T2 Kansas City | T2 + Back Alley Blog - Part 2

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Garrett Fuselier
December 17th, 2010
by Garrett Fuselier
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Google Demo Slam

We learned about the Google Demo Slam competition a few weeks ago and were psyched to dive in and create something. And, if you’ve not heard of it, Demo Slam is a Google campaign that allows people to upload a video showcasing their use of a Google product (maps, docs, etc.) in a really funny or quirky way.

We love Google products and it was hard to pick just one. But we did. We chose Google Voice, a service that allows you to mask your phone number with another (or to route your calls from a variety of different numbers to just one number) and it also helps you keep track of your voicemails and texts. Well, we posted photos of our maintenance man dressed as Santa all over the city (see attached photo) and invited people to call Santa and let him know what they would like for Christmas. Haha!

The project was intended to be an absolute joke and fit right into the Google Slam video collection, but we also figured we’d wrap it up by making someone’s wish come true. It was great. We got a week’s worth of totally goofy texts and voicemails. People phoned in and left messages asking for everything from fire trucks, rainbows, college-themed sweatpants, the Chucky series, and the list goes on. We were even going to figure out how to deliver a couple of these items in a really weird and funny way. But then, one voicemail in particular changed everything – the one below.

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The laughter subsided and we realized our campaign had turned in a completely different direction. It was no longer about goofy messages and being silly, it was about someone real. And someone who really needed our help.

We talked it over decided as a group that we wanted to help Stevie Joe. We called the Kansas City Rescue Mission to make sure he was the real deal and then we asked our staff and friends who were interested in donating money to help out. Our CEO, Teri Rogers, agreed to match whatever the staff collected as donations and all told, we ended up raising about $500 to help Stevie Joe and grant his wish to get back to his children and family.

Once we had the money, we called Stevie Joe, but his cell phone was turned off. We finally managed to reach him and made arrangements to meet him outside of the KC Rescue Mission. Of course, he was curious, yet very happy to see us. He told us about the recent turn of events in his life; how he lost his job in July, how his wife left him and how he was separated from his kids and family who were living several hours away. He wanted to go home, but he had no means to make that happen.

When we handed him the envelope with the money we’d raised in it he was ecstatic. And in shock. And so happy that he would finally be able to see his family again. Check out the video ….

Doing something creative and goofy is really fun. Doing something that changes someone’s life at a moment when they need it the most is even better. Thanks, Stevie Joe, for being a part of our lives this holiday season.

December 15th, 2010
by T2 + Back Alley Team
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Google Demo Slam-Get Creative with Google’s Clever New Marketing Contest

Google Demo SlamAs a motion design agency with a passion for user experience design, when something truly creative crosses our path, we like to share it, share in it, and let our creative juices flow. An inspirational, creative, social, and just plain fun new competition has descended upon us. Google Demo Slam is really an innovative approach to marketing from the Search Engine’s viewpoint. But from our perspective, as motion design agency with a film production offshoot, it is a golden opportunity to flex our digital filmy fingers and create.

The Demo Slam has invited anyone and everyone with a little “maker juice” –not just motion design types–to be an advocate for one of the search giant’s products. You can choose to highlight the incredible user experience design and nifty features of:

    Google Goggles
    Google Voice Search
    Google Instant
    Google Translate
    Local Search
    Google Realtime
    Google Image Search
    Universal Search
    Custom home page
    Other Google technology

Basically you create a video showcasing why a product is cool, upload it to YouTube, then submit it to the contest. Every week two Slams compete against each other and users pick the winner.

Other motion design studios and filmmakers have already jumped on the contest. The range of ideas and creativity is incredibly inspiring. Not surprisingly, the amateurs using just their handheld cameras and an idea have really stepped up to the plate and shared their smiles.

The Search Mogul has hit a home run with this user experience design. A clever little old fashioned microphone swings with your mouse pointer while you decide which Slam contestant to watch and then which one to choose as the winner. The winner will actually be put into a Champion’s Hall of Fame.

This is Google’s way of getting you to “get the people who would never watch a tech demo — the people who ironically need them most … to not only watch them, but like them and share them with their friends.” Talk about a user experience design that engages!

So far the interest seems to still be in mounting phase…in other words we haven’t seen much in our motion design studio social networks…yet. But we expect that, just as Google hopes, Google Demo Slam will become “a place where boring tech demos become (hopefully) gotta-show-my-friends awesome–thanks to the creativity of Google users like you.” Once again, an incredible user experience design from the big guys with the weird name.

Teri Rogers
December 10th, 2010
by Teri Rogers
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Creative Director – New Media & Motion Design

If you’re reading our blog, you might already know what we do. But just in case you don’t, T2 + Back Alley Films is a digital media company located in the Crossroads Art District in Kansas City that provides a full service offering from digital strategy through delivery. Think. Create. Deliver. It’s more than just a tagline, it’s what we do.

And please don’t make the mistake of thinking that just because we’re located in the Midwest that amazing design doesn’t happen here. It does – and we can prove it. Enough said.

Our specialties include 2D and 3D motion graphics design, editorial, experiential design, augmented reality, mobile app design and other forms of new media design. Additionally, through Back Alley Films, we produce digital content across all media platforms, including original films and documentaries. We like to get our hands in every detail of the storytelling process and are not afraid of pushing the envelope. Every aspect of our business is about creativity and we believe collaboration is the formula for success for any company today.

We’re looking for a truly passionate leader to inspire and guide our group of young and talented designers. Someone who totally gets how critical creative storytelling is — to us and to our clients. And understands how to translate that story into design. And, of course, you need to be able to pitch creative to internal and external business partners and be a part of the process of continually building and growing the business.

This is a Creative Director position and reports directly to the CEO. If you’re interested in the position, we would love to hear from you. We think that some of the things you need to be adept at (that aren’t specifically mentioned above) include:

  • At least 10 years of relevant experience in motion design
  • Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Fine Arts, Film, Graphic Design, or Digital Media Design
  • Extensive understanding of interactive and moving media
  • Proven hands-on knowledge of AfterEffects, Photoshop, Illustrator, Maya / Cinema 4D and Flash
  • Ability to solve problems quickly, collaboratively and intuitively
  • Experience in strategic planning and execution
  • Strong people management to provide clear creative direction and to motivate and inspire the creative team

Submit your resume to trogers at t2.tv and include a link to your online motion design reel. Please make sure your experience is appropriate to the position. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Teri Rogers
December 10th, 2010
by Teri Rogers
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Rocketboom – A Resource For Filmmakers

Rocketboom

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love filmmaking – and when I find something that helps people who love it as much as I do – well, I get excited. Today’s discovery — The Rocketboom Filmmakers Program.

The Rocketboom Filmmakers Program was developed to help filmmakers by making resources more available. As anyone involved in the business of filmmaking knows, ideas are plentiful, it’s the money and resources that can be the tricky part. So, if you have some great ideas (and of course a fair amount of talent) and are interested in producing short run web series or short films, you should definitely explore Rocketboom’s program. I know my buddy Heather and I will be doing that with our web series as soon as I finish writing this blog post!

Acceptance isn’t a given, so be prepared to sell yourself to the folks at Rocketboom. But if you’re successful, their mission is to help underwrite the production costs, help you distribute and promote your work through their network and even let you use their resources and content studio as needed.

To be considered, you’ve got to email them and include the following information:

• A brief description of the short film or web series you would like to produce.
• A treatment or script for the project
• Your filmmaking background and experience
• Links to or files of previous work they can view
• Overview of previous projects

Intrigued? Like to know more? If so, check out Save The Date, a 10-part web series that was produced as part of The Rocketboom Filmmakers Program. For more information, send them an email directed to filmmakers at rocketboom.com.

And if you’re not interested in filmmaking but video journalism is your gig, Rocketboom is also looking for independent video journalists and field correspondents from all over the world to submit content. You not only can get paid for doing what you’re passionate about, but you can produce great work, maintain ownership and freedom-of-use, but use Rocketboom’s powerful platform to distribute your work (and make a name for yourself). Check them out here for an example of the kind of episodes they are looking for and connect with them by email for more info at humanwire at rocketboom.com.

Rocketboom is no flash in the pan. They’ve been around for awhile and have been earning rave reviews from a myriad of sources including AdAge, Rolling Stone and CNN, to name a few. And the Rocketboom vlog has been honored by Forbes with a Best of the Web nod. What they do at Rocketboom is awesome and really on the cutting edge of video on the web, innovative filmmaking and so many other things. – I’m so glad to have found them.

Now go make films – or a series! Just tell good stories – and get them to Rocketboom.

December 9th, 2010
by T2 + Back Alley Team
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iPad Sales Predicted to Double

iPad - Tablets, the websites of the future

eMarketer reported today that iPad sales are expected to more than double in the coming year. With some 8.5 million of the devices sold in the U.S. in 2010, that gives Apple a sweet 88% of total U.S. tablet sales. And, while the devices are big in the U.S., total global sales of all tablets are reported by Gartner at 19.5 million for the year — and that’s not shabby either. No wonder other brands are scurrying to develop their own tablets and trying to swipe some market share from Apple. eMarketer predicts iPad sales to be in the neighborhood of 20 million for 2011 and reaching 30 million by 2012. Those are some massively impressive numbers.

eMarketer Stats - iPad Growth & Predictions

At T2 + Back Alley, we’re finding more uses for the iPad on a daily basis, both internally and as solutions and innovative marketing tools for our clients. Apps are touted as the websites of the future and our creative team is digging app design, creating other mobile marketing solutions and doing tons of experience design.

Our favorite use of the iPad this past year might have been the way the fashion industry embraced new media and started creating content for use on tablets and other mediums. This moved designers into the realm of not only designing and creating beautiful clothing, but designing and creating content to showcase the fruits of their labor as well. We predict there will be more and more unique and innovative ways that brands use tablets like the iPad and that we’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg so far. And with Wired reporting that Apple’s version 2.0 of the iPad is rumored to be delivered in April 2011 (along with some intel about some spiffy new cases that are in the works), we’d recommend postponing a holiday purchase and waiting for the new, improved model.

What about you — any innovative uses of the iPad that have been your particular favorites?