One television production to hit big with both critics and audiences in the last couple of years is The Walking Dead, the small-screen zombie saga based on the comic books of the same name by Robert Kirkman. But in spite of its success, the show was besieged by production difficulties in the run-up to its second season – difficulties which actor Sam Witwer has just shed some light upon.

Before The Walking Dead established itself as the ratings jewel in the crown of US cable broadcaster AMC, ahead of fellow critical darlings Mad Men and Breaking Bad, the show found itself sailing on choppy waters, with reports indicating that season two budgets were being slashed prior even to season one airing.    

Next, the show’s writing staff departed en-masse, before showrunner Frank Darabont followed them out the door in summer of last year, just a few days after appearing at Comic-Con promoting the programme. This latter act of defenestration was, by all accounts, a seismic shock for those working on the television production, a point underlined by actor Sam Witwer in a recent interview with Paranormal Pop Culture.  

Witwer appeared briefly as the ‘Tank Zombie’ in the pilot episode of The Walking Dead, and he and Darabont had plans to fill out this character’s backstory with a spin-off web series – something the actor says will now no longer happen, thanks to AMC’s overriding desire to “save a few bucks”. 

This thrifty mind-set on the part of the broadcaster is what led to Darabont’s departure, reckons Witwer, who says he is personally “furious” about the writer’s exit. Morale amongst cast and crew has also been badly affected by the firing, claims the actor, he noting that several of the performers took hefty pay-cuts just for the chance to work with Darabont.

However even if Witwer’s report of rancour within the Walking Dead camp is entirely accurate, don’t expect a raft of corroborating accounts to spew forth in its wake. The cast are apparently fearful about making any discontent public because, as one production insider has previously put it, “They’re on a zombie show. They are really easy to kill off.”

If you have a killer television production on the boil and are just looking for the perfect venue to host it, then make sure you check out our studio rates.     

Capturing the attention of customers with online videos is a fantastic way to create awareness of your business and products and show that you are a dynamic enterprise with an eye on the latest trends. A great concept is always the best way to start a video production and LG have succeeded here with their latest online video advertisement.

A mere sixty seconds long this simple idea has you watching again and again to try and pick out the angles and find out how your eyes were beaten. It looks realistic and the twist is funny yet believable. With the memory of the looting after the recent riots still strong on our minds this humorous take on the notion of theft is perfectly timed.

Uploaded at the end of December the video from LG disguised as a simple viral video upload has garnered just under 1.5 million views and plenty of comments along the way. This is my favourite from the rather unobservant FrederikMeyer:

“The greatest detail is that you can see at 0:51 the sign says: "The World's Slimmest Television" This should be a commercial!”

Apparently the ad is destined for a television slot as well which is certainly good news, as any influence viral ads can have on the televised advertising world would be fantastic. It’s subtle, clever and often hilarious style would probably keep you watching.

If you have a product to advertise and want to get the most out of your video production, why not get in touch.

Hollywood film production has been rife with faecal-minded regurgitations for as long as it has stood. One could even argue that it is the foundation on which the industry is based. But, it is only of late that the precipice can be said to be looming closer with each new release. With more sequels, prequels, remakes, reboots and re-releases haunting cinemas in a vast brigade of balderdash and grey, ask yourself – “when was the last time I saw an original work in the multiplex?” Well, you’re not about to either. Because, George Lucas, king of all childhood plundering nomads, will be clogging up cinemas all over again with the latest of his seedy, amoral dalliances with Star Wars. Ladies and Gentlemen, prepare your prostates for the Phantom Menace - 3D.

Though Star Wars is indisputably the property of George Lucas, to do with whatever he wishes, it is my firm believe that the rich culture which has fuelled their enduring success is owed a say in the matter. How many people really wish a retrofitted 3D Phantom Menace to be so? I am sure I would not be the first to point out that stereoscopy cannot remedy a terrible script. How many fans felt that their childhoods had been hoodwinked, usurped or even martyred in the name of the all-mighty dollar the first time this was released, let alone released all over again in a format which is, to say the least, dubious in intent?

The stoic irony is that with each ‘safe-bet’ the studios take, lulled into the delusion of a safe financial inglenook, the more the medium will fall to the flames of disrepute.  Perhaps, one day, cinema will indeed become an invention without a future, to quip the historic insouciance of the Lumiere brothers. When Star Wars 3D is released, the pair shall undoubtedly rise from their graves and scream in their best Ja Ja Binks voices “we tolds you so!”

Would you like to make video production with some real moxy? Then get in touch with us today. We are the best at what we do because we care about the medium.

Online video marketing enjoyed a bumper 2011,  with web video ads to the value of $3.1billion being placed by US advertisers alone. And the industry is apparently due for another growth spurt this year, certainly if one puts any faith in the prediction that online video ad spending will rise by 40% in 2012.

The staggering stats come courtesy of online research and analysis firm eMarketer, and also take into account the results of a survey conducted by Break Media as to the intended spending of advertising decision-makers during this fresh annum.

The prediction is that 71% of internet users in the United States (that’s 169million people, large numbers fans!) will be watching online video on a monthly basis by the end of this year, and that in turn will power the expected expansion of the online video marketing sector, with mobile and pre-roll adverts playing a big part in driving this growth.

To wit, 63% of holders of the ad purse-strings reckoned they would be lavishing their marketing cash on pre-rolls, while mobile ads saw a big leap in intended usage – from 39% last year, to 55% this. And ads on internet-connected TVs are growing fast too, doubling from 12% to 24%. Now those are the kind of rising columns to get any salesperson worth their salt decidedly hot under the collar…

If you want to stay in touch with the latest online video marketing news then be sure to keep our blog bookmarked.

Star of Sherlock, a role in War Horse and a bit part in office favourite Nathan Barley, the best name in Hollywood has just landed the role of the unnamed villain in the latest Star Trek film production. Also playing the voice role of a dragon in the Hobbit film, Cumberbatch is going for a Michael Fassbender style ubiquity on our screens.

The role of the villain was originally touted to Benicio Del Toro, but after a breakdown in fee negotiations the actor walked away from the project. Whilst Del Toro’s large frame seemed perfect to appease the fanboys clamouring for a new take on Khan surely there is no reason why the most famous nemesis of the franchise (sorry Borg) could not be played by the spindly thespian.

Joining the British contingent on set with Cumberbatch and Simon Pegg will be Noel Clarke. Reports suggest that he will be playing a ‘family man’ in a step away from the tower block thuggery roles he has become famous for inhabiting. No doubt if he’s wearing a red Starfleet shirt he’s going to die…still.

We have an incredible studio available for you to make use of with your video production, why not check out our rates.