NOT JUST DIFFERENT. BETTER.
NOT JUST DIFFERENT. BETTER.
Life is too short to make boring videos.
Circle2Media is a full-service production company that can take your corporate video to the next level. From people to products, businesses to board rooms, we can help you find the best way to tell your story and inspire your audience.
We’re passionate about making the best videos out there. And we look forward to making them for you.
Life is too short to make boring videos.
Circle2Media is a full-service production company that can take your corporate video to the next level. From people to products, businesses to board rooms, we can help you find the best way to tell your story and inspire your audience.
We’re passionate about making the best videos out there. And we look forward to making them for you.
CHECK OUT
WHAT WE DO.
CHECK OUT
WHAT WE DO.
I’ve been telling stories my whole life.
Born in Chicago and trained in Los Angeles, I can take your corporate production to the next level with a little Hollywood magic. I’m Mike Schwab, and during my career in the television industry I’ve worked on everything from big network reality competition to small cable-channel documentaries. I’ve created the drama, the humor, and all of the moments that got people taking and then sharing on social media.
From a talk show with Bonnie Hunt to a cooking competition with Gordon Ramsay, an invention battle for Simon Cowell to the weight-loss contestants on The Biggest Loser, I worked with some of television’s biggest names and on the most popular shows. I became a rockstar in Hollywood crafting the stories that America had to watch.
And now I’m back in Chicago, looking for some new stories to tell.
Raised in on the North Side, I studied playwriting while getting my BFA at DePaul University. Following that I moved to LA and received my Masters in film production from the USC School of Cinema-Television. Having spent a number of years as a professional screenwriter before becoming a television producer and then one of reality television’s A-List editors, storytelling is in my blood.
I’ve been telling stories my whole life. And I can’t wait to tell yours.
I’ve been telling stories my whole life.
Born in Chicago and trained in Los Angeles, I can take your corporate production to the next level with a little Hollywood magic. I’m Mike Schwab, and during my career in the television industry I’ve worked on everything from big network reality competition to small cable-channel documentaries. I’ve created the drama, the humor, and all of the moments that got people taking and then sharing on social media.
From a talk show with Bonnie Hunt to a cooking competition with Gordon Ramsay, an invention battle for Simon Cowell to the weight-loss contestants on The Biggest Loser, I worked with some of television’s biggest names and on the most popular shows. I became a rockstar in Hollywood crafting the stories that America had to watch.
And now I’m back in Chicago, looking for some new stories to tell.
Raised in on the North Side, I studied playwriting while getting my BFA at DePaul University. Following that I moved to LA and received my Masters in film production from the USC School of Cinema-Television. Having spent a number of years as a professional screenwriter before becoming a television producer and then one of reality television’s A-List editors, storytelling is in my blood.
I’ve been telling stories my whole life. And I can’t wait to tell yours.
NOT JUST DIFFERENT. BETTER.
Life is too short to make boring videos.
Sure, we do all of the things that that the other guys do — create videos, tell stories, and use media and music to engage an audience. We just happen to do it better.
We’re more creative. More thoughtful. More passionate.
We look at things a little differently, and we’re always looking for a way to stand out in a world of safe, flavorless media. We’re not afraid to look at things a little differently, and offer you video options that span from the expected to the unconventional.
But no matter the story that you’re trying to tell, there’s always a way of looking at it that’s more entertaining, more emotional, or more funny. No one wants a video that only takes the audience halfway there, because at the end of the day, emotion drives decisions.
Regardless of the subject, we want to tell a story that grabs your audience from the very first frame to the end. We want them to be one hundred percent engaged with the concept, the story, the product. And we want to make sure you’re getting the most bang for your video buck.
All we want to do is make the best video out there. And we look forward to making them for you.
NOT JUST DIFFERENT. BETTER.
Life is too short to make boring videos.
Sure, we do all of the things that that the other guys do — create videos, tell stories, and use media and music to engage an audience. We just happen to do it better.
We’re more creative. More thoughtful. More passionate.
We look at things a little differently, and we’re always looking for a way to stand out in a world of safe, flavorless media. We’re not afraid to look at things a little differently, and offer you video options that span from the expected to the unconventional.
But no matter the story that you’re trying to tell, there’s always a way of looking at it that’s more entertaining, more emotional, or more funny. No one wants a video that only takes the audience halfway there, because at the end of the day, emotion drives decisions.
Regardless of the subject, we want to tell a story that grabs your audience from the very first frame to the end. We want them to be one hundred percent engaged with the concept, the story, the product. And we want to make sure you’re getting the most bang for your video buck.
All we want to do is make the best video out there. And we look forward to making them for you.
WHY US
Working with us, you’re getting our full attention. With us, you’re not just a number, we don’t hand you off to some random team. We are the team.
We also have a more cost-effective way to work — There’s no giant loft downtown with a ping-pong table and expresso machine – we’ve cut the overhead so that your video dollar goes further.
We will sit down with you at the beginning of the project to find out exactly what your goals are and what you’re hoping to achieve with your video project. And once we’ve agreed on the direction, we’ll bring in the best crews in the business, from cinematographers and sound people to set decorators and social media consultants, all tailored to your project.
After we’ve captured all of the elements for your story on video, we’ll take it back to the edit bay and carefully put the story together. Adding the right music and pacing, along with a little sprinkle of Hollywood charm, and we’ll deliver to you a final cut of perfect movie magic.
Anyone can make a video for you. But no one can make you a video like we can.
WHY US
Working with us, you’re getting our full attention. With us, you’re not just a number, we don’t hand you off to some random team. We are the team.
We also have a more cost-effective way to work — There’s no giant loft downtown with a ping-pong table and expresso machine – we’ve cut the overhead so that your video dollar goes further.
We will sit down with you at the beginning of the project to find out exactly what your goals are and what you’re hoping to achieve with your video project. And once we’ve agreed on the direction, we’ll bring in the best crews in the business, from cinematographers and sound people to set decorators and social media consultants, all tailored to your project.
After we’ve captured all of the elements for your story on video, we’ll take it back to the edit bay and carefully put the story together. Adding the right music and pacing, along with a little sprinkle of Hollywood charm, and we’ll deliver to you a final cut of perfect movie magic.
Anyone can make a video for you. But no one can make you a video like we can.
WHAT WE DO
We love telling stories, and we enjoy crafting content. Whatever it is you’re trying to say, we’d love to help you find the perfect way to say it.
WHAT WE DO
We love telling stories, and we enjoy crafting content. Whatever it is you’re trying to say, we’d love to help you find the perfect way to say it.
CORPORATE VIDEO
We produce videos for businesses, looking to help you stand out to your target audience while inspiring potential customers and attracting new clients and top talent.
Do you have a product that you’re trying to launch? An image you’re looking to build? Are you hoping to create a web-presence, or maybe a social media campaign? Talk to us. We will work closely with you to understand your business and what you are trying to achieve in order to tell your story.
The key is connection. Emotions drive decisions, and finding the best way to help people connect with your company and products is essential. From long form videos to quick 30-60 second pieces, we’ll make sure that your audience relates to your message and that your company and products stand out in the crowd.
CORPORATE VIDEO
We produce videos for businesses, looking to help you stand out to your target audience while inspiring potential customers and attracting new clients and top talent.
Do you have a product that you’re trying to launch? An image you’re looking to build? Are you hoping to create a web-presence, or maybe a social media campaign? Talk to us. We will work closely with you to understand your business and what you are trying to achieve in order to tell your story.
The key is connection. Emotions drive decisions, and finding the best way to help people connect with your company and products is essential. From long form videos to quick 30-60 second pieces, we’ll make sure that your audience relates to your message and that your company and products stand out in the crowd.
TRAINING AND TUTORIALS
We love teaching people how to do things. Videos help you to convey information in an engaging way and create a manageable learning experience.
We can create videos across a wide range of information, from teaching employees how to use your software or equipment, to conducting new hire orientation, or even a series of videos demonstrating how to successfully recreate your grandmother’s favorite recipes.
TRAINING AND TUTORIALS
We love teaching people how to do things. Videos help you to convey information in an engaging way and create a manageable learning experience.
We can create videos across a wide range of information, from teaching employees how to use your software or equipment, to conducting new hire orientation, or even a series of videos demonstrating how to successfully recreate your grandmother’s favorite recipes.
BUSINESS PRESENTATIONS
Looking to find a way to take the bored out of the board meeting? Try a video! Using video and graphics, we can work with you to present your information in a way that is both entertaining and compelling.
Incorporating video can add energy to your overall presentation, while helping to get your point across and keeping your audience captivated.
BUSINESS PRESENTATIONS
Looking to find a way to take the bored out of the board meeting? Try a video! Using video and graphics, we can work with you to present your information in a way that is both entertaining and compelling.
Incorporating video can add energy to your overall presentation, while helping to get your point across and keeping your audience captivated.
CORPORATE EDITING
Do you have a project that’s already been shot, but the final product isn’t doing the job you expected? We can fix that. Let us sit down with you to learn what you’re hoping to capture and then re-envision what your project can ultimately become.
With years of editing experience, we can scour the footage to create the right story. We’re experts at digging though footage to find the right pieces of the puzzle. And we would love to dive into your existing material and find that successful story that excites your team and inspires your audience.
CORPORATE EDITING
Do you have a project that’s already been shot, but the final product isn’t doing the job you expected? We can fix that. Let us sit down with you to learn what you’re hoping to capture and then re-envision what your project can ultimately become.
With years of editing experience, we can scour the footage to create the right story. We’re experts at digging though footage to find the right pieces of the puzzle. And we would love to dive into your existing material and find that successful story that excites your team and inspires your audience.
PERSONAL VIDEO
Do you have a special event coming up that you want to capture on video? Maybe it’s time to put down the cellphone and let us tackle the filming while you just enjoy the moment.
We’d love to sit down with you and find a cost-effective solution to documenting that milestone birthday or major event and leave you with the keepsake that your family will always treasure. And if you already have the footage, we can edit it down from 3 hours of random recordings into a great 10 minute video to show your family and friends.
PERSONAL VIDEO
Do you have a special event coming up that you want to capture on video? Maybe it’s time to put down the cellphone and let us tackle the filming while you just enjoy the moment.
We’d love to sit down with you and find a cost-effective solution to documenting that milestone birthday or major event and leave you with the keepsake that your family will always treasure. And if you already have the footage, we can edit it down from 3 hours of random recordings into a great 10 minute video to show your family and friends.
Think your family is the next Duck Dynasty or your friend is the new Johnny Knoxville? We’d love to hear all about it. And with 15+ years of experience in reality television, we have the knowledge and insight to help you take your idea and turn it into something marketable.
From a short sizzle (pitch) reel to show to prospective networks to fully-formed episodes broken into web-sized chunks, we will sit down with you and flesh out your concept until it’s ready for it’s big debut. And who knows, if it’s really good, we’ll use our connections and get it to some of the best reality television producers in Hollywood!
Have another idea for a video that we haven’t covered? Contact us, we’ll find a way to bring your story to life!
Have another idea for a video that we haven’t covered? Contact us, and I’m sure we’ll find a way to bring your story to life!
Think your family is the next Duck Dynasty or your friend is the new Johnny Knoxville? We’d love to hear all about it. And with 15+ years of experience in reality television, we have the knowledge and insight to help you take your idea and turn it into something marketable.
From a short sizzle (pitch) reel to show to prospective networks to fully-formed episodes broken into web-sized chunks, we will sit down with you and flesh out your concept until it’s ready for it’s big debut. And who knows, if it’s really good, we’ll use our connections and get it to some of the best reality television producers in Hollywood!
Have another idea for a video that we haven’t covered? Contact us, we’ll find a way to bring your story to life!
Have another idea for a video that we haven’t covered? Contact us, and I’m sure we’ll find a way to bring your story to life!
INSIGHTS
Our take on video for the real world, and some thoughts on what it takes to make your project effective.
INSIGHTS
Our take on video for the real world, and some thoughts on what it takes to make your project effective.
Creating a video for your company or business is a great way to engage your audience. Whether it’s a mood, a product, or a concept that you’re trying to sell, videos get more attention online and are a great way to reach more customers and businesses.
Who hasn’t been sucked into a compelling video on Facebook, or taken a few minutes to watch an informative video from Twitter? The fact is, you can tailor a video directly to the audience that you’re looking to attract, and you can do it in anywhere from 10-15 seconds to twenty minutes or more.
Find Your Beach (Know Where You’re Headed!)
Everyone likes to save some money. From combo-meals to cutting coupons, there are plenty of ways out there to save a buck. And if you’re new, or relatively new to producing a video, there are certainly things that you can do to save money without affecting the quality of your production… Like knowing where you want your video to end up before you even film the first frame.!
Seems simple, right? While it can be, sometimes it’s hard to know exactly what you hope that your video will accomplish. Making a video, especially for the first time, can feel like you’re jumping into the middle of an ocean without a life vest – There’s a lot of water, and you just don’t know which direction to turn to swim for shore. But even if you feel a little adrift, having some ideas of where you want to end up with your production can get you moving in the right direction.
There are many important elements to making a successful video. Great footage, compelling content, the right music, it all plays a part in taking your concept and making it work on the screen. But the one thing that’s most important in order to get your point across in a video is pacing.
Most people don’t understand what pacing means. At it’s most basic form, pacing is the rhythm of the video, or, more importantly, of the editing. Music videos are often paced very fast, with quick edits and tons of movement. Why? Because they generally aren’t trying to tell a specific story and are more going to a mood. Documentaries are often paced slowly, giving the audience time to see historical footage and follow what is often a complex story that unfolds over an hour or more.
7 Ways To Make Your Epic Video Go #Viral
It seems that everyone’s goal these days is get their video to go viral. But how many clicks and watches does it take for a video to be considered viral? A few years ago, anything with a million hits would have been considered viral, and a great success.
But today, you need at least 5 million hits in a 3-7 day period to be considered a viral video. How does a video go viral, anyway? While there obviously isn’t a magic formula for making videos go viral, (if there was, they’d all be viral, right?), there are some concepts that can up your chances to get your video in front of millions of eyeballs.
The First Rule of Social Media Video…
The first rule of making a video for social media in 2018 is that, well, there just aren’t any rules when it comes to your media creation. I mean, sure, interesting is always a good start, because grabbing your audience’s attention, regardless of subject matter, is always a good thing, right? And in a world connected by the internet and whipped into a frenzy by social media, it seems like the right place to start.
Talking babies, talking dogs, talking dogs dressed up as babies, it seems like in the quest for buzz and clicks, videos of every stripe are pushing boundaries and taking risks in the hopes of reaching a wider audience. And given the bang for your buck that social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and similar sites are offering, you can get creative and put your concept out there without breaking the bank.
The Reality of Reality (Television)
There are basically two kinds of reality shows: the first is the talent-based show that follows around a person, or a family, or a collection of Real Housewives. The second is a competition show based around a talent (or lack thereof) like cooking, sewing, or singing, that often involves celebrity hosts or judges.
So maybe you have an idea for the next great competition reality show, bringing together America’s disobedient dogs along with the greatest dog trainers for an epic doggie obedience battle hosted by pet-lover Ellen DeGeneres. (You even have a great name for it: Pooch Perfect)
Creating a video for your company or business is a great way to engage your audience. Whether it’s a mood, a product, or a concept that you’re trying to sell, videos get more attention online and are a great way to reach more customers and businesses.
Who hasn’t been sucked into a compelling video on Facebook, or taken a few minutes to watch an informative video from Twitter? The fact is, you can tailor a video directly to the audience that you’re looking to attract, and you can do it in anywhere from 10-15 seconds to twenty minutes or more.
Find Your Beach (Know Where You’re Headed!)
Everyone likes to save some money. From combo-meals to cutting coupons, there are plenty of ways out there to save a buck. And if you’re new, or relatively new to producing a video, there are certainly things that you can do to save money without affecting the quality of your production… Like knowing where you want your video to end up before you even film the first frame.!
Seems simple, right? While it can be, sometimes it’s hard to know exactly what you hope that your video will accomplish. Making a video, especially for the first time, can feel like you’re jumping into the middle of an ocean without a life vest – There’s a lot of water, and you just don’t know which direction to turn to swim for shore.
There are many important elements to making a successful video. Great footage, compelling content, the right music, it all plays a part in taking your concept and making it work on the screen. But the one thing that’s most important in order to get your point across in a video is pacing.
Most people don’t understand what pacing means. At it’s most basic form, pacing is the rhythm of the video, or, more importantly, of the editing. Music videos are often paced very fast, with quick edits and tons of movement. Why? Because they generally aren’t trying to tell a specific story and are more going to a mood. Documentaries are often paced slowly, giving the audience time to see historical footage and follow what is often a complex story that unfolds over an hour or more.
7 Ways to Make your Epic Video go #Viral!
It seems that everyone’s goal these days is get their video to go viral. But how many clicks and watches does it take for a video to be considered viral? A few years ago, anything with a million hits would have been considered viral, and a great success. But today, you need at least 5 million hits in a 3-7 day period to be considered a viral video.
How does a video go viral, anyway? While there obviously isn’t a magic formula for making videos go viral, (if there was, they’d all be viral, right?), there are some concepts that can up your chances to get your video in front of millions of eyeballs.
The First Rule of Social Media Video…
The first rule of making a video for social media in 2018 is that, well, there just aren’t any rules when it comes to your media creation. I mean, sure, interesting is always a good start, because grabbing your audience’s attention, regardless of subject matter, is always a good thing, right? And in a world connected by the internet and whipped into a frenzy by social media, it seems like the right place to start.
Talking babies, talking dogs, talking dogs dressed up as babies, it seems like in the quest for buzz and clicks, videos of every stripe are pushing boundaries and taking risks in the hopes of reaching a wider audience. And given the bang for your buck that social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and similar sites are offering, you can get creative and put your concept out there without breaking the bank.
The Reality of Reality (Television)
There are basically two kinds of reality shows: the first is the talent-based show that follows around a person, or a family, or a collection of Real Housewives. The second is a competition show based around a talent (or lack thereof) like cooking, sewing, or singing, that often involves celebrity hosts or judges.
So maybe you have an idea for the next great competition reality show, bringing together America’s disobedient dogs along with the greatest dog trainers for an epic doggie obedience battle hosted by pet-lover Ellen DeGeneres. (You even have a great name for it: Pooch Perfect)
