James Cameron, TED, and Me

It is not often that you come across someone who can convey with clarity a journey that has taken them a lifetime. More often then not we seem to experience less than our speaker is willing to admit. This is not the case for a speech that James Cameron delivered on TED.com. In case you are not aware of whom James Cameron is, he directed some of Hollywood’s biggest films, including Titanic, and Avatar, but seriously you wouldn’t be reading this blog unless you had a clue right? Anyway, Mr. Cameron enlightened the audience on how went from a science fiction fanatic to feature film director. The journey started for him as a kid in Canada. Mr. Cameron explored and pushed the boundaries of his own imagination. He did not start out with a goal to become the director he is today. He actually decided by the time he was fifteen that he wanted to be a scuba diver. Like many of us he did not take into account the odds or the adversity that would face him in achieving his goal. He goes on in his speech t tell of how he overcame the obstacles that stood in his way with the help of his father. This event would not have meant as much for me had he not later used this skill, which started out as a passion for science fiction to really do what he wanted in his life. This was inspirational, as I had always dreamed of creating my own films. However one of the things that he said towards the end was one of the things that always seemed to bother me the most. What if I failed? What would happen if I could not be or do what I had set out to? That fear of failure kept me from even trying to achieve my goals. Mr. Cameron points out that you must fail in order to succeed. We should not fear failure, because we need the option to fail, in order to really try and explore new things. What we cannot be is afraid. Being afraid stifles our creativity as well as our dreams. How many of the worlds greatest innovations would have never been created, had the inventors of those innovations been afraid? We must all grow from the seeds of our passions and inspirations to become whatever it is that we dare to dream of becoming. James Cameron did just that, and even though that path may not have been the straight path that he would have liked, he still got to live out his childhood dreams of becoming an explorer of strange worlds even if that strange world is in the oceans of our own.

Ever wondered what this stands for?

Before I shed light on this intriguing symbol, lets take a stroll back down memory lane, to a time before the films that we have all come to know and love. It was a time of a new industry that was just starting to emerge. Silent films were the new past time for many as an escape. With the growing market there was a push from the government to censor the new industry. The leaders of this new industry took action to form an organization that would help to regulate their films before government action. With this the Motion Picture Association of America was born.
The MPAA has transformed since the early days, and it’s humble beginnings. Now the organization has offices in many other countries and partners with many different organizations and government offices to help educate and writ legislation that affects the ways we watch movies, as well as helping t keep us informed of the current economic policies and consumer ratings.
The MPAA has several different programs that assist in delving out information, and providing the newest ways to view movies and shows. The organization provides links to reputable sites where patrons can view media through verifiable sites. This is done in an effort to curb the “bootlegging” of copy written material. This brings us to another program that is offered by the association.
Updates on the latest information and legal rulings are also found on the blog. This is a crucial key in the ever-changing world of copyright laws. They are also are fully aware of the looming issues with theft of intellectual property. Choosing to make it well known the types of theft that are present in the industry and provide the consumer with tips and information on how to spot this material, as well as even listing a state to state listing of the penalties of infringing on the copyright laws in states that have adopted new legislation, with harsher penalties for those that steal intellectual property. However the reach does not stop there. They are also providing links to other resources that may dig deeper in to on specified area such as music, or other entertainment forms.
One of the most valuable tidbits of information that the motion Picture Association of America has is the information it has gathered on state-to-state incentives. This is informative for those who wish to know in there area what is needed to qualify for assistance to get a large scale picture made and the kind of money they can save in their own states.
Last but definitely not least the organization provides assistance to parents keeping them up to date on the latest rating system, as well as what each rating really means. This is important to all involved as ratings change with the society. All of the information provided by the MPAA makes it’s blog and website a valuable tool for filmmakers, as well as any one interested in the motion picture industry. The business of making movies is more than just pointing a camera it involves hundreds of people from costume designers to marketers. The service it provides is one that has taken many years to evolve to what it is today, and it continues to evolve, but the one thing that won’t change is the MPAA’s mission, to advance the business and the art of filmmaking. (Motion Picture Association of America, 2011) So the next time you see that symbol maybe you will have a new found respect and dare a friend that they really don’t know what it means.