It has been a big challenge to create an attractive presence for the Colombian government during the world forest conference, Forest Day is the annual meeting of organizations and governments to o discuss projects and issues related to forests. The Colombian forest has been the setting for a drug industry battlefield for years. The growing market for drug consumption in Europe and the United States encouraged  by media and lifestyle, provokes a huge damage in third world countries where production is made at a very low costs. Authorities do as much as they can but the market is very demanding and poverty drives local broke farmers into growing illegal crops to support their families. For years, Colombia has been fighting drug production but consumption is not controlled in the big economies. In general terms, Colombian institutions an people fight between survival and preservation with minimal resources. Our job was to make visitors understand how badly Colombia needs the support of the international community to fight drug production and ,at the same time, preserve the rainforest, currently a 35% of  Colombia’s territory. So after receiving the commission from the vice minister, we started exploring options to communicate in a simple, fast an effective way. We chose to combine facts and  information with a game. The Panel In a 2.5 * 2.0 mts panel we placed a very big picture of the forest. 20 randomly located rectangles would suggest the missing areas of deforested land. 550 postcards with the phrase “Colombia celebrates Forest Day. Support our efforts and help preserve our rainforest.”  where given to visitors during the event, 50 of them contained the missing parts of the big image so their participation would help us complete the panel ad metaphorically recover the rainforest. The Game Each visitor with a postcard was encouraged to try and fill a gap in the panel, as most images wouldn´t match they would understand how hard it is to recover a damaged land. When a postcard fitted in a damaged area, the visitor would fill that gap himself and fell the recognition and satisfaction of collaborating with a good cause. The Facts In front of the panel we created a mini theater where a 42” flat screen TV featured “Ecocide” a video developed by the Ministry of Defense that provides all statistical information about the damage that illicit crops cause to rain forests, families and communities across the country. visitors to the stand were invited sit and watch while waiting for the game  or after playing it. The concept, dynamics and experience for this stand was conceived midway between playful, educational and political; introducing a critical topic as drug traffic and consumption in an environmental context but providing a playful way to understand it, to avoid prejudice and to prevent visitors to jump to conclusions when they see this topic featured. The general acceptance and participation from visitors, media and organizations was pretty high, the stand  got the attention of people like CIFOR, Google, Le Monde , Associated Press, GTZ Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit , local organizations, researchers and bloggers on environmental issues with whom interviews where arranged during the event. The impact of a good stand design, a controversial topic and a visual game provided a positive  results for our client creating collaboration opportunities and favorable press. click here to see more pictures http://forestsandclimate.wordpress.com/2009/12/13/what-colombias-doing-to-protect-the-forests/ http://www.iisd.ca/climate/cop15/fd/html/ymbvol148num3e.html http://www.cifor.cgiar.org/Events/ForestDay3/Introduction/ #copenhagen #colombia #design #corporateevents #postcard #booth #forestday #service #sustainability #denmark #rainforest #cop15 #falconer #game #forest #climatechange

Videopolis recorre las ciudades a través de las historias de sus creadores y su manera de ver y vivir la cotidianidad, la política, el amor, las reivindicaciones, la sexualidad, la espiritualidad y las relaciones interpersonales. La vida en cada ciudad, hace que sus narradores expongan temas y discursos que allí se hacen relevantes y vigentes, cuando en otras latitudes no se repara en ellos o constituyen un tema tabú y esa es la escencia de Videopolis, ver desde afuera temas que vivimos adentro. Con un ánimo reflexivo e integrador, Videopolis ofrece formas de ver la vida que cada espectador toma e interpreta dese su propia realidad. En cada ciudad que visita, Videopolis recoge nuevas historias y puntos de vista que ayudan a nutrir este catálogo de experiencias e identidades que dialogarán en su siguiente parada con nuevos espectadores En 2010, Videopolis presentará historias procedentes de Barcelona, Miami, México DF, Caracas, París, Londres, Girona, New York, Cali, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Sabadell, Lima, Santiago, Buenos Aires, Amsterdam, Tampa y Medellin. Incorporará en su recorrido nuevas narraciones procedentes de Helsinki, Berlín y Londres en el primer trimestre del año y está abierta a presentar e incl nuevas propuestas en ciudades Europeas y Americanas. Videpolis es una muestra itinerante audiovisual, que presenta impresiones sobre la vida urbana en diferente ciudades alrededor del mundo a públicos en otras ciudades y latitudes. Videopolis establece diálogos entre personas y culturas, contrasta opiniones y fomenta la conversación sobre nuevos temas en cada ciudad que visita. Barcelona se hace eje de Videopolis a partir de 2010 y desde allí viajará a diferentes ciudades de América y Europa, para establecer conexiones entre historias locales y foráneas a través de historias de vida en vídeo. para mas informacion sobre videopolis puedes visitar http://www.vimeo.com/groups/videopolis http://www.youtube.com/user/Videopolis2010 http://www.algobueno.eu #travelingexhibits #shorts #production #videojournals #european #films #urban #exchange #movies #Videopolis #video #catalonian #arts #viart #musicbands #storytelling #livecinema #cities

Desde mayo de este año, hemos venido colaborando con Barcelona Activa y otras entidades que apoyan el desarrollo de iniciativas empresariales, autoempleo y emprendeduría. Ofreciendo información, capsulas de formacion y asesoramiento a personas que desean comenzar o consolidar una idea de negocio. El Banco de Talento Creativo de Algo Bueno ha ideado la manera para que algunas herramientas de marketing usadas en grandes campañas con presupuestos millonarios operen de manera eficiente, a bajo coste y de forma creativa para pequeñeas empresas y emprendededores. trabajando en equipo con pequeños comercios y profesionales el BTC asesora y produce estrategias y materiales y soportes para activar la comunicacion coroprativa en todos sus ambitos de pequeñas empresas. un par de ejemplos pueden verse en el siguiente link Plan Comunicación,web 2.0, estrategias y eventos para pequeñas empresas y emprendedores. #promoción #botiga #comercio #emprendedor #service #web #profesional #marketing #autónomo #pyme #viral

Videopolis 2010 starts in helsinki, finland Algo Bueno Management Cultura Barcelona en asocio con la Fundación Artehoy Bogotá convocan a realizadores Latinoamericanos y Latinoamericanos residentes en USA para participar de la muestra audiovisual que presentará el próximo mes de Abril del 2010 en Maimitalo Helsinki. Esta muestra se encuentra enmarcada en el propósito de ambas organizaciones en dar visibilidad a la nueva produccion simbólica del los paises de Latinoamérica y las comunidades Hispana en Estados Unidos. Con esta primera presentación Videopolis 2010 abre las oportunidad de escenarios y festivales Europeos para presentar producciones que normalmente no llegan a estas programaciones. Videopolis Nació en el año 2003, cuando la Fundación Artehoy en Bogotá gneró Videopolis I y II como encargo para el Museo de Arte Moderno. En el año 2005 el Museo abandonó la iniciativa y el proyecto se detuvo por falta de fondos. Cinco años después Videopolis abre de nuevo sus ojos ahora en el antiguo continente creando vínculos y canales de intercambio con nuevo públicos. Creemos firmemente en el nuevo cine Hispanoamericano y en la relevancia de la presencia Latinoamérica como comunidad pujante y prometedora, en Europa y Estados Unidos. La convocatoria de Videopolis está abierta a las siguientes categorías: Cortometrajes Documentales Video Experimental Videoclips musicales Animación Los participantes deben enviar ficha técnica, ficha artística y 3 fotofijas e indicar link a website, youtube, vimeo, etc, o ftp. Copias en baja resolución también pueden ser enviadas vía yousendit a algobuenobcn@gmail.com El envío de material final se solicitará solo a los seleccionados. la fecha limite recepción de propuestas es Septiembre 30 y la lista de seleccionados se publicará posterior a una semana. para mas informacion contactar a Jorge Rodriguez Sandra Rengifo o Carmen Gil #travelingexhibits #production #festivals #films #Finland #Videopolis #convocatoria #video #Helsinki

¿What type of Nation do you think Apple, Microsoft, Unilever or Sony Corporation would be? That is a question that first came to my mind back in 2004, when I visited the Redmond WA area close to Seattle, where Microsoft Corporation owns its headquarters and long extensions of land. There, hundreds of mini-mansions for MS Executives decorate a Swedish-wanna-be-landscape. Was that a Microsoft country? maybe not, but that is how it felt while talking to people, driving the highway and exploring the suburbs. A particular kind of identity, lifestyle and behavioral agreements, very close to the Microsoft corporate image. Maybe it is corporate identity that goes beyond the company, into people lives. As it all sounds like science fiction, we should examine some realities. I guess it all started in 1955 with Main Street USA in Disneyland (The Happiest Place on Earth) where a typical American village was fully reproduced under the company parameters of Disney imagery. Then came Epcot Center, a vision of the existing world (third world excluded) from the Disney point of view, that featured the most touristic and iconic landmarks from an American perspective. Main Street USA Back in the 70´s, the world was politically divided in Communism and Capitalism basically. After the coldwar and during the late 80´s the Perestroika, the Fall of the Berlin Wall and the political and economic changes in communist countries created an ideological change globally. People started changing their political beliefs and their affiliations changed to more private ones. During the 90´, companies developed strong efforts towards positioning their values transmitted via branding brands becoming economically and symbolically powerful; generating values, lifestyles, followers, collectors of memorabilia, urban tribes and radical beliefs in a global scale. Notions of culture, nation, country and culture mutate and people start believing in branded values, media promoted lifestyles and marketing designed ideologies. Local, national and regional governments joined forces with the tourism industry to promote specific destinations, immigration, foreign investment and position economic value for countries and cities. That way, places like New York, Mexico, Barcelona and Berlin created whole new brands from their name, supported by local and global investors. Let´s think of Sex and the City, Barcelona Olympic Games, The fall of the Berlin Wall, or the FIFA World Cup as tools for touristic promotion and region branding transmitting values and beliefs, music, visual patterns, food and celebrations that make people come together and identify themselves with these parameters as their ways of expression. Strong Marketing campaigns about certain regions, countries and cities at the same time that sold destinations, encouraged regionalism, nationalism and local pride. The impact of branding in this sense is double sided, and creates apart from consumption, social transformations followed by strong feelings about the branded place. Something close to the impact of corporate values among company So, where does the notion of national culture and product branding cross paths? a possible answer may be found if we ask people where do they belong? Do you feel Spanish, American or Mac user? What defines me the most? My place of residence or my habits? All these questions currently float inside a lot of people´s minds. The Power of Mutinational Companies to provide services, products and messages to fill people needs has taken them to a position, where their speech may be stronger than politics, culture and the participation of civil society. Most of them have the power to influence law, politics, culture, governance and development in any country to the point of becoming providers of basic services covering people´s fundamental rights like water, electricity, food, health, communications, housing, education, retirement and security. So, when only companies can provide people with most of the things half of the countries in the world can´t provide, ¿What is left of the notion of Nation? ¿What is the role of nations and governments in the new world order? So here is my question again ¿What type of Nation do you think Apple, Microsoft, Unilever or Sony Corporation would be? #cultural #society #tourism #coolhunting #corporate #brand #marketing #brands #multinational #rights #identity #microsoft #unilever #trends

550 people got together in Amsterdam´s Sugar factory to enjoy the new show retroVisor is offering this summer. The European tour this year inlcuded Brussels, Amsterdam, Zurich and barcelona. Hurray for the new latin Electronica! ¡ELECTROCUMBE! Live Nu Latin City Beatz Retro VISOR (Colombia) + DJ Sonido del Principe / DJ mps PILOT / Dj Eduardo (Que Pasa!) This is the summer of the Electro Cumbia, Colombias new dance music craze…ready to spread over the European Club scenes and festivals..Sugarfactory will be the first to host such an event with state of the art Electrocumbé with exciting visuals… 00:00 – 05:00 Entry: € 9.50 Line Up Retro VISOR (Colombia) DJ Sonido del Principe DJ mps PILOT DJ Eduardo (Que Pasa!) Visuals by Carmen Electric This is the summer of the Electro Cumbia, Colombias new dance music craze…ready to spread over the European Club scenes and festivals..Sugarfactory will be the first to host such an event with state of the art Electrocumbé with exiting visuals… Veel Cumbia met Drum ‘n bass, dub step met salsa, Sonidera met Jungle, Latin eclectic, Electrocumbia etc etc. Visuals, Dj’s, soundscapes, live percu… all the info about this event at http://www.sugarfactory.nl/page=site.agenda_article/id=1452 #Amsterdam #electronica #Sugarfactory #music #Electrocumbia #netherlands #musicbands #CarmenElectric

Last week a very big event gathering more than 300 sales executives from around the planet took place at in Barcelona. Open Text´s the Art of Good Business is the annual get together for the sales force of this Canadian Multinational that sells software and digital solutions, content management protocols and consulting to goverments, other multinationals and international organizations. 3 days of lectures, coffee breaks, conferences, live music, stand up comedy, parties and team building activities were registered, organized and edited by the audiovisual team of Algo Bueno. Guests from Germany, UK, France, Canada, Italy, Netherlands and the USA enjoyed the many attractions of the and had a lot of fun while competing for the best performance in selling millions of dollars in services globally. The event was organized in Barcelona by Lifestyle Experience Group in coordination with Opium Mar, Ab Skipper Hotel, Arts Hotel, Llotja de Mar and Algo Bueno among other companies. #seminar #corporateevents #barcelona #photography #treasurehunt #performers #video #llotja #convention #opentext #lifestyle

Communication Skills for the Deaf and Functionally Diverse ASU (Artistas Sordos Unidos) United Deaf Artists from Catalonia (Spain), have asked us to design a program on Social and Professional Communication skills specially designed to provide deaf people with tools to socialize and make their professional growth easier. The interaction between the deaf community and the hearing community in most countries is determined by the approach each community has on each other and the bridges that can be built to bring both groups closer. Even when we can hear and talk, our communication levels with Functionally Diverse groups ( blind, deaf, mute, etc) is very limited. When communication codes change and new languages appear social groups tend to separate instead of learning new codes to interact. As a majority, the hearing community does not really make the effort to establish links with non-hearing non-seeing members of society. So minorities usually make this effort and develop a kind of bilingualism (lip reading + sign language) to be able to participate in societies not ready for the Functionally Diverse. The program Algo Bueno has designed for ASU considers both sides: the understanding of hearing peoples codes and points of view, the limitations of hearing people to learn new codes and the enhancement of communication true visual and written codes and tools. internet for example becomes a great place for professional and social development of non-hearing + hearing interaction since there we are strongly visual + text oriented. This and more is being discussed and built at these workshops in Barcelona lectured by Daniela Violi a member of our Creative Talent Bank. #cultural #communication #seminar #ASU #diverse #social #pictures #arts #skills #deaf #protocol

This year Euro PCR 2009 has been held in Barcelona from 19th-22nd May it is the official congress of the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI). Canadian Media Broadcast Team from WebMD hired Algo Bueno to develop the Executive Production of a Stage Live Conference, filmed by 5 cameras and edited live in a postproduction room in the back of the stage. The Live Show 3 Experts and a host would be in front of a 120 people audience to discuss about Timing of Inhibition of Platelet Aggregation at the America Room at the Zero Hotel. The Small Studio At the same time starting on may 19 a small studio for interviews was set at the AC Hotel to record individual interviews with other scientists for the regular program of WebMD´s website a total of 12 interviews where recorded. A team of 20 people ( 5 cameramen, 2 make up artists 2 producers, 4 assistants, 1 Stage manager, 1 sound technician, 2 lighting technicians and 3 stage grips) was coordinated by Algo Bueno to develop on time and perfect shape the requirements of our clients. #production #stage #show #event #audience #canada #service #live #video #sound #media #medical #convention #cameramen

Barcelona Activa is the local economic development agency, where entrepreneurs find all the resources to start any business. During 200/07 members of Algo Bueno where trained for 6 months at Barcelona Activa to develop the strategies and business plan that would make our organization come to live. We have designed two workshops: one called Corporate Communications for Small Businesses and another one called Corporate Communications in Digital Environments where we provide participants with the structure to develop a corporate communications plan that can be developed in real life and also in cyberspace. Algo Bueno has joined forces to provide a wide, creative and up-to-date view of Company Communications today, the way they have become handy for all companies and how internet has become a powerful tool for entrepreneurs. Today we feel proud to be able to give back some of our experiences and knowledge to a new generation of entrepreneur who are shaping their business ideas and take the risk of starting their own business. For Algo Bueno, Barcelona Activa has meant a lot of things. A facility where we found resources and support, a reference to new ideas about innovation and life projects and also a place where we found friends that encouraged us to keep on going and follow our dreams, that are currently coming true. #business #activa #barcelona #coprorate #biz #cyberspace #communications #entrepreneur

Fashion Photography for Non-Photographers Algo Bueno Studio has developed Fashion Photography Sessions and Workshops for designers and non photographers involved in the creative process and comunication of fashion products. Young designers from FD Moda in Barcelona have had the opportunity to learn and shoot their own collections understanding and controlling the production and post production of editorial, catalog and press images. It has been very interesting to see the development of concepts and production from designers who normally develop other type of tasks during the product process.

Last week, the Tenerife Auditorium in Canary Islands was an spectacular setting for our presentation about the Creative Talent Bank during MACC. MACC (Mercado Atlántico de Creación Contemporánea) Atlantic Market for Contemporary Creation,  a new and interesting event for all those involved in Arts and Entertainment in Europe. we had the opportunity to see and meet a lot of very talented artists and company, attend expert panels, lectures and shows and also enjoy the incredible landscape of Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands. We were really happy to enjoy the workshops, the exhibition and to get in contact with wonderful projects and government programs that encourage creative industries to have a wider impact on society trhough communications, marketing, arts, educations and many other ways Our presentation, featured our association with the Artehoy Foundation in Colombia for developing Creative Projects in Latin America, the recent work of Algo Bueno in Research, Music, Film, Fashion, Museum and Performing Arts and the projects developed by Algo Bueno Studio in the field of Video, Photography and Creative Contents production. The whole event used the metaphor of the market as a way to encourage, exchange, business and networking among participants, here a couple of picture of our market outfit and market booth. A video of our presentation is also available.