October 2005 RAP
October 2005 Highlights
Production 212: Putting the Horse Before the Cart... (or
vice versa)
By Dave Foxx
After last month’s article, I got quite a few emails saying “thanks,” for
the snapshot of how I build my templates. I actually got several that said,
“I never thought of that,” which still surprises the heck out of me. But one
email in particular really got my juices going on a question I’d never
thought to address in this space. Doc Adams, down in Houston wrote to ask
how I go about building a session content-wise. His question was, “Do you
lay down the VO and do all of your funky gyrations to IT first and THEN
start picking out workparts?” The short answer is, “it depends.” This
article will address the long answer.
Interview: Jeff Thomas, Jeff Thomas Productions, Newport
Beach, Australia
By Jerry Vigil
Jeff Thomas is easily one of the best imaging producers in the world.
When we last checked in with him ten years ago [RAP Interview, October
1995], he had just left 2 Triple M in Sydney to launch Virgin Radio FM in
London. After that, KIIS in LA lured the imaging master to the US. After
several years with KIIS, Jeff finally went out on his own, taking his Killer
Hertz libraries to the next level with Killer Hertz 5, an online imaging
service at www.killerhertz.com. This month, Jeff talks about Virgin, about
KIIS, about Killer Hertz, about imaging and more. Be sure to check out
Jeff’s production sampler on the RAP CD for a tasty collection of some of
Jeff’s best work over the years.
Test Drive: Finis & InspectorXL from Elemental Audio
By Steve Cunningham
I’m always on the lookout for unique bargains, especially when it comes
to software processors and plugs. Several tempting tidbits came across my
email box this month, but by far the coolest and most interesting are two
plug-ins from Elemental Audio. The crew at Elemental create what are
arguably some of the most innovative plug-ins around, and then offer them at
a very reasonable price. Last year we looked at their excellent Neodynium
frequency-controlled multiband compressor [RAP 11/04], and I’ve told
everyone I know to download Elemental’s free Inspector metering plug. This
month we’ll take a look at two of the newest additions to their collection —
a flexible brickwall peak limiter called Finis, and Inspector XL, a version
of Inspector on enough steroids to compete in the Home Run Derby. They’re
both available for PCs and Macs, they’re both effective, and they’re priced
right.
Q It Up: The RAP Network Speaks - Do you have copy
deadlines for salespeople? - Part 2
Q It Up: Do you have copy deadlines for the salespeople?
What are they? Do you have varying deadlines depending on the type of order?
For example, 72 hours for copy that needs to be written and produced, and
perhaps just 24 hours for dubs and tags? How closely are these deadlines
followed? If a deadline is missed, what generally happens? Please add any
other thoughts or comments you may have.
Radio Hed: Niche, Niche, Niche
By Jeffrey Hedquist
Get out of the studio. Go on, pack up some portable equipment, gather
your actors and go to where the spot is situated. Good radio commercials are
stories which all take place somewhere – in a car, by a lake, at a breakfast
table, in a bathroom, kitchen, field, forest – so go there. The sound will
be more natural. It’ll stand out on the air because it won’t have that dry
“studio’ sound.
Feature: Alpha Beta Gamma
By Craig Jackman
Beta tester. The term just screams with innuendo of secrets, and
unobtainable knowledge that you just can’t have... yet. What is a beta
tester? A beta tester works for a software company testing the software
before it is released. A beta tester comes into the development of the
software somewhere after the original (or alpha) tester, and typically
software that is in beta test in nearing release. I always wondered what it
would be like to beta test software, and recently I had the chance.
...And Make It Real Creative:
By Trent Rentsch
Did you hear the one about the client who asked for the formula for great
Creative? Except he wasn’t kidding. And I bit through my tongue to keep from
responding...
1. “Anything you don’t voice.”
2. “ A duck, exploding cars, James Earl Jones on voice-over.”
3. “If it’s FORMULA, then it’s not CREATIVE, is it?!”
Of course, if he jumped on my back and rode me long enough, I would have to
admit that a formula does exist... several do, in fact. Will any or all of
them lead to great Creative? It depends on who’s on the bench.
Feature: Realistic Radio Remote Expectations
By Jeff Ogden
Charge- $600.00. 3 Hours long. Saturday Morning: 11 AM- 2PM. 50 Promos to
run 5 days before the broadcast. Set up, 10AM – Station vehicle, banner,
remote music system. Prize - Register to win a pair of tickets to 6 Flags
Park. Client - Car Dealer
Looks like the average remote structure give or take your market changes.
PD’s and GSMs are split in regards to what makes a remote work or not work
for the client. I picked a car dealership because they probably need the
most help of any client in our business. The only way to win is for the
industry to be real with what a remote is supposed to do and for the Client
to realize what their responsibilities really are.
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