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TDI Productions
Christopher Smith, Director
1.866.203.4474
215.442.0215
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Winner: 2003 Communicator Awards Crystal Award of Excellence

 

Cairnwood Mansion has chosen TDI for several projects through the years. In 2001, TDI Productions wrote, directed and produced for Cairnwood Mansion a seven minute DVD and CDROM production which has been widely distributed for marketing purposes. Over the past two years TDI has produced for Cairnwood Mansion digital still photographs for magazine advertisements and for the World Wide Web. One of these images was featured on the cover of Wedding Sites and Services Magazine in 2002.

Narrator Chris Waelchli

Cairnwood - A Home in the Country

Winner: 2003 Communicator Award of Excellence,
2004 Aegis Award, 2004 Omni Award.


In April of 2003 the private foundation which oversees the historic Cairnwood Mansion in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania contracted TDI Productions to produce a DVD documentary about the history of the building and surrounding community. The piece features historic photographs, maps and letters as well as original video images obtained from the ground and the air by TDI Productions. Christopher Smith directed the production which was written by museum curator Ed Gyllenhaal and produced by Stephen Morley.

From left to right: Assistant Director David Allen, Writer Ed Gyllenhaal, Director Christopher Smith, Executive Producer Lynn Genzlinger and Producer Stephen Morely.  Photographed at the initial private screening, October 2003.

Further interior and exterior shots were completed in late August. Original paintings and pieces of furniture were returned to the building specifically for the production then returned to the adjacent museum and archive buildings. Actor and voiceover artist Christopher Waelchli was chosen to narrate the production and both voice over and music production proceeded through the summer. 

Focus groups began reviewing proof copies in September. Participants (all of whom knew nothing about the production beforehand) were asked to rate various aspects of the production. The ratings were on a scale of one to ten with ten being the highest.

Of the thirty initial focus group members  the average ratings were:  Visual Presentation - 9.1, Narration - 9.16, Music - 8.25.

86% of the group described themselves as being "Very Satisfied" with the video, 14% described themselves as being "Fairly Satisfied" and no group members indicated that they were "Not very satisfied" or "Not at all satisfied".

The survey also showed that focus group members gained significant knowledge about the community and mansion and that their view of both was affected positively.   

The DVD and VHS versions of the project are now for sale, contact Cairnwood Mansion at 215-947-2004.  If you are interested in hiring TDI for an upcoming project we would be happy to send you a complimentary copy of this production. Call us toll-free at 1-866-203-4474.