The older I get and as more time goes by, I realize just how much there is to know in this world. And then, it dawns on me. When I really start to think about it, even in a lifetime, there is no way that any human being could even come close to being all knowing and all seeing. And this applies to music as well. So when I was called upon to assist with another music video shoot for HNM, even at my age, I was about to learn about another genre of music. Imagine that!? And being such a music aficionado, I, in my naïveté, thought I’d heard about every kind of music known to man….in existence! But, no….. Even as music serves as my constant companion and ubiquitous soundtrack as I move through my habitual routines – at work, in my daily commute and, sometimes, even in my sleep, I found yet another genre to add to my book of knowledge. Now did I ever hear this kind of music before? Well, sure….in its various forms. I’ve heard it in it’s subtle origins and in separating its elements, I’ve detected it in its punk and folk music roots, but if you came to me and asked me if I ever heard about Oi! music prior to last Saturday, I would have said “Excuse me….?” As fate would have it, I would soon have my introduction to Oi! music and, hence, she would come in a sweet and petite package better known as Jenny Woo.

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It’s been a few months since Apple launched the Mac App Store as a central repository for applications on OSX. I’ve been playing with it a bit, trying to figure out just why we needed an App Store on the Mac when installing software is so easy (99% of the time you just drag it to your applications folder).

First things first, let’s be clear; The REAL motivation here is Apple wants a cut of the profits. If a developer creates an app and sells it on their website, they get 100% of the profit. If they sell it in the App Store, Apple gets a nice cut, and the developer only gets a portion. Apple is clearly positioning themselves as a distributer of applications, and trying to make a healthy profit from it.

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HNM was at it again, shooting yet another music video and this time, it was at a location known as 34 ½. Why 34 ½, you ask? Have you ever heard of these kinds of addresses before? I have, but only in recent times on television when you see them featuring shows in really obscure places, like little neighbourhoods tucked away in the back alleys of New York City.  So when Andy e-mailed me with the location details of the next video shoot, I’ll admit that this address itself held a certain amount of intrigue and wonder for me. Although I am intimately acquainted with Ottawa and the surrounding area, I’ll admit that this area was one of those streets where I have had, previously, little reason to be. So, armed with my Mapquest directions and my camera, I ventured out, in minus 30 weather I may add, to find this place on a Sunday morning. And to tell you the truth, it was one of those mornings where I really wished that I had nothing to do but stay in my warm and comfy bed, cuddled up with my husband and the pups – my idea of the best way to victoriously run the meter out on this dreadfully cold day – on my terms. But duty was calling me and I was excited about this next HNM project. And, I had to remind myself of another reason to be grateful – it was going to be a great day because the sun was actually making an appearance, which was something that we had not previously enjoyed for what seemed like weeks on end on this particular round of Winter. So off I went on my little Sunday adventure….

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Greetings folks!   Happy New Year to all!

We hope that everyone enjoyed their holiday season, celebrating with family and friends. With the past year now in the memory books and another exciting year upon us, the Hotcakes New Media team met 2011 with yet another new and unique challenge. It was decided that, upon hearing about the 72 Hour Film Challenge sponsored by the Ottawa International Film Festival (OIFF), HNM was ready to have a little fun outside of our current work projects. So shortly after we were armed with a set of criteria supplied to us by the OIFF organizers regarding the challenge on a Thursday night at the Lieutenant’s Pump on Elgin Street, we headed off to our downtown location to do a little brainstorming.

So what is the 72 Hour Film Challenge, you ask? It’s quite simple really. We had exactly 72 hours from the receipt of the challenge criteria to conceive and deliver a film short into the hands of the OIFF team. This means that we had to line up a story, actors, locations, shoot the film, do post production and deliver the final cut to the festival organizers using specific elements and requirements. Having done a Google search about past challenges, we were aware that the OIFF organizers make this challenge particularly interesting by including very unusual elements to ensure original content and to really make participants exercise their creative muscle. But the timeline for completing this sort of project was certainly going to separate those who crack under pressure from those who perform optimally under tight deadlines.

So what were they looking for exactly?

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Choosing the right CMS is always a gamble; I either run the risk of choosing a big all-in-one CMS that confuses my clients, or I choose a smaller, newer CMS and discover its flaws on a live site. It’s a bit like the Mac guy vs PC guy ads… A big CMS like Drupal is PC; It has so many features that it just confuses users, but it’s great at getting mundane work done. The smaller CMS like Firerift is Mac; Easy to use, fresh, and cutting edge, but maybe a little wild at times.

Making the decision to go with “the little guy” is not a position I like to put myself in, but sometimes it’s a necessary risk.

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About the Music Soup DVD

Enjoy a hearty helping of Jen Gould LIVE in concert at Arts Court. This DVD is a bowlful of fun for your little ones, ages 2 to 8.

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I am proud to announce that Hotcakes New Media has been selected to create the new fundraising experience for leading non-profit organization CUSO-VSO’s newest campaign called “Volunteers for the World”. We will be responsible for all branding and visual imagery, website design and implementation, and Artez fundraising customization, with the possibility of extending into additional work with video, social media and traditional advertising. As a multi-faceted project, Hotcakes New Media will have the opportunity to showcase its strength in providing all creative services in-house under one group vision.

About CUSO-VSO

CUSO-VSO is a non-profit development agency that works through volunteers. They are a member of the VSO International Federation.

Each year, they send hundreds of global citizens to work on collaborative development projects in more than 40 countries in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Latin America, and the Caribbean. They are one of North America’s leading international development organizations that works through volunteers.

CUSO-VSO volunteers work at the crossroads between hope and hardship. They place people of all ages who have the professional experience, hands-on know-how and perspectives needed to work in partnership with organizations working to overcome poverty and disadvantage in more than 40 developing countries.

Creativity for a cause

Hotcakes New Media is honoured to have been selected for this contract and everyone at Hotcakes is excited to begin this incredible project. We are extremely proud to be working with CUSO-VSO to help fight global poverty and lend our creativity and talent to help make the world a better place.

We will be releasing more details in the weeks that follow, and we hope you will join us in getting involved in fundraising for a great cause.

Andy Morris
Creative Mastermind - Hotcakes New Media

One of the issues I deal with on a daily basis these days is having to defend myself as a creative company. When I set out to create Hotcakes New Media, I made a conscious choice not to label myself as a marketing firm, or an ad agency. I don’t operate a production house, a design studio, or a web firm. I am a creative company, and I am quite clear in the services I provide. Yet somehow, I find myself unable to use “creative” as a label for my business, and I am constantly pigeon-holed into a different category. That makes advertising my services next to impossible.

For example, I’ve been attempting to add Hotcakes New Media to some link directories, to help spread the word about our website. I fill in the URL, and a little bio about what we do, and then I am presented with a drop-down menu to categorize my “type” of business; Marketing? SEO? Design? Video? Which category do I choose? Each of those choices brings with it a certain set of expectations, which could potentially not be met if one was expecting something we are not. The value my company brings is in the creative blend of all these services. Although we do design, we are more than a design company, because we offer creative services that extend beyond just design. Same goes for video. And SEO. And any other pre-defined category I might be forced to label myself with.

Just a few days ago, after providing a quote to a potential client about some creative website improvements I was recommending, the client sent me a predefined “list” of SEO tactics and services SEO companies provide, asking me if my quote included all those services. I had to remind the client that we are a creative company, and although we do take care of 90% of what was on that list, our value was in providing that along with the proposed design services; Our work is about the creative blend of these two elements. It’s all fine and dandy to “follow all the rules” and write perfectly semantic html markup, but if the site looks horrendous in the process, you aren’t retaining the people who visit the site. Likewise, if your site looks fantastic, but has no SEO elements, no one will ever see it. The creative part is finding the right balance between the two.

So I sit here, wondering if there’s a place for creative companies in the current marketplace, and wondering why there are no categories that accurately describe what we do. Surely there must be other creative companies out there. Do other companies face the same problems?

Are you faced with the same problem? Let us know in the comments or on twitter @hotcakesottawa .

Andy Morris – Creative Director
Hotcakes New Media

From OGFT’s latest press release:

OGFT is presently seeking companies or individuals from the National Capital Region, who’s work in film, television or animation, has recently been acknowledged  at a film festival or an industry event. A special tribute to these winners  will be made during our  Spotlight on our Award Winners event,  on Wednesday December 9th, 2009 from 6pm to 9pm at the Jazz’oo European Bar and Lounge, 132 Sparks street, Ottawa. Please forward your suggestions to info@ogft.com or call Bernard Major at 819-771-8338 for more information.

This is not an Awards ceremony, but an opportunity to recognize our best creative talent, on the eve of this  Holiday Season.

L’OGFT est présentement à la recherche de compagnies ou d’individus de la région de la capital nationale dont le travail en cinéma, en télévision ou en animation a récemment été reconnu lors d’un festival ou lors d’un événement de l’industrie.  Un hommage sera rendu  a ces gagnants lors de l’évènement  Pleins feux sur nos Lauréats, quiaura lieu le mercredi 9 novembre 2009, de 18:00 à 21:00 au Jazz’oo European Bar and Lounge, 132 rue Sparks, Ottawa. Veuillez faire parvenir vos suggestions à info@ogft.com ou téléphonez Bernard Major au 819-771-8338 pour plus de renseignements.

Il ne s’agit pas d’une soirée de remises de prix mais plutôt d’une occasion de rendre hommage a nos meilleurs talents créateurs à la veille de la saison des Fêtes.

I am proud to announce that Hotcakes New Media has been contracted to produce the DVD release of Juno winning performer Jen Gould’s performance of Music Soup at the Arts Court Theatre. The interactive children’s DVD will feature Jen Gould’s live performances from the show as well as several games, animations, music videos and more (to be determined). Hotcakes New Media is also an official sponsor for the event, DVD production, and theatrical release party. For additional details on the event, please see the press release below.

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