Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/110591
relevant social media platform for post production and the film industry. I have been on Twitter since 2007, and for some reason it has a good core of post — there are a lot of knowledgeable and great people, which is hard to find in a lot of communities. I've met a lot of people that resulted from random conversations started on Twitter." MacLean calls Twitter a 24/7 cocktail party. "It never ends, and that's why I like it. You can talk about business, random stuff; it's a catchall for whatever it is you want to talk about. For us that's DI, color and post. It's also a great way for vendors to see what people say about software when people aren't being paid to talk about software." Colorflow (@colorflowpost) is using Twitter to promote its projects and services. "It's a good way to let people know what's going on and, at the same time, engage with potential clients and peers from other post facilities." They also share Website links to other facilities in the Bay Area. The more people know about the film industry in Northern California, the best for the community in general, he says. In terms of other social media platforms, Colorflow uses Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram and FourSquare. "Twitter is about engaging people about post, while Facebook involves more general things, like photos. But we keep it more business-like than Twitter. Tumblr is essentially a blog that people can 're-blog,' and ours is a bit goofy. We will put up pictures of people stopping by, photos of the new espresso machine. Fun stuff like that." The studio is also on FourSquare, and clients can check in when they arrive. Colorflow will also host events and parties, and guests can check in on FourSquare for a beer. They also have a company page on FourSquare and are building a favorite restaurant page, so when clients come in from out of town they have a healthy list of endorsed places to visit. Colorflow will use Instagram as a way to promote its work, by posting graded stills from a film or commercial. "Instagram is working really well for photographers and people in other parts of the industry. I haven't seen anyone use it yet in post production," reports MacLean. "We will use it mostly just to post a still to tease something." Regardless of the platform, Colorflow's overarching social mission is to get the word out that they aren't a "big iron facility," sums up MacLean. "We have a different mentality. We offer a lot of those services, but mainly we partner with clients through the entire project." POSTHOUSE PICTURES Posthouse Pictures' Kevin Otterness (@ KevinOtterness) is an industry vet who after working in public access television, news and corporate post, decided to put his fate and creativity into his own hands. In 2003, he went out on his own and opened a Chicagobased production company that services everything from concept to previs to post. "I always wanted to do my own thing — I've directed, shot and edited, and I was getting bored with the corporate end of the business. I wanted to get out there and do what I was meant to do." In addition to freelancing for other companies, Otterness, who ramps up with staff depending on the project, started producing his own content and buying scripts to produce as well. "I have just been pushing forward to make things happen and getting my name and Posthouse Pictures' name out there." That's where social media comes in. Currently, along with his blog, Otterness' efforts are mainly focused on Facebook and Twitter. So much so that he is currently using these two platforms, particularly Facebook, as an alternative to a traditional Website. He likes the kind of connections that can be made on Twitter and Facebook; he also finds the immediate feedback a plus. "Much more so than an official Website," he explains. "People want to know they can communicate directly, and Twitter and Facebook allow you to do that. It's a way to interact and let people know about the services I provide, and it allows me to promote my own projects, whether it's a doc, short film or music video." Otterness feels that he can be much more proactive with his message via Facebook (find him by searching for Posthouse Pictures) as compared to a Website that people have to actively look for. "If you have a business page on Facebook, it's like an instantly updated blog that's being delivered to other's newsfeeds immediately. I have a lot of likes, and people will often message me and ask questions." He also finds the analytics that come with having a Facebook company page incredibly helpful. "It allows me to keep track of how many people have viewed my post, and it gives statistics on who has viewed it." That feedback lets Otterness know what types of stories people like best, and he points to a piece he put up that included pictures of different gear he used on a recent project. It became his most viewed article to date. "I now know what people are drawn to, what they want to see more of, and I can react instantly." When Otterness first joined Twitter, he was going to put the account under Posthouse Pictures, but quickly realized that followers enjoyed talking to a person as opposed to a company. In addition to using Twitter as a way of self promotion, Otterness enjoys learning from others as well, and has been joining in on Twitter's Wednesday night @postchat. "It's a great way to network and gain more followers, and you're talking to people who are in the business, and if you have questions regarding software or camera gear, you can get those answers. I find it very useful." If you follow or like Otterness and Posthouse Pictures, you'll see updates on the company's most recent project, which is now in post: a behind-the-scenes doc about making an indie film. He followed the production of Call Me Crazy, a very low-budget indie directed by Adam Orton, and shot over four days. "It was a great opportunity to show the independent, or aspiring, filmmakers that you don't need these big cameras and big crews to shoot something good, as long as you have a good story to tell." www.postmagazine.com Post0213_022-25-social mediaRAV5finalread.indd 25 Kevin Otterness from Posthouse Pictures: using Facebook and Twitter as a Website alternative. Post • February 2013 25 1/24/13 10:44 AM