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Content Creators Who Think Like Marketers.

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The One With Andrew Massarella: The Movie Man

As a Producer at PHC, Andrew is steadfast about making sure our client projects stay on track. This hardworking fella spends a lot of time at PHC and on shoots, but when he's not here and there - you might find this film buff unwinding at a local movie theater.

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We sat down with the guy that literally talks full sentences in movie quotes - to ask about his favorite films - and even about what he wears (or doesn't wear) to the movies. 
What draws you most to movies?
I think my love for movies is rooted in the fact that seeing a movie is a way to kind of escape the real world. Which, is actually pretty ironic, because the movies that I typically gravitate to revolve around the real world - real people, real families, doing real-life things and going through life's highs and lows. I really enjoy seeing characters in circumstances that I don’t typically find myself in, but I could still imagine myself in. 
Quick question - have you ever gone to movies without pants on?
People wear pants to the movie theater?? Asking for a friend.
What are your top 3 movies of all time?
  1. Forrest Gump - My all-time fave. I can watch it in any mood, it’s just the perfect movie. There’s no villain and while a bit hyperbolic, it’s real life.
  2. Little Miss Sunshine - It just has a really great message that covers so much ground - love yourself, treat others how you’d like to be treated, etc. It’s just beautiful.
  3. Almost Famous - This is just such a cool, coming-of-age film. A heartwarming story about a kid that loves rock-n-roll and gets to grow up in one of the coolest settings ever - around a '70s rock band. I could watch it again and again.
What is your favorite movie quote? 
“Sometimes, I guess there just aren’t enough rocks.” - Forrest Gump
I like this quote so much because sometimes, there really aren’t enough rocks. Whether it’s because you’re so happy and there aren’t enough rocks in the world to weigh you down - or sometimes it’s because there aren’t enough rocks to throw - I think it’s just a good metaphor for the peaks and valleys of life.
What movie titles best describe your co-workers at PHC? 
Tim: Top Gun (well he is the top, right?)
Rick: Bicentennial Man (he’s sooo old)
Scott: The Aviator (the man loves planes!)
Lindsey: Her (we probably need more ladies...)
John: Eagle Eye (he’s got a great eye for photography) 
Tony: Halloween (every day is just a countdown to October 31st for him)
Lincoln: The Kid (because he’s the youngest!)
Kirk: Stranger than Fiction (but in the best way possible!)
Joe: Chicago (that’s an easy one)
Andrew: National Treasure (self-explanatory) 
If you could compare yourself to any character in a movie, who would it be?
Joseph Gordon Levitt as Tom Hansen in 500 Days of Summer. Don’t worry, this doesn’t get too depressing, haha. I haven’t had a big traumatic experience like that, but he just reminds me of myself in that, in the back of his mind, he always remains hopeful about life in general.
How has your love of movies impacted your position at PHC?
Movies evoke such an emotional response from people, and it’s been one of the best parts of my job here to understand as a content creator how to evoke those emotional responses and what certain audiences will and won’t respond to. My end goal is make people feel something when they watch the content I help produce. 
How many movies do you watch in a month’s time? 
Ehhh, I probably watch 20 movies per month and go to the theater 3-5 times a month to see new films.
Movie that you’d like to remake?
I would LOVE to make a new Power Rangers movie. I had a huge crush on Kimberly (the pink power ranger), played by Amy Jo Johnson. Call me, Amy.
Maybe you can finally answer the age old question, what does a movie producer do?
Not much, I’ll tell ya that. 
:)
 
 
Friday 08.24.18
Posted by Post House Creative
Comments: 1
 

The One With Kirk Mason: The Documentary Filmmaker

Kirk Mason is a gentleman of many talents. Along with his day job as an Editor for PHC, Kirk has been to more than a dozen countries around the world filming and producing documentary films. (See photos/links below) 

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Kirk has countless stories about these experiences and we’ve all found ourselves laughing - or completely wide-eyed - at the range of tales he has from his adventures through the likes of Nicaragua, Tanzania, Bangladesh, Malawi and more. 

We sat down with Kirk for some insight on what got him started in documentary film making and why he believes it is an avenue for positive change across the world. 

Where did you get your start in documentary filmmaking? 

I grew up making videos with my older brother with my mom’s camcorder. We made action videos and stop motion animation. Later on, when I was studying music at Michigan State University, and wasn’t enjoying it at all - I decided that a major in video & multimedia production would be a little more fitting. I made some friends who helped me realize documentary filmmaking was probably the route I wanted to go because I really liked listening to people and connecting with them. This is where I started to really find that documentaries are such a great platform for communicating the lives and cultures of other people around the world.  The essence of filmmaking is documentary, turning the lense around and examining the essence of humanity. The backbone of filmmaking IS documentary. The technology is different, but the storytelling is the same.

What was your first adventure like as a documentary filmmaker? 

In 2013, I was selected to go on a 2-month around-the-world trip producing short documentaries about different research projects run by the faculty at Michigan State. It was a life-changing experience, to say the least. It was the first time I had been to developing countries, and it was the first time I was exposed to new cultures and new ways of living I had never known about. Some of it was fascinating and some of it was honestly heartbreaking. It gave me a better perspective on what my role as a documentary filmmaker could potentially be and what a career in that realm would look like for me. The impact that I could have through my work seemed without boundaries and I loved that.

Where have you been on these trips and what kind of people have you met?

I’ve been to about a dozen countries around the world, some of them multiple times - including China, Costa Rica, Malawi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Bangladesh, India, Nicaragua, Germany, UK, Ireland and Canada. I’ve made a lot of friends who have been excited to meet someone from a different place. You’re trying to connect with them and show them so much of your culture and learn their culture from them. It’s really cool to be in a position where you can document those specific interactions and even the tiniest - but so relevant - aspects of a culture. The biggest thing I’ve learned is that everyone wants the same thing everywhere - we all want to share food with one another, and we all cook with onions, for someone reason? Haha. And really, we all just want be happy and feel loved. 

What are you learning at PHC that is helping your craft as a documentary filmmaker?

At PHC, I’m learning so much about the technical parts of these productions. Historically, I’ve not been as good with using my tools as a way to enhance the story. Our production team has really been super helpful in showing me new techniques and learning from our overall production processes from shoot to shoot has been super beneficial. I also think working in marketing and communications just helps you understand the psychology of people, because if you can’t effectively communicate a story to an audience, you won’t have a very effective documentary. So learning how to market your message and your story - and what does and does not resonate with some demographics, etc. - has been really interesting to witness and learn.

Here are a couple of Kirk's documentaries: 

Living at the Edge of Climate Change

Enjoki Zahwaho

Below are some of Kirk’s (incredible) photos from the documentary films he has worked on - and the stories behind those photos.

Dhaka, Bangladesh. Taken while crossing Buriganga River, one of the main rivers that runs through the capital city. I was shooting b-roll for a documentary on human organ trafficking, getting shots from around the city. The river is a crowded place, full of boats with families, business men on their way to work, merchants with things to sell and places to be, and any other type of individual you can imagine in a city of 7 million people.

Dhaka, Bangladesh. Taken while crossing Buriganga River, one of the main rivers that runs through the capital city. I was shooting b-roll for a documentary on human organ trafficking, getting shots from around the city. The river is a crowded place, full of boats with families, business men on their way to work, merchants with things to sell and places to be, and any other type of individual you can imagine in a city of 7 million people.

Taken from the back window of a bus making its way through midnight traffic in New Delhi. 

Taken from the back window of a bus making its way through midnight traffic in New Delhi. 

Bigodi village in Kamwenge District, western Uganda. Near the border of Kibale National Park, there is an abundance of sugarcane farms. With a limited market for unprocessed sugarcane, growers have turned to the illegal practice of rudimentary fermentation and distillation of sugarcane juice - dubbing the bootleg concoction waragi. In an effort to pay for their childrens' education and support their family, these farmers and distillers have accidentally brought a tremendous blow to the beekeeping industry, whose bees perish in large numbers while feasting on the fermenting juice. This was taken during the production of a documentary highlighting the issue. The documentary is used by the Uganda Wildlife Authority to sensitize both sugarcane farmers and beekeepers to the issue in an effort to curb illegal production of waragi and provide methods for safer distillation. In this photo, sugarcane growers are using a homemade press to squeeze juice out of the stalks.

Bigodi village in Kamwenge District, western Uganda. Near the border of Kibale National Park, there is an abundance of sugarcane farms. With a limited market for unprocessed sugarcane, growers have turned to the illegal practice of rudimentary fermentation and distillation of sugarcane juice - dubbing the bootleg concoction waragi. In an effort to pay for their childrens' education and support their family, these farmers and distillers have accidentally brought a tremendous blow to the beekeeping industry, whose bees perish in large numbers while feasting on the fermenting juice. This was taken during the production of a documentary highlighting the issue. The documentary is used by the Uganda Wildlife Authority to sensitize both sugarcane farmers and beekeepers to the issue in an effort to curb illegal production of waragi and provide methods for safer distillation. In this photo, sugarcane growers are using a homemade press to squeeze juice out of the stalks.

Taken near Dedza, Malawi, on the border of Mozambique. The costumed person is a member of Nyau, a secret society of Chewa people that pass along indigenous cultural ways and traditional cosmology. The Nyau never spoke, but did a cool dance when prompted by my Malawian friend, Hastings. Also, note the first ever (hearty) beard attempt documented in my life.

Taken near Dedza, Malawi, on the border of Mozambique. The costumed person is a member of Nyau, a secret society of Chewa people that pass along indigenous cultural ways and traditional cosmology. The Nyau never spoke, but did a cool dance when prompted by my Malawian friend, Hastings. Also, note the first ever (hearty) beard attempt documented in my life.

A group of American/Canadian beekeepers exploring an Africanized Honeybee colony on a coffee plantation near Chocoyero Nature Reserve in Masaya, Nicaragua. I was a photographer for Nicabeja Proyecto (Nicaragua Bee Project), a farmer-to-farmer style program in which American and Canadian beekeepers spend two weeks traveling to a dozen farms/co-ops/beekeeping operations to learn about keeping Africanized Honeybees (killer bees), while also imparting best management practices from research institutions in the US. Young Nicaraguan beekeepers participate in the trip as well, obtaining mentorship from experienced beekeepers and making plenty of new friends in the process :)

A group of American/Canadian beekeepers exploring an Africanized Honeybee colony on a coffee plantation near Chocoyero Nature Reserve in Masaya, Nicaragua. I was a photographer for Nicabeja Proyecto (Nicaragua Bee Project), a farmer-to-farmer style program in which American and Canadian beekeepers spend two weeks traveling to a dozen farms/co-ops/beekeeping operations to learn about keeping Africanized Honeybees (killer bees), while also imparting best management practices from research institutions in the US. Young Nicaraguan beekeepers participate in the trip as well, obtaining mentorship from experienced beekeepers and making plenty of new friends in the process :)

A field of yellow onions at Crybaby Onions in Elba, NY. Allium Cepa are an incredible plant, whose reign spans the globe and has co-evolved with humans as a staple of human diet for thousands of years. The average American eats approximately 21.9 pounds of onions. I'm making a documentary about the humble onion, in which I hope to include vignettes of our relationships to onions. I want to paint a vivid vegetable portrait of our collective love for this universal plant and how it has affected our human story throughout time.

A field of yellow onions at Crybaby Onions in Elba, NY. Allium Cepa are an incredible plant, whose reign spans the globe and has co-evolved with humans as a staple of human diet for thousands of years. The average American eats approximately 21.9 pounds of onions. I'm making a documentary about the humble onion, in which I hope to include vignettes of our relationships to onions. I want to paint a vivid vegetable portrait of our collective love for this universal plant and how it has affected our human story throughout time.

 

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Thursday 08.09.18
Posted by Post House Creative
Comments: 1
 

The One With The Boss Man's Birthday

Our fearless leader turns another year older today - so we sat down with him to get you the skinny on the man behind that epic beard.

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Hey Tim, what’s your favorite..... 

Word: “Opportunity” - It’s everywhere. 

Food: Chicken. You can barbeque it, boil it, broil it, bake it, sauteé it. There’s uh, chicken-kabobs, roasted chicken, chicken nugs – all kinds of chicken.

Ice Cream Flavor: Black Cherry Chocolate Chip. Mmmmm.

Film: The Empire Strikes Back – I literally wore the VHS tape out. I also love Fight Club – but I won’t talk about why - because the first rule in fight club.... is not to talk about fight club.

Color: Black. It never goes out of style.

App: Spotify – streamin’ and dreamin’.  

Columbus Restaurant: Lindey's – best patio in the city.

Columbus Event: Blue Jackets Opening Night.... Is it October yet?

Commercial: Nike Move - I mean, it’s just pretty great.

Celebrity: J.J. Abrams – because he gave all of us nerds a King.

Holiday: Christmas – I don’t know if you know, but it’s the most wonderful time of the year!

Age: 33 was a good year. Hoping this one will be, too.

Band: Foo Fighters – Dave Grohl is the man. He has this awesome quote, too – “That’s one of the greatest things about music. You can sing a song to 85,000 people and they’ll sing it back for 85,000 different reasons.” I’ve just always loved that.

Game-Changer Moment: When my girls were born. Pretty much the best thing ever.

Advice: Be the person you needed when you were younger. – a very wise person

Quote: “Don’t count the days, make the days count!”

Place in The World: Wherever my girls are.

 

HBD, TIM! We think you're pretty great. - Your Team
Monday 09.18.17
Posted by Post House Creative
Comments: 1
 
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Content Creators Who Think Like Marketers.