Tony Pinto. Courtesy photo.
OXNARD — Pictures often are worth more than words for individuals and companies promoting brands and seeking publicity in today’s 24/7 media world. Tony Pinto, owner of Simi Valley-based Pinto Productions, will share his insights on delivering a public relations message with precision using video on Wednesday, February 22, at the Public Relations Society of America Gold Coast Chapter meeting.
The meeting will begin at 8 a.m. with networking and a light breakfast, followed by the program presentation from 8:30-9:30 a.m. The event will be held at the California Lutheran University/Oxnard Campus-The Palms, 2201 Outlet Center Drive, Suite 600, Oxnard.
Pinto will discuss techniques for creating video (whether self-created or produced) to market a company, product or event. He will also reveal the nuts and bolts of creating video on a smartphone, talk about how to work with a video production company without going over budget and answer questions about why customer testimonials are worth more than gold. Finally, Pinto will explain how to create “disposable” videos for social media.
“If a picture is worth a thousand words, a video is worth 10,000,” says Pinto. “People are naturally drawn to social media posts that feature images, especially moving images. Consumers just don’t like to read any more. They like to watch; they want to be entertained. So if an individual, company, or organization wants to compete for those brain cells, they have to tell their stories in the most compelling way possible. And video is a great way to do that.”
After studying film and professional writing at UC Santa Barbara, and having had a successful career working as a webmaster and marketing manager producing on commercial web sites, videos and photography for nearly 20 years, Pinto launched Pinto Productions in 2007. Later, his wife, Tara, joined the business along with several freelancers, ranging from voice-over artists to production assistants. Examples of Pinto’s work can be found at www.pintoproductions.com.
Pinto’s team specializes in video production and commercial photography for large and small businesses including Rain Bird, The David Allen Company, Blizzard Entertainment and others.
“A well-crafted two-minute video featured on a company web site is the most efficient way to tell an organization’s story, explains Pinto. “In that one video, a prospect could learn a little about the company’s roots, see and hear the CEO and other key employees, listen to a few customer testimonials, observe the company’s facilities, or see exactly how a product or service works. No other medium can do that.” Pinto points out that videos can also help improve search engine rankings, can be shown at trade shows or featured in email signatures.
The PRSA meeting is open to the public. Advance reservations are required. Admission is $10 for students with ID, $20 for PRSA members and $30 for non-members. A light breakfast is served. To register, visit www.prsagoldcoast.org.
For more information, contact Nancy Gill, chapter treasurer, at nancy.gill@csuci.edu, 805-437-8456.
PRSA is a nonprofit organization chartered in 1947 and the world’s largest organization of public relations professionals with more than 21,000 public relations and communications professionals across the United States. The California Gold Coast Chapter was founded in 2014 and serves Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. For more information, visit www.prsagoldcoast.org.