Film Between The Lines

Corporate Culture

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Cain) — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 17:20:00 +0000

As an employee of the Disney Institute, we teach programs that highly focus on the corporate culture of the company we are teaching. Being a current business student and having just completed a business plan, I am fully aware of how important the corporate culture aspect is for the success of a company. So much so that, in fact, I am a firm believer that it is the culture of employees that will make or break any company. Currently at work we at the Disney Institute have partnered with a very large client to create a collaborative training experience tailored for this client’s needs. This client joins us every year with 5,000 interns that have been extended a job offer, in contingency with the fact that they have to complete the week’s training that the Disney Institute offers.

One event that all interns have to pass is entitled “creating your own comic.” I just recently had the opportunity to be trained in the facilitation of this event. I just want to give you a little background about what the event entails before we discuss how it aids in corporate culture. Marvel and Disney developed a comic book that captured the interns of this company; throughout the comic book you find that these interns have to help save the popular Fantastic Four characters against the evil Sandman. But the comic book does not have an ending, because it was developed so that the interns have to draft and complete their own endings however they choose. With that in mind each intern must take on a role to help finish this comic. These roles can consist of: producer, storyboard artist, or talent to just name a few. After the interns have finished their story, they will then have to locate a backdrop that best fits their storyline out of a collection of 30 life-size picture backdrops that Marvel has created. Then, the interns will take pictures with their actors and props, to construct a visual representation of each comic. At the end of the event each team leader will pitch their comic with the visual pictures their group took. The judges will then decide based upon how strong their story is and other credentials which team is the best and the winning team all win iPads.

Now the important lesson from this experience other then winning an iPad is that communication is key. Because this event is a timed event, it is important that each member does their job to their fullest capacity and work together to create this final project in a very small amount of time. They also learn through the judging process that even though the judges know them each individually that the judges are going to pick the best work that is presented. This is designed to show the interns that they must be open to accepting others success if its what’s best for the company’s growth.

I really like activities like this one because it gives an individual an experience that they can relate to, and remember. If I ever own my own company one day, I will definitely be implementing events or activities that mirror the Disney/ Marvel activity to generate lessons on corporate culture, communication and success.

This is a picture of my team and I doing the "Create Your Own Comic Book" training.

The End of a Chapter

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Cain) — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 17:25:00 +0000

“The future depends on what we do in the present.” – Mahatam Gandhi

There are countless fears and excitements that accompany any student close to their graduation date. Besides never having to worry again about homework deadlines, finals, or rigorous school schedules the stresses began to trickle in to fast to intake, how will the student accumulate substantial funds to live, where to live, and what one will do with their career that will fulfill their financial needs and hopefully their wildest dreams or desires? Sometimes those worries can be more then enough to discourage any individual from pursing head strong down any path or direction. That’s why I wanted to share 5 key points that have helped myself properly handle these dreaded beginnings.

1- Know yourself- when I returned to graduate school to further my education I expected to do just that further my education in the area of study my degree was focused on. I had no idea that throughout a graduate program I would not only learn about the subject at hand but also truly discover myself in ways I had never noticed before. As my program has progressed my wants for a career and a personal life had changed immensely. It is important to understand exactly what you want, write down a list of those goals, and then outline a plan by which those goals can be reached. Track your goals, constantly look over your plan of action and reassess situations or plans so that they accommodate your situation at the time. So many things can change in an instant, so keep those goals up to date and attainable.

2- Ask for help- for me personally this has always been a struggle. Networking is key in many professions and knowing who and when to ask for help can be vital to your success. Make sure you are prepared in many capacities before asking for help, the more prepared you are the more those connections can help you.

3- Be flexible- as I stated above outline goals and a plan where those goals can be reached, but understand that those goals can change at anytime. It is important to keep your head straight and be flexible with plans and situations, life doesn’t always happen the way we want it to, but sometimes we wont understand the reason for the outcome until later down the path.

4- Stay current- it is vital for anyone’s survival in the professional world to stay current with trends, technology, and efficient processes. Just because you have graduated doesn’t mean the learning stops, in fact that is the time to really push yourself to the next level of education, real life.

5- Don’t compare- the last tip is something that is one of my biggest challenges. DON’T COMPARE YOURSELF OR SITUATIONS TO OTHERS! We all have our own life and destiny, just because your friend or enemy has accomplished specific things doesn’t mean you are any less successful. It is important to understand that you are different and that your everyday life will be different as well. Comparing yourself to others can damage yourself esteem, and leaving you feeling contentment, jealousy or anger, and in the end that only hinders your personal growth.

The most important thing to remember during this time in our life is nothing lasts forever, so make the most of those moments, remember the great things, learn from the worst, and move on to the next step that encourages your personal growth and happiness. Because happiness is the key that unlocks any door, and is the only door that truly matters.

For more graduation tips that can help assist you or anyone you know please click here.

Oprah Winfrey and Peter Adamson

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Cain) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 19:18:00 +0000

There are thousands of investors around the world, each with diverse agendas, different views, and a plethora of funds to support their ideals. Oprah Winfrey being one of the most powerful names and brands in media today has gained an empire worth over $2.4 billion dollars (Pilon, 2010). As a young adult Oprah emerged into the entertainment field acting and winning awards for such performances in “The Color Purple”, “Native Son”, and “The Women of Brewster Place” ("Oprah Winfrey's Official Biography", n.d.). Along with her acting career Oprah created both Harpo, Inc. and Oprah’s Angel Network, both of which aired the Oprah Winfrey talk show. Over her career Oprah has gained millions of fans, countless awards and has dedicated her life to giving back to those in need. Her work has made her one of the richest African-Americans of the 20^th century (Pilon, 2010), and has crowned her one of the most influential females in the world.

As a leading lady in business Oprah stands for one main recipe for success which is “follow your instincts, that’s where true wisdom manifests itself” ("Oprah Winfrey", n.d.). Having invested her time, money and life’s work in her fans, friends, and family, Oprah has taken her business and given it back to the people who have supported her. Although she has reached an end with the Oprah Winfrey talk show, she has began her next business move to the Oprah Winfrey Network, a television station which strictly focuses on investing in herself along with thousands of individuals and organizations that make a difference.

With Oprah’s new dynasty she has hired a manager that will invest her money wisely. This investor himself has quite a reputation for innovative investing. Peter Adamson, a graduate of Sanford University with a degree in Business, has had a successful career as an advisor, consulter, and investor for Eli Broad, McKinsey & Company along with billionaire Lee Bass to name a few (Memmott, 2010). Adamson in an interview had stated he was drawn to business because he wanted to do something that was practical (Bonar, 1990). Adamson’s colleagues and mentors have often described him as the most hard working, dedicated young individual they had ever been in contact with. He has a way of focusing on what’s important instead of total figures or amounts. Adamson’s success can be recognized for his personal technique to “tailor his investment strategies to individual clients based on their goals and tolerance for risk” (Bonar, 1990). This is why Adamson and Winfrey will make a great partnership.

Taking a look at these professionals and their strategies for success, I think it is important as a young entrepreneur to incorporate your personal interests and passion into your life’s work. Knowing that others have succeeded before you with this equation for success, it is always a great reminder to know what you stand for as a business owner, to know what your brand stands for and to invest in your passions. Sometimes the smartest move is the road that has never been taken, and maybe along the way you can discover a new path that will change the way you and the rest of the world walks.

A New Hollywood

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Cain) — Wed, 02 May 2012 17:52:00 +0000

Being just 3 months short of graduation has become a very stressful thought for me. Growing up in a state like Utah can have its challenges when you want to merge your career in the entertainment industry. While Utah is closer to California, where a large part of the film industry is located, I decided to make a cross-country trip to Disney World in Florida to work for the company I had idolized since I was a little girl. Now, after working at Disney for over a year and being nearly finished with my Master’s Degree, I have done what any other future graduate has began to do – look for a job in the field of my study.

With the job search in mind, I am happy to announce that Utah may very well be the next Hollywood. With the already accelerating population growth rate from the 2002 Winter Olympics and the ever-growing Sundance Film Festivals, the film industry has had a very warm welcome in Utah. The biggest news of all is that Raleigh Studios’ decided to move to Utah. Raleigh Studio’s, the major motion picture studio know for such works as Iron Man 2 and The Avengers, is building not only a soundstage but an entire entertainment center that will include hotels. This will give celebrities and crewmembers convenient places to stay while shooting on location in Utah.

It was also announced that, because of the entertainment center, future graduates would have more opportunities to hone their craft by doing internships and applying for positions in the industry while staying in one location. Utah has welcomed this upcoming attraction by giving more tax breaks to film production companies, making this already high profiled film state even more desirable. This will create more jobs and artistic freedom for young graduates like myself. I guess its time for me to pack my bags!

Dine In Theatre

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Cain) — Wed, 02 May 2012 17:52:00 +0000

For this weeks post I had a very interesting experience that I wanted to share because I felt from a future business owner’s point of view it was a very original idea and will be the future of movie experiences. As many of you are aware, I currently work at Walt Disney World, and I try my best to keep current with Disney’s training and innovative business practices. A while back, Disney partnered with AMC and created the Dine In Theatre at Downtown Disney. In the past, theatres have earned most of their revenue not just from ticket sales but from concession stand sales, and I don’t know about you, but how many treats or beverages do you actually buy at a theatre that you don’t pay an arm and a leg for? AMC and Disney have now changed the approach to revenue growth from concessions to full gourmet meals. The best part about this dining experience is the prices - all food platters range from $4 to $12 dollars making it a very affordable experience. To top off the great meal selection the seats themselves inside the theatre are a lot more confortable then the normal seating selection most theatres have to offer.

With the Disney/AMC dining experience you simply show up to your movie, select your seats, pay for a ticket (which is only $2 more then an average show) and take your seats. From there you have a personal waiter/waitress that will take care of all your dining needs throughout the show, without large disruption, due to the layout of the theatre. All aisles are on the side of your viewing areas so your waiter/waitress will not obstruct or distract your attention or the attention of those around you. The most impressive piece of the puzzle, however, is the call button. This little button, which simply very dimly lights up to signify to you that you’ve pressed it, is a signal to the waiter/waitress that let’s them know you need something – be it a drink refill, to order a snack, or just to tell them you’re ready for the bill. For me I will never watch another movie at a theatre again unless it’s accompanied by dinner.

As you can see from the link the idea of more entertainment dinning experiences are spreading fast with Universal Studio’s implementing a summer dinner experience. Enjoy!

Troika

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Cain) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 01:43:00 +0000

Above is a picture of me attending a great presentation given at Full Sail University in marketing. The presentation was given by current employees of Troika, if you wish to learn more about the company you can visit them at Troika.tv.

Happiness Sparks Creativity

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Cain) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:25:00 +0000

Throughout my personal career I have discovered numerous management techniques that individuals use inside a work place. These methods range from micromanagement to positive reinforcement models. It is my personal belief that if you are in a management position creating a positive atmosphere for your employees will make you and your team more successful in nature. Giving employees a residence to feel the freedom and joy of happiness helps trigger creativity, while unlocking doors of comfort and endless potential.

To illustrate these theories I have found a great TED talk that reveals how the psychology of happiness and the functions of the brain can effect an individual’s personal interpretation of any given situation, to help create a patterned consequence. Shawn Achor gives supported evidence to back his theory of happiness.

Watch Video Here

Now that we have watched the video I want to discuss how some of his techniques can be applied in a management approach. For example, Shawn discusses how happiness releases dopamine into the brain making it easier for an individual to process incoming data and intake that data to create an innovative approach to any given situation. Knowing this key element as a manager can give you the upper hand in people management. I would also like to point out if you feel at anytime you or any of your employees or co-workers ever feel the need to create happiness in your workplace, all you have to do is construct a more positive viewpoint on everyday circumstances. You can do this by completing daily or weekly exercises, which includes writing lists of positive details that enhance your love for your work. You can also surround yourself with opportunities to do service for other individuals in the work place or reliving optimistic experiences you encountered within the last 24 hours. Doing these steps continually will release dopamine into the brain relieving menial stresses and leave feelings of happiness and creativity.

I have also applied these techniques within my work environment recently and seen the outcome to be accurate. I had heard that two of my close coworkers were thinking of transferring departments due to upper management degrading attitudes. Because I wanted to create happiness in my workplace, I decided to decorate their cubicles to let them know others appreciate them and the hard work they do. By doing this it gave them a feeling of necessity to the team and discharged a happy atmosphere at work that day. In fact, productivity was much higher then it had been all week. I strongly believe it was due to the attitude of each individual. When they were happy at work, their approach to work was ecstatic and pleasurable.

If you would like to learn more techniques for people management or leadership you can check out classes given by the Disney Institute, which helps demonstrate and support the idea of happiness and creativity wrapped up into attitude making each individual a team member for success.

Deal Making and Negotiation

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Cain) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:56:00 +0000

Everyday we as individuals negotiate, whether it’s in business or our personal life. From the moment we crawl out of bed in the morning, we decide and determine our attitude, attire, what we will eat for breakfast, and what we need to accomplish that day. Because of this, one of your biggest negotiation opponents is yourself. Learning to use negotiation skills to their full potential can help us progress in our daily lives and can often result in many life changing choices.

I had the opportunity to interview a young professional, David Malley in the sales field of business. His current position is Sports Administrator and Sales Representative for the Walt Disney World Company. During our interview, he discussed several interesting topics including the importance of negotiating skills and how to implement them with a potential client to make them a permanent client.

I asked David how he determines his approach to a potential client. He thought for a moment and then drew an outline of a square and divided it into four boxes. He proceeded to explain that Disney sorts clients into four categories, which consist of: Analytical, Driver, Amiable, and Expressive. From those categories he labels the potential client and mirrors their attributes, making communication with the client easier. From here he uses the company’s affiliations to help gain power and control of the negotiation. If a relationship with the company becomes more of a need than a want, the client is more likely to become involved with the company. This provides the company with leverage. If you wish to see more on these four concepts David discussed, please visit their website here.

David went on to explain that working for such a big company has taught him his strengths and weaknesses, especially within his negotiations. It has also given him key concepts to help strengthen his own approaches. He was happy to encourage any young professional to try and gain experiences through internships before they graduate making them more successful with their skills. If you are interested in Disney internships please visit their website at this link.

Dating Can Be Fun

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Cain) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 19:34:00 +0000

Last week I had an experience where a guy came up to ask me if women would rather date a male with money versus one who was still in school or had student loans to pay. He asked what women consider when going on a date with a man and if the cost of the date mattered. I told him that being a graduate student allowed me to completely understand his worry but I also made him aware of different options. I told him that personally I would look not at the money someone makes but at the potential of the individual. I would rather date someone who has no money but has great work ethic that could potentially increase his future revenues. Basically the moral of the story I told him was to look for women who would help him as an individual progress and be supportive in nature. Along with that advice I gave him some cheap date ideas that are still creative and romantic. So I just wanted to share a couple of those ideas on this blog. Some of the ideas I had were from the Marie Claire website, located here.

1-Drive in Movie- You could stop at a supermarket on your way and buy all the snacks you want, then head over to the movie for a creative cinema experience in a comfy private setting.

2-Dinner Reservations- You plan, shop and cook your favorite meal together, it is a great way to have a good conversation and see how the individual works in the kitchen.

3-Shaving Cream Art on the Table- This is a fun creative way to spark each others artistic abilities, it can also help with conversation starters if this date is your first.

There are many more creative inexpensive date ideas on the web, you can also take a look at niftydateideas.com for creative first date ideas. Dating can actually become something to look forward to and it doesn’t have to burn a hole in your pocket. Have fun!

Helpful Hints You Should Know As A College Freshman

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Cain) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 03:10:00 +0000

http://www.mynextcollege.com/images/misc/fear-stress.jpg

Five years ago I started a new chapter in my life. Some say it is the happiest time in an individual’s life. Others say it is the most stressful time in one’s life. For me, it was a mixture of emotions that I didn’t know exactly how to cope with. As I take a look back now there are 5 main thing I wish I would have known as a college freshmen that I believe could have helped me accumulate the most knowledge from my college experience. In today’s blog post, I will share these tips with you!

Tip #1: Be Open-minded – College is a great time to grow into your skin. As you mature you find that your hobbies and interests may change. If you keep an open mind, opportunities to experience new activities will arise and by willingly trying new things you may find that you have a talent or ability in an activity that could play a key role in your future happiness.

· Tip #2: Roommate Relationships – Most people have horror stories about roommates throughout their dorm experiences. You don’t have to like your roommates but you do have to co-exist in small spaces. In order to make your experience more enjoyable try not to take things too seriously, remember that finals are a stressful part of school for everyone; so don’t take school stresses out on others. This will help eliminate the tension at home keeping your house a safe haven. Having good relationships with your roommates can help your networking circle and help you further your people skills. Learn from each other and forgive each other for any differences. These relationships can blossom into life long friendships!

· Tip # 3: Professor Knowledge – Your professors are great assets to your friendship pool. Make sure to keep a professional attitude when working with a professor. This way, you will be able to ask for a reference later on in your education or even after you have graduated. Professors are also experienced and they possess wisdom that can be a great benefit to your future.

· Tip #4: Stay Healthy – Living a healthy lifestyle can greatly affect the way in which you perform with your daily scholastics. It can also help keep stress levels to a minimum. A great resource on healthy eating habits can be found here.

· Tip #5: Have Fun – Work is important but it is also important to balance your work life with your social life. Having fun helps you release endorphins creating a less stressful student, making your work more focused and precise.

If you would like more tips and tricks to make your college experience more enjoyable you can visit here.

Steve Jobs: How To Live Before You Die

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Cain) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:39:00 +0000

The most impactful businesses usually have intriguing stories behind their brand. TED.com is a website that hosts many videos that showcase diverse and inspirational speeches. One in particular that I would like to discuss is a graduation speech that Steve Jobs gave at Stanford University entitled “How To Live Before You Die.”

Throughout his speech he discussed three main stories from his life that were very inspiring to me, as his speech was geared toward recent graduates. One in particular I would like to discuss pertains to his struggle with college and how he was never actually a college graduate. He discusses the reasoning behind his choice to drop out of the required classes for his chosen degree and how he started attending lessons that just carried a personal interest for him, with no actual direction or final education. One class in particular that made a huge impact on his future career path was a class dedicated to calligraphy. The class discussed typefaces and the psychology behind using different styles. His passion was sparked by the nature of creativity that surrounded the class. It was ten years later when he began the construction of the Macintosh Company that he brought back the love of calligraphy to the designs of his computer. Without that class he might have never had the idea to design a computer with such an artistically creative look that the Mac computers now have, making them successful and unique when compared to other computer programs.

In his speech Jobs states that, “You can never connect the dots looking forward” and that you have to follow your heart and passion while having faith that everything will work out how it is suppose to. Then, and only then, will you be able to look back and connect the dots once you are finished. This speech was very inspiring to me personally. It reminded me that the most important thing to remember is to love what you do. That is when your personal happiness will flourish, and if you follow your passion you are bound to accomplish great things. You can learn more about Steve Jobs at http://www.biography.com/people/steve-jobs-9354805.

Subtext

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Cain) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 20:14:00 +0000

I would like to get a more in-depth approach to story telling in this post. Over my last couple of posts I have been discussing the dramatic arc and the elements that are used to telling a story. Whether it’s for song, literature, film, or stage productions, throughout this process we have found that it is important to have a story with a strong structure. I have also shown some examples and walked step-by-step through different versions of stories and discussed storylines and structure. Now I would like to talk about Subtext, which for me adds excitement and depth to a story.

Subtext is the hidden meaning between the lines or a character’s personal journey throughout the development of a story. It is said that a good writer can create a story, but a great writer can create the subtext within the story. Actors, for example, are taught that as soon as they receive a script they are to read the story twice, from a different perspective each time. First, they read the script to understand the overall story. Next, they re-read the script, looking at the character they portray in a deeper way. Many actors take their character beyond the scope of the story, and investigate the character’s life. They may go from birth all the way to the time of the story that is being presented. The purpose for doing this is to gain knowledge of the physiological reasoning behind the character and see how they developed their characteristics. Essentially, the actor gets inside the character’s head and really becomes them.

As an audience member that has an actor’s training, it has become easy for me to predict story plots and the ways in which characters develop. This is usually because of the subtext. I would like to use another example; in light of Halloween I will use the first film in the Saw series. We, as an audience, find out within the first scene that one of the main characters, Lawrence, is a doctor who has been kidnapped and placed in a room where he is given clues that will help him survive. As soon as he said he was a doctor, I began to think to myself, “What kind of relationship do doctors typically have with their families?” I realized that doctors often have a reputation for putting their work before their families, so I guessed that he probably has major family issues, so somehow throughout this film we will discover his weaknesses with his family and he will learn to appreciate the importance of their role in his life. Because of the subtext, I was able to predict exactly what the characters personal struggle was and realize the basic reason why he was kidnapped and pushed into a deadly scenario. As you can see in this example, subtext makes stories more realistic. I give this challenge to my readers: The next time you watch a film, look for the subtext and I promise you will be able to predict any twists and turns before the movie is even close to a finish. Be aware, though, sometimes filmmakers surprise you and make things difficult to predict, so don’t feel bad if you are unable to predict it! Enjoy!

If you are interested in learning more about subtext or practicing your subtext skills here are two links that will help you discover the magic of subtext: WiseGeek or Script for Sale.

9 Crimes

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Cain) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 21:08:00 +0000

So to continue from my last post in regards to depicting the hidden meanings or the subtext within any film or song I would like to take a look at Damian Rice’s song and music video entitled “9 crimes”. This song is a very emotional, personal piece. In order to discuss the analysis or subtext of the song I would like to post the video. I would also like to point out to not only listen to the lyrics but watch the video I think the visual representation is very deep in meaning as well.

First I would like to discuss the meaning behind the text. If you would like to follow along by reading the text it is available here. The song symbolizes two people who have come together and are cheating on there partners. As you find through out the song there are several metaphors, one from the top of the song that they both sing is “leave me out with the waste, this is not what I do.” This line alone symbolizes how this is something so trashy or that by doing this act of cheating it creates of feeling of the dumps. As the song goes on they also continue by singing “is that alright dear to give my gun away when its loaded, you don’t shoot it how am I suppose to hold it?” The gun is a symbol of their hearts, as they sing this line through out the song they are trying to ask their significant other for permission to continue their act of cheating.

Now if you take a look at the visual concept of the video, I love how in the beginning we first see the female with no head laying by the dumpster, from there the male comes into play, and if you watch closely he follows her as she begins to float away, once he turns to give up or follow his conscience, knowing that cheating is wrong she then begins to float down to his level and lets him attach to her string as he guilds her along her way, just as if they are now committed to each other in a hidden relationship. The last major portion of the music video we see that children come into play and because of their actions they not only pop the ballooned women but shatter her to pieces, you can argue that the children may represent outside sources or a possible pregnancy that lead to the couples revealing of the affair.

Story Telling

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Cain) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 00:46:00 +0000

Would it be safe to say that since the beginning of time life is created around the basis of story? Everyday we individually create our stories; we live, breath, and dream stories. For me I see my story in film shots, I picture the depth of emotion, and I draw final conclusions to my actions. As I take a deeper look I find the meaning for my emotions and the reasons for my reactions. When I watch films or music videos I don’t just listen but I analyze their stories, I try and depict the reasoning behind lyrics or character development. I would like to share a music video that I believe has many artistic angles of telling a story it is by Sia entitled “Breath Me”.

As you can see throughout her video she is not only using film as a means of conveying her message but music and photography. I love the use of all three dimensions to create an overall experience. When I watch this video it makes me contemplate and develop diverse angels of story telling. It broadens my approach to telling my own personal story.

Just like math I believe a strong developed story has to have a formula. I like to follow Freytag’s dramatic arc. According to his arc it shows that there are five major parts to the structure of a story, they are defined as exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement otherwise known as conclusion. When I watch a story that is being presented I try and apply the dramatic arc. So I challenge anyone who has a story to tell, to develop the skills using this formula. By using this formula you will be able to create a story with many dimensions of depth. It will take your character development to the next level and complete your story.