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Entertainment Publicists Speak Out on Social Media Measurement How PR Pros Can Brand and Buzz on Twitter, Facebook and Blogs

noreply@blogger.com (George S. Mc Quade III) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 23:13:00 +0000

EPPS Summer Mixer Cools Off At
Poolside in Hollywood

By George S. McQuade III
West Coast Bureau Chief

When you hear 90-year Entertainment Publicists Julian Myers in Hollywood talk about the importance new media, it makes you feel happy you are headed in the right direction or if you’re not, what you are missing. Myers was amongst several hundred Entertainment Publicists Professional Society (EPPS) members attending a Summer Mixer at the Skybar, Mondrian Hotel, West Hollywood, CA this week (7-16-09).

Season A. Skuro, PR, TECHNICOLOR
with Julian Myers

“Well, I enjoyed the Old Testament very much, and it’s nice new reading,” said Julian Myers, Myers PR, who used to wake up Actress Marilyn Monroe to go to celebrity events in Hollywood after partying all night. “I’ve been around for awhile, but after 2,000 years, I think I know new media quite well and I look forward to reading about more new media I heard about the other day- the Gettysburg Address.”

Myers admitted that he and other Hollywood publicists have lagged behind in new media, but like journalists who cover his clients, he said “the basic concepts of publicity are always the same. Be honest, and think of new ways to make first yourself, second your client famous.”

Myers also said, “It’s exciting to quickly get an online buzz, but the big question is how do you measure it? What are you supporters saying about your or opposition in the blogosphere?”

“New media is definitely helping, but the only problem with new media,” said independent publicists Glenn Anderson, “it takes so much time to keep up and keep all of those Linked-In, MySpace, Facebook and Twitter sites up to day. You spend more time tweeting and Facebooking than time needed for your clients.”

Glen Anderson with Skybar Waitress Clare Porter

“New media definitely has it’s time and place,” said Tiffany Victoria Bradshaw, Marketing Consultant. “A lot of people still don’t quite understand it the way they should. They often think it takes the place of traditional marketing Efforts.
I feel, because I’m kind of old school in marketing, not because I am old, but I still appreciate traditional marketing. Let’s make sure we have identified your target market, make sure you have a good 30 second networking pitch, and make sure you have a good sales presentation. All these still apply, market research, etc, regardless of new media, so you can not just skip over that,” said Bradsaw.

“I’m a little behind the times with the new media,” said PR Pro Ellen Giurleo. “I’ve been resisting getting on Facebook, because it will take all this time, but all the people I’ve talk to tell me and I know I have to do it, or at least get a business page up. Probably not a personal page though,” she said.

“Oddly enough, I was spending a lot of time on Twitter today learning how to do it,” said TV Guide’s Chad Sandhas. “I’m only 34 and I feel like I am catching up so new media I think is scary for all of us.”

“I have to agree with Chad,” said Eileen Salmas, PhotoStamps.com. “I don’t Twitter, I don’t text, and I’ navigating around Facebook and Linked-In. I’m trying to figure out how to use it for the company, but that’s not really my job. It’s a little bit daunting.”

Motion Picture & TV Fund Stirs Controversy

The EPPS mixer was sponsored by the International Cinematographers Union ICG Local 600 and on behalf of Motion Picture & TV Fund (MPTF), which is scheduled to close its hospital and end its acute long term care unit due “a $10 million loss,” at the end of 2009.

“We are an 89 year old charity in Hollywood, created by Hollywood for Hollywood and it takes care of people who have fallen on hard times,” said Ken Scherer, director, MPTF. “Everyone thinks that everyone in Hollywood makes $20 million dollars, which is simply not true, and so we provide financial assistance, medical care and all kinds of support including retirement care.”

In his speech to EPPS members he said, “We didn’t do a very good job in PR,” and later told this writer, “We have some people onboard doing new media and everything.” Additionally, Scherer said he “got involved while successfully starving as a TV producer, and was called to run the foundation, which raises the money for the MPTF, I was happy to take the job.”

Even Jeffery Katzenberg, principal partner of DreamWorks L.L.C. and Co-founder, DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. came out to help brand and promote the nonprofit.

Longtime Publicist Julian Myers was upset that Katzenberg failed to take questions after talking about the Moton Picture & TV Fund organization.

Myers told this writer he had a lot of questions and said, “There is no reason to abandon the residents of the Motion Picture Country homed. NONE! The hundreds of us who, love our industry will back annual shows at the Coliseum (100,000 capacity), where our wonderful caring stars will perform to keep the dreams of us who have worked all our lives in Hollywood alive. Yes, Barbara Streisand, Dick Van Dyke, Julie Andrews, Tony Bennett, great comics and new stars will gladly appear.”

Myers also noted that he was, “contributing to this fund before Mr. Katzenberg was born (1950) literally, and I know how it is in hearts of countless colleagues. There are hundreds of thousands of people, men and women who have worked in Hollywood all of their lives and had the dream that if necessary ‘Hollywood would take care of its own’,” said Myers. Myers also won the door prize of the 2009 O’Dwyer Director of PR firms.

If you want to donate or help out the Motion Picture & TV Fund 818-876-1900 or visit: www.MPTVFund.org.

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Michael Jackson's Last Show On Earth

noreply@blogger.com (George S. Mc Quade III) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:57:00 +0000

A Live Event For a Dead Superstar Costs Taxpayers $5 Million Dollars

“This has gotten to the point, where AEG needs to step up to the plate and pay for the costs of Michael Jackson’s Memorial,” Los Angeles City Councilman DennisZine said shortly after the event at Staples Center in Downtown Los Angeles.

Michael Jackson - LIFE image

From a publicity standpoint the numbers are still being tallied, but when all three networks, cable networks Fox and CNN broadcast the event live without sponsorship the lost could amount to millions of dollars. This is probably the most positive publicity Michael Jackson has received in his entire lifetime, even more than the 55 tour dates he was rehearsing for at Staples, video of which was shown during the live world telecast at Staples.

There was not news conference or news release needed, just a twitter or two, which alsowas over capacity from people tweeting inside and outside the event.

For the City of LA, $500 million in the red and sending employees home early on Fridays it was expensive. According to Zine the Swat Team and those who work anti terrorism were all called in for the media circus. Zine a former LAPD sergeant for several decades also noted that the freeways were shutdown impacting businesses and commuters to downtown Los Angeles and to and from the Forest Lawn Cemetery, where it all began at 8:00 AM.

All the major networks put out the best LAPD message over the airwaves, “the best seat in the house is on your couch at home.” True. 17,000 plus people were issued lottery tickets, but many stayed home for the best seat in the house. So did this writer.

Overall, the ceremony was outstanding, the most dead air ever witnessed at a concert memorial, so quiet you could hear the air conditioners whirling.

Most of the people inside the Staples who spoke harped on the same theme that Michael Jackson brought the worldtogether with songs like, “I will be there, we are the world,” and so on. The music and speeches were inspirational and moving from Smokey Robinson, Berry Gordy, who got the largest standing ovation when he said, “Michael was the greatest entertainer ever.”

Usher, Stevie Wonder and even Reverend Al Sharpton was more low key, and on key with the same theme.

“I just want you children to know there was nothing strange about your Daddy, but there were a lot of strange things your Daddy had to deal with,” said Rev. Sharpton.

There is always light at the end of the gloomy economic tunnel. In this case, one Holiday Inn hotel manager said after AEG announced the memorial to be held across the street from his Inn, 195 rooms sold out. Elsewhere, hotels did well, too and some estimatesrange from $3 to $4 million from those keeping track of the figures.

Tomorrow’s headlines will probably read

“King of Pop Saluted in Emotional Memorial.”

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Publicity in Sports, Music and Book Publishing – Sky’s The Limit Say EPPS Workshop Panelists

noreply@blogger.com (George S. Mc Quade III) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 05:14:00 +0000

(L-R) Janette Bax, Seth Burton, Flo Selfman and Howard Brodwin at EPPS workshop in Hollywood)

About 75 entertainment publicists huddled in Hollywood at the International Cinematographers Union Local 600 auditorium to learn about “word of mouth, social media, networking and how to use the web” with the traditional publicity tactics. The breakfast media workshop was sponsored by the Entertainment Publicists Professional Society (EPPS), LA Chapter. The Panelists

Everyone’s Blogging
“When we had a mixer a year ago January in downtown LA, Jack O’Dwyer’s George (Mc Quade) was going around with his tape recorder asking everyone what they thought about blogs. My comment at that time was, ‘the jury is still out.’ Before the ink was dry on the magazine, blogs went from iffy, to something we can’t do without,” said PR Consultant Flo Selfman, proofreader/copyeditor, president, IWOSC iwosc.org.

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One of the books Selfman is working on right now, “The Wicked Wit of The West” by the late Screenwriter Irving Brecher, who died at age 98 a few months ago continues to live Online thanks to the Internet. “It is so amazing. What happened is the gentleman died just before the book came out. So the younger co writer was doing all of the publicity, but Irving Brecher died in November, so he was in all of the year-end wrap-ups in the blogs. Some of them even mention the book before it came out and it was completely done on the Internet.

Policing the Internet is “Tough”
“We use our website primarily as our news source,” said EPPS Panelist Seth Burton, asst. director of Communications, Los Angeles Clippers. “There’s just not enough space in newspapers, if you follow the LA Times Sports section for example. It is more like a sports pamphlet than sports section of the paper these days. For some reason its all about the Lakers (victory) parade. So if anything happens we have to get it out there on our own. We post video on our website, audio interviews along with new media like Twitter.

Twitter, Facebook, MySpace – No space for control
“We have had a number of fake Twitter accounts and we are dealing with one right now about our coach. And recently there was a fake Twitter player’s account, where the activities were reported in the LA Times. A fake player had requested a trade on a Twitter account that was not true,” said Burton. “A lot of NBA players are on Twitter, twittering about everything. We also use FaceBook to drive traffic to our website. We offer a lot of tickets and programs through the new media platforms to give fans a sense of ownership that drives them there.”

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Burton, who started working as a sports reporter for a couple of newspapers on the East Coast, moved into the media relations at the Washington Redskins. He also worked for the Galaxy soccer team before joining the Clippers.

“The Internet is one of the primary ways to get the word out,” said Janette Baxa, director of Publicity, Nederlandar Concerts. Baxa, who made the transition from a record label to music and concert publicity said, “We also employ the Facebooks, the Twitters and MySpaces of the world. For me it is very important for all the bloggers from Perez Hilton to LAist.com, LosAngeles.com, and who would of thought I would be email Perez Hilton. ========================================================

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A lot of writes and editors have turned to the web as well, so I have establish more relationships with them Online in getting the word out on my shows. The great thing about pitching Online, they can turn it around right away and post it, obviously one of the great advantages. We still rely on advertising, but again it is selective. Where it used to be a full page, it is now a strip, she said.”

Hard to Keep Up with New Media

“We are doing it right by getting it out there on the websites, but it is hard sometimes to keep up with,” said Moderator, Madelyn Hammon, Madelyn Hammond & Associates, who said when she inquired about an event involving the cast and crew of Saving Grace (her favorite TV show) occurred when she called and asked ‘why it wasn’t posted somewhere?’, they said, ‘well, we posted it on our website.’”

“Everybody is writing a blog, it’s true. And there are some magnificent writers doing a blog. The blogs that I come in contact with has excellent research and writing. There is much dedication to their topics and a lot of write about Hollywood history, and where the author Rosenfeld finds them he’ll send a comment, I’ll send a comment and it just keeps going. They call it viral marketing, but it is still like the pebble in the stream. You start something, then someone else tells somebody else and the circles keep getting bigger and bigger. And what you hope is that it will inspire someone to actually go out and purchase the book or products,” Selfman.

Added Hammond, “Anyone can write a book, but Online it’s about selling books, about getting people to attend games or to buy concert tickets.”

“I think one of the greatest things about Internet is not having all the technology, but how it is used and how it works,” said Howard Brodwin, managing director, Team Marketing Systems. “It has really forced everybody from the biggest of companies all the way down to the most local of businesses to be as upfront and transparent as possible about who you are, and what you do, as possible. If you’re trying to get out into the publicity world, there has always been that question of spin. And these days if you are trying to spin something, whether something is going to happen at a concert or somebody is getting traded or not traded and something is going on with whatever you are promoting that information gets transmitted immediately and you can’t get it back. There is something new (technology) that is coming that will allow you to resend your emails that you have already sent out.”

==================================================================

===================================================================

“The good thing about what word of mouth provides now is you are forced to get it right when you’re getting your message out, because you know as soon as it gets out there it’s going to spread virally. The same goes for when you are uncomfortable with the situation like the Twitter incident, you have to get out in front of that message as fast as possible to notify people with the correct information. The good news is now we have all of those channels to get that information out there.”

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Brodwin, when asked about which sites are best said, “Depending upon the target audience, but it is better to have five really good blog or websites to target than blasting 500.”

To contact the EPPS panelists or if you have a question they prefer you contact them via email:

Janette Baxa, janette@nederlander.com; Howard Brodwin, hkb@teammarketingsystems.com; Seth Burton, sburton@clippers.com, Flo Selfman, floself@aol.com and Madelyn Hammon, Madelyn@madelynhammond.com.

Feel free to follow us for news
on www.twitter.com/mayopr

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65th Anniversary of D-Day Celebrated on Film

noreply@blogger.com (George S. Mc Quade III) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:34:00 +0000

Buy this DVD and $5 for each
sold benefits disabled Vets.

Film Review
By Steve Shepherd

65th Anniversary -
The Americans On D-Day

"The Americans on D-Day" is a compact and concise examination of the United States' part in the June 6, 1945, Allied invasion of Normandy.

Considering the enormity of the actual D-Day undertaking it might sound hopeless to present a comprehensive account in a documentary with a running time of 44 minutes, but producer-director Richard Lanni has come up with a well organized documentary that provides a clear outline of the events of D-Day, punctuated along the way with a somewhat more detailed account of specific moments in the battle that turned the tide of World War II in Europe.

The film benefits immensely from the presence of Ellwood von Seibold as host-narrator-tour guide. Donning authentic military uniform and accessories – down to the "pineapple" style hand grenade hanging from his utility webbing – von Seibold shares a wealth of knowledge on the subject, presenting it with an elegance that provides an effective counterpoint to the brutality that is, after all, at the center of the D-Day story.

"The Americans on D-Day" strikes a tone appropriate to the nature of D-Day, offering a matter-of-fact account that acknowledges the powerful emotional component of its subject matter while stopping short of romanticizing or idealizing an event that was as bloody and brutal as it was essential to the Allies' success in Europe.

The production deftly blends archival footage and stills with contemporary footage. Early on, we see black-and-white images of U.S. forces, including Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower – as we hear audio of Ike's sendoff to the D-Day forces.

"You are about to embark upon a great crusade," he tells them. "The hopes and prayers of liberty loving people everywhere march with you. You will bring about the destruction of the German war machine.

"We will accept nothing less than full victory"

The film then goes on to function as a battlefield tour, offering close-ups of German fortifications along the beaches of Normandy, arms – including the MG-42, a heavy machine gun that could fired upwards of 1,200 rounds per minute – and bridges and structures that played key roles in the Allie invasion.

Interviews with both U.S. and German veterans of the operation provide further personal insight into the significance of D-Day and its human toll.

Many of the images presented in "The Americans on D-Day" will be familiar to those who have seen the feature film "Saving Private Ryan," the TV miniseries "Band of Brothers," or any number of other filmed projects that touch on D-Day.

The DVD package has extras including the film's trailer, a making-of feature, a segment on weapons training, another on uniforms and a collection of stills.
Sphere: Related Content

===================================================================
Editors note: If you would like a copy of Americans of D-Day to review at your publication or media news website contact:
MAYO Communications 818-340-5300
or send request by email.

MAYO's Niche: Media Placement,
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Remembering Our Heroes this Memorial Day

noreply@blogger.com (George S. Mc Quade III) — Mon, 25 May 2009 00:14:00 +0000

A Great Father's Day Gift
www.TheAmericansOnDDay.com

Real Time 65th Anniversary memories on Film The Americans On D Day.

American Legion Endorses and Posts The Americans On D-Day Film Link

The American Legion Post 43, Hollywood, CA, board of directors voted to endorse and post a link on its home page for the film: The Americans On D-Day.

The link on the American Legion homepage (Links) is located at:

http://www.hollywoodpost43.org/v2.0/main.asp?p=links

For every DVD sold on this site, $5 will be donated to paralyzed veterans of California.

The film premiered last month at the Post 43 auditorium, where stars of the film, including
Ellwood von Seibold autographed posters and spoke with Film Director Richard D. Lanni, WW2 Reflections, Dublin, Ireland.

The film also premiered in Normandy in the French Version. Howard Manoian, of the 82nd Airborne, who's interviews in the battle tour film, will be honored by the French Government,
June 6, 2009 with a medal of Valor. This year marks the 65th Anniversary of D-Day.

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Film Awards Can Add a Big Boost To Your Publicity

noreply@blogger.com (George S. Mc Quade III) — Fri, 22 May 2009 06:47:00 +0000

By George S. Mc Quade III,
West Coast Bureau Chief
www.Odwyerpr.com, NY

“I believe it started at the Cannes Festival, but Slumdog Millionaire is a good example of how a little film with eight Oscars, received 87 other awards and 27 additional nominations can go a long way with a little buzz at the film festivals,” said Moderator Hallace Davids, senior vice president, Special Events, Universal Pictures. Davids joined an Entertainment Publicists Professional Society (EPPS) panel on film festivals and the publicity they can generate.

Film awards have become an increasingly important part of movie campaigns, particularly for independent productions. About 75 EPPS members and publicist learned how to explore new business opportunities for small films at the International Cinematographers Group Union Local 600 sponsored event.

“There are many film festivals such as Toronto, Canada, Tribecca to LA Film festivals are major markets, but Santa Barbara and Palm Springs film festivals are another push on the awards circuits where directors, writers and producers are given awards, “said Davids. “There’s a film festival in almost every city of the Universe,” explained Davids.

“The first film festival I ever attended was in 1963, Sebastian Film Festival with Columbia Pictures at the time,” said Leonard Morpurgo, vice president, Murray Weissman & Associates. Morpurgo just penned a new book entitled, “Of Kings and Queens and Movie Stars,” available for $16.95 at Amazon.com. “For more than 40 years I’ve traveled the world as an international film publicist, acting as father confessor, whipping boy, friend-and sometimes enemy to Hollywood celebrities.”

“My most recent film festival, a couple of weeks ago was at the Newport Beach Film Festival, where we represented a small picture called ‘Follow the Prophet,’ which is looking for distribution. It is extremely hard for any film. We got a little, but I think it might become video on demand, maybe television, maybe theatrical, but don’t tell my clients I said that. I have been involved in award as well as film festivals. In fact we were talking about the film ‘Crash’ for Lions gate at Murray Weisman & Associates. One reason it was successful was because it came from behind. At the film festivals it was Brokeback, Brokeback, and Crash.”

“However, this year is was the other way around. We were on the film team of ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,’ which got a lot of buzz and had 13 nominations. And then this damn ‘Slumdog’ came along and took it all away from us. It was the opposite of what happened last year,” he said.

“A lot of these films end up self distributing, and go on video on demand (VOD - cable) and Online viewing,” said Alice Zou, account executive mPRm Public Relations, who has handled such films as Atonement and The Visitor for theatrical distribution and festivals.” “We’re are seeing more and more independent films head to VOD, Online viewing and DVD distribution is becoming more and more popular among independent films.”

“Film festivals don’t make a lot of money, and they do it because they love it, but it is really about relationships and a lot of prayer,” said Tanya Kersey, founder/executive directory, Hollywood Black Film Festival. “Universal and Showtime used to be huge sponsors, but festivals are struggling and many are going into debt. General Motors (which recently filed for bankruptcy) used to support Women in Film.”

Kersey is celebrating her 10^th anniversary of managing an annual film festival market to buy and sell films that has been billed as the “Black Sundance” film festival. It draws big celebrities such as Forest Whittaker, Sidney Poitier and Densel Washington. Nearly 100 Film Screenings (features, shorts, student, documentary, animation, music video) occur annually in Beverly Hills. The conference also features 20+ workshops, panel and roundtable discussions with around 100 speakers.

“Filmmakers use the festival to really get their films out there to let the industry know about them. They look for agents, managers and other production deals. The studios use them to build additional buzz and the films are written and directed by African American filmmakers in a competitive program,’ said Kersey. She also noted that have been a lot of filmmakers, who are non-black, but have films that are black-themed and enter by invitational programs The Hollywood Black Film festival runs five days in June (June 2-7) in Beverly Hills, CA.

“Different films have different reasons to be in these film festivals,” said Davids. “Since I work at Universal Pictures, we don’t have a lot of movies for the film festivals, because we have big popcorn movies that are not looking to go under the microscope of the film festival. If a movie goes to a film festival that is not well received, it can kill movie. If the movie goes there looking for distribution, breaks out into distribution it’s on its way,” she said.

Morpurgo recommended the “Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide (Paperback) by Chris Gore (Author), who is more widely known as someone who writes about film and has been making films since he was a kid he said in his book that sells for $14.95 also on Amazon.com. Morpurgo has traveled the world from California to Cannes for more than three decades with many of the greatest movie stars and celebrities of those decades. The London born author and publicist gives touching, funny and insightful stories about such legends as Cary Grant, Steve McQueen, the Duke of Windsor, Charlton Heston, Warren Beatty, Nicolas Cage, Leslie Caron, Peter O’Toole, Sir Laurence Olivier and Sir Alec Guinness to name a few.

“A publicists helps maneuver the waters filmmakers, and build up buzz for first time filmmakers who are going out to the festival circuit,” said David Magdael, David Magdael & Associates, who works mostly independent films and documentaries and runs the film festival circuit as much as other publicists.

“Every film festival is a little bit different, and every film is different, so we try to tailor what our attack and strategy is in working with the sales team and producers. I personally like to get into the head of the filmmaker –why did he or she make this film- what are their expectations. Documentaries and independent films are not having a theatrical life right now, so the question always comes up, ‘what do you want, what do you see,” because the documentaries are not making money at the theatrical level at the moment. Back in the old days it was ‘Fahrenheit 9-ll, ‘Super Size Me’ and others. It was a different time, and now it has changed, so those days are all gone. We work from the beginning from the time they get accepted into a film festival and sometimes through to the theatrical following.

Sundance is such a crazy festival, and it’s more of a marathon than it is a sprint. And you’re there for nine days with these newbies and it is just managing a lot of those expectations and making sure they are okay and working together with the sales team. You must make sure that the right people see the film, and that the trade reviewers see it in the right context, whether it be with an audience screening or press and industry screening. Several years ago we stood back and watch how the audience responded to ‘Super size me’ and we were turning away 250 at the door,” said Madge.

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Film Writers Cuttng Back On Coverage

noreply@blogger.com (George S. Mc Quade III) — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 23:55:00 +0000

Carl Diorio talks to PR
Pros after EPPS event

Recession Forces Industry
Publications To Do More
With Less Say Editors

By George S. Mc Quade III
West Coast Bureau Chief

Most reporters, editors and
writers are doing two jobs

“The most significant changes in what I do on a daily basis, like any business, we are being asked to more with less,” said Carl DiOrio, deputy film editor, The Hollywood Reporter. “They don’t want to hear what’s not possible, it is just circumstances that are just a given.” DiOrio’s message was echoed by Panelists Josh Dickey, deputy entertainment editor, Associated Press and CEO and Co-Founder Michael Stroud, iHollywood Forum, Inc. /Freelance Journalist at an Entertainment Publicists Professional Society (EPPS) workshop at ICG local 600, Hollywood, CA. It was moderated by Joe Schlosser, senior vice president, Communications, NBC-Universal Television Studio-Distribution.

Carl DiOrio, Hollywood Reporter

“What used to be considered a skeleton staff is now covering the entire entertainment waterfront,” explained DiOrio. “For example I have added DVD beats to my coverage and luckily I had a couple of years experience in working that area for another publication.”

“The downsizing of publications of all sorts, which has certainly hit the trades, once again just this week at our competitor (Variety), where I used to call home is feeling the cuts,” said DiOrio. “Whenever someone cuts a beat at one of the trades, it allows them to lower the bar down the street and if you see that the mainstream press is an extension of what we prioritize in our entertainment coverage, there is deterioration in the flow of information out of it.”

“The layoffs at the entertainment trades such as Variety, Hollywood Reporter and LA Times have created a new demand for freelance journalists,” said Michael Stroud. “It is not something desirable, but it’s a reality. I have spent the last six or seven years as CEO of a conference company and we have been hit hard as well by the recession. The first thing to go in a recession is marketing and people regard trade shows as an integral part of their marketing.”

iHollywood has two shows at the National Assn. of Broadcasters (NAB) that focuses on digital Hollywood issues and trends entitled, Advertising Innovation Summit and Mobile Entertainment Summit, which are co-producers of the NAB event.

“As the conference business falls back somewhat, suddenly there’s this big industry demand for writing, and I am getting a growing number of calls, which is actually is a good thing as I wanted to write more.” Stroud is no stranger to the business and witnessed the rise and fall ofdot.coms while writing for Red Herring magazine in San Jose, CA. “ You can’t support yourself as a freelance writer, so I’m not giving up my day job.”

Michael Stroud, freelance Journalist

Stroud predicted that some newspaper and trade publications will disappear in 10-20 years due to Online editions. Stroud, who writes for Hollywood Reporter is working on a “digital power issue.” He contributes to NewTV.com and the newly launched TheWrap.com, which covers Hollywood’s TV, movie and media. “So if you have an extremely powerful and digital pitch, I have done 15 profiles so far for the May Issue, I could use 10 more stories.”

Lots of major changes in industry

“It has been an enormous year of pain at the AP, and I think the recession simply accelerated,” said Josh Dickey, deputy entertainment editor, The Associated Press. “The AP has made it not secret that it is changing from a provider of print content to newspapers, to a provider of digital content to everyone but newspapers.”

The AP stills serves 3,500 newspapers across the world, which is still a big part of its revenue base, but it is not the main part anymore according to Dickey.

“The big assumption people make about the AP is it is the way to get your story into the newspaper across the world,” explained Dickey. “That’s just a smart part of what we do, or a fifth of the total operations. AP Television has become a massive part of our effort. We are not repurposing a lot of the reporting that’s being done for AP radio, AP Television and to also serve the print reports, which today is called ‘text’, which I prefer to call it news. So we are driving news reports through whatever communication format we are using.”

Dickey noted that AP used to be divided into TV, radio, graphics, photos and print sections doing their own thing. As we are a business-to-business model, most business would take that content and package it as they saw fit.

A one man band – wave of the future

“Now what’s happening is all of those departments are starting to mingle,” note Dickey. “We have video journalists who are now learning to write the wire. We have print journalists, who are learning to cut audio for the audio wire and radio packages. Pretty soon they’ll be picking up video cameras. I think that the deeper future shows us journalists it’s not just speaking all the languages but knowing all the platforms. The smart college student right now is taking classes in all of these different things, not pigeon-holing themselves in any of them (skills).”

Josh Dickey, Associated Press Dep. Film Editor

Reporters lose sleep over
demanding deadlines

AP’s Dickey admits he finds himself reading emails at 2:00 in the morning just to play catch up with the job and bombardment of information coming to his beat. “My day-to-day responsibilities changed just a few days ago, and they took the deputy title off, and put interim for the time being. We lost Jeannette Adams in New York when she left the company creating a vacuum for me, so I am doing two jobs. I’m tap dancing more and sleeping less. First thing I do when I get into the office is ramp up training on new platforms, and all of our journalists around the globe have to do the same to be able to do each other’s jobs.”

“We never sleep, you are never off deadline when you have the website and something breaks at 10:00 at night they kind of want you to write it up and get it posted as quickly as possible before you go to sleep. News hole or no news hole you do have a way of getting things out and that’s a good thing,” said DiOrio.

“There is going to be things that fall through the cracks in coverage. The news hole is shrinking. If you do not have the advertising support, how much news you can cram into the book is going to be less. As a practical matter less is covered,” said DiOrio.

One huge surprise story that was posted Online, after it aired one week after
Susan Boyle - Britain's Got Talent 2009 Episode 1 – Saturday, April 11^th. Boyle became an overnight sensation when everyone thought she was destined to be voted off the show of Britain’s Got Talent, until she sang on stage. A Youtube version earned more than 44 million visitors Online. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY)
“I would love to have 60 people in Britain watching YouTube all the time,” said Dickey. “That was an amazing story that took us all by surprise and got legs worldwide.”

All of the writer panelists said they prefer an email pitch, and it you do not hear back from them a follow-up call might be in order. To contact them the writers:

Joshy Dickey, Associated Press: JDickey@ap.org; Carl DiOrio, Dep. Film Editor, The Hollywood Reporter: cdiorio@hollywoodreporter.com and Michael Stroud, iHollywood Forum, Inc., Freelance Journalist: Michael@ihollywood.com.

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The Americans on D-Day Coming This Monday

noreply@blogger.com (George S. Mc Quade III) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:53:00 +0000

The Americans on D-Day Film Coming Soon!

The Americans on D-Day

From American Legion Newsletter

"The Americans on D-Day" is the first battle-tour film produced by WW2-Reflections of Dublin, Ireland. It makes extensive use of smart graphics and veterans' recollections, with invaluable assistance from Dale Dye, a retired U.S. Marine captain who specializes in training actors for war-themed film and television productions.

The film will be shown April 27 at American Legion Post 43 in Hollywood, Calif.

Dye said the film "provides an exciting insight into one of the most pivotal events of the 20th century. I'm really proud to have a hand in this effort to provide a foxhole-level view of what happened in Normandy on June 6, 1944.

"I've seen a lot of tour videos that purport to give viewers an insight into what gallant Americans endured and accomplished on D-Day, but this one really hits the mark," Dye said.

Mort Schecter, who attended the film's premiere last month, witnessed the real D-Day landings from his perch as a tail gunner in a B-24 Liberator bomber.

"When we flew over the English Channel, there were a million ships in the water," Schecter said. "And I have yet to meet any of those guys who were on those ships." Now living in Northridge, Calif., the 85-year-old retired Air Force staff sergeant is a member of Post 43. During the war, he was assigned to the 467th Bomb Crew and 791st Bomb Squadron in England.

"I'm lucky to still be here," Schecter said. "We were never shot down, but we did crash-land with six 1,000 pound bombs on board. We flew the first mission on D-Day and bombed at 3:30 in the morning, and it was the easiest mission, because we never saw any fighters or opposition." Schecter still has a list of the missions he flew.

"Actor Jimmy Stewart was in our division, and he flew 28 missions," he said. "He entered the service as a buck private and, when he died, he was a general," he said.

Veterans who want to attend the April 27 screening at Post 43 should call (323) 851-3030 and leave a name, city and phone number.

"The Americans on D-Day" is available for online purchase.

Hollywood Salutes America’s Heroes

***

The Americans on D-Day Tour Film

MEDIA MUST RSVP

What: Premiere Screening of Battle Tour Film “Americans on D-Day” for Veterans

Who: Ernest Borgnine, “Ernie”(Autobiography), “Wishing Well,” TV-2009

Gina Elise, “Pin-Ups Calendar Girl” nonprofit for Vets (Confirmed)

Commander Bill Mc Taggart, American Legion Post 43, Hollywood

Captain Dale Dyle, Warriors, Inc., Band of Brothers (confirmed)

Morton Schecter, B-24 Tail Gunner, Northridge, Ca (Confirmed)
Richard D. Lanni, Director/Producer, The Americans on D-Day (Confirmed)

Howard Manioan, Retired, U.S. Army 82nd Airborne who landed in

Normandy on D-Day (Confirmed)
Hollywood von Seibold, Tour Film Host of The Americans on D-Day (Confirmed)
Other Military Dignitaries TBA (Confirmed)

When: MONDAY – April 27, 2009

6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Cocktails, VIP, Refreshments

7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Film Screening (limited seating)

Media please RSVP with MAYO Communications

Where: The American Legion Post 43 – Hollywood
Veterans should RSVP with Terry Duddy 323-851-3030

Background: About 200 military, media and movie industry executives are expected to attend

a special screening of Americans on D-Day, the first of a series of tour films produced by WW2 Reflections, Dublin, Ireland. Director Richard Lanni has just completed his first of a series of battle tour films entitled,
The Americans on D-Day (www.theamericansondday.com/), which will premiere Monday, April 27th, 7:00 p.m. (PDT), (Cocktails 6:00 - 7:00 pm), at the American Legion Post #43, 2035 N Highland Ave., Hollywood, CA., 90068. The film is available for any American Legion Post or veteran organizations upon request will be shown for free. Lanni is meeting with military dignitaries, museum officials and veterans of World War II. Lanni is researching California veterans of WW II for future interviews and plans to interview historians, museum officials in a series of films on Normandy.
[Editors: Credential Media must RSVP with MAYO Communications, 818-340-5300.]

Subscribe to the Legion Online Update

Have you subscribed to the new Legion Online Update? Sign up and get current events delivered to your inbox! Click here to learn more.

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U.S. Navy, Army and Marines Vets To Be Treated To “Pin-Ups Calendar Girl,” Who Plans to Attend Premiere of The Americans on D-Day Film

noreply@blogger.com (George S. Mc Quade III) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 02:35:00 +0000

Photo by Marcus Menchaca





Veterans of American Legion Post 43



in Hollywood, will enjoy some nostalgia



of Gina Elise, who has been nicknamed



“The Calendar Angel” for her volunteer



work

Photo by Mike Forster

During World War II pin-up
calendars boosted moral of U.S.
Soldiers fighting overseas, and that spirit comes alive again
with the California’s “Calendar Angel” Gina Elise on Monday,
April 27, 2009. That’s when the American Legion, post # 43
will show the battle tour film Americans on D-Day.

Elise will join, surviving American Legion veterans of D-Day
in Normandy, Richard Lanni, Film Director, The Americans on
D-Day and film Host Ellwood von Seibold. One of the stars of
the battle tour film Howard Manoian, a veteran of the U.S.
Army 82nd Airborne will attend the event. He landed in Normandy
on D-Day and returned many years later to live in the country that

he helped liberate.

Gina Elise YouTube:

Gina Elise, nicknamed "The Betty Grable of a new generation" and
"The Calendar Angel" will be selling her T-Shirts and Calendars at
American Legion Hall event. Elise, who has donated $20,000 to aid
veteran hospital patients has received numerous community awards for
her volunteer work. “ I want to raise $20,000 for veterans this year,”

said Elise, who has made countless personal visits to ill and injured
veterans in hospitals and facilities across the country. Elise was
featured on Fox News last January.

"I now truly believe, three years after launching this project,
that one calendar, included with a special message, purchased for
a young recruit, can make all the difference in the world,” she said.

“Just to let him know that others are thinking of him.”

Film Director Richard Lanni has also trekked across the country
meeting with military dignitaries, museum officials and veterans
of World War II about Normandy. He‘s researching D-Day and
interviewing veterans in a series of films on Normandy. The next
film will be “A Soldier’s Journey” to be released around Memorial
Day.

“It is the 65th Anniversary of D-day,” said Lanni, WW2 Reflections,
Dublin, Ireland, who arrives in Hollywood this week. “We have
filmed interviews with surviving veterans of Normandy that will
be showcased in Hollywood later this month to relive those days.
I am here to meet more veterans and visit museums so our films
will be accurate.”

The first film premieres Monday, April 27th, 7:00 p.m. (PDT),
(Cocktails 6:00 - 7:00 pm), at the American Legion Post #43, 2035
N Highland Ave., Hollywood, CA. 90068. The film is available for
any American Legion Post or veteran organizations upon request
and will be shown for free. Veterans need to RSVP with the
American Legion.

Veterans who would like to RSVP to the event on April 27, 2009
need to call 323-851-3030 and leave your name, your city and
phone number. Media must RSVP with MAYO 818-340-5300.

[Editor's note: EPK DVD with extras like uniforms and weapons
used are available upon request. To obtain a preview copy contact
Aida Mayo or George Mc Quade, call 818-340-5300, or email:
Publicity@mayocommunications.com or visit:
www.mayocommunications.com.

(Press Clips are available at: www.TheAmericansOnDDay.com
http://www.ww2-reflections.com/the-americans-on-d-day-press.html)
For more about Gina Elise visit: www.PinUpsForVets.com or contact
PinUpsForVets@aol.com.

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Paparazzi & Piracy Out of Control Say Professional Photogs at EPPS Workshop

noreply@blogger.com (George S. Mc Quade III) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 03:26:00 +0000

Professional Photographers are losing control
and paparazzi are out of control say experts

by George S. Mc Quade III
West Coast Bureau Chief
www.Odwyerpr.com

EPPS Media workshop at ICG Local 600 Auditorium

“It is out of control and we do not want people stealing our photos," said Stewart Cook, photographer, Rex USA, at an Entertainment Publicists Professional Society (EPPS) workshop recently (3-19-09). The event was sponsored by International Cinematographers Group Local 600 publicists, Hollywood.

Stewart Cook, Rex USA

“We have watermarks, but once a magazine publishes our photos and posts it Online, we are constantly finding people ripping it off,” said Kathy Hutchins, president, Hutchins Photo.

Kathy Hutchins, Hutchins Photo

“Magazines still want beautiful pictures, but they also want something different,” said Sara De Boer, photographer, Retna, a photo service.

Sara De Boer, Retna Photo Service

“It is an interesting time we are in, and it may take years before we learn what format is best to preserve or protect our photos Online,” said Sam Mircovich, editor-in-charge, Global Entertainment Pictures, Thomson Reuters News Pictures.

---------------

-------------

Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news and business news. It also provides entertainment images and stories from Hollywood Reporter often end up on Reuters Wire services.

Sam Mircovich
Thomson Reuters News Pictures

“We are subscription based internationally, so when photos hit the wire, they hit thousands of AP members globally, instantly,” said Associated Press Television (APTV)’s Guinevere Smith, Natn'l Entertainment Photo-Ed. "We have watermarks on our photos to prevent piracy," she said.

----------

-----------

“We work with publicists to understand your needs, and we work with staff photographers on the editorial side as well as contributing freelance photographers. AP work to achieve your goals as well as our (breaking news).”

Guinevere Smith, APTV

The Associated Press covers half of the globe with a bureau in nearly every city in the World. AP is an international news organization offering news, photos, graphics, audio and video for 1,700 U.S. newspapers and 6,000 broadcast outlets around the world. There are more than 240 bureaus worldwide representing 121 countries. It features a massive digital network, a continuously updated online news service, a television news service and one of the largest radio networks in the United States.

“The pictures illustrate the story, and we are much like AP, but offer a little different services, “ said Mircovich. “Reuters like the Associated Press, is one of the oldest wire services in the world, and I think there is a constant battle over who is older AP or us. I think we started around 1853. Reuters News Pictures is part of a larger company called Thomson Reuters, because were purchase last year bya data provider Thomson out of Canada,” he said.

“Our clients are newspaper and Online customers, explained Mirovich. “We supply (content) to many of the websites you see on the Internet. But what sets us a part from AP is we also provide data services and news to professionals on a subscription basis. We have products for the legal side, for medical and financial clients as well. The photographs and data are all packaged in the subscription through a web browser.

Entertainment plays a big part, because we report on the movie studios and conglomerates. The pictures help illustrate these stories. So we are the same as AP, but a little more targeted and different,” said Mircovich.

“We are a photo agency specializing in entertainment, some news and our client base goes anywhere from subscriptions to magazine sales,” said Kathy Hutchins, president, Hutchins Photo, LA. Other professional services charge a fee to become member to protect their watermarked images.

“Everything in entertainment can be found on our site, but once it gets into magazines it is hard to protect them,” said Hutchins. “You have to be a member, and pay a fee, which is how we track who is using our photos, and we have disabled the downloading feature for nonmembers.”

“We are losing control of our photos and after they are published in magazines they get copied by bloggers and others Online,” said Stewart Cook, Photographer, Rex USA, which is Britain’s largest privately-owned agency with offices in New York, LA and which has a network of 600 photographers around the world.

It has owned by the Selby’s for 60 years. “We specialized in entertainment, but we are also strong in features that range from one-legged skate boarding jocks to features on the military in Iraq. We are one of two agencies that syndicate for the Ministry of Defense. We supply web print and video much like everyone else with one of the largest libraries.”

“I used to have a large staff, but when everything changed to digital, it wasn’t economically feasible to continue the model, so I am by myself now,” said Sara De Boer, Photographer, Retna, LA. “So now I am syndicated domestically and also syndicate to Sunday editions (publications) worldwide. I provide photo services of events, parties and celebrities. I also do a fair amount of work with the soap opera stars, and I really enjoy that. I do as many red carpet events as I can, and I am one of the most affected by digital photography changes and significantly impacted by the paparazzi.”

At least two of the panelist said that many of the paparazzi are hired by gangs for as little as a $100 a day to hang out and shoot pictures of a breaking news events or celebrites.

All photo services, Associated Press, Reuters and especially the smaller operations like to be pitched for events by email. “99 percent of what I do is by email, and when I get a fax I think ‘hmm this isn’t global green is it,” said De Boer.

The photography professional services and wire photo services experts offer these tips for publicists:

Do not use vinyl as a backdrop, because it reflects a lot of light
Be aware of your lighting, especially on red carpet events; one spotlight is not enough
Show up early with lesser know clients at events; they will shoot most everyone if time permits
Advise your clients to wear color, avoiding solid white or black outfits
Advise clients not to cross their legs when posting (fashion especially)
Remember flashes pierce sheer black
Go ahead of your client with a client name in large, bold type for ID
Stay out of the photos; mnay photogs are shooting long lenses down the carpet
Be aware when a “A” list star is approaching, step back. Resume when they have passed
Have a realistic space for press cleared; 12” per position is minimum, 18” is preferred
Be honest with tip sheets; photogs would rather have surprises than disappointments
Check-in time should be accurate, not an hour before you intend to check in
Communication if you are marking placement for photos in press area
All events are not equal; Photos will support small events if given access to the “good” ones
Avoid “set decoration” feeling; don’t change colors on various background be consistent
Put photogs first on a press line; flow is proven to be better
Keep Photo, TV and Print in separate areas; some TV-B-roll like to work behind photogs
Stanchions should be at least 7 feet from the backdrop; Risers should be 18” back and 12 ‘ high
Allow room under rises to store equipment, bags, etc
If you have no risers, say so on tip sheet as most photogs have step stools or ladders
Backdrops should be cloth, not glossy plaster; grey or blue works best
Be aware of who works for whom; avoid more than one photog per agency in limited space

To contact any of the professional photography services:

Stewart Cook assignmentdesk@rexusa.com
Mary Allison, ET Assignments., AP LA" malison@ap.org

Sara De Boer – saradeboer@mac.com

Kathy Hutchins - Hutchins@aol.com

Sam Mircovich – sam.mircovich@thomsonreuters.com

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Power of the Pitch - How To Win More Business

noreply@blogger.com (George S. Mc Quade III) — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 01:37:00 +0000

Author Gary Hankins
Autographs his book

The Power Of The Pitch
"Your Always on stage"

By George S. Mc Quade III, West Coast Bureau Chief
www.Odwyerpr.com Manhattan, NY

“ It can be a matter of seconds, perhaps up to 30 seconds for someone to decide if they like you,” Los Angeles-based author Gary Hankins of The Power of the Pitch told a packed house (Feb. 19, 2009) of mostly writers, producers, actors and members of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, home of the prestigious Emmy® award. The Academy sponsored event was held at the CBS Studios, Studio City, CA. “The most important rule in making a successful pitch is that people must like you,” he said.

Hankins outline three qualities people must like that define you.

How you look
How you sound
What you say

“If they don’t they don’t, they won’t listen to you, vote for you, be persuaded by you, or buy your products or services,” Hankins said. The 258 page book, The Power of the Pitch is available Online at Amazon.com or DearbornTrade.com.

The 30 second Clock link:

Find more videos like this on Entertainment Publicity
Marketing Public Relations Advertising

Hankins notes that a Stanford and UCLA study concludes that your appearance accounts for 55 percent of your total likeability; your voice, 38 percent; and your message, seven percent.

Hankins offers several tips on how to dress, hand gestures, eye contact and hitting the homerun pitch to win more business.

“You should adopt the Rock Star Attitude, he said. In The book, Hankins tells the story of Garth Brooks. “Despite his talent, he didn't make it in country

music until he discovered in his first record deal that it took more than skill to become a star.”

The Rock Star Attitude adds power to your pitch says Author Gary Hankins

Find more videos like this on MAYO Communications

===================================================================================================

Hankins said Garth Brooks moved to Nashville to become a star, but during his interview the record company said ‘you have a great voice, but no appeal to your audiences.’ Brooks’ roommate, also a musician told him maybe he should change his ways. He realized that he needed to connect with his audiences.

“When Brooks found something he liked in everyone that came to see him, people couldn't help but like him back. After he started interacting with his audiences, Capital Records signed him, and 10 years later he had sold more records than the Beatles,” said Hankins.

Find more videos like this on Entertainment Publicity
Marketing Public Relations Advertising

Hankins offers several rules of engagement in his book often taken for granted, which he abbreviates as S.T.A.R. “Grab their attention with S-star or shocking openers; T-telling a story or citing a study; A-asking questions; R-reciting a quote.”

After you grab their attention you need to have a persuasive model. The body of your presentation should preview what you are going to cover. What’s in it for them? Purpose? Why they should pay attention?

Hankins used a wiffle bat to drive home his message, “your talk should be entertaining and informative.” He tossed orange smiley face balls to anyone who had good answers to his questions.

During presentations Hankins said you should ask questions before you conclude your talk. “If you don’t answer the questions well, it will be the last thing they remember. If it wasn’t covered well, you can recap in the conclusion, which is more powerful and the last thing they remember.”

Other rules to remember:

Avoid telling everything you know (be a good listener)
Keep it entertaining and educational
Keep good posture (standing at parade rest you might start rocking)
No more than six bullet points with no more than two words
We would rather look at pictures, charts and graphics

“There was a time when people liked to read to us.” Don’t do it with a powerpoint presentations (PPP),” he said. “People do not use PPP well.”

Hankins also provides inside steps to handle objections to your presentations or proposals.

1. stay cool and calm

2. Don’t argue with people who say, “doesn’t sound like a good idea

3. Seek specifics (“What gives you that feeling? Too much money?”

4. The feel-tell-found formula (“I understand how you feel, someone else felt the same way, however when we show him our model they found we had the best one.”

“When wrapping up your presentation or proposal remember to use S.T.A.R.S,” he said. “Startle, tell a story or joke, asking questions and recite a quote.” Hankins said if you feel good about your presentation, “ask for their business.”

“So how does it sound? Can you see me on the team? What makes you not sure? What are your concerns? (ask questions)

And Hankins said do NOT say, “Thank You,” at the end of your presentation. “You don’t need to say ‘the end,’ like we used to see at the conclusion of old movies. Say it earlier, thank you for your time, and move on to your speech.”

Hankins also offers this advice when speaking with an objective.

Your intro should be a a grabber
Don’t begin with an apology (sorry didn’t get much sleep last night,etc)
Announcing topics – don’t ("Great to be here at CBS Studios.")
Know your presentation – practice and rehearse it”

“Not being prepared in every pitch will kill your presentation,” said Hankins. “No matter how good your pitch is, if you can't powerfully respond to difficult questions and objections, it's over.”

Personal Brand: Things to remember

You’re always on stage
You should be creative, distinctive
Show your personal brand –
(it says why someone should pick you over someone else)

Finally, Hankins emphasizes that you need to bring passion to your communications. He played a video where Microsoft’s Steve Balmer jumped out on a company staged and screamed, “I love this company.” He also talked about the importance of voice inflection. “Be careful about pacing,”said Hankins. “Slow down on more important points and use positive words.

Words and phrases to leave at home during your presentation:

WRONG:“I think; I believe in my opinion; I feel that way; hopefully; maybe.”

BETTER: “I’m confident you will see; we have a terrific team to do the job; what we will do for you..and so on.”

Avoid fillers like: “You know; and; uh.” There is nothing wrong with a pause for thought.

“To win, you must show that you like who you are talking to. Start by maintaining eye contact and smiling. Often, we concentrate so hard on what we're saying that we forget about our facial expressions. We give the impression that we're self-focused and egotistical,” explained Hankins. His next book. "Be a Rock Star."

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Watchmen Premiere closes Hollywood Blvd., but is a real eye opener

noreply@blogger.com (George S. Mc Quade III) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 02:07:00 +0000

One of the of the most talked about movies is one of the longest at the box office, and with a near three hour showing (2 hrs. 40 min.) you won’t be able to get too many time slots in theaters. The premiere this week was a better show than the movie. WATCHMEN opens this weekend and one of the most hyped movies this year.

Actor John Voight & Actress Sol Romero

They closed Hollywood Blvd.,the carpet was yellow, but matched the theme of yellow posters and smiley face buttons with a drip of blood on them. The cast and crew showed and so did the paparazzi at the Chinese Theater.

Sol Romero and Jesse Metcalfe
at the U.S. Premiere of "Watchman
Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Hollywood.

The $150 million production was a cross between last year’s superhero movie and blockbuster, The Dark Knight and Spiderman. Maybe a little more violent, and sometimes downright scary. The acting was not as good as Dark Knight, either, but we shouldn’t compare.

Director Zack Snyder (300) brilliance almost copied the blood splattering and bone crushing witnessed in his previous movie. Lots of sex, (blue man frontal nude) politics, kissing, punching, kicking and a near holocaust.

The most anticipated movie of 2009 and adaptation of Alan Moore's graphic novel made a few people; many movie critics squirmin their seats during some of the extremely violent scenes. I would not recommend it for my teenage sons, but knowing the kind of violent games in God of War 3-5, and violence on TV, it will be a must see flick of their classmates.

Actress Sol Romero

The action scenes were unbelievable and seemed to wear you out just watching them (felt good, though).

The show includes scenes with then President Richard Nixon, who is faced with blowing up the world, or being blown up. An elite group of older masked crime fighters – barred from fighting anymore– emerge and reactivate their team to fight the Cold War. Hang on to your popcorn and your seat, because the movie starts with one heck of a violent opener, and it also explains the happy face button, too, handed out at the premiere. Lots of media on the carpet for the cast (a block long).

Much to our delight there were other celebs attending, including Actor John Voight (National Treasure) and Actress Sol Romero, who just finished a movie with Mel Gibson, The Edge of Darkness, directed by Martin Campbell (Casino Royale).

Despite the nude blue Superman Doctor Manhattan (Billy Crudup) unexpected behavior and God-like appearance, and all the violence, overall I enjoyed the movie. These kind of movies need to be long to get in the action scenes.

I would recommend this movie for action thrill seekers over the age of 19. I really hope they get at least $100 million dollars at the box office and have a huge weekend opener, but please leave the kids home. We need lots of movies more movie companies to stay and film in LA to keep the economy going, and fans going to the box office.

Here are more than 100 photos of the Watchmen cast and crew from the premiere.

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Traditional Media vs. New Media – Raw, Fast and Powerful Say EPPS Panelists

noreply@blogger.com (George S. Mc Quade III) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 03:31:00 +0000

New Media vs. Traditional Media

(l-R) Jonathan Atha, , Zach Behrens, Francisco Dao and Michael Liskin

“Seven or eight years ago I was directing a story People Magazine was breaking on Jennifer Lopez calling off her wedding to Ben Afleck,” Managing Editor Todd Gold, Fancast.com told a standing-room only crowd of Entertainment Publicists Professional Society (EPPS) media workshop recently (2-19-09). “It was significant, because it was the first time People Magazine had broken a story Online rather than saving it for the issue. It really ushered in the every minute news cycle, and the idea of a branding a story as you broke it was fascinating watching it break around the world. You could almost draw a map as it was picked up in Europe, then New York and then across the country. Now we work the same model but at different speeds.”

“Old media and traditional media right now are suffering from many crises and its very static,” said Gold.

“In terms of getting the message out it is old, and it does seem behind the times, while new media is dynamic, it’s writing rules as it goes, while tethering with some traditional standards.

Gold reported that Fancast.com gets seven million unique visitors a month, but they pay attention to smaller sites that are running and gunning, and it gives them a barometer of people’s interest.

“I think as a publicist, it is a good idea to pitch the big outlets like Entertainment Tonight and every show you can think of, but because of the Internet, you should pitch the bloggers, too,” said Former NBC Reporter and Hybrid Journalist Shire Lazar, a

crossover media personality.

Shira Lazar

“It is good to have your story on the big shows, and influential blogs that are not owned by CBS, NBC and the networks. They may have a better capability of making your story more viral.”

The panelists described showbiz and political media Online as the “wild, wild west, unfiltered, no fact checking and no rules.”

“It is fast and with the lack of filtering there are pros and cons,” said Francisco Dai, The Killer Pitch. “In the old days when Todd (Gold) was an editor at People we pitched him, and if he liked it he wrote it up. If he like the story, but didn’t like you, maybe he wrote it up in maybe a negative sense. But he did the writing and he chose the articles and it came off professionally. Because of the speed and lack of filtering in new media, there’s nothing like Todd to write it up for you, or nobody like him to decide what actually deserves to be written up,” he said.

Some publicists make the mistake with new media thinking, “wow great, now I have a platform, I don’t need to suck up to journalists, so I get to put all our stuff out there. They put out a lot of junk, which clearly reflects on your clients or whatever you are trying to promote. Since there is a lack of journalistic filter, you need to learn how to filter it yourself, said the panelists.

The panel agrees that there is a lot of fear out there about new media. Michael Liskin, Online social networking consultant said, “People fear new media, they don’t always understand it, they ask which social networks do I get on, which ones are the best ones, how can I do this for my client and in what way? It’s the integration of all the different channels and connecting them in a way that makes sense in reciprocal connections that can do a lot for your client and yourself. He cited Britney Spears’ site as a doing it right. Liskin advises, “just get going with new media. It is already happening without you anyway. So if you don’t get going, right off the bat, you’re already behind the eight ball,” he said. “It’s very important to be part of it, to be part of the conversation.”

Zach Behrens & Francisco Dao

One example of how old media drags its potential burst was the story about Writer Michael Star, who has a TV column for the New York Post, and broke the story given to him exclusively by NBC about Saturday Night Live Alum Jimmy Fallon to host Conan O’Brien’s vacated slot on Late Night. Then a news release came out the next day and more than three thousand articles hit the Internet on Friday, Feb. 20, 2009. The bloggers pick it up where traditional media left off. The old way is to give it to a site and hope it gets picked up, but today it’s faster with sites like Facebook, Twitter and other social networks.

“We don’t have venture capital, and I’m the only full time employee at the site along with two volunteer writers for our large audience, but I will get 50 emails an hour while trying to write posts,” said Editor Zach Behrens, LAist.com, one of LA’s most popular entertainment news blogs. “So a lot of things get kicked to the side. Everyone wants to pitch us. To me a lot of it is about developing relationships. You really have to pitch useful headlines in your email that grabs us. For me I have found instant messaging has been the best way to pitch.

“A phone call takes me away from everything, but instant messaging I do things at the same time. I can get files through, and someone sitting at their desk all day I can ask, ‘hey just a follow-up question about this story, or can you send it to me.’ Or with people I have developed relationships on Mondays I instant message everyone and say, ‘hey what’s going on in the art scene this week, because I need to know about it or assign a story.’ Those instant message conversations reduce spam. It’s like twitter, we are so immediate and we always want to be original in our reporting, but if I am calling for a quick quote, I’m ready to go to press in five minutes.”

“The number one reason stories viral out on the Internet is news,” said Fancast’s Managing Editor Todd Gold. “It doesn’t change from traditional media when you have something hot that people want to know about. The subcategory of that is you have something quirky, funny, a twist on whatever. Two examples: We had a Dancing With The Stars contestant blogging on our site last season exclusively, and when she got sick and went to the hospital she blogged about it, and it was picked up everywhere. Or something quirky: The head of Menza gave us a list of the smartest TV shows ever. It got picked up around the world. It is really about the best news and information. In terms of pitching Fancast.com, we’ve been new and under the radar. We have been making sure the usual experience is a phenomenal one in terms of watching video.”

Fancast streams hundreds of TV shows and 9,000 hours of full length episodes in current hits, classics and past shows so we go the experience right. Now we combine it with editorial. “We are competing with TV Guide and Entertainment Weekly at that level so we are looking for big stories. One of the great things of working Online as opposed to a magazine is we have unlimited space, we don’t worry about paper cuts, so we do as much as we can with every pitch that our human resources allow.”

“New media runs the gamete,” said Francisco Dao, Media Consult, The Killer Pitch.

“New media can be everything from a fan site to your twitter account. You really need to do it all. It is fast, where I can take it or you can take it and go directly to the audience. That’s how I see it.”

Dao cited Miami’s Basketball Star Shaquille O’Neal story. Shaq recently got on Twitter.com and tweeted a question direct and unfiltered asking, “what should I have for dinner at Quiznos?’ Shaq doesn’t always think about what he’s saying and will do quirky popular things. It makes him that much more likeable. Now, Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore have a Twitter account but are more careful. They still do movies, still do interviews on ET, but the new media is the ability for everyone sitting on this panel to go direct, go unfiltered, to have conversations with their audience. And maybe a different conversation,” Dai said.

According to Gold at Fancast.com, standards of quality are being incorporated into in a new model of the future. He said, “If you are pitching a story in a newspaper or a magazine, you’re hoping that story is interesting enough that the reader remembers to tune into that show or program their DVR.

“When you go on to Fancast.com, you’re getting a story, embedded in the story you’re getting the full episode or a preview clip as well as pictures, along with tune-in information. It is all right there and it is immediate. People are reading the story, watching the TV show, their watching the preview, they get tune-in info and soon they’ll be able to hit a button and program their DVR right from that story.”

MAYO PR - "We don't guarantee media, we just get it!"

No Oscar For Hollywood - LAEDC Forecast Coming!

noreply@blogger.com (George S. Mc Quade III) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 08:44:00 +0000

A recent red carpet event
and movie screening at
Raleigh Studios in
Hollywood.

News Advisory

Challenges and Opportunities for 2009

There has been little good news when the topic is the economy. As our economy continues to face enormous challenges, what can we expect for the coming year?

Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation to Release 2009 - 2010 Economic Forecast & Industry Outlook

***
Founding Economist Jack Kyser To Release Critical Data On Economy

What:

2009 - 10 LAEDC ECONOMIC FORECAST & INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “Challenges & Opportunities”

There has been very little good news about the economy. What can we expect for the coming year? When will the economy improve? Find out how businesses can weather the economic storm and what’s next.

Who:

Robert A. Kleinhenz, Ph.D. Dep. Chief Economist, California Ass of Realtors

Jack Kyser, Founding Economist, Kyser Ctr for Econ. Research, LAEDC

Nancy D. Sidhu, Ph.D. Chief Economist, Kyser Ctr for Economic Research

Sam Kyei, Chief Economist, Burlington Northern Sante Fe Railway

Mark Lieberman, President & CEO, LA INC (Convention & Visitors Bur.)

Michael Niemira, Chief Economist, Int’nl Council of Shopping Ctrs.

Tim Ransdell, Exec. Dir., The Calif. Inst. for Federal Policy Research

Frank Mottek, Panel Moderator, Host, KNX 1070 AM Business Hour

When: WEDNESDAY, Feb. 18, 2009 (please call for link & Interviews)
7 A.M. – 8 A.M. Breakfast & Check-in. Program: 8 A.M. – 10:30 A.M.

Where: Marriott Hotel, Grand Ball Room, Downtown Los Angeles

333 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90071 * (866) 210-8879

Background:

The LAEDC Economic Forecast and Industry Outlook will present two panel discussions: one focusing on the economic outlook for the regional and national economies, presented by LAEDC economists, Jack Kyser and Dr. Nancy Sidhu, and the other will feature prominent speakers from the Housing, Retail, Tourism, Entertainment, and International Trade industries. How will trends in each industry sector affect our economy and what strategies can we employ to weather the storm until an economic recovery? For more about the event or sponsorships: Contact Nhien Barros, 213.236.4816 or visit www.laedc.org/forecast.

Editors Note: For media interviews please contact: George McQuade 818-340-5300 or 818-618-9229 Publicity@mayocommunications.com.

MAYO PR - "We don't guarantee media, we just get it!"

Model & Actress Sol Romero Hires MAYO for PR

noreply@blogger.com (George S. Mc Quade III) — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 03:38:00 +0000

Model & Actress Sol Romero

Model and Actress
Sol Romero Chooses
MAYO Communications For
Entertainment Publicity

“After working and living in Mexico and Europe, I look forward to expanding my acting and modeling career in America,” said Model Actress Sol Romero, who has hired MAYO Communications for entertainment publicity.

Romero, wife of famed Movie Director Martin Campbell (“Casino Royale", “Beyond Borders”, “Mask of Zorro”) plays a hospital nurse in the upcoming Mel Gibson movie “The Edge of Darkness”, due out in November. She recently attended the Janeen Mansour Celebrity Shoe Drive along with Kim Kardashian, Katie Gill, Elizabeth Nicole, Eduardo Garcia, Timothy Woodward Jr. and Music Stars Damien and Toure Escobar of Nuttin’ But Stringz. The Shoe Drive benefited the Salvation Army. For more about Sol Romero visit: www.solcampbellromero.com/ or her blog at: http://solromero.wordpress.com/

MAYO Communications is an international, award-winning full service public relations firm based in Los Angeles with bureaus in San Diego, New York and Bern, Switzerland. MAYO’s niche: Media placement and entertainment publicity.

“We are excited to have such a talented actress and media friendly person as Sol Romero joining our roster of celebrity clients,” said Vice President George

Mc Quade, who’s handling the account. Mc Quade is the former president of Entertainment Publicists Professional Society (EPPS) and is the West Coast Bureau Chief for O’Dwyer Publications (www.odwyerpr.com), who writes national articles about media and public relations trends.

About MAYO Communications

MAYO Communications earned a record 85 million media impressions during the three-month long Writers Guild Strike. MAYO specializes in media placements, celebrity events, product launches and media training and opened an office in Bern, Switzerland to handle arts and entertainment clients in Europe. MAYO Communications’ short list of entertainment clients includes: Dubai.TV, Anchor Janeen Mansour, Reality TV show Hydra Executives, Abu Dhabi, Warrior Records, Whittaker Bay TV Drama, H20 Productions, Sea.TV, and Comedian Jack Rothman. MAYO’s motto: “We don’t guarantee media, we just get it!”™

For more about MAYO Communications contact Aida Mayo or George Mc Quade at
818-340-5300 or Publicity@MayoCommunications.com or visit: www.mayocommunications.com.

Reality TV Kim Kardashian Joins Celebrities at Janeen Mansour Celebrity Shoe Drive

noreply@blogger.com (George S. Mc Quade III) — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 03:21:00 +0000

Winner Eduardo
Garcia (center)

Above - Cheetah Girl Adrienne Bailon Kim Kardashian, Janeen Mansour
Sol Romero, George Mc Quade, Timothy Woodward, Jr.
and Ziad Batal in center photo. On the right is "Golden Shoe
Winner Actor Eduardo Garcia, "No Country For Old Men"
Janeen Mansour Celebrity Shoe Drive Slideshow (more)

Throwing shoes is good for the ’sole’

TV Celebrity Interviewer
Janeen Mansour with
Kim Kardashian at
Celebrity Shoe Drive.

By George S. Mc Quade III
West Coast Bureau Chief
www.Odwyerpr.com

MAYO Communications, a full service publicity firm kicked off a successful first-time Celebrity Shoe Throwing event that should inspire and get Hollywood celebrities off on the right foot in this economically troubled tinsel town. Billed as the Janeen Mansour Celebrity Shoe Drive to benefit needy families of the Salvation Army, the event attracted more than 100 people and netted several large bins of shoes. Most of the shoes donated and tossed at the Rancho Park Golf Course driving range were brand new Shoes. In fact there were nearly three dozen upscale tennis shoes donated by Ed Hardy, who also threw shoes in the men’s competition (January 10, 2009.)

Dubai.TV Celebrity Talk Show Host Janeen Mansour was MC, and threw the first pair of shoes, which turned out to be red and white, heavy duty, barely worn, Miami Heat’s SHAG tennis shoes. “No other non-profit organization has the range of social services to help the needy like the Salvation Army,” explained Mansour. “This was a fun event, and everyone had a great time for a good cause. We should do this more often.”

“I am here throwing shoes for a good cause,” said Kim Kardashian, reality TV show, “Keeping Up with the Kardashians,” who came with Cheetah Girl Adrienne Bailon. “ I have never throw shoes before, except at someone I refuse to name. I love coming to these kinds of charities with a great cause, the Salvation Army.”

(click on photo to enlarge)

More than 100 volunteers, celebrities and golfers tossed shoes for the Salvation Army.

Other celebrities chucking their shoes for a good cause included: Solveig Romero Campbell, “ The Edge of Darkness,” Elizabeth Nicole, “7th Heaven” and ABC’s “Port Charles,” Katie Gill, “CSI Miami,” Dyllan Christopher, “Unaccompanied Minors,” “Bones” Steffani Brass, “This Might Hurt” ABC, TV , Damien & Tourie Escobar, Nuttin’ But Stringz, “NBC’s America’s Got Talent,” Timothy Woodward, Jr., “WGN Networks’ Whittaker Bay,” “Redefining Love, “ and Reality TV Producer Ziad Batal, “Hydra Executives.”

Janeen Mansour, Dubai.TV, Winner Actor Eduardo Garcia with his "Golden Shoe Award," Ziad Batal, Reality TV Producer at celebrity shoe drive in LA.

Actor Eduardo Garcia won the Golden Shoe Award in the Men’s competition for tossing 75 feet, Beverly Pomerantz, casting director, CATCH 21, won women’s award at 50 feet, and little girls named Nadine and Rachel won the children’s toss at around 25 feet.

The Janeen Mansour Celebrity Shoe Drive attracted lots of media

Mar Vista Institute of Health donated back and neck messages and the tips the clinic’s staff received at the event to the Salvation Army. Ed Hardy Shoes donated several dozen boxes of new shoes. Actress Melanie Griffith donated a pair of maroon colored high heel shoes, too.

MAYO Communications competed with several other celebrity events including the BAFTA/LA - British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles event, People’s Choice Awards and The Golden Globes Awards/pre-parties and charity events like Eva Mendes receiving the “Spirit of Elysian” award star-studded party on the same day.

Not to be out done, the Janeen Mansour Celebrity Shoe Drive, who invited President Bush, who declined, had her own special awards, The Golden Shoe Award for Men’s, Ladies and Children’s competition. The successful event, which attracted TV and paparazzi, is already scheduled to take place again in July.

Read more about it in the Los Angele s Daily News

Celebrity Shoe Drive Media coverage-LA Daily News

MAYO PR - "We don't guarantee media, we just get it!"

First Celebrity Shoe Drive To Kick Year On Right Foot

noreply@blogger.com (George S. Mc Quade III) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 05:08:00 +0000

“The Janeen Mansour
Celebrity Shoe Drive”

If the Shoe doesn’t fit
….throw it!

A family-fun filled Celebrity
Shoe Drive To Benefit
The Salvation Army

What:

The Janeen Mansour Celebrity Shoe Drive Children’s, Ladies
and Men Competition for - “The Golden Shoe Award”

Who:

President Bush & First Lady Laura Bush (officially invited)

Paris Hilton (Invited)

Kim Kardashian, Reality TV Show "Keeping Up with the Kardashians"(invited)

Melanie Griffith, “Twins,” “Sweet Baby Jesus,” 2009 (confirmed)

Antonio Banderas, “The Code,” (confirmed)

Jay Leno, NBC “The Tonight Show” (invited)

Solveig Romero Campbell, “Edge of Darkness,” (Mel Gibson movie), (confirmed)

Eduardo Garcia, “No Country for Old Men” (confirmed)

Elizabeth Nicole, "7th Heaven" and ABC’s "Port Charles"(confirmed))

Katie Gill, “CSI Miami,” A&E's “The Cleaners” (confirmed)

Dyllan Christopher, "Unaccompanied Minors," "Bones" (confirmed)

Stefani Brass, “This Might Hurt” ABC, TV (confirmed)

Ellia English, “My Sister’s Keeper”, “Empty Nest” (confirmed)

James Black- stars in USA Network’s, “The Starter Wife” as Felix (Confirmed)

Damien & Tourie Escobar, Nuttin But Stringz, NBC America’s Got Talent (Confirmed)

Yancey Arias “Behind Enemy Lines,” “Sweet Dreams,” (invited)

John Gearries, “AmerAsian3 (2010) (filming) “Code Black” (invited)

James Duval, “CORNERED!,” "Donnie Darko" (invited)

Executive Producer Ziad Batal, Reality TV Show Hydra Executives (confirmed)

When:

SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 2009- Noon – 2 PM

11:30 AM media-check-in (VIP Tent, Refreshments)

Where:

Rancho Park Golf Course (Driving Range)

10460 W Pico Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90064-2342 (310) 839-9812

Background:

TV Celebrity Talk Show Host Janeen Mansour, Dubai.TV, plans to launch the first ever celebrity Shoe Throwing Benefit and Drive at the Rancho Park Golf Course driving range. Although it is a celebrity event, it is open to the public. The public is invited to bring as many new or newly used shoes as they can. “If The Shoe Doesn’t Fit Throw It” for a good cause Saturday, Noon – 2PM, Jan. 10, 2008. There will be three categories: Children’s, Ladies and Men’s Competition. The Guiness Book of World Records has been invited for record toss. Winners in each category will take home “The Golden Shoe Award.” It’s a fun for the whole family event, and for the Salvation Army needy families. Come participate and help kick off the New Year on the right foot.

[Editors: Media please call Aida Mayo or George Mc Quade for advanced interviews and to RSVP for event. @ 818-340-5300 or 818-618-9229.

MAYO PR - "We don't guarantee media, we just get it!"

Kick In New Year With Celebrity Shoe Drive

noreply@blogger.com (George S. Mc Quade III) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 05:46:00 +0000

“The Janeen Mansour Celebrity Shoe Drive”
If the Shoe doesn’t fit….throw it!

TV Anchor Janeen Mansour, www.Dubai.TV

A family-fun filled Celebrity Shoe Drive
To Benefit The Salvation Army

What:

The Janeen Mansour Celebrity Shoe Drive Children’s, Ladies

and Men Competition for - “The Golden Shoe Award”

Who:

President Bush & First Lady Laura Bush (officially invited)

Celebrity TV Host and Event Founder Janeen Mansour, Dubai.TV (confirmed)

Kim Kardashian, Reality TV Show "Keeping Up with the Kardashians"(invited)

Melanie Griffith, “Twins,” “Sweet Baby Jesus,” 2009 (invited)

Eduardo Garcia, “No Country for Old Men” (confirmed)

Stefani Brass, “This Might Hurt” ABC, TV 2009, “Six Feet Under” (invited)

Dyllan Christopher, "Unaccompanied Minors" "Bones" (invited)

Yancey Arias “Behind Enemy Lines,” “Sweet Dreams,”2009 (invited)

John Gearries, “AmerAsian3 (2010) (filming) “Code Black” (2008) (invited)

Ellia English, “My Sister’s Keeper”, “Empty Nest” (invited)

James Duval, “CORNERED!,” "Donnie Darko" (invited)

Elizabeth Nicole, "7th Heaven" and ABC’s "Port Charles"(invited)

David Jean Thomas, “Fight Club”, “Nutty Professor II” (invited)

Steve Guttenberg, "The Boys from Brazil", “Diner” (invited)

Steve Allen, Executive Director, Salvation Army of SoCal (confirmed)

Executive Producer Ziad Batal, Reality TV Show Hydra Executives (confirmed)

Damien, and Tourie Escobar,Nuttin But Stringz, #3 NBC America’s Got Talent

Martha Wash, "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)", “Madagascar II”

When:

SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 2009- Noon – 2 PM

11:30 AM media-check-in (VIP Tent, Refreshments)

Where:

Rancho Park Golf Course (Driving Range)

10460 W Pico Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90064-2342

(310) 839-9812

Background:

The public is invited to bring as many new or newly used shoes as they can. “If The Shoe Doesn’t Fit Throw It” for a good cause Saturday, Noon – 2PM, Jan. 10, 2008. There will be three categories: Children’s, Ladies and Men’s Competition. The Guiness Book of World Records has been invited for record toss. Winners in each category will take home “The Golden Shoe Award.” It’s a fun for the whole family event, and for the Salvation Army needy families. Come participate and help kick off the New Year on the right foot.

[Editors: Media please call Aida Mayo or George Mc Quade for advanced interviews and to RSVP for event. @ 818-340-5300 or 818-618-9229 PR@MayoCommunications.com]

MAYO PR - "We don't guarantee media, we just get it!"

Television Business Model Rapidly Changing With New Media

noreply@blogger.com (George S. Mc Quade III) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 03:21:00 +0000

Joe Adalian, TV Week, Melissa Grego,
Broadcasting and Cable and Juan Morales, EMMY
Magazine at an EPPS media workshop in December.

“The TV Business model is changing”
Say EPPS Editor Panelists

By George S. McQuade III

December is certainly a month to remember in Television. NBC announced it is restructuring and Tonight show Host Jay Leno will stay with a new primetime show at 10 pm on NBC. It was no wonder the first question to a panelist of TV writers and editors focused on how each handled the NBC breaking shakeup story. The moderator was a good fit, too. Joe Schlosser Sen. V.P., Comm.,NBC-Universal Television Studio-Distribution. The entertainment Publicists Professional Society (EPPS) workshop was held at the International Cinematographers Union Local 600 PR Auditorium.

“The TV Business model is changing clearly faster than anyone thought, said Joe Adalian, deputy editor and columnist, TV Week. “I think the writer’s (WGA) strike set that up, and I think we are going to see more events like this happen like this over the next year. Some people say it was a negative, while others will say it is a reflection of the business.”

Joe Adalian, TV Week

“It’s all about making sure your readers can turn to your site to get the story, whether you are two minutes earlier or later than the competition,” said Adalian, TV Week. Adalian also writes for Variety and the New York Post.

“Long gone are the days where you hold stuff,” said Melissa Grego, executive editor, Broadcasting and Cable (B&C), who said she was literally working on breaking three major stories Online at B&C, including Jay Leno’s stay at NBC. She also said the terrorist incident in Mubai, India dominated any other TV coverage, because it was such a high profile area and story.

“We really are driven weekly by a cover story, which is a multipaged , in-depth report you can’t replicate like breaking news such as the Jay Leno deal,” said Grego, of B&C. “The timing of the attacks ( terrorism) in Mubai was tricky for a lot of the US TV organizations to cover.

Melissa Greg, B&C holds up special issue
on Terrorism Media Coverage in India.

Marissa Gunthery, who covers the TV business, did a nice job in an analytical piece that showed showed how all those foreign news budget cutbacks came into play with the lack of coverage in Mubai. It was a huge story. The story was done late in the day, and a lot of our readers are in New York, so we held off until the next morning.”

The 1,200 word story was posted Online and got so much interaction at various journalists’ websites; we took excerpts and printed some of the talk backs from the conversations Online. The most fun part of the story was encouraging our readers to go back Online,” explained Grego.

“If you can push a story ahead in the print edition of our magazines it gives the story legs beyond what you have to print on a day-to-day basis Online,” explained Alan Frutkin, correspondent/producer, Nielsen Business Media (Hollywood, Reporter, Billboard, MediaWeek, and Backstage).

Frutkin was caught in a middle of doing a feature on NBC’s Night Rider when the news came down it was cancelled. “I was invited out to the set to do a video report on the executive producer and the Night Rider show, but before we packaged and uploaded our story, it changed to NBC cutting back on the episodes. It’s tough and that’s how fast news changes.”

The job has changed too for Frutkin, in addition to writer, he also producers video reports Online for all of Nielson’s platforms. “It indicates how quickly the industry and trade journalism is changing to meet the needs of what users and readers want.”

“I’m a little jealous, because breaking news is not really something we can do, Juan Morales, editor-in-chief of Emmy Magazine, which publishes six issues a year for mostly subscribed TV and Arts Academy members. “We do more of analysis and compiling of the TV events, and we’re all connected in the sense of being the media, we focus on what it means when NBC Chief Jeff Zucker announces he’s doing away with primetime Television. Realistically since we are a bimonthly, we really can’t do anything until February or when the new show (Jay Leno) premiers.”

Morales also said in regards to the NBC fallout announcements, “Strictly as an observer of the industry I thought it was interesting that there are a lot of appendages of stories, not only the announcement itself, but what about the story about competition for bookings between Leno and Conan O’Brien being on the West Coast, at the same network.” He admitted that the Emmy Magazine doesn’t have the resources to covering breaking news, but does have a website and we relies on publicists to provide us with the information so we can provide to our members. Morales prefers email pitches at: morales@emmy.org.

Tips for publicist from the panelists:

· Exclusives are still welcome, but holding breaking news is impossible

· Email pitches work best and lots of early warning no unsolicited stuff

· Honesty in communications, be upfront - provide as much as you can

· Strong relationships and familiarity with a writer’s beat equals success

Emails contacts: jadalian@TVweek.com; Melissa.grego@reedbusines.com; afrutkin@mediaweek.com; morales@emmys.org; joe.schlosser@nbcuni.com

MAYO PR - "We don't guarantee media, we just get it!"

Future of News: "Innovation and telling stories in your own voice"

noreply@blogger.com (George S. Mc Quade III) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 00:20:00 +0000

(l-r) Lee Abrams, Ron Kaye and Erza Palmer at LA Press Club event
held November 13, 2008 at the Steve Allen Theater, Hollywood.

The Future of News

By George McQuade
www.odwyerpr.com
West Coast Bureau Chief

“Tribune reaches 31 percent of all people 40 years and older,” Senior V.P. and Chief Innovation Officer Lee Abrams, Tribune Company told about three dozen mostly journalists at the LA Press Club sponsored “The Future of News,” media workshop held recently (11-13-08) at the Steve Allen Theater in Hollywood.

Lee Abrams
Tribune Company

“Forget anyone under 40, that’s 69 percent market.” Abrams joined, former Managing Editor Ron Kaye, Los Angeles Daily News and Moderator Ezra Palmer, vice president of Product Development, Westwood One.

“After attending a fundraiser for Autism last night with lots of celebrities in Hollywood, I had this fantasy that this is what journalism is going to come to,” said Palmer.

Erza Palmer
Westwood One

“That we would gather together to raise money for the news and wear bracelets that said ‘let’s do the news’ and maybe we would have walkathons and telethons, who knows. Is the news still a business or is it something that is going to turn into a public trust?” he asked the panel.

“I’m not so sure that the answer is that simple for radio, Television newspaper, but I will tell you the business model is broken,” said Ron Kaye, who now writes his own blog RonKayLA.com, and plans to start a “Green Sheet” and nonprofit over the next few weeks.

Ron Kaye
RonKayeLA.com

“The news business model and form are broken in the face of the most democratic revolution in human history, which is the Internet. It’s where anyone can speak, and we starting to see products develop. I have a friend who writes for OPED News, and he has never written a thing in his life, but has always been passionate, and I think his ideas are crazy as I have ever heard. He gets a tremendous number hits on OpEdNews.com.”

Additionally, Kaye said, “There is an audience for people’s voices, anybody’s voice that can draw a crowd, its democratic and its free.”

Kaye is planning to launch a “Green Sheet” of half metropolitan and half local stories from the San Fernando Valley, which has about two-million plus residents. “I think allowing anyone to talk, post stories or create a public conversation, where everyone participates would make a good nonprofit format, and I hope to pull it off,” he said. “I’m told there are two dozen large newspapers that are up for sale, and given the current climate they are not worth the land they own. It is like saying the only LA Times asset is Times Mirror Square.”

The newspapers are not selling at the cost structure they are at all panelist noted. “Since I was fired back in April, because I had reached the limit of who I could cut and still produce a paper, 15 of the best people at the paper (Los Angeles Daily News) have quit, and everyone one of them tell me they are happier, working harder, faster and learning more in a more creative environment.”

“When I first came to the paper (Los Angeles Times) I said, "The news/information is the ‘new rock and roll of news’, which means news is vibrant and alive like rock and roll of 1955 impact on culture. It is an exciting place to be, where it is the Internet, newspaper, TV or radio,” said Lee Abrams, who worked at XM Satellite Radio before joining LAT.

Abrams noted that each newspaper, including the Los Angeles Times are going through individual designs, describing phases that involved the whole newspaper staff, who now feel liberated.

“I got all the departments involved, people who had a lot of repressed feelings. Some said, ‘some of our stories are boring,’ so we liberated them in three phases: fear, acceptance then excitement,” he said. “They came to term with the war out there. We are not cheapening ourselves, just claiming our turf. The whole process involved myth busting,” explained Abrams.

Abrams described the evolution of newspapers and the mass media as a “magical time to be involved in the changes and once everyone gets past the challenges of friction a year from now, people are going to say the Los Angeles Times is a pretty hot newspaper. We need to take advantage of the times, and not get so mired in tradition, myths and old ways of dong things.”

The presidential campaign was a wake up call for the media, too! “A lot of newspapers were under the radar during the whole Obama thing,” said Abrams. “While everyone was worried about the layouts and where they were going to be five years from now, all of a sudden thousands of people were lining up outside the Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times for copies of it (Election Day edition). The papers started rethinking and replaying the elections of the past. The Chicago Tribune actually wrote an article on how to preserve a newspaper,” said Abrams.

Standby, Abrams said he feels local television news around the country is “kind of goofy, all have the certain feel and look of revenue machines. Tribune owns KTLA-TV, which has seen ratings drop along with other broadcast outlets. Abram plans to visit KTLA next. The panel contends that editors and reporters need to write more in their own voice and do a better job in telling stories that are useful and not boring.

“I wished the times could look like the Sunday edition 365 days a year, and we need more entertainment stories in a section of their own, like stocks,” said Abrams.

Other media Blogs worth checking out:
MAYO Communications
MAYO PR
O'Dwyer Publications

MAYO PR - "We don't guarantee media, we just get it!"

How To Start Your Own Public Relations Firm

noreply@blogger.com (George S. Mc Quade III) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:59:00 +0000

EPPS Workshop

“Prepare Now, Because The Day Will Come!”

By George S. McQuade III
West Coast Bureau Chief
www.odwyerpr.com

“I started my own agency on a fluke,” said Murray Weissman, president, Murray Weissman & Associates, Los Angeles. Murray was amongst eight Entertainment Publicists Professional Society (EPPS) Panelists at the recent (Oct. 16, 2208) media workshop “Mechanics of Starting Up Your Own PR Firm.” It was held at the ICG Headquarters in Hollywood.

Murray Weisman

“I knew I was going to leave Rogers & Cowen and I would be calling around town for another job, so I let them know in front, and also called a good friend of mine, the late Thomas M. Pryor, who was editor of Daily Variety,” said Weissman. “For some reason he put my story on the front page of Variety, and I said, ‘I’m leaving to form my own PR agency,’ and that resulted unbelievably in two clients coming in to follow my leave, and boom, I was in business.”

Weissman also said, be prepared, have confidence and use all that background experience to be successful when starting your own PR firm. Weissman’s first client was Charlton Heston, and the movie “Mountain Men.”

“I say to everybody in this room, and if you work for a big company, prepare now, because the day will come when you’ll use all of your good contacts that you’re making with your different clients. They’ll come back to you, you’ll learn from them, and they will become valuable assets in the future. Some where down the line when you work for big companies as I did, like ABC, CBS, NBC and Universal for 10 years. The day will come when there is a management change and they’ll show you the door.”

Madelyn Hammond, Variety

“If you are ever in a position to help someone start their business you should do that,” said Madelyn Hammon, Chief Marketing Officer, Variety, who started her own business and went back to corporate life. Madelyn moderated the workshop. “If you are ever in a position where you are really successful, and got a spare office, and someone is going on their own, you should say, ‘come here for awhile, because that will make all the difference in the world.”

“When you start your own business you need to plan how you get clients, but also how you plan to organize your life,” said William Vu, Esq. Lawyer, Los Angeles. “There isn’t one thing, there are a lot of risks that have to be managed, you will need office space, but more importantly how you plan to organize your life.”

“My situation was a little different from Murray’s, said Stan Rosenfield, president & founder of Stan Rosenfield & Associates. “I had had worked for a very successful company, and I had always wanted to go out on my own. I read an article about the Master’s Gold Tournament, which said, ‘The average age of a Master’s champion was 33, however if you had not one the Master’s by the time you were 28, you were not likely to win it.’ I equated that to going out on your own. I did not want start out on my own when I was 45, but I didn’t quite know what or how I wanted to do it, and spent one year at the former company doing nothing but planning my company, developing a mental business plan.”

Rosenfield, who started his company in August, 1975, suggested creating a business plan, and obtaining a line of credit to start your company. Rosenfield’s first client was Actor Bruce Dern, and his friend who was general manager of KHJ radio in LA, and I had the movie “One Flew Over The Cookoos Nest,” (starring Jack Nicolson), and there were a couple of actors in that film that I had talked to, because we were representing the movie. Three or four actors came with me.”

“I operated the first three months on adredeline alone, but that’s how I did it. My former boss used to say ‘eight phone calls then I am out of business.’ You could lose your company if you get four or five phone calls saying ‘you’ve been really good for me, but I want to go a different direction.’ There’s no protection against that, because personal service contracts are not valid unless they have a 30-day out clause, and clients can leave you. I had very loyal clients,” said Rosenfield.

Amy Prenner (R) & William Vue

“I actually started my company out of burnout,” said Amy Prenner, The Prenner Group. ‘I ran publicity for Wheel of Fortune for five years, and I spent half of every month on the road. It got to the point where if you knew the city, I knew the journalist. I knew the radio person, media affiliates, so I felt I built a great basis for anything I wanted to do. I decided to leave after going to the same markets (media) again, and I realized maybe it is time to do something else. Slowly through the contacts I’d built, I put the feelers out just to see what was going on, and what was out there without even trying, I started getting clients. Right as I was leaving (Wheel of Fortune) I started getting referrals left and right. I took in a lot of meetings, but I knew I wanted to stay in television, since I had been working TV for nine years, so it is what I know, if I couldn’t work for someone, I would do it on my own.”

Prenner said about six years ago, she felt like, she was too young to handle it and wasn’t ready, and that she didn’t know how to handle money, billing, retainers and “chase things so, it fell apart really fast. Be sure you know what you are doing before you jump in,” she said. Her first client was on TLC (Discovery Channel) called Big Medicine, that stapled people’s stomachs.”

Contracts and unpaid billings

“Letter of agreements are okay, but I like to see contracts, because that’s the kind of lawyer I am,” said Vu. “Relationships are built on trust, and I like paper, but you have to maintain that relationship with your clients, so they will stay with you year after year.”

“When an independent film company comes in we have a letter of agreement, we have do an indemnification clause, which I highly believe in so you don’t get sued, and you incorporate your company, so they don’t take your house away if there is a legal action. If we haven’t dealt with this client before, we require two months fee in advance, along with a $1,000 for expenses, which is accounted for, so we know we’ve got that in the bank, before we start working,” said Weissman.

“I agree and it is a great idea," said Dan Harary, president & founder, Asbury Public Relations, LA. “Most of my clients are small little boutique companies or big marketing agencies, and multimillion dollar clients thank God. But, for the smaller ones, I have lunch with them, I shake their hands, I look in their eyes, I get some references, and I have to go with my gut. In 12 years I’ve only been screwed a few times. My second year I was screwed for about $40,000, and several companies had gone bankrupt.

When talking about fees, Harary drew a huge laugh from the audience when he said, “I’m like the Wal-Mart of PR. I don’t care about quality; I go for quantity of clients.”

Harary said fees could range from $500 for startups working out of their apartment to $5-$7K. The average amounts to $3,000- $5,000 per month. Most of the panelist believe in getting fees at the beginning of the month, before work begins. On larger accounts some publicists like Weissman ask for half the funds upfront, which are placed in an escrow account.

“I wish I had the leverage to ask for payment upfront, however I am third party of some film projects. Always get something in writing with expectations written down,” said Caroline Rustingian Bruderer, owner, K-Line & Company. I always ask for some kind of contract, because some clients will say you didn’t what you said you were going to do. So cover your asses,” she said.

“I have a one page agreement, which includes an indemnification clause and works well for all my clients,” said Weisman. “Both of us sign and date it after we agree on the scope of work.”

“Homeowners will not cover your business if you use your home or apartment for business,” said Michael Mesnick, CPA.

“You need liability insurance, and obviously you need workers Compensation Insurance and malpractice insurance in the even of a lawsuit. Anyone who does not get malpractice insurance is a fool, because you can get into a situation, and I’ve known this to happen to two people, one of them was a friend of mine and business manager, who got sued by two of her employees in a sexual harassment case, she said it didn’t really happen, but the two employees collaborated with each other. It cost her a $250,000 to settle the case, and it cost $3,500 a year to have the malpractice insurance. It protects you against an employee suit. If a client, for whatever reason wants to sue you, you can be out of business, lose your home and you can lose everything.”

Attorney Vu says to protect yourself you need to be incorporated, because letter of agreement you sign with the client is with the company. If you do not have a good business support team on your side and get great advice, you’re making a huge, huge mistake. You need a good accountant, and a good labor attorney. You are running business, which has nothing to do with the creative aspect of being a publicist. Other panelists agree adding a bookkeeper and Information Technology expert to the list.

Last piece of advice; do not get rid of your company insurance until to secure health insurance for your new company.

MAYO PR - "We don't guarantee media, we just get it!"

LOS ANGELES TIMES IN FOR LONG RUN

noreply@blogger.com (George S. Mc Quade III) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 01:14:00 +0000

By George McQuade

West Coast Bureau Chief

The Los Angeles Times is not like an endangered polar bear stranded on an ice floe, it has some smart people who are making tough decisions to insure the long-term survival of the 120-year-old paper now owned by real estate baron Sam “The Grave Dancer” Zell.

That was the message Darrell Kunitomi, public affairs representative of the L.A. Times, had for O’Dwyer’s following a tour of the newsroom and a presentation at LAT headquarters.

Kunitomi

Darrell Kunitomi, public affairs
representative of the L.A. Times

Change is the reality at the LAT. “The Media Group will get webbier, the newspaper will change sections, fold them, create new composites; retrain still photographers and reporters to become VJs and use video reports more and more; and the newspaper will continue to change its look,” said Kunitomi. “The graphics are changing as we speak, including the front page of the future. Don’t be shocked – it’s a new era of new ownership.”

He put the change mantra into context. “A great organization such as The Times should be one of those companies that will go on long after its original founders have passed from the scene, change its spots, adapt, and survive to prosper and grow.

“The movies survived the breakup of the studio system. The music business has dealt with synthesizers, vinyl to cds and now file sharing,” he said.

Here’s the best part for PR pros pitching the LA Times: “We still take hard information, images, commentary entertainment, food and sports and fun and put it to newsprint every 24 hours. It might be a traditional, retro way of informing society, but at The Times it is what we know and what we do best. We’re changing. We know we must to survive. And really, we know that,” said Kunitomi.

During the tour, this writer noticed several changes. Stacks of newspapers, media kits, dictionaries and books have been replaced by more computers, high tech gadgets, high tech monitors and electronic wizardry.

But really noticeable were fewer people, almost like visiting the newsroom on a weekend night with a skeleton staff onboard.

The group tour was sponsored by PRSA-LA, Southern California American Marketing Assn., Direct Marketing Assn. of Southern California and Women in Technology International (WITI) and held in one of the ‘great buildings of LA history.”

Four globalization considerations

John Longhlin, president of Targeted Media and senior VP marketing, told the audience how the LAT wrestled with globalization.

He said the LAT answered four questions:

Which countries should we support? In which order?
Which languages should we offer? Which should we do first?
How much content should we offer? How deep should we go?
Should we just market ourselves on the web? Or should we sell?

“If you want news, politics, sports, entertainment, we got something for you, so come and send some time with us,” said Longhlin.

The Tribune Direct/LA Times event was billed as helping PR Pros learn “what the LA Times is looking for today in news coverage and how it is dealing with current changes in print media.”

However, the closest we got to any editors or writers was the distant tour of the Los Angeles Times Newsroom, which was quiet, nearly empty and almost surreal compared to even two or three years ago.

For the newspaper business, it might just be the sign of the Times.

MAYO PR - "We don't guarantee media, we just get it!"

Google's Chrome Rocks

noreply@blogger.com (George S. Mc Quade III) — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 01:03:00 +0000

Sundar Pichai, vice president
of product management,Google.

Photo by Stephen Shankland/
CNET Networks

Google Brings Back Simplicity -
Surfing The Internet With Chrome

By George McQuade,
West Coast Bureau Chief
www.Odwyerpr.com

As a self-taught techie, who launched the media campaign for open source Linux Operating Software in August 1998, I have seen a lot of changes in technology, but none so advanced as Google. Google's much-anticipated Web browser, Chrome, hit the Internet in beta form (testing stages) Tuesday (Sept. 2, 2008), with shiny new features, but best of all it is several times faster than Microsoft’s Internet browser (IE) and twice as fast as Mozilla’s Firefox.

The good news is your bookmarks can be easily imported with the click of a mouse.

The open-source browser first showed up on an unofficial Google blog in the form of a comic book. Google made an official announcement that appeared late Tuesday afternoon after the Internet began buzzing about the comic-book site. Chrome, the newest browser technology had so much buzz, users were waiting anxiously for the free download, but for MS Windows only.

Many of the options are hidden, but easily found in the menu, giving Chrome a cleaner, sleeker technology look, unlike IE or Firefox. For the PR Pros who are like me and visit so many websites daily for news articles to research on clients, it is the browser that gets you there faster than a bullet train, and remembers where you’ve been. Like the competition, you can have your membership sites like www.odwyerpr.com saved in Chrome, and you just click on the plus sign to bookmark it.

I downloaded and tested it on Labor Day, and love it, but still love Firefox for my other functions such as menu bookmarks, clearing the cache (good for getting rid of spyware and ad ware history) when I close it. Much of the technology in Firefox has been included in Chrome, so you have a very small learning curve and you can keep all three browsers. I keep MS IE6 to design websites and blogs so I can know what surfers are seeing using those applications, Chrome is the new shining star in my book, and it will be yours soon, too.

To download the Chrome beta for free, visit: www.google.com/chrome. All your book bookmarks, browsing history and passwords are imported automatically and loaded for use.

It doesn’t work for Windows 2000 or below and Google is working on Linux and Max versions, release dates to be announced. A Video and the Cartoon book on Chrome can be found at: http://www.google.com/chrome/intl/en/features.html

The main features of Chrome include:

Performance – Chrome totally wipes out Internet Explorer (IE) at rendering web pages. It’s just faster.
User Experience – You have one box for everything. Type in the address bar and get suggestions for both search and web pages. Chrome’s integrated address/search menu and tab drag & drop feature really says it all. You can rapidly combine all of your tabs from separate browser windows. In IE there is a lot of copying and pasting of URLs required. Just drag, drop, repeat and you’re done.
New Features - Chrome has thumbnails of your top sites and you can access your favorite pages instantly with lightning speed from any new tab. \
Shortcuts for your applications – You receive desktop shortcuts to launch your favorite web applications.
Compatibility – Chrome makes Microsoft’s new browser almost a dinosaur for me. Chrome does a better job of re-using shared code than Internet Explorer. If you or your company has multi-tab application scenarios, Google’s clean multi-process design explodes with bonuses compared to IE 8. Almost every other Windows application I’ve experimented with was compatible and lightning fast.
Home Page - The standard home page is all about you the PR pro. It includes links to the sites you visit most often and bookmarks. At beginning, you can return where you left off, not just on the last page you visited, but all of the pages you had up when you shut down. Wait, there’s more. You can even tell Chrome which websites you want it to open every time you start the program. This is outstanding for PR Pros who often monitor hundreds of pages.
Web Surfing Ease -The Google search field is conveniently located in the URL address bar. So, you could type www.odwyepr.com in the space to go directly to the site or type "Jack O’Dwyer PR News" for a search.

Pull-Down Windows -Chrome has pull-down window functions for Print and Save, making way for a cleaner browser with more content room, but if you don’t like it just right-click your mouse to do it. Like Firefox, Chrome can keep you in a incognito surfing mode, allow for privacy while surfing the Internet and any sites can be kept off the browsing history list

Shortcuts – you can make many shortcuts on your desktop, where Chrome opens up that home page when you start up or when you return to browsing the web.

Google assembled a large cast of characters to unveil its new browser, Chrome, on Tuesday. Here's the engineer and executive who took the stage at the company's Mountain View, Calif., headquarters.

Sundar Pichai, vice president of product management, led off the show with Google's grand aspirations for Chrome: "Our intent here is to drive the Web platform forward," he said. In other words, Google wants the Internet to be a more powerful foundation for online applications.

The bottom-line is this. Speed is the key to success here. Time is money in any business, especially PR and while you test drive the Chrome browser keep track of your time, then try the other browsers you normally use, I bet you will feel cheated without Chrome. Google Chrome is a browser that combines a minimal design with sophisticated technology to make the web faster, safer, and easier.

MAYO PR - "We don't guarantee media, we just get it!"

Entertainment Editors and Writers Broadcast Secrets To Media Exposure on TV and Radio Shows

noreply@blogger.com (George S. Mc Quade III) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 01:00:00 +0000

Maria LaMagra, moderator, George McQuade, past EPPS pres,Rosalie Fox, AP,George Pennacchio, ABC-TV and Ross Crystal,
KFWB/CrystalVision Media at Entertainment Publicists Professional Society (EPPS) workshop. (Photo by Julian Myers)

Entertainment writers, producers and reporters prefer email pitches and still love exclusives

By George McQuade,
West Coast Bureau Chief
www.ODwyerpr.com

TV and radio entertainment producers and reporters huddled in Hollywood recently (8-21-08) to give entertainment publicists inside pitch tips to getting their clients on the air.

“It is possible to get coverage of lesser known actors and movies,” George Pennacchio of KABC Ch. 7 news, LA, told about 75 entertainment pros at a media workshop sponsored by Jack O’Dwyer, the International Cinematographers Guild, and hosted by the Entertainment Publicists Professional Society, LA chapter. EPPS member Sharon Weisz won the door prize raffle of a 2008 O’Dwyer Directory of PR firms.

George Pennacchio of
KABC Ch. 7 news

"I got a handwritten envelope and invitation to a play, and because the publicist had such a passion for the client, I decided to cover the play, and that relationship grew. Later the play became a move and Oscar contender. My Big Fat Greek Wedding was an Academy Award nominated 2002 romantic comedy film,” said Pennacchio. He also said he interviewed Ricky Martin during the Grammy’s and the next day his song was a hit, and Pennacchio had exclusive interview on ABC. Pennacchio prefers email pitches at: George.Pennacchio@abc.com. He works afternoons and evenings, so early afternoon is the best time to pitch him.

Bonnie Tiegel, Entertainment
Tonight & the Insider

“You need to come up with the nugget,” said Bonnie Tiegel, senior supervising producer, Entertainment Tonight and the Insider. “If your story has a connection to Hollywood, it is a fun and interesting story, it will be easy to sell, tease and promote,” she said. “We do a little more edgy story for the Insider and we have stories with a different hook.” Tiegel prefers email pitches at: Bonnie.tiegel@cbsparamount.com.

Rosalie Fox, AP Radio Network

“Because of who I work for, I have no local interest,” said Fox. “The Associated Press is worldwide. My pieces are heard with my voice wrapped around the interviews I’ve done, or I will use individual sound bites. All of that goes to Toronto, Syracuse, Vancouver and every where, so a little local interest doesn’t work. What my audience wants is a recognizable name, recognizable celebrities or a tie-into a recognizable movie, TV show, stage plays or something like that were they don’t have to scratch their heads in the 30 seconds in the time telling the story.”

Fox, who works from 2:00 – 10:00 pm, prefers an email pitch first, and even though she works evenings, she’ll make an exception for celebrities in the morning if needed. “I only have 40 seconds and I work with recognizable names in movies or A-list celebrities.” Fox checks her email in the morning at Rfox@ap.org. She also likes exclusive story pitches.

Ross Crystal, KFWB/CrystalVision Media

“Less is more, and the phones work well with us. We don’t have to get all our interviews in person,” said Entertainment Reporter Ross Crystal, Crystal Vision Media, who has a 1:30 minute syndicated report that airs on KFWB, Los Angeles. “I actually prefer doing a phone interview, and remember 90 seconds moves like a freight train, but since it is syndicated your story is moving nationally. Ross loves exclusives and prefers email pitches at: crystalvision@verizon.net.

All panelists said they love exclusives. “There are only two kinds,” said Tiele. “The one that his handed to you and the one you get from digging for three months. Exclusives include websites, getting the story first by a 15 minutes or a day. It is very very important to have good relationships with reporters.”

KABC’s George Pennacchio, a three-time Emmy Award winner, also told PR pros, “You need to have a fun story, because boring doesn’t work for us. The question producers ask is how do I tease that? If they don’t know how to promote the story, then they (producers) will have less interest in it. If I get a good tease and pitch for a story, then often I will get the green light,” he said.

EPPS member Sharon Weisz
won the door prize raffle
of a 2008 O’Dwyer Directory
of PR firms.

“You’re absolutely right, the tease and the promo,” said ET’s Bonnie Tiegel. “American Teen is a good example. Basically a documentary, I don’t know any of the people, but it was easy to promote.” American Teen follows five very different Indiana high school students around during their senior year, catching all the emotional turmoil associated with getting ready to leave high school behind and head off to college and the real world. It debut at the LA Film festival at Universal Pictures, Hollywood.

Pennacchio also warned publicists who bring their celebrity clients up to him when ABC is covering another story live on a red carpet event. “If the publicist could be just one step ahead, then I can tell them I only get a minute and half for this story, and maybe I can interview them later. Just to be put on the spot is a little tough, especially if you do not know who that person is. And that happens on a regular basis,” he said.

It wasn’t the worst, but the most memorable pitch Pennacchio received from an publicist, who said, “Rod Roddy says come on down and get your colonoscopy.” ”It got my attention, and we probably would have aired the story if we had the TV show The Price is Right on our station.”

Robert Ray "Rod" Roddy (deceased), an American radio and television announcer. He was known primarily for his role as the announcer on both CBS game shows, Press Your Luck, and most notably, The Price Is Right, a role he assumed after the death of that show's previous announcer, Johnny Olson, in 1985.

EPPS TV/Radio Workshop at ICG
Headquarters in Hollywood

“I can take nuggets, I don’t need a whole lot of video or audio, because my national syndicated program is only 90 seconds, however sometime I will take a local story and offer it to the news desk at KFWB,” said Crystal. “There are two audiences we are serving. The audience in the car, and the audience of the stations we are serving,” said Crystal. “However there are some stories that the audience wants to know, but the station program directors are not too thrilled with it.”

As for exclusives: “AP gets a lot of exclusives due to the enormity of its distribution,” noted Crystal. “We like to get exclusives. It is part of the challenge and fun of the business.”

“Most of my stories are a day of local charity, and it makes no sense to exclude a station at a charitable event, and if we are told we are not allowed to cover a charity, because it is an exclusive event for another station we will report that we are not allowed entering the event. If exclusive for ET, at least let us have the story for the 11 p.m. news. I don’t want to get a story that aired two days ago on Channel 5 (KTLA),” he said.

Another suggestion from the radio side, publicists should not exclude or select radio reporters last for interviews. If you get on APTV or APR, your story has been exposed to half the planet.

As for exclusives AP’s Rosalie Fox said, “My news director at a radio station had a big picture of a crowded freeway posted on the outside of his office door that read, ‘how many of these people are watching TV or reading the newspaper?’”

MAYO PR - "We don't guarantee media, we just get it!"

Creating a Buzz For Your Business with Little or No Budget

noreply@blogger.com (George S. Mc Quade III) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:01:00 +0000

Veteran Newsman George McQuade
reveals how to create a buzz for your
business in a live TV newscast interview
on Crown City News, Pasadena and San
Gabriel Valley. (click here to play interview)

MAYO PR - "We don't guarantee media,
we just get it!"