Sisters company lands major contract

Fluid Images has felt the blows of the current economic crisis, just like everyone else.

Despite stellar performances shooting the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and other high-profile gigs, the company faces rocky times. Its bread and butter is shooting promotional video for golf courses and resorts - and they have either cut way back on marketing or shut it down altogether.

But by dint of perseverance and creativity, Fluid Images just started 2009 with a bang. The Sisters company landed a contract to produce the television commercials for the Pac 10 Conference schools, which include UCLA, USC, Cal, University of Oregon and Oregon State.

"This has been a dream of mine, personally, for many years," said Bob Johnson, a principal of the company.

It started more than a year ago with a cold call from Bob Johnson to Duane Lindberg, Associate Commissioner of the Pac 10.

"They didn't know me from Adam," Johnson said. "(Lindberg) wouldn't even take my call the first few calls."

But Johnson kept right on dialing and finally Lindberg heard him out - for about a minute and a half. He liked what he heard well enough to put Fluid Images on a preferred list for bids.

Johnson's sons, Rick and Rob Johnson, Michael Gough, and Doug Barry put together a presentation to offer to the Pac 10. Late last month, they got the call: "(Lindberg) said, 'You guys were outstanding,'" Johnson said. "He wouldn't tell me who we were competing against; all he said was, 'you were up against five of the biggest players in the country.'"

According to Johnson, Fluid Images prevailed due to a presentation that highlighted their writing and shooting skills.

The shooting for the commercials will take the company all across the West, from Arizona to Washington.

Shooting started last Saturday with a group of college-age men and women staged on a frosty day on the field behind Sisters High School.

The flat light of a gray day was ideal for shooting, but the cold wasn't much fun for the actors - and it interfered materially with the shoot.

Rick Johnson had to coach the actors to avoid having their breath steam out and ruin the shot.

"When I say 'Rolling!', you start holding your breath," he said.

Johnson is excited at the fulfillment of a dream - and relieved that 2009 is starting off with a good contract, though he acknowledges that it is not enough by itself to make the company's year. He continues to pound the pavement and work the phones, looking for new markets to replace those that have dried up.

He hopes his company's experience lends hope to others who are struggling in hard times.

"You've got to continue to be positive," he said. "Our belief is that we will survive and be a better company when we get through it."

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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