After 6 year's participation in the Media Communications Association-International's Annual AiME awards in the US, winning 3 Silver awards in various categories, we may finally have cracked the wining formula.

Video Promotions was this month awarded Gold in the Internal Communications category for "Under The Microscope- Flying Colours" which we produced for Office Products Depot. The concept of a spoof, "60 Minutes-style" investigation is one which has garnered Silver awards for us in two previous international competitions, but up until now we weren't sure what we needed to do to turn that silver into gold.

Now we do. We think. It was either the fine production work by the crew (DOP Mike Monten, Sound Recordist Mike Westgate, Camera Assistant Medhi Ramezanian, Make-up Artist Jennifer O'Loughin and PA Dave Horn), the wonderful comedic talent of 'Reporter' Jeremy Corbett, or the clever scripting by Jeremy and co-writer and director Steve King.

Or remembering to plug the black and silver plug thing in between the camera side-bit and the sound what's-it.

Don't worry if you've never heard of "Under The Microscope", only a select group of NZ companies have, including Repco Auto Parts and Corys Frasers Electrical. It's Video Promotion's own creation, and one which has been awarded 4 video communications awards in the US and NZ over the last 5 years.

This year "Under The Microscope" scooped another major story that no other programme would touch by following up reports of the use of a "performance enhancing" stimulant at Office Products Depot.

Using every device of the modern TV journalist, Investigative reporter Jeremy Corbett interviewed a 'secret' witness, recorded examples of enhanced in-store service with a 'hidden' camera, and, in an example of breathtaking television (he was counted taking as many as 30 in one minute alone) confronted the CEO of the company in a candid, unannounced interview.

The benefit of the "UTM" format to any business, and the reason it's consistently successful as an internal - and even external - communication piece is because it uses a recognisable genre (it's a send-up of the "20/20", "60 Minutes" style of programme) and humour (the programme's host and reporters are all experienced comedians and presenters) to present information which the audience might not always feel excited or even positive about.

The interviewees, and all the other characters in the programme, are all actual employees of the subject company playing themselves.

Of course Office Product Depot's new "Flying Colours" programme - referred to by its "unofficial" nickname "P" - may be performance enhancing, but it's also perfectly legitimate and of great benefit to the dealer teams. Jeremy's increasingly confused interviews - talking at cross purposes to his interview subjects - were what keep the audience entertained, and, in the process, delivered this message more clearly and effectively than the traditionally sober corporate video.

Yay us.

Following on from the very successful launch of it's GO BLACK campaign supporting the All Blacks in the lead up to this years Rugby World Cup, Telecom Mobile recently unveiled its aggressive new contract pricing, texting rates and phone range via video, CD-R and intranet to it's dealer network, sales and call centre teams.

Once again Video Promotions were brought in to produce the video content of the "IT'S ALL GO" launch and make the campaign, and its presenters, look good.

In this case it was Telecom Mobile's Head of Marketing, Kevin Bowler, and Consumer & SE Marketing Manager Tania Bui who got the star treatment (OK, a professional makeover and catered dinner). The marketing department's 14th floor cafeteria overlooking Auckland's night time skyline was also transformed into a dramatic setting for the launch of the brand's new range of phones and all-you-can-eat $10 p/m texting plan.

The benefit to Telecom Mobile of presenting the finished product via a variety of media was that the message could be delivered quickly and effectively to audiences with different viewing capabilities and equipment.

Dominion Breweries' Communications Advisor Kathryn Griffiths wanted Heineken's worldwide office to appreciate the scale and success of Heineken's recent nationwide found@thirst DJ competition. Collecting the TV interviews, news items, radio interviews and Handycam footage of the three regional competitions and winning DJ's wasn't the problem.

It was compiling them into punchy, gritty presentation that preserved the energy of the competitions themselves while delivering precise access to specific content.

VP encoded and edited all the material to Windows Media files and created a menu navigated CD so that all the different clips could be found by media (radio or TV) and region or interview subject, all themed in the found@thirst branding.

Kathryn was rapt. "Thanks so much for pulling a quick job out for us - The CD is impressive and an innovative way to show the coverage of the event - it's gone down really well."

If asked "Who looks after you if you develop gambling or drinking problems?" the last answer you might expect is "The casino".

Yet this is precisely the case with Sky City, through training services provider Ockwell. They required two series of dramatised "role-plays" to visually reinforce the information in their "Responsible Service of Alcohol" and "Responsible Service of Gaming" training programme and printed manuals. These videos were produced for, and targeted at new employees to the Sky City Group as part of their updated Host Responsibility training.

Being more than just a video maker, as always, Video Promotions management of the project included:

* advice to Ockwell and Sky City's HR and training teams on presentation and delivery of the video, based on our experience with this medium.
* advice and suggestions for getting the most value from their investment- including being able to use this material for other projects and media.
* provision of drafts and suggestions for communication to various relevant parties - such as emails to department managers and Sky City staff appearing in the videos - on what would be involved in the shoots (even invitations to be extras for staff).

By choosing Video Promotions to produce this important training and induction tool Ockwell and Sky City were able to guarantee a smooth production process and professional presentation of their respective organisations at all stages of production - especially as a good proportion of the shooting had to be carried out in areas open to the public.

The benefit to Sky City Group throughout Australia and NZ will be a clearer understanding among employees of their responsibility for looking after their customers.