Chicago Producers News Releases

Chicago Producers Locked-Up for the Chicago Muscular Dystrophy Association

Administrator — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 18:54:06 +0000

The WestEnd in Chicago played host to community and business leaders participating in the River West Most Wanted Lock-Up on March 12, 2008. These individuals, served with warrants for their "big hearts", agreed to be incarcerated for one hour while working to raise their $1300 bail to benefit the Chicago MDA.

This one day event raised more than $26,000 for the MDA. Gina Iorio, Program Coordinator, said "These jailbirds were awesome. Their hearts are huge and they used their time in ‘jail’ to do so much good."

When asked to reflect on the Lock-Up, the entire staff of the Chicago MDA wanted to express their thanks and gratitude to all of the community leaders and local business professionals that took time out of their schedules to be "locked up". Says ‘Parole Officers’ Emily Niles and Erin Brown, "The entire Muscular Dystrophy Association and the families we serve are very thankful for each jailbird’s participation in the event."

The funds raised at the event will be used to benefit thousands of families in the Chicago area with neuromuscular diseases. This money will allow those with muscular dystrophy to go to our various MDA clinics across Chicagoland, provide funds for support group sessions, send children with MD to summer camp, and fund vital research. MDA is leading the way in the research for neuromuscular diseases, and with the help of people, such as the "jailbirds" they hope to seek the causes of and effective treatments for muscular dystrophy.

Chicago Producers president Bill Vala was served a warrant for his arrest for having a big heart. "I was pleased to be able to help with the fund raising and elated to have reached my personal goal of $1300. The MDA needs our help and I am humbled to do my part for the cause."

Bank of America - LaSalle Bank trusts Chicago Producers professional photographers to capture Shamrock Shuffle

Administrator — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 19:18:37 +0000

Bank of America - LaSalle Bank hired Chicago Producers professional photographers to document the 2008 Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K (http://www.shamrockshuffle.com). Bank of America - LaSalle Bank tasked Chicago Producers with capturing high resolution photos of all facets of the race including sponsor signage, start line, runners and spectators on course, hospitality tents and the official race finish.

Chicago Producers stationed 4 professional photographers at strategic points on the course in order to capture the best angles. Successfully capturing the start of the race and both the male and female winners crossing the finish line.

Photos can be viewed on Bank of America’s dedicated website http://www.shamrockshuffle.com in their 2008 Photo Gallery.

Making Online Video a Part of Your Web Strategy

Administrator — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 16:42:45 +0000

If you haven’t already incorporated some video content into your Web site and Web marketing efforts, it may be time to consider jumping in. The popularity of online video has exploded over the past two years and the trend shows no signs of slowing. A recent Comscore study estimates that over 10 billion videos were watched by hundreds of millions of people in December 2007 alone.

The success of video sites like YouTube, Dailymotion and Crackle are well known at this point and their appeal is nearly universal across all demographics. However what you might not know is that less than half of all online videos viewed are streamed from these Web sites. What that means is that people are consuming online video everywhere now.

It’s beginning to change the browsing habits of Internet users. As time passes by the Web is becoming more and more of a multimedia experience, meaning that a Web site’s success will rest more and more on its ability to mix textual content, imagery and audio/video in a manner that’s effective in retaining users for longer periods of time. More and more, it’s not enough to only offer text to your site’s visitors.

The Wall Street Journal recently published an article discussing the criteria for successful online video, along with some different case studies. These case studies hit upon some key points about online video:

Keep your video clips short and sweet (30 seconds to 2 minutes max)
Put your online video to work in multiple versions/venues: Often the content can be repurposed for display at a conference, in a waiting room or delivered on a CD-ROM.
Skip the big budget: You don’t need to have a James Cameron-sized budget to make an effective video
Use your video to show, not just tell: Talking heads are OK, but you’ll want to mix up talking head footage with some other elements.

Chicago Producers specializes in the shooting and editing of professional video content and are experts at delivering video content to the Web for you in a number of formats. Contact us today to find out how we can help and receive a free quote!

Take Control of Your Web Site

Administrator — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 20:12:28 +0000

You need to update your Web site but have no developer on staff. Maybe you would like to announce a new product or simply have some exciting news to share. Sure, you can call a Web development company, but this takes time and usually incurs per-instance fees for even the most minor changes. You want to make the changes yourself, but don’t understand the confusing Web code. What do you do?

You need a Content Management System (CMS).

A CMS from Chicago Producers allows you to manage Web publishing yourself, much in the same way you edit documents using a Word Processor. In other words, what you see is what you get. You will have complete control of your Web presence. Once a CMS is installed, you finally have a full-time Web developer on staff. You.

Chicago Producers provides its clients with a wide variety of custom CMS tools for their Web sites. Appointment calendars, event schedules, menus and much more can all be handled by someone with no experience with web design.

Content Management System Features:

All sections of your Web site can become easily customized
Collaborative access
Content approval processes
Menus for your site that can be edited easily and efficiently
Customized layouts
Upload files and images for posting on your site
Contact forms and much more!

Contact Chicago Producers today to see how we can help make managing your Web site easier.

Introducing the SlideBySide™ Video Presentation System

Administrator — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 15:56:07 +0000

Chicago Producers, Inc. debuted its new SlideBySide™ video presentation system this month. The new video format enables online viewers the luxury of simultaneously viewing lecturers and their respective background presentations at equal sizes, giving both subject equal weight visually and plenty of room to see everything clearly.

By implementing the SlideBySide™ presentation system, Chicago Producers accomplished all three feats. SlideBySide™ provides the added benefits of allowing Internet viewers to see speakers synchronized to their corresponding Microsoft PowerPoint® presentations and protects against unauthorized downloading and distribution. Additionally, the video is presented in a unique widescreen format that allows for more space than any television screen can offer.

To learn more about SlideBySide™ and how i can work for you, visit SlideBySide.com. Then, contact Chicago Producers to create your own SlideBySide™ video presentation today.

Copy VHS to DVD with Chicago Producers

Administrator — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 17:02:02 +0000

It is estimated the magnetic tape used for VHS tapes only lasts 10-20 years, so copying VHS to DVD is more important than ever. Chicago Producers uses the latest professional studio equipment to safely and accurately convert corporate videos, home movies and wedding videos to archival quality DVDs.

By allowing our VHS to DVD conversion service to transform your media, you will be preserving your important corporate assets and personal memories. Our professional authoring software ensures accurate transfers and we offer same-day VHS to DVD conversion services to provide Chicago’s quickest turn-around times.

You also instantly have the benefits of space-saving discs that provide instant access to your data without rewinding or fast-forwarding. Contact Chicago Producers to copy VHS to DVD, so your corporate assets and personal memories never fade away.

Chicago Producers additionally provides DVD to VHS, VHS to MPEG and DVD to MPEG services.

Chicago Slow to Embrace Commercial Blogging

Administrator — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 18:40:17 +0000

In a recent Chicago Tribune article, advertising insiders questioned the slow adoption of commercial blogs in Chicago. "There are some great blogs out there. But in the city of Chicago, I can count them on the fingers of one hand,” states advertising executive Joe Zekas, who sees blogs as the ideal marketing opportunity.

You should not wait another day to have Chicago Producers install blogging software on your Web site. Zekas further elaborates that blogs provide an “immediate way of communicating and providing an audience with perceived value, and showcasing expertise and product knowledge…”

There is no reason Chicago should be so far behind in the commercial blogging race. Chicago Producers can customize your blog and easily integrate it into your existing Web site architecture. Then, establishing rapport and providing information to your clients is as easy as using a word processor.

Contact us today to get ahead of the curve with a blog from Chicago Producers. As Zekas concludes, “It just doesn’t get any better as a way to build a business."

Organize and Control Your Web site

Administrator — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 20:07:57 +0000

You need to update your Web site but have no developer on staff. Maybe you want to announce a new product or simply have some exciting news to share. Sure, you can call a Web development company, but this takes time and usually incurs per-instance fees for even the most minor changes. You want to make the changes yourself, but don’t understand the confusing Web code. What do you do?

You need a Content Management System (CMS).

By utilizing established open-source software as a starting point, Chicago Producers makes your CMS affordable. By taking existing software building blocks and fine-tuning them, we save costs on development. After your Web site is complete, Chicago Producers teaches you how to use your own password-protected back-end administration panel.

Maintaining a Web site with no Web development skills is like owning a car without keys. Let Chicago Producers give you the keys. Call us today for a free consultation.

Content Management System Features:

News, Products and Services Sections are Fully Manageable
Search Engine Friendly Links
Collaborative Access
Customized layouts
Upload Images from a Web Browser
Integrated Polls

iPix Shuts Doors Chicago Producers Opens

Administrator — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 19:12:24 +0000

Recently the immersive-imaging provider iPix filed for bankruptcy. Sites that relied on iPix for 360-degree virtual tours failed to load without warning for those without the mandatory iPix plug-in. Customers who had paid for iPix’s proprietary technology were left with nothing but broken links and unanswered questions.

Rest assured, with 360-degree tours from Chicago Producers, you are never left high and dry. We employ 360-degree tours with QuickTime® technology to provide the added benefits of smaller files sizes using the far more ubiquitous Apple® plug in, when compared to iPix.

We convert broken iPix tours to working QuickTime® tours and create new tours to showcase your products and locations. Please view samples from our 360-degree tour portfolio at 3SixtyTour.com, then contact Chicago Producers at 312-226-6900 for faster loading tours with reliability and stability.

Chicago Producers Unveils SlideBySide Video Presentation

Administrator — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 19:44:38 +0000

Chicago Producers, Inc. debuted its new SlideBySide™ video presentation system this month. It enables online viewers the luxury of simultaneously viewing lecturers and their respective background presentations at equal sizes.

The Kidney Cancer Association required complete video documentation of a two-day international physician’s educational event, a way for event attendees to revisit conference lectures and ultimately a way to provide an online archive for those members unable to attend.

By implementing our new SlideBySide™ presentation system, Chicago Producers accomplished all three feats. SlideBySide™ provides the added benefits of allowing Internet viewers to see speakers synchronized to their corresponding Microsoft PowerPoint® presentations and protects against unauthorized downloading and distribution.

Please view the complete SlideBySide™ video collection online at KidneyCancerVideo.com. Then, contact Chicago Producers to create your own SlideBySide™ video presentation today.

Order A Unique Promotional Gift From Chicago Producers

Administrator — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 16:32:59 +0000

When you need a unique promotional gift or promotional logo item this Holiday season, look no further than Chicago Producers. We have thousands of unique promotional logo items to be customized to exact quantities and specifications.

Chicago Producers goes the extra mile to research custom marketing and advertising promotional items. Our consultants will review our huge inventory of custom promotional gifts, and offer truly original suggestions to impress your clients.

Our high-quality unique promotional items and attentive customer service are what keep our customers coming back year after year. Our staff handles each order individually, provides proofs of your artwork and ensures your holiday deadlines are met. When you order unique promotional gift items from Chicago Producers, we will advise you the entire way so your experience is worry-free.

When you are done dealing with a company that simply sends you a catalog with the same promotional logo items you’ve seen for years, contact Chicago Producers at 312.226.6900 for a truly unique promotional gift.

We offer many exciting models of USB Drives, please contact your sales consultant for details:

Start-To-Finish LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon Coverage

Administrator — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 21:19:36 +0000

The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon didn’t begin at 7:58 a.m. when 40,000 people embarked on a 26.2-mile trek around Chicago. Nor did it end when world-class Kenyan athlete Robert Cheruiyot crossed the finish line a little over two hours later. Chicago Producers offered true start-to-finish coverage of this World Major Marathon by documenting everything from the pre-race Expo to the post-race party. During the race, Chicago Producers had four photographers positioned around the course, to catch all the action. Then, we served LaSalle Bank on site providing photos for upload within minutes of the start of the race.

Even if your event has slightly less than than 40,000 people, contact Chicago Producers at 312.226.6900 for award-winning event photography, as The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon has since 2003.

Join the Rich Media Advertising Revolution

Administrator — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 19:48:45 +0000

First, the industry giant Google announced testing of video display ads. Then, the emerging content provider YouTube.com entered the field for the first time, displaying rich media ads before its 80 million daily videos. You should not wait another day to get your products and services in front of the millions of consumers watching streaming rich media clips on the Internet.

Internet rich media advertisements are the ideal way to promote your brand and reach new customers because e-mail marketing messages can be filtered like SPAM, and standard banner ads can be lost among site content. Rich media ads have also been shown to be twice as effective in building brand awareness than static ads.

But this revolution isn’t just about the viewer, it’s more about the advertiser. People can’t skip a streaming video commercial, like they do on their TiVOs and iPODs. Nor can they change the channel with a remote like many do during traditional commercial broadcasts. Join the trend setting rich media advertisers who have already realized that on the Internet, consumers have to watch your rich media message, to get the content they want.

Contact Chicago Producers today to maximize rich media services and position your company in front of the competition. Be among the first in your industry to take advantage of this emerging market and get your rich media message in front of this captive audience.

As these advertisements inevitably proliferate beyond Google and YouTube.com, look for a provider like Chicago Producers with experience in traditional digital video and expertise in interactive Internet services, to merge these two worlds for your benefit.

Studio Out West by Chicago Producers wins Best of the Industry Photography Award

Administrator — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 19:23:45 +0000

Chicago Producers was honored this summer, along with Chicagoland institutions The Field Museum and Mc Cormick Place, at the Illinois Meetings & Events Magazine 2006 Annual Awards banquet. Studio Out West, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chicago Producers, was selected by the magazine’s readers to receive the award for ‘Best of the Industry: Event Photographer or Videographer.’

“We work hard for recognition from our clients,” said Chicago Producers Director of Sales and Marketing Craig Heesemann, who accepted the award. “But this is special because it’s from our peers.”

Contact Chicago Producers at 312-226-6900 for award-winning event photography.

Chicago Producers Announces RSS Feed

Administrator — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 19:11:19 +0000

Imagine a day when at the touch of a button, you can easily distribute your information to consumers and add new content to a Web site, and also promote free search-engine marking. Thanks to Really Simple Syndication, this day is here.

RSS news feeds distribute your information as headlines to subscribers, and simultaneously places the news within a Web site. Consumers will appreciate the easily accessed opt-in information, marketers will appreciate the ability to spread product and service attributes, and search-engine spiders (or bots) will crawl your site more often, to re-index it faster. RSS isn’t just win-win. It’s win-win-win.

This new Chicago Producers RSS feed, will keep you apprised of industry information, provide examples of the real-world applications and benefits of our services, and will include special promotion announcements.

RSS doesn’t have to be reserved only for major industry players like the BBC, which syndicates its headlines via RSS. Please contact Chicago Producers at 312-226-6900, to create an RSS feed of your own.