Our Work

  • Hughes Virtual Reality

    The Opportunity

    Hughes, an international broadband satellite internet company, wanted their employees, attendees, and stakeholders to experience the latest generation of satellite internet firsthand during their annual retailer summit. TTC was able to give the Hughes team an out of this world experience that would have been impossible without the use of Virtual Reality!

    The Solution

    In this Virtual Reality (VR) demonstration, once the headset and earphones are placed on the user, they’re transported to the Hughes Network Operation Center (NOC) where they’re greeted by a Hughes executive who sends them off on their virtual journey. The user navigates the experience using visual cues to select where to go or what to view next. They can choose to watch a series of customized videos that appear along the screens in the NOC, or they can even choose to launch themselves into orbit where exact models of the satellites await.

    Should the user choose the space adventure (who wouldn’t?) they are immediately transported into orbit on a floating platform where they are surrounded by our beautiful solar system and positioned right next to the Hughes satellites with the earth directly below. The immersive experience looks so real that it’s hard to fight the urge to reach out and touch the satellites.

    TTC programmers created this 3D environment to show exactly how the satellites target different areas of the earth. One of the many impressive artistic touches of the spacewalk was watching your position in relation to the sun gradually change as it continually cast a new angle of light on the earth.

    VR can be deployed using a variety of platforms including the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and many mobile platforms. For this installment, the TTC team decided to use the Samsung Gear VR, a mobile virtual reality platform and completely portable system. The simplicity and portability of this VR technology allows for ease of transportation and the ability to use it anywhere at any time.

    The Impact

    It’s one thing to see pictures or videos of satellites in outer space, but it is an entirely different and unique experience to feel like you’re actually there… in person… floating in geosynchronous orbit and looking down at the earth. TTC harnessed our strategic creative process to create a virtual adventure that was educational, exciting, and a memorable experience for the Hughes team.

  • The Bowie Ball

    The Opportunity:

    Once a year The Washington Ballet holds their Annual Spring Gala, a benefit for community engagement and educational programs that support the accessibility of dance and cultural opportunities to all, regardless of means. Every year the event adopts a new theme, transforming each spring celebration into a unique experience. This year, The Washington Ballet decided to pay tribute to recently deceased rock legend David Bowie. To achieve the “wow” factor that they so desired, The Washington Ballet sought out TalkingTree Creative to create the most immersive whimsical spring gala that they’ve had to date.

    The Solution:

    The structure of the evening consisted of a cocktail hour, two choreographed dance performances, speeches and recognitions, dinner and social dancing. The venue of choice was the stunning Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C. – the perfect canvas for creative (expression)opportunity. After visiting the space, TalkingTree proposed the perfect solution for an architecturally impressive venue – projection mapping. Our goal was to transform the Mellon into a whimsical space oddity-esque wonderland using only lighting and projection.

    TalkingTree then designed and produced four videos for the evening, three of which were projected on the curved wall under the gold molding above the stage, and on to the adjacent pillars. The first video, for the walk in look, consisted of a floral David Bowie portrait with the Bowie Ball logo at its base, flanked by two iconic lightning bolts, all set upon a warm red twinkling background. The next was a beautiful montage of the great works of their guest of honor, Septime Webre, celebrating 17 years with the Washington Ballet. The video looped in the background, as toasts and speeches were made in his honor.

    The third video was created for the longest portion of the evening, the dinner and dance party portion. TTC and The Washington Ballet combined efforts to collect as many David Bowie photos and music videos as we could get our hands on. Utilizing our findings, along with Bowie’s greatest hits and groovy special effects, TTC created an out-of-this-world video compilation.

    The fourth video really sky rocketed the event to the next level. We transformed the Mellon’s blank canvas ceiling into a vibrant and twinkling starry night sky, with shooting stars, a moon, clouds, and even a rotating Mars!

    The Impact:

    Reviewing video previews meant for a three dimensional surface can be hard to visualize, so the client wasn’t quite sure what to expect. But once they stepped into the room and witnessed the projections dressing the celling, walls, and columns, they were absolutely blown away with the results. All of the guests and stakeholders were ‘wowed’ by the whimsical David Bowie wonderland that the Mellon had become. Everyone was taking pictures and looking up in awe at the night sky about them. It was clear that we had set a new bar for their event: one that we plan to exceed in years to follow.

  • Movement for More Birthdays – Promotional Videos Production

    The Opportunity

    The American Cancer Society (ACS), the official sponsor of Birthdays, launched a new campaign in July of 2009 in an effort to continue to create a world with less cancer and more birthdays. A birthday isn’t much without cake, so the ACS partnered with The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) to bake a healthy, better-for-you birthday cake. CIA students were challenged to create a reduced-calorie cake using healthy ingredients and Chef Duff Goldman was brought in to judge the finalists and select a winner. Contest footage aired and the winner was announced on his show “Ace of Cakes” on Food Network TV.

    The Solution

    Public relations firm Brodeur Partners called in TalkingTree Creative to film and produce an online video promoting the contest and concept of healthier birthdays. TalkingTree conducted interviews with the contestants and Chef Duff Goldman, and shot footage announcing the winner. TTC formatted the video for the web and for television broadcasters to use to promote the “Ace of Cakes” episode that would announce the winner.

    The Impact

    This year more than 11 million cancer survivors will celebrate another birthday. TalkingTree’s video footage was featured on the Food Network and the ACS website to promote healthy living. It’s these tips for a healthy lifestyle that what will keep us all celebrating more birthdays.

  • American Trucking Associations – Promotional Videos Production

    Getting your members on board

     

    The Opportunity

    The American Trucking Association is the premiere association of trucking industry professionals, business owners, drivers and service providers in the U.S. ATA’s mission is to serve and represent the interests of the trucking industry. By pooling the collective wisdom of its members and other industry leaders into pro-active councils which focus on a variety of issues, the ATA provides legislative, regulatory and operational information and services as well as forming guidelines for best practices in all phases of the industry.

    Council strategies, analyses and recommendations are key to the progress of ATA’s efforts and TalkingTree creative was tasked with increasing interest, understanding and membership in the councils.

    The Solution

    Working closely with ATA leadership, TTC formulated a strategy for deep penetration of the member groups most likely to contribute to and benefit from council membership.

    Rather than casting the widest net, TalkingTree focused recruitment efforts on the high-level executives whose input would be most valuable and whose appreciation of council benefits would be most profound. To reach this group, TalkingTree utilized a segment of the ATA annual conference to present a compelling informational video which presented six key advantages to council membership.

    Councils provide continuing education for trucking professionals

    Councils are a place to develop industry best practices and standards

    Councils represent industry-wide interests

    Councils are centers for excellence

    Non-participants may be at a disadvantage in the market place

    Councils provide a networking platform for industry leadership

    TalkingTree extended the value of this recruitment tool for the ATA by re-editing the video for presentation on the ATA website.

    The Results

    After the ATA national conference, an increase in viewings of the video on-line and a rise in the number of requests for information on the Councils marked a win for the councils and for the ATA itself. Membership in the year following the event increased by

  • Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation – Awards Videos Production

    The Opportunity

    The American Trucking Association is the premiere association of trucking industry professionals, business owners, drivers and service providers in the U.S. ATA’s mission is to serve and represent the interests of the trucking industry. By pooling the collective wisdom of its members and other industry leaders into pro-active councils which focus on a variety of issues, the ATA provides legislative, regulatory and operational information and services as well as forming guidelines for best practices in all phases of the industry.

    Council strategies, analyses and recommendations are key to the progress of ATA’s efforts and TalkingTree creative was tasked with increasing interest, understanding and membership in the councils.

    The Solution

    Working closely with ATA leadership, TTC formulated a strategy for deep penetration of the member groups most likely to contribute to and benefit from council membership.

    Rather than casting the widest net, TalkingTree focused recruitment efforts on the high-level executives whose input would be most valuable and whose appreciation of council benefits would be most profound. To reach this group, TalkingTree utilized a segment of the ATA annual conference to present a compelling informational video which presented six key advantages to council membership.

    Councils provide continuing education for trucking professionals

    Councils are a place to develop industry best practices and standards

    Councils represent industry-wide interests

    Councils are centers for excellence

    Non-participants may be at a disadvantage in the market place

    Councils provide a networking platform for industry leadership

    TalkingTree extended the value of this recruitment tool for the ATA by re-editing the video for presentation on the ATA website.

    The Results

    After the ATA national conference, an increase in viewings of the video on-line and a rise in the number of requests for information on the Councils marked a win for the councils and for the ATA itself. Membership in the year following the event increased by

     

  • The Washington Times 25th Anniversary – Creative/Event Production

    Crossing cultural and language barriers to produce a celebration that’s accessible to all.

    The Opportunity

    The Washington Times 25th Anniversary gala brought together 1400 publishers, politicians, heads-of-state and other dignitaries from around the world to celebrate an important milestone for this newspaper. The Times saw this as an opportunity to express its editorial stance and to re-brand and re-position itself to a large number of influential people at once and sought TalkingTree’s expertise in creating this marketing event. Among the many challenges was getting the Times’ messaging absorbed by all of the international attendees, some of whom spoke little English. This meant translation to over a dozen different languages transmitted by radio to each attendee.

    The Solution

    TalkingTree met the triple challenge of re-branding, re-positioning and reiterating the paper’s core values with a holistic approach. All décor, media content, lighting and other  production elements were designed to work in concert to produce a compelling statement about the paper’s character, going so far as to provide the performance talent for an original anthem which was performed live at the event.

    TalkingTree’s ability to unify the production in this way ensured that attendees, from the reporters from developing countries to former president G.H.W. Bush, not only understood but shared in the over-arching themes of the event.

    The Results

    By creating an environment that effectively communicated, on all levels, the Washington Times’ critical messaging, TalkingTree delivered a package of campaign-able video, photographic and audio assets that can be used in the paper’s continuing online, print and even radio and TV marketing.

  • Federal Bureau of Investigation’s 100th Anniversary – Event Production

    The Opportunity

    July 17, 2008 brought over 2,000 Washington DC field agents together in the nation’s capital to celebrate the FBI’s 100th birthday and a century of service to the American people. While several current and former FBI directors were present at the ceremony, there were many who were unable to attend. Not only was production for this press event left to TalkingTree but delivering the program to those not present was up to us as well.

    The Solution

    To broadcast this milestone event, TalkingTree recorded the program via satellite and sent it live to field offices around the world. Risers and lighting were set for the press and the audio system carried the memorable speeches and presentations through the grounds of the National Building Museum.

    The Impact

    Everyone was a hero on this day of celebration. The morning ceremonies were part of the daylong series of events. Speakers were staged on a platform in front of a blue and gold backdrop that read “A Century of Fidelity, Bravery and Integrity”, the FBI’s motto. The three latter words were an inspiration to us when designing and coordinating all details and they resonated with and inspired attendees as well.

  • Heart of America Foundation – A Promotional Video

    The Opportunity

    Committed to providing children in need everywhere with the tools to read, succeed, and make a difference, the Heart of America foundation was in search of a new way to spread their message to sponsors, donors, volunteers and the public. In an effort to promote their message, TalkingTree partnered with HOA to create an image piece to premiere at Sweet Charity, their annual fundraising gala.

    The Solution

    TalkingTree Creative collected and organized footage from HOA’s past events and travelled to new events to create an inspiring and informative video. The image piece featured interviews conducted by TTC with HOA co-founders and volunteers as well as footage of their redesigned libraries. The emotional piece expresses the need for HOA in the community, the impactful results of their work and a call to action for support.

    The Impact

    Premiering at the 2010 Sweet Charity gala, HOA aired the video in front of over 900 guests to kickoff the event. The video is featured on their YouTube website, has been shared virally via Twitter and serves to promote ongoing awareness piece for HOA. TalkingTree has continued their relationship with HOA to create two 15 second pieces to air in Times Square, New York and has created two other video segments to further growth and support for HOA.

  • Human Rights Campaign National Dinner – Event Video Production

    The Opportunity

    The HRC national dinner was an evening of celebration, awareness and education reaching over 3,000 people in attendance. Every year the event brings high-profile speakers and A-list entertainers to raise funds as well as focus and energize HRC members for the coming year. The client sought TalkingTree for our technical expertise to create a stage design that would meet the artistic eye of the audience while exciting and empowering them.

    The Solution

    TalkingTree emphasized the celebrity appearances of President Barack Obama, Lady Gaga and cast members of Glee when developing the stage design. Three center stage screens played an integral role during the show acting as a grand reveal for each person. The key guests entered the stage from the back and upon introduction the screen in front of them would rise, creating a dynamic and effective appearance. In addition to the rolling screens, TalkingTree designed a video system that automatically adjusted and placed each projected image to fit the changing size of the screen as it moved.

    The Impact

    By creating a dramatic reveal onstage for the night’s special guests, the audience remained in suspense and excited throughout the program.

  • Building a Brand through Corporate TV – Streaming Video Campaign

    The Opportunity

    Hughes Network Systems is a global provider of broadband satellite products and services. As a company with several divisions, new things are happening everyday at Hughes. To keep all departments as well as customers updated on company news and projects, Hughes teamed with TalkingTree Creative to develop a new way to extend the reach of their traditional newsletter.

    The Solution

    TalkingTree produces video news releases in a news magazine format to provide ongoing communication internally and externally. The consistency of releasing video stories every month gives Hughes industry exposure and keeps their worldwide staff focused. TalkingTree’s process for developing the stories takes little of Hughes’ time because we function as if we were an internal multimedia department. We arrange to film footage and interviews necessary for the story and organize the clips in our video library. From storyboard development and script writing to professional editing and motion graphics, TalkingTree brings the Hughes stories to life and engages their customers and staff in a positive brand experience.

    The Impact

    Hughes TV stories are used as both an internal and external communication tool. Internally, Hughes TV helps all departments remain engaged and updated with the company as a whole. Hughes TV reinforces the corporate culture and keeps the overall goals aligned. Externally Hughes TV helps customers feel closer to the company. TalkingTree delivers these video releases in formats suitable for use at tradeshows, the Hughes website, sales and meeting presentations, email blasts and social media outlets.

  • Intel Science Talent Search – Event Production

    The Opportunity

    Every spring Intel and the Society for Science and The Public (SSP) team together to host America’s most prestigious science research competition for high school seniors. New York event firm MC2 relies on TalkingTree Creative to source and manage all technical aspects for this event. The challenge for TalkingTree is to create a world-class presentation for the students and their projects while providing a focused direction with the participation of three distinct stakeholders.

    The Solution

    TalkingTree organized and directed the technical needs in accordance with the visions and goals of the stakeholders. TalkingTree seamlessly coordinated details within the venue, created room drawings, floor plans and provided ideas for scenic staging. Through our project management website, we were able to send files and documents to the three parties, keeping them updated as the logistics progressed. We provided technical oversight during the show including all features of lighting, video, and audio.

    The Impact

    TalkingTree creates lasting relationships with their clients and our reputation exceeds our local borders. The venue for the Intel Science Talent Search changes each year (Andrew Mellon Auditorium in 2009 and National Building Museum in 2010) and TalkingTree continues to keep the design fresh, the communication organized and the night memorable for all attendees.

  • The Sneaker Ball – Creative/Event production and Digital Décor

    The Opportunity

    Celebrating the best of sports in the Greater Washington DC region, this annual black tie and sneakers gala brings over 1,000 attendees to the National Building Museum. SneakerBall guests include sport personalities from the DC region and more than 50 professional athletes and Olympians. Hosted by the Greater Washington Sports Alliance (GWSA), TalkingTree Creative plays an integral role in the production management of the event to coordinate all technical needs and direction.

    The Solution

    TalkingTree has a strong relationship with the GWSA and communication is at the forefront. Using our secured file sharing website we are able to exchange show scripts, room drawings, and floor plans. TalkingTree creates a cue script for the production team that includes instructions for the lighting, audio and camera operators. A script meeting to review the cues is held and TalkingTree remains on headset during the show program to manage the team, calling the cues making sure none are missed and that all equipment is operating correctly.

    The Impact

    Client and audience expectations are consistently surpassed each year at the SneakerBall gala. Every seat in the room is guaranteed to feel like the front row as TalkingTree captures the program on large screens above the stage. TalkingTree illuminates each section of the program with unique lighting designs and the music has the crowd dancing to the night’s end.

  • Vehicles for Change – Video Campaigns

    The Opportunity:

    Vehicles for Change is providing cars to working poor families, enabling them to get to work in less time and more reliably while also making it possible for their children to participate in extracurricular activities and do better in school. In fact, Vehicles for Change is helping these families to escape poverty in a very tangible way.  The average benefit to these families in the first year is $7,000 in additional income. Vehicles for Change is beginning to expand to other areas of the nation and their biggest issue is finding a more consistent supply of donated cars. TalkingTree Creative is proud to be a production partner with Vehicles for Change and help spread their message to the general public as well as supporting foundations.

    The Solution:

    TalkingTree Creative produced videos to be used in content marketing, beginning with an overview to tell the story of Vehicles for Change and their clients. We interviewed recipient families and followed some of them through a typical day – showing their challenges and successes before and after they received their cars. Their stories, as told by the families themselves, were emotionally powerful and were able to connect with many viewers on a human level. We also interviewed social workers, donors and VFC board members to gain the perspective of subject matter experts. Vehicles for Change now has a library of stories, commentary, and solutions, as well as much more participation from the community at large.

    The Impact:

    The campaign of content produced for VFC has spurred more discussion and more questions from the community and other organizations who are trying to help.  What has come out of this community involvement is an awareness from VFC that the solution for mobility need not rely only on putting cars in the hands of these families. As a resul, they have expanded their scope to include other modes of mobility such as buses, bikes, car sharing and more. Furthermore, Vehicles for Change is now expanding into the Detroit Michigan market – a place they are badly needed.

  • Spaceway – Technical Visual Animations

    Objective:

    To provide our client’s customers with a concise over-view of all relevant aspects of the Spaceway Three, satellite-enabled system. This had to be accomplished to the standards of work previously done by us for the client, but in a much shorter than usual timeframe – a deadline of only ten days.

    Strategy:

    Several client teams were involved in the entire process. To minimize re-writes and delays, Talkingtree focused on the point person assigned to the project by the client. All communication to us was confirmed with that person, and all communication from us was through that person. In this way, responsibility for focusing the client’s input remained with the clients themselves, allowing us to concentrate on the production responsibilities.

    Process:

    Received brief from Doug Medina (point person) outlining key points to address.

    Several graphic and video elements had to be created and the general concepts were derived from existing Power-point slides provided by the client. Our method was to incorporate as much of the client’s info as was needed, discarding minutia, and compose a message that was fairly flexible – that is, usable at trade shows and in the context of a sales pitch.

    Talkingtree wrote the script and recorded the narration after all client personnel were satisfied with the content. All production personnel received instruction and general overview of project from Talkingtree.

    Outcome:

    Though initially the project’s scope seemed prohibitive to the client, their goals were met very much to their satisfaction. All project members were pleased with the pace and content and Talkingtree was able to deliver in time for a crucial trade show.

  • Gen4 Launch – Market Growth through Tradeshow Video

    The Opportunity:

    When Hughes launched their new Gen4 service last year, they decided to exhibit at the Consumer Electronics Show (or CES); one of the largest tradeshows hosted in Las Vegas annually.  CES was the perfect opportunity to launch Gen4 because it is a consumer service which expands the capabilities of satellite broadband using the most powerful and comprehensive satellite system in the world.  The goal was to attract foot traffic from the CES floor to the new Gen4 website.

    The Solution:

    TalkingTree produced a clever original video called “The End of the Internet”, portraying unreachable internet sites as sad, lost, and forgotten due to weak or absent broadband connections.  We linked the video to the Gen4 website’s landing page so that when viewed in its entirety, the audience would be automatically directed to the site. To spark interest, Hughes designed fliers and t-shirts with lost notices exhibiting QR codes that if scanned, would take the individual directly to the video.  The shirts also wittily displayed attention-grabbing headlines such as “Lost Content Found!” “Have you seen me?” and “Missing: Lost Content!”.

    The Impact:

    The video was a hit, receiving over 6000 views at the tradeshow with a whopping 90% throughput rate; meaning at least 5,400 viewers were sent to the Gen4 website.  The buzz that was generated during the show caused the number of viewers to continue to climb in the weeks following the show.  All in all, the product launch was a great success and the client was extremely pleased with the results.

  • Hughes Sales and Marketing Meeting – Creative/Event Production

    The Opportunity:

    Hughes is a multibillion-dollar company, and the world’s leading provider of satellite technology for homes and offices. Their annual sales and marketing meeting brings together 450 senior executives, senior engineers, and sales leaders from around the globe to recap their accomplishments, share their goals, and excite the company for the coming year. Hughes teamed with TalkingTree Creative to coordinate and manage each division’s presentations while weaving a cohesive message (All Systems Go!) and motivating the attendees through the addition of our own original content.

     

    The Solution:

    TalkingTree designed a visually immersive set for the meeting: The audience’s seats surrounded a wraparound stage, behind which hung an undeniably fixating 125ft wide media screen from ceiling to stage.  Forty-eight unique video/media pieces were created (by yours truly) for display on the screen along with graphic slides, music, and theatrical lighting. Using the screen as a digital set gave each presentation its own look and allowed for quick transitions between segments. To make the presenters’ material more accessible, TalkingTree turned technical information into cinematic presentations and incorporated the “All Systems Go!” theme throughout.  Each of the 30 presenters performed in a dynamic environment, which allowed them to deliver deep emotional impact and resulted in great audience retention.

     

    TalkingTree was also solely responsible for the entire production: including creating the theme, designing the stage set, hiring the entertainment, handling the registration of attendees, and even managing the menu and the catering.  In addition to producing the general session, we also turned the room in an hour and a half and redecorated using digital décor to prepare for the awards dinner. For the evening awards celebration, TalkingTree coordinated the dinner and after party entertainment, centerpieces and award crystals and transformed the meeting room ambience into an elegant reception.

     

    The Impact:

    Employees not only attended this meeting, they engaged in the experience.  All Systems Go! proved to be an incredibly successful motivational theme, exciting the audience for the upcoming year. Not only were the stakeholders of the event elated, but also attendees commented that they actually got goose bumps due to their strong emotional reaction.  The total immersion multi media screen made the audience feel that they were part of the projected environment and the inclusion of numerous videos kept presentation time contained.  The onscreen material also provided entertainment due to the planned interaction between the presenters on stage and the original videos displayed. The company as a whole was able to communicate to each other a clear strategy and direction for the coming year and even more so, inspired each other to think of new ways to continue to grow their company.

  • HCEDA 2012 Meeting – Creative/Event Production

    The Opportunity:

    Each year the Howard County Economic Development Authority (HCEDA) hosts a meeting attended by the business leaders of Howard County to celebrate outstanding economic achievements of companies who began, grew, or relocated there.  In previous years the event had been fairly low key, so to spice things up a bit, TalkingTree Creative was brought in to produce the show.

     

    The Solution:

    The meeting consisted of a reception, dinner, and ceremony to recognize the honorees ending with a keynote address.  TalkingTree designed and created five videos for the awards ceremony, highlighting the winner of each of the following categories: Agricultural, Growth, Biotech, Startup, and Manufacturing.  We conducted interviews with the honorees, which were incorporated into the videos along with a basketball theme inspired by the keynote speaker; former University of Maryland basketball coach Gary Williams.  In addition, we produced a tribute video in memory of a board member who had passed away suddenly during the previous year. The branded stage set we designed incorporated cameras, lights, and large screen projection as well as musical accompaniment to bring the whole event to a scale larger-than-life.  We worked with the HCEDA staff to help manage the scripting process and directed the show to ensure a smooth flow for the event.

    The Impact:

    The HCEDA executive board members were unsure what to expect from a higher-level production, but they were ecstatic with the results.  All of the stakeholders including the board members and the business community itself were thrilled with the fact that they were featured in such a great light, some even saying “It was as if we were celebrities”. Many of the businesses asked for copies of the videos, which they used on their individual websites following the show.  It was clear that we had set a new bar for their event: one that we plan to exceed in years to follow.