Allow Me to Introduce Myself
Hi and thanks for stopping by! I’m Thomas Clifford.
What's this blog all about?
My blog helps people create believable business videos in unbelievable times.
Often times, people don't know what to believe anymore.
In my 25 years as a producer and director, I've been on both sides of the fence. I've been an employee producing hundreds of films for a Fortune 100 as well as a producer inside a small premier video production company.
In either case, I've found the secret to a believable corporate video is incredibly simple: capture believable people sharing their own perspectives on life.
My area of focus is working with non-profits and mid-to-large size companies who feel frustrated they can't "breathe life" into their story.
With people at the heart of a film, "breathing life" into your company's story feels natural and authentic; your video becomes memorable. Most importantly, your video is believable.
I started this blog in the summer of 2006. For the record, I don't make a dime off this blog.
My goal with this blog is two-fold:
1. To inspire and help you create the most believable and authentic video for your company and/or your clients as possible.
Here’s what I got:
- To understand I write for people in companies who are stuck, frustrated, or simply don’t know where to turn to help them produce their most authentic video story possible for their organization.
- To change how you see corporate videos.
- To think differently about the power of a company’s video story.
- To discover new ways to capture your organization’s story.
- To know the power of video combined with the power of story can make a difference in the world.
- To believe video stories can enable the voices of the unheard.
Here’s what you’ll get:
- How to use video as a storytelling tool for your organization.
- How a filmmaker thinks and why it’s important to you.
- Why language matters.
- Why video is more than just a commodity.
- How to capture emotions in interviews.
- Successful interviewing techniques.
- Why I use the min-documentary and you should, too.
- To feel inspired to use video to help others achieve their goals.
- What a director adds to your project.
- Free e-Books as they become available.
Here’s what you can do next:
2. Read my most popular posts.
3. Share this with someone who could benefit from it.
My Story: The Six Word Version
Rock guitarist wannabe. Soul discovers filmmaking.
My Story: The Kinda Long Version
Rock n roll gripped my soul when I was seven years old.
The Beatles discovered America and I discovered the guitar. (Thank you Ed Sullivan.) Rock n roll bands has been a part of my life for 25 years.
In 1980, I graduated with two communication degrees in television.
Getting a job in the film business will be a snap with two degrees. No problem.
Big problem. I couldn’t find a job in my field.
So I moved to California. With futon, guitar, tent, rice and beans and Coleman stove packed, I drove cross-country in my yellow VW Rabbit (remember those?)
Everybody hits the big time in California, right?
Not me. I went on food stamps. On Sunday’s, if I played my cards right, I figured out how to get a few extra chocolate chip cookies from the corner grocery store.
After a year, I had enough. Everything got packed up and I drove back home.
Bingo! I landed a full-time job in a television studio and learned the tools of the trade.
But I wasn’t content. My soul wanted more. It was hungry to help and inspire others. I wanted to serve and make a difference in people’s lives. I knew film had the power. What I needed was a transformation.
A few years later, on a Tuesday night, a room filled with filmmakers gathered to network and discuss a short film produced as a fundraiser for a hospital.
In seven minutes, while watching that film, my mission in life was handed to me.
I was going to produce short films for organizations that would transform the people watching them.
It’s been 24 years since I saw that film.
Every time I craft a film, I ask myself:
- Can this film change a life?
- What is this company’s story really about?
- Will this film help the audience to discover their own truth?
- Does it move the viewer to act a certain way?
- Is it as authentic as the resources allow?
- Will it make the world a better place?
The Dreamer, The Thinker, The Storyteller, The Leader
To transform the way organizations use storytelling in films.
The Vision
To bring the power of personal storytelling to organizations, both large and small.
The Purpose
To transform and inspire the lives of every viewer by creating sudden insights into seeing new possibilities they never knew existed before.
The Mission
To be the choice filmmaker for anyone in an organization wishing to have their video story professionally produced and directed, while providing support, education and fun throughout the entire process.
Tom helps organizations to:
--Share their remarkable story
--Increase revenue
--Recruit volunteers
--Generate new sales leads
--Inspire and empower employees
--Teach new ideas
--Share corporate culture and values
--Orientate new-hires
--Change perceptions
--Create virtual company tours
--Communicate internal & external messages
Industries Served:
- Financial
- Manufacturing
- Technology
- Non-profit
- Insurance
- Medical
- Education
Corporate Divisions Served:
- HR/Recruiting/Employee Communications/
- Enterprise Services
- Sales
- Marketing
- Corporate Communications
Experience:
- 25 years of seasoned experience.
- Produced hundreds of corporate videos.
- Internationally recognized; multi-award-winning producer.
"The Men Who Brought the Dawn"
Associate producer for an award-winning, world-wide documentary describing the atomic missions to Japan. Airing on the Smithsonian TV Channel. Part of the Smithsonian Institution's permanent archive library. "The Men Who Brought the Dawn" is now appearing on the Smithsonian Channel and Direct TV.
