Blog

Rolling Sculpture, and Golden Statues

A shimmering sight in the lobby of Gemstone Media is our trophy case, which contains evidence of the quality work our team delivers, including two Emmy Awards and one Communicator Award for nationally broadcast documentaries about one of the world’s preeminent automotive events.

Winning Amelia and Driving Amelia were created by Gemstone Media. Executive Producer, Ray Hays, wrote and directed these hour-long documentaries showcasing the 2019 and 2020 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.  Both aired in prime time on NBCSN, and locally on WCWJ and WJXT.  

The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, founded by automotive journalist and collector Bill Warner, has earned an international reputation for its high-quality selection of cars, attendance by racing legends, picturesque setting, and the unbridled celebration of automotive history and design.

“Bill trusted Gemstone Media to faithfully share the essence and purpose of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance to the world. Our talented team turned the opportunity into multiple awards for the quality of the show!” says George Birnbaum, Gemstone Media CEO & Founder. 

“For over 25 years, The Amelia has been the crossroads of the unexpected and the incredible.  It’s the people, their passion, and their stories which gave our production team such fantastic content,” added Gemstone Media Executive Producer, Ray Hays. 

Winning Amelia drove off with a Communicator Award in 2020. The Communicator Awards honor excellence in a variety of categories and the entries are judged by the Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts (AIVA).

Winning Amelia and Driving Amelia both earned Emmys for “Special Event Coverage–Edited” from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Suncoast Chapter in 2020 and 2021. 

High School Basketball’s Best

Over six years, The Fortegra High School 9:12 Basketball Invitational has established itself as a premier exhibit of the top teams in the greater Jacksonville area.  The event showcases the sport to those who would not watch or notice it otherwise.  Additionally, it gives the students an opportunity to play in a tournament-style competition in-season, and with professional video ever-present, also serves as a platform for recruitment.

Through Airstream Ventures’ partnerships with Gemstone Media, Florida State College at Jacksonville, News4Jax, and 1010XL, not only do the players compete on a grand stage, people near and far can catch every bucket.

Gemstone Media produced live video of all games, streaming through News4Jax–and added REMI to this year’s tournament.  REMI reduced production costs while helping us discover additional ways to continue improving the overall product.  Read more about REMI here.

“This event is a slam dunk every year.  We are proud to continue to work with Airstream Ventures, spotlighting these young athletes,” says George Birnbaum, Gemstone Media Inc. CEO and Founder.  “When people call on Gemstone to produce their events, once it’s time for the next one, over 99% want to bring us back into the game.”

AAC REMI Touchdown in New Orleans

For its college football championship pre-game coverage, The American Athletic Conference handed the ball to Gemstone Media Inc. to employ our REMI proficiency.

REMI is short for Remote Integration:  a revolutionary workflow that allows us to produce video on-location without bringing all the necessary equipment and people to the actual site.

For this program, only the videographers and an engineer joined the talent at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans.  Each camera’s view was transmitted individually and securely.

Everything else a producer would normally transport—switcher, monitors, graphics system, and all the cables—remained at our headquarters in Jacksonville, along with the director and rest of the crew.

The result is identical to what would have been achieved with a production truck and entire staff on-site, but with a significant savings in time, travel expenses, and fuel.

“It’s great how we can put on a professional pre-game show all the way from Jacksonville, while the event is taking place in New Orleans,” notes Tristan Morhous, director and Gemstone Media Inc. Production Supervisor.  “REMI has been a game-changer in our industry.”

And with the velocity of a running back receiving a handoff from a quarterback, the entire process from the press box in Louisiana to our headquarters in Florida, through Tristan’s cues and switches, and on its way to AAC fans, took fewer than two seconds.

“Bottom line, every REMI production Gemstone Media has undertaken, we find even more ways to utilize technology and add value,” says George Birnbaum, CEO and Founder.  “And that speaks to the people behind it, and the expertise we all bring.”

Gemstone Media, Inc. and Jacksonville University sign exclusive agreement to broadcast live sports

November 15, 2023

Gemstone Media, Inc. (GMI), a nationally acclaimed video production company boasting multiple Emmy® awards and headquartered in Jacksonville, FL., has proudly unveiled an expansive offering of new live Jacksonville University (JU) sports broadcasts. Simultaneously, GMI has introduced a dynamic sports broadcasting internship program in collaboration with JU. This groundbreaking agreement has been crafted to spotlight the exceptional synergy between GMI and JU Athletics, while creating exciting learning opportunities for JU students. Collectively, the partners are set to deliver more than 100 live television sports broadcasts throughout the year, encompassing a diverse range of campus sports.

“We are truly honored to receive ongoing national recognition for our work and the exceptional efforts of our broadcasting team,” stated Gemstone’s CEO and Founder, George Birnbaum. He emphasized the success and effectiveness of the GMI proven training model, which garners national accolades and also fosters invaluable skills and career prospects for JU students.

Production Manager, Tristan Morhous, expanded on this sentiment explaining, “Our partnership with JU provides students with an exceptional platform to learn the ropes of sports production in the context of live TV broadcasts. Our experienced professional television crew works hand in hand with students, engaging them in real-time broadcasting experiences. This hands-on approach is integral to our training philosophy, ensuring that students are actively involved in every aspect of our live broadcasts.”

This year, JU Dolphins Broadcasting is making waves by delivering a diverse range of live sports broadcasts to ESPN, etc.  “Our ambition is to secure the top position within the Atlantic Sun Conference, not only in terms of the quality of production but also the quantity and diversity of sports broadcasts,” concludes Birnbaum.


JU Deputy Athletics Director/Chief Operating Officer, Rick Canter, enthusiastically expressed the significance of this endeavor, stating, “This represents one of the most substantial opportunities we can offer to our current students and athletes. Through our collaboration with GMI, the future of JU Sports looks remarkably bright and promising.”

Gemstone Media Inc. and the University of South Florida launch @bulls_broadcasting Instagram hub

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – May 1, 2023

Gemstone Media, Inc., a multiple Emmy® award winning national video production company with headquarters located in Jacksonville, FL. announced today it is proud to launch the new @Bulls_ Broadcasting Instagram Hub. This is a site is designed to showcase the outstanding work of our broadcasting and training partnership with University of South Florida (USF) Athletics and the USF student body. Together we will produce over 170 live television sports broadcasts this year in a wide variety of campus sports.

“We are honored that our work and our broadcasting team continues to be nationally recognized. Our statistics show we have a proven template that builds lifelong skills and broadcasting career opportunities for the USF students”, says Gemstone Media CEO and Founder, George Birnbaum.

Gemstone Media Production Manager, Jon Dougherty, explains “we are providing our USF students a fantastic opportunity to learn sports production during live TV sports broadcasts. We have first-class on-campus facilities and equipment and while working alongside our seasoned professional television crew, we engage, incorporate and train students during our live broadcasts”. This year, USF Bulls Broadcasting is delivering a variety of live sports broadcasts to ESPN and has vaulted to the top of the American Athletic Conference in terms of high quality production and the quantity and variety of sports broadcasts.

“Our talented group of students are learning to be directors, producers, camera and replay operators, etc., and they are seeing that hard work and professionalism pays off in the real world,” says Birnbaum.  “Gemstone Media’s secret sauce is our amazingly talented team. By establishing trust, collaboration, and ongoing communication with the USF students, we can create and surpass the magic our clients may expect from their live sports production.  When student engagement and professional skills training is done right, it can have a powerful and lasting effect. Hearts open. Minds change. Careers blossom and creativity thrives.”

 

Super Bowl LIV: From The Field To Your Screen

What The Super Bowl Means To Us

As one of the biggest live television sporting events, the Super Bowl truly makes a mark in the sports production industry. Last year, 102 million total viewers were reported to have tuned into Super Bowl LIV. This year, with the pandemic lingering and in-stadium viewing options becoming limited, audiences are connected to their televisions more than ever before. And Super Bowl LV is going to reflect that. Gemstone Media is ultra excited about this year’s Superbowl because we are directly involved in the production!

Many viewers don’t think twice about it; a game’s playing, and it’s expected to seamlessly appear on our screens. In fact, that’s exactly how the experience should feel. That’s what those of us who produce live sports production regularly strive for: a seamless delivery of content from the field to the screen. But to us, this year’s Super Bowl LV is more than “just” a game. It’s a representation of the array of possibilities new technology brings to the table. It sets the precedent for the ultra-high-quality future of sports production in the digital age.

So, how exactly ​does​ the game come to your screen? What’s it like from the “inside”? What goes into ensuring that seamless delivery of content? Let’s talk.

As CBS puts it, the millions of viewers tuning in to watch the Kansas City Chiefs play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be treated to an unparalleled viewing experience. This year’s coverage will have a more cinematic feel, thanks to cameras and camera enhancements never before used in football’s biggest game. Additionally, the talented people who run the equipment. Toys are cool- but the creativity and the technical expertise of the professional team bring them to life.

For instance, the trolley cam will zipline along a wire extending from one end of the stadium to the other at speeds up to 65 miles per hour. You’ll be immersed in the game, with this camera making it feel like you’re watching from the eighth row of the stands.

If that’s not enough, more than ten 4K and multiple 8K cameras will be integrated among the 120 cameras used for the live broadcast. Dozens of camera angles embedded throughout the field and in the stadium will bring the Super Bowl to viewers at home.

All of these digital components will be synthesized together on-the-spot as production crew members quickly cut and edit together the best footage as it takes place on the field.

What’s really exciting to us is the addition of new tools used for broadcasting this game. Here’s a list of some things that stand out to us:

  • Augmented Reality – Animations, in-game graphics, and augmented reality will enhance the viewer experience   
  • Embers and particles will light up the Tampa night as the game takes shape to produce the event with detail never before seen on sports television                                                                                                                                                                    Trolley Cam – This is the camera we mentioned earlier, which will provide a look at the players from a vantage point never used, until now, in the history of the Super Bowl

    Venice Cameras

    • These on-field cameras will capture that dramatic, cinematographic feel like you’re used to experiencing while watching commercials and movies
    • Some of these cameras will be operated on devices called Steadicam rigs and MOVI rigs that have been described as giving a 3D video game look and feel
    • Movie Bird CranePositioned at 53 feet in the air, this crane has traditionally been reserved for major film and television productions.It’ll also serve as one of the many augmented-reality-encoded cameras strategically placed in the stadium

      • The Numbers

        • 120 total cameras
        • 18 robotic cameras
        • 32 cameras embedded in end zone pylons
        • 2 wireless pylon cameras along the sidelines
        • 19 television mobile units
        • 3 sky cams and fly cams
        • 1 trolley cam 
        • 1 Movie Bird cam
        • 25 super slow motion angles
        • 12 cameras with 4K and 8K production capabilitiesHow Gemstone Media Is Involved

          We’re especially excited about the game because some of our very own team members are working as part of the production crew! Our team has an extensive history of working in the live sports production industry, this game in particular really stands out to us. It’ll illustrate the ways in which technology continuously opens the door to new opportunities and capabilities. It will also create great opportunities for our clients going forward as we capitalize on the paramount experiences and knowledge our team gains and can bring back.

          Beyond that, we look at Super Bowl LV as a chance to recognize the vital role that this digital age plays in connecting people together. It’s a chance to harness the skills, tools, and technology at our disposal to embrace and meet the needs of the very people who give us purpose, reason, and a platform to apply our skills.

    What Should You Do?

    Social Media, Social Media, Social Media: The Key To Marketing
    We understand that no matter what industry your business takes part in, social media marketing with video will play an integral role in sharing your brand, your messages, and your products or services. Need to reach a new audience or connect with your current audience? Social media. Struggling to increase sales? Social media. Trying to surpass your competitors and make a profound mark in your field? Social media. This all might sound redundant, but it’s essential that you capitalize on the strong opportunity to connect with your consumers through one of the most influential platforms. Add video to the mix and watch your results skyrocket!

    Now, you might be wondering which platforms specifically have the greatest chance of producing the highest returns. Facebook still dominates the marketplace, with nearly 2.5 million monthly active users (MAU). Coming in second place, we see YouTube holding a significant market share of 2 million MAU, while Instagram is home to 1 million MAU.

    What Should You Do?
    Like we’ve mentioned, social media marketing is a necessity for excelling in today’s digital age. Social media has truly become an indispensable part of everyday life. Defining and reaching your target audiences on each platform will tremendously benefit your business. But beyond that, you also need to ensure that the messages you share resonate with your audiences. Simply knowing where your audiences are located and reaching them isn’t enough; distributing a message they remember will allow you to really make your mark.

    At Gemstone Media, we assist you with everything: consulting, defining your needs, developing a strategy, and producing creative digital content that will translate on social media. Your marketing content needs to have a story that not only promotes your brand and services but also makes people remember who you are. That way, they’ll feel more inclined to choose you over your competitor. You’ll witness substantial ROIs on your investment in social media marketing — and we’re here to help.

    Myth vs. Truth

    Clarifying the Most Common Video Marketing Myths                                                                                 

    Gemstone Media Inc. is a nationally recognized media production company, we’re a big proponent of video marketing.  We believe video helps your business. Our belief is deeply rooted in analytics and creative storytelling. According to George Birnbaum, Gemstone’s CEO and Founder, in just one year, we’ve seen a 57% increase in the effectiveness of video marketing we have produced for our clients. In the past five years, it’s been an amazing 83% increase. We know that more than 99% of our clients have a significant positive return on their investment. With that in mind, let’s discuss the video marketing myths George debunked.

    Myth: “Video is too expensive”

    Truth: Budget is trivial in comparison to quality content that delivers results you desire

    • Video tells your story better than anything- sight, sound, color, motion, and best of all…emotion
    • Consumers appreciate and respond to authentic, compelling stories that are engaging
    • The value of your message is paramount
    • Video drastically increases social media shares and engagement rates
    • We work with a wide array of budgets to meet the needs of our clients

    Myth: “People won’t watch videos”

    Truth: Video is the most dynamic type of content since the beginning of time

    • Increases open rates for your communications from emails to social media
    • Increases the amount of time spent on your website
    • Boosts click-through rates for landing pages on your site
    • Encourages social media shares

    Myth: “Video is difficult to track”

    Truth: Dozens of resources give all the tracking data you could ever want, all in one place

    • We offer enablement platforms to provide comprehensive insights about consumers for our clients
    • Video is linear;  we integrate platforms and can tell you what your viewers watched, skipped, and shared
    • This data helps shape your understanding of your consumers’ demographic and psychographic characteristics

    Myth: “We can’t benefit from using video”

    Truth: From CPA’s to Landscapers the bottom line is consumers crave high-quality video content

    • 94% want to see more video content from marketers
    • 97% of consumers enjoy watching entertaining videos on social media
    • Video was the #1 form of content strategy in 2020
    • Video works better than anything else

    Myth: “We produce video ourselves on our iPhone”

    Truth: Many amateurs can and do, however, our clients know the professional work done by our skilled technicians will be high-quality video and audio production.

    They say “it’s like night and day”. 

    And, with our award-winning Gemstone creative production team, the process of creating quality video marketing content becomes even easier for you. We guarantee it.

    Use video; see results. Gemstone Media Inc. will make you look great. “See the difference”!

    Live Streaming: A Necessity in the Age of Coronavirus

    What is Live Streaming?

    At its core, live streaming refers to the online streaming of media that’s simultaneously recorded and broadcast in real time. Think of those football games you watch, or those live shows, concerts, and conferences. All of them require a media production team that sets up equipment (cameras, lighting, microphones) so that an event can be viewed on a TV, computer, cell phone or ipad as it’s taking place.

    Why Live Streaming is a Necessity

    Your business needs to stay connected to your audiences and customers. The pandemic is not going away anytime soon. Many face-to-face interactions have become difficult to achieve as social distancing is a necessity. Live streaming is the tool that bridges the gap between you and your clients. As you know, there is  just “ok” live streaming such as what you see on a zoom call  (with poor sound, lighting and fuzzy) or  and “outstanding” live streaming such as what Gemstone guarantees. The production values make all the difference.  In this side by side photo, the news anchor looks clean and clear and sounds great- but the interviewee looks horrible and sounds worse. You don’t have to settle for being “that guy”.

    According to a recent survey, 81% of media and marketing executives think virtual gatherings, conferences and corporate communications will be the only option for businesses through 2021. And that’s for all sorts of events, big and small! It’s not just our opinion – take it from Marketing Dive, a website that provides statistics and news about trends shaping the marketing industry.

    The “Future of the ‘In-Person’ Business Economy” study found that most industry professionals expect a virtual future for business communications, meetings and events, even after the pandemic subsides. That’s a 42% rise in that opinion from the Spring of 2020 to current day. Most businesses are already hopping onto that trend, capitalizing on the new necessity for high quality videos. As internet, social media, and television use has drastically spiked in recent months, it’s crucial for you to adapt to the new trends so that your business can look and sound “outstanding”, so that you can engage your audience and so that ultimately your business can prosper.

    What Can Gemstone Do?

    Pretty much…well…everything! We can live stream any type of event to any online platform we can make it look and sound “outstanding”!  Gemstone Media has an award winning creative team of  highly skilled “live certified” technicians. We utilize a proven proprietary system does not require the use of your internet or even power sources. We can even customize an entirely new platform for you, so that your audience can still engage in your events.  We have been recognized nationally for the live stream work we are doing for our cleints. We’ve created a quick video for you to see exactly how we do it: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=623420664939136 

    Let us assist you. “See the difference!”

    We Value Integrity…Do You?

    What Does it Mean to Have Integrity?

    Former Harvard Business School professor Michael Jensen sheds light on the true meaning of integrity in his research paper, “Integrity: Without It Nothing Works.” Jensen says that integrity is the practice of honoring your word and never giving your word to two or more things that are mutually inconsistent. Therefore, having integrity is a necessary condition for maximum performance; it’s also a pathway to being trusted by others.

    Integrity is Business at Gemstone

    Here at Gemstone Media, it’s important for us to interpret Jensen’s writing in a business context. We say “integrity has a critical effect on our business:  and it is in the form of increased performance.”

    We think of integrity as a law, like the Law of Gravity. When the Law of Integrity is respected, you’ll experience enormous performance increases.  We have experienced a 300% increase in our business because this concept is fundamental to our operations and our relationships.

    Gemstone Media’s Commitment to Integrity

    We value integrity. It’s not just an abstract idea to us, but rather a critical part of our DNA, a lifestyle; a practice; a way we keep ourselves accountable to our clients at all times. The media production industry can be fast-paced and even cutthroat when competition inevitably emerges. Amid this environment, we still choose to operate upon integrity – always – while many other companies are missing that link and instead prioritizing shiny numbers over you. We have seen many agencies and production companies who made promises that they couldn’t deliver and who didn’t operate with integrity collapse and disappear over the last decade and a half. While we have been steady in our practice and retained more that 96% of our clients.

    At Gemstone Media,  we give our word, we honor it. That’s why we offer a 100% satisfaction money back guarantee. Everyone who has dealt with us from clients to vendors to contractors would  whole heartily agree. So, when we say we prioritize our clients and exceed expectations, we do. When we say we’ll meet your deadlines, we will. When we say our advice is rooted in decades of expertise, it is. When we say we’re committed to using only the best equipment and design the strongest strategies to meet your needs, we are. We we say “world class customer service”, we mean it and you can expect it! We put you on the red carpet everytime!

    We feel our integrity bridges the gap between impersonality and authenticity. Because we bridge that gap, our clients know they’re not numbers to us; they’re a part of our Gemstone family. The positive results of this symbiotic relationship can be seen in the beautiful professional quality of our productions as well as the smooth as glass production process itself.  You can count on us.