During the COVID-19 global pandemic, many advertisers are still producing commercials. Instead of showing up to a set or location, performers are being asked to film themselves in their own homes.
The Commercials Contract only covers performances. Other production services, such as hair styling, makeup application, operating cameras, filming, directing and editing, falls under the jurisdiction of other sister unions (e.g. DGA, IATSE and the Cinematographers Guild).
SAG-AFTRA is advising their members: If you are working in your own home and are being asked to provide additional services like those described above, you or your agent should negotiate additional compensation outside of the Commercials Contract to perform these additional duties.
COVID-19 Pandemic on March 11, 2020, hit Michael Conti Productions and many of our clients by the request to self-isolate. While we are happy to report, we stayed healthy in quarantine, we are deeply sadden by those of us which are less fortunate with this novel disease. We are now faced with getting back to work in a new normal. We hope that we can support a safe return to local video work by working together with our clients on providing a safe and healthy environments.
Please reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns about working with talent on your next project.
An unanimous Joint House Resolution named Interstate 76 from Denver to the Nebraska state line the Colorado Pollinator Highway. Now, the Colorado Department of Transportation is starting the work to get the highway to live up to all that buzz.
Obtain the education you need to know about Colorado’s Pollinator Highway.
A Michael Conti Video Productions was contracted to initiate filming activities associated with the establishment of the pollinator highway. This process took over six months in order to cover two planting seasons, one in the spring and the other in the fall. After which, the editing process commenced in order to have three CDOT approved videos to share with the public.
CDOT Pollinator Highway Discussion
Table of Contents
New CDOT Pollinator Videos and Plan
The CDOT Headquarters Landscape Architecture Section (CDOT HQ LA Section) is pleased to provide three new Pollinator Program elements. The CDOT HQ LA Section exists within the CDOT Environmental Programs Branch to provide technical training and landscape architectural expertise for a variety of project and program needs including roadside restoration and native revegetation, stormwater management, visual impact analysis, specifications, erosion control, and statewide regional environmental design and planning support.
All of this started with a 2014 presidential memorandum encouraging departments of transportation to “identify opportunities to increase pollinator habitat along roadways and implement improvements, as appropriate.”
I-76 was chosen because it is a federal highway that runs through environmentally sensitive areas like the eastern plains, where agriculture is one of the primary economic drivers. It is also a key area for migratory butterflies.
“Pollinators are vital to our ecology, our economy and our industry,” said Carol Parr, regional environmental manager for CDOT. “It just takes a small shift in how we regularly do our work to help provide an environment where they can thrive.”
One of those shifts involves mowing. Crews will still mow the grass 15 feet from the roadway, but during the main pollinator months (April to September), the other grassy areas will not be mowed.
Managing noxious weeds will also be more specialized along the corridor. In fact, CDOT will have a roadside manager for the corridor, who will also oversee the statewide vegetation management program. That program will promote genetically appropriate plants that support self-sustaining dynamic ecosystems, which are resistant to invasion by non-native or invasive species.
“While I-76 is our designated corridor, we fully expect to take lessons learned here to other areas of the state where we can assist with pollinators,” Parr said.
CDOT is also partnering with several other groups, like the Butterfly Pavilion, Colorado Pollinator Network and People Pollinators Action Network, to assist with mapping of existing roadside habitat, and helping to restore and improve those habitats.
Butterflies: Colorado has 250 species of butterflies
Moths: Colorado has over 1000 species of moths
Hummingbirds: Colorado has 11 species of migrating hummingbirds that arrive in April and usually leave in September
Beetles: Beetles are among the pollinators keeping nature vibrant
Bats: Bats are important pollinators
Flies: Flies are important pollinators
Ants: Ants are important pollinators
Birds: Birds are important pollinators
Plants: Some great pollinator plants for Colorado include indigo bush, antelope-horns milkweed, purple poppy mallow, white prairie clover, narrow-leaf coneflower, and Indian blanket
To make a beneficial pollinator garden, To make a beneficial pollinator garden, you need a water source, a sunny area with windbreaks, and a garden that offers year-round blooms for pollinators to visit. Native Colorado flowers are great for native bees, and non-native flowers like sage will be smothered in bees come midsummer.
My talk on “Monetizing Your Film Through Theatrical Distribution” at AVX 2019, October 16 at the largest annual gathering of film, video, broadcast, digital media and audio visual professionals in the Rocky Mountain Region was well-attended.
Michael Conti will share details from his filmmaking experience of getting 50 theatrical screenings nationwide in one year without using a traditional distributor. Learn how to find your audience, determine the best venues, do social media marketing that is more organic than paid, and monetize your efforts through third party ticketing and split box office revenues. Find the ideal partners to help with promotion, and see your dream on the silver screen, too!
Rocky Mountain Audio Video Expo 2019
The Rocky Mountain Audio Video Expo @AVXpo is the premier annual trade show where manufacturers meet directly with the decision makers in IT, film, AV, video, broadcast, sound, animation, computer imaging and editing through workshops, speakers and exhibitor booths. AVX attendees get one-on-one access to some of the industry’s leading experts. The 2019 AVX is October 16-17 at the Crowne Plaza DIA in Denver, Colorado. Learn more: http://www.avxpo.biz/
Hanging out with Alan O’Hashi (Boulder Community Media), Heather Boyle (Producer of The Unruly Mystic: John Muir) and Michael Conti, Owner of Michael Conti Productions LLC.
