Small Business

Quite honestly this category could contain almost every client, so we're going to paint with necessarily broad strokes here. Because most larger companies have entire IT departments, we generally find ourselves working with groups that outsource these particular aspects of their operation. That said, working within a precisely regimented environment, like you'll find in big corporations, can be a challenge. Apparently some authority figures consider it inappropriate to sum up the response to any given company directive simply with, "Why?"

In smaller and more focused situations, though, we have found creativity not only generally encouraged, but often to be key to Internet success. The Web can be a great equalizer, after all. Very small companies can compete with much larger ones, and you can't say that about many other areas in the economic frontier.

By working with the precise individuals that care most about the success of their business, we have found that we can avoid the entire form over substance conundrum and actually create something functional and visually appealing — within some reasonable amount of time. All Web coders play with the same tools and within the same basic sets of rules. By endeavoring to explain how these apply to a client's unique situation it assists them in making educated decisions. In the long run, everyone prefers educated decisions.

We can dazzle (or potentially befuddle) you with technical terms, but that's not going to help make your web site be successful or profitable. But by explaining the issues in understandable terms, we can both benefit. After all, in a few years you'll need another web site. Hopefully you'll call us then too.

Corporate

We're not trying to draw a "legal" distinction between the way we work with corporations as compared to partnerships, or sole proprietorships, or any other type of business structure. As a matter of fact, we have a specific policy NOT to charge more simply because we're working with a more wealthy entity. We understand that's the way most businesses operate, but honestly it just seems wrong. Any of our customers can talk to any other of our customers, and we're not worried about someone hearing about some discounted or (worse) inflated rates they've been paying.

Rather we're simply trying to reiterate that despite our inclinations toward the less formal approach, we have managed to do some interesting and challenging work within a corporate environment. The "brick and mortar" businesses that we've helped certainly fall into that category, as would any of the larger movie productions that we've worked on. If you think trying to get approval for a novel approach from your department head can be difficult, try reaching some consensus between a company art department and the creative director of an independent film. We've had week-long volleys of email regarding a simple shade of blue, and that's the truth. In essence, we're just pointing out that we can work in providing "modules" or pieces of Web projects that a different group can then incorporate into a larger scheme.

Movies

Obviously one of the most normally "fun" development jobs we get has to do with film or dvd promotion. Thus far we've not been contacted by one of the "studio giants" to put something together for them, so we end up working with independent productions, with all the creative freedom that allows. Understanding the corollary of the dictum "never say never" — this being "never say always" — independent projects "always" have art directors and other design devotees associated with the project. And working with talented people reigns as a significant bonus in the web development world.

No matter what their genre, movies seek a "visionary" goal, and that adds a great deal of freedom in Web expression. Movie clients generally have less concerns about portable devices, thereby opening up the Flash world in web development and bringing in very unique entertainment options. Although we can accomplish much of what utilizing Flash enables, the process almost always involves complex code, and thus more expense for the client. While we have had the rare direction of "Don't worry about how much money you spend on this project" come across our desks, that will never be the norm that we can envision, at least today.

Obviously the cost of Web presentation pales in terms relative to the expense of producing movies, but unless WebDotCalm was involved on set in a pure photography or consulting role, our entry into the team comes at a time when most companies have already spent a lot more money than they thought they were going to. Oddly, that pressure seems to add to the excitement of the work environment in these cases. There are many, many very talented web development companies out there, and the vast majority of them could deliver dazzling work given no time or monetary restraints. The trick comes in the much more common question, "What can you do for us in a week — for about five dollars?"

People

Being close to Los Angeles for the past 20 years or so has put us in contact with the myriad of hopeful folks that seek fame and fortune in Hollywood. A wide variety of individuals work beyond the actors and actresses, including makeup artists, wardrobe stylists, camera operators, lighting technicians, special effects houses, and audio specialists. Most "support" industries have a "personality" at the head more than a pure "business" persona, including areas from location services, to legal and tax trades, to talent agents and managers.

If you think about it, a significant number of "people" can benefit from having a readily accessible digital resume, and we've worked in all of these areas to provide help on the Web. Particularly utilizing some of the multimedia capabilities that we can provide, showing examples of your work becomes significantly easier. It probably bears mention here that we routinely provide such "sites" on CD so people can distribute them without relying on Internet access in order to demonstrate their abilities.

Epilogue

Finally, please let us know if you see something wrong in here. That happens. Even when the cobbler finally gets time to make some shoes for the kids, the cobbler may forget to look carefully enough for nails sticking up through the soles. And nobody wants nails in their souls.

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