When Sandy Wells and Kenny Kemp from the Gazette came to interview MotionMasters CEO Diana Sole Walko for one of Sandy’s famous “Innerviews,” they were suitably impressed with the reason for the story: we’re celebrating 25 years in business and still going strong.

They also covered all the usual angles: where the firm began; projects and highlights over the years; international, national, regional and local clients and awards—that kind of stuff. The story also revealed the secret of our success as multimedia storytellers: we’re lifelong learners. But both the reporter and the photographer were completely captivated by one of the very unique features of life at MotionMasters: Toby, Diana’s Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who (rightly) assumes that every visitor is here to see him. Naturally, Toby is front and center in the photograph of Diana in her office. Check out the whole story in the Monday, Feb. 13 edition of The Charleston Gazette.

“A Principled Man: Rev. Leon Sullivan”
Friday, Feb. 10, 2012 – 7 pm – Culture Center Theater
WV State Capitol – Open to the Public

MotionMasters CEO to introduce film and conduct Q&A after

As part of Black History Month, the MotionMasters documentary, “A Principled Man: Rev. Leon Sullivan,” (which aired nationally on PBS in January, 2001) will be shown at the Culture Center Theatre at the West Virginia State Capitol on Friday, Feb. 10, 2012, at 7 p.m. The film and the post-show dessert reception are both free and open to the public.

Diana Sole Walko, CEO of MotionMasters, served as executive producer for the film and became a close friend of the film’s subject. On Friday, Feb 10, Walko will introduce the film and after the showing, conduct a Q & A. Her five trips to Africa to work with Rev. Sullivan and his foundation will provide keen insight into the man, his work, and his journey in developing the Global Sullivan Principles—a code of conduct for human rights and equal opportunity.

“This film will explain why “Leon Sullivan Way” is not merely a major traffic artery in Charleston, West Virginia,” said Sole Walko. It will introduce a new generation to a charismatic and influential pioneer in the fight against injustice and economic oppression,” she said. “I highly recommend it for both children and adults.”

The event is hosted by the West Virginia Division of Culture and History.

For more information, visit MotionMasters.com or RevLeonSullivan.org.

For a full roster of Black History Month events at the State Capitol, visit wvculture.org.

Rev. Sullivan’s notable book, “Moving Mountains: The Principles and Purposes of Leon Sullivan” is available at Amazon.com.

We shot footage of Bradshaw, his coach and other top MU players for a TV spot to kick off the Herd’s season that year. Entitled “We Are Marshall…The Season,” the spot was shot to look like a movie trailer. See for yourself.

We’d also like to lay claim to helping make Betty White a star (did you see her promo for “The Voice”?) with the local Humane Society spots that we shot on our back deck years ago. But since Betty was a star longer than some of us have been alive, we can’t take credit for her success. We can still count her as a standout among the roster of celebrities we’ve worked with however, including Jennifer Garner, the late Leslie Nielsen, Jamie Oliver and Matthew McConaughey, among others. See more MotionMasters stars in the Portfolio section of our site.

Meet “Mo,” the MotionMasters mascot who turned 25 on 2/2/12— Groundhog Day—the day we were founded in 1987! If he looks remarkably young, it’s because he’s had a few facelifts over the years. Different artists have rendered Mo in many likenesses, some of which are shown here.

But since this is our 25^th anniversary of multimedia storytelling, we decided to give Mo more of a global look. So we went to Romania. We didn’t really go there, we just contracted the art with a Romanian artist, who, while not really understanding the big to-do over Groundhog Day, did turn out a very handsome version of our beloved Mo.

Happy birthday, Mo, and happy anniversary to MotionMasters. We couldn’t have done it without the support of our many friends and clients! Thank you and here’s to an early Spring—because we made sure that Mo didn’t see his shadow!

Read more about Mo’s and MotionMasters’ progress during the last 25 years in this Daily Mail article.

In his recent book, “Beyond Viral,” Kevin Nalty (a career marketer who doubles as one of the most viewed YouTube comedians) writes that “the ROI of reaching customers via online video is surprisingly high.”

His statement is supported by this finding from emarketer.com in feedback from businesspeople surveyed by Forbes: 75% of all executives said they watched work-related videos on business websites at least once a week. After viewing, more than 42% made a business-related purchase.

That’s because a video on your site can tell your story—it’ll bring your firm’s history, capabilities, staff, products and services to life—right before your audience’s eyes. Online video takes you from a static yellow pages listing or words on a web page to an engaging, memorable entity. Just ask those Forbes respondents—60% of the business executives said they’d watch video before reading content on the same page.

What are your clients and customers watching when they come to your site? Can they even find your site if they’re searching for your services or wares?

Affordable, creative and fun to produce, put your story on your site and start landing 50% more first-page search engine results–immediately. We’ll show you how it’s done.

—Call Christa Hamra, Director of Marketing & Sales, at 304-345-8808 email inquiries to chamra@motionmasters.com.

Part of the reason QR codes are so hot is that they’re fun and easy to use. It takes literally one minute for someone with an iPhone or Android phone to find and install the reader app—many varieties are offered online for free. Then it’s just a matter of seconds for the phone to scan a code and deliver information: Data, url links, geo coordinates, discount coupons and more. Plus, you can create your own QR code with any number of programs offered on the Internet—again, for free!

Recently we created a business card with a prominent QR code and then created a web video for an industry trade show to accompany it. How do you reward people when they scan your QR code? How about a great-looking, affordable web video? We’ll shoot it for you and we’ll even create the QR code for you at no extra charge!

From left: Ellen Cappellanti, Jane Cline, Lois Crichton, Diana Sole Walko, Nelle Chilton, Georgette George and Betty Ireland tell it like it is at the CAA “Elevations” event on 9/13/11.

They sat on cushy couches and chairs and dished on “The Best Advice I (N)ever Got: Business Insights from Women at the Top,” but they all lined up for this formal shot at the Tuesday, 9/13 Charleston Area Alliance event at the Embassy Suites: “Elevations Enrichment and Leadership Academy.” Our CEO (Diana Sole Walko – 4th from left) joined Ellen Cappellanti, Jane Cline, Lois Crichton, Nelle Chilton, Georgette George and Betty Ireland as a guest speaker for the 9 am session.

With about 250 attendees, the half-day event is part of CAA’s professional women’s network designed to enrich, empower and elevate women’s roles in the business community. Let’s hear it for the women in the workforce!

Read the article in Charleston’s Daily Mail.

That’s just part of the criteria that qualifies her as a speaker tomorrow in a 9 am discussion entitled: “The Best Advice I (N)ever Got: Business Insights from Women at the Top.” It’s part of the Charleston Area Alliance’s 2nd annual Elevations Enrichment and Leadership Academy devoted to “Business & Balance,” which kicks off at 8 am at the Embassy Suites in Charleston. Joining Diana on the panel discussion (moderated by Lois Crichton) will be Ellen Cappellanti, Nelle Chilton and Betty Ireland. Look for the MotionMasters display at the event and register to win a nifty golf polo among other prizes.

Click on image to view commercial

Brainstorming, concept development and copywriting for the anticipated motions-graphic-driven spot happened in a flash. Now, where to find an illustrator? Of course! Romania. That’s right, Romania. Due to the quick turnaround needed for the spot, we hired a talented illustrator 5000 miles away who delivered the goods right in time for our in-house motion graphics designer, Ward Hiney, to bring to life in the animated spot we’re showcasing here. He also designed and animated the type used in the spot to keep pace with the voiceover.

Tech note: Once the illustration cells were completed, they were brought into AfterEffects to be animated; a combination of techniques ranging from 2.5d compositing to kinetic typography and particle generators were used.

Non-tech note: Kinetic typography is just like it sounds—it’s type that has movement and personality. And check out the dollar bills flying into the wallet and the swirling snowflakes and leaves—the particle generator made that stuff happen.

In today’s competitive climate, offering a quality product or service at a fair price is only half of the success equation.

What sets the most profitable businesses apart is their ability to connect with customers. And that starts with a persuasive brand story.

For 25 years, MotionMasters, an award-winning multimedia company based in Charleston, has been helping organizations and businesses around the world reach – and connect with – target audiences through compelling videos, DVDs, commercials, print collateral, websites and streaming video.

Stories have the power to galvanize an organization around defined business objectives, says MotionMasters CEO Diana Sole Walko. “They can spark action, transmit values and foster collaboration.

“If you look back through history, the best and most memorable leaders are the ones who can communicate through story. Unfortunately, businesses are often the worst at that,” she observes. “They want to bombard you with facts and statistics about why you should purchase their product or service. But people are justifiably suspicious of that type of approach.

“Instead, tell them a story,” she says, “by explaining what those facts and figures mean and why they should matter to the customer.”

The Charleston Area Alliance is a good channel for sharing your story with potential customers and fellow business owners, says Diana.

“Early in my career as a business owner, I felt very isolated. I had questions about so many things, and didn’t really have someone to bounce issues or ideas around with,” she says.

Membership and active participation in the Alliance gave her the chance to interact with others facing the same challenges. “All these years later, I still have questions — and so do they…. We learn from each other. And that’s made us, and our companies, stronger.”

The Alliance offers a wide range of programs and services that help businesses and our community succeed.

“Membership has very practical, present value, like the ability to send your employees, or yourself, to training seminars, attend Business After Hours to mine new business, participate in Art Walks, etc.,” says Diana, adding that “for me, however, the real value of my membership is its future value — the community we can build by acknowledging no man is an island.”

At the Alliance, we’re proud to provide a forum for businesses to share their story, and we’d love to hear yours.

Join us at upcoming event and help create “happily ever afters” for you, your business and our region.

To see how the Alliance tells its story through video (many produced with the help of MotionMasters), visit our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/CharlestonArea.

Here is a great article on how to generate video that can lead your customers to the sale.

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/219625

At the University of Charleston, students in the MBAL program are assigned local business leaders who provide guidance on everything from career development to networking opportunities.  MotionMasters CEO Diana Sole is currently mentoring Dekonti Morkonmana an international student from Liberia.

Read the story about Diana and Dekonti from UC’s Maroon & Gold magazine.

You may view the entire magazine online at the University of Charleston website.

Our diligence in crafting a hard-hitting documentary-style educational video paid off. Not only is “Deadly Driving Distractions: Texting, Cell Phones and Other Killers” being viewed by students and young adults across the country, it won a 2011 Telly, perhaps the industry’s most coveted and prestigious award.

This is the 32nd year for the Telly Awards and with more than 10,000 entries from all 50 states and numerous countries in the running, we are pleased to be a winner and to add our latest statuette to the ones we’ve been awarded in years past.

Take a look at a clip from Deadly Driving Distractions.

Here’s the production rundown for the second spot that featured four female graduates of WVSU: Valery Harper (1996); Amanda Mays (2002); Michelle Raider (1997) and Capt. Dendra Weaver (2004): The first three shots were acquired with our ultra-portable HVX200 camera mounted on a small jib, while pulling focus live with Varizoom’s remote-control unit. For the dolly shots, we used our larger-bodied HPX2000 riding on a Matthews Doorway Dolly, which carried a camera operator to pull focus. Everything was shot at 24PA with as high a shutter value and as wide an aperture as light would allow, creating a very shallow depth-of-field to emulate the look of film. Color was kept flat in-camera to allow a wide range of color-grading options in post-production.

Once in post, each shot was graded inside Synthetic Aperture’s Color Finesse 3 to emulate the classic Kodak 5279 500T film stock. Each transition was built by rotoscoping the leading edge of an object in the foreground of the next shot to ensure that the flowing rhythm of the piece, inspired by Bob Thompson’s beautiful original soundtrack, never faltered.

See for yourself… (click to view commercial)