10/17/2021
Kate Marshall Graphics:
1. THE DVDs: Our documentaries are all independently produced with our “Education Through Entertainment” motto in mind. We are the sole creators of these documentary programs, and we develop the concept, and do all the research, scripting, interviewing, filming, traveling, producing, directing, editing, mastering, cover design, manufacturing, packaging and shipping ourselves. DVD release dates are selected by final review integrity, not by market analysis: in short, they are done right and in their own time. We know when they are the best they can be and when we have achieved our goals, no matter how long that takes.
2. THE REP: Our reputation for professionalism in all matters is impeccable. We stand by our programs and present accurate, beautiful, compelling and very interesting content in such a way that an hour feels like only minutes. We are considerate of our interviewees, and we allow them to present their information and messaging in their own way. We are sensitive to our viewers needs also, so we strive to present programs that are suitable for all ages. We deliver what we promise and more. We have established good working relationships over many years with federal governmental agencies such as National Park Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, and many state agencies as well. We can provide an extensive list of companies we have worked with and for, including but not limited to National Geographic, Animal Planet, ABC, NBC, CBS, Environmental Protection Agency, Perry Sport in Europe, Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, and more. Our DVDs are available for free viewing by many libraries as well.
3. THE ONLINE PRESENCE: Our website, www.CoveBear.com, is easy to navigate and welcoming to everyone who visits. Most of our retail products currently ship free, with only a few of the heavier ones appearing with a modest charge. In first quarter 2022 we will be redesigning it and providing more original items, such as photography, wall plaques, writings, and new DVDs. We are also authorized dealers for the hard cover photography books of Bill Lea of Tennessee, the soft goods of Emily Tapestry of North Carolina, the pocket books of Great Smoky Mountains Association in Tennessee and Lone Pine Publishing in Canada, and have been asked to once again carry The Mountain Tee’s by some of our customers. Our social media platform of choice is Facebook, and in our several pages there, we offer lots of information and updates and posts about your focused interests in the news and in your back yard.
4. THE WORK: All of our work is a joy! Sure, we have long days. But there is such excitement in what we do that time passes quickly and every time we can share what we have learned or seen out there with you, it is all worth whatever we went through to get it. We can truthfully say that, although our other long careers and achievements were wonderful, this one is the most fulfilling and gratifying work we have ever done. It has never been just a job, but has now become a legacy and a body of work that we are extremely proud of.
5. THE ACCEPTANCE: You can’t win 44 international film awards alone! We are so grateful and appreciative of the people we have met and worked with through the last two decades: the former residents and descendants of Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park; the state and federal wildlife biologists and researchers; the willingness and welcoming of so many agencies to work with us on our educational products; stores that carry our DVDs; groups who invite us to speak and show our videos at public events; and the general public who ask to submit media of their own to enhance our programs. We also work closely with a great supplier and a great printer, without whom our final products could not be released. We are humbled by so many who take an interest by helping, and by giving of their time. So, we give back.
6. ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW AND WONDERFUL: We strive to release at least one new DVD per year, if not more. In 2021, we plan to release “Painted Wings & Feathered Things in the Smokies” and “Season of the Bear 6: North America’s Bears.” In 2022, we plan to release “Voices of Cades Cove, Part 10: Coming Home” and “Waterbirds of the Southern States” with
more in the planning stages for the next 6 years. Sometimes life happens, or we have prolonged technical issues, but we always get there. We’d better hurry though, we are not getting any younger!
Text and Photo: © Kate Marshall Graphics, Inc.