PGM News

The summer of 2009 found The Brand Gallery in a new Greenwich, Connecticut home with a fresh and eager cast of interns biting at the bit to prove themselves worthy of such an esteemed company. Of course, they proved themselves across the board as a fun but hard working group, and their presence will be sorely missed.

In May, The Brand Gallery received its production and sales interns for the summer: Katie, Shelley, Ally, Erik and Victoria - three undergraduates from Denison University, one from the University of Colorado-Boulder, and one from Ohio Wesleyan University, respectively. They were soon joined by an additional design intern, Pete a student from Parson’s School of Design who joined junior designer Louis Wesolowsky, once a design intern as well. With this diverse gathering of bright, young minds, The Brand Gallery’s transition to its new environment was smooth, to say the least. Now with the summer coming to a close, let’s take a look at their reflections over the past few months.

Allyson Churchwell

My summer internship at The Brand Gallery was an incredible learning experience. I was able to have hands-on participation in the production, sales and design facets, thanks to the help of all the eager and willing staff who were committed to seeing my time there as productive. I had a completely active role in the production processes of the several exciting projects that The Brand Gallery was managing, and had the opportunity to oversee public relations for The Brand Gallery and PGM Artists.

During my six weeks interning at The Brand Gallery, I was able to use my skills, including my knowledge of the French language, to contribute to the team’s initiatives, especially with AFRICA24, a project whose integrity had me invested from the start. I feel as though the staff trusted me with important tasks, and that made me feel as though I were just as integral a member as anyone else. From writing press releases to making sales calls (and even getting a lead), from learning about PGM Artists’ clients (and entertaining Danish visitors from Thank You) to hauling several office chairs in my SUV for repair, The Brand Gallery really is a fast-paced and exciting environment.

I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn about the industry from media and design-savvy people, especially in the competitive nature of this business. The team was wonderful and refreshing, and even though I knew it was going to be sink or swim, the team never failed to encourage me, provide constructive criticism, and make me feel welcome. I’m confident that my accomplishments during my six weeks at The Brand Gallery have been a positive contribution that will keep the momentum rolling for further impressive achievements.

Erik Klaeboe

Before I came to the Brand Gallery for a summer of interning, I wasn’t sure where my education, let alone my life, was taking me. I was an impressionable yet somewhat stupefied young man when faced with the reality that seemed to be staring me right in the face. I hoped that my tenure at this wonderful new company would help to steer my sights in the right direction, absorbing experiences and relationships I would carry with me for a long time to come. Now some 12 weeks later, I can look back at the blood, sweat and tears I poured into TBG and I am content and satisfied that I am leaving this company a better place.

While I wasn’t a full time intern like Katie, Shelley and Ally, or Sophie, Katie, and Louis before them, I felt I still had plenty of opportunities to contribute to the success of The Brand Gallery in whatever shape or form. Whether it was helping ease the transition from Manhattan to the Greenwich suburbs with a part time role as superintendent of the grounds, or even giving a helping hand to my fellow interns and production department, I made it my mission to do my duties to the best of my ability. Some days were longer than others, but being surrounded with such a kind, creative and hardworking group of people made me quickly forget the tough times, and truly embrace this unique environment where the best minds and tools are found on any given day.

I will admit I was terribly nervous when I first started, having no idea what to expect, yearning for the chance to prove to everyone that I could fit in. In my angst I remember asking Sophie during the first week, “What should I do if there’s nothing left to do?” She gave a quick laugh and an even quicker response, “That shouldn’t ever happen.” As time went on, I realized she wasn’t joking. As interns began to depart and my desk got more disorganized, the to-do list ever being added to, I truly understood.

On the surface, one may find it hard to identify how much hard work is given in order to achieve the success and good standing The Brand Gallery maintains in the design and marketing community. Staying late with Phil also taught me a valuable lesson about work ethic and the drive to get things done that only some can be blessed with through their own experiences. All I know is that my time here has left me a better person, with the confidence and maturity to set out into the world and make my mark. I can only hope it is one as defined as The Brand Gallery.

Katie Steinharter

Around 500 contacts later, I have finally completed my data entry. After seven weeks at The Brand Gallery and PGM Artists, I have managed to enter an additional 500 useful people and companies into our database as well as send out emails to every one of them. Mostly international contacts, this gave me great perspective on the range of broadcast networks and ad agencies that exist in our world. I was only exposed to a select number of corporations and yet I have learned a lot about international sales.

This summer I have discovered the power of cyberspace. With obstacles such as language barriers and time zones, email manages to overcome these difficulties and allow us to reach out to further points in the world. I was able to communicate with people in Denmark, Germany, France, and England, just to name a few. I learned how to successfully display our graphic designs in a way that would appeal to an international audience, while simultaneously making local calls to set up meetings with ad agencies in New York.

At times tedious, but often rewarding, the data entry portion of my second summer at PGM and TBG was just the beginning. At the new office in Greenwich, I also began to use the data and my research as stepping-stones for attempting to make sales and establish my first lead. I have further deepened my understanding of the goals behind PGM and TBG, as well as the relation between the two companies. I feel as though I have expanded on my initial summer internship and branched out more towards The Brand Gallery side of the office, in regards to sales as well as small details such as researching prices for reel envelope sleeves.

Louis Wesolowsky

Having the opportunity to intern at The Brand Gallery has been the most rewarding and positive experience I have had as a designer and young professional. I truly could not have asked for more. After 6 months of interning at The Brand Gallery I was hired as a junior designer. Everyday I sit at my desk I am overcome by incredible gratitude and a deep respect for this position and company.

Televisa was the first job I worked on after being hired as a designer. It was both the most challenging and rewarding experience I have had to date. Diving into the sports arena was an entirely new venture for me. It was a process of slowly learning a new language. Everyone at The Brand Gallery was extremely instrumental in this process as they patiently taught me the nuances and intricacies of designing for sports media. Looking back to my original designs I can truly see how much everyone here has taught me in a short period of time. As well as being creatively challenging, this project also presented technical challenges to overcome. In order to build upon Iain Greenway's vision for the Televisa Sports Network I had to learn a completely new 3D software package. Most nights I would get home at 9 o'clock and study tutorials and research what ever particular obstacle I was presented with for the next day. It was a lot of hard work but being challenged and pushing oneself is what makes an artist grow stronger and that is my favorite part of working at The Brand Gallery.

Another challenge was the office move. Originally located in the West Village my commute was only an hour and a half. It was very convenient being only one stop on the Path Train so I was initially not looking forward to the move to Greenwich, CT. It was hard work moving furniture and unpacking all of the equipment but that was easy in comparison to my 4 hour daily commute. Despite the long drive it was really rewarding to help move an entire office and I have now grown to really like Connecticut. These last 9 months have been packed with more adventure, learning and opportunity then I could have ever imagined. Everyday I am excited to learn new techniques, enhance my sense of design and grow with The Brand Gallery. I will always be grateful for this opportunity and to everyone involved with this company.

Peter Kearney

Working at The Brand Gallery this summer has given me insight into how the industry works and what is needed to succeed in a creative career. Originally when I came out to Greenwich, Connecticut I did not know the area or the working environment I would be in. I was pleasantly surprised by how friendly and helpful my coworkers were with not only showing me the workflow but also the town itself. Since then it seems the days have flown by due to the busy summer schedule.

During my time at The Brand Gallery I was given a large range of projects that helped expand my knowledge of the programs I use and also taught me how to work with other designers as a team. The rest of the staff was incredibly helpful in taking time to help me when I had a technical question and in critiquing my work when I was finalizing it. One project that sticks out in my memory is the design of the DVD montage cover. Picking stills and then working with the resolution to get the best look was tricky but seeing the final product was very rewarding. It was great to get out of the city for the summer, experience a new area, and meet all the people here at The Brand Gallery. I will be talking about this summer for a long time.

Shelley Pressman

With a tear in my eye and a smile across my face I leave The Brand Gallery. It is hard to believe that just ten weeks ago I became a reverse-commuter. When I first imagined my summer in New York City, I never thought my days would be spent out in Greenwich, Connecticut. However, The Brand Gallery’s recent relocation provided me with a unique experience that would not have been available to me in a New York based internship. Interning with The Brand Gallery gave me the opportunity to learn invaluable office skills and insight into the business of brand imaging.

Every morning and evening, I had the joyful of experience of commuting with Katie Northy, account executive, and Sophie Sadat-Ketabchi, production manager, which provided me with the chance to better know my co-workers and gain more insight into their work. Before I started my internship on May 18th, I was nervous and did not know what to expect. My fears were soon assuaged as Philip McIntyre warmly welcomed my fellow interns and me into the office. I got off to a bit of a rocky start with answering the phones but once I got the hang of all the basic procedures, I was ready to fully dive into my experience.

I worked closely with the other interns and Sophie to “Connecticutify” the office. This gave me a true appreciation for every detail that has to be monitored to properly manage an office. After encountering a few problems with our server, we all worked hard to ensure that all the past projects were properly archived. Working with the tape archive and firewire drives allowed me to see and understand more of the extensive work that goes into a project. After viewing all the past projects The Brand Gallery has worked on, I was curious to see how a project actually comes into fruition. I had the lucky opportunity to see a few projects go through multiple stages. I conducted research for ongoing projects with helped me truly understand the though process that is required to start on a project. I helped prepare a few presentations and even gave my input on different designs.

After helping set up presentations, I sat in on conference calls presenting the projects to the client. This proved to be a valuable experience as I saw how the work of everyone in the office came together. I also learned how to explain the presentation to a client in a way that leads the client through the presentation while allowing the client to express his or her opinion.

I think my favorite part of my internship was the close relationships I formed with my fellow coworkers. I felt that in this smaller office setting my work actually made a meaningful contribution to the work of The Brand Gallery. I am proud to have been included in The Brand Gallery’s family this summer and look forward to seeing their upcoming projects!

Victoria Chimblo

I came into The Brand Gallery as the girl from Ohio Wesleyan University. I was entering an office full of graduates and other interns all from Denison University, our biggest rival. A little intimidated I did not know what to expect from this internship. As I walked to my interview I thought that I didn’t want to spend my summer as an intern in the corner of an office, filing. When I walked into the office I knew that it was going to be a completely different experience. This office was bright and open with a welcoming staff that I knew I could work with.

Everyday was different, learning new things and taking on new tasks. I did a lot of research, which not only let me learn about different companies but let me be involved in new projects that The Brand Gallery was starting. I spent some days archiving, filing or working on little projects that allowed me to learn more about the production and creative process that went into this business.

I had an enjoyable summer at The Brand Gallery not only because there is so much to learn here but because of the people that I was working with. Even though I was the youngest of all the interns we all got along and became friends. I was able to work with each member of the staff, which allowed me to explore different aspects of the company from the design and production to the sales and branding.

My internship at the Brand Gallery was a great experience. I started the summer wanting to learn about the production and advertising business and working in an office-like environment and both of those things happened. The Brand Gallery let me inside the world of production and design and allowed me gave me a better understanding of this industry.

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The Association of Independent Commercial Producers, or AICP, is one of those nights that the whole industry looks forward to. Including the five interns that work at PGM Artists and The Brand Gallery, but acted as AICP volunteers this week.

Tuesday June 9, 2009 was their night away from Greenwich, CT to experience the magnificent event that is held at the MOMA in New York City each year. Known for its impressive honorees, this year proved no different and the night was an overall success.

With judges from the world’s most well known advertising agencies, it is no small feat to become an honoree, or even a nominee, for the AICP Awards. This year was the 18th show, entitled The Art & Technique of the American Commercial, and MJZ was yet again one of the most recognized production companies, alongside Anonymous Content. Goodby, Silverstein & Partners seemed to be the most prominent agency involved in many of the commercials shown.

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PGM Artists and The Brand Gallery, originally based out of the West Village in New York City, have
acquired a space in Greenwich, Connecticut. Read the full article in the Stamford Advocate.

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PGM Artists is pleased to announce it has signed Flip Film+Design, a Knoxville-based production company. Flip was formed in 2005 by Director/DP Phil Hardison who brings nearly 20 years of solid live-action film experience, with a particularly strong background in retail fashion. "PGM has assembled an impressive array of creative talent, we're very excited to be included in such an dynamic group." says Hardison.

Flip Film+Design understands the importance of balancing creative ideas and production value with clarity-of message and welcomes the opportunity to work with clients to create advertising that is impactful and effective.

Flip provides the necessary focus and attention to your project, no matter how big or how small and is dedicated to bringing together just the right resources to bring your creative to fruition. Flip also boasts partnerships with broadcast design and music teams that provide an exceptional level of post-production elements for your project. To see Flip's work please visit their site. http://www.flipfilmanddesign.com/

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Node Entertainment, a digital production company based in Stockholm, Sweden, was founded by Jens-Peter Sjöberg in 2007 with the vision to give the global entertainment marketplace a new step forward into the digital frontier. Jens-Peter Sjöberg has over 10 years experience in film and visual effects. He has worked on notable feature films such as The Golden Compass, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings & Superman Returns. He started as an Inferno/Flame Artist and has evolved into roles as a VFX Supervisor and Creative Director.

As of March 2009, PGM Artists welcomes Node Entertainment to its roster for national representation. PGM Artists’ CEO Phil McIntyre notes, “JP’s expertise as a proven international visual effects artist combined with his production/design chops makes him an interesting talent to agent to our clientele. We’re excited to have him in our mix and revere the innate creative flexibilities he possesses to meet this current challenging media climate.”

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With the start of the New Year, PGM Artists welcomes two companies to its creative roster for national representation.

Desedo Films is a New York based production company specializing in new media and minority markets. As discussed recently, in Ad Age, there are millions of American minority consumers still under-engaged by brands and advertising. Yet in a shrinking economy, it is these markets that are growing in both size and spending power. It the goal of Desedo co-founders, Michael Hastings-Black and Raafi Rivero, to tap into this key market which has remained untouched by many agencies and brands.

For More industry buzz on Desedo, check out the following:

Agency Spy~ Interview about the Demographic, Sexiest Man in Advertising, Party Pics,

Ad Age~ Muslim Market,

Huffington Post: american-muslim consumer space

Also, joining the PGM roster is Thank You, a Copenhagen based motion graphic studio, whose subtle balance of design, animation and live action have gained them international recognition. True to Scandinavian style, simplicity and strong pared-down design elements are the foundation of their work, which has recently been featured on stash, onedotzero and at motionographer.com. THANK YOU has earned a respected reputation for delivering high-end work to an international roster of clients such as MTV, Sony Music, Carlsberg, Icelandair, Visa and Danish Broadcasting Corp. to name a few. To check out Thank You’s most recent work in commercials, corporate branding, music videos, short films, broadcast design and network branding, please visit the company site.

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The Brand Gallery Summer and Fall 2008 design associate, Jae Hyuck Lee, competes in the newest viral reality show from MTV, MTV U and Hewlitt Packard, ‘The Engine Room.’ The show’s premiere, which is set for Monday September 15th, was recently featured in the “Media and Advertising” section of the New York Times.

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His name is Phil St. Millay. He's the ambitious head of a gaming company and the protagonist of a new online series entitled El Lobo Rojo.

Conceived and produced by the NY-based creative team Hart+Larsson El Lobo Rojo tells the story of the mercurial Phil St. Millay, whose company is preparing to launch a revolutionary new video game. Although Phil's new game promises to make him rich, fulfilling such promise becomes something of a precarious pursuit.

Playing the lead role of Phil St. Millay is PGM Artists' very own Phil McIntyre.

New Episodes of El Lobo Rojo air every Tuesday and Thursday at 3 PM ET:
www.El-Lobo-Rojo.com

Enjoy.

Recent Press:
Fashionista.com - Link
CREAIVITY - PDF

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Chemistry, Comotion, Inovat & Subliminal Join Roster

Phil McIntyre, CEO of PGM Artists, reports recently signing several new key players in the areas of creative editorial, interactive web design and high end live action resources. This expands upon PGM's current roster of exceptional creative companies.

Chemistry, a New York based creative editorial company, is comprised of six diverse and talented editors. The editors at Chemistry have produced award-winning spots, including Magazanin’s “Amexicano” ad which won the Grand Jury Prize in 2008, and Rubino’s help with the Saatchi & Saatchi anti-cyberbullying campaign that won the 2007/2008 Grand Award. Home to these current editors: Bruce Ashkinos, Beth Cramer, Ilya Magazanin, Damien Massingham, Peter Mostert and Jim Rubino.

Comotion Films, a commercial production company based in Atlanta, has directed commercials for Pizza Hut, Ford, Capital One, American General, TNT, Sonic, and many more. Home to directors John Davis, Glen Owen and Stephen Moe.

Inovat creatively designs, produces, and manages multimedia websites. Their work includes interactive flash websites, presentations, and games as well as desktop applications, email campaigns, and internet marketing management. Inovat’s award-winning work has been recognized in the website and online marketing categories of the Davey Awards for the past few years.

Subliminal Pictures is a full service live action production company based in Los Angeles specializing in commercials and branded entertainment. Since its inception in 2005, Subliminal has produced spots in the US and across the globe for Aquafina, Mattel, Pepsi, Plavix, Pacific Life, Final Draft, Buena Vista Games, Expedia, Microsoft, AMD, Scion, Chevrolet, Upper Deck, LA Times, Rubbermaid and Bose. Executive Produced by Steven Gould and Dina Mande.

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McIntyre Assembles All-Star Panel to Discuss Risk & Reward in Web 2.0 Marketing

Measuring Risk & Reward in 2.0 Marketing
4pm Thursday June 19, 2008 in the Grand Ballroom of the Hilton New York

From local stations to international media institutions, television entities are poised to profit from the power of 2.0 marketing, social networking and user-generated content. But where are the opportunities and how have companies succeeded in harnessing their potential? McIntyre will take attendees on a journey through the industry’s biggest 2.0 successes and failures and provide insight into balancing risk and reward in interactive media.

As we see the true affects of shrinking audiences in traditional media take hold, entertainment marketers are engaging high level integrated 2.0 strategies now more than ever. How are the many metrics of successful brand building being redefined in today’s new media landscape and how are executives best measuring the risks and rewards for their agendas?

Panel Guests:

Betsy L. Morgan: Chief Executive Officer, The Huffington Post
John McCauley: Chief Marketing Officer, CSTV
Robert Driscoll: Partner, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
Dick Glover: Chief Executive Officer, Funny or Die
Seth Geiger: President, SmithGeiger Research Consulting
John Sykes: Principle, Pilot Group

Moderator:

Philip G. McIntyre: Chief Executive Officer, The Brand Gallery & PGM Artists

Highly-respected for his thoughtful insights into emerging media trends, McIntyre is also well-known for his keen eye for talent and thorough knowledge of production technologies and methodologies.

The Brand Gallery specializes in the development of Brand architecture & design for screen media, having created presentation, promotion, and design strategies for some of the world's most-recognized media brands. PGM Artists is best described by its mantra: Connecting Creative Companies. It serves as a conduit that links a broad-based consortium of visual effects, animation and live-action production companies with the media companies and advertising agencies that seek these services.

Promax|BDA is the world’s largest television marketing conference attracting industry leaders and executives form top television networks, cable channels, local stations, station groups, distribution, syndication, media and creative agency, design and emerging media. (Promax|BDA website)

Last year the conference welcomed over 3,500 attendees from around the globe, including more than 700 local station executives from over 150 television markets in the United States. The delegation is made up of television marketing professionals who are tasked with driving the value of entertainment by finding new and innovative ways of attracting audiences to their parent companies' networks, stations and brands. The aim of the organization is to lead the international conversation about the role of marketing, promotion and design in the monetization of media.

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A Forum for Insights on Marketing In New Digital Landscape

When Phil McIntye, CEO of The Brand Gallery and PGM Artists, decided to organize and moderate a panel session at BlogWorld & New Media Expo, he wanted to propose the burning question of the day to traditional media and corporate marketing executives: “Are you blogging?” More specifically, McIntyre’s goal was to stimulate a discussion on how profit-driven companies of all kinds can reach increasingly empowered consumers by bridging the converging, but still distinct, worlds of traditional and cyber-based media.

“It’s certainly not news that the digital media environment is becoming increasingly important for marketing television and film, as well as for consumer advertising campaigns. The landscape has already changed dramatically,” McIntyre emphasizes. “By presenting this panel of leaders in the field to this well-attended conference of bloggers puts us ahead of the curve.”

McIntyre specializes in straddling these worlds at both The Brand Gallery, which specializes in the development of Brand architecture and design for screen media, having created presentation, promotion and design strategies for some of the world’s most-recognized media and entertainment brands, and PGM Artists, which serves as a conduit that links a broad-based consortium of high end brand design, visual effects, animation, live action, music, web development and multi-platform interactive digital producers with the media companies and advertising agencies that seek these services. Additionally, McIntyre shook up the non-linear media community and the blogosphere with PhilTube, a series of on-demand videos that offered a satirical take on contemporary new media trends. It not only attracted positive attention from linear media and bloggers alike for its humorous insight, but caused enough of a commotion that the major entity that is YouTube felt threatened enough to seek a decease and desist order against PhilTube. This proved an important legal decision concerning the promotional use of digital content on the internet. Comedy Central was impressed enough with McIntyre’s project, and the ensuing commotion, to enter a development deal with PGM Artists’ client Hart + Larsson -- which conceived, created and executed the project -- to develop a PhilTube inspired series for online, and possible cable television distribution.

“The success of ‘PhilTube’ shows the importance of embracing and honoring consumers who are snacking on non-linear content in the new digital environment. The growing legions spending more time on-line and paying less attention to traditional media attest to this,” McIntyre says. “The people attending BlogWorld are addressing this growing audience with a smart, savvy ‘everyman’ authenticity that’s completely counter to corporate interests and the money behind them,” he observes.

The challenge is to present content that’s not intrusive, but informative and entertaining. “Bloggers and new media consumers know marketers have been looking in their direction,” McIntyre explains. “They can be won over if you make an emotional connection with your message. You can’t pander to them. It’s a sensitive task for marketers who have to walk a tightrope connecting these divergent worlds.”

In selecting members of the panel for the BlogWorld session, McIntyre chose industry leaders who have accomplished this successfully.

The Panel: Joe Ferreira, Senior Vice President and General Manager, CBS Audience Network, CBS Interactive; Josh Krane, Senior Vice President, Interactive and New Media, G4 Video Game Television; Patrick Lafferty, Chief Creative Officer, Travel Channel Media; David Rolfe, Vice President, Director of Integrated Production, Crispin Porter + Bogusky; Kesu James, Interactive Writer & Producer / HBO Voyeur Project, BBDO New York; Mark Toney, Senior Vice President of Digital, SmithGeiger Research Consulting; and James Hibberd, Senior Reporter, TelevisionWeek.

After moderating this high-powered panel at BlogWorld, McIntyre remains convinced there is no reason why those from traditional media couldn’t adapt and flourish in new media formats and outlets. “No industry is better suited to breath in this space,” McIntyre maintains. “Television and film producers as well as advertising agencies have an historically long run of excellent performance in building audience and connecting with people.”

This, McIntyre explains, is counter to the conventional wisdom about the internet espoused by the traditional marketing community. “It’s too often said that it’s an amateur environment with great sensitivity to self-interest and a limited appetite for corporate backing or fakeness. There’s also a concern among bloggers that marketing activities could undermine the value of blogs and could turn this important and expanding informational technology into one big infomercial,” McIntyre observes. “But I have faith that the ultimate consumer can differentiate, and on some level has been embracing new technologies by spending more money on-line. For example, the music industry really dropped the ball with the whole Napster and free music downloading question,” McIntyre maintains. “They took a more defensive posture instead of figuring out how to profit from it. It might mean giving away a small piece of the pie to own an even larger segment of the business. Consumers have been moving away from CDs and will ultimately dictate what will happen with DVD sales. Content is changing,” McIntyre notes. “Technology is allowing us to deconstruct intellectual property and appropriate it in new ways.”

Hollywood is beginning to see the light, McIntyre observes. “Many movie studios, with their very rich, expensively produced content, now monitor the blogosphere weeks ahead of releasing a film. Depending on the on-line buzz, studios might decide whether to take a film wide, or go with a smaller release and focus more on the “downstream” DVD and video on-demand after-market. The blogosphere has proven to be an up-to-the-minute, upstream/downstream, real-time case study in how to best use marketing and distribution dollars,” McIntyre says. “What used to take weeks or months of audience research can be determined almost instantaneously. The instruments are changing in the orchestra as studios are changing and tweaking a model that used to be based solely on getting 200 people into a dark room to consume their product.

“It’s now important for advertising agencies and marketing departments at corporations to look at how studios are handling content,” McIntyre asserts. “This provides the first glimpse of an evolving model. When you’re talking about a major film release, it’s really all about brand management and stewarding content. Yes, this can be applied to detergent on a supermarket shelf.”

McIntyre sees the “constantly changing and evolving” digital environment as “an important arrow in the marketer’s quiver and an essential part of future marketing plans,” but it must be deployed wisely. “Cyberspace can be an unforgiving environment in several ways. It’s not only about hurdling the impediments of using this decidedly non-commercial setting for commercial purposes, there are legal issues concerning intellectual properties, as well,” McIntyre explains.

McIntyre cited advice from Jim Rosenfeld, a partner in the New York office of Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, which recently won a national award given to the top media law firm in the United States, in discussing several concerns at the BlogWorld panel:

The informality and personal nature of blogs often seems to create a lower legal bar, permitting bloggers to appropriate others' content far more than we would be inclined to do on network TV, in the pages of a magazine or in other mass media. But now that every media company -- and just about every company of any kind -- has its own blog, can corporate bloggers take advantage of this lower bar, or do lawyers have to be just as diligent in avoiding infringement, libel and other legal claims, whether by licensing content or leaving it out?

The answer, of course, is that it is necessary to be every bit as diligent in self-policing content in the blogosphere as in other media. Rosenfeld also notes:

When individual bloggers use people's content, there is often little incentive to sue them because they are not as likely to have the resources to pay damages. As a result, bloggers have been permitted to appropriate a lot of content that infringes or violates others' rights. Media companies, or other corporate bloggers, look around on the internet and see that "everyone is doing it." Yet they have to be just as diligent as traditional media -- and much more so than lone bloggers --in licensing or excluding content, or be relying on good advice that their uses of such content are not violating anyone else's rights, because they are much more likely to get sued for what others have gotten away with.

This means the same kind of legal diligence in terms of copyrights and other intellectual property concerns must still be carefully considered. With these legal issues addressed, the marketing potential in the digital environment is almost endless. “In the past, consumption of traditional media was far more passive,” McIntyre says. “The new technologies have led to a far more empowered consumer. We need to take a serious look at how to utilize the digital environment to better adapt to changing consumer behavior.”

Download One Sheet PDF

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Attention: Media Companies, “Are You Blogging?” asks celebrity ‘PhilTube’ blogstar and moderator, Phil McIntyre.

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 8th 4:00 PM SESSION @ LAS VEGAS CONVENTION CENTER

How are some of today’s top entertainment and media companies harnessing the BLOGOSPHERE and our ever expanding digital landscape to help build awareness for their respective brands?

As Chief Executive of New York based Media companies, The Brand Gallery & PGM Artists, McIntyre invites an elite group of marketing media stars to discuss the growing role of blogs as a brand platform.

Senior executives within the television, media and advertising agency arenas give insight to some of the challenges, strategies and effectiveness of their past, current and future campaigns. Our open discussion will highlight the many touch-point areas of viral video, rich media applications, user-generated content, social networking as well as the growing amount of money spent around building branded interactive experiences …

Our Panel:

Joe Ferreira: SVP, GM - CBS Audience Network
Mark Toney: SVP of Digital - SmithGeiger Research Consulting
James Hibberd: Senior Reporter - Television Week/TV Week.com
Josh Krane: SVP, Director of Digital Media – G4 Video Game Television
Pat Lafferty: Chief Creative Officer - Travel Channel Media
David Rolfe: SVP, Director of Branded Production - Crispin Porter & Bogusky Advertising

Click here for more information about Blog World Expo.

Download One Sheet PDF

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September 5, 2007—The Brand Gallery, a New York-based boutique agency, recently tapped Peter Kagan of bi-coastal (NY/LA) production company, Streamline Content, to shoot a major new campaign for HighSchoolPlaybook.com.

HighSchoolPlaybook.com is an innovative new social networking site devoted to high school sports, developed by Hearst-Argyle Television. The site will combine user-generated, “mashable” content with video from Hearst-Argyle's local sports reporters, and specially trained student “sideline reporters” outfitted with HD cameras.

The campaign includes four 30-second spots that will play around the local news programming on Hearst-Argyles’s stations, as well as a series of shorter “viral” videos for online distribution.

The spots and viral elements were all shot in high definition on a tight one-day shooting schedule at a Greenwich, Conn. high school. They generally focus on one of the “sideline reporters” trying to interview athletes. Integral to all of the storylines is an overly enthusiastic face-painted fan who insinuates himself into each situation, making life harder for the reporter.

“The affiliate stations are going to be sending out young interviewers like the one depicted in the spots so the intrepid reporter’s character is establishing a template of what is expected to happen with these affiliate stations,” explained Kagan. “In a way, this is meant to describe a certain amateurish exuberance – an unjaded energy about what it’s like to go to these events, and talk to these athletes to get the scoop.”

Kagan described how he was brought on board early, which gave him the unique opportunity to help shape the scripts in collaboration with agency Chief Creative Officer Iain Greenway. “Iain and I have a great chemistry based on a mutual respect for each other’s talents. Neither of us had to burn a lot of calories posing or working to win over the other. It was a very clean creative collaboration – the sort one wishes they all could be.”

“It was great to work from the ground up, to craft characters and storylines out of a client’s basic needs. A lot of what we did was meant to articulate the fundamental truths of youth athletics, the jocks as heroes – that Alpha-male status that high school athletes enjoy.”

“We’re speaking to kids here.” He explained that he actually found some of the vernacular for the dialog in his son’s letters home from summer camp. “One of the letters described a basketball tournament. My son spoke in terms of ‘owning’ the other team – ‘We so owned them.’ That actually gave me the idea for the copy that the reporter says to the guy in the locker room – ‘You so owned that first quarter.’”

Kagan shot the spots with his Panasonic HVX200, which records HD video on solid-state P2 memory cards.

“I think of my camera a lot like a musical instrument,” said Kagan. “There’s a connection that you make with a tool like a camera or an instrument like a guitar. With a particular piece of gear, you know you’re going to sound good, and right now, my favorite guitar is the HVX200.”

He explained that using P2 “liberated” him from the constraints of traditional film. The morning of the shoot, waiting for the actors in makeup and wardrobe, he was able to “steal” a quick shot, which is now slated to become its own spot. He had the extras – a high school lacrosse team – line up on the opposite side of the field and come charging through the early morning fog right at the camera. He over-cranked the shot at 60 fps to give it a primal slow-motion effect.

“You couldn’t see these guys in the mist and they just sort emanate out the fog,” said Kagan. “They really looked like warriors charging out of the mist. It was daunting.”

He explained that with the high cost of film, he’d have felt a need to discuss the shooting of unscripted and un-budgeted shots at sixty frames per second with production, “but with HD, I just set it up and shot it, and the P2 data cost nothing. It was just some space on a hard drive that we had anyway. So I felt liberated, cut loose to shoot what I saw. I could do so without betraying my financial responsibilities to the producers, and had it in the can before the principal actors were even out of wardrobe. It took me 7 minutes. The cost to the client – exactly zero, and it’s some of their favorite footage from the day.”

When it comes to dealing with the P2 footage on set, Kagan explained that he’s developed his own system, and that “my camera assistants are used to a very specific archival procedure on set that I use to make certain that the editors get their dailies and backup copies, and everything is checked and rechecked.”

Another key advantage of working with HD is that it cuts down on the whole dailies process.

“In this day an age, when everybody’s in a hurry, there’s one less step where dailies are being transferred the morning after a shoot. In this instance, they wanted to have it right away and start editing. And if you can generate content like that straight out of a camera, you can relinquish your dailies with confidence and not have to ride them through the final session,” he explained.

Graphics and postproduction for the spots were handled at The Brand Gallery. Laura Israel served as editor. Both The Brand Gallery and Streamline Content are represented by New York-based PGM Artists.

With the growing popularity of user-generated content and social networking sites, combined with the natural popularity of high school sports, Kagan feels HighSchoolPlaybook.com will strike a chord with students, and that the campaign hit its mark.

“There’s a new paradigm for reaching kids,” said Kagan. “For one thing, everybody’s a filmmaker. Everybody’s got a camera. Everybody’s got a cell phone that can record video. The ‘youtube-ification’ of what we do is pretty significant in the experience of every kid these days. My thirteen-year-old is taking Final Cut Pro classes at UCLA this week.”

Overall, agency Chief Creative Officer, Iain Greenway reported that, “I absolutely feel we achieved what we wanted by Peter and I being on the same page with the essence or the spirit of these spots, and really developing the writing and the characters, and giving them the personality that they needed.”

About Streamline Content:
Streamline Content is a bi-coastal production company founded by Director/Cameraman, Peter Kagan and Executive Producer, Brian Bennhoff. The company offers a lean, streamlined production model for clients, without any creative compromises. The Company’s Web address is www.streamlinecontent.com.

About PGM Artists
PGM Artists is all about making creative connections. This means connecting its exceptional roster of visual effects, animation, and live-action production companies with the people who need them – advertising agencies and media companies. PGM Artists is headed by marketing and production veteran Phil McIntyre. He sees his artists as bridges between communication companies and the resources they need to remain competitive in today’s multi-platform marketplace. The Company’s Web address is http://www.pgmartists.com.

About The Brand Gallery:
The Brand Gallery specializes in the development and implementation of positioning, presentation and promotion strategies for some of the world’s most recognized brands. Located in NYC’s West Village, The Brand Gallery was launched by partners Phil McIntyre and Iain Greenway in early 2005 as a creative boutique focusing on all aspects of screen media.

About Hearst-Argyle:
Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc. owns 26 television stations, and manages an additional three television and two radio stations, in geographically diverse U.S. markets. The Company’s television stations reach approximately 18% of U.S. TV households, making it one of America’s largest television station groups. Hearst-Argyle owns 12 ABC-affiliated stations, and manages an additional ABC station owned by Hearst Corporation, and is the largest ABC affiliate group. The Company also owns 10 NBC affiliates, and is the second-largest NBC affiliate owner, and owns two CBS affiliates. Hearst-Argyle also is a leader in the convergence of local broadcast television and the Internet through its partnership with Internet Broadcasting, and in the application of digital broadcast spectrum for new local informational services through its Weather Plus partnership with NBC and various NBC affiliate groups. Hearst-Argyle Series A Common Stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “HTV.”

Posted by PGM at 04:02 PM | Permalink

Internationally acclaimed and award-winning beauty photographer James Houston has arranged representation as a commercial director through New York-based PGM Artists.

Houston is recognized as one of the leading beauty/body photographers working in America and Europe for clients including Chanel, Clinique, Donna Karan, Gap, Givenchy Paris, HUGO BOSS, Neutrogena and Victoria’s Secret. Beginning in 2004, he expanded his repertoire by venturing into commercial directing for Estee Lauder and has since shot spots for the likes of Nautica and Hugo Boss.

Commercial directing has been a natural extension of Houston’s proven artistic talents. Clients have been able to benefit from the inherent economy of having him both shoot stills and direct spots within a single project. Typically, the poses and camera angles are refined during the still shoot, then reprised the following day and captured with a film crew working under Houston’s direction.

Houston’s recent commercial projects were shot through New York based Crooked River Productions, and produced by its Exec. Producer Brian Bennhoff. Houston was introduced to PGM’s Phil McIntyre earlier this year by Bennhoff, who has successfully partnered with PGM on previous business.

"It is an absolute honor and privilege to agent the work of James Houston,” says McIntyre. “James as a talent represents someone with a creative point-of-view distinctly his own. This makes him a desirable commercial director for any brand manager looking to punch through the clutter in a fashion and style emblematic of both taste and grace."

A native of Sydney, Australia, and influenced by sculptors such as Henry Moore and Rodin, Houston started photographing the naked form in art school and soon developed the clean and graphic style that has become his signature.

In March 2000, Houston moved to New York City, where he continued to focus on beauty and bodywork. In 2002, branching out into the world of celebrity, Houston spent six months in Los Angeles, shooting for magazines including American Vogue, British Glamour, French Glamour, German Glamour and Interview. Celebrities who appreciate and request Houston’s eye for beauty include Cate Blanchett, Jessica Alba, Elle Macpherson, Kirsten Dunst, Sheryl Crow, Christy Turlington, Hugh Jackman, Guy Pearce, Matt Dillon, Paris Hilton and Mandy Moore.

In addition to his editorial work, Houston has leveraged his unique style of bodywork in several of his own publications and exhibitions. Focusing on portraits and the nude form in black and white, his books RAW and RAWMOVES, were released in 1995 and 1997 respectively. The latter book, exhibition, and photographic essay featured Australia’s three leading dance companies and toured Australia, England, and Asia.

In November 2005 Houston launched his third published book ONE Yogamoves, a study of the yoga body as a sculptural form. All proceeds from the ONE book and exhibition were donated to the Australian Breast Cancer Foundation.

Continuing to fund charitable causes through his talents, Houston launched the MOVE FOR AIDS project in October 2006. Sponsored internationally by HUGO BOSS, the project consists of a published book (MOVE published by PowerHouse books NYC), an exhibition and a documentary. Houston photographed over fifty of New York’s leading dancers for the project as a way of raising much needed funds and awareness for HIV/AIDS.

Following the successful opening in New York hosted by Hugh Jackman, MOVE FOR AIDS then moved to London. Hosted by David Furnish & Elle Macpherson, the exhibit raised £40,000 for the Elton John AIDS Foundation and was exhibited at the Getty Image Gallery London.

The Australian launch of MOVE FOR AIDS occurred in Sydney Australia in November 2006. Attended by Sir Elton John & Baz Luhrmann, the Sydney event raised almost $300,000 and was named charity event of the year.

Houston has already shot major stills campaigns this year for GAP Body, Hugo Boss, and Oil of Olay. Moving forward, he anticipates more hybrid opportunities to combine print and TV shoots. With agencies looking for smart ways to maximize their clients’ resources, the solution of tapping Houston to fulfill both the photographer and director roles seems both logical and enlightened.

Posted by PGM at 03:51 PM | Permalink

Annual Summer Intern “SHAG-fest” Farewell Party

Both The Brand Gallery and PGM Artists send off our crop of summer interns back to Granville and Denver with tastes of great food and fun from one of our West Village hotspots, “SHAG.”

Posted by PGM at 12:16 PM | Permalink

Yet again, another great summer of college students on Charles Street. On Monday May 21st, one University of Denver and six Denison University undergraduates - Nick Lamdin '08, Aditi Bhansali '09, Katherine Northy '08, Rebecca Rothschild '08, Elisabeth Bergen '08, John Szendiuch '08 and Lindsay Hittner '08 – arrived at the New York City studios of The Brand Gallery and PGM Artists for a comprehensive, hands-on introduction to the worlds of branding, advertising, and marketing.

CEO Phil McIntyre summed it up this summer by saying. “It was a great and enriching summer to have so many talented interns working with us here in the west village. Each functioned very well within our ecosystem. We saw every person grow and evolve nicely across the 10 week program. They are already greatly missed. We of course wish them all well in the coming year and want to thank them for their hard work and contributions to the business.”

Below our interns share what they learned and took away in their own words …Enjoy!

Nick Lamdin

It is an indisputable fact that in today’s highly competitive work environment it helps to have any advantage on one’s resume. An internship has shifted from being an option that a college student chooses, to a necessity. Internships allow for college students to experience the real work environment head on, helping to prep him or her for the real world. Most internships consist of having to work 10 hour days, wearing business attire everyday, and only doing monotonous work such as filing or data entry, while not getting any compensation for the work and effort. Thankfully this does not come even close to what my internship experience at The Brand Gallery/PGM Artists was like.

With college soon coming to an end, I am now faced with the daunting task of deciding what type of work that I would like to pursue once I have graduated. The Brand Gallery/PGM Artists offered me such a place to really examine two different aspects of the advertising business. The one aspect of the company was the creative and design side of advertising, and the other aspect was the businesses side of advertising. On the creative side of the business, I learned how to use such programs as Final Cut Studio Pro, create DVD reels, use Adobe After Effects, and many other exciting programs. On the business side of the company, PGM Artist, I learned how the company and its clients communicate between each other, in addition to learning basic office duties and activities. More importantly, working at this company exposed me to so many different situations that no one could ever had prepared me for which has helped broaden my knowledge of the real work environment.

While the work was a great experience, the overall best experience was working with the other individuals in the office, and the company’s clients. The Brand Gallery/PGM Artists is a small work environment where all the staff from both departments really gets to know whom you are, and will always be there to help you. The other interns that I had the privilege of working with this year were really awesome and crazy as well. In addition, I had to learn how to work with clients and other people in the industry who I might not have seen eye to eye with. I am truly going to miss working here as well as the people whom I have really come to know well.

Aditi Bhansali

My time this summer flew by at the internship program with PGM Artists / The Brand Gallery. I had come to Manhattan hoping to gain a lot of experience and knowledge from this internship, but I left learning more than I could have hoped to.

Let me begin by rounding up the usual suspects. When I signed up for this summer internship in the city, I was expecting to have the ‘New York City internship experience,’ learn about the industry, even about myself, and of course, living it up in style at the big apple. Alphabet soup (on the subways) has now come to be a staple, and the subway map has become my trusty companion, with ‘411’ being the most frequently dialed number—I will probably miss this anywhere else in the world. With the daily summaries of the New York Times, the weekly production meetings, the research and the hands-on work, I learned not only about how the industry works, but also about what elements make it work the way it works—I believe that I got a more holistic and in-depth picture of the media/advertising industry than ever before. I learned not to stay quiet (much to my family’s annoyance) and instead how to speak out and be confident enough to say ‘I’ll do it’! We were even encouraged to find projects to do—creative freedom challenged me more than I realized. And that’s why I feel like this internship allowed me to grow, i.e.- not only to learn to work in an office environment, but also to learn about what I like doing and helping me to achieve that. And finally caffeine addiction definitely becomes the norm— when you’re in the city, giving in to sleep before sunrise is never an option.

There were also some aspects to this internship experience that I could not have foreseen. Most importantly, I was taught about the importance of strategic alliances. How companies come to form partnerships for particular projects, how to build, retain, and sustain important alliances, how to be creative and cunning enough to create new ones as well—this is a vital and universally applicable skill I believe that I could only have learned at this internship. In addition, I originally thought that when it came to working in a team, I knew it all. Realizing that assumption was rather premature, I have to admit that I learned my lesson. I worked with six hard-working, fun-loving interns, a crotchety entertaining and fascinatingly brilliant office manager, a boss whose favorite word is ‘jamming’ and can be found jamming with perfect ease at any given time, a sales team that takes incessant speech to a whole new unimaginable level, and tons of interesting and quirky freelance artists—now that’s team work. And lastly, when I was told about hands-on experience, I had not expected to be attending high scale award ceremonies for advertisements that are being entered into the MoMA and becoming part of history; or going for shoots and working with an entire crew on set; or being witness to the process that allows for projects to be found and alliances to be made. But today, I didn’t expect to look up from my computer screen and find the 10 weeks coming to a rapid end.

Rebecca Rothschild

The internship program at The Brand Gallery and PGM Artists fuses creative and production experience within a professional and business foundation. The unique and funky atmosphere of the West Village is a perfect location for these two businesses, which reflect the distinctive personality of the area. My experiences this summer combined genuine New York City exposure and hands on experience with the support of the production team.

The close-knit staff encouraged me to take full advantage of every opportunity during the past ten weeks. Sitting in on production meetings, researching for upcoming projects, and learning several new design programs constitute a couple of the real-world experiences and skills that I have gained. From the beginning of the program, I learned how to develop a program to categorize fonts, how the creative production process develops for projects, and how the different parts of every project come together all within a professional workplace setting.

My final weeks at The Brand Gallery encapsulated all production experiences and I was able to follow a project through from the beginning to the end. At the launch of the High School Playbook, I attended the casting auditions and provided necessary support for freelancers and other individuals working on the project. I worked alongside the production coordinator in creating the production book used throughout the entire project and assisted in scheduling and confirming the talent. The commercial shoot for High School Playbook.com was one of the most exciting moments of the summer where I was on set as a production assistant and fully immersed in the activities.

I gained confidence in myself and my experience as a result of the variety of work and opportunity this summer. The internship program has prepared me for my future in the working world by forcing me to become a successful problem solver with a strong work ethic. Overall, this summer has perfectly meshed professional experience with personal growth, giving me confidence as I return for my last year of college before I enter the working world.

John Szendiuch

At the start of my time here, I didn’t know what to expect in terms of what I would learn and the tasks that I would be assigned. I came in just hoping to do a good job and make a positive contribution to the company. Now, at the end of my time here, the skills and insight I’ve picked up have helped me gain a better grasp of the industry and to better plan my future, whether it be in sales and marketing, production, or even intellectual property law. In the short ten weeks I spent as an intern for these companies the experiences I’ve had, things I’ve learned, and connections I’ve made have far exceeded I could have expected coming in.

When I was first invited to interview for a summer position here, I was excited to discover the business was located in an area of the city I was unfamiliar with at the time, the West Village. With it’s own distinct culture and variety of bars and restaurants, walking to work and running packages through this neighborhood has been a pleasure all its own.

As soon as I walked into The Brand Gallery offices I could tell that it would be a great place to work. The total opposite of the cramped cubicles I had worked in at my previous internship, the open floor plan and glass dividers of the office were conducive to a friendly environment where information and ideas could be shared easily. Even the building itself (the private residence of artist Jennifer Bartlett) was a creative place.

Of the employees at PGM Artists and The Brand Gallery I can only speak highly. They took the time to teach me everything from sending faxes and printing labels to coaching me on making sales calls. While they were always friendly and helpfully, the distinctly businesses attitude of the employees helped me focus my efforts and budget my time.

The sales and marketing team here at PGM Artists is comprised of the two person team of Mike Lobikis and Meghan Powers and headed up by our CEO, Phil McIntyre. Together, the three of them are responsible for repping a full roster of creative clients that includes top notch directors, production companies, web developers, sound designers, 3D graphic artists, and creatives.

As an intern with PGM, I worked directly under the sales and marketing team. My daily assignments included reading industry magazines such as Creativity, TV Week, and Ad Week and gleaning from them (aside from the term glean) not only current trends in the media marketplace, but names and information for potential contacts and job leads. Using that new contact info, I made sales calls to PAs to gather information on upcoming jobs and to tout the services of our creative clients.

The production department is responsible for overseeing the timely creation of deliverables and overall project management. While working for them, I was responsible for doing initial research for our High School Playbook project bid, investigating other sports themed social networking sites, and compiling the material for a presentation.

One of the most exciting parts of my time as an intern was when we were invited to assist in the production of a commercial for the aforementioned High School Playbook project. The weekend before the shoot I traveled to Greenwich to assist casting director Jennifer O’Haver. While Jennifer video-taped and screened potential actors and extras, I manned the front desk, signing in people as they arrived and provided them with information about the content and character of the project. Shot in Greenwich, Connecticut, the all day shoot was headed up by Streamline Content director Peter Kagan. Aside from assisting to set up the shoot and relay information, another intern (Nick Lamdin) and myself were even asked to be on camera. Being involved in both the preparation and the execution of an event of that scale helped me to get a better idea of the number of specialized jobs and people that go into a professional commercial shoot.

My experience here at the Brand Gallery and PGM Artists over the past 10 weeks has been one filled with excitement, and responsibility. While making good friends and experiencing a fantastic part of New York City, I feel I have learned a lot and gained a much better understanding of not only the way The Brand Gallery and PGM Artists operate, but how they function as a part of the advertising and marketing business as a whole.

Katie Northy

As a communication major at a liberal arts school, I have taken various classes that broadly addressed the field of advertising and promotion. However, while incredibly informative, my classes and related activities within the Communication department did not offer the practical experience needed to truly understand the industry. With this said, I am extremely grateful that I have had the opportunity to intern at The Brand Gallery in New York.

While I always understood the importance of creative media in the advertising industry, this internship has truly helped me realize the amount of work that goes into conceptualizing and producing an innovative and creative campaign. By working closely with The Brand Gallery production team and visiting production companies, I came to truly understand how compartmentalized the production process is. This summer, I was fortunate enough to assist The Brand Gallery staff and Streamline Content in producing a multimedia advertising campaign for "High School Playbook." As I watched the concept move from its initial pitch to the final stages of production, I saw how every person involved, whether they be working on graphics for the website, casting, or the production of the live action commercial, worked hard on their individual tasks and paid close attention to detail. As the High School Playbook project involved many people completing different delegated assignments, the project allowed me to see first hand the importance of communication, accountability, and cooperation between the various departments of production. While communication and cooperation were particularly important for this project, they are also generally valued in the professional world and I will surely remember the lessons I learned from this project when perusing future endeavors.

After ten weeks of work at the Brand Gallery, I am now more familiar with the advertising industry and I have learned practical lessons that I simply could not have attained in the academic classroom alone. While going on location to shoot the Playbook commercial was undeniably an amazing experience, each day spent in the office was also incredibly valuable. Everyday I learned something new and even if I was not directly involved in a project, by simply observing the work that was going on around me, I was able to gain a better understanding of the business. I am so genuinely thankful for the people I've worked with at The Brand Gallery, both for their continual patience and their willingness to offer advice regarding work related projects or the industry in general. The environment at the Brand Gallery is one that is extremely inclusive and friendly and it was truly a pleasure being surrounded by people who enjoy what they do.

The lessons that I learned this summer while living and working in New York are invaluable and this experience has helped me mature both personally and professionally. While I started this internship inexperienced and confused about my future career aspirations, I am leaving today with a better understanding of the advertising industry as well as a greater awareness of my own personal strengths and weaknesses.

Elisabeth Bergen

My valuable and rewarding experiences as a summer intern at The Brand Gallery have not only allowed me learn more about the branding and marketing industry, but have enabled me to learn skills and new ways of thinking that will be indispensable for me in the working world after college. Over the past 10 weeks I have had opportunities to observe and work with employees in various areas of the business, giving me the chance to gain a more complete understanding of the branding industry.

At the beginning of my time at The Brand Gallery, I was unsure of what to expect, having never worked in an office environment before. The friendly and helpful staff here made sure that all of the interns adjusted quickly, immediately making us feel comfortable and at home here. I learned many typical office skills including how to make copies, fax, and operate phones, all of which I know will continue to be of use to me long after my internship has ended. In addition to learning these valuable skills, I also had the responsibility, along with the other interns, of reading and reporting the stories in the New York Times business section each day, which enabled me to have a greater understanding of current news in the advertising and business world. In addition to performing these daily tasks, I also worked on the creation of a Font Book along with several of the other interns. Through this project and various other small projects over the course of the past 10 weeks I became familiar with computer programs such as inDesign, PhotoShop, and AfterEffects, all important tools used frequently by producers and designers at The Brand Gallery.

Of all my experiences at The Brand Gallery, I have found my participation in the production of a commercial for the Hearst-Argyle website Playbook.com to be the most interesting and exciting. I was able to observe and participate in the process of creating a successful commercial from beginning to end, which helped me to better understand the huge amount of work, talent, and effort that go into creating a successful commercial. Through researching images for designers, helping out with the casting process, and working as a PA on the set of the commercial I was able to see first-hand the ways in which producers transform creative ideas into reality.

In addition to learning valuable office and computer skills and gaining first-hand experience through participating in the process of organizing a live commercial shoot, my internship at The Brand Gallery also allowed me to have to opportunity to volunteer at and attend the AICP awards show at MoMA in June. At this event I was able to hear successful and talented industry professionals talk about their work and the processes of creating successful advertising campaigns. As a volunteer I not only learned about the hard work involved in organizing and running an awards show, but also about the amount of talent and effort that it takes to produce a successful commercial.

My internship with The Brand Gallery has been a wonderful experience, and has contributed greatly to my understanding of both the advertising industry and the corporate world. My time here has not only been educational, but also fun and exciting. I know that everything I have learned here will continue to benefit me in my future business undertakings, and I truly feel that my experiences as an intern at The Brand Gallery have helped to prepare me for a successful life after graduation.

Lindsay Hittner

These past 10 weeks at The Brand Gallery and PGM Artists have been quite the experience. This internship has taught me that working a 9-6 job, 5 days a week and commuting from a different state causes Mono-like symptoms of exhaustion. After the acute life of the fatigue, I became accustomed to the working lifestyle. Joking aside, I came into this internship hoping to narrow my focus on a career path suitable for me and this internship has truly helped me develop my career aspirations. As a Communication major, this internship provided me with an outstanding opportunity to understand this field in a real hands-on environment. Early in the program, I had the honor of volunteering for the AICP Art and Technique of the American Commercial Awards with my fellow interns. The event was really a turning point for me, where I realized how passionate I was about advertisements and commercials. I viewed reels of people working through the creative process to develop award winning commercials. Additionally, through working the event, I met some truly fascinating people in the field.

Throughout the program, I was also able to get to know and work closely with PGM Artists and The Brand Gallery staff members who taught me more in one week than I could have learned anywhere else in the entire summer! Office Manager, Jim Shallal, whipped me into "office shape," teaching me everything there is to know about office tasks, while also providing lessons on life. To say that I learned one thing specifically about the advertising industry would be a lie; everyday taught me something new. I worked on style guides in InDesign, learned how to use Final Cut Pro to edit a "PGM News" segment, honed my Photoshop skills, learned new short-cuts from Gabe, a designer at TBG, relearned how to use Illustrator to make a DVD Reel Cover for our Recent Works DVD and much more.

When our office was busy getting ready for a commercial for High School Playbook, I fulfilled the indespensable tasks needed to prepare for the shoot. I was also given the chance to work a casting session for the commercial which proved to be an amazing experience, as well as a full schedule. We, the interns, got the great learning opportunity of working on location for the shoot. Seeing the process from start to finish was excellent. I never would have gotten that type of experience at a larger company. I was able to work as a Production Assistant on location and meet some incredible people. Unfortunately, I also learned how to work with and deal with very difficult and unprofessional people. But the experience has only made me stronger.

It was a pleasure getting to know new people from my university and others. These interns have become some of my best friends and I look forward to seeing them often around campus during my last year of college.

Posted by PGM at 05:07 PM | Permalink

PGM Artists and The Brand Gallery staff enjoyed the Association of Independent Commercial Producers' Award Show, The Art and Technique of American Commercials. All summer interns volunteered for the event, with the privilege of watching the works of art.

Posted by PGM at 12:56 PM | Permalink

Reprinted with permission from Denison Magazine, Spring 2007

I'm Blogging

BY DAVID BERMAN ‘05
With an industry summit approaching, Phil McIntyre ‘93 was looking for a way to promote his company, PGM Artists, which pairs advertising agencies with production companies. So he plucked from his own roster Hart+Larsson and commissioned them to create something, anything, that would whip potential clients into a frenzy. The result? PhilTube.com—a YouTube doppelganger featuring McIntyre himself in a series of tongue-in-cheek videos that call to mind the role played by fellow Denisonian Steve Carrell ‘84 in “The Office.”

The site featured a page design noticeably similar to YouTube and a framework inside which Mcintyre, who had never acted before, and other bit players—including PGM employees Michael Lobikis ‘06 and Carol Collins ‘05—could improvise. Included in the collection of videos were spoofs of YouTube’s accidental celebrities lonelygirll5 and the Star Wars kid. But the video that became the most popular and went viral—tech speak for material that becomes ubiquitous in cyber space—was “Did You Say Blogging?” Soon after PhilTube went live, the clip caught on and links began appearing on—what else?—blogs all over the web. And to “underscore the phenomenal purity of something going naked viral,” as Mcintyre puts it, “during it’s run someone out there in the ether put the clip on YouTube.” (Readers playing along at home can search that site for “I’m Blogging”.)

Four weeks, tens of thousands of hits, and one cease- and-desist letter from YouTube later, PhilTube was an undeniable success. At its peak, according to alexa.com, the site was the 25,421st most popular on the web (by comparison, denison.edu is the 103,501st most popular). Beyond bloggers, the mainstream press took notice. “1 declare PhilTube funnier than ‘The Office’,” said Aaron Barnhart of the Kansas City Star.

“I’m tickled the Google-YouTube merger happened in the middle of all of it,” McIntyre said. PhilTube was greenlit before the search engine giant shelled out $1.65 billion for the video site. He immediately complied with the YouTube order and pulled the plug, but its spirit lives on in the collective memory of the blogging community, as well as that one, ironic corner of YouTube. Now PhilTube is being developed in-house at Comedy Central. McIntyre said further episodes are being scripted and he expects them to debut, in one form or another, during the first quarter of 2007.

The Comedy Central version may, or may not, star Mcintyre. But he’s not sweating it because he has plenty of work to do. In addition to PGM Artists, Mcintyre also owns and runs The Brand Gallery, a brand strategy firm. The two companies peacefully coexist in the same New York City office space.

While PhilTube was a master stroke in self-promotional mimickery, Mcintyre refuses to take full credit. Like a proud father, he seems most excited at the prospects of seeing one of his own shine. “As off-the-cuff as it looked, there was a lot of work behind it,” he said. McIntyre has confidence in his own companies as well as those he represents. So did he expect for all of this to happen? “To be honest, I’m not that surprised,” he said

“We put the B in blogging. It should he BGM, not PGM. . .BGM Blartists!” spoofs a hyperdriven Phil McIntyre (right) of his own company and the grassroots Internet craze in one episode of the now “ceased-and-desisted” PhiIThbe.com. Watch for its resurgence on Comedy Central this year.

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Posted by PGM at 04:43 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

I'm Blogging

At last month's Boards Summit, there was a lot of talk about how to utilize new media to get clients' messages across - particularly of how YouTube and its strength as a distribution channel has changed the rules of engagement. Funny then, that at the same time as some of the industry's top minds were collected in the same space, PhilTube was quietly but rapidly growing into a perfect embodiment of what everyone was talking about.

PhilTube, for those who missed it, is a parody of YouTube and all of its clichéd trappings. Site star Phil McIntyre is seen in various video clips spitting out hackneyed phrases such as "content is king", "this is hot, let's get it on the site" and "hold all my calls, I'm too busy blogging". He also gives a wink and a nod to YouTube sensations lonelygirl15 and the Star Wars kid. In fact, Boards even gets a couple of namedrops, and we like that. Dripping with dry humor, knowing irony and some of the funniest fake hair this side of Halloween, the site captures the zeitgeist of the current online climate. We love spoofs, but rarely does a spoof actually transcend its send-up stature to become its own bona fide success.

Created by digital agency Hart+Larsson for McIntyre's PGM Artists as a part of the company's sponsorship of the Boards Summit, philtube.com was intended to increase the presence of PGM and the companies it reps to a captive audience: Summit attendees. Instead, it's caught mainstream attention, garnering over 35,000 hits in the weeks following the Summit as well as media attention from sites like The Huffington Post. McIntyre also reports that he's been approached to expound on his tongue-in-cheek antics and create an online series based on the characters, and, he adds with some pride, "Apparently it's big in Germany". Indeed, a true sign of success.

All joking aside, PhilTube is a great example, albeit a small one, of how savvy clients and their agencies can capitalize on the interplay between traditional and emerging media, and how free and consumer-controlled online avenues can bring ideas to new levels.

You see, in the grand scheme of things, Phil spent very little on a traditional media buy: a sponsorship package at the Summit that gave him plasma screen presence, branded lanyards and a series of small print ads in our delegate book. From there, he worked with his client Hart+Larsson (who he credits with coming up with the entire idea) to create content to support that media buy and then he just let the netizens do the rest. He was able to reach his target and captive audience, and now is reaping the benefits of a whole new set of viewers. In reality, it's hard to say whether this PhilTube thing will have legs beyond the current flash-in-the-pan excitement - the YouTube generation seems to have the attention span of a gnat and much of its content is very insider-y (while hilarious to those in the know, the humor of Phil turning down calls from Regina Ebel, Steve Humble, Diane Jackson and Donny Deutsch because he's too busy blogging is no doubt lost on the general populace).

Still, when sitting with Phil at the Summit, who'd have ever thought it would have grown to such engaging proportions when he turned to me and said, "Hey, have you seen my new site yet?"

Cheers,

Rae Ann Fera
Editor
November 1, 2006 - Boards Magazine

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Posted by PGM at 10:39 AM | Permalink

Synthespian Studios is a new boutique story development, design and character animation studio launched by creative directors Diana Walczak and Jeff Kleiser who, as partners, helmed the bicoastal animation and effects house Kleiser-Walczak Construction Company.

Founded to create original projects for animated characters, in 2005 Synthespian Studios was commissioned to develop, design and produce two pilot commercials for the Sun-Maid Raisin Growers of California and their iconic Sun-Maid girl. The success of these spots lead to the development of more commercials and print ads for Sun-Maid as well as projects for entertainment clients.

In addition to their spot and print work, Synthespian Studios recently designed and produced an all-CG animated dance sequence spoofing "War of the Worlds" for "Scary Movie 4." Kleiser and Walczak's latest visual effects work may be seen in visual effects shots created for "X3" and "Fantastic Four."

Jeff Kleiser is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as well as the Visual Effects Society. He serves on the board of the Williamstown Film Festival. Kleiser and Diana Walczak both serve on the board of the Norman Rockwell Museum.

Synthespian
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A synthespian is any synthetic actor. A portmanteau of the words synthetic, meaning not of natural origin, and thespian, meaning dramatic actor. The term "synthespian" was created by Jeff Kleiser and Diana Walczak of Kleiser-Walczak Construction Company. When they were assembling a synthetic thespian for their project, "Nestor Sextone for President," they coined the term "synthespian."

Here Diana Walczak is pictured at her computer. Photo courtesy Synthespian Studios. Image on monitor: © 2006 Sun-Maid Growers of California. All rights reserved.

Diana Walczak and Jeff Kleiser of Synthespian Studios directed a team of artists who updated the look of the 90-year-old Sun-Maid girl for a television, print and web campaign that started in 2006. Kleiser and Walczak developed the concepts for the campaign; wrote, designed and directed the spots; and oversaw creative for all print ads.

Contact

USA Commercials Representation
Phil McIntyre
PGM Artists
134-A Charles Street
New York, NY 10014
phone 212 524 4868
fax 212 929 7090
philm@pgmartists.com
www.PGMartists.com

All Other Inquiries:

West Coast
Amanda Roth
Executive Producer
7000 Romaine St., Ste. 201
Hollywood, CA 90038
phone 323 325 9485
fax 323 576 5396
ar@synthespians.net

East Coast
Marie Trudeau
Public Relations Manager
P.O. Box 1063
North Adams, MA 01247
phone 413 664 8176
fax 413 664 7442
marie@synthespians.net

Posted by PGM at 02:49 PM | Permalink

What a difference ten weeks can make. On Monday, May 22nd, four Denison University undergraduates – Samantha Calastro ’07, Kimmy Freeman ’07, Thomas Perkins ’08, and Sophie Sadat-Ketabchi ’07 – arrived at the New York City studios of The Brand Gallery and PGM Artists for a comprehensive, hands-on introduction to the worlds of branding, advertising, and marketing.

Anyone who has been an intern will tell you that being thrown into the deep end of this pool can be a daunting experience. By any objective measure, these four undergrads rose to the occasion in a big way and, on Friday, July 28th, left New York with new skill sets, new levels of confidence and, most importantly, an enduring appreciation for what it takes to be successful in business, and in life.

CEO Phil McIntyre summed it up best. “They gave every bit as good as they got. It was both a pleasure and a privilege to watch them evolve right before our eyes, and we’ll continue to monitor their progress with great interest and anticipation. I expect big things from each of them.”

The interns were asked to share their experiences in their own words…

Samantha Calastro

These past 10 weeks at The Brand Gallery and PGM Artists has been a mixture of hard work and memorable experiences. I have learned more about the marketing and branding industry in addition to myself through the daily challenges presented. My knowledge and capabilities have expanded resulting in a stronger confidence in the working world. I can remember 10 weeks ago to the first day being overwhelmed with the responsibilities being placed and doubt in my mind that I could not do it. However, in my final days at TBG and PGM, I am secure in balancing a few projects at once and successfully completing all of them at my best ability.

I have had the privilege of observing and working with the different departments in the office to receive a well rounded experience. Working on the production and designer side has been most valuable to me. The producers and designers have taught me a lot and been a positive role models with their knowledge and experiences. Through their help, I have learned more about design programs on Mac’s and I have received responsibilities to put my new knowledge to work while working on the strip booklet. The experience has helped me have a better idea of what areas I might like to pursue after graduation.

In addition to the knowledge I gained in the office, I will be taking away with me an even greater knowledge of the current business world state at large. It was my daily responsibility to read the New York Times, specifically the Business Day section. In the beginning I thought the task was simply to make myself more informed and enlighten my coworkers what I have read in the paper. However, after a few weeks I started looking at my task differently and began to find common trends. The macro trend I found involves confidence is dropping as consumer prices are rising which has created a slow economic growth resulting in huge competition between businesses to make profits and stand out. The competition has made companies merge together or search for the right advertising combination to regain public support. At the Lyceum Conference discussing marketing strategies for the beer and beverage industry paralleled the work I had spent on regarding the trends. This experience is one of the most memorable through my 10 weeks because I was able to connect work I had done with the discussion between thirteen experts and I was able to keep up with the debate which surprised me. I feel very fortunate to of been part of that experience and I took a lot away from it.

Overall, my 10 weeks at TBG and PGM Artists has been very memorable through the things I learned and people I met. The professional, but fun and friendly atmosphere at The Brand Gallery and PGM Artists has really made this internship remarkable. I will miss everyone at the company but hope our paths will cross again. I’d like to thank everyone for such a wonderful summer and making my experience at The Brand Gallery and PGM Artists even better then I could have imagined.

Kimmy Freeman

When I began my internship at The Brand Gallery and PGM Artists my knowledge and understanding of branding and the advertising industry did not extend far beyond the broad media and communications classes that I had taken as a liberal arts undergrad. I was excited to learn more about the industry but also nervous that I was not fully prepared to carry out all of the tasks necessary for the position. I had no idea at that point just how quickly I would pick up the skills required of me and gain a more comfortable grasp of the business simply by working in this fast-paced dynamic office.

Beginning on day one, all of the interns were given detailed instructions on how to perform all of the basic yet indispensable tasks that make a company operate efficiently. Making and updating spreadsheets, answering phones, scanning, faxing, labeling and shipping packages and countless other tasks to help ensure business was finished and delivered in a timely fashion all became second nature almost instantly. Each of these skills will be valuable in my future work experience, as they are useful and applicable in nearly every industry.

After becoming familiar with all of these duties, I was then able to work a bit more with the producers and designers and learn about the projects that they were all working on. Hearing what the producers were trying to achieve through their work and helping them research potential images to be compiled and used by the designers in their final projects was one of my favorite responsibilities over the course of the summer. It was amazing for me to see how a creative and talented team can make what begins as a simple idea grow and evolve into a complex identity for a brand or company.

In addition to the lessons that I learned through the company on a daily basis, I was able to see a glimpse of the industry outside of the office as well. The first event that I was able to attend to help get a feel for the industry was the SHOOT New Director’s Showcase. Featured in the showcase were around 20 directors working with a diverse range of companies. The numerous television ads shown allowed me to recognize how unique each director’s style truly is and why the role of PGM Artists is critical to ensure that companies are matched with directors who can represent them most wholly and accurately. A question and answer session after the show further revealed how the thought processes vary from director to director as well. Some of the directors that we were able to become familiar with during this event were also honored weeks later at the AICP Awards show hosted at MoMA which we were also fortunate enough to be a part of.
Throughout all of these experiences over the course of only 10 weeks, I feel as though my knowledge of the branding and marketing industry has improved significantly. I believe that the most important lessons that I will take from this job come from working with others to make sure that every task was completed as well as possible. Through communication, cooperation and a willingness to learn from all those around me, I believe that my time at The Brand Gallery and PGM Artists was not only incredibly enjoyable but also successful and will be immensely helpful in all of my future business endeavors.

Thomas Perkins

The Brand Gallery/PGM Artists provided me with a fantastic internship this past summer. I have grasped the fundamentals of a fluctuating, fast-paced world of marketing and branding. I was part of a phenomenal team, composed of designers, producers, marketers, and other interns. Socially, the connections I made with these people are very strong. My responsibilities were challenging, but always didactic.

The marketing side of the company is called PGM Artists, while the branding side is The Brand Gallery, but the two operate in harmony. Mostly, I worked alongside the senior executive officers on the marketing side of the business. I did research, made inquiries, and shadowed their everyday-moves. It is amazing what one can sub-consciously pick up by simply “being in the atmosphere” for ten weeks. It is fulfilling to see that some of the research I supplied has catalyzed some key partnerships. While I accept the fact that an intern does not get much corporate responsibility, it is nice to know I have contributed positively, and I feel like my role was crucial.

Another productive aspect of my internship had to do with trends. For ten weeks, one of my fellow interns took notes on fascinating, pertinent facts in the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. Again, by reading the notes each day I subconsciously absorbed some interesting trends. For instance, while online advertising grew 35%, Newspaper print ads have only increased .3% this past year. However, I concluded that newspapers like the New York Times or the Chicago Tribune are generating ad revenue on their web sites to compensate for the print revenue trend plateau. I noticed that more and more commercials are targeting gay and lesbian audiences. Even Travel Agencies now target curved audiences in their campaigns. The advertising world, therefore, is evolving in a liberal direction. Twenty years ago this would have been unheard of.

Whether I was doing research on potential clients for PGM, or simply observing the production of Summer House, a show airing on ESPN, every aspect comprised a classy, remarkable epoch of my life. I’ll sorely miss everyone at the company, but I’ll never forget what I have gained. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to be an intern here at PGM Artists/The Brand Gallery.

Sophie Sadat-Ketabchi

Interning between The Brand Gallery and PGM Artists this summer has epitomized what every college intern hopes their “big-city” internship to be. These two successful companies and the warm, insightful, productive team that pushes for their growth, have taught me immeasurable lessons about the working way of the corporate world and the importance of creativity in today’s society.

At The Brand Gallery and PGM Artists I have been exposed to numerous areas of the media, branding and advertising industries and have pulled ideas and skills from every responsibility presented to me. Towards the beginning of the internship I had the opportunity to conduct research for one of The Brand Gallery’s major summer projects, the opening prologue for the ABC Family original movie, “Fallen.” During these first few weeks I learned how to balance major responsibilities, never sacrificing creativity for efficiency and now understand the importance of innovation and attention to detail in the media industry!

Following this time of research, I had the opportunity to shadow The Brand Gallery’s production staff. Working side by side with the in-house and freelance producers has opened up a window of opportunity and presented me with a better notion of the characteristics of the career path I would like to pursue! Throughout the summer I have also had the chance to attend several industry events and conferences where I really experienced the energy, creativity and professionalism of the industries that The Brand Gallery and PGM Artists are a part of!

Essentially, my involvement with the internship program at The Brand Gallery and PGM Artists this summer has been a positive push for me to mature personally and professionally. Everything that I have learned has been exciting and enriching, leading me to sincerely believe that I am leaving my summer intern position with the perfectly balanced equation for success as a young professional in this day’s working world.

Michael Queen

In January of 2006 when I moved out of Granville, Ohio and into Manhattan as part of my off campus study program, I had no idea what to expect. My task was to find an artist or artistic company relating to my field of work and get hired on as an intern for the spring semester of my junior year. In my search, I came across The Brand Gallery and PGM Artists. I immediately became interested in work they do, not only as a company in the mass media industry, but also as artists.

As I began my internship, working vigorously through the different departments within the companies, from office management, to PGM sales, production work, and design work, I quickly realized that The Brand Gallery and PGM Artists offer more than just branding and graphic design; they present the members of their company with the opportunity to grow. Not only did they push me to produce the best work I possibly could, but also encouraged me to evolve artistically and learn from those around me.

Working closely with PGM’s Chief Executive Officer Phil McIntyre and their sales executives, I learned more about selling a brand, an image, and a product to prospective buyers than I could have ever dreamed of. Moving quickly through lessons of company inquiries, image research, sales approach etiquette, and the overall trade of branding, PGM provided me with some of the key elements I would need to know for making a sale. When I moved to the design side of the company, The Brand Gallery, I was given the chance to experience the artistic environment first hand. I worked closely with the in-house and freelance designers and producers to create deliverables that could stand on their own. The incredibly talented creative team that The Brand Gallery was warm, welcoming and more than willing to give me all the insight they possibly could on the artistic aspects of today’s mass media.

After interning for a full semester at The Brand Gallery and PGM Artists, I was given the opportunity to stay onboard as a fulltime summer intern. Of course, I immediately jumped at the prospect of remaining with the company. It was made clear that if I were to stay, my work would become more intricately involved. I understood that with this opportunity to further my education and knowledge came more responsibility. There were long hours, strict deadlines, and tough criticism all in the near future; and I could not have been more excited. Throughout the summer I worked alongside The Brand Gallery’s creative team to design product after product for clients with names that are known worldwide. I was also given the task of personally building a new ‘Recent Works’ reel for The Brand Gallery, which is currently in circulation. Every day I made sure to give it my all and to provide to the best of my artistic abilities, and The Brand Gallery and PGM Artists compensated me with an education that I would never have found elsewhere. For this, I could not be more thankful.

Tori Coppinger

Working at The Brand Gallery and PGM Artists as a summer intern was a truly educational experience. I was so interested in learning more about the areas of marketing and advertising, and learned so much from the cosmopolitan office in the West Village of New York City.

Working closely with the production team to try and understand their methods that create the unique ‘media magic’ that comes from nothing less than meticulous attention to detail, and an experienced and cohesive staff and limitless creativity.

The entire staff from both PGM Artists and The Brand Gallery took the time to explain specific industry trends, and their implications for the company to me. The warm yet professional environment was the optimal for learning as a college undergraduate from a liberal arts college in Ohio.

This was truly an opportunity which augmented my knowledge of marketing and branding considerably. Not only was this a fabulous venue for learning about an industry, but it gave me many life lessons and helped me mature professionally. The internship program at The Brand Gallery and PGM Artists is an experience not to be missed by any college student looking to gain insightful experience in the working world.

Posted by PGM at 06:10 PM | Permalink

Staffers from The Brand Gallery and PGM Artists gave their 2006 summer interns, Sam Calastro, Kimmy Freeman, Thomas Perkins, and Sophie Sadat-Ketabchi, a fitting sendoff with an evening of food and fun at the West Village hotspot “Shag.” The four Denison University undergrads learned a great deal during their internships, including, apparently, how to enjoy a night out on the town – NYC style.

Posted by PGM at 01:40 PM | Permalink

Denison University is well-known for its picturesque vistas and high-profile alumni, such as Senator Richard Lugar and former Walt Disney Company Chairman/CEO Michael Eisner. It is also well-known for its Organizational Studies Program, where students can participate in intensive seminars and workshops led by professionals from a variety of business sectors.

On Friday, May 19th, 2006, the business of branding took center stage when PGM Artists’ Phil McIntyre took the stage as guest speaker. McIntyre spoke on behalf of the brand strategy firm he founded with partner Iain Greenway, The Brand Gallery. The afternoon was billed as “Phil McIntyre…on Branding.”

McIntyre covered a lot of ground, including the state of branding today, the current
media landscape, and a presentation of case studies from the roster of PGM Artists, including The Brand Gallery. The lively workshop left little doubt in McIntyre’s mind that these students were well-prepared to make their marks in the work force.

“Like most college students, this group is media-savvy and extremely hungry to have their shot at being tested in the real world,” said McIntyre after the session. “It’s certainly an exciting time in the world of media. Many rules are being rewritten as we speak. I’m hoping Denison students will help write some of these rules.”

Posted by PGM at 04:07 PM | Permalink

As NAB approaches, there has been a lot of attention placed on high-end digital cinematography cameras with 2k and/or 4k resolution support. But this past week, cost effective HD camcorders for uses including broadcast to the Web were generating attention in the commercialmaking world.

Specifically, some are intrigued by Panasonic's new HVX200 camera—launched in December—that records to a P2 solid state memory card to create a tapeless production environment. The camera also combines multiple HD and SD formats, multiple recording modes and variable frames rates, and a compact design.

Last week, it was announced that bicoastal/international @radical.media had purchased two HVX200s, with the intention of buying up to an additional four throughout '06.

"On our original entertainment or branded entertainment projects, @radical.media demands HD acquisition to future proof our projects' potential," explained @radical.media's CTO Evan Schechtman. "The world of distribution is changing and we want to be ready for film exhibition, HD broadcast/projection at any time, even if the initial release is in SD."

@radical.media has already used the HVX200s extensively on its production of "Driver TV," a VOD channel on many cable networks that provides an unbiased view of 100-plus automobiles. These VSEs (Virtual Showroom Experiences) are separated into brands and categories. Footage will ultimately be turned into HD downloads when the Driver TV Web site launches.

"Very often our television productions need to be highly mobile, a motivating factor in our purchase of the HVX200s," related Schechtman. "When applicable, the camera will be used in remote locations … the hand-held camera is so much lighter to travel with. Also, we envision assignments where we will shoot documentary segments on DV with the HVX200, but then instantaneously switch to shooting HD for beauty shots. It's like going out with two cameras."

"We've been outfitting the HVX200 with zoom/focus controllers and wide angle adapters," he continued. "As for Driver TV, when doing an interior 360 of an automobile, there is no other camera that will fit inside with room to spare."With regard to workflow and post, Schechtman explained, "We travel with spare P2 media, as well as with a G4 PowerBook and several G-RAIDS for storage and redundancy. In post, our typical approach is to transfer footage to Firewire 800 hard drives via a PowerBook or other Mac. Material will then be moved to our internal SAN. We cut in Final Cut Pro HD in native space, and output to D-5 HD or other requisite formats."

Separately, at press time, commercial director/director of photography Peter Kagan was putting the HVX200 through its paces for production of a :30 for Subway titled "Get Inside the Five" and featuring Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush. The spot aims to direct viewers to the Subway web site, and the site will also feature footage lensed by Kagan during the shoot.

The spot is being produced by Kagan's New York-based Streamline Content via Source Communications, Hackensack, N.J. Ed Kisberg of New York-based Rooftop Edit is cutting the spot; and New York-based Click 3X will complete graphics. An upcoming SHOOT article will detail the production when completed.

SHOOT senior editor, technology and postproduction, Carolyn Giardina can be reached at 310-822-0211 or at cgiardina@shootonline.com.

Posted by PGM at 06:28 PM | Permalink

VCU’s Adcenter is well-known for its intensive graduate school for future advertising professionals. Their Master’s degree program offers real-world course studies in copywriting, art direction, strategic planning, creative media planning, and creative brand management.

Brand management took center stage on Friday, January 27th when PGM Artists’ Phil McIntyre helped kick off the VCU Adcenter’s 2006 guest speaker series. McIntyre spoke on behalf of the brand strategy firm he founded with partner Iain Greenway, The Brand Gallery.

Rick Boyko, former co-president and CEO of Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide and one of the advertising industry’s top creative talents, is the VCU Adcenter’s new Managing Director. Mr. Boyko wants to ensure this speaker series, which has included some of the most respected and innovative thinkers in the advertising and communications fields, remains a relevant, must-attend event for his students.

McIntyre covered a lot of ground, including the state of branding today, the current media landscape, and a presentation of case studies from the roster of PGM Artists, including The Brand Gallery . A lively post-presentation Q&A session left little doubt in McIntyre’s mind that these students were ready to be tested in the real world.

“They may be students,” said McIntyre as he left the stage, “but they’re VCU Adcenter students. This group is incredibly savvy about the ad business, and extremely hungry to have their shot at being a part of it.”

After the session, McIntyre added, “It was heartening to meet members of the next generation of advertising professionals. It’s an incredibly exciting time for our business and these students will be helping us rewrite many rules of the game.”

Posted by PGM at 05:31 PM | Permalink

EXPERT ROUNDTABLE ADDRESSES SHIFTS IN ADVERTISING BUSINESS MODEL
Broad Implications for Marketers and Investors

Marketers are scrambling desperately to keep pace with the increasingly sophisticated demands of consumers, according to a recent roundtable on shifts in the advertising business model, hosted by Lyceum Associates, Inc., a Greenwich-based financial research firm. A full transcript is now available.

The discussion group met at the Yale Club in New York City on December 13, 2005 and included both industry practitioners and private and public equity investors. Featured industry practitioners included Donna Granato, Director of Finance and Investor Relations, MDC Partners; Steve Hannah, Chief Executive Officer, The Onion; Sam Huxley, Nontraditional Media, Y&R; Alex Kakoyiannis, Managing Partner, Navigame; Andrew Klein, Managing Partner, Revolution Marketing; Phil McIntyre, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, The Brand Gallery; Livingston Miller, Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer, Seiter & Miller; Sean Mills, President, The Onion; Andrew Sispoidis, Co-founder, IGA Partners.

“Participants focused on the ways in which technology is cutting a broad swathe across the advertising business model and radically changing consumer behavior, especially among young adults,” commented Sydney Williams, president of Lyceum. “With new distribution channels appearing in every product cycle, marketers are hard-pressed to capitalize on the dizzying array of emerging opportunities.

“The combination of Internet-driven technology and rising wealth has enabled consumers to hold significant sway over marketers. Consumers expect a marketing experience with customized content and delivery, fewer touch points, and subtler persuasion.”

Mr Williams went on to address implications for the investment community. “Any industry or company with exposure to the consumer faces shake-up from this seismic shift. Investors should regularly review these trends for their scale and focus, and how the key players are responding: the consumer product company, the ad-funded content and/or distribution company, and the agency.”

Lyceum Associates is a financial research firm based in Greenwich, Connecticut. As an alternative to traditional Wall Street service, Lyceum offers interactive, full-length workshops and roundtables, which feature thought leaders from a variety of backgrounds and expertise. Lyceum comments periodically on themes relevant to investors through a monthly newsletter called Perspectives.

Contact:
Sydney Williams
Lyceum Associates, Inc.
(203) 540-5208
info@lyceumassociates.com

Posted by PGM at 12:46 PM | Permalink

Kleiser-Walczak (KW) and PGM Artists today announced a deal in which Kleiser-Walczak will be exclusively represented by PGM Artists’ Phil McIntyre for commercial work in the United States. Phil McIntyre is representing Kleiser-Walczak for live action production as well as animation and visual effects jobs. He is also representing Diana Walczak and Jeff Kleiser as a live action directing team.

Phil McIntyre is founder and CEO of New York’s PGM Artists, a sales and talent management firm in Manhattan’s historic West Village. Prior to starting PGM Artists, McIntyre served as partner and head of sales and marketing for Click 3x. Earlier, he headed East and West Coast sales for R/Greenberg & Associates, New York, the pioneering live action, visual effects and design studio.

Jeff Kleiser said, “Phil's strong background in visual effects and animation makes him the perfect person to helm our expansion in the commercial marketplace. Diana and I are confident in his ability to connect us with the types of groundbreaking projects we are known for producing. We’re also excited for our company to have a New York City presence at PGM Artists’ gallery on Charles Street in the West Village.” Phil McIntyre said, “I’m delighted to be part of the Kleiser-Walczak team. Their talents in the fields of character animation and visual effects are something that I’m excited to bring to market and I think will be a huge success.”

Kleiser-Walczak recently completed a Tex Avery-style all-CG sequence for “Son of the Mask” that dramatizes the conception of the Mask baby. The studio also recently produced facial deformations, a CG stunt double and environments for “Exorcist: the Beginning.”

Kleiser-Walczak (KW) brings years of innovation to the production of character-driven animated stories and visual effects for commercials, feature films and location-based entertainment. The award-winning studio works with extraordinary artists who are dedicated to visual storytelling. Established in 1987, KW has production studios in Hollywood and the Berkshires in Massachusetts. Through its new association with PGM Artists, Kleiser-Walzcak now also maintains a production presence in Manhattan.

Located in Manhattan’s historic West Village, PGM Artists provides sales and talent management for artists working in the field of advertising.

Posted by PGM Artists at 06:44 PM | Permalink