MotionMasters Blog

Eggs over easy and a good story on the side

2009-05-14T09:04:00.001-04:00

Join Diana Sole Walko for SCORE’s Business for Breakfast:
• Friday, May 22
• 7:30 am – 8:30 am
• Gauley Room of the Charleston Marriott

Our CEO, Diana Sole Walko, will dispense insider-information on ways to make your target audience sit up and take notice. She’ll discuss how to make effective use of video to tell the story of your business, service, product or non-profit. On the Web, on your phone, on the big screen at sporting events—video is omnipresent. Find out how to put this fascinating, engaging medium to work for you.

No admission fee but businesses are encouraged to purchase breakfast. Pre-registration is appreciated. Email score256@wvscore.org.

SCORE’s Business for Breakfast is sponsored by The State Journal, SCORE and the SBA; event is handicap accessible.

The Missing Link: Video email has arrived

2009-04-23T09:16:00.001-04:00

No click-throughs, no attachments, and no viruses or bugs to worry about. According to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, “Video is coming to email.” That’s right: certified virus-free video embedded within the body of an email has arrived. The recipient just opens the email and the video is there—ready to play.

Standard click-through-to-view video is already wildly successful (you get an email and you click on a link to go to another site to view the video). According to comScore, an Internet marketing research company, 14.8 billion online videos were viewed by US Internet users in January of 09 alone. Imagine how those numbers will skyrocket with embedded video email!

Video email is good news for marketing and media firms with a story to tell and nothing tells a tale quite like video. Industry experts project that adding video to email marketing can boost interaction by as much as 200% to 300%. And since the recipient is assured that the message is certified virus-free, your video email can slam past the spam filters and get to everybody on your list with fewer delete-without-opening reactions.

Additionally, online video ad spending is expected to increase 45% this year and continue climbing well into 2012. Everybody seems to be watching, searching for and creating online video. How many times have you received an email from a friend or co-worker with a message bar that reads, “check out this video”? And you do. Now you can add the irresistible draw of an embedded video to your email marketing efforts. Think how a great 2- to 3-minute video will jazz up your next email newsletter or assist in your company-wide training or sales messages…

What? You don’t have a video message to email (or even show) to your target audience? We know somebody who can help. Us. Let’s get together to talk about your next online commercial or corporate video and how we can put your story in front of LOTS more viewers.

Contact Diana Sole Walko at dsole@motionmasters.com or call 304-345-8800.

Student ends internship at MotionMasters

2009-03-27T08:38:00.003-04:00

My internship at MotionMasters has opened my eyes to all that goes on at this fun and fast-paced company. It’s been a very intense three months. After all, I’m not your typical college student working an internship and taking a couple of classes at the same time. I’m married with three children, ages seven, five, and three. I work a full-time job (usually between forty-five and fifty hours a week) as a manager in the heavy equipment industry, and I take a class two days a week. Sleep has taken a backseat to everything else these past few months.

My advice to college students looking to do an internship in the near future; first and foremost, research the companies that are in the industry you are interested in working in and choose a firm like MotionMasters that’s been around for many years and works in so many different mediums. You also want to intern with a company that is going to take the time to show you everything and explain why and how things are done like MotionMasters did for me.

I believe that the folks at MotionMasters were as concerned about me having an exceptional internship experience as I was. Second, once you start your internship, try to work in as many different areas of the organization as possible.

Your internship is an important part of your college education. This is where you can actually start putting into practice the things you’ve been learning the past few years and maybe finally realize which area of the industry you are really have a deep desire to work in. Third, don’t be afraid to ask questions. You are there to learn. At MotionMasters I have been surrounded by a team of knowledgeable, experienced professionals that love what they do and are eager to share their knowledge and experiences.

MotionMasters is a team of creative storytellers using a variety of media to tell their clients’ stories. I’ve learned a lot while here…more than I could have ever expected. These past few months have been very informative, educational, and fun. Thank you to everyone at MotionMasters for making my time here such a valuable experience for me.

Sincerely,
Chris Klingler

MotionMasters Intern learns production

2009-03-20T14:03:00.007-04:00

West Virginia State University senior Chris Klingler is just about to wrap up a semester-long internship at MotionMasters. We asked him to describe his time with us. (Here Chris, on the left, is working with Editor Doug Morris.)

"On Monday, January 12, 2009, I began an internship with MotionMasters. I expected that I would be involved in several months of shooting and editing video. What I am getting from this internship is so much more.

The MotionMasters team meets each Monday morning in the conference room, led by owner Diana Sole Walko, to go over current work in progress as well as what’s coming up on the schedule. Some Mondays the group discusses one of the two books they are currently reading, “One Year to an Organized Work Life” and “Caffeine for the Creative Mind: 250 Exercises to Wake up Your Brain.” Other Mondays we view and discuss commercials and video clips currently airing, interesting printed materials team members have come across, or anything else that may stimulate creativity.

After the Monday morning meeting, and throughout the rest of the week, things are busy at MotionMasters. Over and above the video shoots and editing that I’d expected, there was much more happening at MotionMasters.

So what did I do and learn while here?

· I worked a couple of video shoots, loading and unloading the equipment for the shoot as well. One was at a local area hospital and the other shoot was at a coalmine prep plant.
· I spent several days with Doug and Wes in the editing room, watching, listening, and asking lots of questions (these guys are extremely talented!!!).
· MotionMasters truly believes in keeping up with technology, and while here I was expected to do the same. Like the others here, I was charged with going online and doing self-training on anything from Dreamweaver web design software, to Macromedia Flash training, to cascading style sheets (CSS).
· I spent a lot of time working with Brian as he worked on maintaining the many websites he keeps up for various companies in the area, as well as the MotionMasters website, which they are currently redoing. Brian also put together brochures and PowerPoint presentations on safety or training to go along with several of the videos they’d done for clients.
· On a few occasions I went to Admix Broadcast Service to get voice recordings done for a piece.
· I spent a couple of days with pk learning about different types of copywriting, again asking lots of questions. She has been in the business for years and has worked in or with every medium.
· I was in numerous meetings with clients, which allowed me to see how MotionMasters takes the initial request and digs deep to find out what the client really wants and how MotionMasters can bring that story to life.
· I did some writing while here, including shot lists and scripts for a couple of different projects.
· Finally, I did some serious eating. Pat Legg, the MotionMasters business manager, doubles as the chef. When clients are scheduled for a meeting at MotionMasters, that usually means Pat’s going to be putting together a meal consisting of things like baked chicken, grilled salmon, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, homemade rolls, and peanut butter pie (the best pie around I might add!)."

Exec. Producer of Rev. Sullivan documentary discusses production

2009-02-27T13:27:00.003-05:00

As part of Black History Month, MotionMasters CEO Diana Sole Walko introduced the documentary “A Principled Man: Rev. Leon Sullivan” and conducted a Q&A after a showing at the Huntington Museum of Art.

As the film’s executive producer and a friend of the late Rev. Sullivan, she shared highlights from her five trips to Africa working with the Sullivan Foundation and about the man who mentored Martin Luther King, helped free Nelson Mandela and played a significant role in ending apartheid in South Africa.

The film, shown nationally on PBS, served as the catalyst for re-naming Broad Street as Leon Sullivan Way in honor of the Charleston native’s outstanding contributions to human rights and equal opportunity.

To order your copy of “A Principled Man: Rev. Leon Sullivan,” visit www.revleonsullivan.org

View the WOWK-TV 13 interview with Diana Sole Walko from Feb. 24:

RCBI gets new graphic look from MotionMasters

2009-02-25T16:46:00.004-05:00

Just as The Robert C. Byrd Institute is dedicated to advanced manufacturing processes, MotionMasters is dedicated to finding new and innovative communication methods for its clients. For example, MotionMasters designed this tabletop display of printed stretch fabric that slips on and off a lightweight metal frame for RCBI. It allows for a big presentation with little effort and minimum upkeep.

The other items on display at February’s Marshall University Day at the West Virginia Capitol are also by MotionMasters, including large posters and print collateral, such as Capacity magazine, a 2009 calendar and quarterly newsletters. What a privilege to have our work on display beneath the watchful (and approving) eye of U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd.

See the Film. Meet the Film-Makers: “A Principled Man: Rev. Leon Sullivan” Tuesday Feb. 24 at the HMOA

2009-02-13T12:57:00.006-05:00

“Stand on your feet, black boy—stand up,” screamed the enraged soda-fountain owner. It was around 1930 and the eight-year-old Leon H. Sullivan was told that he had no right—as an African American—to sit down and order a Coke at a neighborhood shop in his hometown of Charleston, W.Va. It was a pivotal point in the life of a man who would go on to mentor Martin Luther King, help free Nelson Mandela and play a significant role in ending apartheid in South Africa. It was the beginning of Rev. Leon Sullivan’s life-long mission to fight discrimination—a life that included creating the Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC), job training programs that have trained about 1.5 million people in 142 centers worldwide.

As part of Black History Month, the Huntington Museum of Art (HMOA) will show “A Principled Man: Rev. Leon Sullivan,” the documentary that aired nationally on PBS and that was produced by MotionMasters. Our CEO, Diana Sole Walko, served as executive producer for the film and became a close friend of the film’s subject. Her five trips to Africa to work with Rev. Sullivan and his foundation will provide keen insight into the man, his work, and his journey in developing the Global Sullivan Principles—a code of conduct for human rights and equal opportunity.

Join her for an introduction to the film and a Q&A after the showing on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009, beginning at 7 pm at the Huntington Museum of Art in Huntington, W.Va.

“Help us to work to make, not only our companies, but our nation and our world, better for all God’s people.” – Rev. Leon Sullivan, 1922-2001.

Learn more about the life of this remarkable man at the Rev. Leon Sullivan Web site

Read the story of the rise of a poor Baptist preacher from Charleston, W. Va. to the first African-American member of General Motors’ board of directors in
Moving Mountains: The Principles and Purposes of Leon Sullivan
--Available at Amazon.com

A Celebration of Blessings

2008-11-24T11:28:00.002-05:00

Monday Nov. 17 was a big day for Habitat for Humanity of Kanawha and Putnam—and for MotionMasters. That’s when more than four months of planning, shooting and editing brought together 500 volunteers, donors, partner-families, homeowners, staff and friends to share a Thanksgiving meal and view two new MotionMasters videos in an event called “Celebrate the Blessings.”

“Blessings” was the brainchild of MotionMasters’ president, Diana Sole Walko, an 18-year Habitat volunteer and incoming president of the non-profit, and Shawn Means, Habitat’s executive director. The evening was designed to commemorate 20 years of blessings that have enabled Habitat to build 125 homes; to showcase the organization’s efforts to eliminate substandard housing and to recognize the dedication of long-term volunteers Mike and Tina McCready.

That last part was tricky, though. The McCreadys tend to shy away from recognition, so the video presentation in their honor had to be kept secret—right up to the moment the first images of Mike McCready working at a Habitat volunteer job site flickered across the three huge screens in the Embassy Suites Ballroom.

Before the McCready surprise-video, though, the house went dark for the premiere of “Habitat Generations,” a long-format video showcasing the dramatic impact of home ownership upon the lives of three Habitat children who now are college students.

Produced by Lukas DeGruyl and shot in HD by Doug Morris, the “Generations” video owes part of its distinctive look to using still photography lenses during shooting. “The lenses lent an incredibly smooth look to the HD,” says Morris. “It’s richer and more cinematic, more like a movie and less like newscast or documentary footage,” he says.

Morris added, “We wanted the interviews to be very close and personal, so we went to the subjects; no studio shooting. And that shallow depth of field you see in the interviews, along with hearing their story in their own words (no narration), makes for very powerful storytelling.”

With two videos to write, shoot and edit, plus invitations, programs and press releases to produce, the staff at MotionMasters stayed busy with the project over the summer and all through the staging and production of the event. Amy Drake designed the event logo, invitations and program; Diane Dimoff sifted through nearly 100 McCready family photos and then scripted and voiced the surprise video; pk Khoury and Carole Morlachetta helped with planning and organization, and Doug Morris, Lukas DeGruryl and Wesley Poole handled the vast amount of video production and editing for both videos. Poole also provided technical direction for the event.

“Nearly the entire MotionMasters staff was involved in the Blessings event in some way or another,” said Sole-Walko. “It’s great to have such a fine example of the good work being done by both organizations: MotionMasters and Habitat for Humanity of Kanawha and Putnam.”

West Virginia Lottery tapes in MotionMasters studio with HD

2008-10-09T16:54:00.003-04:00

MotionMasters’ studio gets a real workout. It has been transformed into everything from a convenience store to a beauty parlor. The cyc has been painted dozens of times, from white to black to chroma key and back again. It recently turned into the set for the West Virginia Lottery. A series of television commercials was taped at our facility to promote the fact that nightly drawings are now viewed statewide. The talent for the Daily 3, Daily 4 and Cash 25 drawings spent the day producing 20 variations of the message that were sent to half a dozen stations that air the nightly program.

The spots were shot using one of MotionMasters’ new High Definition cameras. Our HD cameras have already been to Africa and across the state of West Virginia on projects for a variety of clients. The cameras offer multi-format recording, superior image quality and all-digital processing.

Post production was also handled at MotionMasters in one of the Final Cut HD edit suites. This is all part of the all-digital High Definition workflow now available at MotionMasters - from shooting, to editing, to approval before ever going to tape, DVD -- or the web!.

This helped manage the many variations required for the different television stations. And, it made possible the quick turnaround needed to get the spots to air in time for the change.

MotionMasters travels to Tanzania

2008-07-17T15:16:00.006-04:00

There is no place on earth quite like Africa. Capturing the essence of the land and its people has become a personal and professional mission for MotionMasters’ president, Diana Sole. In June, she made her fifth trip to the continent, and for her crew of writers, producers and videographers, it was return appearance No. 4. Each time she makes the journey, she and her crew carry with them the lifelong vision of the late Rev. Leon H. Sullivan to improve human rights, social justice and economic fairness in every country throughout the world. Sullivan was a Charleston, W.Va. native and a friend—and inspiration—to Sole.

Sole and her crew made the ten-day excursion to Tanzania to document “The Summit of a Lifetime,” the eighth edition of the Leon H. Sullivan Summit series dedicated to providing a platform for Africa’s political, economic and cultural leaders. The summits are organized by The Leon Sullivan Foundation, and in keeping with Rev. Sullivan’s legacy, are designed to promote hope and advance change on a global scale. Summit VIII focused on four key areas: investment, infrastructural development, tourism and environmental sustainability.

MotionMasters’ staff who made the 7,000 mile trip (Sole; Executive Producer Brian Peterson and videographers/editors Doug Morris and Lukas DeGruyl) took few personal belongings with them, but packed plenty of the company’s brand-new HD gear to capture every fascinating detail in a way neither tape nor film can. Planting trees, riding in a caravan through the crater of an inactive volcano, spotting lions sunbathing and recording lively dancers and musicians in a spirited performance—these are the images brought to near-3-D life in stunning high-definition by the MotionMasters crew.

Forty-seven nations were represented at the summit and many well-known people were in attendance, including actor Chris Tucker and Rev. Jesse Jackson. How did the MotionMasters crew sum up their adventure? It was unanimous: “Life changing.”

View photo gallery of trip:

Sullivan Summit VIII Photos

See excerpts from the trip and the summit:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=lk_KU1EZn2Y

http://youtube.com/watch?v=WAkRw_ecARE

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Njv4KUgm6sk&feature=related

MotionMasters returns home.

2008-06-20T09:43:00.005-04:00

After spending almost 2 weeks overseas, the MotionMasters team returns home safely. MotionMasters along with Rev. Jesse Jackson, actor Chris Tucker, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Andrew Young, and a few NBA celebrities attended the 8th Leon H. Sullivan Summit in Arusha, Tanzania. Along with helping the development of Tanzania and contributing to this great humanitarian work, MotionMasters was also able to give their new high-definition equipment a test run.

Although this was a grueling and strenuous trip everyone has returned safely and they are in full recovery from this life-altering experience. More to follow soon!

MotionMasters goes high-def

2008-05-22T16:46:00.002-04:00

MotionMasters is celebrating an early Christmas after getting some new toys – all the latest in high-definition equipment.

Santa must have put this merry crew on top of his nice list, delivering two high-end HD cameras, a laptop/portable editing system, an interface that connects different media sources and a tripod, microphones and other new support equipment.

The HD gear will allow MotionMasters to record sharper, clearer images with more creative potential and to save those images in a file-based format that provides better, faster access.

The change comes as full-power television broadcast stations continue switching from analog to digital format and as more people watch TV in high-definition. MotionMasters’ state-of-the-art equipment will provide clients with enhanced footage that is broadcast HD quality.

The equipment still will work with the current standard-definition, or SD, format. However, HD provides a higher-quality image and longer shelf life for media materials.

Since television is going HD, then it makes sense to have commercials and programming in HD,” MotionMasters videographer and editor Doug Morris said.

MotionMasters team heads to Africa

2008-05-15T11:35:00.006-04:00

Endless plains of unspoiled beauty where lions, cheetahs, rhinos and elephants roam free are among scenes a MotionMasters production team will film during a 10-day trip to Africa for the 8th Leon H. Sullivan Summit in Arusha, Tanzania.

Crew members will use the latest high-definition equipment to record the trip, which includes meetings and dinners with business and political leaders from around the world, visits to local villages and safari adventures.

“This particular project gives us the opportunity to capture some pretty outstanding footage using new, state-of-the-art technology,” MotionMasters President Diana Sole said.

Besides meeting with leaders and dignitaries, MotionMasters’ team will travel to “Africa’s Garden of Eden,” the Ngorongoro Crater. Other planned stops during the May 29-June 7 trip include the Serengeti National Park, historic areas of Ethiopia and an oceanside community in Zanzibar.

MotionMasters’ new HD digital cameras, portable editing system and other equipment will allow crew members to film footage in a higher quality and edit it immediately onsite for presentations throughout the summit, which is organized by the Leon H. Sullivan Foundation.

“They’ll use it to promote their activities and to promote economic development and business connections between the United States and Africa,” MotionMasters videographer and editor Doug Morris said.

Sole and Morris will attend the summit along with MotionMasters’ executive producer, Brian Peterson, and producer, Lukas deGruyl.

The 2008 summit –The Summit of a Lifetime – has scheduled workshops on investment, infrastructure, tourism, education and environmental sustainability. Past participants have included summit co-chairman and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Andrew Young, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and U.S. Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

The Rev. Leon H. Sullivan started the summits in 1991 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Sullivan – a Charleston, W.Va., native and Baptist minister known for his efforts to reform apartheid in South Africa – died in 2001. Among his honored legacies are the Sullivan Principles, a human rights and equal opportunity code of conduct aimed at ending race discrimination in the workplace.

This is the fourth time the foundation has selected MotionMasters to cover the summit. MotionMasters also produced a documentary about Sullivan called, “A Principled Man: Rev. Leon H. Sullivan,” and a Web site, www.revleonsullivan.org. The documentary aired nationwide on PBS.

MotionMasters, West Virginia’s premiere film, video and multimedia production company, has produced several other documentaries, including “A Moving Monument: The West Virginia State Capitol,” “The Soul of the Senate: Robert C. Byrd” and “John Marshall – Citizen, Statesman, Jurist.”

For more information about the summit, visit www.thesullivanfoundation.org.

Capitol documentary premieres

2008-03-10T13:01:00.007-04:00

It began more than a year ago. It involved thousands of hours and dozens of people. Now, "A Moving Monument: The West Virginia State Capitol" is ready for air. It will be broadcast on West Virginia Public Television. The Charleston Sunday Gazette-Mail previewed the documentary on March 9.

Film traces Capitol's travels across state
By Paul J. Nyden
Staff writer

A new film tracing the history of six West Virginia state capitol buildings will air this Thursday on West Virginia Public Broadcasting television stations.

"A Moving Monument: The West Virginia State Capitol" is an hourlong documentary featuring photographs of all those buildings and the current Capitol in Charleston.

Diana Sole, president of MotionMasters in Charleston, produced the film in partnership with the University of Charleston.

"I was quite surprised no one had ever done a documentary on it," Sole said. "This one is rich in detail and it was very difficult to keep it under an hour in length."

President Kennedy's historic speech on the steps of the Capitol on West Virginia's centennial - June 20, 1963 - is featured in one vintage film clip.

"A Moving Monument" also shows 1921 film footage of the demolition of the state's second Capitol building in Charleston after it was destroyed by fire and features an interview with a 95-year-old woman who watched the building burn.

"The Capitol is a moving monument cherished by the people it represents," Sole said.

Film crews shot or acquired nearly 70 videotapes and used about 900 photos, historical postcards and other documents in preparing "A Moving Monument." (More film footage and information will be available on www.movingmonument.org

"A Moving Monument" traces the state's multiple capitols, starting with the meeting of the first Legislature in the Linsly Institute Building in Wheeling after West Virginia was formed on June 20, 1863.

Legislators soon voted in April 1870 to move the Capitol, literally, to Charleston. A special boat was used to float the Capitol building, state officials and archives along the Ohio and Kanawha rivers to Charleston.

After they arrived there, legislators mandated construction of a new, three-story Capitol building.

But that move was short-lived; a new Legislature voted to return to Wheeling in 1875. It moved back to the Linsly Building, then shortly moved again into a stone structure donated by Wheeling city officials.

In 1877, legislators decided to let state residents vote on where to locate the Capitol, giving them three choices: Charleston, Clarksburg or Martinsburg.

After voters chose Charleston, legislators opened a new Capitol building in Charleston on May 1, 1885, which lasted for 36 years, until it burned down on Jan. 3, 1921.

State officials then moved into a temporary structure quickly built after the fire, staying there for six years until that building also burned down on March 2, 1927.

The current Capitol, finished in 1932, was designed by architect Cass Gilbert, who also designed the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington and Woolworth Building in New York.

A newly created Capitol Building Commission had already completed part of the structure on the banks of the Kanawha River. By the time the Capitol was completed, the commission had spent $10 million on construction and land costs.

MotionMasters' other documentaries include "The Soul of the Senate" about Sen. Robert Byrd, released in May 2005.

Both documentaries will be made available at no cost to all state public libraries and schools.

MotionMasters has also produced "A Principled Man: Rev. Leon H. Sullivan," about the role of Sullivan, who grew up in Charleston, in backing the international boycott of South Africa while it was under apartheid rule, and "John Marshall: Citizen, Statesman, Jurist."

Former television reporter Ed Rabel narrates the new video, and former Huntington Herald-Dispatch editor James E. Casto wrote the script.

Major funds for "A Moving Monument" came from the West Virginia Humanities Council, Appalachian Power and West Virginia Lottery.

West Virginia Public Broadcasting will air "A Moving Monument" across the state on Thursday at 8 p.m. and in Charleston on Friday at 7 p.m.

To contact staff writer Paul J. Nyden, use e-mail or call 348-5164.

West Virginia Capitol documentary to air

2008-02-15T14:12:00.005-05:00

With its magnificent golden dome and shadow standing sentry over the Kanawha River, the West Virginia State Capitol is a cherished symbol and one of the state's most recognizable landmarks. The Capitol's past is full of drama -passed back and forth as the seat of government shifted from Wheeling to Charleston, destroyed twice by fire and rebuilt as a splendid monument in the throes of the Great Depression.

And now, everyone at MotionMasters is excited about the upcoming premiere of a new documentary about the Capitol. “A Moving Monument: The West Virginia State Capitol,” is a 60-minute program that tells the Capitol's fascinating story. First, MotionMasters and The University of Charleston will host a screening at the West Virginia Cultural Center on March 6, at 6:00 pm. The premiere will then air March 13, at 8 pm on West Virginia Public Broadcasting. That will be followed by "The Soul of the Senate", a chronicle of the inspiring life and career of West Virginia's eminent statesman, Robert C. Byrd.

You can go to the MotionMasters Web site to view more information and a promo for the Capitol documentary. The program will have repeated showings. For a complete programming schedule go to: West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Habitat family story receives more attention

2008-01-02T13:50:00.000-05:00

In our last blog we told the story of Donna King providing a home for her great-nieces and nephews. Well, word is getting around and on Christmas the Charleston Daily Mail published a front page story on the family. Here it is.

After five kids were living in a van, extended family found a home for the holidays
by Kelly L. Holleran
Daily Mail staff

It broke Donna King's heart to see her five great-nieces and nephews living in a van in St. Albans. The children were improperly fed, did not receive adequate medical care, did not go to school and, perhaps most importantly, did not have a home. They owned only the clothes on their backs, and the two youngest children wore only diapers. So when King's niece approached her to ask if she could take in her now 10-year-old daughter, Tiaonna Payne, King, 52, quickly agreed.

Within the next couple of days, King's niece asked her to care for her other four children. She was struggling and really needed someone to care for them, King said. King, who has two grown sons and several grandchildren, gladly welcomed all the children into her home, even though she lived in a two-bedroom trailer.

She gave up her bedroom. The boys had one room and the girls had the other. King slept on the couch. She also had to give up her night job delivering bundles of Charleston newspapers to carriers. She could no longer work all night while the children were at home.

Money still came in, but it was tight. King currently makes $460 a month to help support the children. She also gets a $365 check each month because one of the boys has a disability. She gets $290 a month because the father of her 29-year-old son is paying back child support that he did not pay while her son was growing up.

For a while, just getting the children bathed was a struggle. The hot water tank at the trailer was very small, and water quickly became cold. So King would gather the girls and have them stand under the shower together. Then King would turn off the water while she shampooed their hair. The girls would go back under the shower together to rinse. King repeated the process with the boys.

She quickly grew accustomed to the children's routines and got attached to them. She had taken all five children in by June 2004. Later that summer, King's niece wanted her children back. But King could not bear to let them back into the same conditions, so she fought.

She filed a petition in Kanawha Circuit Court to keep the children, and the judge granted her temporary custody, King said. Until the children's mother is able to prove to the judge that she can provide adequate care, King is allowed to keep them, King said. She has even welcomed a new addition to her family - Mariah Fields, who is now 3 and a sister to the five children. She was born in September 2004 to King's niece, and by January, King had gained custody of the little girl, she said.

Caring for six children is not an easy task, especially not in the area where King's two-bedroom trailer was located. "There was a lot of drug traffic and a lot of drinking at nights," she said. "Fights would break out. It was not a good place to raise kids."

The kitchen in her trailer was too small for all six children and King to eat their meals together, so they would eat in shifts. The three younger children would eat at the small kitchen table together, and then the three older children would take their turn.

The inconveniences were small compared to the love the family shared. "They love people and they want to be loved," King said of the children. "These kids give love, too. They're the most huggable children there are."

King already was utilizing the resources available to her from Birth through Three, a state-run program designed to assist needy families. When she learned she had a good chance of being approved for a house built by Habitat for Humanity, she rushed to sign up. King was elated when she found out she was approved for a brand-new, five-bedroom house on Jubilee Drive in South Charleston.

Every person who is approved for a Habitat for Humanity house must work at least 250 hours helping to build their house and other people's houses, King said. But she put in far more hours than that because she enjoyed it so much. "It's just awesome," she said of the house and the experience. "These people are so wonderful. You wanted to be there. It wasn't a chore at all."

The family moved into their new house in September, and now the six children have more space. They have a huge backyard to play in. Tiaonna has her own bedroom. The two youngest girls, Tamara, 7, and Mariah, now 3, share a bedroom. The two youngest boys, Bruce, 6, and Brandon, 4, share a bedroom. Nine-year-old Raymond can choose where to sleep. He usually has to sleep with someone because he is prone to nightmares, King said. Even King has her own bedroom. The fifth bedroom has been converted into a television room.

The kitchen in the new house is big enough for a large table where the family can gather and talk about their day. In fact, dinnertime seems to be the best time of day for the children, King said. "They like to discuss what good things happened during the day, what bad things happened, how they could fix those things," she said. "As soon as they start eating, they want to talk about their day."

The children and King also go to Maranatha Fellowship Church, a non-denominational church in St. Albans. They attend services every Sunday morning, Sunday evening and Wednesday evening. King attributes her ability to get her new house to God. "It's all through God's mercy," she said.

When Diana Sole, president of MotionMasters in Charleston, heard the family's story, she decided she wanted to feature them in her company's Christmas card.

Sole has been actively involved in Habitat for Humanity for nearly 20 years and heard King's story in October, when the Habitat for Humanity board was discussing which family to profile in its annual holiday letter. Sole wanted to tell the family's story through video instead of words.

After getting Habitat's approval, MotionMasters filmed a profile of King and her family, and Habitat sent out DVDs for Christmas. MotionMasters also sent it out as its Christmas card. Overall, about 5,000 people should have received a copy.

Although officials say they're not sure what sort of financial impact the video has had on Habitat for Humanity, people seem to enjoy it. "I've had a lot of people stop me at Rotary or Christmas parties that have just been overwhelmed with the story," Sole said.

Jennifer Hudson, director of development for Habitat for Humanity, said it has opened people's eyes. "We've had quite a few phone calls," she said. "It certainly opened people's eyes that things like that happen in our own community and we're not even aware of it. Things do happen. It's about opening people's eyes to that, whether it be financially, volunteering their time. It takes a community to build a community."

King said she's very grateful for the help and can't say thank you enough to all the people who have been of assistance. "I want to thank anyone that has ever helped with these kids - churches, schools, a lot of these people have really given and helped," she said.

The crew at Habitat and Motion Masters said King and her family deserve only the best. "There is a special place in heaven reserved for her and her kids," Sole said.

Contact writer Kelly Holleran at kellyh@dailymail.com or 348-1796.

Family helped by community of volunteers

2007-12-03T12:53:00.000-05:00

The story was heart-
breaking.

Six kids were living in a van. Surrounded by filthy conditions, they stole food to survive, had few clothes and didn’t go to school. There was little hope for a future.

It was a tragedy occurring — not in someone else’s community — but right here in Charleston, W.Va.
But this story has a happy ending, and we were honored to tell it.

MotionMasters volunteered its time and talents to produce a six-minute DVD this holiday season that shares the emotional, uplifting story of a local family whose lives were turned around thanks to a kind-hearted woman and Habitat for Humanity of Kanawha and Putnam County.

Donna King stepped in to provide a home for her six great nieces and nephews. Faced with cramped conditions in her small trailer, she applied for a Habitat home. Now she has a new place for the children — a safe, clean haven where they are thriving.

The story is just one of many happy endings written by Habitat for Humanity of Kanawha and Putnam County. Working with a host of volunteers, the group has built 118 homes for area families — all of whom have remarkable stories to share.

Making the video for Habitat for Humanity was a labor of love for MotionMasters, which has a long history of contributing its staff members’ time and talents to help nonprofit organizations.

The project had a special meaning to Company President Diana Sole, the video’s producer. Diana has been a Habitat volunteer for more than 17 years and is a member of the local group’s executive board.

Videographer Doug Morris spent long hours editing the project. And he had great stuff to work with. He and fellow videographer Wesley Poole captured captivating video to help tell the King family’s moving story.

MotionMasters also designed the DVD’s custom packaging. To tie together the holiday season and the mission of Habitat, Art Director Tony Campbell drew gingerbread men building a gingerbread house.

Campbell drew many separate illustrations in color pencil and then scanned them into the computer. Layer upon layer was used in Photoshop to create a three-dimensional world complete with a photo-realistic background, drop shadows and other enhancements. He really made the images pop off the page by dabbing Wite-Out around the edges of the drawings to create the appearance of frosting.

To integrate the package design into the video, he transformed Habitat’s logo (three figures with interlocking arms raising a roof) into a gingerbread men logo. The logo appears on screen with a closing message after another piece of Campbell’s artwork fades into the background — a fireplace with six stockings (representing the children in the video) and a twinkling Christmas tree.

The video is even more compelling because of the song it features — the powerful “A House, A Home” by Anna Wilson. Wilson was inspired to write the song after working on a Habitat for Humanity project in Nashville. Part of Habitat for Humanity International’s public service campaign, “A House, A Home” is ranked as one of the hottest new songs on iTunes.

Motion-
Masters was pleased to be part of this wonderful project and hopes that it encourages more generous giving during the holiday season and beyond. With 5,000 copies of the DVD being mailed to Habitat supporters and our clients, we believe that more tragedies can be turned into triumphs — one family’s story at a time.

WeSave a success at W.Va. Capitol

2007-11-15T15:01:00.000-05:00

The length of the line is always a good measuring stick for popularity.

Judging by the number of state employees who snaked around the Rotunda at the state Capitol in Charleston, the Nov. 14 launch of WeSave Magazine’s winter issue in West Virginia was quite a hit.

Staff members of WeSave Inc. manned tables and handed out copies of the magazine, magnets, key chains and food. They also signed up state employees not yet taking advantage of the loyalty/benefit program’s discount card. The cards provide average savings of 5 percent to 15 percent at participating merchants.

MotionMasters produced three issues of the magazine, which WeSave is distributing to public employees in West Virginia, South Carolina and North Carolina. A total of 150,000 magazines were printed — 30,000 for West Virginia, 45,000 for South Carolina and 75,000 for North Carolina.

The magazines are targeted to each specific state and promote the benefits of WeSave and the program’s Web site, WeSave.com. Merchant listings in the issue give readers thousands of opportunities for savings.

Articles in the magazines are consumer oriented with a focus on money, home, automotive, wellness and travel. The West Virginia issue included a feature on Christmas celebrations in the Eastern Panhandle.

MotionMasters’ staff has been busy the past several months researching, writing, editing and designing the magazines. Company President Diana Sole is the associate editor for the publications. Jeff Morris is the managing editor, and Kara Walko is the editorial assistant. Tony Campbell is in charge of design and layout.

WeSave plans to launch the magazines in South Carolina and North Carolina at events similar to the one at West Virginia’s state Capitol. With the enthusiastic response in the Mountain State, expect more lines and extra calls for pizza!

Documentary crew captures Capitol at night

2007-10-05T15:57:00.000-04:00

If you drove by the state Capitol late at night during the first week of October, you probably saw the big lights, dolly and jib. A five-person camera crew canvassed the area capturing magnificent video of the Capitol. Clear skies served as a picture perfect backdrop for the three nights of shooting. Large lights and gels illuminated the building and accented the wonderful details architect Cass Gilbert carefully designed.

The footage will be incorporated into the FIRST documentary ever produced about the history of the state Capitol. “Temple of Democracy: West Virginia’s State Capitol” will be released later this year to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the completion of the current Capitol building. It will be distributed free of charge to all secondary schools and libraries in the state.

Remember when...Diane Dimoff was on TV

2007-08-28T17:13:00.000-04:00

If you live in West Virginia, you probably remember Diane Dimoff as an anchor and reporter for WSAZ-TV. She interviewed a lot of people who were making news. Well, she is now a writer and producer here at MotionMasters. Recently, Channel 3 turned the tables on Diane and produced a report about her. You can read all about her experience in television news and view several videos. Just go to WSAZ's Web site.

MotionMasters shows its spirit

2007-08-16T09:09:00.000-04:00

MotionMasters just produced what you could call an “Ed”-ucational video.

Our video profile of University of Charleston President Ed Welch was the highlight of the Spirit of the Valley luncheon Aug. 15 at Embassy Suites in Charleston. Judging by the standing ovations from the hundreds of business leaders in attendance and the announcement that the annual fund-raiser generated a record $234,200 for the YMCA of the Kanawha Valley, the program and the video were a rousing success.

The annual award is presented by the YMCA to the person whose life personifies the spirit of giving. With his many contributions to the community and leadership skills that have taken his school to new heights, Ed Welch was selected as this year’s winner.

MotionMasters was proud to once again be part of this wonderful community event, and we are pleased that we have been able to produce the video for the program since 1999. The showing of the 10-minute profile at the luncheon marked the completion of a several-month project. Our crew spent plenty of hours this summer writing the script, gathering art and video and setting up interviews. Diane Dimoff produced this year’s video, which was edited by Wesley Poole. Jeff Morris wrote the script.

As she has the past several years, MotionMasters’ President Diana Sole served on the leadership team that spearheaded Spirit of the Valley fund-raising efforts. Kudos to all of the community leaders who helped the YMCA surpass its previous fund-raising record by more than $18,000. And three cheers for Dr. Welch — this year’s deserving recipient. He’s definitely the Ed of his class!

Lights, camera, action!

2007-08-08T10:58:00.000-04:00

Imagine the scene: a summer sunrise in Charleston, W.Va. The birds are chirping, and the dome of the state Capitol complex gleams in the early morning mist.

It sounds like a movie script, doesn't it? Actually, a documentary film crew captured that scene Tuesday morning from the roof deck of Columbia Gas Transmission's Charleston office.

The film crew from MotionMasters visited 1700 MacCorkle Ave. at the crack of dawn to get a new vantage point for their documentary "Temple of Democracy: West Virginia's State Capitol."

"Most people haven't seen the Capitol from this point of view. It is really something," said Diane Dimoff, producer and writer for the production company. "We appreciate Columbia's support of the film and its hospitality."

The crew plans to return to the roof to capture additional seasonal footage for the film, which is scheduled for release in 2008. To learn more about the film, visit the MotionMasters' Web site at http://www.motionmasters.com/

Thanks to the NiSourse Gas Transmission & Supply Communications Department for submitting this blog article.

Jeff Morris goes the distance

2007-08-02T15:06:00.000-04:00

MotionMasters copywriter, editor and running veteran Jeff Morris, who competed in the Boston Marathon in April, knows the challenges of the Charleston Distance Run. The Charleston Gazette published the following feature article in today's sports section.

By Bob Fretwell
For The Charleston Gazette

Jeff Morris is a familiar figure as he runs the streets of Charleston and has compiled a glowing list of credentials.

Among other things, the 46-year-old Morris ran his first Boston Marathon in the spring, finishing in a respectable three hours, five minutes and 57 seconds, and he’s a regular in the Charleston Distance Run and other area races.

Noting those credentials, the Great Teays Running Club recently named him winner of the Gene Fuller Memorial Award, which is presented annually to the area runner who demonstrates a devotion to the sport.*

The presentation came on July 21 following the Great Teays Run, an annual 5-kilometer race along a cross country-type course at Hurricane’s Valley Park. He ran the 3.1-mile distance in 18:56.

Morris, who works for MotionMasters, a multi-media production company at North Gate, has competed in a dozen Charleston Distance Runs and says the 15-mile test is not unlike a marathon.

“A lot of people liken it to being as difficult as a marathon and, having completed three marathons, I think that’s true, particularly on a hot day,’’ he said. “You come off the hills, and your legs are wobbly, and you’ve got nine miles of flat without any shade. It’s a challenge, and it’s a race everyone points to every year.’’

His best time in the Distance Run is 1:33:10 at the peak of the running boom in 1985.

The Charleston resident, who ran track and cross country at Barboursville High and Bethany College, has run marathons in Pittsburgh and Columbus, Ohio, and made his Boston debut in windy, rainy conditions in April, placing 1,424th out of 20,340 entrants.

“I’ve already qualified to go back next year,’’ he said. “I’d like to break the three-hour barrier while I’m still able.’’

In preparing for a marathon, Morris runs at least 70 miles a week, up from the 55-60 in his normal, year-round training.

Another Kanawha County runner, South Charleston’s Glenn Baldwin, also competed in Boston last spring and finished ahead of Morris in 2:56:39.

The Charleston Distance Run and the accompanying 5-kilometer race are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Sept. 1.

2007-07-30T10:15:00.000-04:00

For several months, MotionMasters has been looking for pictures, film, video, interviews and memorabilia that tell the history of West Virginia's state Capitol. In recent weeks, we've captured the removal for restoration of the Rotunda's 4,000-pound crystal chandelier, interviewed a number of people with fascinating perspectives on the 75 year old icon and traveled to our nation's capital to view other buildings designed by Cass Gilbert including the U.S. Supreme Court. These will all be woven into the first documentary ever produced about the history of our state Capitol.

Fund raising for this educational package is ongoing. Our deepest gratitude to all those who have contributed or made pledges to the project so far. Major support for the project is being provided by the West Virginia Lottery. Appalachian Power, a generous supporter of several previous MotionMasters documentaries, is providing additional funding for the project. The full list of donors to date includes: West Virginia Lottery; Appalachian Power; Bowles, Rice McDavid Graff & Love LLP; Central West Virginia CVB; Dow Chemical Company; Governor's Office; Huntington Foundation; Schoenbaum Family Foundation; West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts; Columbia Gas Transmission; Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation; Robert H. Mollohan Family Charitable Foundation; Tri-State Racetrack & Gaming Center; Walker Machinery; Chesapeake Energy and the Haddad Foundation. Providing in-kind contributions are the Charleston Marriott Town Center and the Huntington Museum of Art.

MotionMasters is anxious for this remarkable story to be shared. As production continues, we will keep you updated on some of the additional aspects of the documentary "Temple of Democracy."

The story of the WV State Capitol to be told

2007-05-24T11:54:00.000-04:00

MotionMasters is going on a treasure hunt of sorts looking for pictures, interviews and memorabilia that help tell the story of West Virginia’s state Capitol. Our journey has been enjoyable and informative. In recent weeks, we’ve interviewed a 95-year-old woman who witnessed the burning of one of our capitols in Charleston. Our cameras also were rolling in March when all the Capitol’s chandeliers were taken down and shipped off to a New Hampshire company for long over-due cleaning and restoration – their first since the building was completed in 1932. Our cameras even tagged along as fourth-graders took in our majestic Capitol for the very first time. A number of other interviews and events have been captured and will be woven into the first documentary ever produced about the history of the state Capitol. “Temple of Democracy: West Virginia’s State Capitol” will be released later this year to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the completion of the current capitol building.

In addition to being our seat of government, the state Capitol serves as a backdrop for many events. If you took wedding, prom or family pictures at the Capitol or if you have a memory you would like to share with us about an event that happened at our state Capitol please contact us.

Fund raising for this educational piece is ongoing. Major funding for the project is being provided by Appalachian Power, West Virginia Lottery and West Virginia State Legislature. Additional support to date includes Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love LLP, The Dow Chemical Company, Governor’s Office, Huntington Foundation, Schoenbaum Family Foundation, WV Department of Education and the Arts, Columbia Gas Transmission, The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, Robert H. Mollohan Family Charitable Foundation, Walker Machinery, Chesapeake Energy and Haddad Foundation. The University of Charleston is our fiscal sponsor. Contributions toward the production are tax-deductible.

The documentary will be distributed free of charge to all West Virginia secondary schools and libraries. The documentary is also slated to appear multiple times on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.