A FREE taste of European Film under the stars in Melbourne

 Its spring and the nights are getting warmer, so what better way to celebrate the season than with fine film, food and friends at the Helga’s European Film Festival.

For three nights in November, lovers of great international film will flock to the Astor Theatre in St Kilda for a unique smorgasbord of FREE cinematic delights.

Each night from Thursday 20 November to Saturday 22 November 2008, a major European feature film will screen on the magnificent Astor Theatre.

This FREE festival is a great way to kick-start the summer season.

The first 300 people to register online at www.HelgasFilmFestival.com.au will receive a FREE Helga’s sandwich pack on the night.

Helga’s European Film Festival schedule:

• Thursday 20 November - The Edge of Heaven M. German film The Edge of Heaven follows characters through Germany and Turkey and how they individually deal with the notion of death.

• Friday 21 November - Days and Clouds (Giorno e Novole) M. Days and Clouds is an Italian film directed by Silvio Soldini and tells the story of a disintegrating marriage straining under the pressure of unemployment.

• Saturday 22 November - Welcome to the Sticks (Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis) M. French comedy Welcome to the Sticks makes light of French regional stereotypes and has met huge international acclaim.

Venue: The Astor Theatre, Corner Chapel Street & Dandenong Road, St Kilda
Times: Doors open at 7pm; Film at 8pm
Food & Beverage: Helga’s sandwich packs will be available for the first 300 patrons who register. A range of snacks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are available at The Astor Theatre.
Inquiries & Updates: 1300 76 77 46

Entry is FREE, but please arrive early to ensure you get a good seat. Helga’s European Film Festival is presented in association with Starlight Cinema.

Only Helga’s combines the style of classic European breads with distinctly Australian tastes. Helga’s bakes using only the finest ingredients and no artificial preservatives. This tradition ensures that you will always enjoy the great taste of Helga’s bread.

For more information visit: www.HelgasFilmFestival.com.au

PDM wins Gold at the Prestigious Popai Awards

Australia’s leading provider of Out-Of-Home Digital media, PDM, is celebrating after scooping a prestigious gold award as well as silver and two bronze at the 2008 POPAI (Point Of Purchase Advertising International) Marketing at Retail awards for their ground breaking work with the Telstra T[life] retail outdoor marketing installation and brand wall campaign series.

Chosen out of over 170 entries, PDM fought off stiff competition to pick up the accolades at a glittering gala dinner ceremony held on 22 October 2008 at the Randwick Racecourse, Sydney.

The awards received by PDM included Gold in the signage & branding category for their groundbreaking work with the Telstra T[life] digital retail outdoor marketing installation, silver in the Digital & Interactive media category for their innovative campaigns with the Telstra “How To” series, and two bronze in the Digital & Interactive media category for their work on the Telstra AFL “Luke Ball” segment and the 3DTV Hologram at the Telstra Executive Briefing Centre.

Julie Frikken, PDM Creative Director said they were extremely proud to have been honoured with these awards for their work on the T[life] Telstra TV campaign.

“We have always believed that continued success in this industry is not just down to an ability to produce creative ideas with the use of the latest technology, but to being able to deliver solutions that truly engage customers and enhance the shopping experience.”

“To be rewarded for our work is testament to this belief as well as to the skills, hard work and continued dedication of everyone within the company,” said Ms Frikken.

The innovative Telstra T[life] concept was designed and produced by PDM’s subsidiary creative studio, Fireback Digitall and features high definition Telstra branded video content running across three TelstraTV channels (a giant indoor wall of Plasmas, a series of portrait screens and one 22-metre tall outdoor screen).

The digital signage platforms are centrally managed by PDM through their web-based media management system, enabling the delivery of real-time marketing messages to consumers targeted by location, customer segment and time of day.

The POPAI Awards are an Inaugural competition designed to recognise high standards of excellence in channel specific POP advertising for marketing at retail.

-ENDS-

Helga’s European Film Festival Sydney

Its spring and the nights are getting warmer, so what better way to celebrate the season than with fine film, food and friends at the Helga’s European Film Festival.

Under starry Sydney skies lovers of great international film will flock to the St Leonards Park in North Sydney for a unique smorgasbord of FREE cinematic delights.

Each night from Thursday 13 November to Saturday 15 November 2008, a major European feature film will screen on the magnificent 16m x 8m inflatable Starlight Cinema screen.

The outdoor cinema experience in Brisbane is unparalleled for its exhilarating and sociable atmosphere, and this FREE festival is a great way to kick-start the summer season.

The first 450 people to register online at www.HelgasFilmFestival.com.au will receive a FREE Helga’s sandwich pack on the night. So bring a blanket or hire a backrest and celebrate a continental evening of outdoor cinema at the Helga’s European Film Festival.

This year audiences will be entertained by three foreign films from Italy, Germany and France.
•    Thursday 13 November 2008 - Days and Clouds (Giorno e Novole) M. Days and Clouds is an Italian film directed by Silvio Soldini and tells the story of a disintegrating marriage straining under the pressure of unemployment.
•    Friday 14 November 2008 - The Edge of Heaven M. German film The Edge of Heaven follows characters through Germany and Turkey and how they individually deal with the notion of life and death.
•    Saturday 15 November 2008 - Welcome to the Sticks (Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis) M. French farcical comedy Welcome to the Sticks makes light of French regional stereotypes and has met huge international acclaim.

Venue: St Leonards Park, Corner Falcon & Miller Streets, North Sydney (located in the parkland next to North Sydney Oval)
Times: Gates open at 7.00pm; Film at 8.00pm
Food & Beverage: Helga’s gourmet sandwich packs will be available for the first 450 patrons who register. Grinders coffee and a range of cakes will be on sale. Bring a picnic and enjoy dining outdoors before the movie.
Inquiries & Updates: 1300 76 77 46

Entry is FREE, but please arrive early to ensure you get a spot on the lawn. Helga’s European Film Festival is presented in association with Starlight Cinema.

Only Helga’s combines the style of classic European breads with distinctly Australian tastes. Helga’s bakes using only the finest ingredients and no artificial preservatives. This tradition ensures that you will always enjoy the great taste of Helga’s bread.

For more information visit: www.HelgasFilmFestival.com.au

Can public relations help you get you through a recession?

Switch on the TV news, open the paper and its all doom and gloom. The bad economic forecast is a great news story for the media. However it breeds fear, worry and stress. In business this can mean that owners react to the fear with knee jerk reactions such as cutting out advertising, marketing and public relations. It seems like an obvious choice –cut the “fat”. But is it really?

In a recession or a great economy, PR has the same function. It helps establish and maintain mutual lines of communication, understanding, acceptance and sales between an organisation and its target audience (ie customers).

PR programs link with business objectives and are based on a long-term view of a business’s relationship with their target audiences. They build positive public image and reputation.

Isn’t this even more important in a recession? Here are five top tips to use public relations to get through the doom & gloom:

1. Openly and regularly communicate with investors and customers to maintain trust and letting them now how the company is going.
2. Tell success stories. Write case studies on how you have helped your customers/clients solve a problem that has saved them money or assisted them through a difficult situation. Pitch the case studies to relevant targeted media.
3. Get online. Use online public relations to increase your online visibility and develop relationships with your customers. Start writing a business blog, participate in forums and message boards. If you don’t have an e-newsletter, then start one and make sure it is regularly sent to your stakeholders and customers.
4. Zig when your competitors Zag. During times of economic downturn, companies tend to follow the herd’s direction rather then looking at what strategies would best work for them. If they are cutting back, do the opposite. By cutting back on marketing and PR, you leave the door wide open providing opportunity for your competitors.
5. Engage a great PR agency that understands your business and work with them on stories and angles and articles and speaking topics – anything that shows your expertise and puts you in front of key audiences. PR can achieve amazing results even when the budget is quite small.

Making a knee jerk reaction now may cost you your business. People won’t buy from companies if they can no longer see or hear from them. So the message is simple, maintain your presence in the marketplace and then you have more of a chance that your company will still be in the standing when the storm is over.

A FREE taste of European Film under the stars in Brisbane

Its spring and the nights are getting warmer, so what better way to celebrate the season than with fine film, food and friends.

Under starry Brisbane skies lovers of great international film will flock to the City Botanic Gardens Soundshell Hill for a unique smorgasbord of FREE cinematic delights.

Each night from Thursday 6 November to Saturday 8 November 2008, a major European feature film will screen on the magnificent 16m x 8m inflatable Starlight Cinema screen.

The outdoor cinema experience in Brisbane is unparalleled for its exhilarating and sociable atmosphere, and this FREE festival is a great way to kick-start the summer season.

The first 300 people to register online at www.helgasfilmfestival.com.au will receive a FREE Helga’s sandwich pack on the night. So bring a blanket or hire a backrest and celebrate a continental evening of outdoor cinema at the Helga’s European Film Festival.

This year audiences will be entertained by three foreign films from Italy, Germany and France.
•    Thursday 6 November 2008 - Days and Clouds (Giorno e Novole) M. Days and Clouds is an Italian film directed by Silvio Soldini and tells the story of a disintegrating marriage straining under the pressure of unemployment.
•    Friday 7 November 2008 - The Edge of Heaven M. German film The Edge of Heaven follows characters through Germany and Turkey and how they individually deal with the notion of life and death.
•    Saturday 8 November 2008 - Welcome to the Sticks (Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis) M. French farcical comedy Welcome to the Sticks makes light of French regional stereotypes and has met huge international acclaim.

Only Helga’s combines the style of classic European breads with distinctly Australian tastes. Helga’s bakes using only the finest ingredients and no artificial preservatives. This tradition ensures that you will always enjoy the great taste of Helga’s bread.

Times: Gate opens at 6.00pm; Film at 7.00pm
Venue: Soundshell Hill, City Botanic Gardens, Alice Street, Brisbane
Food & Beverage: Helga’s gourmet sandwich packs will be available for the first 300 patrons who register. Grinders coffee and a range of cakes will be on sale. Bring a picnic and enjoy dining outdoors before the movie.
Inquiries & Updates: 1300 76 77 46

Entry is FREE, but please arrive early to ensure you get a spot on the lawn. Helga’s European Film Festival is presented in association with Starlight Cinema.

For more information visit: www.helgasfilmfestival.com.au

PRing One’s Self

A few Sundays I closed my eyes and asked my friend to look at page 37 of Sunday Life to see if I looked half decent. After a “you look great”, I opened them and I saw my image taking up most of the page (Click Sunday Life to see PDF). Thankfully I looked half decent as I would have been very upset that the 100,000 odd people reading Sunday Life around NSW & Vic wondering why this PR chic was PRing herself.

I received many texts, emails and calls from friends, family about it. One associate emailed commenting about “PRing one’s self” and “Interesting to note you are doing PR on yourself”. I guess when you are in PR you have to do your own PR!

But it got me thinking. Many businesses can afford to use a PR consultancy – and trust me – it really does make a difference and is worth the money. But some very small businesses don’t have the budget and should try some PR techniques themselves.

One such business is my Women in Business mentoree – Gail Rast. Her business, Life’s a Feast is still evolving so she has been “PRing one’s self”. She has written a media release and was featured in her local newspaper with her contact details. She got a call from it.

She was also featured in the Sun Herald which is now proudly featured on her home page. So she is getting double PR from it.

So where do you start with “PRing one’s self”?

Media releases are a great way of distributing relevant and topical information to a group of targeted publications (think about which media outlets your target audience get their information from). The release must be newsworthy and cover the “who, what, where, why and when”.

Case studies provide an ideal platform to leverage business success and tell your story to the media through your customers. Many trade publications publish case studies and you can use them as testimonials when speaking to journalists.

Write an article that positions you as an industry expert and offers topical, helpful information. Ensure it is written in an objective, informative and entertaining manner.  It should never be a blatant advertisement or advertorial. Determine which publications your potential clients read, and approach editors focusing on what you can do for their readers.  This is an effective way to generate future requests for comments from journalists as it positions you as an industry expert.

If you need expert public relations help drop us a line.