This video demonstrates a style of documentary filmmaking I don't like it never did. I didn't make this one was giving it by a colleague at AT&T, for whom I was making documentaries in the 1990s.
The entire so-called "documentary" production was videotaped in less than one hour. I don't have the finished AT&T video but I suspect it would look like they were just having a meeting when you cut out all of the director's interactions.
I post it now because I find it interesting, as this kind of video directing is still going on in corporate documentary production. Videos end up looking real that were carefully staged - like reality television.
During the 1990s, I did a lot of work for AT&T as an independent filmmaker. They were the leading provider of telecommunication services and products. They marketed their phones to consumers through television commercials, print advertisements and in-store displays.
One of the most notable marketing campaigns during this time was the "Reach Out and Touch Someone" campaign which I did some work on. This campaign aimed to encourage people to stay connected with loved ones and friends by using AT&T's phone services.
But In the 1990s AT&T faced stiff competition from the Baby Bells - the regional telephone companies that were formed when AT&T was broken up by the government in 1984. The Baby Bells such as Bell Atlantic, NYNEX and Pacific Bell, had a significant advantage in that they had a local monopoly on phone service in their respective regions. So AT&T competed with the Baby Bells in a number of ways:
Marketing: AT&T was known for its strong marketing campaigns, such as the "Reach Out and Touch Someone" campaign. These campaigns helped to create a strong brand identity for AT&T and promote its products and services to consumers.
Technology: AT&T was a leader in telecommunications technology and was able to offer cutting-edge products and services to consumers. For example, AT&T was the first company to introduce a commercial cellular network in the United States.
National Presence: Unlike the Baby Bells, AT&T had a national presence and was able to offer service to customers across the country. This made AT&T a popular choice for businesses and other customers who needed a consistent level of service across multiple locations.
Customer Service: AT&T had a reputation for excellent customer service, which helped it to retain customers and attract new ones. This was particularly important in an era when customers had few options for phone service providers.
Diversification: In addition to phone service, AT&T diversified into other areas, such as data networking and cable television. This helped the company to stay relevant and competitive in an era of rapid technological change.
What phones and services did consumers have access to?
Corded Telephones: Corded telephones were widely used during this time and were available in a variety of styles and colors. These phones were usually placed on a desk or table and connected to the wall by a cord.
Cordless Telephones: Cordless telephones were also available in the 1990s. These phones allowed users to move around freely while on a call, as they were not tethered to the wall by a cord. Cordless phones required a base station that was connected to the phone line, and the handset was able to communicate wirelessly with the base station.
Answering Machine 3. Answering Machines: Answering machines were a popular accessory for telephones in the 1990s. They allowed callers to leave messages for the phone's owner when ts: Answering machines were a popular accessory for telephones in the 1990s. They allowed callers to leave messages for the phone's owner when they were not available to answer the phone.
Pager Services: Pagers were a popular way to stay connected during the 1990s. These small devices were worn on the hip and received numeric messages from a central pager network.
Long-Distance Services: AT&T and other phone companies provided long-distance services that allowed consumers to make calls to people in other parts of the country or the world.
Calling Features: Phone companies offered a variety of calling features, such as call waiting, caller ID, three-way calling, and voicemail. These features made it easier for consumers to manage their calls and stay connected with others.
David Hoffman filmmaker
8 апр 2024
