Top 10 Videos of 2013

2013 saw Long Shot Productions reach new heights with our productions, and we thank our loyal clients for trusting us to carry out their vision!  Because of you, we had our best year to date, and the stage is set for an even bigger '14!  

For now, let's take a walk down memory lane and review our top moments from the last 365 days:  

9) LSP in the News 

This year saw our work on many notable websites, including NJ.com, Bobs Blitz, and various trade publications.  We were also featured on News 12 New Jersey, and most notably, on PIX 11 Morning News:  




8) LSP and Autism NJ 

In April, Montclair State University hosted a special evening benefitting Autism NJ.  The highlight of the night were the duets of Moira Kelly ("The Lion King", "One Tree Hill") and Jodi DiPiazza, an autistic music student who is no stranger to fame (her and Katy Perry garnered over 8 million YouTube hits when they teamed up for "Firework").




7) LSP and "The Iron Shaker"

The biggest 2013 competition this side of the Mississippi was held at Park East in Hazlet, New Jersey.  R&R Marketing and NJ Monthly hosted "The Iron Shaker", an intense contest of will and wit between the Garden State's top bartenders.  Which mixologist came out on top?  Let's see:




6) LSP and "A Taste for Design"

In 2013, LSP started to produce television shows for web and local cable.  Our first show is "A Taste for Design", which merges the worlds of food, wine and interior design.  We look forward working with "The Paint Diva" and other up-and-coming talent in the new year!




5) LSP and Artefill

One of our favorite shoots was with Jacqueline Laurita of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey".  We spent the afternoon with her, our friends VeroLuce Photography, and a great team of beauty professionals promoting the facial filler Artefill!




4) LSP and McGraw-Hill Federal Credit Union

We have been with MHFCU for three years now, and their marketing team's vision keeps getting bigger and bolder...which spells big fun for us!  Our favorite 2013 project we produced for them were their S3 Account spots, which parodied the shows "Wipeout", "Sex and the City" and "The Sopranos", which is below:




3) LSP and the Morris County Columbus Day Parade

Our favorite yearly event is held in October, where we help play host to the biggest Columbus Day celebration in northern New Jersey.  This year's list of Italian-American honorees were the epitome of style, grace and class, and our favorite interviews were a toss-up between Dan Mannarino (2013 Grand Marshal and PIX 11 Morning News anchor) and Larry DePrimo (2013 Humanitarian of the Year and NYPD Detective).





2) LSP in Ol' Paree

Our greatest adventure this year was flying off to Paris, France to film the Disability Matters 2013 European conference.  Despite dealing with air traffic control strikes and flight cancellations, we managed to land, work and have a few hours for a little play!  Here is a highlight reel of the historic sites we were blessed to see:



1) LSP and James Gandolfini 

It's ironic that our top video of the year is one we desperately wish we didn't have to make.

On June 19th, accomplished actor James Gandolfini passed away in Rome, Italy.  To pay homage to a great Italian-American citizen and "Jersey Guy", the 2013 Morris County Columbus Day Parade was dedicated to celebrating his memory.  As part of the tribute, we filmed a short documentary video with his sister, Johanna Gandolfini Antonacci; his best friend, Tom Richardson; and The OctoberWoman Foundation for Breast Cancer Research founder, Mike DiBella.  It was a special weekend filled with hours of great stories about one of our all-time favorite actors.

We reunited with the Gandolfini's on December 1st for "James Gandolfini Day", when his hometown of Park Ridge dedicated a street in his name.  We filmed the ceremony, and afterwards screened the tribute video for his friends, family and "Sopranos" cast mates.

 


You are probably wondering why there's only 9 slots listed for a "Top 10".  Well, that's because a bulk of our favorite projects we haven't shared with you yet!

In January, we will be launching our new website and a new series called "Hip New Jersey", a lifestyle show that promotes the best NJ has to offer.   Stay tuned to our social media pages on the latest news!

May 2014 bring you health, happiness and prosperity!

LSP's Top Ten Videos of 2012

2012 was a year of wonderful transition, highlighted by a move into our beautiful studio and office space in Fairfield, NJ.  NONE of our successes would be possible without the amazing people we've had the privilege to know and work with over these past couple of years, and we look forward to continuing the journey with old friends (and new!) in 2013.

For now, in no particular order, let's take a look at Long Shot Productions' top ten favorite moments of 2012:

1) LSP in the News 

Long Shot Productions was featured across many mainstream media platforms this year, including Park Place Magazine, Inc. Magazine, News 12 New Jersey and Boomer and Carton in the Morning.   Our favorite moment was putting together a New York Giants pep rally for the WPIX 11 Morning News to help propel Big Blue through their playoff run (and it worked- the G-Men were victorious in Super Bowl XLVI!) However, this wasn't your every day football party. It featured legendary former Giants and thirty rabid fans in a New Jersey basement with booze and homemade pizza...at six in the morning on a weekday.  Intrigued?  Watch below.

 


2) Speaking of the Giants...

It's no secret that we are big sports fans, so we love when we are asked to cover one-of-a-kind events featuring our favorite teams and athletes.

2012 was all about the Giants, and a few of our favorite sports videos include the Miami Mike's Super Bowl Bash, Rodney Hampton's Hamp's Camp Celebrity Bowling Tournament, and the video below, featuring newly minted Super Bowl XLVI champions Zak DeOssie and Steve Weatherford!




3) The Impact of Hurricane Sandy 

Parts of the east coast were devastated by Hurricane Sandy.  While LSP escaped relatively unscathed (we only lost power for a week), others were not as lucky.  Some people lost their homes, their businesses, and more tragically, their lives.  No matter the impact, we all learned the value of preparedness, resiliency and not taking anything in life for granted.

One of our clients, McGraw-Hill Federal Credit Union, lost one of their New York City branches due to Sandy.  Learn how they weathered through the storm and emerged from the wreckage smarter, stronger, and better united.




4) LSP Helps Ignite Change 

Sometimes negative events like Hurricane Sandy help spark positive change in our lives, and no group of women knows that better than New Jersey's 2012 Top 25 Leading Women Entrepreneurs.  Alongside LWE Founder and CEO Linda Wellbrock, we produced a series of interviews with each finalist, and included the best stories in a highlight reel that debuted at the December 6th recognition ceremony.



What better song to capture this year's "Igniting Change" theme than Katy Perry's "Firework"?


5) LSP and the Year's Best Lesson

Some of the biggest running themes in the media this year were bullying and school violence, with no story more horrific than the 26 lives lost at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.  But what the mainstream press continues to ignore are the amazing acts of today's youth, and we believe that if the news showcased more of these outstanding people, our society would be better for it.

This summer, we had the opportunity to document a beautiful friendship between two Connecticut high school girls named Syd and Cate.   At their core, they are your typical, joined-at-the-hip, teen-aged best friends.  But what makes this pairing unique is that Cate has Downs Syndrome.  Syd sees past her best friend's differences, and her leadership among their classmates enables Cate to enjoy a normal and fulfilling high school experience.  




6) LSP and Our Most-Watched Video of the Year 

In keeping with the feel-good vibe of this blog entry, one of our most-watched videos of the year was the "wedding re-do" of Shea and Matthew Bailey.  The Anderson Cooper Show, in cooperation with the Wilshire Grand Hotel in West Orange, NJ, threw this couple a lavish reception since their original one got washed out by Tropical Storm Irene a year earlier.

"When we heard about this story, it kind of hit home," said Edward Reagoso, the general manager of the Wilshire Hotel.  "It goes back to the old story:  good things do happen to good people, and it is just great to be a part of that."

We agree.




7) LSP on the Red Carpet 

In association with The Hip Event, LSP worked the red carpet for many star-studded events throughout the year, including the Emiliani Expo, Jerseylicious Season 4 Premiere, a pair of events with Melissa and Joe Gorga from "The Real Housewives of New Jersey".  Our favorite red carpet moment came at Waterside on the Hudson over the summer, where we got up-close-and-personal with one of our idols, Daisy Fuentes, at the launch of HudsonMOD Magazine.




8) LSP and our Italian Pride

For the third consecutive year, we have provided the videography, photography and media support for the Morris County Columbus Day Parade.  Each year, our favorite event grows bigger and better. 

Among this year's honorees was WABC-7 Eyewitness News anchor, Ken Rosato.  He is a sweetheart of a man, and when we went to the WABC studio to tape his interview, he graciously gave us a grand tour of the iconic building.  He even let us conduct the interview on the actual Eyewitness News set, which was an absolute thrill for us.

 

News directors, take note!

9) LSP and Seton Hall University

LSP's Executive Producer, Lisa Marie Latino, worked as an adjunct professor for the Broadcasting, Visual and Interactive Media program at Seton Hall University.  During the Fall 2012 semester, Lisa Marie shared her expertise in "Television Production III" with junior- and senior-year students.  Her classes showed brilliant creativity in producing their commercials, client videos and documentaries.

Here is a video from one of the SHU students:




10) LSP's New Studio 

LSP started in a guest room of a house, and while we will never forget our humble beginnings, we cannot imagine working out of anywhere other than Suite 202B!  This was the night that started it all- our open house party on June 22, 2012:

 

Our Top 10 Videos of 2011

Happy new year! 2011 was a great year for LSP as we continued to grow our business! We thank all the individuals and companies that helped us achieve that feat last year. We look forward to our continued growth and success with our clients, old and new, in 2012!

Here are some of our personal favorite videos from the last 12 months:

10) Alpha Phi GW Lincoln Memorial Flash Mob

We had a blast traveling down to Washington, DC to tape the girls of Alpha Phi give tourists a pleasant surprise!



9) WPIX Staten Island Chuck and Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino

We collaborated on a few projects this year with PIX 11 Morning News, including this little "Situation" that happened at 4Sixty6 in West Orange, NJ!



8) Qream Style Lounge

A lot of our friends were involved in the launch of Pharrell's Qream liquor line, including The Hip Event, R&R Marketing, and Sotto Zero Gelato, who put a delicious spin on the traditional drink!



7) The Infernos Band "As L'Aquila Rises"

Going to Italy at the end of 2010 is one of the most thrilling experiences we've ever been a part of. We are very proud of the creativity that the trip spawned, including the original song The Infernos Band composed and of the video we put together of the amazing images we captured from our trip!



6) 2011 EHIAC Grand Marshall: Dominic Scaglione, Jr.

It was a tall order for the East Hanover Italian American Club to top 2010's successful Morris County Columbus Day parade, but they did in a big way, thanks to the parade's 2011 grand marshall, "Jersey Boys" Broadway actor Dominic Scaglione, Jr.!



5) AVE Clifton Soiree

Last summer, New Jersey's It crowd skipped the beach and hit the pool at AVE's Summer Soiree Series. These resort-style events included DJ music, virgin drink bars (sangria, daiquiris and margaritas), liquor tastings, private cabanas, summer fare and plenty of chnaces to mingle and meet new people.



4) Own It Ventures 2011 Expo

This was the MUST event for women entreprensuers to attend last year, and the video is a great example why, if you are a future or current women business owner, you needed to be there!



3) McGraw-Hill Federal Credit Union Financial Literacy Series

Our work with McGraw-Hill Federal Credit Union is a great example of how companies are using social media to get their platforms across. It's a fun, cost-effective alternative to traditional marketing practices! It's a trend that only looks to continue in 2012 and beyond.



2) Save the Tatas @ Platinum Dollz

The Hip Event is THE premiere public relations go-to source in the NY/NJ area, and celeb- packed events like the one below is a big reason why!



1) Cake Boss: "Bugs, Break-Ups and Burned Out"

It wasn't our original production, but it was LSP's first step into the national spotlight-- LSP's CEO, Lisa Marie Latino, was surprised with a cake on the hit television show "Cake Boss!"

Pictures from the "Cake Boss" Shoot!

Here are a few exclusive pics from the set!

LSP on TLC's "Cake Boss"

On July 11, Lisa Marie Latino, executive producer of Long Shot Productions, was surprised with a cake on TLC's hit show "Cake Boss!"

On the episode titled "Bugs, Break Ups and Burned Out", her friend Danielle, a cake decorator at the famed Carlos Bakery in Hoboken, New Jersey, approached Buddy Valastro about an idea for a breakup cake, to celebrate Lisa's launch back into the dating scene.

Buddy and Danielle's imaginations ran wild! The duo created a three-tier cake with Lisa, dressed as a bride, kicking her ex fiance off the top, along with his belongings. "Kick him to the curb honey!" Buddy exclaimed as he put the finishing touches on his latest masterpiece. "You go girl!"

How did the cake look? Was Lisa surprised? Check out the the "break up cake" portion of the show below!

Lisa would like to thank Danielle Sturniolo, Buddy Valastro, High Noon Entertainment, TLC, and her special friends that participated in the shoot!

LSP Goes International!

Last fall, we went to Rome, Italy with The Infernos Band to capture their charity concert tour.

The short documentary will be available soon, but for now enjoy their original song, "As L'Aquila Rises" featuring footage from our trip!

LSP: Always Growing, Always Evolving

LSP is consistently creating attractive, high-quality products for our clients.

Here are some of our recent favorite videos:

The Hip Event continues to rock the Garden State by throwing the "hippest" events around. One of their biggest parties was with P. Diddy earlier this year. For more videos and information on their events, visit www.TheHipEvent.com




Up-and-coming pop singer Bex recently opened up for Wyclef Jean at Montclair State State University. For more information: www.BexWorld.com




Turn your boring old Power Point presentation into a fun, crafty movie! Take a page out of R&R Marketing's book and get your co-workers attention in a unique way.




McGraw-Hill Federal Credit Union is now offering New Jersey teachers financial literacy classes to teach their students. For more information: www.McGrawHillFCU.org/EducationSeries




Get to know the guys of Apathy, New Jersey's premiere thrash metal band! For more information: www.Apathy-NJ.com