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Silver Oaks team makes award-winning movie in a weekend as part of the 48-Hour Film Project05SEPT07Two days, one weekend, forty-eight hours… No matter how you say it, that is how long it took our Silver Oaks team to organize, write, film and edit a movie for the 48-Hour Film Project, which challenges teams to complete an eight minute movie in two days. The international contest takes place in over 50 cities, including Los Angeles, Toronto and Berlin. Finding the right mix of talent, locations and props is no easy task, yet last year the Silver Oaks crew, under the pseudo name of Presto Video, entered the Des Moines competition with a film called Man Eating Dumpster and won the “Best of City” award. We entered again this year hoping to repeat our success. Silver Oaks eNews responds to curious readers05SEPT07We sure have been busy this summer and a lot has happened since the last issue of eNews. For this edition of our newsletter, we are introducing a new column where we will be “Listening In.” It’s your chance to speak. Do you have a topic that you would like to see covered in the next issue? A question about Silver Oaks? Comments on your experience with us? Tell us what’s on your mind. Your submission could appear in an upcoming issue! 
Step into the Silver Oaks audio recording studio and hear something different every day05SEPT07
In our last issue, we asked you to pronounce “syphgmomanometer.” Were you even close? While it’s definitely easier to say “the pressure gauge and arm cuff used for taking blood pressure,” Silver Oaks’ audio recording studio often echoes with big words like “syphgmomanometer” and “deoxyribonucleic acid.” 
On location with globe-trekking video crews05SEPT07
Silver Oaks Communications is housed in beautiful offices nestled under a stand of majestic oak trees on a hilltop overlooking the Mississippi River. Sounds like we’d never want to leave our offices, right? On the contrary-Silver Oaks members “Have Passports, Will Travel.” Whether by car, commercial flight or corporate jet, Silver Oaks members and crews are happy to go far and wide to meet with clients and shoot videos covering a broad scope of work. We have traversed every region of the United States, including a Who’s Who of American cities: Worcester, Mass.; Baton Rouge, La.; Miami, Fla.; Riceland, Ark.; Boulder, Colo.; Gillette, Wyo; Muleshoe, Tex.; Phoenix, Ariz.; Los Angeles, Calif. and Seattle, Wash., just to name a few. HD video technologies explained05SEPT07The rise of digital technology has changed a lot of things, from the way we do business to the way we take in entertainment. One industry that is currently experiencing some of the greatest effects of these changes is video. In 2003, Silver Oaks shot its first high–definition video project which aired nationally on PBS. Four years later, the battle between Blu-Ray and HD DVD has reached a critical point in the distribution arena while numbers like 1080i, 1080p and 720p are frequently being used to describe new home theater systems. With so much emphasis on technical terms, it can be difficult to decide what production method is best for you. However, once you know the strengths and benefits that each one can offer, what will and won’t work gradually becomes more clear. Eco-Marketing a popular trend05SEPT07
We all know that red means stop and green means go (at least most of us do, anyway). But how many of us know what it means to “go green” in the marketplace? Even those who have a good grasp of the concept are often fuzzy on what the whole process can entail. So for this edition of eNews, we”ll explore the thoughts behind eco-marketing and what it truly means to go green. John Deere Classic is a Silver Oaks Tradition05SEPT07It has become a tradition. Every summer, we invite our clients to join us in supporting the John Deere Golf Classic at TPC Deere Run. This July was no different, as we all turned out to greet our clients while providing coordination assistance at the non-profit event. Silver Oaks worked with the John Deere Classic to produce all of their electronic promotional material. These projects included a 2006 highlight DVD, radio and TV spots, and two videos that were shown at the tournament's Pro Am Pairings
Party Monday of tournament week. Duking It Out in the Ice Cream Bowl01MAY07While the Bears and the Colts were busy competing for a spot in the
Super Bowl, Silver Oaks was gearing up for a match between frozen treat
equipment manufacturer HC Duke and its competitors. HC Duke is the company
behind the Electro Freeze brand, which offers frozen treat equipment to
worldwide distributors for popular establishments such as Dairy Queen and
Sonic drive-in restaurants. Improved Technologies Make Web Surfing a Flash01MAY07More and more companies are developing web content these days as
consumers have increasingly been turning towards the web for product
information, shopping and online networking. Thus it has become more of a
challenge to create a website that will stand out to users among the
millions of others. $1,000,000 Deal01MAY07The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago recently posed the question,
“Who wants to be a millionaire?” Its visitors have answered a
with resounding “I do!” following the completion of a brand
new display created by Silver Oaks. The display allows guests to stand
next to a briefcase containing one million dollars and be photographed,
forever immortalizing that millionaire moment. Insight Into Your Website01MAY07Part 4, Generating Traffic Adding the Silver Oaks’ Touch to the ADDYs01MAY07Here’s a riddle for you: How do you advertise for an advertising
event? You call on Silver Oaks for help, of course, which is just what the
Quad Cities Advertising Federation did to promote the 2007 ADDY Awards
ceremony. Virtual Embryo Develops at Silver Oaks16JAN07Silver Oaks has recently revamped the Virtual Embryo exhibit at
Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry into a more interactive and
educational user-experience with the integration of touchscreen technology
and stunning 3D animation. Using the existing content as a point of
reference, we created a new 4-minute interactive experience that explains
the role of master control genes and highlights the major milestones of
embryonic development in the first eight weeks of human pregnancy. Want to Crash the Super Bowl?16JAN07
We did. That’s why our Video department took up the challenge
posed by Doritos. The snack food company’s “Crash the Super
Bowl” competition invited contestants to write, shoot and edit
their own Doritos commercials. Official graphics and animations
were provided for download on the company’s website. Other than
that and a few guidelines, the creative was up to the entrants. Silver Oaks Gets Their Hands Dirty With Soil Project16JAN07
With the help of an animated character named Claude, conservationists
and teachers throughout the US are teaching children that an amazing
and fascinating world of soil lies beneath our feet. Videos Win National Awards16JAN07
A trio of videos produced by Silver Oaks recently received
Millennium Awards. The Millennium Awards honor excellence in
video, film and other communications mediums and is one of the
most respected national competitions in the industry. By Invitation Only: 48 Hour Shoot Out16JAN07
Never satisfied to rest on their laurels, the Silver Oaks filmmaking team has
been at it again. On the heels of their “Best of City” win in this summer’s
48 Hour Film Festival, the team was invited to participate in the
organization’s latest event, the 48 Hour Fall Shoot Out, November 3rd and
4th. Penguin Pandamonium16JAN07
Falling stalactites, giant snowballs, low hanging Christmas lights and
icy water are just a few of the obstacles Sven, the penguin, encounters
as he races to collect presents and skates across the finish line.
Glacier Racer, the new 3D holiday game by Silver Oaks, tests players’
skills as they maneuver through slippery terrain and tight corners. Insight Into Your Website16JAN07Part 3, The Value of Content Blending History with Industry in Exhibit Design19SEP06It has been HNI Corporation’s desire to create a museum that
celebrates Muscatine, Iowa’s prosperous history of industry,
showcasing the heritage of major area corporations. Taking the lead, HNI,
the world’s second-largest office furniture manufacturer, was the
cornerstone of the resulting new Muscatine History and Industry Center.
Through HNI’s longstanding relationship with Silver Oaks, we were
charged with the task of moving the endeavor forward and the creation of
HNI’s museum experience. Insight Into Your Website19SEP06Part 2, Tips For Improving Site Navigation Email Engine Revs Up19SEP06What is the first thing you do when you turn on your computer every
day? You quickly scan the contents of your email inbox looking for
familiar “From” and relevant “Subject” lines. You
read those that are important and delete or block those considered to be
junk. iPod Invasion19SEP06The iPod product line from Apple is quickly evolving from music players
into feature-rich portable content delivery devices. Introduced in the
fall of 2005, Apple’s latest iPod model adds a color LCD screen,
video playback, and the ability to store and view photos. This opens up a
whole new way to distribute multimedia content. Report from NAB 200619SEP06The world’s largest electronic media show, ImMEDIAte Future,
converged on the Las Vegas Convention Center in late April and Silver Oaks
was there to keep a finger on the pulse of the latest developments and
trends in the industry. Branding: Defining Yourself19SEP06A brand is a single concept that represents everything about a company.
It distinguishes your products and services from the competition while
adding value. Only the businesses that communicate real value in
today’s world of high expectations will succeed. What makes you
unique? The Low-Down on High Definition19SEP06Watching television is not the same experience it once was. High
definition, with digital broadcast technology, the increased data rates
and wide-screen formats, provide six times the picture area of standard
definition and the clarity that standard analog broadcasts lack. HD screen
formats and sound programming provides viewers with a similar experience
and quality you would get in a theater. Silver Oaks team wins “48-Hour Film” competition; proceeds to international contest31AUG06A creative team from Silver Oaks Communications became part of an
international filmmaking competition when its “Man-Eating
Dumpster” movie won the Best of City award Friday, Aug. 18, in Des
Moines. The Silver Oaks team, nicknamed Presto Video, took first place out
of 30 teams that entered the city portion of the sixth annual
“48-Hour Film Project” contest 
What Not to Wear15MAY06Silver Oaks and TLC brought the answers to thousands of mall
shoppers’ style questions in Fall 2005, with a virtual style
station. Flash Forward to the Future15MAY06The Flash Forward Conference was held in March at the Washington State
Convention Center in Seattle. The conference focused on Flash as a
platform and welcomed hundreds of designers, developers and artists from
all over the world to share their knowledge and inspiration with the rest
of the Flash community. It’s Not Just The ABC’s Anymore!15MAY06Gone are the days when blackboards and chalk were the primary tools.
Classrooms of today incorporate computer capability and Internet
connectivity. Media-rich lessons combine video, Internet resources and
hands-on experiences to maximize learning. 
Rock Chalk Jayhawk15MAY06The University of Kansas opened the doors to the new athletic Hall of
Fame on Jan. 21, 2006, allowing Jayhawks everywhere to experience the
history and tradition of Kansas athletics both past and present. The new
attraction was showcased on ESPN at half time of a Kansas men’s
basketball game. Got Game?15MAY06“Get in the game” is taking on a whole new meaning.
Advertisers are expanding their reach with in-game advertising, and
we’re helping to develop new and creative ways to zero in on the
specific markets that advertisers seek through the use of games. Insight Into Your Web Site!15MAY06Improve your business online… just by reading this article. This
is the first of a four-part series on Web site issues. Part one shows you
how Silver Oaks can help you through the sometimes daunting pile of site
usage statistics, and sort out what they mean to you. 
AAM’s 100th!15MAY06Silver Oaks was on hand to help celebrate the American Association of
Museums (AAM) centennial anniversary in Boston this April. Silver Oaks was
a participant in the expo for the sixth consecutive year, featuring
creative solutions for interactive, video and animation. 
Silver Oaks Honors Clients at ADDY® Awards10MAR06Silver Oaks clients were honored last month by winning 14 ADDY®
Awards, including the prestigious Special Judges’ Award. Silver Oaks Holiday Production Rebroadcast On PBS Digital21DEC05“Sing We Now of Christmas!” an acclaimed choir concert by
First
Presbyterian Church, Davenport, Iowa, will be rebroadcast on WQPT and
other
public television stations across the country this week. Blog your way into sports reporting!22NOV05Want to be a sports reporter? Now’s your chance! All you need is
a cell
phone and an appreciation for prep sports, and you can tell other fans
about what’s happening on the field – moment by moment. “Headhunters” advergame tracks down talent for Silver Oaks22NOV05The spears come at you from all sides because the headhunters are all
around you. You must run, jump and roll to evade the arrows and make it
to the top of the ancient ruin. It’s not the latest Playstation
challenge – it’s the latest advergame developed by Silver Oaks
Communications Inc., Moline. 
Magazine and CD Designed by Silver Oaks Earn Best of Show Awards19SEP05The Modern Woodmen magazine, designed by Silver Oaks Communications,
Inc., has earned a Best of Show award in the annual Insurance & Financial
Communicators Association (IFCA) communications competition. Silver Oaks wins Telly Awards with high-definition concert program, television commercial19SEP05Silver Oaks Communications, Moline, has earned two national Telly
Awards
for producing a high-definition concert program and an animated
television commercial. Chicago Historical Society earns award with Silver Oaks display23JUN05Silver Oaks Communications, Moline, has earned a national 2005 MUSE
Award for developing an interactive touch-screen display for the Chicago
Historical Society. Newest Iowa Attraction Showcases Silver Oaks Interactive Expertise07APR05Silver Oaks has developed interactive exhibits that are part of the
newest attraction in Iowa. Silver Oaks to Exhibit at Museum Expo 200501APR05Silver Oaks Communications will showcase its interactive, video,
animation, multimedia and on-line creations at the American
Association of Museums’ Museum Expo May 2-4, 2005. 
Silver Oaks Earns 20 ADDY® Awards for 18 Clients30MAR05Silver Oaks Communications earned 20 ADDY® Awards for 18 clients in
the annual Quad City competition. Silver Oaks Ad Earns National Recognition22MAR05An Alcoa Employees and Community Credit Union print ad, designed by
Silver Oaks Communications, earned one of 137 Diamond Awards at the Credit
Union
National Association (CUNA) competition in Palm Springs, Calif. Silver Oaks Gets the Latest on Gaming at Conference22MAR05Silver Oaks Communications experts stayed up to date on the latest
programming and
design of video games at the Game Developers Conference in San
Francisco. 
Silver Oaks is 21!21DEC04Long before you ever heard of an e-mail or a web site, Silver Oaks was
creating innovative communications for its clients. Silver Oaks Dispatches Digital Games to Local Troops Overseas06DEC04In the spirit of the season of giving, Silver Oaks Communications,
Inc.,
will send about 100 copies of its computer word game
“Chatterblox” to local troops who are being deployed to Iraq
or Afghanistan. Silver Oaks spotlights Quad City choir in HD03DEC04For the first time, Silver Oaks Communications’ high-definition
capabilities will enable an award-winning Davenport choir to be
showcased on national public television. Silver Oaks Creates Advergames, Branding — and Loyalty26AUG04Silver Oaks Communications lets you play with your customers' minds and
gives your customers a chance to use their minds to play! Silver Oaks Breaks Into Online Gaming Scene02MAR04Silver Oaks releases Chatterblox Deluxe, an interactive word game
created entirely in house and distributed online.
Silver Oaks to Exhibit at Museum Expo™ 200406APR04Silver Oaks Communications will be back to exhibit at the American
Association of Museum’s Museum Expo™, May 7th — 9th in
New Orleans to showcase its extensive interpretives display. Silver Oaks Inducted into John Deere’s Supplier Hall of Fame05APR04Silver Oaks Communications was inducted into John Deere’s
prestigious supplier Hall of Fame at Deere’s Achieving Excellence
Awards
Banquet on February 17. Whitey’s Ice Cream Cartons Get Tasty New Look27JAN04Whitey’s Ice Cream customers will get a taste of their favorite
flavors just by looking at the cartons. Silver Oaks’ design for the
new user-friendly containers incorporates the company’s familiar red
stripes and white background with enticing new photographs of 16
Whitey’s ice cream flavors. Silver Oaks Receives Omni Awards12DEC03Silver Oaks Communications received five top Omni Intermedia Awards for
achieving the highest standards of excellence in interactive and video
production. Silver Oaks Receives American Institute of Architects Award09DEC03Silver Oaks Communications was honored by the American Institute of
Architects with a 2003 Distinguished Building Award for its involvement in
the renovation of the Chicago Lincoln Park Zoo exhibit, Farm-in-the-Zoo
Presented by John Deere. Silver Oaks Transforms Exhibit at Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo07NOV03Silver Oaks creative production capabilities transform the Zoo’s
Main Barn into an interactive learning center filled with engaging
hands-on activities for children of all ages. Silver Oaks to Produce PBS Holiday Program07NOV03Silver Oaks Communications will produce for television, “Sing We
Now of Christmas: A Festival of Carols”, to be aired on PBS. 2002 Quad Cities Advertising Federation's ADDY Awards07MAR02Silver Oaks burned up the red carpet as eight of their departments
— Interactive Multimedia, Web, Video, Animation, Graphic Design,
Photography, Prepress and Printing — took home an impressive eight
ADDYs and nine Citations of Excellence and Merit. 2000 National ADDY Award Winner05OCT00Silver Oaks was awarded a National ADDY Award for its books and
interactive CD-ROM entitled "Silver Spurs and Cowboys." |
More news:Greg Marten takes an unforgettable transcontinental trek Silver Oaks wins prestigious Media and Technology Award Striking it rich at this year's ADDY competition An award-winning museum interactive brings farm technology indoors Listening in: non-profit marketing strategies Feedback:Silver Oaks eNews responds to curious readers. |
