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Motion Graphics… not a very popular term amongst average people, but to a film and video nerd like myself, it's very common. Just about every video project you see nowadays incorporates them. The art form itself seems to never die and is constantly evolving into new trends. What's even more uncommon is an average person discussing the origins of motion graphics… a subject that is still debated to this day. Don't worry, this whole blog is not about that… we'll provide some tips later on for you MG enthusiasts to bite onto.

Directed by Aneesh Chaganty and starring John Cho, Searching proves just how powerful technology has become by bringing viewers into the story through the lens of one MacBook and iPhones. The editors used Adobe Premiere Pro to craft a suspenseful narrative of a father searching for his missing daughter under the unique confines of FaceTime conversations, iMessages, Google searches and live-streamed news. Editors Nicholas D. Johnson and Will Merrick shared their experience working on the film, its challenges and upcoming projects.

Augmented graphics have come a long way in the past decade, from formerly rotund weatherman Al Roker obscuring the first two days of the seven-day forecast to reporter Jessica Yellin channeling a holographic Princess Leia while discussing results of the 2008 presidential campaign with Wolf Blitzer. Fast forward ten years and the real and virtual worlds are blending into one.

Given the current social distancing climate, many broadcasters have had to find alternative approaches to news production that will ensure the health and safety of its staff. Not least among these is NBC 10 in Philadelphia, where staffers, anchors and meteorologists have taken over their living rooms, basements and guest rooms for daily newscasts. An NBC affiliate station, NBC 10 got an early jump on the work-from-home production approach. The station’s meteorologist, Bill Henley (a self-professed gear junkie), took the challenge in stride. Diving into the station’s equipment locker and reaching out to friends at various manufacturers, Henley was able to quickly set himself up with a home studio that rivalled those of colleagues at the major networks.

In our latest interview, we spoke with the filmmakers behind Sony Pictures’ Missing. Told entirely through computer screens and smartphones, the mystery thriller was made using advanced technology that’s just as exciting as the action in the film itself.

Consider pivoting with your skillset. Can you work remotely from home? What special skills do you have that could benefit your clients or local businesses? What can you do on a consultation basis? How can you help a business with live streaming, content creation for web distribution, or getting their work seen on social networks? Can you edit, create graphics, master audio, write blogs, or shoot video updates? While these jobs may not have a large budget, you can focus on volume and fast turnaround. Additionally, businesses are willing to also offer trades for your time and reduced fees.

I was a bit skeptical when I saw Production Bot, the portable live broadcast studio, earlier this year at the NAB Show. I'll admit that I'm an old school Technical Director and set in my thoughts as to what a switcher was and what a switcher should be. But, I'm always looking for new and exciting gear to make live production easier. Assistant Technical Director and Production Bot guru Nick Walsh showed me the ins-and-outs of the Production Bot Switch 8 — and I must say I'm pleasantly surprised by what this little switcher can do.

Videos are known to impart a lasting impression on viewers. It is evident from the billions of dollars that countries around the world spend on advertising videos. Similarly, a video can define whether any campaign you launch becomes an astounding success or fails miserably.

Q: Who was involved in creating the “America the Bluetiful” plan, and how do you plan to help publicize the initiative?A: America the Bluetiful is Sony Pictures Entertainment’s nationwide series of environmental efforts, which allow kids and their parents to meet the Smurfs as they clean up their local parks, encourage recycling, plant trees, and discover other ways to help “bluetify” our country. As part of the initiative, Sony collaborated with the U.S. Forest Service and the Ad Council to produce a series of new PSAs featuring characters from the upcoming family comedy The Smurfs 2. All of the work by Sony was done pro bono.On Saturday June 22, the PSAs were officially unveiled at The Grove in Los Angeles, as part of The Smurfs 2 launch event, which also introduced “America the Bluetiful.” After the launch, the PSAs will be distributed by the Ad Council to our network of approximately 33,000 media outlets nationwide, who will donate time and space to promote our message.

Virtual Reality is dead. Dead, out, gone. That is what the skeptics love to say in the many articles pointing to the minimal adoption and fiscal progress the industry has made overall. What these skeptics seem to overlook is the fact that this young technology has only just begun the long road of development, and as additional technologies such as augmented reality, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and hands-free capabilities get factored in, VR will become the next great technology cycle.