Knowing your business and what you believe

No matter how informed you are about your business, there is always someone out there that can help shed a little more light into the darker corners of your business. Even when you are not aware that there are dark spaces that needed illumination. Over the past month I have been researching some of the basic principals that the experts in my previous blog stated were important in order to put together a business plan that was effective for investors as well as myself. There are definitely several principals that I needed to be able to wrap my mind around in order to get on track. The idea that having a niche, and knowing the in’s and out’s of that niche, was a very important notion for me. I always had the idea that the people that would be supporting me would not know the business as well as I did, however it is more likely now that they will know the business just as well as I do if not better. This means that the execution of my work needed to definitely be above specs. Nothing else would even matter if this were not true. What would drive clients to my business? Everything hinges on the level of expertise my business could provide. This directly related to the five-point focus that Mr. Lavinsky pointed out.
Mr. Dave Lavinsky is a graduate of UCLA’s MBA program. He has worked with many companies developing over 100 business plans for many well-known companies. However his point alone did not fully clarify the information to the point of true understanding. It was not until I referred back to the other expert’s information that I was fully able to see what it is that they were both saying in the clearest and simplest forms. Mr. William A. Sahlman’s ideas were not of the same strict guidelines, however the principals were similar. Execution is Mr. Sahlman’s main focus.
In that simple idea that execution is what separates the amateur from the professional, Mr. Sahlman and Mr. Lavinsky had stated the same key point. It is only when you know your business niche so well that you can plan and maneuver you business like a ship on the sea that you will be able to execute as skillfully as the captain of such a powerful vessel. So based on that realization I was able to adjust two things. First thing was to narrow the scope of my business to the initial genesis of the idea. That was providing other writers with the assistance needed to make successful short films out of their written work. The next step was streamlining my company to be able to do this without a large overhead. This could only be accomplished by employing people that are experts in their field and on an as needed basis and keeping the actual day-to-day employees to a minimum. This allows us to calculate the amount of money needed to pay employees on a month-to-month basis. This was a very important factor however it was not the most important factor for our investors. Knowing who is involved is important however it is more important in my opinion for an investor to know how the company plans on making money. So the break down on monthly sales seems to be the most important factor to me. If the figures seem feasible there then I would want to know if the team in place had the skills to pull off the numbers being projected. I also referred back to the theory of the golden circle, so in closing I will leave you with this video as it


helped to change the way I do business and the way I put my business together. Knowing your niche inside and out is only the beginning knowing why you do what you do is the ultimate goal of all that what to transcend just being another company in a sea of companies that do what you do.


References:

Lavinsky, D. (2010). Two Paths –Which Will You, Choose. Retrieved November
21,2011http://www.growthink.com/content/two-paths-which-will-you-choose

Lavinsky, D. (2009). Business Plan Milestones –How are they essential to your
success. Retrieved November 21, 2011

Sahlman, W. (1997). Harvard Business Review. Retrieved November 21, 2011

Sinek, Simon. (2009). How great leaders inspire. Retrieved December 16, 2011
http://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how

Expert Business Plan Ideologies

Many people interested in owning their own business have plans. Among those plans they all probably have at least this one thing in common, no matter the industry everyone has the need to write a business plan. According to two experts on business plans; Dave Lavinsky a co founder of Growthink, and William A. Sahlman, a Senior Associate Dean, at Harvard business school, if you plan on seeking investors, a loan, or even have people working with you a business plan is essential.
Dave Lavinsky is a graduate of UCLA, where he earned his MBA. After graduating he began to work with many companies developing over 100 business plans for companies such as Fathead, Paramount Parks and V, Starr Interiors a brand from professional tennis player Venus Williams. Mr. Lavinsky subscribes to a five-point focus for a business plan. These five points have to deal with the development of a business from concept to future plans. The first point focuses on doing just one thing well and shifting all of the focus towards that one thing. The second point he focuses on is having the proper marketing sales plan. This means that you have a well thought out plan and the means to execute it. The third point that is mentioned is the use of the correct model for your business. Maximizing the exposure and usefulness of the company’s services or products. The final points take the business plan to the next level and can indeed be the reason for failure of a lot of business plans. Not because they are that hard, but because many people according to Lavinsky, fail to put the necessary work in. Reverse engineering where you intend to be in five years and all of the steps that you envision it taking you to get there. Creating milestones is the way he suggest getting this done breaking tasks up into smaller more manageable pieces to move towards the ultimate goal. Last, but probably the most important point in Lavinsky's business plan points is communicating effectively. All of the work that has been done prior goes out of the window if it cannot be communicated in an effective manner to investors, employees and partners.
While many of William A. Sahlman’s ideas are based in the same fundamental facts the ideology seems to be significantly different. Mr. Sahlman has been involved with Harvard Business School since 1975 when he earned his M.B.A. He continued on with the university and earned his Ph.D. in Business Economics. Mr. Sahlman stresses that there are four factors for a successful business plan. The first factor for success according to Sahlman is having great people. Take a look at this video as he explains, exactly what he means. The next Mr. Sahlman points out that you should be aware of the opportunities that surround you. Being fully aware of the market that you are entering and how it is set up. Is the market large or small growing or shrinking. These according to Mr. Sahlman are important facts that should be in the plan itself and on your mind. All of this information has to be seen in the correct context and that is the next point. Understanding how to act within the market and the structure that you have chosen. Lastly paint a realistic view of the risks and rewards for the investors and for employees. This is important in order to plan your actions effectively. Notice that Mr. Sahlman’s does not call for the same strict development that Mr. Lavinsky suggests. This is merely a difference in ideology maximizing the tools you have around. Mr. Sahlman states “Ideas are a dime a dozen, it is the execution that separates us”(Sahlman, 2011).


References:

Faculty and Research Harvard Business School. (N.D.). Biography. Retrieved
November 21, 2011 http://drfd.hbs.edu/fit/public/facultyInfo.do?facInfo=bio&facEmId=wsahlman@hb
s.edu

Gallo, A. (2010). Harvard Business Review. Retrieved November 21,2011
http://blogs.hbr.org/hmu/2010/09/keeping-your-business-plan-fle.html

Growthink. (2011). Services/Business Plan Consulting. Retrieved November
21,2011. http://www.growthink.com/businessplan

Harvard Business School Working Knowledge. (1999). How to write a Great
Business Plan. Retrieved November 21,2011.
http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/0565.html

Lavinsky, D. (2010). Two Paths –Which Will You Choose. Retrieved November
21,2011http://www.growthink.com/content/two-paths-which-will-you-choose

Lavinsky, D. (2009). Business Plan Milestones –How are they essential to your
success. Retrieved November 21, 2011

Sahlman, W. (1997). Harvard Business Review. Retrieved November 21, 2011 https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:5qvMSwd09nAJ:serempreende
Dor.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/how-to-write-a-great-business-
plan.pdf+&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEEShNiy-5Gcun0eXuGJXVh-
0Ejy2qVH92PupxVXiC2bEMbFPt-g9LoiEaIcqK-b-uxem9AH- 9yTHzLOcsKJM01FrgczZRZG3w497EEvnz_4hoZTfEeiTYxJBRUExg8fhv1fpanZ0Z&si
g=AHIEtbS_xQ0-686ChLO9hNX00qnIjhDG6A&pli=1

YouTube. (2011) William A. Sahlman: Challenges of Hiring Good People.
Retrieved. November 21, 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDMHbZudAUE

Independent series runs into local problem

Many of you that follow this blog have been hearing for months about an independent series we have been doing called 16 bars to be a star. This program is a reality competition that takes many of its cues from other reality shows. There has been plenty of drama and unexpected twists during the filming of this series, which started back in August of this year. Up until recently we had the backing and support of Clear Channel Communications. Unfortunately towards the end of October, Clear channel, the parent company of Iheartradio.com and several other localized radio stations decided to change the format for the radio station that was sponsoring the reality show. This left many of the crew and contestants with many questions. We were nearing the completion of the first season. Many of the participants in the actual filming of this reality show had been working for free and donating all their skill and free time towards producing a stellar, local reality show.
This also left many of the contestants, who had made it through the preliminary rounds, what was going to happen and would they get to compete still for the 360 deal that was promised to them if they won the competition. Sadly the answer to that question is no. There will be no 360 marketing deal for the winner of the reality competition. However there will be a large cash prize given to the winner courtesy of Clear Channel Communications. So to answer all the questions in one swoop, yes we will be shooting one final episode this season to determine the winner of 16 bars to be a star. This will be all competitors’ last chance to prove they are the best in South Carolina and take home a serious cash prize. So in case you have not been out to any of the filming here is the first episode pt1 and 2. If you are looking for more independent film shorts check out www.fanatikproductions.com. Episode 2 is coming soon. Enjoy and feel free to leave comments.




Pt 2

What is 16 bars to be a star?

The first episode of 16 bars to be a star! leave us a comment and let us know what you think who is your favorite rapper?

Head in the clouds? look out for Ultraviolet.

The future of entertainment is changing rapidly. The technology that we get use to using today will be the medium of the past tomorrow. About fourteen years ago a little company started to revolutionize the home rental business by making videos available through the mail at a low cost. This was followed by a streaming technology that incorporated the use of video game consoles to deliver the content through a high-speed internet access. This would be a significant event, as it would affect the home video business and coupled with a downward economic spiral, would lead to a large amount of video stores closing. Before this event there was a slow change from VHS tapes to DVD. This change was gradual a slight shift from an analog tape to a digital disk. However the change to the blue ray was one that met with many obstacles as the market was split between companies vying for the use of their medium, Sony with their Blue ray disk, and Panasonic with their HD-DVD. I enclosed a brief video from 2007 courtesy of C/Net.com Even in 2007 there was a mention of downloadable content. Now here we are in 2011 having a new discussion on the cloud. The cloud is what many in the industry are planning to use to convince consumer to come back to buying DVDs and blue rays instead of using the Netflix service so much. The new Ultraviolet technology is a direct result of negotiations with companies to avoid splitting the market as they did during the Blue Ray and HD-DVD struggle. Many studios have come together and decided to offer their movies on the ultraviolet format. Disney is the only notable hold out on the format, as they have decided to come up with their own cloud format. Either way there will soon be digital lockers available to house your movie collection meaning you may not physically own the movie, but you would have access to the movie via the cloud. As of right now the media is only available via streaming or down load for portable devices such as your laptop or your digital phone. However you can bet a pretty penny that before you know it there will be a set top device that will enable you to tap into the cloud and access your stored media. However this makes me think about the stores that closed as Netflix came on the scene. What will be the effect of keeping so much material on a server that you don’t have access to, and will this have an adverse effect on the already shaky home video market? Only time will tell, but one thing that is definite is technology will continue to expand the possibilities and boundaries of what we watch and how we watch it.


References:

C/Net video 2007 retrieved Oct 26,2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oKkqpA2ZoI

Chris Pirillo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bBLap5zOcQ retrieved Oct 26,2011

http://www.uvvu.com/what-is-uv.php retrieved Oct 22, 2011

How did this make it to T.V.?

According to many reviews of the new fall line up, it is a bad year for television shows. There are a couple of bright spots out there this season; among them Prime Suspect and Person of Interest seem to be the most prominent to me. Although this freshman class of television shows has yet to yield a stand out hit, they did make it to a fledgling season when other ideas didn’t make it past the pitch. This makes me wonder about the show ideas that were great, that didn’t get pitched or packaged correctly. So I thought we would go ever some of the more important information for someone to know about pitching an idea for a television show or movie. The first thing that you have to know is your story. If you are not clear on the story, how can you tell someone else about it? You must also be aware of what option you would like to take if they are interested in your story. Are you going to let them buy it, option it or are they going to license the work from you. You should also know what the company normally buys, and be aware of your audience. This will make it easier to choose who you want to pitch the story to. The presentation should be full of energy and you should be able to explain how the characters’ world works. All of this is assuming that you are already prepared and have an agent. Having an agent is the initial step if you ever want to get into a position where you have a captive interested audience to pitch to. An agent uses his or her connections to get you in the door. Getting an agent is no easy accomplishment, it takes some persistence on your behalf, but if this is what you want to do with your life then there is no time like the present to get started. So take a look at the links and start moving towards your future, maybe one day your show will be one of the lucky ones in a freshman class of ill-conceived pilots.

References

http://www.nbc.com/prime-suspect/video/episode-1/1357561

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_x9ov8xJijg&feature=related

Jobs: Changing the world one innovation at a time

I had intended to write about the future of distribution in the music industry. However it seems more appropriate to write about the man who would inadvertently changed the way we listen to music, communicate with each other and forever change the tools we use to do business. Steve Paul Jobs was born in 1955 in San Francisco. Jobs claim to fame began in 1983 when Jobs was working as part of the Lisa project. Steve Jobs was removed from the Lisa project, and later took over another small project at Apple. The Macintosh was a project that was simply designed to make the computer as easy to use as a toaster. After finding some success with the Macintosh Jobs was forced out of the company and began to find new innovations. He started another computer company called Next and acquired a graphics department with the dream of making animated movies using computers from George Lucas, he would later rename the group Pixar. Jobs would not return to Apple until his company NeXT was acquired by Apple in 1996. This would prove to be the company’s most successful decision since the departure of Jobs. Jobs immediately reorganized the board and stream lined the company. He also did something that most could not understand at the time. He partnered with their main competitor Microsoft to help solidify the company. From this point on Steve Jobs would steer the ship that is apple into the black, and to new innovations that would change the world. Great innovations that combine flexibility with know how, such as the iMac, the MacBook, which I am currently using to write this blog, to the iPod and the iPhone. Forever changing the way that people communicate with each other and enjoy their entertainment. Mr. Jobs resigned on August of this year stating “I have always said that if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s C.E.O., I would be the first to let you know unfortunately, that day has come.” Mr. Jobs had been fighting a battle with a rare cancer; sadly he passed away Oct 5, 2011. Leaving behind many family and friends to mourn his passing and the legacy of all of the innovations he provided us with. Thank you Mr. Jobs you will be missed.



References:

http://allaboutstevejobs.com/bio/short/short.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/25/technology/jobs-stepping-down-as-chief-of-apple.html?pagewanted=all

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2394212,00.asp#fbid=MqGM0gNj0e3

http://blog.moviefone.com/2011/10/05/steve-jobs-apple-pixar-obit/

Go sue yourself!

It has always been the practice of businesses and individuals alike to seek justice through the court system, when a party feels he or she has been wronged during the course of business. However we are entering a time where more and more artist and entertainers find themselves or their legal representatives in court defending or filling legal actions against other entertainers or entertainment businesses. Sometimes these cases are valid and need to be aired out through the courts so that both parties involved understand where they go from here to repair the situation.
I am sure many people recall the success of a little awkward film named Napoleon Dynamite. This off beat film made a splash at the Sundance film festival that landed the producers of the film a lucrative distribution deal and a hefty amount of cash according to an article by Eriq Gardner(2011). In his article Gardner states that the producers were promised a large percentage rate of the total net profits of the home sales, and have only been compensated at less than a third of what they were promised. All of this came out in an audit between the parties involved in 2008(Gardner, 2011). Could this have been resolved between the parties involved? It seems to me that maybe the producers tried to give the distribution company the opportunity to correct their actions before proceeding with legal action. It is only right if you have been promised compensation that you receive that compensation for the product or service that you have already provided, but what if there is some confusion about what your role, or obligations are to a company that has been representing you. That can cause a whole different set of problems, problems that Bruno Mars is now becoming familiar with.
According to an article written by Josuhua L. Weinstein(2011)the new crooner is riding high on his Grammy win, but is heading to court to sue his publisher. The company representing Mars initially to told him that he had fulfilled his obligations, and that if they were gonna continue to represent him the option would need to be extended from the company. However upon learning of Mars’s intention to leave they informed him that he had not fulfilled his obligations to the company. This by far is the worst kind of company or person to deal with in my opinion. It is for this reason that it is very important to be aware of what your obligations are to companies that you choose to let represent you, or to be fully aware of what an artist has agreed to. Fully educate yourself to some of the laws for your particular avenue of services or products provided in the entertainment industry. This will help protect you from frivolous lawsuits.
These lawsuits tend to come up when people feel wronged, but there is actually no legal ground from which to operate. However this does not mean it won’t make it to court or make the media circuit. Take for instance Lindsay Lohan Suing rapper Pit bull over his lyrics in a song. According to an article for KSFM radio by Big Al,(2011) the actress and her legal team are claiming “the lyrics, by virtue of its wide appeal, condemnation, excoriation, disparaging or defamatory statements by the defendants about the plaintiff are destined to do irreparable harm to the plaintiff.” (Al,2011) Unfortunately for Ms. Lohan the damage that has been done has occurred through her own actions and mere stating of her name tied to the fact that she has been to jail is not going to win her any quick cash, but who knows in this day and age people will settle out of court to avoid being taken through a long court process.



References
http://ksfm.radio.com/2011/08/21/pitbull-sued-by-lindsay-lohan-over-give-me-everything-lyrics/#comments

http://www.thewrap.com/music/article/bruno-mars-sues-his-publisher-30591

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/napoleon-dynamite-producers-sue-fox-230245

P.A. to Producer

This week has been a very busy week for me. I was lucky enough to get a call back to work on the filming for the 11th season of American Idol. It has been a great experience thus far. It also ties directly in to what we are covering in product management. Many of the producers on the show are not the main guys that you would think; there are tons of producers behind the scenes that are actually project managers. These people come from all walks of life and many started their careers in entertainment not as producers, or even being trained in the particular job that they have now. The one thing that they all have in common is a passion for what it is they are doing. This makes it a little easier to work insane amount of hours until the job is done right and to work with people such as myself who are trying to come into their own in the business hungry to know what they know and the path by which they ended up here doing what they love. The one thing that I can tell you just from my brief experience, as a production assistant is that attitude is by far one of the most important factors. With the right attitude you can work through any and all obstacles as part of the team. Without it, you will seem alone and question why is it that you have to label laundry or tape down wires. The fact of the matter is all of these things need to be done and as project managers it is often not their job to scrutinize every little detail, but just to make sure that the gears of the machine turn efficiently to keep all involved moving in the right direction.

A Picture's Worth...More than you think.

Every performer focuses their attention to the climb of what seems to be an insurmountable amount of obstacles to raise themselves to the level where they are a household name. Be it dreams of starring in their own show or performing to that sold out crowd artist just want the love and admiration of their fans. However many artist fail to attain the proper amount of business knowledge that will help to protect the very thing that they have worked and clawed so hard to forge, their image and likeness. This is something that may not be as important to some performers in the early stages of their careers, however it can comeback to be the difference between the freedom to pick and choose a role or having to jump at anything offered to you. Sometimes having the knowledge of the business is still not enough to secure that you will be paid fairly and timely for the use of your image and likeness.
This is the case for David Cassidy. Many remember David from his four-year stretch on The Partridge Family. David was not naive of the importance of his image even as a young twenty-something actor. His contract spelled out specific percentages for his compensation before and after the show aired, as well as how he was to be compensated if he appeared with other cast members. Unfortunately Mr. Cassidy is now having to as Sony Pictures, to honor the contract they originally agreed to. ">

This is not the first case of actors or artist not being compensated for the use of their likeness to make a profit. The actors from the popular television series Happy Days are filling a lawsuit against CBS studios for the same reasons."> These actors openly state that they were not business people when they signed their contracts. However the clause for their likeness is in their contract, but for 37 years they had not pursued the monies owed them because of their own naivety. The bottom line is in the entertainment industry you have to be as vigilant to protect your image and collect money that is owed to you, as you have to be in seeking out the roles to help grow your career. Having the proper management is key. You must either be well versed in business enough to be able to protect your own self interest, most artist when they start off are not, or you have to be smart enough to higher someone that has your interest tied in with their own.

Industry Lesson #1 be vigilant in knowing your business, and craft.
Source:"http:////money.cnn.com/2011/08/04/news/companies/david_cassidy_partridge_family_lawsuit/index.htm">

Negotiations and music

This month I decided to dive in head first into the world of negotiations. I had always heard horror stories of how artist had gotten the raw end of the deal by not being able to negotiate a better deal for themselves or by not being represented by someone who could actually navigate the shark infested waters of the industry and swim to the other side with a deal in their teeth. It is for this reason that many artists are never heard of or their music never breaks to the levels that it could have. Honestly we must take a look at not the talent, but actually the business acumen that accompanies the talent. In these days and times we must face the facts. Talent is really only half of the battle. The other half of the battle is having the knowledge to make informed decisions. This either means educating yourself, or hiring someone else that is well versed in the field you are breaking into. Many are not aware of the power that resides in the art of negotiations. Often it is one of the most underutilized tools for any artist. Many people that work on the business side of the entertainment industry already know that negotiating is a powerful tool and use their knowledge of it to maneuver themselves or the entities that they represent to a more favorable contract. Recently I had the opportunity to sit down with Fat Rat Da Czar, The Kingpin, and DJ turned Manger Shakeese Da Beast. We spoke on some of the core aspects of negotiations such as Leverage, Power, Appreciation, and the use of dirty tricks in the industry. It was an honor and a privilege to sit down with veterans of the music industry, capturing their opinions and outlook of negotiating.

Another 48 hours competition

Recently I had the pleasure to put together a team of talented individuals to complete in the 48-hour film project in Atlanta. For those of you reading this that are not aware of what the 48 hour film project is a competition that pits many teams against each other in a 48 hour, hence the name, race to make the best 7 minute film possible. Many of the people I chose this year are veterans of the competition, and we have competed together before. However I extended the offer to compete in this competition to several new comers. Three of the people that I extended the offer to accepted. Our journey began on Thursday a day ahead of the competition, because we were traveling into a much larger city than our own we needed time to organize as well as get settled in to our lodgings for the weekend. The plan was for the four organizers to travel ahead, and prepare for the others arrival on Friday evening. We met in the early morning and had a pre trip breakfast, sharing our hopes and wishes for this year’s competition. Speculation on what genre we would receive raced between our minds. Everyone had his or her own favorites and hopes for this focal point of our short film. We discussed the latest films and the previous years winner in the market we were traveling to. After a few good laughs and filling up our tanks, both belly and car, we began our trip.
The kick off for the competition wasn’t until Friday at 6pm so we used the extra time to scout possible locations get a feel for the area that we were in and rest up. This competition was the largest that any of us had ever competed in. There were a total of 55 teams ready to lose sleep for the next two days to submit the best film in their genre using the line of dialogue, prop, and genre provided. As we all sat waiting to have our turn to pull our genre from the hat the anticipation began to mount as many of the teams pulled and became official entries into the competition. As our turn grew closer it was my job as the team leader to choose our genre from the hat. Wouldn’t you know that I lowered my nervous hand into the hat and pulled one of the hardest categories for us, Science Fiction! A little intimidated I wanted to choose a wild card immediately, but my team was content in the choice, and felt we could do it effectively, and maybe they felt we needed the challenge of doing something that we would not have normally done. What ensued for the next 48 hours was lack of sleep, writing, and rewriting, pick up shots, last minute plot changes, last minute location changes, and finally the night before we are supposed to turn in this film, a complete meltdown. Then in the wee hours of Sunday morning things began to come together the film began to take shape and we had a story that we felt made sense. However the drama was not over. Upon reviewing for the final edit we had some last minute changes. This was where the three new team members shined. Putting together last minute details, shooting extra scenes, and editing them in a timely manner. Due to their hard work and dedication to this project we were able to do what 11 other teams were not. We finished on time. If you are interested in seeing what we made the screening for the film will be Saturday the 18 at 7:45pm at the plaza in Atlanta. Shortly after the screening we will post and share this film online with the rest of our fans. Here is last year’s entry from us it was a Mockumentary called Adam’s Apples.

Joel Silver Vs. Goldman Sacs

In keeping with the times, and to give many who want to enter the entertainment industry a realistic focal point of the behind the scenes deals that go on, I have decided to post this blog article. It reads like the beginning of a movie that could have very well been produced by the plaintiff in this legal drama. In December of 2010 Joel Silver filed a lawsuit against Goldman Sachs. Goldman Sachs is a large investment bank, for those that do not know. Mr. Silver claims that the Wall Street giant was fraudulent and misleading in a deal that was brokered orally between Silver and Goldman. This is what it would sound like in terms everyone can understand. Let’s say that you and a friend that you knew were talking. Your friend wanted to get into the same business you are in, even though they are already successful at what they are doing. You agree to connect your friend with the person who helped finance your business venture, for a small fee of course. So you now you have an oral contract with your friend that upon the financing of his or her venture you would be paid what ever the amount is that you agreed upon. So now time passes your friend’s new deal has gone through and he is flourishing in his new venture. Everything should be great right, right? Except for one thing, you have not been paid yet. So you go to your good buddy and ask him about the money, he agreed to pay you. Without blinking an eye your friend says wait just a little longer until we raise a little more money. So you, ask can you at least be compensated a percentage, even if the deal did not go through like it was supposed to. So your friend agrees. Long story short you never see any of that money. Essentially that is what happened, and now we get to see it play out in the courts like a John Grisham novel. This brings to mind a couple of tips. Always get it in writing, no matter what, or whom the agreement is with. Never give up your assets without compensation. Finally learn from the mistakes of others, remember that even though we are in the business of entertaining, let’s not forget the business that goes along with it. Just in case you think Goldman Sacs gets a bad wrap check out the video.

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.

Short films can be fun!!

In many ways shorts can be more fun than features. Found this short thought of you guys so here you go....Enjoy!!!

Tune for Two (2011) from alfa primo on Vimeo.

oh yeah found it on Filmschoolrejects

Who with a What!!!

I must say that I am a fan of movies that have an in your face attitude when dealing with social and cultural temperament. Such as how Planet Terror deals with the ideas that we all live secret lives and are even effected by the secret lives of others. This is a reference to the exploitation films of the 70’s such as Coffy. Often times these films are presented in such a way that most don’t appreciate what is really being said. The latest diamond in the rough film that I am looking forward to viewing is no exception. Hobo With a Shotgun is a new movie written by newcomer Greg Guy, according to (IMDB, 2011). These types of movies seem to carry a tone of what some people feel society has become already. In this new film Rutger Hauer plays the vigilante Hobo that plans to clean up the streets with his shotgun. Early reviews call this movie bloody fun. However many have seen some of the scenes as too long, and never really developing the main character to the full his potential. The trailor below is from Filmschoolrejects



All in all I believe that people seeing this movie will not go to look for a message, or even expect to see a particularly well-written script. What most people will go to see is the gory action, and to release that urge to see things spiral into chaos. This film should be great fun for the moviegoer who does not expect too much, but can enjoy seeing a writer’s commentary on society, and also enjoys the occasional gory action film that seems to say nothing about anything in particular.

What is the future of televised sports

Sports have always been a source of entertainment for the masses. As we marvel at athletes and their amazing performances, I think to myself what the future of sports entertainment holds. We have always loved to see others fight and battle each other. Even from the ancient times, when emperors provided gladiators as entertainment for their subjects. It seems that the more brutal the sport the better. Now with a looming lock out of the NFL, Whatever will we do? I will tell you in three little letters WWE. This week the Georgia Dome plays host to WrestleMania 27, and as I sat thinking about the sport itself, I wondered how a sport that started in rented out halls, as an oddity has turned in to the billion-dollar industry that it is today. We have seen this industry explode from television to encompass video games to movies. So what does the future hold for sports entertainment? What will be the sport that we love to watch in the future? Many could make the argument that there will be no difference between organized sports and wrestling with it’s scripted story lines. As the sport becomes less about extraordinary talent and more about the brutality and the bottom line, who knows what the future will bring. Maybe we will have a new sport take shape that combines our blood lust to see each other do battle and our love affair with commercialism. Maybe we will see some new extreme sports like execs fighting each other for that new commercial account. Soon we may even have fans taking part more and more in the creation of their own teams. Who knows? Whatever the future holds for sports you can be sure that it will revolve around violence, or simulated acts of violence. The fact of the matter is that as long as people continue to tune in and spend their hard earned money, on entertainment that can cost upwards of 69 just for a couple of hours producers, programmers and writers will continue to manufacture the story lines of wrestling, and possibly other sports.

Are we really surprised?

Not that I don’t occasionally enjoy the crazy and notable things that celebrities do, that causes us to ask what they were thinking, but who is there to remind them of who they really are as a person and not the brand they created. This is not an issue that is just a rising in the entertainment world. These issues have affected many people that have been cast in the limelight. According to Depression: Celebrity Meltdown, a 2007 article in Psychology Today, brilliant people tend to have a greater propensity towards mental illness. The article goes on to list names, like Marilyn Monroe, Sir Isaac Newton and Sigmund Freud, just to name a few. So are we really surprised when an actor, someone who earns a living pretending to be someone else, begins to make off color remarks? We shouldn’t be, because we often look the other way at the first signs.
When does an actor behaving badly in their personal life, become a liability for the entertainment industry. We have seen Brittany bounce back Lindsey’s gradual descent and now Charlie “firing his fire breathing fist.” Charlie Sheen’s recent meltdown has been chronicled in Time Magazine, and have made it to every daytime talk show. In the wake of entertainers seemingly losing their minds and losing their jobs. when is it a real cause for concern? Are we concerned with these people who we have propelled into the spotlight, or are we just upset they are not the people, or characters we want them to be. The entertainment industry can be a hard place for an individual to deal with personal matters. Although you must give up some level of privacy to even be a celebrity, there should be some boundaries. We have learned in recent years that there are no such boundaries. Celebrities often live their lives on camera, and often this is not by choice. What other profession is twenty-four hours a day seven days a week? What other profession ask for so much of your personal life and demands that you lose your personal opinions if they are contrary to the norm. The thing is we build up these people. We make them by supporting their work. We turn them in to superstars. Only to watch as we destroy them. We often forget these are real people, putting money over a fellow humans well being, as long as they continue to work. Although this may seem like the only profession where your personal life plays a part in your professional life, it is not. In any career your personal life is often taken into consideration. When it becomes noticeably aware that what you do during your off time has an effect on what you do on company time you have become a liability. This is the case with actors, and entertainers as well, it is just more noticeable because it is played out on camera and in front of the world. This is all too often over looked until we have a major situation from which no one emerges a winner.

Is Four for you?

Recently I had the pleasure of heading out to the movies. This was a rare treat in these times, as the price of going to the movies has skyrocketed but that is for another post. I was determined not to see Big Mamma’s House twelve. So I chose what I believed to be the lesser of the two evils. While watching the new I am number four, I found myself actually enjoying it. The story was nothing new, but it gave me that feeling. You know that feeling. It’s the one where you find yourself cheering for the good guy even though you know he is going to win and somehow it is all going to work out. The story line did have me asking questions and wondering how this all was going to end up. and by the end I found myself wanting to see more. So as I bid Harry Potter farewell later this year I will look forward to the next series and wonder if there can be a new twist to a tail that has been done before.