Total Media Group What's New

Designing the Neil Young Archives - Article in Creative Cow.com

/ August 19th, 2009

-Megan McKenna
Total Media Group and Creative Director Toshi Onuki were recently highlighted in a 6-page article for Creative Cow Magazine - a popular industry “go-to” magazine for resources, tips, and to learn about the technology that shapes our world of communications.

The article mainly focus’ on the nuts and bolts; how the project came to be, and ultimately, how it was managed by a project standpoint (how did we manage over 3,000 assets?). It’s a pretty interesting read (if I may say so myself. I ended up writing it). It was great to step back and look at the project from a birds-eye view, and really nice to sit with Toshi and just talk about the experience. Toshi has some great viewpoints that I rarely get to hear.

The online article is not as pretty as the magazine spread…….but there is far more information contained in the online version. Go figure. I’m thinking of the beauty and the image of the darn thing…..

http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/designing-the-neil-young-archives

If you would like to see the magazine spread, you can download the 6MB file here - just select the “Download Read Friendly Spread”.

http://magazine.creativecow.net/issue/heavy-lifting

Documentary well received by Stony Brook Film Festival

Total Media Group / July 27th, 2009

- Aldo Panattoni

Life is a Banquet: The Rosalind Russell Story had it’s world premier on Sunday, July 26 at the Stony Brook Film Festival. The house was packed and anticipaton was high as the lights dimmed. The film looked and sounded amazing on the Staller Center’s huge screen. The audience laughed and cried at all the right times and erupted into thunderous applause as the credits rolled.

In attendance beside myself were writer and director Jonathan Gruber and Rosalee Russell Renfrow, Rosalind’s niece who was also interviewed in the film. Rosalee viewed the film for the very first time and she was quite moved by it.

After the film the 3 of us took questions from the audience. Jonathan was asked about his decision to have Russell herself narrate the film, as portrayed by Academy Award winner Kathleen Turner. Jonathan replied that he dislikes the traditional narration usually used in documentaries, so he decided he would have Russell tell her story in her own words.

After nearly 3 years in production, it was very gratifying to finally screen the film before a live audience. By their experience their response, I think we have a winner! Look for it on PBS in the fall!

http://www.rosalindrussell.com/

Total Media Group Creates Participatory Universe Within Neil Young Archives Vol. 1

Total Media Group completes work on the Neil Young Archives / June 4th, 2009

For Immediate Release

Contact: Megan McKenna

megan@totalmediagroup.com

650-583-8236

Neil Young’s Life “Outside the Box”

Total Media Group creates truly participatory user

universe within Neil Young Archives Vol. 1 1963-1972

South San Francisco, CA - June 4, 2009 — Total Media Group (TMG) today announced and detailed their creative services and technical involvement in the recently released and groundbreaking Neil Young Archives. Previously untapped, TMG pushed the creative edges of the Blu-ray and BD Live technology revealing an unprecedented participatory user experience that “will change how bands present their history and how fans experience art.”

Unparalleled to date, TMG’s creative interface design and architectural structure is a completely fresh approach. This creative work brings new levels of interactivity and a one-on-one experience that was essential to capture the depth, breadth and vision of Neil Young and his life.

“People have spoken about the scope of this Archives as literally putting Neil Young’s life in a box” said Toshi Onuki, Creative Director, Total Media Group. “But, in truth, we bring Neil’s life out of the box, and allow the listener to explore and experience it. We pushed the creative boundaries in hardware and software in new ways to capture the essence and detail of the expansive universe of Neil’s life and work.”

Neil Young and Archives Producer, L.A. Johnson of Shakey Pictures engaged TMG for this project over 4 years ago. Handing them a wealth of music, manuscripts, never before seen sketches and clippings, they challenged Toshi Onuki and TMG to design, manage and organize an outside the box absorptive and interactive interface that would showcase the amazing content, and leverage Blu-ray technology.

Utilizing a myriad of tools TMG designed the entire look of the Archives to compliment the dynamic demands of the long-awaited project. By using an old style file cabinet as the main concept, TMG designed an interface that is artistic and functional, invites participation, encourages exploration, and even creates a sense of discovery.

In all, the Archives have over 13 hours of video content and more than 3000 menus – carefully crafted by Total Media Group using original elements from Young’s personal collection.

Through the design, TMG was able to fundamentally affect how users interact with the Archive. It is this functionality, created specifically for the Neil Young Archives, which has met with universal acclaim and broken new ground. With the deepest creative implementation to date on these platforms, TMG has created a new and unique archival organization, architecture and navigation for Neil Young that has set a “…precedent that may be impossible to top.”

About Total Media Group

Total Media Group is a creative management and media communications company utilizing state-of-the-art technology, proven best practices and cutting edge innovation. TMG produces mission critical marketing, entertainment, music, documentary, training, commercial, and multi-media and event experiences innovating with the latest technology while relying on over 30-years of expertise and excellence.

Total Media Group provides inception to delivery support with a full compliment of in-house production, design and post-production capabilities. The staff consists of creative development experts, writers, designers, production, post-production, and administrative teams.

www.totalmediagroup.com

About the Neil Young Archives Vol. 1 1963-1972

The Neil Young Archives Vol.1 is the first in a series of archives produced by Neil Young himself. The Blu-ray and DVD editions are sold in a durable custom display box that houses a lavish 236-page full-color hardbound book that features additional archival materials, tapes database, and detailed descriptions of the music and artwork; a foldout Archives poster, a custom keeper for the 10 sleeved discs, and more.

The archives have been long awaited by fans. Neil Young has delayed the release for decades while waiting for the technology to catch up with his vision. “Previously, there was no way to browse archival material on a Disc and listen to a song in high resolution at the same time,” said Young. “It is important for me that the user experience the high resolution music along with the archival visual material. Previous technology required unacceptable compromises in quality and access. I am glad we waited and got it right.”

Audio in the Blu-ray edition is presented in 24-bit/192 kHz stereo PCM, the highest available resolution today, while audio in the DVD edition is presented in 24-bit / 96 kHz stereo PCM audiophile quality sound. Each of the 10 Blu-ray discs feature 1920×1080 high definition picture quality while the 10 DVD discs have 720×480 standard definition picture quality. The CD edition is sold in a custom disc keeper for the 8 sleeved discs and descriptive booklet. Blu-ray offers BD-Live and the highest quality audio. It is the preferred format for the Neil Young Archive.

http://www.neilyoung.com/archives/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgSpVU50-m4

Production Credits:

Directed by Bernard Shakey

Executive Producer: Elliot Roberts

Producer: L.A. Johnson

Associate Producer: Will Mitchell

DVD & Blu-ray Art Direction: Toshi Onuki

Graphic Design and Post Production by Total Media Group

Edited by Toshi Onuki

Poster design: Toshi Onuki

Archivist: Joel Bernstein

DVD Author: Rich Winter

Blu-ray author: MX Entertainment

http://www.mx-production.com/

Stryker Corporate Branding Video – June 2009

Total Media Group Produces New Corporate Branding Video for Stryker Corporation. / June 2nd, 2009

Total Media Group is wrapping production of a corporate brand identity video for the Stryker Corporation, headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

The video introduces the new brand identity to Stryker employees and customers worldwide and will be distributed in multiple formats and featured on the company website.

Shot entirely in HD (High Definition) in Hong Kong, London, New Jersey and California over two weeks in April, the video features several stories of actual Stryker employees and customers, highlighting Stryker’s focus on patient care, customer relations and support of its employees.

Stryker Corporation is the worlds leading manufacturer and seller of medical devices, with offices globally.

With all post-production conducted at Total Media Group’s South San Francisco, Ca studios, the video was produced by Jonathon Gruber and directed and edited by Atticus Culver-Reese.

Salix Video Game – June 2009

Total Media Group Completes Development of an Original Video Game. / June 2nd, 2009

Total Media Group just finished development and production of an original video game for Salix Pharmaceuticals.

The game, designed in the Nintendo Wii style, is a baseball Home Run Derby, where the player swings the controller at pitches, trying to hit a home run, with the number and distance of hits recorded as the score.

Salix Pharmaceuticals commissioned Total Media Group to develop the game to attract visitors to it’s booth at national tradeshows. The game environment features Salix’s product logos and branding. Salix is one of the leading gastro-intestinal drug manufacturing and sales companies in the United States.

Kris Kunz was creative director and producer of the project for Total Media Group.

Total Media Group Records the “Banking on Life” Conference for Cord Blood Registry

“Banking on Life” Conference / May 2nd, 2009

Total Media Group provided video production services for Cord Blood Registry, under the direction of Christine McMurry, Director of Communications. The medical conference “Banking on Life” was sponsored by Cord Blood Registry and the Center for Bioethics & Culture Network. The event, held in Burlingame, California was highlighted by the appearance of Congresswoman Jackie Speier, a longtime advocate of women and children’s health. Speier represents California’s 12th district, known as the birthplace of biochemistry.
Cord Blood Registry offers services to collect and store cord blood, the blood remaining in the baby’s umbilical cord after the cord has been severed. Doctors have discovered that cord blood is a rich source of unique stem cells and can be used in various medical treatments for conditions such as brain injuries and juvenile diabetes.

Shingo Kohara was the director of photography and Tony Jensen the audio technician for Total Media Group.

Photo captions:
Congresswoman Jackie Speier at “Banking on Life” (top)
Speier talks to Emma Jabs and Chloe Levine, children benefiting from cord blood (bottom)

Fortune 100 Incentive Program – April 2009

Total Media Group Completes Production on Awards Banquets in Cancun, Mexico. / April 2nd, 2009

Total Media Group wrapped production for the 2 night awards recognition and banquet for a multi-company incentive program at the JW Marriott in Cancun this April.

The event was part of a sales incentive reward program for the top 5% of sales representatives for 7 pharmaceuticals companies that are under the umbrella of the parent company, a world-renowned Fortune 100 health and life sciences corporation.

Total Media Group provided the set and scenic design, the live entertainment and all staging and production for the awards recognition evenings, the center-piece of the two week event, featuring two waves of companies.

Chris Carleson was executive producer for Total Media Group, with Carole Deutch as producer and Orla Cunnigham as coordinating producer. Tom Strahan provided set and scenic design.

“Life is a Banquet”

The Story of Academy Award Winning Hollywood Legend, Rosalind Russell. / April 2nd, 2009

Total Media Group recently unveiled its originally produced 60-minute documentary, “Life is a Banquet” , the story of Academy Award winning Hollywood legend, Rosalind Russell.

Sassy, classy and brassy, the raven-haired Russell entranced audiences as a no-nonsense newspaper reporter in 1940’s “His Girl Friday” (with leading man Cary Grant), and in the Broadway production and the film of “Auntie Mame”, making the title character her signature role.

“Life is a Banquet” uses rare home movie footage, clips from her 30 year career and interviews with various colleagues friends and luminaries to tell the story of this gifted star and generous philanthropist. The film is narrated by Academy Award-winning actress Kathleen Turner, and features interviews with Tom Brokaw, Tina Sinatra, Haley Mills, famed designer James Galanos and a host of others.

The film’s world premiere will be at the Stony Brook Film Festival (New York) in July, 2009, followed by the Rhode Island International Film Festival in August, 2009. The national broadcast premier will be on PBS in the fall of 2009.

On October 8, a gala screening benefiting the Rosalind Russell Center for Arthritis Research will be held in San Francisco. Kathleen Turner will be on hand to speak at the benefit. The center was founded by Ms. Russell in the 1970s.

The film was produced entirely by Total Media Group. Jonathon Gruber produced and directed for TMG. Executive Producer was Aldo Panattoni. Offline Editor, Atticus-Culver Reese. Online Smoke Editor, Toshi Onuki.

Funding for the project was provided by the Bob and Connie Lurie Foundation.

Special Presentation at the Blu-ray Disc Association Meeting

Neil Young Archives Vol. 1 / March 1st, 2009

Total Media Group Creative Director Toshi Onuki and Neil Young’s Shakey Pictures were invited to introduce the highlights of Neil Young’s “Archives Vol. 1 1963-1972” at the Blu-ray Disc Association annual meeting in Los Angeles in March.

Creative Director for the project, Toshi Onuki, and Ole Lütjens engineer for MX Entertainment presented on behalf of Shakey Pictures at the general assembly. Onuki shared why he and Mr. Young determined that Blu-ray is the perfect format for showcasing Neil’s archives. The 10-disc set spotlights such technology as 24bit/192kHz stereo PCM audio and the ability to browse photos and documents while listening to the music—arguably the most coveted feature. “We wanted to preserve the ambience of the analog era and designed visual imagery to compliment it. The music comes first and visuals should not distract listeners,” Onuki said. Lütjens explained the technical side of production, demonstrating BD-Live™, which enables users to download additional content to their players or to external drives. Lütjens shared how hundreds of encoding tests were performed in order to accommodate the super high quality audio along with 1920 x 1080 HD resolution videos.

Shakey Pictures and Total Media Group worked over three years sorting through the massive amount of archive material used to create the menu design and page structure under the guidance of Neil Young and his executive producer, L.A. Johnson. The team first revealed a preview of the project at the Sun Microsystems JavaOne Conference in May 2008. Sun Microsystems develops Java, Blu-ray’s programming language.

The 10-Blu-ray disc set includes 128 tracks, 43 unreleased recordings, three live concerts, the feature film Journey Through the Past, and a 236-page full-color hardcover book. The set is also available in DVD (24-bit/96kHz stereo PCM audio, 720×480 SD video) and in CD (16bit/44kHz stereo PCM audio). The album is scheduled to hit stores on June 2 nd, 2009. Pre-order price of Blu-ray is $299.99, standard DVD set is $199.99 and the CD set is $99.

BDA is the industry consortium that develops and licenses Blu-ray disc technology. The organization is responsible for establishing format standards and promoting business opportunities for Blu-ray development. Member companies include Apple, Panasonic, Samsung, Sony, Sun Microsystems, Walt Disney and Warner Brothers.

More information about the Neil Young Archives is here.

Chicago Sun Times: SXSW 2009: Neil Young’s archives, finally here and absolutely amazing!

Rolling Stone: Neil Young’s “Archives Vol. 1″ Set for Release June 2nd 2009.

Barrx Medical National Sales Meeting 2009

Total Media Group Produces Barrx National Sales Meeting 2009. / February 2nd, 2009

Total Media Group (TMG) produced the Barrx Medical National Sales Meeting at Marco Island, FLA, in February, 2009.

TMG provided creative development and produced the meetings Opening Video, general session and breakout staging and closing candids presentation.

For Total Media Group, Chris Carleson was executive producer, Terry Lee program producer, and Kris Kunz video designer and editor.

What's New