*(February) We’ve designed ad campaigns and/or produced videos in the past few weeks for Senior Financial Security, Aqua Plumbing & Air, “Always Home”, ” The Lucky Pelican” restaurant, and the Jewish Housing Council Federation–and we have 3-4 more videos in various stages of development.
*(January 2012) Working on a project this month to help a Gulf Coast publication do regular news updates on their website. Traveling to New York as a media consultant for a financial advisor. And best of all–I was inducted into my college radio station’s Hall of Fame!
*(December 2011) Happy to announce we have four new marketing videos in various stage of production. Also pleased to form a new alliance with Rocket Digital Productions of Sarasota–which allows us to record voice-overs that are then emailed out around the country to clients. Master of Ceremonies for two nonprofit events in December.
*(November) Busy time. Guest speaker at the Sarasota Association of Realtors ‘Tech Expo.’ I had a chance to teach realtors how to use video to sell themselves, and their listings. Had a great time as Master of Ceremonies at a fashion show, and a tennis exhibition for charity. Also took part in charities for “Baby Basics” and “Wine Women and Shoes” at the Ritz Carlton. Glad to support the community.
*(October) We just finished the first-ever marketing video for Habitat for Humanity of Sarasota. We helped clear up some of the myths and misconceptions about the agency. I was surprised how much prospective homeowners have to go through in order to be considered. Also this month, hosting a fashion show for charity at Serendipity and reluctantly modeling in another show as well–which is always awkward!
*(September) The power of “twos” this month: Two media training clients, two resorts visited on the east coast for Totally Tennis Magazine, two days spent at the United States Professional Tennis Association annual conference near Tampa, and two marketing videos in various stages of development for Sarasota area non-profits.
*(August) I’m fortunate to be chosen as a judge in a competition that encourages young filmmakers. http://viralfilmproject.com/?page_id=134
*(July) Guest speaker at the annual conference of the Florida Government Communicators Association. We used cameras to put spokespeople from around the state on the spot, and then immediatly review the results.
*(June) Ray Collins Media helped produce the Major League Baseball draft in Bradenton. The Pittsburgh Pirates had the top overall pick in the draft, and the MLB network wanted to do ‘live shots’ from Pirate City.
*(May) I was a Media Trainer at the Florida State Health Conference. Media Relations experts from around the state were on hand. Also, was pleased to be included in the 2011 Class of the Florida Gulf Coast Leadership Institute. Stimulating discussion with interesting people.
*(April) The Loveland Center for Adults with Developmental Disabilities has ordered a 4th marketing video from Ray Collins Media. This one will focus on plans for on-campus housing at the Venice, FL facility.
*(March) The Sarasota Film Festival has chosen Ray Collins Media to be the festival’s exclusive media crew of this year’s event. We will attend all the functions and interview the stars and record Red Carpet arrivals.
*(February) Producing a marketing video for a Venice-based insurance company.
*(January 2011) Projects this month include writing and “voicing” an audio disc for a financial planner who specializes in helping parents with special needs children, an insurance executive looking for a DVD promoting his company, and helping market a former NFL player as a sportscaster.
*(December 2010) Busy end of the year, directing media relations and helping hire new workers for the new Sanborn Studios, producing marketing videos for clients looking to enhance their marketing profile, teaching politicians media skills, hosting “Sarasota County Weekly”, writing articles for Totally Tennis, Florida Tennis and Scene magazines. There is a big world out there well beyond the increasingly irrelevent hamster-wheel known as local TV news.
*(November) Working with Sanborn Studios as they launch a major movie/tv production studio in Sarasota. Helping with media relations, screening incoming projects and working on their first TV series, “Miami 24/7.”
*(October) Can’t complain as we near the first anniversary of Ray Collins Media: Hosting a weekly show for Sarasota County about good things going on in the area, producing videos–including one this week for a political candidate, teaching media skills, and visiting resorts and writing about them in a monthly travel column for a tennis magazine.
*(September) “The Image Consultant Training Manual” has been published. I’m one of five authors. Thanks to Andrew Neitlich for putting it together.
*(August) Our media/image skills services got a nice boost today thanks to WIBC Radio in Indianapolis. I was a guest on their afternoon drive radio show, talking about how the police there should get out in front of a scandal and keep the public informed about their internal investigation.
*(July) The Loveland Center liked the video we did for them enough to order three more videos about different aspects of their services for disabled adults. They also asked me to serve on their Board of Directors.
*(June) I was approached to help write a book on media/image skills with three other professionals. The folks behind this project have a proven track record and several of their other books have done well. www.instituteforimageconsulting.com.
*(May) I’m going to be the auctioneer at the Dick Vitale 5th Annual Cancer Fundraiser at the Ritz Carlton. He packs in dozens of household names from world of sports. They’ve raised a million dollars in a single night during each of the previous four galas! No pressure.
*(April) I’m really enjoying hosting the weekly show for Sarasota County. It’s a nice break from 25 years of covering gloom and doom. I recently had a chance to do a feature story on a local tennis-playing family where the mother is the coach and her daughter is the best player on her high school team. If you get a chance, look at this 2 minute story:
*(April) I’m happy to announce our media/image training services are gaining attention. I’m now confidentially working with politicians on the federal and state level.
*(March) Our weekly TV news-magazine show received front-page/local section publicity today in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Here’s a link to the article and pictures. http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20100329/ARTICLE/3291039/2066/NEWS?Title=With-tax-dollars-counties-offering-a-voice-on-cable
*(March) Our first weekly newscast is airing right now! The staff at Access Sarasota really do a great job. (Update: There’s a link to shows in the “On Air” tab of my web-site here.)
*(Feb) Working on a marketing DVD for ‘The Loveland Center’ of Venice. It’s a great place that helps adults with developmental disabilities live their lives to the fullest. I’ve already hired the narrator.(!)
*(January 2010) I’m going to be hosting a new half-hour TV show, “Sarasota County Weekly.” It’s set to debut in March and air several times a week.
*(December 2009) One of the best parts of doing documentaries on PBS instead of short stories on commercial TV is the stories I can cover. I’m really excited about this current project involving Greg Simony, a guy who decided to make big changes in his life earlier this year.
He stopped drinking, lost a lot of weight and began running. But he didn’t want it to be about him. So he found Nadia, a woman in a wheelchair with cerebral palsy. He now pushes her when he runs. (See picture under the documentaries category.) He’s working on a way to pull her when he bikes–and float her behind him when he swims!
You should see her light up when Greg arrives for their work-outs! (Update: There is a link to the story under the “On-Air” tab.)
*Happy to report I’m writing a monthly feature for the popular “Scene Magazine.” http://www.scenesarasota.com/contact/directory/53-scene-contacts/36-ray-collins.html
*Here are a couple stories I did for Fox 13 News–one about daredevils in Sarasota, and another one about a family displaced by Hurricane Katrina–and the sentimental graduation in Sarasota for their special needs son.
http://swfl.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=FLSW_LukeDiLeo