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Dec 09

In a November staff meeting, the fig team sat around and discussed new ideas for expanding projects and running holiday deals. Enter, the holiday video card. That evening, using twelve dollars and their studio at fig east- the team bought antlers and director Melissa Martens grabbed employees and asked them to sing Rodolph the Red Nosed Reindeer to the best of their ability. Using Go Green and Skip the Card. as the tag line- the holiday e-card became an instant hit.

“What we did not realize was just how sticky the idea would be. Once the video launched we saw a jump in views from 10 views to 350 in a matter of 24 hours. The idea was covered in BizBash as one of the top 10 best last minute holiday ideas and the requests started coming in,” Melissa said, “What started as a fun spontaneous morning meeting idea, has turned into an exciting new product that we have tons of fun filming.One of our corporate clients raved about the idea saying that it saved her so much time and money coordinating and signing over 5,000 holiday cards in a few weeks. She traded the hassle of blisters on her fingers and stamp licking for directing her staff in a rendition of “let is snow.” In one afternoon she got all she needed and we did the rest.Now they have a hilarious living video greeting to send to all their clients and friends.”

The newly engaged dynamic duo Andrew and Nicole posted their card on their social networks and watched the fun as it spread to family, friends, co-workers and even ended up in a corporations newsletter.

The requests and shoots keep pouring in for the idea, and as it gets closer to Christmas and new years we are finding people are eager to gobble up the opportunity to save some time and star in their own video. Fig plans on keeping the fun going, developing new ideas for custom video e-cards in the future, so keep an eye out.

For now you can book your holiday card shoot with fig, as a gift for someone, for yourself, for your company or even for next year by going here: BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY CARD! Time is running out, and next week is filling up with shoots-so get in early to lock in your shoot date.

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Dec 01

by megan taylor

Although I am not married, engaged, or really even close to my own wedding, I still can’t resist reading up on the latest styles and trends with weddings. I also like to stay on top of what is happening so I can better connect and consult with all of my brides and grooms. This year I really found the best way to do this, was to read and follow blogs. Here are a few blogs I found to be the best:
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1. http://www.stylemepretty.com/
This blog is always staying fresh and talk about everything from beautiful reception shoes to do it yourself ideas to amazing vendors to hire. The photographs are beautiful and inspiring, and you can really find a range of weddings from all different styles.
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2. http://weddingsunveiledblog.blogspot.com/
This online magazine reflects many styles from the Southern wedding. A great place to get inspiration for your photography.
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3. http://offbeatbride.com/
Not always the most tasteful weddings in my opinion, but a fun read. Come on they have a link called wedding porn.
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4. http://tenthousandonly.blogspot.com/
A great blog with cute ideas that don’t hurt the pocket.
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5. http://bklynbrideonline.com/
Nope we aren’t in NYC, but we travel. Always inspired by the events and photos featured on this Brooklyn blog.
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6. http://www.trendsettingwedding.com/
A fun blog that features Chicago weddings.
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7. http://www.bride-buzz.com/
A soon to be awesome blog launching January 2010!!

Getting married in 2010? Check out fig weddings for all things deejay, film and photography.

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www.figweddings.net

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Nov 03
NOMI ad in the most recent CS Magazine – shot by brian carey, produced by billy rood.  With Victoria Secret model Miranda Kerr.

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Nov 02

120 Connect: Episode 4, Viral Wedding Videos from Fig Media on Vimeo.

Blog entry from 120 Connect:

“Everyone is discussing: What is viral video? What makes things go viral?

Some of the widest circulated videos are uploaded by you. They get passed around because they are funny, shocking, moving or clever. So when creating something that you want to go viral, follow this rule:

If you want to watch it over and over, send it to all of your friends and so on…then you are onto something. If you don’t like it…it won’t get passed around.

In this episode, James Gustin and Melissa Martens explore this topic using their favorite viral wedding videos.

Why wedding videos?

James started his company, fig media, 15 years ago with wife Michele Gustin. They operated out of their apartment deejaying and documenting weddings. Their vision on documenting the American wedding was unique in the industry at the time. They focused on telling great stories through getting to know their couples and their families, telling the story of the day through documentary style cinematography. This was years before the trend started to catch fire. Today fig media has a team of film makers, deejays and photographers delivering this same vision, using weddings as a way to develop themselves as artists. Together they are developing the fig films brand to further their mission of telling great stories. fig holds the art of documenting a wedding as an honor, documenting and making films for families that will live on for generations. Being passionate about this mission, the film team is always looking at what couples are doing with their videos…and it just so happened that these wedding videos were starting to get notice from 23 million people…so being curious fig wanted to dig into why.

So we have included the videos below for your viewing pleasure. Post your favorite viral video in the comment box!

Recently one of these clips show up on the ABC tv show Flash Forward, kudos to you if you can figure out which one.

Check back next week when Kevin returns to talk about how companies are using social media to create a new type of website…you won’t want to miss this, its super cool!”

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Oct 27

Fashion Focus wrapped up on Sunday October 25th and ended a long weekend beginning on Thursday night.  From exclusive backstage coverage, fashion shows featuring designers from students to up-and-coming – everything was about fashion.

figphoto photographers & videographers covered the shows and backstage during Fashion Focus Chicago! Check out photo galleries, & videos.  You can also view the coverage on factio magazine, chicago reader, chicago magazine, Style Admirer, & More.  Make sure you check out the videos done by billy rood on vimeo!

Macys Fashion Show- VIDEO -

Abigail Glaum Lathbury Fashion ShowVIDEO -

Dress Code Fashion ShowVIDEO -

Horacio Nieto Fashion ShowVIDEO -

Elise Bergman Fashion Presentation - VIDEO -

GenART Behind the Scenes & Fashion Focus ShowVIDEO -

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Oct 23

If you missed it, or were rained in…we were there to cover both video & photo for the headlining fashion shows.  Macy’s Designers of Chicago & Abigail Glaum-Lathbury for Fashion Focus.  Macy’s presented the next great American designers in a runway exclusive.  The presentation featured some of the names-you-need-to-know from Chicago’s design community and the 2009 Chicago Fashion Incubator Designers-in-Residence.  If you missed it, no worries.  Macy’s will carry some of their lines at Macy’s on State Street.

Abigail Glaum-Lathbury’s Spring 2010 collection was held in the west loop at Prairie Productions.  A very modern and conceptual collection Abigail’s show was a breath of fresh air from the formal presentation.  Guests were seated on planks of wood and blown up plastic cushions.  Her show really reflected how she plays with the ideas of identity and sameness in a show that shifted the relationship between the audience and model.

PHOTOS BY billy rood & melissa martens

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Oct 22

Fashion Designer Catherine Furio and Parker Manis of the Chicago Incubator Program gave us a call one day to create their lookbook for their Spring/Summer 2010 Collection. billy rood and his team of Tim Musho and assistants also created this video as a teaser to the collection. It finally launched Oct. 21 on furioapparel.com. Make sure you check it out to get a first hand look at the Furio Collection!

Furio Collection

You can also view the video here:

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Oct 22

Some shots from opening night of Chicago Fashion Focus week, @ 900 N. Michigan Ave BOOM…taken w/ my g10.  I was only able to attend for a bit but I also hit up NOMI for some “designer drink” after parties and CUVEE.  Make sure to check back daily for more updates with photo/video of our coverage!

-by billy rood

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Oct 14

This week on glossed and found, the fig films team and Graham Kostic interview the one, the only.

Miss Piggy!

Check it out:

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Oct 07

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