Recently our crew put on their ten gallon hats, rustled up their equipment and moseyed on out to the Rocking Horse Ranch in Highland, New York.  When they arrived they lassoed two wranglers and “Trigger”, the equine leading man, in the corral for a horseback riding safety video shoot. Fortunately for everyone involved, our crew left their six-shooters at home and shot the video with a SONY EX-3 camera.

The wranglers demonstrated the proper way to mount and dismount a horse, as well as how to control a horse while walking on a trail.  The video will be shown as a tutorial to all the cowboys and cowgirls waiting in line for their turn to ride.

Luckily for the Rocking Horse Ranch the Ellenbogen Group does not believe in the old saying, “never work with animals and children.”  Along with the usual hazards of working with horses (mainly avoiding the “land mines” they leave behind) there was a specific challenge during the shoot.  Audio & Sound Technician Brian Dyke explains, “Being that the shoot was entirely outside, we didn’t have to use lights but we did use a reflective board to brighten up some of the shots.  I learned the hard way that horses are attracted to movement and light when I was moving the reflective board for a shot.  I turned around and 6 or 7 horses were sneaking up on me; it looked like a very slow stampede.  Needless to say, from that point on I was very aware of my surroundings.”

Despite starting an impromptu horse parade the shoot got a resounding YEEHAA!  The Ellenbogen Group looks forward to showing up to the next showdown.

It was pretty evident by the giggles and random outbursts that people were having fun at the Vine Van Gogh ‘sip and paint’ parties held around the Hudson Valley! Not only are inner artists reborn and friendships strengthened with lasting memories…but a new local business is growing and we were brought on to help!

Vine Van Gogh hired Ellenbogen Creative Media to produce a video for their Indiegogo crowd funding page seeking donations for franchise expansion. The video needed to explain what the company does, the method of it’s success, how they hope to grow and how donations can help them achieve this goal! Vine Van Gogh realized video was the best way to get that message out and they wanted something spectacular! Taking the most economical route in the beginning, Vine Van Gogh hired a different production company to save a few bucks…but quickly realized, you get what you pay for! Owners Tim and Melissa Palladino were not impressed with the video presented and immediately turned to Ellenbogen Creative Media to get it done right! Tim said he knew from the start that this was going to be a better product as soon as he saw the attention to detail and level of equipment used on set. “Ellenbogen is the real deal. It’s not one guy with a camcorder. They are a skilled crew with all the right gear. Yes, you pay a little more, but what you get in return is well worth it! They know what they’re doing and do it really, really well! From the creativity in shots and team approach on set right down to the editing, we knew we were in good hands. We absolutely love the video…from the professional quality to the informational content…it’s everything we asked for! It’s great!”

Ellenbogen Creative Media CEO, Jeremy Ellenbogen, was glad to take on the project. “We did everything we could to make sure we covered the sip and paint events, got enthusiastic testimonials and conducted a good interview with Tim and Melissa. Our crew really captured what Vine Van Gogh is. When you invest in your business it shows…and what’s more important than your promotional material?! You have to make sure it’s a good representation.” Tim and Melissa are so happy with the Vine Van Gogh video that they have plans to work with Ellenbogen Creative Media to produce even more! As the company grows they see the need for having training videos, private party promotional videos even television ads!

Our crew covered four sip and paint events around the Valley gathering footage of budding artists hard at work …and ‘not-so-budding’ artists enjoying the spirits more than the canvas! Director of client services for Ellenbogen, Andrea Chafouleas, spent time on set, “We want to thank everyone that participated at the events and shared their artwork with us…you weren’t the only ones laughing! And we say that with the utmost respect. There was one person that decided to draw a monkey in the country landscape scene…and another that drew very questionable farm silos. Seeing you have fun, made us have fun!”

Be sure to visit Vine Van Gogh’s Indiegogo crowd funding page and support the expansion of this great budding business!

Vine Van Gogh – Crowd-funding Video from Ellenbogen Creative Media on Vimeo.

Yup, that’s what our DP was armed with when he visited Nashville this week.

What is Ellenbogen Creative Media doing in Nashville, Tennessee? Visiting the Country Music Hall of Fame? Taking a tour of Music Row and the historic RCA Studio B? Visiting the Parthenon? The Grand Ole Opry? Nope! Better. Shooting a testimonial video for a very smart client of ours!

Ellenbogen has been working with Commercial Capital Training Group, CCTG, for several years now helping them grow their vast collection of testimonial videos from successful graduates of their course! CCTG pulls students from all over the United States offering an intense week-long seminar on starting a business in the commercial lending industry. CEO, Kris Roglieri, understands the importance of peer to peer recommendation, “I can tell you til I’m blue in the face how much you’ll gain from our class, but hearing it directly from a graduate who has put the tools to use and has made a successful business for themselves is something more powerful than me or any advertisement. It’s great to see! We have people from all professional backgrounds looking for a change or a new venture attend our classes…getting their testimonials is proof that what we teach actually works!”

Ellenbogen Creative Media CEO, Jeremy Ellenbogen, couldn’t agree more! “Video testimonials not only appeal to the viewer as the most genuine form of affirmation…but having video on your website drives rankings which increases hits, which ultimately leads to sales. Video testimonials are very powerful when used properly. Kris knows the potential and sees the results!”

While in Tennessee, our crew did find some down time to take in the up and coming country music scene. Director of Photography, Zoltan David, loved it saying, “I look really good in cowboy hats! Nashville is my new home!”

Creating more chatter about our new drone services, Ellenbogen Creative Media attended the Ulster County Chamber of Commerce Business Expo at Diamond Mills in Saugerties. This venue offered amazing aerial opportunities complete with a waterfall! Attendees of the Expo got to see first-hand the potential the drone can offer as it was flown over the site capturing a unique view of the area. Our scheduled drone demonstration was a hit with many ‘ohhhhhs’ and ‘ahhhhhs’ from the crowd!

Offering more than just drone services, we were able to showcase the power of video as not only an entertainment tool, but an educational one as well. “People don’t realize how much information can be effectively relayed in a short amount of time, nor do they realize the many different ways to get that information out there. Traditional videos showcasing a product with an explanatory voiceover is great, but there are so many other options. Specifically the now popular infographic, where words displayed graphically and creatively tell you the story. They have proven to be very effective!” says Ellenbogen Creative Media CEO, Jeremy Ellenbogen. Ellenbogen Group editor, Andy Pidanick, specializes in infographic editing, “It’s my favorite type of video to create! Having a blank slate to work with makes me think outside of the box. My creativity is not limited to pre-shot video, I can take the visuals any direction I want, and that is usually when the magic happens!”

Making magic with each video we create is definitely a priority at The Ellenbogen Group; being able to help a fellow business promote themselves and grow is just one of the perks! That’s why we feel it’s important to be present at Expos and be involved in the community. Spreading the word about what we can offer a company to help them thrive is what it’s all about! Meeting new people and getting them excited for the opportunities that video has to offer is what we love! And hey, winning ‘Best of Show’ at the Expo was pretty nice too!

Diamond Mills Aerial Drone Video from Ellenbogen Creative Media on Vimeo.

Video shooting that is! Ellenbogen Creative Media just attended the Orange County Chamber of Commerce Business Expo at Anthony’s Pier Nine making some great contacts with local businesses needing effective video marketing! We had a booth in the technology center where we were able to show off not only our creativity, but our vast production resources which includes the DJI Phantom II drone. We were able to do flyover demonstrations at the Expo showing the crowd the amazing aerial potential and crisp HD imagery. Digital marketing videos combining unique drone footage with professional HD ground footage are the most effective ways to promote a business or service!

President and CEO of Ellenbogen Creative Media, Jeremy Ellenbogen, was glad to be a part of the 2014 Expo, “It was a good opportunity to introduce ourselves to so many Orange County based businesses and spread the word that New York City quality video production can be found right here in the Hudson Valley.”

It was also interesting to see how many vendors had video display monitors, something we can help with! Senior Editor, Alex Pearson, took note, “There is so much potential with video displays. Some people made great use of them, while others…I wanted to break out my laptop, open FinalCut and help them out!” And help them out we did! Ellenbogen offered the prize of a custom infographic for one lucky Expo attendee! An infographic is a one to two minute long video graphically driven using kinetic typography to promote your business. Infographics can be used on display monitors at Expos, on websites, in waiting rooms, and through social media; and are valued at around $2,000! Everyone that placed a business card in our fishbowl was entered and the lucky winner will be announced shortly.

We hope everyone enjoyed Orange County Chamber of Commerce Expo and will think of Ellenbogen Creative Media when looking for high-quality, professional and effective digital marketing videos! See you next year!

For almost a year now, our crew has been shooting various tourist hotspots in Dutchess County to include in the new tourism ad campaign about to launch across New York State! This is the first time Dutchess has used a professional video platform to help promote the county and we are proud to be a part of it by providing three television ads, five long form web videos and a b-roll archive for future projects! From the Hot Air Balloon Festival, Sinterklaas Celebration and zip lining to beautiful working farms and historic State Parks, we shot everything spectacular there is to see and do in Dutchess County! Making your day in Dutchess jam-packed with history, shopping and a lot of outdoor fun!

The tourism board used local ad agency BBG&G Advertising to create and manage the multi-media campaign, who in turn acquired the professional skills of Ellenbogen Creative Media to carry out the video portion needed. We worked on the entire digital platform providing not only exciting video, but still images as well to incorporate into print and web marketing efforts. Gathering all of the assets was a tremendous task that BBG&G Advertising President, Debbe Garry, took part in every step of the way. “There is so much to see and do in Dutchess! The crew and I had a blast visiting the historic homes, museums, farm markets, fairs, unique shops…even the CIA. We’re very lucky to have so much culture and entertainment right at our fingertips! It’s impossible to capture it all…but I think we did a great job representing Dutchess County Tourism!”

Director of Photography, Zoltan David, managed the equipment needed and worked on shot creativity for all 14 days of the shoot. “It was a massive undertaking to plan equipment for both indoor and outdoor shots. Thankfully, most of our work was done on the ground, but we did also charter a helicopter to get some amazing aerial shots up and down the Hudson. It was exhilarating hanging off of a chopper swooping the Walkway Over The Hudson…with only a safety strap holding me in!” Thanks to having the proper gear and ability to utilize an air crew, Zoltan was able to get amazing shots at some truly beautiful locations! Zoltan also sends a special thank you to both Debbe Garry and Nancy Lutz of the DC Tourism office for all of their work in selecting sites and locations, coordinating shoot schedules, and getting permits, people, and props in place! They were both a tremendous help!

After viewing the hours of footage and hearing the crew talk of the fun adventures they captured each day, Ellenbogen Group CEO, Jeremy Ellenbogen, reflects on life in the Hudson Valley. “Living in the Hudson Valley, you tend to take for granted the beauty that surrounds us. Working on this project really gave us a greater appreciation of the area! ‘Everything right in your backyard’ is not an understatement! Capturing all of this and creating web videos so people outside of our area can see what we have to offer is the best tool a tourism board could have on their side! There’s nothing better than strong visuals to help tourism efforts!”

Spanning over 14 days of shooting and using all of our crew, we utilized every camera in our inventory including GoPro cameras, a drone helicopter, a chartered helicopter and the talents of Dutchess County residents and employees! This was definitely a large undertaking, but one we were able to have fun with and capture the essence of history and fun that is Dutchess County!

Seeing what a great tool the videos are providing to be, The Ellenbogen Group has been contracted to shoot even more footage in 2014! We are excited to continue our relationship with both Dutchess County Tourism and BBG&G Advertising!

For more information on how you can have ‘Your Day In Dutchess!’ visit: www.dutchesstourism.com

Hope is the essence by which The Villa Veritas foundation is based. From their humble beginning, to their steady growth, some forty years later, Jim and Sue Cusack, founders of Villa Veritas, take a holistic approach to the treatment of alcohol and drug addiction.

The “Villa”, a not-for-profit inpatient rehabilitation and wellness center, celebrated their 40th anniversary this year! To keep the legacy going, they are fulfilling their dream of passing on the torch to their employees, some of whom are former patients.

Ellenbogen Creative Media has had the privilege of being part of their journey since the early 1990’s, when Ellenbogen was just beginning their journey as well. Their relationship started when the Villa needed to have their photographs put onto tapes for viewing, then the taping of their first video project “The Road to a Spiritual Recovery.” Ellenbogen and The Villa have grown together! Now, years later, those VHS tapes were converted to digital media for archiving, and the production five videos this year, have brought the Villa into the digital future.

Jim and Sue Cusack, turned to Ellenbogen once again to help them create a promotional video: “Villa Veritas – Past, Present, and Future”. The primary purpose of this video was to let prospective patients know how Villa Veritas can help them and their loved ones. The other purpose was to help create awareness and raise money for their new retreat center.

“The video really helped showcase the dedication, commitment, and passion of the dozens of employees, as well as showcase the natural beauty and amenities that the Villa has to offer.” said Jeremy Ellenbogen, who produced the video.

The Ellenbogen crew interviewed all employees who shared their personal stories. Photography and video were taken at the 40th Anniversary party this year and added to the video project. In addition to shooting the video, Ellenbogen handled the full media package for the Villa project including graphic design, updating their website content, adding new photos, building a YouTube channel for them to start building a social media platform, and using this as an outreach tool. The promotional video was created and Jim and Sue loved the final production! This is now in the duplication process getting ready to distribute.

“We love working with the Jeremy and his team. He really gets our vision and took care of the entire process exceeding our expectations. I could not imagine who else we would trust for our digital media needs.” said Sue Cusack, one of the company founders.

The story doesn’t end here! Jim Cusack has just completed his second book, “Trouble is a Gift”. Ellenbogen will be involved in the creation of the book trailers and a social media campaign to spread the word of hope.