Shooting For Blockbuster Appeal

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Big-budget actions films might not look much like business training videos, but the production values that make blockbusters zip along could help make online courses more interesting.

That was Docstoc.com Chief Executive Jason Nazar’s thinking when he enlisted the production talent behind movies such as “Captain America” and “Tron: Legacy” to help create the company’s business training courses.

The videos, which were released in July, cover areas such as social marketing, accounting software and client relationships. Customers can watch them for $20 a month.

Video-based online training is new territory for Docstoc, a Santa Monica company that offers an online library of business documents including nondisclosure agreements, leases and employment applications.

With the videos, Nazar said he wanted to create quality instruction matched by an engaging visual style not typically associated with business training videos. And with Hollywood next door to L.A.’s tech scene, the connection seemed natural.

“(Editing) can make a lot of difference when you have a dry subject,” Nazar said. “That’s where being able to add a visual learning element into the program makes the difference between a grind and enjoyable.”

DocStoc built out a studio inside its Santa Monica offices to shoot the videos and all of the courses are led by experienced executives. For example, a series about starting up a business is led by Jason Feffer, a former executive at Myspace and co-founder of Encino-based online community site Sodahead.com.

The series runs on two tracks: teaching the basics of how to build a million-dollar business and building skills with software, online applications and social media.

Nazar, who has an M.B.A. from Pepperdine University, sees the courses as a much needed update to the more traditional skills that many business schools teach.

“There’s a big gap in the market for practical hands-on teaching and training that is being overlooked by the M.B.A. degree,” he said. “We’re hoping to give content that’s meaningful and valuable.”

– Tom Dotan

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