WEVA Podcast Series 'Connections' Spotlights Local Association Life
February 05, 2007
Sarasota, FL - To promote the benefits of professional wedding videography and provide information to videographers at the local level, Wedding & Event Videographers Association International (WEVA) has created “Connections” the first podcast series about local association life.
Hosted by WEVA Wedding & Event Videography Hall of Fame inductees, Kathy and Al Ritondo, "Connections” is the latest edition to the expanding series of audio programs produced for the WEVA community through WEVA On The Air by the two pioneers in podcasting who are also co-founders of New York Professional Videographers (NYPV).
"'Connections' is a podcast for wedding and event video professionals that explores what ‘connects’ us," said Kathy Ritondo, who also operates Personal Touch Video (NJ). "WEVA will explore how videographers, both individually and collectively, are handling the challenges and creative opportunities that are unique, as well as similar, in regions around the country. It’s a chance to take the pulse of our video community at the local level and share the news nationwide."
Five episodes of “Connections” have already been produced and are currently online for instant listening. The first was recorded on-location in Boston, MA at the National Professional Videographers Association's (NPVA) 20th Anniversary Celebration last fall. Founded in 1986, the NPVA is the oldest, continuously run local association in the country, and one of the largest with almost 100 members. Revealing the reasons for the NPVA’s staying-power are NPVA president Richard Talmage, along with NPVA members Sheila Orzi, and Craig Newman. (Shown in photo above are clockwise from left: Craig Newman, Richard Talmage, Al Ritondo, Kathy Ritondo and Sheila Orzi.)
The second episode of “Connections” also recorded in Boston, features an interview with NPVA co-founders Joyce and Joe Bertolami. Learn about development of the NPVA board, how the local group grew in size through difficult, “pioneering” times as well as how it continues forward today, and get advice on how to start a local videographers association. Joyce Bertolami, a WEVA Wedding & Event Videography Hall of Fame inductee, who also received the WEVA Walter Bennett Service to Industry Award for her work as co-chair of the WEVA Local Association Development Committee, now serves on WEVA International's Special Awards of Industry Recognition Committee, which announces honorees at WEVA's annual Wedding & Event Video Expo.
The third podcast was recorded in Connecticut last November at the Professional Videographers Association of Connecticut (PVACT), which was formed in 1991 from the networking connections made at the first EXPO. The program features former PVACT president Vicki Alton, and other PVACT members. Hear why association membership has been vital for videographers who want to get ahead in our growing industry. Additionally, PVACT videographer Charles Allan reveals the inside details of how his longtime experience as a wedding and event videographer was used to publish his new Bridal Planner for Brides.
Episode four, recorded in Pennsylvania at the Greater Philadelphia Videographers Association (GPVA) discusses video judging for the GPVA’s 3rd Annual Film Festival, held in November 2006. Former GPVA board member Marc Smiler tells how the association got the Film Festival off the ground and how it’s helped the group maintain its momentum in the Philadelphia metro area. Discover how the GPVA also keeps members excited by sharing production work, raising the bar in education at each meeting, learning from photography groups, its new Membership Theater, and by bringing in guest speakers, and more. Current GPVA board member Brooke Rudnick is also interviewed and details the GPVA’s Film Festival plans for the future.
"Connections" – episode 5, was taped in Ft. Lauderdale, FL at the South Florida Videographers Association (SFVA). Current SFVA president Danny Sein chats about trends in special event videography in the Southeast, including how to stay profitable even in the slower months, the benefits of networking with other videographers to get jobs, and the SFVA’s goals for 2007. Also featured, is WEVA Wedding & Event Videography Hall of Fame inductee Jim Kennedy who walks listeners through the local association start-up process. He also talks about key industry issues, including how photography and DJ services are impacting professional video.
WEVA International launched the WEVA On The Air podcast network in May 2006 and continues charting a new course in industry information delivery. Other shows for wedding and event videographers already on the network include Tech Talk (12 episodes), In The Biz (16 episodes) and the WEVA EXPO 2006 Podcast series. Online, are six programs recorded both prior to and on-site at the WEVA 16th Annual Wedding & Event Video Expo, our industry’s largest convention and trade show. Hosted by Kathy and Al these six episodes include exciting interviews with WEVA Creative Excellence Award-winning seminar instructors, workshop presenters, and wedding video industry pioneers.
The WEVA On The Air network also features WEVA Legends From the Vault a vidcast series with 7 vidcasts now online for immediate viewing. Viewers can explore the lives of WEVA Wedding & Event Hall of Fame inductees, learn how they built their businesses, how they are maintaining their success in today’s competitive video marketplace, and get insights into marketing methods that work.
"We're thrilled to be able to provide WEVA members with up to date information on innovation and success in today’s wedding and event video market on an ongoing basis," says WEVA On the Air Executive Producer Kathy Ritondo. "The positive feedback from WEVA members has been very rewarding."
Ritondo’s husband Al, who co-produces the podcasts adds that, "Keeping informed is critical for the professional videographer. With a podcast we can reach videographers at a time that's convenient for them. The information is always available instantly."
To download WEVA podcasts go to www.weva.com and use your WEVA Forums ID to log-in at the upper right corner. Then, click the link on the left-hand column for "WEVA On The Air" to view the list of the podcasts (or Click Here!). To put the programs on your iPod or mp3 player, right click on "Save As" or "Save Target As" to download the programs. Once you've downloaded the files, they can be moved over to your mobile device for instant access. WEVA Industry News is a service of WEVA International.
About Wedding & Event Videographers Association International (WEVA)
WEVA International is the largest professional videographers association and our industry's leading provider of education that's on the cutting-edge. WEVA is dedicated to advancing the professional interests of videographers worldwide through continuing education, technical support, group benefits, advocacy committees, professional development conferences, and new media including Wedding & Event Videography Resource Guide.
Join WEVA now to access valuable WEVA membership benefits that can help you succeed in your business, including weekday job opportunities through ImageSpan's CurbStream, plus low-cost Visa/MasterCard Merchant Status, Equipment Insurance, E&O Insurance, the new Equipment Financing Program, WEVA NEWS MINUTE videos, WEVA On-The-Air podcasts, and more.
Membership also provides opportunities for professional videographer (MPV) accreditation, and system-training at WEVA EXPO 2007 our industry’s largest annual convention and trade show upcoming in August 2007. For more information contact the association at 941-923-5334 or email: info@weva.com |
