From Broadcast Producer to Puppy Training App Maker: My First iPhone App Helps Humans Train Their Puppies

Got a new puppy?  Need to train her or him?  Well we just produced an iPhone and iPod touch app for you.

I've been creating media for over 20 years now.  And made my start at NPR's national headquarters in DC.  in 1989.  While at NPR as coop student from Northeastern University (Boston) I was involved editorial meetings on-air celebs like with Liane Hansen (Weekend Edition Sunday), sat in live shows such as "All Things Considered"and became skilled on how to cut reel to reel audio tape with a razor blade....(yes this was before NPR cut their shows on desktops...seems like light years away but boy has technology changed for the better) but what I really learned is how quality media can directly impact and empower its information consumers.

Fast forward 22 years and I find myself running my ten year old production company, Grazioso Pictures Inc, making 80% of our work for the web and non-traditional broadcast outlets.... launching our very first iPhone application in Apple's iTunes "App Store."  Our app is called Puppy Coach 101 and it's my maiden venture into Iphone app.   Taking my video background and experience from working in TV (BBC, History Channel, PBS Kids) and an producing and creative and content directing an app for smart phone screens.  Exciting step!

Here's an "app trailer" alias a "web commercial" we created to promote our puppy training application.

Our goal with this YouTube video is help get the word out to potential customers in a lite, fun way in 60 seconds, empowering online viewers to easily share with friends and family.  You also may see our add show up on google search and on Facebook sidebars.  Here's the result of the trailer.

DIRECT LINK TO "Puppy Coach 101" in iTunes App Store

It's been a creative adventure to bring this app from an idea (born in the lobby of my bikram yoga studio) through content development to production to design and user interface programming and eventually (after 9 months of gestation) into Apple's app store this week.

For $2.99. a price of a Starbucks coffee,  puppy owners get exclusive access to 37 "bite-size" videos (each averaging about 40 seconds) to learn how to train their new puppy.   We decided that we would not stream the videos as many other apps do because we wanted iPhone users (like ourselves) to be able to access the video lessons from anywhere the moment they wanted to train their pet.  And have them worry about being near a wifi connection.  To flip side is the app is 177MB, a few minute download via a decent speed wireless connection.

So puppy Coach 101 app can be used anywhere, home, beach, park, anyplace.  We find it's best to use a set of headphones and coach your dog.  We wanted this app to be video heavy and contrast other puppy and dog training and obedience apps that are text-based.  Who wants to read when they are training their puppy?  How passe.

As I filmmaker I say,"If a picture is worth a thousand words then a video is worth a million!" And in our video you can see and hear Joanne's expert training including the tone of her voice and how she uses treats to coach the dog and build a each lesson.

To create this app was a three way partnership between myself  (the new media filmmaker and /video producer, content guy) to app user interface designer and programmer as well as a content expert.

I partnered with emerging app developers at Pixeldream in NYC and dog and puppy training coach and expert Joanne Lekas.  I've worked steadily with Andres Ramirez of PD for over 12 years, even before I started my production company.  He's been coding interactive projects since CDROMs back in the 90s after he graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston.  Over the last year he's taken himself on the learn to program app for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.  Puppy Coach 101 is he's companies first "for sale" app as well as mine and Joanne's.

Where did the idea start?  I overhead Joannes informally coaching fellow yogis in the lobby of a hot yoga studio we both attend.  Joanne's coaching was clear, positive and very different from what I thought puppy training is.  Then after calls I approached Joanne we had lunch and first began work on a traditional broadcast TV pilot.

But soon we realized bringing an idea to television had a long and risky road.  Then the notion dawned on me that a video-based app for the iPhone would meet my goals of bringing educational media directly to users, iPhone is inherently interactive and can be entertainingly educational, we'd get instant feedback to improve it, users can access it anywhere as it's on demand in their pockets, plus we'd have a potential revenue stream if our app was successful.  All qualities that broadcast television, being the passive medium that it is, is lacking.

Thus our Puppy Coach 101 app was born.  It's now for sale and if we meet our projections then we'll roll out a new version in a few months.  Perhaps new volumes and levels of canine training as well.  However we have a list of other app subjects we want to conquer.

All apps I make will be video based since this is my strength.  New ideas are already cooking and now that we have the Puppy Coach 101 app in the itunes store, the architecture is built and many lessons have been learned along the way giving is experience (and some wisdom) for the next app creation.

If you have an idea and wish to brainstorm please feel free to contact me.

In the meantime visit our app developer's website:
http://apps.graziosopictures.com/

My 7 "take aways" from PubCampBoston 2010

NPR’s Sir Andy Carvin sorting out the sessions at the start of the day.

My one day in summer camp this year and I learned some things, 7 matter of fact. Over a 120 PubCampers converged at WGBH-Boston yesterday, Sat. August 21, 2010

1. Experienced my first unconference camp.  Like the evolve as you go style.  Check out the session notes here: http://wiki.publicmediacamp.org/PubCampBostonSessionNotes

2. Learned about three new gadgets from Adam Weiss - podcaster media man consultant .  (a) mic (Sennheiser MKE 400), (b) strap (BlackRapid.com), (c) LCD view finder (LCDVF).  To learn more about Adam: http://www.podcastconsultant.net/

3. Heard about PubCAMP Maine and signed up to lead a session there on Sept 7th on DSLR "Suitcase" Filmmaking.  http://wiki.publicmediacamp.org/PubCampMaineSessions

4. What the heck is “crowdsourcing beyond google maps”?  Now I have a clue.  See Andy Carvin's presentation from a different event in March, similar topic we discussed yesterday. http://tiny.cc/jezlo

5. Impressed that NPR has over 1.1 million Facebook fans, met the man behind the massive effort.  Again Andy Carvin.  Genius!  http://twitter.com/acarvin

6. Learned that Ben Franklin helped start the first public library in the US in Franklin MA. Thanks Steve Sherlock and nice hat! Check out Steve's PubCampBoston Recap -  http://steves2cents.blogspot.com/

7. There is a such thing as a "free lunch."  Kudos to WGBH and nice touch with that Ben and Jerry's iscream during the afternoon low.  Definitely was a picker upper.  Thanks Noah and your team!
     http://twitter.com/noahxu

Follow the ongoing conversation on Twitter
#pubcampBOS
http://twitter.com/PubCampBoston

Hope to see you at the next Pub/Bar/Pod Camp!

Adam Weiss’ session on backpack media making.

Milkshake: Kids Music Band Shakes It Up

Nominated for a 2010 Grammy Award for Best Musical Album for Children, Milkshake is an ultra- talented Baltimore-based rock band for kids. They've had music videos that aired on PBS Kids and Noggin' and have won Parents' choice awards.

I've been approached to collaborate by several children music soloist and bands over that last several years but for one reason or another I declined. However when I was approached by Milkshake vocalist, band co-leader and manager Lisa Mathews (after checking out their reputation and music) I said yes absolutely.

Founded in 2002 by vocalist Lisa Mathews and guitarist Mikel Gehel, Milkshake is not your average watered down feel good strumming music act for pre-schoolers. They play to a wide range of ages and have many fans who have grown up to show for it. From Baltimore, a city with the best harbor renewal in the East (a metropolis under the radar), Milkshake is composed of six quite different band members. Each with their own personality and persona. For example, band co-leader Lisa with her fire red hair, combat boots, is one of the kindest souls you’ll ever meet wears a tutu on stage while she belts out her heartfelt vocals. Then there's Cord the rockin' tattoo armed bassist that could be in a death metal band but is as sensitive as a kitten. I can go on and on. Check out the video clip above and you’ll get a quick visual sense of them.

I worked closely with Milkshake in 2009 to develop a concept for a TV series which I like to say is like The Monkeys meet Pee Wee Herman. We filmed the project that March. Lisa, Nancy Borrows and myself co-developed the creative and Milton Kam (my “A-team” director of photography) shot the sequences. After editing the project, which are a few different sequences to give broadcasters a taste of how Milkshake would look on television, we met with a high level exec at Nickelodeon and she offered us additional feedback that is being folded into the pitch package. This project continues to be a work in progress.

However, Milkshake is not waiting around for a broadcaster as they play shows regularly in the northeast and elsewhere. If you’re on the west coast, they will be appearing for two shows at the beautiful Getty Museum in LA on August 7 and 8. Check them out if you have a chance as you, your inner child (and your kids - if you haven them) will not be disappointed.

To learn more about Milkshake and hear their music visit:

On-location @ L.L. Bean

There are moments in our work life where all the dots are connected and we stop and say YES, THIS IS IT. Most of the time I keep these moments to myself. But our recent shoot with L.L. Bean in Freeport, Maine was one of those experiences.

My company has been commissioned to produce a series that features innovative companies and L.L. Bean (one of our staff's favorites) was high on the list. We pursued them years ago to no success but this year they wholeheartedly agreed to collaborate with us. I'm not in the position to reveal all what we learned about the inner workings of L.L. Bean, the icon company, that will be showcased in our series. But we did learn some fascinating facts about L.L. Bean, the man, the entrepreneur, the visionary, the enterprise.


b-roll clip of the "Bean Boot" tester machine at L.L. Bean's product testing labs in Freeport, Maine (June 2010)

L.L. (Leon Leonwood) Bean begin his company in 1912. And he started by making a hunter boot for himself because he was unsatisfied with boots available and tired of having cold, wet feet during his trips in the New England woods. After collaborating with a local shoe cobbler he mass produced 100 pairs of his new boot and mailed them out to hunters who ordered the boot via a 3 page catalog.

Each order was shipped with with a customer satisfaction guarantee. Consequently 90 pairs were returned and L.L. (true to his word) refunded the money and took the customer feedback and redesigned a new boot, which became known as the "Bean Boot." This boot is still a part of the L.L. Bean product line today, nearly a hundred years later.

L.L. didn't give up, he persevered. Now this privately held international company earns over $1.78 billion in revenue annually (according to 2006 statistics via wikipedia). A man I'd like to have met.

On Location in East Africa Changed Me

How do we grow as creative humans?







As storytellers?

As producers, directors?

As change agents in our world?

One way I grow is to direct and produce shoots on location in remote places. This stretches my mind, world view, comfort zone. And challenges my negative predictions and preconceived perceptions and concepts.

I think it's fair to say we all at times, not matter our role and work context, we are taken out of our comfort zones and venture into new lands. Curious... do you grow on such adventures?

I feel fortunate in my role as a non-fiction filmmaker to have the opportunity to enter into places and meet people I would have never otherwise meet, listen to, share ideas and cultures.

This summer my company, Grazioso Pictures, Inc., was commissioned by Oxfam America to create a series of videos for their forthcoming climate change campaign. I am grateful for this opportunity and privilege to have now traveled to four regions of the world to make this film series.

Our mission is create a series of segments from scratch, and all principal moving footage has been now been shot, all by us. My DPs Milton Kam and Lukasz Pruchnik and I traveled and shot in four countries, starting in the USA's Louisiana gulf coast, then down to El Salvador, Vietnam, and Ethiopia.

I was moved personally and professionally by all experiences. However East Africa's Ethiopia stuck me deepest. Ethiopia was such a different place than I expected on so many levels. The only images I knew of Ethiopia growing up was of those PSAs on television. Ethiopia's history, landscape, lake region, political system, variety of tribes and languages, cultures, foods...I didn't get enough in my 7 days there. For example I learned the oldest upright human specimen was dug up in Ethiopia, the Italian tried to invade and conquer Ethiopia twice and the coffee bean came from this land and is a growing industry in the fertile highlands.

We spent most of our time in the southern most region with a Borana tribal community, which was fascinating. They are a simple peace-focused culture with an incredible bond between them. A very smart, hard-working, entrepreneurial, democratic, oral and sustaining culture that has survived in an arid climate for hundreds of years.

One thing that struck me was the consistent eye contact between myself and people passing by. Most everyone looked directly in our eyes and either nodded their heads, waved and acknowledged my presence in some way. Unlike my experience in Boston where people you seen or walked by dozens of times avert eye contact and give a cold look if you say hello. Different worlds. And I, and we, as Americans have a lot to learn from these African cultures. In many ways we have everything. Yet in other ways we lack humanity as we drive our cars, talk on our iPhones, google, check off our to do list, etc.

Back to my story. We drove 2 days (each way) from Addis Ababa (Ethiopia's capital, center of the "Dipliomatic Africa" as the seat of the African Union) to southern border to a town called Moyale, which borders Kenya.

To learn more about Ethiopia visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopia

The current drought is really hitting this region and the people VERY hard. Normal rainy season of 2-3 months was only 5 days. Ancient wells are drying up. Surface water is scarce. Ponds are being used by more people and livestock, and are getting more and more contaminated. For example women walk an average of 6 hours to retrieve water, and carry 5 to 8 gallons on their backs all the way home. It's rough for these beautiful people that have lived on this land for many many generations. Our segment will amplify the voices and showcase the empowering work Oxfam America supports, the series will be featured on OxfamAmerica.org when completed later this Fall.

We are currently in post-production editing these segments. See a few still shots from our shoot above and below . Thanks for reading. More updates coming.

Watching Media "Free" via DTV & Web, Goodbye Cable TV!

Now I'm a TV and New Media producer, director, editor and a fan of television and the web. But why am I giving up my cable TV? Because I hear many others are and I want to experience what's this is like first hand.

Please note: This blogger has not been paid by or endorsed by any name brands mentioned.


Well it's been nearly 5 months since my blog entry of February 4th (2009). Just after Chinese New Year. At that point I was considering cutting of my cable TV service and experiencing consuming my media with a DTV digital antenna and the web.

I did cut off my cable TV service (RCN) in May 2009, as well as my landline phone. My phones are now all wireless (via ATT) and I purchased my digital antenna from Amazon.com.

Frankly took several tries on antennas and antenna placement to get the best signal. I even had my Dad make one for me out of old hangers from a plan I found on the web. Worked so so. After much trial and error and reading MANY reviews, I purchased the Direct DB2 Multi Directional HDTV Antenna and have been happy with the performance. It's placed in my attic.

I must say the DTV direct signal really blows away the cable television signal in my area of the world. DTV is much cleaner and crisp. JUST AMAZING. For some reason the cable TV signal here is noisy and muddy (RCN). Also since I booted my RCN internet service and signed up for Verizon FIOS. Much faster!

Here's my general setup: Direct DB2 Multi Directional HDTV Antenna (in attic), Tivo HD recorder with Netflix enabled, standard definition Panasonic TV (2005). Tivo service (free for the first 3 months) costs $12/month, Netflix costs $10/month. $22 total plus whatever iTunes movies I download.

PROS and CONs of eliminating cable TV and depending on the web and free DTV.

PROS:

- DTV has a much cleaner, clearer signal. Impressive image.
- Tivo with DTV works like a charm. Can still DVR "60 Minutes" "I Survived a Japanese Game Show" "Lost" "The Office", etc.
- Saving about $50 per month
- Can watch all major network channels
- Watching a lot more PBS than before (great stuff on public television as I have a renewed respect for that network)
- Still watch CNN on CNN.com (watch all of Michael Jackson's funeral online without any issues of streaming)
- Netflix keeps adding movies everyday
- I download shows from iTunes sometimes and can travel with ठेस and watch on multiple devices.
- Reading and writing more.

CONS:

- Still unable to get Spanish-language channels like Univision or Telemundo (need booster I think)
- Less choices, channel surfing is limited. No Discovery or History on my TV (except for iTunes of course)

Kid Technology Chat Series: Zephyr 9 Years

In my curiosity to learn more about how kids use and think of TV, the web and other technologies in their lives (i.e., games, mobile, etc.).  I decided to embark on a series of direct interviews with kids of all ages, backgrounds, regions, social and economic classes and so forth.

The following is a recent skype video chat I had with my good friend's son.  Zephyr 9 years.  To give you some context, Zephyr was born in the US, then lived in Indonesia for about 5 years (from 9 mos to 6 yrs old), currently goes to a private school and lives in a small town (under 5,000 residents) in New England/USA.

Alan: What grade are you in?

Zephyr: 4th grade

A: What do you think is more fun, television or the web?

Z: The web.

A: Why?

Z: Because you can do more stuff.  TV you can only watch TV, and the web you can see TV plus watch all types of videos and do other cool things.  The web can do so much more than television.

A: What kind of TV or videos do you watch on the web?

Z: I used to watch videos on youtube.  But don't any more because I'm banned right now by my parents.

A: Why are you banned?

Z: Because my parents say I'm lazy and they want me to do my work.  School work and chores around the house.  If I do this, prove to them, then I can get back some of the tech stuff again.

A: Okay when you're allowed to go back on the web and watching TV where will you go, what will you look at?

Z: I'll check out a shoe website like Nike.  Also go to Burton.com (snowboard company).  They have cool snowboarding videos.  

A: Do you snowboard?

Z: No

A: Do you skateboard?

Z: Yes

A: Do you learn something from those snowboarding websites.

Z: No, not really.  But they're really fun.

A: What video games did you play before getting banned?

Z:  The game "Street Sesh" on Addictinggames.com, and at my friends house we play Rock Band, we jam together and play drums and guitar at the same time.  I also like the "Need for Speed" game.

A: Do you learn from the technology you're using?

Z: From television I learn from watching National Geographic and Discovery Channel.  Like I watched a show recently on Colossal Squids, which was cool.

A: How can you convince your parents to bring technology back?

Z:  They said I can earn it back, if I do all my school and house work and all they ask of me.  My parents allowed me to use the internet, play video games etc. only on weekends.  I think they think it's better for my education.

A: Do you want to sometimes watch TV and videos that are not educational in nature?

Z: Yes I do.

A: If you had a crystal ball that sees into the future and were given the choice to be an executive working in TV or in a web company, what would you choose?

Z: Work for Yahoo or Google.  My 4 friends and I Google at lot.

A: Did you Google today?

Z: No.  Remember I'm banned.

A: Okay.  We'll make an exception for this interview and I'll take the heat from your parents. Will you open your browser and Google right now and tell us what you're searching for?

Z: Sure. (types for a few seconds) I typed in "Lego." And then clicked on their website and went in to see the latest star wars Legos.  Such cool stuff.

A:  Thanks for your time today Zephyr.  Good luck to you with that ban.  Hope you take on yourself, do your work and get your technology back.

Z:  Thanks.  Bye. Bye.