Chris Smith Associates

What is it all about ?

I started this blog on the basis that my business is complex. If I were a full time widget maker, my site would be a display of my latest widgets with an on line purchase button. However, I have a range of marketable skills which I sell. Podcasting is what I have been passionate about for the last wee while. There are a number of examples of the current projects and clients here on this site. However, there are a significant number where, particularly for Corporate clients, anonymity is the order of the day.

The purpose of this site is to give a flavour of skills I have to offer. I have taken the pictures, edited the video and audio, built the website, and done the clever Web 2.0 things behind it. If you think I could help; contact me.

Finally, I hate po-faced websites. But, I hope, you've already guessed that.

Cheers

Chris Smith

Stripping a message down to its bare essentials

Found this great example of a familiar message delivered with a whole new twist. I love the sense of humour about the whole production.

More Creative Dundee

Some new podcasts went up at Creative Dundee - it's always a pleasure to meet enthusiastic creative people and there you have three good examples. Their new book promises to be a great read. The previous volume "Roots" lasted in the house for a week before I gave it away. I ended up buying 5 copies and pressing it into the hands of friends and family - it was that good.

Equally, it's good to know Esther Read is out there stirring writers up and pushing into print. Living with a published author, I can appreciate  the value of a calm encouraging voice in the creative process and Esther does wonders. Chalk another one up for Dundee.

Human rights and personal video

This was an interesting piece I picked up via Digg. It strikes me that considered use of video with purpose and intent is the future. Having seen so many fads, think about CB radio and chatrooms; adoption is poised between novelty and sustaining usefulness. Are YouTube and handheld video moving away from dogs on roller skates towards something more relevant long term ? Difficult to say and an added factor is the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest. It's high production values and scale makes me wonder whether 400 x 264 pixels could do the justice to the audio and visual treat that Moscow provided. Tacky content but amazing staging. So the question in my mind is how do you select and shoot in the right scale with the right subject matter? We are not there but the journey has started.

Perils of new media

Interesting to note the recent Gordon Brown YouTube experience has yielded a couple of points. First, the camera doesn't love everyone. Second point is that serious stuff may get thousands of hits but less serious ( aka nose picking ) gets hundreds of thousands. Plan accordingly.

Great video...highly recommended

Nyle "Let The Beat Build" from Nyle on Vimeo.

A couple of things to say. No edits, just lots of planning and rehearsal and superb teamwork. You might not like the music style but you've got to love the energy and the feel of the piece.

Podcasts and the train

I am now a regular commuter to Glasgow. As everyone who knows me will testify, I am a big fan of public transport. It's possible to work and travel. Sitting on a train listening to an interview and making edit notes is a real benefit to a freelance podcaster. But, I also note that I am sitting amongst my audience. Sure, you can hear the percussive beats of Megaflangedeathbunnies from the young guy with long hair and R'n'B classics from the young woman sitting next to you; but there are an awful lot of people of 'certain years' who seem to be listening to something that might be audio books, might be intelligent speech or might even be plain old podcasts. Hugely reassuring when you consider the market this could represent.

AV piece on Tidal Power

As ever, it's nice to work with pros and this short piece is a good example. It's an interview with a technical marketeer and a journalist illustrated with images and some video. If you listen to the piece; the key points are the journalist asks simple questions and strays far into the audio picture to make their interaction interesting. On the other side, the marketeer, speaking in her second or third language,tells us a story. The accompanying graphics are meant to supplement not overwhelm. I liked working on it.

A personal favourite

This is a brilliant video which demonstrates a very simple principle; 'talent will out'. Working with clients where we agonise over inconsequential details is usually a good sign that creativity is scarce. In the case of this video, it's a case of good content; quirky lyrics, pleasant music and an engaging graphics parade, that makes this so smile inducing. Sure, there are a couple of edits and transitions I personally wouldn't have made but it's great piece. And, if at the end, you are asking yourself; "hmmm...I wonder whether they should have shot it in Hi Def ?". Well, push your seat back and get your feet on the pavie for some fresh air and recharge the humour cells.

Award winning at last !

Couple of excellent results ...Blairgowrie High School Podcast Club got shortlisted and were runners up at the Annual Spirit of Youth Awards in Perth on Friday. I think the correct young people's expression, at the moment, is "Whoop, whoop!". Top group of young people and led by Mrs Pieroni who is a class act -  I am delighted to be involved.

Second piece of good news - Dundee Contemporary Arts was 10 years old on Saturday and I did a Q&A with Clive Gillman. Everyone said they enjoyed it and Clive was on good form. He is one of the few people I know who says 'world class ambition' and really means it. My wife tells me it was a good gig and some pretty fundamental issues were put on the table - more photographic exhibitions, more cinema discussions  and the 'V and A' as neighbours. Great fun and I wait to see the video.

10 years of the DCA ...this Saturday with Clive Gillman

Really pleased to have been asked to chair a Q&A with Clive Gillman the Supremo and DCA Director at the Dundee Contemporary Arts this coming Saturday on their Open Day at 14.00 in Cinema 1.  When I was asked; apart from the obvious - why me; the questions started to form an orderly queue. The DCA is a fabulous place for so many reasons and Clive has certainly been one of the forces that ensures the place stays so fresh. So - come along and let's see if we can get Clive to explain some of the magic.