Robert Ouimet

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Screencasts for BasicGov now on YouTube

I’ve just finished some video work for BasicGov, a really interesting Vancouver based company that’s addressing the needs of small and medium sized local government all over North America.
20090504_basicgov1-sm
These folks are clever.

Using an SaaS (Software as a Service) model, they’re providing a package of admin and organizational tools to local governments.

Typically, these tools are only available through expensive enterprise software – and the little guys find themselves making do with patched together solutions for tracking things like building permits , code enforcement, or planning. BasicGov’s approach seems even more relevant given the current economy.

What these guys have done is distill the key services required and created a web-based solution. Their clients have no technology overhead to deal with, they pay on monthly subscription basis, so they can start without spending heaps of cash, and all they need in place is an internet connection and a browser.

The goal of this project was to provide a high-level overview of the suite of products – essentially an introduction to the concept of SaaS without ever using the acronym, and how these products help solve specific challenges faced by small governments.

BasicGov, wisely, is using YouTube as a key platform to distribute these videos.

It’s fitting, considering their own model.

Just like their own service, using YouTube allows them to get all the benefits of a large scale distribution platform, with zero overhead. The idea is to use the videos as an introduction to the services, not as a ‘how to’ per se – though we may do some of those later.

Creating the videos gave me an interesting insight into their product as well. The team sat down with me and walked though each of the 3 key modules. I took notes, but mostly I was just trying to get oriented. I’ve never worked in local government, so a lot of the details were new to me.

Often with this type of software, a casual observer (me) will find it difficult to retrace their way through the various functions. I was surprised when I logged on back at my office, and discovered I was able to work my way through all the pieces with ease. Which of course was one of the goals BasicGov laid out when they started.

PRODUCTION

We worked through an iterative process, using storyboards to identify key screens and copy.

I often use Final Draft A/V for this kind of thing, but in this case, I opted for Story Board Quick. I like being able to generate HTML and FLASH versions of the boards – I work virtually most of the time and it makes sharing the info with the client quick. I also strip out the copy and provide the client with a clean copy deck – often this is the easiest place for them to identify changes.

For screen capture, I knew I wanted something other than Camtasia. It’s not really a Mac or PC thing, I work with both (I do all my audio on PC). Given that I planned on editing on Final Cut at high resolution, I wanted something clean and lean that made it easy for me to get the screens I wanted, with the zoom factor I wanted, etc.

I opted for I Show U HD. It plays nice with Mac and was rock solid. It was a real bonus being able to select from a variety of resolutions and frame rates – I imported all my clips directly to FCP.

Through the process I created rough cuts for the client to review. These I provided to them in Flash Video – using Adobe’s CS4 media encoder. I was then able to load them up on a server for them to grab and review at their convenience. What this meant was that we were able to move through more iterations faster than would have been the case with ‘in person’ reviews.

Once we finalized the copy of flow, I created a ‘finished’ voice track to replace my working tracks. I record all my audio on a Sound Devices 702T through a 422 field mixer. Then I haul the audio into Adobe Audition for editing, and master with T-Racks 24, then haul the mastered files back into Final Cut.

Because BasicGov wanted to take advantage of YouTube’s HD options, everything was captured at 1280 x 720, and the YouTube versions, both regular and HD, looks great. You can see them here:

  • Overview
  • Permits and Inspections
  • Code Enforcement
  • Planning

The team at BasicGov was a real delight to work with, and I hope we’ll do some more projects together soon.

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Filed Under: Blog, Featured, Media, Podcasting, Publishing, Technology, Uncategorized Tagged With: BasicGov, Code Enforcement, Permits and Inspections, Planning

Podcast Example: New Media BC

Podcasts can serve a variety of purposes, so the important thing is to be clear about goals before starting production.

New Media BC is an industry association for new media professionals. Their goal with this podcast was to extend the organization’s  brand, and at the same time, get people excited about the kind of  keynote speakers they attract at their annual conference.

So, in this case, I produced a mini ‘show’ for them, covering a variety of topics meant to highlight NMBC’s personality, its position in the industry, and the kind of guest speakers who’d be at the annual VidFest conference (now called Vancouver Digital Week)

 

click to play

Filed Under: Blog, Media, Podcasting, Publishing Tagged With: kelly zmak, lynda brown, mark pesce, new media bc, podcast, podcasting, radical entertainment

Anthony Bourdain podcast – Part 1

Raincoast Books of Vancouver has always been an innovative company. I was thrilled when (then) digital marketing manager Monique Trottier asked me to help create a series of author podcasts for the company.

Many of the titles we worked on are now with other publishers, but the podcasts still hold up. Enjoy.

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On June 12, 2006, Anthony Bourdain, the best selling author of Kitchen Confidentialand host of the TV show No Reservations, spent a day in Vancouver doing media interviews and bookstore appearances to talk about his new book The Nasty Bits.

He wore a lapel microphone during the entire day, allowing me to record Bourdain’s casual conversation with fans, private moments in the car, and regular interview style questions. It’s Bourdain as you’ve never heard him before.

Part One: Bourdain’s World includes…

Anthony Bourdain’s most surprising questions.

  • How to train for a career in the entertainment business
  • Listener mail
  • Grossest Canadian Food
  • Getting sick from food
  • How Anthony stays trim
  • How to succeed in just about anything you do
  • Advice to would-be culinary school students

Runs: 14:57

http://snitcast.com/raincoast/20060704_rcb_anthony_bourdain.mp3

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Part One |  Part Two | Part Three |

 

 

Filed Under: Blog, Media, Podcasting Tagged With: Anthony Bourdain, podcast, podcasting, Raincoast Books, The Nasty Bits

Anthony Bourdain podcast – Part 2

Raincoast Books of Vancouver has always been an innovative company. I was thrilled when (then) digital marketing manager Monique Trottier asked me to help create a series of author podcasts for the company.

Many of the titles we worked on are now with other publishers, but the podcasts still hold up. Enjoy.

dotted_line_490

On June 12, 2006, Anthony Bourdain, the best selling author of Kitchen Confidentialand host of the TV show No Reservations, spent a day in Vancouver doing media interviews and bookstore appearances to talk about his new book The Nasty Bits.

He wore a lapel microphone during the entire day, allowing me to record Bourdain’s casual conversation with fans, private moments in the car, and regular interview style questions.
Part Two: The Book Signing
8 a.m. at Barbara-Jo’s Books to Cooks in Vancouver

  • Anthony is greeted with a breakfast of champions.
  • Barbara-Jo talks about why she had to have Anthony visit her store.
  • Anthony meets the fans.
  • Anthony gives advice on “must sample” street food vendors in New York City.
  • He talks about who comes to book signings and why.
  • Bourdain just doesn’t seem like your usual kind of cookbook author
  • He reveals the best hidden cooks in New York.
  • And Bourdain talks about turning 50 and why life is like pinball.

runs 12:46

http://snitcast.com/raincoast/20060711_rcb_anthony_bourdain.mp3

 Part One |  Part Two | Part Three |

 

 

Filed Under: Blog, Media, Podcasting Tagged With: Anthony Bourdain, podcast, podcasting, Raincoast Books, The Nasty Bits

Anthony Bourdain podcast – Part 3

Raincoast Books of Vancouver has always been an innovative company. I was thrilled when (then) digital marketing manager Monique Trottier asked me to help create a series of author podcasts for the company.

Many of the titles we worked on are now with other publishers, but the podcasts still hold up. Enjoy.

dotted_line_490

On June 12, 2006, Anthony Bourdain, the best selling author of Kitchen Confidentialand host of the TV show No Reservations, spent a day in Vancouver doing media interviews and bookstore appearances to talk about his new book The Nasty Bits.

He wore a lapel microphone during the entire day, allowing me to record Bourdain’s casual conversation with fans, private moments in the car, and regular interview style questions.

Part Three – Not All Nasty Bits

Anthony Bourdain talks about:

  • What chefs have in common
  • Whether he misses day to day restaurant work
  • What he’s afraid of

Bourdain also discusses:

  • Work ethic
  • The Omelette of Truth
  • Human nature
  • Advice for the fast foodie
  • Pub food
  • Tattoos
  • How he started writing
  • What he’s working on next.

Runs 16:10

http://snitcast.com/raincoast/20060718_rcb_anthony_bourdain.mp3

 Part One |  Part Two | Part Three |

Filed Under: Media, Podcasting Tagged With: Anthony Bourdain, podcast, podcasting, Raincoast Books, The Nasty Bits

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