushes my buttons. My only comfort is that kids don't read newspapers anymore.

Why Blog?

Why do I write here? It's simple. It's for Google. This is an IMA Interactive blog. This is not a Jeff Conlon blog. This is not about me so much as it is about the company. I write as an example to our clients since we can't preach what we don't follow.

I also write it to show a glimpse inside IMA. I want potential clients to know that we try to do things differently. We don't just create great video content. Or great websites. We create great stories. That is our background after all and it is what clearly sets us apart from the competition.

And what was that about writing for Google? Well, Google loves fresh content and keywords. So this entry updates our site and offers the Google bots the following keywords: IMA Interactive, Jeff Conlon, Video, websites. Try searching under those keywords and see what pops up.

With the MacBook Air Apple stirs the pot again

People are starting to come around after the initial lukewarm reception that the MacBook Air received. I am still a little skeptical (which is rare for me with Apple products). I'm astonished by its design but as a day to day computer it seems to be lacking. David from 37 Signals was in the same camp until he bought one. I'm due for a new laptop soon (just passed two years on my 15" MBP) but I'm still not convinced. Maybe what I really need is a 16 gig iPhone?

The MacBook Air could easily be the only machine David Feb 16
I’ve now been using the Air for some time as my only laptop. The Pro still hasn’t left the desktop and I doubt it ever will while I own it. My girlfriend replaced her regular MacBook with an Air as well. The verdict after extended use? L-o-v-i-n-g it. Both of us.

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Truth in Advertising

There has been a lot of discussion about nutrition at IMA HQ lately. Seems like the Alice Waters, Whole Foods, Michael Pollan wave is cresting and crashing onto the general populace. Or does it? I read in Sunday's NY Times that Burger King is experiencing phenomenal growth by stacking 4 burgers on top of one another and aiming their ads directly at 18-24 year old men. Well, I remember eating like that when I was 18 and it didn't matter. I couldn't gain 2 pounds if I ate 10 Whoppers a day. Today, all that has changed. But that isn't really what this post is about, is it?

No, this is about the promise of that Whopper and the reality of what happens when you open the wrapper. I think this is great. I mean, where is the outrage? Can you imagine if automakers tried to pull this stunt? Or Apple? Or Thomas Mayne (OK, some might argue the case with that one)?

Truth vs. Reality

Production Photo Archice V.3

This is from a commercial shoot we did in early 2007. I'm pretty sure the spot is still running and has been very successful for the client, which is the goal after all.

It all starts with the storyboards

Matt and Jeff drinking too much coffee but looking relaxed as the day begins

Mr. Chris Yule preparing as only he can do

What? Me worry?

The grip truck and all that grip stuff

Can you see our reflection in that window over there?

The one and only C-Funk, producer extraordinaire

M-Hutty and Saul discuss what motivates the perfect plumber

Buckingham and Fontana, doing it in their sleep

OK, now be funny!

Hour ten, small set, feeling good

Lifehacker

Seems strange that I haven't posted this link before? I actually just did a search to make sure I haven't posted this before. And it isn't that big a deal, just interesting. So what am I talking about here? Lifehacker . This is a constantly updated blog about technology and the way it integrates with your life. If you are the type of person who is interested in making your computer work for you then check it out. I have to confess that I don't read it as much as I did in the past. The blame falls on lifehackers lap. They are big into Getting Things Done and once I got a little taste of a more productive life I stopped reading my RSS feeds every morning. I now check in once or twice a week. In fact, I've cut down on my reading in general because of a this quote.

"Reading, after a certain age, diverts the mind too much from its creative pursuits. Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking."
Albert Einstein

Culture

We try to have a good time when we are on video shoots. We think it is important for the client, the crew and the talent to enjoy the process. If you've ever been on a production you know they can get a little tedious and sometimes you need to let loose. On this occassion, our Director of Production takes actress Anna Rahe for a spin.