Pearson Creative Blog

Pearson Creative produces LaughFest video.

admin — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 21:06:52 +0000

Late last month Pearson Creative was asked to produce a short video for Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids that summarized their Mission and celebrated their 10th Anniversary. The video played during LaughFest; specifically during “An Evening with Betty White.” We produced this video in association with graphics animator Steve Steketee, and Sound Post. The result was a heartfelt, all graphics video that sweetly and succinctly told the Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids story. We’re proud to have been asked to be a part of this project, and equally proud to be a small part of the LaughFest event.

Click on the link below to watch the video.

Gildas Final PSA 7.5mb

Principle photography completed on Amway Video

admin — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 16:00:48 +0000

Pearson Creative in association with Storytelling Pictures recently completed three days of filming on an Amway production. Locations included a coffeehouse and a home. The project was shot using the RED with Peter Sensor as DP, and Mike Diszlowski as AC. Deano’s provided light and grip support, and crew, John Evans directed and Andrew Bauer ADed. Our two primary actors were cast out of Chicago, other actors and extras were cast locally. Due to the use of freeze-frame effects employed throughout the story line the filming required a high attention to scene detail as well as on-site green screen shooting. The film now goes into an intensive post production process marrying green screen action with live action, foreground and background elements. The project is scheduled for a mid-April completion.

Pearson Creative produces Gordon Food Service live event

admin — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 22:11:17 +0000

Months of production and writing culminated in the Gordon Food Service Ohio Valley Division Annual Meeting early last month. This is Pearson Creative’s eighth year as production lead on this particular GFS event, and 16th year working with GFS. The event takes place at the Columbus Convention Center and consists of three departmental meetings, each an hour and a half long, followed by dinner, a 45-minute main meeting, and then entertainment. This year nearly 1200 employees, spouses and guests attended.

Six months prior to the event we began working with internal leadership to begin theme integration, developing creative media support, and stage design. As fall approached we began writing the live scripts for the meetings, and worked closely with GFS Media Services, to write, shoot and produce various roll-in videos and graphic elements. As December approached we worked with the Ohio Valley Annual Meeting committee and Bartha Audio Visual (Staging and Lighting Co.) out of Columbus, OH to finalize all production elements, including equipment, personnel and schedules.

Over the years we have developed a variety of creative information delivery approaches for GFS, including: a WGFS theme, where two on-stage DJs introduced and segued meeting segments from a radio station set; a Gordonville USA theme, where each department meeting set, was a different business on main street (barbershop, diner and garage); and a GFS coffeehouse theme, where actors playing baristas served as meeting hosts, and the set was a coffeehouse interior complete with snow falling outside the set windows.

Although live events are significantly different animals than video productions, the underlying creative development processes and foundational production logistics are still quite similar. We feel our focus on creative storytelling, no matter the delivery format, and our deep understanding of all production processes is what allows Pearson Creative to remain versatile and creatively competitive in an every changing industry. Our versatility combined with our years of experience also allows us to offer our customers an amazing level of service and value for all communication delivery formats.

Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Video

admin — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 18:45:02 +0000

We recently wrapped production on an overview video for Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital that was debuted at their media day. The purpose of this video was to take viewers on a tour of the main features of this beautiful new facility. The video focuses on the spaces and technology throughout the state of the art hospital. People (Doctors, nurses, patients, etc.) were intentionally left out of the filming so the hospital became the hero. Shooting took place over two days with a crew of six. During shooting we were blessed with an appearance by the November sun; a rare commodity in Michigan. And, with a bit of outside shooting, the 60 degree days were a welcome surprise as well. You’ll notice the gaffer in the sky providing some beautiful lighting in the patient rooms and in the pediatric critcal care unit scenes. Throughout the shoot, the building’s architecture, art and overall creative design provided us with countless opportunities for beautiful shots. The Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital officially opens January 11, 2011.

You can view the completed video here:

The Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital

Spectrum Health Continuing Care videos complete

admin — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 17:21:51 +0000

Pearson Creative recently wrapped post production on the Spectrum Health Continuing Care videos. We blogged about this project a couple of months ago, shortly after wrapping principle photography. This project required over 100 extras, all provided by Spectrum Health… staff, family, friends, etc. In addition the production required filming in a home, 3 floors at the Fuller Avenue location and two days filming throughout the Kalamazoo Avenue location. We have produced nine separate videos that are showing on the internal Spectrum Health network, as well as offered on each of the Continuing Care individual program’s web sites, such as Visiting Nurses Association, Special Care Hospital, and Hospice and Palliative Care; and through Spectrum Health’s YouTube channel. You can view these videos now by clicking on the links below.

Overview Video

Visiting Nurse Association

Infusion Pharmacy Services

Rehab & Nursing – Long Term Care

Rehab & Nursing – Subacute

Neuro Rehab

Neuro Inpatient

Long Term Care Hospital

Hospice & Palliative Care

Click here to learn more about Spectrum Health Continuing Care

Blodgett Hospital TV Special

admin — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 16:19:49 +0000

Pearson Creative recently wrapped production on a thirty minute TV special for Spectrum Health, introducing the New Blodgett Hospital to the community. Principle photography had to wait until most of the renovations and construction were complete, leaving just a two-week window for filming and posting the thirty-minute show. The A-roll, on-camera spokes footage and interior beauty shots were shot over two days in late September with the edit quickly following. The show will air on the following stations, dates and times.

Sat. 10/9
3pm (WOOD TV8)
8pm (WWMT TV 3)

Sun. 10/10
11am (WXMI TV 17)
11:30am (WZZM TV 13)

Fri. 10/15
7:30pm (WZZM TV 13)

Sat. 10/23
7pm (WOOD TV8)

Principle photography completed on Spectrum Health project

admin — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 21:12:15 +0000

We just wrapped four intense days of filming for Spectrum Health Continuing Care. The project required over 100 extras, all provided by Spectrum Health… staff, family, friends, etc. In addition the production required filming in a home, 3 floors at the Fuller Avenue location and two days at multiple locations throughout the Kalamazoo Avenue location. Once edited the footage will be used to produce nine separate videos that will be shown on the internal Spectrum Health network, as well as offered on each of the Continuing Care individual program’s web sites, such as Visiting Nurses Association, Special Care Hospital, and Hospice and Palliative Care. Despite the week being one of the hottest of the summer, and some really long days, the crew and staff of Continuing Care all worked great together to make for an exceptional shoot. Post production is now underway with editing taking about two weeks. Look for updates on this project in the near future.

July – A month of preproduction and post production

admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:31:36 +0000

We are currently in post production on the Water Security Project. There are two segments to the project: Introduction and Training, and the Exercise portion. We have completed editing on the Exercise portion and now are waiting on client review. We will be posting this segment as soon as we finalize the edit. We still have another day of filming “talking heads” and then post production on the Introduction and Training portions. Look for a video posting soon.

We are in preproduction on a large multi-video project for Spectrum Health highlighting their Continuing Care services. These services include Hospice and Palliative Care, Subacute Rehab and Visiting Nurses Association. Shooting will be early next month, so look for production stills from that shoot mid-next month. Post production will quickly follow with delivery slated for early September. Once completed the eight videos will be available on the Spectrum Health Continuing Care web site, as well as play on the SH internal TV system, and used for orientation.

We continue to work with Spectrum Health PR department, producing monthly video new releases. We have just finished the latest VNR highlighting Makoplasty. This robotic assisted procedure uses 3D imaging to assist surgeons in pinpointing arthritis, allowing them to precisely remove the damaged tissue. Pretty amazing technology.

We are in very early production on a project for the Spectrum Health Blodgett Re-Grand Opening. This is slated for an early September shoot with the event taking place in early October. More to come on this.

In association with Storytelling Pictures, we have also been awarded a complex project for Amway. Unfortunately this project, slated for summer production, has been pushed back a bit due to some internal leadership changes at Amway. We’ll post more once the project restarts, and gains further definition.

Day 2 & 3 filming complete on Water Security Project

admin — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:42:41 +0000

Day 2 and 3 were used to film special effects, dramatic scenes and underwater model filming. The special effects scenes were shot multiple times with a locked down camera to allow for post production layering. John Despres from Scene It All Production provided the custom built equipment designed to launch a variety of projectiles through the shots. These included everything from a catapult to throw bricks, to leaf blowers to propel flour and peas. (Special care was taken to use bio degradable materials for projectiles.) For another scene, a pick-up truck was used to yank a 8′X8′ fence section through the frame, to give the illusion it was propelled by the blast.

The last day of shooting was spent in Cedar Lake in Jenison, filming a scale model of the underwater blast-damaged intake. We used the new Kodak Playsport HD video camera for the underwater scenes. This amazing little camera shoots 1080i HD footage and is safe up to 3 meters underwater. Its compact size allowed us to “fly” around the model, with out having to employ and deal with prepping and shooting with a larger HD camera in an underwater housing.

Post production is underway and will take the better part of July. We still have another day of “talking-head” shooting to complete as well. Tentative show delivery date is September 1. We’ll post various segments over the next two months as we complete them. And check back here often for other projects currently in preproduction. We currently have three Spectrum Health projects and an Amway project in the preproduction pipeline.

Day 1 Filming complete on Water Security project

admin — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 16:20:08 +0000

The first day of shooting of the Water Security project utilized two separate crews: one on the water, and one on land. The water crew was made up of three camera ops, an underwater camera op, special effects coordinator and the director. On land, three camera ops, an assistant director and a make-up artist, rounded out the crew. This first day required the filming a full scale exercise shot in real time, concurrently on land and on the water. The exercise included the involvement of the following agencies: US Coast Guard, Ottawa County Sheriff’s Dept., Kent County Sheriff’s Dept, Grand Haven Twp. Fire Dept, GR Police Department, GR Water Treatment, North Ottawa Community Hospital, Ottawa County Technical Rescue Team, GR Fire Dept., Michigan State Police, FBI, and Dept. of Homeland Security.

After filming the real time exercise, both crews moved into filming b-roll including water special effects and reenactments of various segments of the exercise. The morning started out foggy, with 2-3′ swells on the water. By mid-morning the sun was out, and the big lake had calmed. We have already begun editing the exercise rough cut, but still have two more days of shooting to round out the production. Stay tuned for more updates.