1. NO SPECIFIC CAMPAIGN –  Rally your donations around a goal, let people take ownership in their gift, or better what their gift buys. Invite donors to be part of a building campaign, buying new computers for the facility, or to join the movement, perhaps to raise a certain amount by a certain date.

2. TOO BORING – Don’t produce a video brochure… speak about benefits not just features, like in any good sales presentation. It should be a highly emotional immersive experience with real people before the ask. Let them share your mission, feel for those you help. Let them really know your organization, let them hear real stories about real people helped. Sometimes it’s better to save the ask for outside of the film.

3. TOO LONG – Keep it short. As they teaching in acting, directing, and good communication; if it’s not a necessary or critical scene, leave it out. It’s critical the first :08 to engages your audience then moving forward you have to be on your game every :08 seconds to keep your audience engaged. When in doubt cut it out! You want them to stay on your site, or to come back next year to your event!

4. TOO GENERAL – Personalize the case for support.  There are certain messages that can be given at a dinner and on the web in front of the public, others that can’t. When you can customize the message for a particular donor or group of donors, perhaps it’s your biggest donor, it’s worth the time. More often than not there will be many who fall into the category of that major donor or group of donors and you will get mileage out of that custom made presentation. So focus in on their individual passions and interests. Make a specific version of the video with specific donors in mind. When you try to please everyone, you often please no one.

5. NO FOLLOW UP – Promptly follow up with perspective donors. You spent the money on your mailing, your video, the food, now personalize it, and meet or call them. Once they make a donation of any size it’s critical to say thank you and share the success, let them know the impact of their donation. Getting long term support is just as important as a successful campaign!

6. THERE IS NO REAL CAMPAIGN –  Videos cost money, campaigns make money. You need a plan. If you follow the above rules and you produce a video now what? Don’t blame the film maker if you don’t make money. Together when you start producing your video work with the film maker on a campaign. The most typical is, have everyone on the board and the honoree send around and share on social media a 1:30 promo film that includes a link to your invitation/donate page. Then consider having a 6 minute version for your dinner after you’ve fed everyone and they’re looking for a good story and want to get to know you better. Then cut that dinner version down for your website and social media and last but not least have in mind creating social media clips so your video is not a once a year occurrence, but reather you can release :30-1:30 pieces often.

7. THE VIDEOS DO NOT CREATE A FOLLOWING –  What are social media videos anyway? They are videos that are short and compelling that people will want to share. Very often they offer valuable information that people who have similar interests will share with other people with the same interest. For example we did a very successful social media campaign with a special needs school about how parents react to anger in their special needs children. Then we shared it with other groups containing special needs parents in the same situation and that value was appreciated and shared. Be sure to have your logo front and back and perhaps in the corner throughout, with contact information at the end. When the valuable information you’ve shared is shared with others, this way  your brand and contact information spreads as well.

8. DOES NOT LOOK PROFESSIONAL, DOES NOT STAND OUT –  You need for a brand, like many things you buy! You have to look like a real business or organziation. It’s not enough to have a successful product or service, you need name recognition and legitimacy based on your look. When your PR materials don’t match each piece of matieral ends of standing alone and starting from scratch. A branded campaign with the same polished look throughout, with a brand guide, will allow your materials to represent you exponentially. The most sophisticated financial advisor can be pitching for your business, but if he’s wearing a clown suit, folks ain’t buying. Don’t sell your valued proposition wearing a clown suit or a look that doesn’t suit you or doesn’t stand out or is inconsistent. A logo and brand is worth the investment as it’s seen the most of any piece of advertising you have.

9. NOT EMOTIONALLY ENGAGING –  A story that comes from the heart, touches the heart. Typically in th short films you see it portrays; I got sick, I got better, if it was for the organization – name here – I don’t know where I’d be. So when you think about it, it’s not the words, we’ve heard the stories before, there are no new stories, it’s about the delivery. Your stories have to be good and have to be captured with tons of emotion.

10. NO CALL TO ACTION!  So you’ve shared Information, taught me your mission, got me emotionally involved, now hit them with a call to action. You can recommend people to share your story on facebook, perhasp get a copy of the film and have a parolor meeting. Or perhaps you organization needs to be pushed into action, perhaps the board members have to all follow up in the days after your event.

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DMJ Studios is currently accepting applications for Editor and Producer/Office Manager/Production Coordinator.
Please send your resume and reel (if appropriate) to jasse@dmjstudios.net

In House Editor:
DMJ Studios a growing Long Island video & editorial boutique is dedicated to finding an amazing local full time in house editor. Editor must expert in Adobe Suites (Premiere/Photoshop/AfterEffects) & FCP7, experienced with non scripted videos. Overall looking for a great visual storyteller. Strong graphic, music, and creative ability is a must. Videos we produce include: biographical, patient testimonial, fundraising, medical and honoree videos. The ideal candidate will be a technical editor who is computer and software savvy and has a passion for growth and improvement. Salary depending on experience.  You must include a link to your reel at the top of your application followed by your responses to the job qualifications. Before telling us your life story, please address the job qualifications. Looking forward to finding our next team player.

Producer/Office Manager/Production Coordinator
The Producer/Office Manager/Production Coordinator will oversee our Long Island production office including: scheduling, light book-keeping, booking crews & editors, as well as hard drive and project organization. This position requires a highly organized person who is good at tracking jobs and working closely with clients, along with a working knowledge of production equipment and editing software. As we do our own sales & marketing,experience with: Constant Contact, Linked in, Zoho CRM, and knowledge of social media is a big plus. We start at 8:45 AM and finish at 6:15 with only occasional later nights. The ideal candidate is within a close radius of our offices in Cedarhurst 11516, we’re next to the LIRR. If you have skills producing please include a link to work, it is not critical for this position that you have a reel but a consideration.  Typically we are responsible for concept to completion and produce highly emotional documentary type short films for non-profit events; like cancer  or special needs benefits. We do some editorial for broadcast, corporate and web as well. Generally we shoot on Cannon 5D Mark III and edit either on Premiere or FCP7 and do graphics with utilizing templates. .  Please let us know your experience with running an office and the software you’re really good at. Thank you, look forward to hearing from you.

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DMJ on location in a penthouse apartment in NYC interviewing supporters of one of the many non-profits on DMJ’s roster.
The Gear: 4 daylight LED panel lights, Cannon 5D Mark III, a mini HD monitor, 2 Lavaliere microphones, a couple prime lens options, and of course one of our favorite DP’s Suyji Honda. Together we captured, emotional interviews and beautiful images of both the speakers and their luxurious penthouse.

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Cameraman DP Suyji Honda along with Director David Jasse (not visible) interviewing synagogue President Ephrayim in Woodmere N.Y. as part of a moving documentary, “The Story of Aish Kodesh”, The Holy Fire. One of the synagogue’s goals as told by Rabbi Moshe Weinberger is to help rebuild a Jewish world that was destroyed in WWII.

video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=on8Xl4fkFJU

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Each year DMJ works closely with SINAI Schools in N.J. to produce short films to be featured at their annual February Gala, where over 800 people come out each year “for a good cry”. In order to insure quality sound, DMJ and SINAI spend a day at mixology post in NYC with Rob Kahn and Doug Moss

Video – https://vimeo.com/58738338

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Director David Jasse on location with Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Chairman of The Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations, along with the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs for Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Elie Weisel was presented with a German Medal of Honor.

Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H58Uq02iVtg

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Cameraman/DP Travis M. doing close up photography on Jewelry for “Jewel Night” a fund raiser for Sharsheret a women’s cancer organization who recognizes their donors with various jewels depending on level of contribution.

video – https://vimeo.com/144511035

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