Long-distance training

If a head office needs to educate 500 of their dealers across the country, sending out trainers might not be the best strategy available, says Mark Lang, president of Digital Video Productions (DVP).

“If you produce a DVD, it’s more cost effective (and more efficient than going in person),” he adds. “There are various ways of making the communication effective. It just depends on the needs of the client.”

DVP has produced interactive safety-training modules for use by fire departments and by organizations wanting to teach young people how to recognize hazards in the home. It has also has worked on municipal transit and national railway public-education initiatives, and has developed corporate health and safety tools, as well as videos detailing how to use a product or piece of equipment.

The format is irrelevant, explains Lang, regardless of whether the presentation shows up on a video business card or online; or if the project requires print collateral or on-location event management.

 “There are all kinds of executions,” he says. “Communication is the number one thing we’re doing.”

The relationship with a client starts with a needs analysis and then a suggestion from DVP detailing how to achieve those goals. Budget also plays a part, but there are “many ways to get something done,” he says

“Each project is customized to each need. There really is no template.”

The extensive experience of the founding partners Lang and Martin Convery allows for maximum flexibility in approach

Prior to establishing DVP, television producer Lang and award-winning director of photography Convery had worked at the same company, but never together.

Starting his career at the then-named CKVR, Convery later moved onto a successful freelance career working in broadcast video that took him around the world. He filmed Bosnia and at soccer’s World Cup in his travels. Along the way, he won two Gemini awards for his documentary work.

The Sudbury-born Lang, on the other hand, started his career as a freelance production assistant in Toronto. He recalls compiling portfolios for stunt performers and having to work fast to get the required action shots while people leapt from motorcycle to car, or jumped from a silo or ran by engulfed in flames.

“It was pretty hectic in those days,” he recalls with a chuckle.

Eventually his career brought him to CKVR and his family to Barrie. While overseeing a project for the station, he hired Convery and brought him back to the area.

The two have been working together ever since.

“We had an opportunity to create a new television series with Snowmobiler TV,” Lang says. He took on the business side of the responsibilities while Conery agreed to oversee production. “The basis of our collaboration was the television series.”

But soon the duo was exposed to new opportunities that developed through their joint venture.

“It opened some doors to the corporate world,” says Lang.

Premiering in 1992, Snowmobiler Television is now syndicated across Canada on 17 different networks. It runs locally on A. Twenty-six magazine-style episodes are shot every year.

“When the snow falls, we’re busy people,” he acknowledges.

The DVP team is not so busy that they stop developing new projects, however. GoRiding TV, a new motorsport show, premieres on OLG Sunday, April 5 at 9:30 a.m.

But their action-packed television shows, accompanying magazines, and other productions, like their full-length documentary “Adventures in Breathing” about Karen Murray, the recipient of a double lung transplant; comprise only about 50 per cent of the company’s business.

“We have corporate clients all over Canada and many in the U.S.,” says Lang, who works with a staff of 10 to become a key component of a client’s marketing team.

“A brochure is no longer acceptable by itself,” he explains. “Not in the sales, marketing and training world anyway.”

Lang says people are often surprised at finding a turnkey production operation in Barrie that has production gear, editing equipment and graphics studio all in house. Specialty items can be easily outsourced for clients by tapping into the company’s extensive network.

“When they see our portfolio of clients, it’s pretty impressive,” he concludes. “Typically companies would have to go to Toronto, go the agency route to get all it.”

For more information about all the DVP products and services, call Lang at 705-734-9932, extension 238.