Here's a cool idea: everyone post their website addresses! I'd like to see what everyone does!

Here are mine:

www.mpsdigital.com (my film company)

www.pbfilmsociety.org (my film society)

www.wptv.com (the TV station I work at)

heath

A little helpful advice...

If there are going to be a lot of URLs posted here, make sure they're clickable links (Heath, I've already edited yours). To do that, when posting your message, surround the link with the following code:

[ url=http://www.domain.com]http://www.domain.com[/url ]

Or you can also make text links like so:

[ url=http://www.myjob.com]This is where I work![/url ]

Just remove the empty spaces where the Xs appear at "[Xurl..." and "[/urlX]" (Had to use them here so you could see the code)

http://www.8palm.com
http://www.dvfreak.com

Heath, you did know that anyone with a web site has a little www button underneath all of their posts, yes?

My personal website:
http://www.keithloh.com/

My company's main product site (which I designed)
http://www.clipstream.com

The new version that I'm currently building now:
http://partners.dsny.com/products/video/ (only a few pages work)

Dylan's Pyroglyph Films.com website that I built a couple weeks ago:
http://www.pyroglyphfilms.com

Those are the main ones.

<<<-- Originally posted by Robert Knecht Schmidt : Heath, you did know that anyone with a web site has a little www button underneath all of their posts, yes? -->>>

Not too smart on my part...

heath ;-)

Mine are in the .sig below. You'll find links to sets I've designed during the past 10 years here (http://tech.operaphilly.com/sets)

Lovely work.

My little web site:

http://www.videoproduction4u.tv

Let me know what you think.

Cheers,

Ed

Thanks Keith!

That Flash intro was a tad long. Not long in terms of other Flash intros out there but still too long. I think under 10 seconds is ideal. This one was I think 20 seconds to complete? Too long.

I liked it, but I think the flash movie should be even shorter. 5 seconds or so. I have a short attention span.

You can also do a plain [ url]www.site.com[url ] (without the
spaces) and it will display the link as the name as well.....

Thanks, Keith and Dylan.

Take your point on the Flash intro (you can always skip it!!!). I'm at the beginning of a new design.

Does anyone like the noval Navigation (film strip)? Should it stay in the next design?

Cheers again,

Ed

Another thing on the intro, you should have it so that if you click anywhere on the screen, they go into the site. This is to save someone wasting time trying to find the "Enter" link.

I definitely have problems with sites that require Flash for any navigation without alternatives. Basically, you are telling people to go away if they don't have the specialized software to even get basic information from your website. I don't think it would be a big deal if you simply added text links at the bottom of the screen for someone who can't be bothered to go get Flash. Either that or have a detection scheme that routs people to the Flash site or the non-Flash site.

That said, the film strip is okay. I don't like navigation where you have to wait for something to animate in order to reveal choices. you may want to make it animate faster so that it doesn't take more time than it would for someone to click a text link. It wouldn't dampen the effect of the animation and would be a more pleasing navigational experience.

I also question the dithering you have on your title graphic. The camera man silhouette behind it looks like a grey blob, unfortunately. If anything on your site, your branding should be of the highest quality. That is why on some sites that are built for low bandwidth navigation often the only large graphic is the branding. Branding is of prime importance for companies. As it is, you are asking low bandwidth users to load up the Flash navigation. So you might as well make your company name of high quality.

The QuickTime movie on the main page doesn't really add anything unless you are going to put a demo reel in its place later. Also, please take this tip from someone who has seen lots of title animations. Lens flares are very amateurish.

Aside from these comments. I like the layout of your website and the colour scheme.

Wow… Thanks for your straightforward honest criticism.

The only way that I could see that would accommodate my vision for the navigation was through Flash. We did have a version that was JAVA script but we could not get it to do what the flash stuff would – there is a download option on the bottom of the home page.

The cameraman silhouette was supposed to be un-noticed. Giving the illusion that when we film your event you will not really notice us. Maybe, as you said people just see it as a grey blob. Anyway, currently in the process of creating a new brand.

I think next I will create 2 sites one Flash and one Non Flash. Therefore giving the option for people to view my website on all bandwidths.

Thanks,

Ed

Look forward to seeing your future work. You have a good basis for a great site.

I disagree a bit on the Flash comments. A couple of years ago people might have to download Flash Player, or their machine might lock up if Flash was involved...but that's no longer the case. All the major browsers include Flash players "de facto" now. So as long as you don't make your Flash animations so that they "require" the latest version of Flash, you're okay. Also, any machine that's been made in the last couple of years can handle simple Flash animations with no problem...no matter how miserly the buyer was.

I have a thing against Flash intros, though. I think they're a waste of time altogether. Instead of an intro, I'd rather see a clever preloader put to use. For example, the Triggerstreet site uses a film countdown preloader. That's better than a progress bar showing the loading percentage. I saw a photographer's web site made with Flash once, where the preloader consisted of quick glimpses at a photo+type of service. For instance, you'd see a great wedding photo, and below it it would "Weddings", that would last about a second, then change to a photo of a portrait with "Portraits" below. So, it looks like an intro in some respects, but it's just a preloader and doesn't last more than 5 seconds...and serves to let viewers know immediately what types of photography services he offers.

I'm getting geared up to make my entire personal site in Flash late this fall (right now I just have one small animation). As for the corporate web sites we've put together over the years, they were, by request, always simple: no Flash, redirects for Netscape and IE users, etc. But having kept track of the users statistics...it just isn't worth it anymore to go to the expense of making web sites conform to non-IE browsers. IE holds well over 90%. And if you're using IE, Flash is no problem. The result: we're starting to add more Flash, and eliminating making text and Netscape redirects anymore. The thinking behind that is, if you're in business, and you don't have a browser capable of handling what the "standard" browser today can handle, then most likely you aren't a big enough "player" to bring us much business. Same goes with drumming up non-corporate clients. Do you really think you'll get much business from people whose computers can't play Flash?

If you want to see some great Flash sites, from the guru of web Flash design and web advertising, go to HillmanCurtis.com (http://www.hillmancurtis.com) and look at his portfolio.

With all things moderation. You have to ask yourself if you are using Flash to actually add something to your message or just because it is something cool. If you are selling your web design services, then obviously you want Flash or Flash examples in your site. Everything you have on your site has to support your message. Too often I arrive at sites that look awesome and have great animations, etc. and the only impression I get once I leave is a lingering admiration for that person's Flash ability, not the message or the purpose. Occasionally I will come across a site where the interface is so dense (though impressive) that I often never satisfy my prime purpose.

For example, just today someone sent me this link:
http://www.theembassyvfx.com/main.html

Nice layout. However, try and tell someone how to find a specific clip on that site. "Uh, first you have to click on this specific link in the FIRST COLUMN and then the stuff in the SECOND COLUMN will change and you have to click on THAT and it will open up a NEW WINDOW." It's like the designer thought of the cool interface first and then the content secondarily.

Hillman & Curtis I've seen before their work is good design work that happens to use Flash in many instances. Their message is that their customer's message gets across NO MATTER what the medium is. You will notice that all the links are accessible in text at the top without relying on Flash at all times.

I love that site, Keith! I prefer that over a simpler style any day.

Something interesting about the Hillman Curtis site...that looks like text at the top...but it ain't. I read somewhere that he doesn't like to use straight text because some people set the font sizes so large it destroys the design of the page. So, instead of text, it's graphics.

What you're saying is the most important thing of all design...get the message across first and foremost. Then again, as Marshal McLuhan says, "The medium is the message." In visual arts, I think a more design-oriented approach says something about your approach to your work--more than just being an attractive site.

But, like most highly creative designers, Hillman Curtis puts in some elements that require a person to think and/or search for meaning. His new "MTIV" slogan isn't spelled out in black & white as to what it means...and I think in that respect he was successful because it caused me to dig through his site to find out the meaning, thus exposing me to more of the site.

What I meant by text is that it is just there as a backup to any navigational 'interface' that is made up of some overblown animation. I did notice that it was a gif.

www.CPIMEDIC.com

Informational Web Site / Forum.

Also has a place for students to check realtime grades.

The CPI movie was done my me in FCP4.

Hi everyone. I write songs and then find great singers to perform them. I started using a camera to make music/videos and also to film my singers live performing my own, my wifes and my friends songs at a London showcase...
All done for fun, and arts sake...ie I never get paid...

'Don't Forget My Name' is a soldiers remembrance song performed in the Uk and then via the internet in Colorado USA and again via the internet back to the UK... I then produced the video... loads of others as well and some great songs to boot.

www.home-madevideos.com

<<<-- Originally posted by Roy Roberts : Hi everyone. I write songs and then find great singers to perform them. I started using a camera to make music/videos and also to film my singers live performing my own, my wifes and my friends songs at a London showcase...
All done for fun, and arts sake...ie I never get paid...

'Don't Forget My Name' is a soldiers remembrance song performed in the Uk and then via the internet in Colorado USA and again via the internet back to the UK... I then produced the video... loads of others as well and some great songs to boot.

www.home-madevideos.com -->>>

Cool. I'm from Colorado, but I've been in florida for 19 years now. Good luck.

heath

Hi guys,

sorry to bring this thread back from the deep caves of DVinfo.net

I have recently re-designed my website - still stuff to do but the bulk of the work is done.

Any comments appreciated.

Thanks,

Ed

Ed--nice design, but there seems to be some unnecessary scripting, such as something that reloads the page whenever the browser window is resized. You can replace that with a little CSS and reduce the computing power needed on both the client and server sides.

The reel's the most important bit.

Thanks Robert for your comments,

Because I now have a new brand/ image, I'm working on a new showreel to reflect it.

Thanks again,

Ed

Anyone else with comments?

my personal, and very out of date, website:
jim (http://www.jim-shields.com)


my job:
VTV: Varsity Television (http://www.myvtv.com)


my band:
Chloe's Honey (http://www.chloeshoney.com)

I have a 'real job' unfortunatley and only hope at tis point to graduate to the FILM world.

www.acuhire.com

We do pre-employment screening (background checks). So, if I am allowed to plug it here, if your hiring an employee for your business, we can do a full background check on the person (with their consent).

.....not quite ready yet, but here's my home page:

[ url=http://www.crimsonbutterfly.com]http://www.crimsonbutterfly.com[/url ]

here ya go

http://www.waxworld.be

here is mine.
There are some nice looking websites you guys have.
www.frameworksstudio.com

Rob

http://www.rarewhiterhino.com

My 3D work...

You will find my website in the signature below.

www.cblocals.com (http://www.cblocals.com)
my website about the indie music scene in cape breton - 7 years old this february!

skate.cblocals.com (http://skate.cblocals.com)
my cape breton skateboarding website and database (programmed it myself in php :)). includes around a thousand frame grabs from the skateboarding video i shot last year.

happy holidays,
harry

My company:

www.willowstudios.com

You name it...I've done it!

Murph

The animal rights related media site I run.

Meat Free Media (http://www.meatfreemedia.com)

Primarily a media database, but a full media animal rights network is to be started up and in the works at present so this database will be a small part of the final site.

Christopher,
Wow! That is one impressive career you've put together. I'm more than impressed. Where could I get a copy of your book?

My website is:

http://www.geocities.com/foldingca/

I design origami (only a handful are published on my website) and have written, directed, produced and edited an experimental video about origami called, "Folding California".

Dorothy

Hey Mickey...thanks! I appreciate your kind words. That makes me feel good...and the book will be in every book store in the next 2-3 months. I'm excited that it'll be in Barnes and Noble because that's the real deal for me.

It's going to be called, "How to be a Television Producer".

You have a website Mick?

Murph

Okay, if I can't get the book yet...how about a favorite outtake photo of Angelina Jolie?

No, haven't done a website yet. I provide the creative direction for http://mickeys.royalbodycare.com and http://mickeys.10daysofchocolate.com. And I'm responsible for all the videos in the media center at www.royalbodycare.com.

Going to have to do one for myself somewhere down the line. Everytime I start working on one, I get bored and think I'd rather be shooting or editing. All that code detail drives me crazy.

My son started the very successful www.StroudsCWSApps.com which has now become www.internet.com, does that count?

www.acuhire.com

Not film related, but my day job is pre-employment background screening. A shameless plug, yes, but when was the last time you actually did a background check on one of your employees.

I am developing a personal film website this spring.

I think I'm finally happy with my websites Beta version. Now, to fill it out with more info.
http://www.Video-Alchemy.com

alextaylor.org (http://www.alextaylor.org)

I haven't gotten around to adding most of my short films to my portfolio list, maybe I should do that soon..

mine has nothing to do with video.
http://unresort.com

there's a fun weblog though.

Here is mine.. I am small boutique ..

http://www.digitalcanvas.net


best to view with broadband connection and site requires Flash..

Enjoy it..

Mike

Media Label: http://www.phait-accompli.com
Music: http://www.thecarbonflaw.com/tcf/
Old webdesign: http://www.phait-accompli.com/old.php

At the moment working on a website to centralize info a short I'd like to have online then go full-feature if that goes well. (Either of these things are a few years away though, but I can get started with research and writing)