When Telecom suffers a breakdown in communications, the country complains. But when the AB's suffer the same, a nation mourns.

That's why Telecom Mobile got Video Promotions to help develop the 'Go Black' launch, unveiling Telecom's new mobile products around the sponsorship our nation's rugby reps. We were commissioned to create a video (distributed via VHS and CD-R) that gave Telecom's internal sales channels an overview of how Telecom were going to bring Kiwis "closer to the All Blacks" this season through support products and services unique to Telecom's 027 and 025 network, as well as the POS and support material which would be available to communicate these offers to the public.

The main purpose of this video was to excite the Dealer and Call Centre teams about the opportunities presented by Telecom's sponsorship of the All Blacks this year, and to reinforce the link with the allblacks.com website.

Our approach used comedian ‘Radar’ as an ‘everyman’ Telecom mobile user and AB fan using the new WAP services in amusing everyday situations:
stuck at a kids’ party on test day, catching the latest breaking news while in the toilet, using the info from John Mitchell’s regular updates to coach his under-5’s team, playing (and beating) 4 AB’s in the
country’s first international texting competition, and getting “inside the locker room” for inside info from the players.

Representing different products with entertaining vignettes had far more cut-thru than just showing what they looked like on a mobile screen. It also kept what players involvement as simple as possible…

We're rapt to report that Ajay Patel, Channel Marketing Manager for Telecom Mobile, was delighted to get 300 responses to the associated TXT competition in the first 2 days of the launch!

The process has been touted for a while now - Why record on tape when modern cameras and equipment will allow you to record straight to hard drive? The answer is that the 'equipment', in this case laptops and computer drives, don't survive professional use over and over again... yet. But it's a great process when time is short.

Microsoft Communications Manager Carol Leishman required a high-quality video record of a 3-5min interview held at a key client's premises for inclusion in a PowerPoint presentation (as an MPEG1 or WMV clip) to dealers the next morning. The presentation needed to include limited additional graphics and logos. But the big hurdle was that the video needed to be completed quickly so it could accompany one of the presenters to Christchurch that afternoon!

Video Promotions’ solution was to record the interview direct to a portable editing system. In this way we kept the budget to just the 1/2-day shoot time, allowing us to complete the edit and screen for the client’s approval on location, saving precious time.

The benefit to MICROSOFT, and their client, was, not only a smooth and relaxed production during recording, but also confidence in getting a super-fast turnaround recording which delivered the clearest message- making not only Microsoft, but their client, look good.

Video Promotions recently took on a project for Microsoft via McCann-Ericsson to re-edit an existing 2.45" US brand TV commercial to 60 seconds, with a Kiwi voice over. We also created a special audio mix version for optimum playback by Sportsbrand Marketing on superscreens at sports events.

This is an often over-looked benefit to working with video productions: Because both vision AND sound are manipulated in the digital environment, video contains the core of several spin-off and associated uses for extended media coverage.

Ireland's gangliest comedian Ed Byrne performed at Sky City during Auckland's Laugh! Festival and many punters took away memories of a great night out. But 8 people took away far more than that...

The request came through at 3pm Friday asking whether we could put together a 4-camera recording of the final night’s show the next night. Ed was having such a great time and the season was close to sell-out, so he decided he wanted a high-quality record of It for potential sell-thru and broadcast options.

VP were able to assemble a full crew and production schedule for the next day and record a live mix on the night for Ed to fly out with the following day. Ed reckoned it was the best recording he has of any of his shows and was especially pleased with the quality of the sound recording, which is no surprise with one of New Zealand's most renowned soundies on the case - Mike Westgate.

Mike, who handles most of VP’s sound recording, was recording live BBC shows at the London Palladium as far back as the 70’s. Given the nature of this production and the short time available to set it up, having an 'old pro' on board made all the difference.

E! Channel comes to Auckland
VP will be representing E! Channel for Sky TV in August at the 2003
L’Oreal Colour Awards in Auckland. VP’s Managing Director Steve King and Sky’s Sales Manager Richard Last presented a proposal to L’Oreal to create half a dozen 60” interstitials about the competition, awards show and party for inclusion on E! over the following months, as well as packaging them into a highlights reel for presentation in L’Oreal salons.

AKL comedian Radar will be hosting the clips and interviewing key
players in the awards as well as the celebs and beautiful people
attending the event- one of the biggest on the NZ hairdressing calendar.

More on this project in the next update.