Welcome to the North Jersey Chapter of the Media Communications Association International

 

Mission and Vision 
The Media Communications Association-International (MCA-I) reaffirms our commitment to increase awareness of mission critical functions of media communications professionals and to support - in every stage of their career - those engaged in the profession. MCA-I's Strategic Plan, focusing association efforts through 2010, comprises three key initiatives: cultivation of partnerships; establishment of an industry university and online library and building a voice for the industry.

These initiatives are underway with deliverables starting this year and a culmination to these efforts to come well before the end of the decade. They are works in progress, and we welcome your participation


Next Meeting:

Check back often
as we get ready for a great new year!

We'll be announcing our
MCA-INJ Fall Kick-Off
in August.

In the meantime:
HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!



Previous Meetings:


 
What a WRAP!

Our Annual
MCA-I North Jersey
Wrap Party was held on
Tuesday, June 16th, 2009
6:30pm - 9:30pm

at
MAGI Filmworks
10 Greenwich Street
Belleville NJ 07109

where we celebrated
another great year
at MCA-I North Jersey!




NAB RECAP:
What's New in HD?


Tuesday, May 19, 2009
6:30 PM – 9:30 PM

Fairleigh Dickinson University
Madison, New Jersey

Recreation Building, Rutherford Room - 2nd Floor

or watch it live here

We will be broadcasting this meeting live on the Internet beginning at 7:30pm EDT
If you can’t join us in person, please feel free to tune in to our webcast here.

The Program:
We'll review some of the new products introduced at NAB which includes a dizzying array of HD devices.  We'll also clarify the question "What is HD?" reviewing the multiple formats and HD standards that are described as “HD” including HD standards, HD cameras and HD compression formats. Understanding this is a must for anyone who produces, acquires or shoots video today.

The Presenter:
Steve Sarafien, Account Manager, Broadcast and Professional Group, Sony Electronics. Prior to taking this new role in July 2008, he was a Sales Support Engineer for 7 years, responsible for pre-sales support of XDCAM and HDCAM products, providing workflow demos and product training.  Steve has been with Sony for 25 years.  He holds a BSEE from CCNY.  Steve is also a photographer and has served as the USA Gymnastics NJ State Trampoline Director from 1998-2002.

Food and refreshments:
Light refreshments will be served

Admission:
  • MCA-I members (any chapter): free
  • Visitors: $10.00
  • Full-Time Students and Faculty with current ID: free
Schedule:
  • Networking and light refreshments begin at 6:30 PM.
  • Program and LIVE STREAMING VIDEO (www.mca-inj.org) begin at 7:30.
Directions:
The University’s website has directions to the Park Avenue entrance in Florham Park on their website.
Ask at the Guard House for directions to The Rec. Building.

For those familiar with Madison Avenue, Route 124, Fairleigh Dickinson’s main entrance is on the north side about a mile west of downtown Madison and about a mile east of Convent Station. Enter through stone gates, proceed straight (under the railroad, to the Guard House. The guard will direct you to the Rec. Building. Make a left after the guard house and the Rec. Building will be around the bend on your right. Parking is available directly across the street.   (We will place MCA-I directional signs on campus if the weather allows.) Take the elevator or stairs to the second floor.

By train: NJ Transit, Morris & Essex line, to Convent Station.
Phone for taxis, or make prior arrangements for pick-up.

Questions:

Please contact David Landau david@murdertogo.com

Watch it live here:
(Live video should appear in the window by approximately 7:00 PM. Click "refresh" if you don't see anything.)

Live video coverage of MCA-I North Jersey meetings is brought to you by Sica Productions.

Like what we're doing? Please consider joining our chapter!



Independent Distribution -
How to Get Your Work Seen


Tuesday, March 17, 2009
6:30 PM – 9:30 PM

Fairleigh Dickenson University
Madison, New Jersey

or watch it live here

  • It doesn’t matter if you are doing documentaries, educational videos, shorts or feature films, distribution is the key to getting your work seen by others.
  • Hear from industry veterans about what works in today’s marketplace, including on line sales, and new video download technologies.
  • Learn about working with distributors or doing it all yourself.
  • Whether you are producing a short for You Tube or an Independent Feature, the panel can provide tips that can help you get your work out there and earn some bucks doing it all yourself.
The Panel
  • Bruce Frigeri, President, LifeSize Entertainment — a major distributor of foreign and domestic films and producer of the indie feature “Fear House.” His company is currently pioneering download purchases of independent features from Sundance and the Tribeca Film Festival.
  • Dave Landau, Film Professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University — award winning published playwright and producer of the independently produced interactive film “Murder at Cafe Noir” which was a featured selection at Freedom Film Festival and the Telluride IndieFest. He is the writer/director of the interactive DVD game “Stab In The Dark” distributed by LifeSize Entertainment. He was also the writer/director on the direct to consumer DVDs “Psychic Party Game and “Story Time Santa” released by Drew’s Famous Entertainment.
  • Matt Clarke, President Clarke Com — Recent credits outside his corporate and broadcast clients include producing and editing the interactive DVD games “Stab In The Dark,” “Psychic Party Game” and “Story Time Santa” released by Drew’s Famous Entertainment and the interactive feature film “Cafe Noir.”
  • Sam Love, Corporate Media Producer — His award-winning independent educational documentaries include "Naturescaping: A Landscape Alternative," "Radiation Impact on Life," "The Energy Report" and a how-to series on fly fishing with trout guru Harry Murray. He has also written a novel, "Electric Honey" about the cultural clash of the 1960s.

 Food and Refreshments

Networking and light refreshments begin at 6:30 PM.

Directions

The University’s website has directions to the Park Avenue entrance in Florham Park. http://view.fdu.edu/default.aspx?id=238. Ask at the Guard House for directions to The Recreation Building. We'll be meeting in the Rutherford Room on the 2nd floor.

For those familiar with Madison Avenue, Route 124, Fairleigh Dickinson’s main entrance is on the north side about a mile west of downtown Madison and about a mile east of Convent Station. Enter through stone gates.  (We will place MCA-I directional signs on campus if the weather allows.)

By train: NJ Transit, Morris & Essex line, to Convent Station. Phone for taxis, or make prior arrangements for pick-up.

Schedule

  • Networking and light refreshments begin at 6:30PM.
  • Program and LIVE STREAMING VIDEO (www.mca-inj.org) begin at 7:30.
Admission
  • MCA-I members (any chapter): free
  • Visitors: $10.00
  • Full-time Students and Faculty with current ID: free

Sign up for the MCA-I North Jersey email list to receive notices about upcoming events.





Previous Meetings:

February 2009
"Social Networking -
How to Use LinkedIn Effectively!"

You can view the archived version of the live webcast here.

Speaker: Rod Colon
Founder & CEO of Empowering Today's Professionals Network (ETP Network)

The Program:

  • Jump start your job search with LinkedIn
  • Replace the black hole job search methodology with a 7 Steps Job Search system
  • Learn how to leverage your untapped professional networkLearn how to be proactive in the job search rather than passive
  • Get inspiration and motivation during these difficult economic times
  • Discover how to adapt "Social Networking" to your work – and your search for it.



January 2009
"Members Showcase" -
How to Use LinkedIn Effectively!"

You can view the archived version of the live webcast here.


The Program:

Professor David Landau chaired a panel of working creative professionals who presented excerpts from their works-in-progress.

The Members' Forum meeting offered an opportunity for people to show their works in progress to fresh sets of eyes. After presenting a 5-minute excerpt of their unfinished program, presenter's took advantage of problem-solving discussions with their peers.  The intention was to showcase work and gain new perspectives.

The overall goal of this special meeting is to provide professional development for individuals and to continue to elevate the quality of work done in our state.


January 2008
NJMarCom
     
Event NJ MarCom Joint Holiday Networking Event
Date Tuesday, December 16, 2008, 6pm-9pm
Location Mayfair Farms, West Orange, NJ
Cost $50. [$65 after Dec 10 and at the door. No refunds will be issued after 12.10.08]
Register (201) 998-5133 or Register Online Now!
Dinner Price includes buffet plus one free drink per attendee (Courtesy Mayfair Farms). Cash bar thereafter. Plus one free gourmet coffee (Courtesy Cupa Cabana)!

NJ MarCom Joint Event

You are invited to attend the NJ MarCom Joint Holiday Networking Event. Our participating non-profit professional organizations have hundreds of members, unique value propositions, and different perspectives and resources. Volunteers from each organization will be at the event on Tuesday, December 16, 2008, to answer your questions about the benefits of membership.

Want to volunteer? You must be a member of one of the participating organizations and should contact the Committee Representative for the group in which you are a member.

Our last event was SOLD OUT with over 400 attendees! Register early to guarantee your admission and get the best price for this outstanding event. We look forward to seeing you on December 16, 2008.

Sincerely,

Wendy Flanagan
NJ MarCom Council Chairperson

 


PLATINUM SPONSORS
Mayfair Farms
MayfairFarms.com

ExactTarget
ExactTarget.com

NJ.com/Star Ledger
NJ.com/StarLedger

 

GOLD SPONSORS
Murray/Sitecore CMS
Murray/Sitecore CMS Partners

The Boss Group
The Boss Group

Aprimo
Aprimo Marketing Resource Management

Cupa Cabana
Cupa Cabana Gourmet Coffee

Want to sponsor this event?
Did you know? Our emails reach 10,000 targeted industry decision-makers in NJ. Choose from two pages of sponsor levels that are a perfect match for your budget. Download the sponsor form

 

JOIN A GROUP
© 2008 NJ MarCom Council, Inc. Design by Murray.
NJAdClub NJIABC NJAMA AWCNJ MENG ADCNJ BMA SCIP PRSA MCA-INJ


November 2008 Meeting


The latest about Flash!

Fairleigh Dickinson University

Madison, New Jersey

The Program

Professor Janet O'Neal of FDU spoke on Flash Animation and Preparing Video for the Web. This mini-seminar included an overview of current practices along with tips on specific techniques of particular interest to MCA-I members such as:
  • How to upload your work.
  • What is the best upload format?
  • How Flash compares to other media players.
  • Is Flash a truely "universal" format?
  • How can you ensure that your work will play in Flash rather than Quicktime?
  • Is YouTube really Flash?
We also conducted a demonstration on how to create a video in Flash.



MCA-I ProTrack™ 2008 - Anaheim, CA

Media Pros are "California Dreamin'!"

October 31st - November 1st

Anaheim is the ultimate fall destination for video and new media pros who want to learn from the industry’s brightest and best. Network with professionals across the world. And play in the California sun! (Disneyland is just minutes away from the conference. See MCA-I site for details on special pricing!)

MCA-I ProTrack offers an exciting agenda of sessions, celebrations, HD Expo, Disneyland, Media Festival, the G. Warren Scholarship Golf Tournament and more.  
 
These URLs will answer any questions you may have about our international event. 
Check them out and sign up before the Oct. 10 discount deadline!
 
ProTrack 2008:
http://www.mca-i.org/ProTrack2008

 
ProTrack 08 Presenters:
http://www.mca-i.org/en/art/?1378


October 2008 Meeting
Get ready for the Blu-ray Revolution!


The Program

If you are involved in DVD production, your world is about to change.  Blu-ray has won the format war with HD-DVD and Blu-ray players are now selling for less than $200.

At our October meeting, we learned the current state of the Blu-ray industry, the exciting features Blu-ray makes possible, and the new techniques that make Blu-ray authoring easier.


Panel host Sam Love introduces our presenters
Panel host Sam Love introduces the presenters

Featured Speakers:
Our panel discussion featured two top industry experts who will share their insights with us and answer our questions:

Panel host Sam Love introduces our presenters  
Tony Jasionowski

Tony Jasionowski, Panasonic Corporation

Tony is Senior Group Manager of the Panasonic Corporation of North America’s Technology Liaison & Alliances Group and he brought us up to date on the Blu-ray Disc industry.  He explained how the business has changed now that Blu-ray has triumphed over the rival HD-DVD format.  Tony addressed where we stand now and where the industry is going in the future.


At Panasonic, Tony has been responsible for new magnetic and optical technologies, formats, product planning, engineering and promotion.  He has been actively involved in the DVD-Forum, since its inception. He is also involved in the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), Optical Storage Technology Association (OSTA) and other industry alliances.


 and

 
Denny Brietenfeld

Denny Breitenfeld, NetBlender

Denny give us an insider's overview of Blu-ray disc authoring and the features available under the full Blu-ray specification. He reviewed the primary differences between “prosumer” authoring tools and professional authoring tools. He also explained the pitfalls of preparing discs for replication. Until recently, Blu-ray specifications required extensive knowledge of programming.  Denny demonstrated how the authoring process has been simplified and made more accessible to media producers.


Denny is the principle developer of DoStudio Blu-ray Disc Authoring, a complete professional Blu-ray authoring tool that is designed specifically for DVD authors who are making the transition to Blu-ray Disc.

Missed the meeting (or not local to North Jersey)?

Fairleigh students assisted with the video coverage

Video coverage of our meetings is streamed live and also archived for on-demand viewing. You can access the stream from our website or from here.


2008-2009 Season Kickoff Meeting

College Students –
Ready Assets for the Professional Workplace


Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Fairleigh Dickenson University
Madison, New Jersey

Watch the archived version of the webcast here.


The Program:


Professor David Landau chaired a panel of students, graduates and teachers who told us what the colleges and universities of today are doing to produce graduates ready to hit the ground running in the professional world of communications.


The panelists not only covered the realities of today’s curricula, but also explained the immediate value available to the employer or mentor – whether the graduate is filling the role of intern or employee.


They covered valuable positions such as production assistants, editors, and grips where graduates are ready to contribute in the real world outside academia.


Featured Speakers:

Faculty/Graduates/Students
from FDU, CCM, Seton Hall and William Paterson Universities.

Did you miss our September meeting?

Watch the archived recording of the live webcast here:



 

May 2008

Post-NAB Panel

Tuesday, May 20th, 2008

from 6:30pm-9:30pm

 The Mansion
Fairleigh Dickenson University
Madison, NJ


The Program:
MCA-I North Jersey’s meeting on May 20th featured some personal takes of what went on at NAB this year.

Speakers:

Our panel discussion featured two speakers, each of whom viewed the show offerings from their own unique perspective:

  • Sol Comerchero, Senior Account Manager for Pro Video from Anton/Bauer, who also demonstrated the new Stasis Flex camera mount and other new items from Anton/Bauer.
  • David Danto, Director of Global Multimedia Engineering for Lehman Brothers, and IMCCA’s Director of Engineering Technology. David is also a columnist for IMCCA, author of an online review of NAB

April 2008:

To view an archived recording of our April meeting click here.

April 23 final



Making Sense of Web 2.0

March 2008

The Internet Technology Express Is Rushing Forward.
Will you be left behind?
Don't be!!!!

Jo Stapleton of Kinesis Marketing spoke about “Making Sense of Web 2.0
at The Mansion, Fairleigh Dickinson University, 285 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ
 
His workshop included discussion on:
  • Second Life,
  • widgets/gadgets,
  • dashboards,
  • social networking,
  • user-generated content,
  • RSS feeds,
  • podcasts,
  • multi-tech environments and
  • mobile content. 
If you don't understand all these terms, you need to view this presentation, because your audience probably does!

View the archived video here 


Our December 2007 meeting:

Joint Holiday Networking Event

Over 250 New Jersey Communications Professionals Celebrated the Season Together!


holidayinvite.jpg

Our October 2007 meeting was:

Corporate Production in the Pharmaceutical Industry

AND IT SOLD OUT!

It was the Event of the Fall!

Tuesday, November 13th, 2007
at 6:30 PM

MCA-I
North Jersey

proudly presented a second major forum on

Corporate Production
in the
Pharmaceutical Industry
 

A panel discussion with the heads of video studios of three major pharmaceutical corporations.

Bill VanderDecker, Merck & Co. Inc. 

Bill has worked in the Visual Communications field at Merck for 23 years. In his current role he is responsible for Photographic Services, Webcasting Productions and Video Productions. Recently restructured as a "Shared Service" function, the group's reach is now global. Prior to Merck, he worked in a similar capacity at the BOC Tech Center (formerly Airco). Bill has a B. S. degree from Rochester Institute of Technology. 

Ed Davenport, Hoffman LaRoche

Ed’s 44 years of experience in media began in video engineering at Fort Monmouth, NJ, He started at Hoffmann la-Roche in 1973, and was promoted to Director of Multimedia a few years later. He has been responsible for designing and building entirely new major facilities in all areas of media for at Roche’s headquarters in Nutley, as well as overseeing thei day-to-day operation. Ed has a degree in Management from Rutgers.

Ivan Nelson, sanofi-aventis

Ivan is Director, Multimedia Services at sanofi-aventis, where he has worked for the past seven years. Since starting his career as a freelance non-linear editor 13 years ago, he has gained increasing levels of responsibility in the corporate production setting and is now in charge of sanofi-aventis' Internet, Intranet and Corporate Branding activities. Ivan has a BA in Film Production from CUNY-Hunter College. 

Location: The Mansion, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Florham Park (Madison) Campus

Madison Avenue (Route 124), Madison, one mile east of Convent Station.

Special thanks to host and sponsor Prof. David Landau, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Dept. of Visual and Performing Arts

The Program

New Jersey is home to the headquarters of about one third of all the major US pharmaceutical companies. This vital and successful industry is essential to everyone’s health, as well as to the economy of our state, our country and the entire world. Our participating companies are among the top 10 in the world. Each maintains an active visual communications presence, not just in advertising to professionals and consumers, but on an internal level as well.

As we did last March, we had a “privileged” discussion among professionals. Topics included:

  • departmental organization (in-house vs. freelance)
  • the kind of work done within each company
  • creative factors vs. content limitations
  • the mix of scripted programs to “news” events
  • equipment and facilities
  • how changes in the pharmaceutical industry are affecting production and corporate communications
  • the current political climate relating to the industry, and much more.

Also, as before, our panel answered questions from the audience – for some this was the best part of the evening!

A catered buffet dinner was served. The program began shortly after 7:30 and the presenters graciously stayed around even after the meeting was over to answer questions from those in attendance.


Did you miss October's great meeting on Independent Filmmaking? You can watch it here. Just go to our Video page. 

Our "Summer Wrap Party"  was held on  June 19 and featured lots of picnic food and LOTS of networking opportunities. Over 200 media professionals from 14 New Jersey organizations attended.  

Read a review of our recent  meeting: "Corporate Production in the Pharmaceutical Industry." (And here's another review.)

Sign up for the MCA-I North Jersey email list to receive notices about upcoming events.
(Just send us an email and we'll add you to the list! You can unsubscribe at any time.)

 

 

 

 


Copyright © 2006 Media Communications Association - International. All rights reserved.      6/30/2009 LCD

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