NTV Moneymaker: Advertorial Production

Ever wonder who produces all the commercials which air on the televisions at your favorite (or least favorite) big box stores? Premier Retail Networks (PRN) produced the audio visual accompaniment for your last trip to Best Buy, Wal-Mart or Costco.

It’s not a new company — large retailers have long been piping in their own satellite and cable networks for years. But it’s part of an ecosystem of businesses that produce content for all those screens that are popping up across your life, from the checkout stand, bus and elevator to the bathroom at the nightclub. And they’re looking for a writer-producer.

It’s a real media job, requiring “Experience in directing freelance field crews, editors and production staff.” It would be good experience for the kind of short-form content that will be hyper-prevalent thanks to new distribution models. And the range and value of content that’s produced for in-store advertising is pretty staggering.

Once, many years ago, I was contracted to produce some storyboards for a campaign that synergized Coca-Cola and the first Harry Potter movie (I thought they were looking for a childish style, and did my best to channel John Canemaker). While the office is an enjoyable creative chaos, when I was there they made no pretension to artistry. The Wal-Mart network plays all day on screens throughout the office.

NTV Moneymaker will be an irregular feature in which we showcase a way to make a living with your video skills.