Success Stories

"CCI is an audio visual production company specializing in television and new media and dedicated to quality."

Success Stories

With nearly 30 years under our belts in the audio visual production industry, CCI is proud of the fact that we've been a part of so many successes. Whether it is watching a project we completed help our clients streamline their business or receiving industry acclaim for our projects, CCI takes pride in the fact that our work makes a difference.

Below is a list of just some of the success stories CCI has been a part of over the years.

A View From Heaven HD Video Shoot Completed, In Post-Production

Film to Begin Running at Polk County's Outpost 27 in March 2007

CCI's most ambitious high definition project to date, the Polk County Outpost 27 HD video, "A View from Heaven", wrapped shooting this week after an exciting though long four day production. After a day of shooting helicopter aerials, two days of ENG locations shooting at attractions around the county, and one day of set shooting on location at Fantasy of Flight with none less than Academy Award winning director Peter Jackson (The Lord of the Rings Trilogy) watching in the wings, the production wrapped and moved into post.

The video shows a fictional balloon festival leaving from Polk County's Fantasy of Flight and presents aerial and ground views of the attractions and excitement to be found in Polk County. CCI employed twenty lead actors for the film, and more than sixty actors including extras were present on set at Fantasy of Flight.

According to CCI director and producer Bryan Foster, "The day at Fantasy of Flight presented the biggest challenge. We had so many people here for the long dolly shot and the close up of our Aviator (played by Fantasy of Flight owner Kermit Weeks), but we also had to shoot our pilots and all their lines and our balloon launch, all before noon. After noon, it's too hot and potentially too windy to take a balloon up, so we had to hustle. The real pilots were very accommodating, and we got some fantastic shots that are going to look incredible in HD and on a big screen."

In order to offer the most exciting experience possible, CCI shot the video as if it were a film: it was shot in HD at 24 fps and 720p for a true film look. The piece was shot entirely in HD on the highly-touted Panasonic AVX-200 cameras and will be edited on the lightening fast, graphics rich, top-of-the-line Avid DS Nitris HD editing and finishing system at CCI HD Orlando. The film will also be presented in 7.1 surround sound.

When the video is complete, it will be shown in the new, state-of-the-art high definition theater at Outpost 27, Polk County's new tourism information center located along US Highway 27 near the I4 interchange in Polk County.

Outpost 27 is slated for a March 2007 opening.

CCI Produces Membership Video for Florida Citrus Sports

CCI recently partnered with Florida Citrus Sports, a not-for-profit membership organization dedicated to increasing community spirit and pride, promoting tourism, stimulating economic development and benefiting charities in Central Florida, to develop a membership video for the organization to inspire current membership and recruit new members.

CCI produced a video that touts the important work done by FC Sports and also highlights Florida Citrus Sports' five signature events: The Capital One Bowl, the Champs Sports Bowl, the Orlando Citrus Parade presented by Delta Air Lines, the Cingular ABC Sports All-America Team Celebration and the OUC Half Marathon and 5K.

The video first aired at the FCS Speaker Series Luncheon and was part of a presentation that same day before the Orange County Board of Commissioners which helped secure funding for renovations to the Citrus Bowl in Orlando.

According to Florida Citrus Sports' communications manager Matt Repchak, "The video has already made several appearances at public functions in front of thousands of current and prospective members. Our Membership Committee is using it as a marketing tool when they go out to sell memberships. It also played to a captive crowd of 150 at our Team Selection Kickoff Dinner, and made several revolutions on the JumboTron during the "Feast on the 50," giving it an audience of about 1000. So, clearly, we see the CCI video as an integral part of our marketing and membership efforts."

Dana Stites, managing director of CCI's new high definition post-production facility, CCI HD Orlando, stated, "This video represents the first of several projects CCI is working on for Florida Citrus Sports. Most recently, our A/V department set up and ran a successful press conferences for the organization. It's strong and growing relationship, and one that will continue to be instrumental to CCI's success in Orlando in the future."

The video can be viewed in its entirety by clicking on the link on the FC Sports Homepage.

Communications Concepts Inc. Produces Live Satellite Event for Harris Corporation on CNBC's Morning Call

CCI recently produced a live interview and satellite uplink with Howard L. Lance, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Harris Corporation for CNBC's market watch program Morning Call. CCI provided the live C-band satellite truck and turnkey satellite feed, along with camera package, crew and technicians for the Harris Corporation announcement.

In the live interview with Morning Call co-host Rebecca Quick, Lance provided details about Harris Corporation's agreement with Stratex Networks, Inc., of San Jose, California. The deal combines operations from Stratex and Harris' Microwave Communications Division to form a new company, Harris Stratex Networks, Inc. CNBC was the first media outlet to feature the story, and it has since been picked up by several national media outlets.

According to Harris Corporation's senior manager of media relations, Brent Dietz, "Today's broadcast was the most positive national broadcast media experience I've ever had, and I've had about a dozen with CNBC, Bloomberg and CNN. We'll do it again, and I will undoubtedly call on CCI again."

Of the burgeoning relationship between CCI and Harris Corporation, CCI general manager and vice president Jim Lewis remarked, "We've been around for a while, and Harris was one of our first clients back in 1978. We actually produced a similar live event for them back when then Harris CEO Jack Hartley made a product announcement. It's great to still be working with Harris."

The four minute interview and CNBC feed consisted of an exclusive interview with Lance and reporter Rebecca Quick on Morning Call, a daily program which offers real-time market coverage.

The CCI crew arrived at Harris Corporation corporate headquarters in Melbourne at 7am and set up in the Harris Customer Briefing Center. CCI crew and Harris staff worked together closely to set up the shot with the microwave product display as a backdrop and to ensure light and sound were optimal for Lance's statement and met CNBC standards.

Jay Van Dyke, director of new business for CCI, stated, "The shoot was a complete success and working with the Harris staff could not have gone smoother. Hopefully, this represents a renewal of business for CCI with Harris Corporation. Even though Harris has in-house production capabilities, there are many services that they don't provide due to costs and changing technologies, like live broadcast or high end HD production. CCI, however, can provide these types of services cost effectively. Finally, CCI does production everyday, so we bring expertise and experience to the job that guarantees success, and for live TV, there are no second chances to get it right."

The entire four minute spot can be viewed at the Harris Corporation Web site.

CCI Adds Closed-Captioning Services to its Duplication Division

CCI recently began offering closed-captioning services for all television and video programming as part of our duplication and conversion division. Closed-captioning service is available pre-recorded programming through a partnership with VITAC, a Merrill Communications company, and is available on all CCI productions and as a stand-alone service.

Since the Telecommunications Act of 1996, closed-captioning for the hearing impaired has been required by the federal government for all distribution technologies—cable, broadcast, and satellite. Ten years later, only a handful of companies offer third party closed-captioning services, and CCI saw a niche.

"Out of necessity, the technology is improving every day," said Dana Stites, general manager of CCI HD Orlando, a satellite CCI office dedicated to high definition (HD), located on the lot at Universal Studios Orlando. "It's now a vital service for the entire industry—CCI has always been a conscientious place to work, and while we still intend to sell this service, we also feel it is a socially responsible one," Stites continued.

For prerecorded, offline captioning, two style options are available: pop-on and roll-up style. Pop-on style, similar to movie subtitles, appear on the screen all at once and can appear anywhere, but usually appear near the person who is speaking. Pop-on captions appear one line at a time, are time-coded to match shot changes, appear in synch with the audio, and do not interfere with the action. Roll-up style is often used in news captioning, soap operas and entertainment programming. As with pop-on style, captions are time-coded, but they scroll up one line at a time from the bottom or top of the screen.

CCI offers closed-captioning on all major broadcast formats, including Beta SP, Digibeta, DVC Pro, MiniDV, S-VHS, 1-inch, D2, and D5. Standard turn around time for captioning and delivery is seven days, however rush delivery is available. CCI's duplication and conversion division also offers NTSC to PAL and PAL to NTSC conversions.

In addition to television industry clients, Stites concluded, "More and more, we're seeing corporate clients utilizing closed-captioning services for training and educational videos as well as sales and marketing videos. These clients are being proactive by providing for current or future hearing impaired employees."

For more information on closed-captioning services, go to the duplications page under Services on this site.

CCI Produces HD Commercial for Wuestoff Hospital on the Beach at Cherry Down Park

One of the logistical benefits and sheer joys of running a production company on Florida's Space Coast is that you are never at a loss for unique and interesting shooting locations. When Wuesthoff Hospital conceptualized the shoot for the new commercial campaign they hope will bring further notoriety to the award-winning Wuesthoff Heart Center, they wanted to celebrate life rather than show stark images of gloom in healthcare; they imagined a place that would provide a metaphor for the affirmation of life and accomplishment they were hoping to achieve. CCI proposed the ocean setting at Cherry Down Park with the Cocoa Beach Pier in the distance, and eventually shot the 30 second HD spot at sunrise. In the simple yet effective spot, a heartbeat is heard over black; a young woman jogging down the beach along the life-affirming ocean emerges from black, and voice-over touts the high standards of cardiovascular care at the Heart Center.

While a beach shoot is never easy and there are myriad technical considerations, the shoot went flawlessly, and CCI captured the shot just after sunrise, with the sun reflecting off the sea, just beyond and over the joggers' shoulder, and all in high definition.

For the shoot, CCI used the newest camera in its arsenal, the much-touted and difficult to acquire Panasonic HVX200 with P2 Technology, a camera whose reputation for quality led Subway to use it when shooting its most recent national commercials, featuring Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush. To read an article in Post Magazine on the TV spot and the Panasonic HVX200 click here.

Post-production was done at CCI's new high definition post-production suite, CCI HD Orlando, on an Avid HD Nitris DS.

CCI Production Skating's Next Star Airs to Solid WE Audience

CCI recently finished producing, shooting and editing Skating's Next Star, a reality figure skating show for the WE network. The show was a success among WE viewers and skating fans alike, garnering solid ratings for the niche cable network.

The skating personalities brought fans to the show, with host Kristi Yamaguchi drawing attention from the media, and the sometimes off-color commentary of Rudy Galindo bringing both laughs and the occasional controversy.

According to CCI chief editor Brian Foster, "This was one of the most difficult and rewarding efforts I have worked on here at CCI. We feel we put together a good product in conjunction with WE, one that takes us to the next level among production companies in the state of Florida. CCI is now one of the premier production companies in Central Florida, and it's thanks to high profile productions like Skating's Next Star and years of dedicated effort."

The final episode of Skating's Next Star aired on May 24 to rave reviews from skating fans and casual viewers alike who awaited the announcement of the reality show's winner.

CCI Crews Capture ASTRA 1KR Rocket Launch in HD for SES ASTRA HD Video

As the sun set over Central Florida on April 20, the rocket trails just dissipating in the Cape Canaveral sky, CCI camera crews shot from the top of the Cocoa Beach Hilton and recorded an unique experience heralding one of man's greatest accomplishments. The day was over, the ASTRA 1KR launch a success, and the HD footage for a new high definition video from SES ASTRA was shot and ready to become a living testament to the heroism, ingenuity, and exhilaration that only the Space program can provide.

For two days, CCI crews capture what it means to be a part of the Space Program as well as part of the Space Coast, and all in spectacular high definition. The climax of the project—the launch of SES ASTRA's 1KR satellite—was filmed with unparalleled clarity and precision, in 1080i at 25 frames per second for European PAL conversion.

Our client, SES ASTRA, will use the striking CCI footage to produce the "Day in the Life" video for their international marketing efforts.

CCI Provides Video with Custom Animation to IOT Systems for the Satellite '06 Conference

When IOT Systems approached CCI, the organization was one of the most important entities in the satellite industry you've never heard of. Developed from the COMSAT legacy and employing engineers and technicians from the earliest days of commercial satellites, the company worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, but, working behind the scenes, they were not getting the exposure they wanted. They came to CCI looking to make an impact at the Satellite 2006 convention.

CCI created a video with several minutes of custom animation focusing on IOT Systems as the industry standard for all other satellite manufacturers and service providers. In addition to the crisp, exciting animation and the dazzling satellite footage, the video highlights IOT Systems' COMSAT legacy, their importance working within today's satellite paradigm, the many services IOT Systems provides, and the company's vision for future of the satellite industry. The video will initially air at the SSPI Gala Event at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, DC, for the Satellite 2006 convention. Following that, the video will be used as the company's sales and marketing centerpiece for the next several years

CCI Produces Pro-Bono Awareness Video for Crosswinds Youth Services

Every year since its inception, CCI has shot and produced a pro-bono video for a non-profit organization on the Space Coast, and 2005 is no different. Recent, past pro-bono projects include a video for Hidden Potentials, an organization providing home tutoring for children, and Harmony Farms Horses, a not-for-profit dedicated to improving the quality of life for handicapped individuals through interaction with horses.

This year, CCI offered its services to and produced a video for Crosswinds Youth Services, an organization that began as an emergency youth shelter in Brevard County, and has since grown in size and scope to offer programs designed to strengthen families and offer young people the support, skills, and opportunities they need to be successful in the future.

The video is intended to raise awareness of the problems youth face everyday, and illustrate how neglect and abuse can lead to ruin even among the youngest members of our society. But as desperate as the situation may seem at times, the video also drives a single point: hope. There is hope for these children, and working with Crosswinds can make that hope a reality.

CCI Completes Three Instructional Videos for Eckler's Corvette

Early in 2005, Eckler's Corvette approached CCI to develop, produce, shoot and edit three how-to videos for broadcast on Corvette, The American Dream. After airing, the videos were posted to the Eckler's website where they currently reside. The initial concept was to incorporate the power of video and the web as a sales technique and couple it with a helpful service for Eckler's customers. The videos have driven an increased amount of traffic to the site, ultimately increasing sales for Eckler's, while helping corvette owners and enthusiasts install three different types of exhaust systems.

CCI Delivers Full Web Package for High Plateau Outfitters, Ltd.

High Plateau Outfitters, Ltd., of Brevard, NC, (no, that's not a typo, there's a Brevard, NC, too), came to us because they wanted to expand their presence nationwide. The company, which offers fishing tours, training, and adventures on the rivers and lakes in the dazzling Blue Ridge Mountains, felt they had a valuable commodity to offer a weary public across the country. Already a local sensation, the High Plateau Outfitters wanted to offer the same getaway vacation packages to people who may never have heard of them, and they decided the best way to reach a broader and far-reaching audience was via the Web. We couldn't agree more.

In less than a month, High Plateau Outfitters had their Web presence … and their first guests from Wisconsin. CCI provided High Plateau Outfitters with a full Web campaign, delivering Web design, launch, hosting, training and updates. Highlights of the site include:

• An unique "Catch of the Day" feature that the company could update daily from their own computer;
• Several interactive maps with animation and graphics for ease of use;
• A unique picture bar and picture album with sepia-toned pictures;
• A "Local Bulletin" page for local anglers to acquire information on daily and seasonal fishing and conditions.

Skating's Next Star

CCI recently finished producing, shooting and editing Skating's Next Star, a reality figure skating show for the WE network. The show was a success among WE viewers and skating fans alike, garnering solid ratings for the niche cable network.

The skating personalities brought fans to the show, with host Kristi Yamaguchi drawing attention from the media, and the sometimes off-color commentary of Rudy Galindo bringing both laughs and the occasional controversy.

CCI did all of the production and post-production for the program. The competition and ten day shoot took place in Orlando and Lakeland, FL, on the ice and behind the scenes. Following the shoot, the production moved to CCI HD Orlando, where post-production ran for six weeks.

According to CCI chief editor and production director Brian Foster, "This was one of the most difficult and rewarding efforts I have worked on here at CCI. We feel we put together a good product in conjunction with WE, one that takes us to the next level among production companies in the state of Florida. CCI is now one of the premier production companies in Central Florida, and it's thanks to high profile productions like Skating's Next Star and years of dedicated effort from the CCI staff."

The final episode of Skating's Next Star aired on May 24 to rave reviews from skating fans and casual viewers alike who awaited the announcement of the reality show's winner.

CCI and WE recently sold the show to an international company for international distribution. Before long, the entire world will know the agony and ecstasy on the road to--and just who became--"Skating's Next Star."

High Plateau Outfitters, Ltd. Web Package

Eckler's Corvette

The initial concept was to incorporate the power of video and the web as a sales technique and couple it with a helpful service for Eckler's customers. The videos have driven an increased amount of traffic to the site, ultimately increasing sales for Eckler's, while helping corvette owners and enthusiasts install three different types of exhaust systems.

To view the videos, go to Eckler's Corvette website and click on "How-To Videos" in the left hand column of the homepage.

John Glenn Launch STS-95

When WBNS-TV, Ohio News Network needed help with 24 hour per day, live coverage of the events leading up to the historic John Glen Launch on mission STS-95, the crew of Communications Concepts, Inc. stepped in to make it happen. CCI provided live coverage for WBNS providing two sixteen person crews, staging, the set, a multi-camera production truck, editing capabilities, microwave truck and a satellite uplink truck.

CCI's coverage from Kennedy Space Center started weeks before the launch with Space Shuttle Roll-out and Astronaut arrival and covered live reports for the morning, mid-day, prime time and late newscasts.

CCI was part of the team that received industry acclaim for our work on the STS-95 launch, winning an Emmy Award.

Dave Sirak, News Operations Manager for WBNS, thanked the CCI team, saying, "without them this wouldn't have happened."

Maritime Opportunities

Canaveral Port Authority approached CCI to help them in their efforts to educate local students about employment opportunities at the Port. CCI suggested updating an existing video project that had been a collaberation between the Port and CCI.

CCI worked to develop the video project into a format familiar to students. The end product-- Maritime Opportunities, an Interactive CD-ROM that allows students to explore areas of interest to them by watching videos and reading about various employment opportunities.

The Maritime Opportunities CD-ROM has received numerous awards including a Gold ADDY Award from the Space Coast Advertising Federation as well as a Crystal Reel Award from the Florida Motion Picture Television Association.

Canaveral Port Authority Assistant Director for Economic Development, Susan Cossey, said, "Canaveral Port Authority was extremely pleased to partner with CCI on the production of the Maritime Opportunities CD-ROM. To win awards for this project is indeed an honor and a tribute to the creative ability and expertise of the CCI team."

Regency Communications

Regency Communications approached CCI with a deadline. The company was set to unveil one of the first programmable radios at an upcoming trade show. When shipments of the radios were delayed, they needed something to present at the show.

CCI stepped in to help by putting together marketing and training videos showcasing the radios and how easy they were to program. With only one set of radios and the videos produced by CCI, Regeny Communications attended the trade show and took orders for over three million dollars worth of business.

Harris Government Support Systems/NATRASYSCEN

When Harris needed help with an interactive video based simulator for US Navy to train catapult launch systems officers, they called Communications Concepts, Inc.

The full size Harris catapult trainer or TOPCAT required hours of launch footage with synchronous multi-channel sound to be shot in all weather environments day and night. The launch footage needed to incorporate nominal launches and launch anomalies including "hang fires." The Navy schedule would not permit re-shooting, so there would be no second chances. All equipment would be required to be secured on a carrier deck to prevent FOD (Foreign Object Debris) that could damage the planes or deck personnel. Many consider working on an aircraft carrier decks one of the most dangerous jobs in the Navy.

To meet these objectives, CCI started by conducting several test shoots with F-14s on a runway at Mayport Naval Air Station to verify exposures and noise levels. Test showed that capturing images literally in the dark was a challenge, as little or NO illumination would be allowed on the carrier deck during night operations. CCI found that even low-light motion picture film pushed several stops could not make quality pictures at this light level and the high RF environment on a carrier deck interfered with video recording equipment. CCI solved the problem by acquiring a new RF shielding material from the UK that would allow a high-gain video camera to be used to successfully capture the night shots. This achievement was not only cost effective, but also served as additional back-up camera to the redundant film cameras used for acquiring most daylight shots. It also impressed that Navy, who after reviewing CCI's footage and the radio-frequency shielding material, determined the material provided a less expensive and more effective solution for their need to shield on-deck video recording and monitoring equipment from interference.

CCI brought back both film and videotape footage with synchronous four channel audio after shooting for weeks on two different aircraft carriers, the Roosevelt and the America. Using this footage CCI then created an edited master of the material and had it transferred to laser disc for computer-controlled use in the simulator. All components of the project were successfully delivered on or ahead of schedule and within budget. Harris and CCI received a letter of recognition from the United States Navy for technical excellence on this project. "Congratulations and thanks for a job well done by the CCI crew, " said Larry Rodd, Harris Program Manager. Rodd continued. "We were pleased by your ahead of schedule delivery…which gave us additional time to prepare for the review of this material by our customer. Additionally, your responsive and highly professional assistance in support of our customer review…made us look good and we appreciate that."

Westinghouse Power Generation Division

Westinghouse conducted Power Plant Productivity Forums on a bi-annual basis to update their clients on their services. Their client base was composed of the to top management of the electric utility's industry throughout the world. Westinghouse believed that their customer's image of Westinghouse manufacturing facilities were not modern, so for this years' forum they wanted show their latest tooling and technology that they had installed at manufacturing facilities in three different cities Traditionally most of the previous forums had been two days of technical presentations by various mangers with a customer outing, such as golf event. So, Westinghouse came to CCI for ideas on how to show these important customers that Westinghouse had state of art computer controlled machining equipment and was thoroughly modern. They felt this was a tough challenge, since their clients would not have the time to take a tour of all three facilities, especially with the plants all located in the North East during the winter months.

Communications Concepts' solution was to link all the facilities together by satellite. CCI set up a live broadcast from two plants in North Carolina and from a third plant in Pittsburgh. The three feeds were picked then shown live on big screen at Westinghouse's Quadrangle Technology Center in Orlando, Florida where the Forums were hosted. Each live segment included an on-camera briefing from each plant manager, a pre-packaged marketing presentation and a virtually tour new portions of the plants and equipment.

According to Westinghouse, using CCI's satellite hook-up saved money and produced unequivocally some of their finest and most productive customer meetings ever. William Smith, Westinghouse Marketing Communications Manager went on to say, "we were most impressed with CCI's excellent teleconferencing capabilities, and the positive "can-do" attitude of the team. Thanks for providing a new and refreshing solution, and a sensational job of implementation."