How Being Proactive Changed My Movie Career

Source: IMDB.com

People often ask how I made the transition from Makeup Artist for motion pictures to the production side of things. My answer is this: While working as a Second Unit Makeup Artist on the film, The Chase (starring Charlie Sheen), I learned of another movie that was beginning to hire crew. After landing an appointment, I arrived at the production office to find two people, a woman and a man, in different parts of the office, engaged in separate, and intense, phone conversations. The woman motioned for me to have a seat. In less than a minute, another phone started ringing and, when I motioned that I could answer it, she gave me the go-ahead.

Twenty minutes later, I had answered several calls, taken notes, dug through a file to give someone information and poured coffee. When the man (who turned out to be the producer) finished his call, he interviewed and hired me to head the makeup and hair department. Principal photography on his movie,  House on Todville Road would begin in seven weeks, so I had time to complete my final week in makeup on The Chase. 

Photo: Third Coast Entertainment

When I arrived home the phone was ringing. it was the woman from the office who told me that the producer wanted to know if I would be interested in being trained to be the production coordinator for House on Todville Road. She told me that they were so impressed with my initiative and willingness to just jump in.  I said, “yes” and asked if I could still head the makeup and hair department once production began. He agreed. I completed my work on The Chase and after one day off, began work as Production Coordinator on the new project.

The following year, after much more makeup and progressively responsible production work under my belt, the same producer called and hired me as production manager on his next film, The Dark Dancer (starring Shannon Tweed and Francesco Quinn). This marked the beginning of my road to becoming a producer (though I’m still an industry Makeup Artist).  The moral: Answer the phone… even if it’s not yours…  Go the extra mile and more….  Abiiba Howell

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Replacement Please!

Source: Abiiba Howell

Upon buying my Bruno Valenti strappy sandals a few years ago, I was elated that they were so comfortable. The shoes were just the right height for casual days and they matched a few outfits and purses really well. I can easily recall the three times I’ve worn them.

While planning a trip and deciding what to take along, It was only natural that these shoes would be great to pack for walking around all day. The soles are soft and the leather straps would allow my feet to breathe without getting hot. After selecting a few outfits, on went the shoes. They fit as perfectly as when I’d bought them.

Then, as I walked into the other room to look in the full length mirror, I heard “pop”… “Oops, what was that?,” I wondered. Looking around and seeing nothing out of the ordinary, I continued to the mirror. Another noise, this one from the bottom of my left shoe. I lifted my foot thinking I’d stepped on something, but nothing was on the floor.

Source: Abiiba Howell

As I took the final steps towards the mirror, the rear half of my left shoe did not quite move with the front of the shoe. I stopped, lifted my foot and looked at the bottom of the shoe. To my surprise, the shoe sole had separated in half with a piece of metal sticking out of it. “WTH?!?” (What the heck?…)

I quickly removed the shoes to discover that, not only did the left shoe break apart, the wrapping around the lower side of the heel was breaking off.

Also, what I thought was wood under the heel covering, was some sort of soft material that appeared to disintegrate when touched; it was even sticky. The sole on the right shoe was a little better, though it had cracked across the width of the shoe.

Now I’m thoroughly disgusted and want to scream at the top of my lungs, “BRUNO VALENTI, I WANT A REFUND!”  Wait, let me change that. “BRUNO VALENTI, I WANT MY STRAPPY SANDALS, (Number 14127137, Size 10 – US Size, Made in Brazil) REPLACED!” “NOW!”

Source: Abiiba Howell

I’m on a mission now to get my shoes replaced. I need your help. Please send me your thoughts on how I can make this happen. I refuse to buy another pair when these were clearly defective.  I don’t remember where I bought them, just that they are extremely comfortable. Any shoe companies out there with a line on Bruno Valenti shoes? My research starts now!

Oh yes, for those of you who may think that I broke them, not a chance… listen, I really don’t weigh that much. Yes, I’m almost six feet tall, but my frame is small and I don’t eat enough meat in a year to cause my shoes to break.

On with the research and the help of my friends. After all, a girl’s got to have comfortable shoes… strappy ones at that.

Facts Always Speak Louder Than Negative Campaigns

Some of the many Obama administration accomplishments

Ten things to learn about social services for the homeless

According to the website, Free Dictionary.com, a paradigm shift is “a radical change in underlying beliefs or theory.” (Jan., 2012)

When applied today to the homeless in the United States, educating the public, legislators and businesses to think differently about the homeless is a major task for social service organizations, such as The National Alliance to End Homelessness.

A deeper understanding of homelessness may help the nation move closer to a resolution.

Ten Things to learn about social services for the homeless from Abiiba Howell on Vimeo.

Between 2001 and 2005, the National Alliance to End Homelessness increased its size,  community outreach and educational efforts at the public and policy levels. Between 2005 and 2007, they witnessed a ten percent drop in homeless numbers,  attributing the change to a shift in the way homelessness was viewed and addressed by policymakers. (June, 2010)

According to the organization, one element of their mission is to “…provide data and research to policymakers and elected officials in order to inform policy debates and educate the public and opinion leader(s) nationwide. “  While this is the approach that one organization takes, others, such as the Homeless Resource Center, serve as a curator of resources to educate and assist the stakeholders on both sides of the issue. This, while legislators work within their districts and collectively to address common issues, such as housing for the homeless and impoverished.

The Washington Post online newspaper reports a need to change the view of the homeless in an article, Five Myths About America’s Homeless (Culhane, July 11, 2010).  The article states the myths as: “homelessness is usually a long-term condition; most of the homeless have a severe mental illness; homeless people don’t work; shelters are a humane solution to homelessness, and these poor you will always have with you.”

An article by the National Coalition for the Homeless dispels another myth, “According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 20 to 25% of the homeless population in the United States suffers from some form of severe mental illness. In comparison, only 6% of Americans are severely mentally ill (National Institute of Mental Health, 2009).”

The Washington Post article, which reviews President Obama’s efforts to dramatically diminish homelessness within ten years, seeks to change the view many have of the homeless.

According to President Obama’s, Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, legislators created the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and, through it, invested $1.5 billion in the recently created Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program that seeks to support long-term affordable housing options for the homeless, along with other technical assistance resource tools.

“The Affordable Care Act,”  According to President Obama’s plan, “will provide new and more effective methods for targeting uninsured, chronically ill individuals as well as children, youth, and adults experiencing homelessness. In addition, through the leadership of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, we are coordinating and targeting existing homelessness resources, as well as  mainstream programs that can help prevent homelessness in the first place.” (2011).

In support of the plan, The Committee to End Homelessness, describes itself as, “a broad coalition of government, faith communities, nonprofits, the business community and homeless and formerly homeless people working together to implement the Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness in King County.” Their efforts were so unique that Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government named the collaboration as “…one of  (the) Top 25 Innovations in American Government.”

US Labor Force numbers for 2001, 2006, 2011. Data from US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Chart by Abiiba Howell

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, the population of the United States has grown steadily. Given this and the numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the labor growth from years 2001 through November 2011, reveal that while the labor force (those who are employed, whether full or part-time, ) has grown during that period, the unemployment rate also increased. The labor force grew by 3.989 million workers from 2001 to 2006, while there was greater growth from 2006 through 2011.

The National Coalition for the Homeless cites a basic definition for the homeless as defined by the Stewart B. McKinney Act, 42 U.S.C. § 11301, et seq. (1994), as “one who lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence…” The organization  goes on to indicate the exclusion of incarcerated or otherwise detained populations in this definition. However, the characterization does include children and youth.

Aware of the growing numbers, the  National Alliance to End Homelessness goes further, in its website, by describing the homeless as “those living in poverty, without affordable housing” and describes homelessness as occurring,  ”…when people or households are unable to acquire and/or maintain housing they can afford.”

Such was the case of the formerly homeless, now acclaimed, environmental artist, Charles Washington, who used  homelessness as a way to change his circumstances by collecting old doors and materials found outdoors and turning them into works of art. “From being in the adverse situation, I’ve actually developed a business that will help me to go forward and have peace of mind and be more creative. My legacy is important.”

To counteract and dispel myths about the homeless, Marilyn Fountain, Director of Communications for the Star of Hope in Houston, Texas, discusses some of the challenges that contribute to people becoming homeless.

Marilyn Fountain of the Star of Hope Source: Abiiba Howell.

Examining areas with the greatest and least needs, non-seasonally adjusted figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reveal that, in  Los Angeles, approximately 1,978 million are unemployed, while the figures in the entire state of Montana are much lower with 32,749 reported homeless. (Updated January 4, 2012).  The extreme ranges of unemployment in these areas, as evidenced in the infographic below, provide indicators to the agencies, the public and policymakers about which areas have the greatest need.

Fountain draws a correlation between unemployment and poverty, citing the latter as one of the byproducts of unemployment, “We have seen that when there is a drop in poverty, there is a resulting drop in homelessness.”

The U.S. Census Bureau defines the term poverty by using an income threshold per family. According to the bureau’s website, “If a family’s total income is less than the dollar value of the appropriate threshold, then that family and every individual in it are considered to be in poverty.” On the other hand, the research from the website at www.Dictionary.com, defines poverty as, “the state or condition of having little or no money, goods, or means of support; condition of being poor.”

In order to bridge the gap between the employed and unemployed, organizations such as The National Alliance to End Homelessness, have been working to help the poor by putting pressure on lawmakers to enact legislation that would support job creation as well as provide affordable housing options.

US Employment numbers for 2001, 2006, 2011. Data from US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Chart by Abiiba Howell

Governmental support of the homeless is demonstrated  by President Barack Obama’s 2011 Budget Proposal to Boost Affordable Housing and Homeless Assistance. The proposal, which asks the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to increase assistance to homeless related programs, acknowledges that current emergency transition programs may still not go far enough.

Groups, such as The Veteran’s Group, provide basic services and housing for veterans who have substance abuse and other issues. New legislation has already begun to help needy veterans. The United States Interagency Council on Homelessnessstates that the number of homeless veterans declined 12% in 2011. (Jan., 2012)

While legislators work to create a stronger economy, organizations that work on behalf of the homeless continue to prepare their clients for entry into the workforce. In many cases, shelters, like Star of Hope, house families with young children.

“The opportunity to have  a roof over their heads affords the advantage for  the children to continue in school and receive meals and medical care while the parents look for work,” says Marilyn Fountain.

The people at JustGive.org offer a list on their website citing, “35 Ways You Can Help the Homeless,” providing avenues for the public to become involved.

In Chicago the local newspaper, StreetWise,  offers opportunities for the homeless to begin the process of moving towards self-sufficiency by allowing the homeless to purchase newspapers at a steep discount, sell them at retail price, usually for one dollar, and keep the difference.

When asked about homeless children and teens,  James LoBianco, Executive Director of StreetWise, Inc., that publishes the StreetWise Newspaper, states, “Homeless children and teens are increasing.  The number from Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is up 16% at the beginning of this year over last year. To make matters worse, last school year CPS broke a record for the number of homeless students overall, ending the year with a total of 15,580.“

LoBianco refers to the increase in numbers, saying, “The economy is the driving factor for the increase in family/youth homelessness. Although the latest Chicago Point in Time Count showed a decrease in sheltered homeless families, the fact is that  the majority of homeless families spend their nights floating from couch to couch rather than in a shelter bed.”

When asked what others can do, LoBianco says, “Legislators could support HR 32 (Homeless Children and Youth Act of 2011) which would expand eligibility for HUD programs to all children and youth identified as homeless by the schools.  Business could help by being more open to hiring ex-offenders who have shown that they have changed their lives.”

Acknowledging their own work, LoBianco says, “StreetWise provides immediate access to a legitimate earned income. The difference between giving a vendor money and taking the magazine versus giving a vendor money and not taking the magazine is the difference between rewarding employment versus encouraging panhandling.”

“The agency motto is, “a hand up not a hand out.” By giving our clients a chance to earn an income as a StreetWise vendor, the agency provides a legitimate means for our clients to get themselves back on the road to financial self-sufficiency,” says LoBianco.

Whether policymaker or individual, it’s  never to late to shift your theories on homelessness and find ways to lend a hand.

According to President Barack Obama, “It is simply unacceptable for individuals, children, families and our nation’s veterans to be faced with homelessness in this country.” (speech, June 18, 2009) (Opening Doors, Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, 2010).

Copyright 2012. Abiiba Howell. All rights reserved.

Exercise and Protect Your Property

Copyright Release Agreement – Source: Dominion Films/ A biiba Howell

When it comes to protecting the rights of those who write and publish their work online, i.e. bloggers, reporters, citizen journalists, artists, reporters or journalists, one thing they can be sure of is the need for protection of their work.

A first step is to ensure protection by means of copyright.  For seasoned writers, such as award-winning author and screenwriter, Dawn Greenfield Ireland, this means the registration of one’s work. “Everything I write has the copyright symbol on it and I spend the thirty dollars and send it to the Library of Congress because this registration is God for seventy-five years.”

According to the United States Copyright Office, those whose works are published online may obtain copyright protection upon publication. Such works “may consist of text, artwork, music, audiovisual material (including any sounds), sound recordings, etc. Copyright does not protect ideas, procedures, systems, or methods of operation (17 USC sec. 102(b)).”

Normally, if someone is hired to create or produce a work and an agreement is signed to that effect, the benefit of the work may not inure to the benefit of the writer. Rather, it becomes the property of the employee or client. The types of agreements vary from employment contracts to ownership agreements. “Sometimes we have to sign a nondisclosure agreement,” says Ireland.  “Many people don’t know that you do not receive credit for the work, in most cases and cannot use it top promote your career.” According to Ireland, it is imperative that agreements are clearly understood regarding ownership and use of the work, in advance. A work for hire simply means that someone has hired you to write something for them and they own the work, according to the United States Copyright Office.

The process for obtaining a patent for tangible elements is far easier than to obtain one for scientific purposes, as evidenced in an ABC Science online article which details the difficulties a company will have in securing a patent on a scientific process related to human genes. A New Zealand company wants to patent human genes. The government says that until the genes are used they cannot be patented.  For mobile app developers, the test is to develop their apps, apply for the patent and use the apps.

Trademarks are, according to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office,  a protection for a word, name, symbol or device….”  These can protect the name of a writers blog, trade name and other symbol.

Who is Really Interested?

Source: Street lights – Abiiba Howell

Upon creating my multimedia article on homelessness for online publication, it was important that the public’s misconceptions of the homeless were changed and that people became motivated to help. ­The article, Paradigm Shift: Ten Things to Learn About Social Services and the Homeless, provided a glimpse behind the scenes of legislators, businesses and nonprofits working help change the homeless situation. As the research revealed one piece of information after another, I found myself wondering just how many people would make the decision to help someone after reading the article.

To gauge actual interest in my article about the issues of homelessness, Google Analytics and website statistics provided tracking information about visitors to the article on my website. The results revealed the need for broader marketing. The numbers would have been higher had more interest groups been included in the target market. More geographic locations can be included in future articles and the social service agencies discussed could also be included.

Overview graph of page visits over time. Google Analytics 2012

According to my tracking results, from January 19 through February 19, 2012, the data revealed ninety-one views across the website.  There were forty-eight visits and thirty-seven unique visitors. Of the total visitors 77.08% were new.  While the overwhelming majority of visitors was from the United States, one person viewed  my article from Great Britain.

When it cane to actual engagement with the article, thirty-nine people remained on the page for zero to ten seconds, six people appear to have read, or skimmed, the entire article, spending between three and thirty minutes. The average of the latter group was about ten minutes. One person left a comment offering to forward the article link to his Facebook friends, which reinforced the importance of using hyperlinks in the article.

Finally, one might wonder if it makes sense to track what browsers people are visiting from.  In my opinion, it makes sense when a variety of multimedia elements are used on the site, as was done in mine. Some tend to load graphics, videos and audio faster than others.  At the top of the list was Firefox used by 68.75%  of my readers, followed by Google Chrome, then Safari. Knowing my visitor preferences helps me craft articles better suited to their needs.

The next time you visit a website, take a moment to click on the links,  because you may just learn something new in the process. I learned that people will visit a page when the information is informative, compelling, timely and when it appeals to a variety of learning styles. The video in my article received 10 views on You Tube, which means that ten people were interested in “Ten Things to Learn About Social Services for the Homeless.“

A movement is afoot in Houston, Texas to encourage the public to help those less fortunate.  Individual citizens are taking up the cause of helping those less fortunate than they, as in the case of educator, Andre Blanchfield.

In cities around the country, homeless people are positioned on street corners asking passersby for help of some kind. These people are referred to by the National Alliance to End Homelessness as those who do not have a regular place of residence.

According to the website of the nonprofit organization, Feeding America whose employees work to feed the hungry, they state, “Although these individuals and families strive to secure adequate income, many are often unable to meet their own most basic needs, let alone find the time, transportation, education, and other resources needed to improve their situation.” (2011)

The numbers of homeless people have increased over the past years due to unemployment, foreclosures, lost wages, underemployment, substance abuse and mental illness. (Bureau of Labor Statistics , 2011)

Homeless people need water too…

This is where you, the public, can help.  There is much that you can do. One example would be to buy a case of water and give each homeless person you encounter a bottle of water. There are other alternatives.

The people at the Don’t Almost Give website publish a list of sources that the public can use to be of help throughout the year.  Visit their donor website.

Otherwise, take a stand, do something, help the homeless in March.

Source: Abiiba Howell

Educator, Gail Mebane, responding to whether she thought bloggers should have the right to use press passes the same as other journalists, replied, “Yes. I think they should. Bloggers represent the eyes and ears of the masses.” Others share her view.

Some of the issues to be considered for New York and other states are: single-use passes; who qualifies as a journalist and whether bloggers are also protected by shield laws that allow them to protect the identity of sources, according to the MediaPost.com article.

On the other side of the coin, The United States Department of State building has procedures in place for journalists to obtain press passes. Holders of the press pass for this building must meet certain criteria, including being a member of a United States or foreign media organization. There are provisions for those representing known and recognized media outlets, however, non-associated bloggers currently fail to meet the criteria, due to employment, residency and assignment requirements  [54 FR 1686, Jan. 17, 1989]

While the Houston Texans football team has its own media policies, which outline their media access privileges, the emphasis remains on traditional media outlets.

According to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, “An online journalist seeking access to the Congressional press gallery was initially denied access because he was not a full-time journalist, and not working on salary for a for-profit organization. However, the Periodical Correspondents’ Association, which determines access, subsequently adopted broader regulations that allowed for online journalists.”

Source: Abiiba Howell

On the subject of access to court proceedings and public records access for bloggers, the Electronic Media Foundation reports that the public is already allowed to attend court proceedings in many states.

“Bloggers should be given no more than the same restrictions on access to court proceedings and other events than other members of the press,” says Mebane.

Because the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States affords bloggers, and other members of the public, the right to gather news, any restriction placed on bloggers can potentially result in the violation of First Amendment rights. (Electronic Frontier Foundation)

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) provides an avenue for the public to request access to information that is contained in government records.

Those writers who choose to publish adult related content on a blog have wide latitude as long as they adhere to the rules of the jurisdiction in which they operate.  According to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, legal adult content may be published by bloggers on their sites as long as it is not child pornography or considered to be obscene.

Source: Abiiba Howell/Dominion Films

When I think about releases in the entertainment industry, my thoughts are about agreements between two sides. Each side makes concessions for their own benefit.  Ofttimes those benefits are less than obvious.

According to author Fran Harris, “Hollywood is full of procedures, paper trails and protocol. You will be asked to sign releases, non-disclosure agreements, contracts and other legal documents more often than you think. Get used to it. It ain’t personal. If you’re the kind of person to get bent out of shape because someone asks you to sign a confidentiality agreement, don’t pursue Hollywood, you’ll be eaten up the first time out.” (Crashing Hollywood, 2002)

Source: Dominion Films 2011

Based on my own experience as a motion picture producer, the entertainment industry releases, when used as intended, cover most aspects of a project.    However, to initiate and execute them with limited liability, it is important to be aware of the terms and requisite elements.

Each release should satisfy the following: a) an offer – this is usually a statement of each side’s willingness to enter into the agreement; an acceptance – this is where both parties consent to the terms of the release (the homeless person would sign the release); legal purpose or objective – the objective of the release or agreement must be for a legal purpose; mutuality – both parties must be in agreement on the final terms, with no counteroffers or changes of what is being agreed to; consideration – this states what will benefit or be a liability to the signer (homeless person); competent parties – this indicates that both parties are of legal age and are competent to enter into a binding agreement.

In the case of minors being captured on camera, as in the video below, the parents or legal guardians must sign a minor release.

Source:  Abiiba Howell/Dominion Films, 2011

Unfortunately, some people see the homeless as nameless, faceless people. When asked about her thoughts on the homeless having their pictures taken and placed on the internet without their consent, or knowledge, Dalila Mebane says, “I don’t see that they have the same rights as the general public, and it’s unfortunate.”

According to the protections of rights inherent in the Texas Intrusion law, however, the homeless are entitled to the same rights to their likeness as anyone else. (Citizen Media Law Project. http://www.citmedialaw.org/search/node)

Photographing and posting images online of homeless people without their express permission, preferably in writing via a release, can constitute an invasion of privacy via an intrusion on seclusion claim.  To be liable under such a claim, the public or reporter must have:

“Invaded the private affairs of the plaintiff;”  “the invasion must be offensive to a reasonable person;” “the matter that the defendant intruded upon must involve a private matter:” and “the intrusion must have caused mental anguish or suffering to the plaintiff.” (http://www.citmedialaw.org/legal-guide/elements-intrusion-claim)

According to The Palm Beach News online edition, a Florida pastor has filed a lawsuit against The National Enquirer newspaper for publishing a story implicating him in the death of a missing girl. The pastor has filed a defamation lawsuit because the publication stated that he was “under police investigation” for killing the child “as part of a human sacrifice.” (October 11, 2011).

This further demonstrates the necessity for accuracy of information, as well as the obtaining of releases in every situation where someone is being captured on camera, quoted or recorded in conversations.

Optimize and Maximize the Technology and Audiences

In my last article, I ended it with a question asking readers if they would help a homeless person if one asked them. I received no responses. As I pondered this fact, it soon became clear that had I widely published the article and promoted the fact that it existed, there would have been comments, possibly forwarded links and maybe even tweets or re-tweets about the article.

This highlights the importance of engagement, which implies an emotional involvement or commitment on the part of the article writer and the audience. Without getting the content to the audience, there can be no engagement.  In order for the engagement to be fruitful for the audience, there must be content that is both interesting, thought-provoking and visually stimulating.  Interactive elements go a long way towards helping to maintain interest.

In the 2008 presidential campaign, Mr. Obama supporters used social media avenues, coupled with requests for supporters to also engage their friends via Facebook, Twitter and their preferred social media. The strategy was overwhelmingly successful and charted a new course for the use of these tools.

Source: Communications Conversations

In publishing and promoting articles, it is important to know and understand key things about the viewers. For my topic of homelessness, I need to utilize various tools to know where my audience is based, where their interests are and what social channels they utilize. In short, engagement also relies on knowing the ways in which audiences communicate and where.

In evaluating resources to help interest more people in helping the homeless, tools such as charts, graphs, videos and other interactive elements go a long way towards attracting and maintaining reader interest.

In determining content for future articles, it is key to utilize tracking tools such as Site Stats by WordPress or Google Analytics that provide website visitor information. This information allows later publications to be tailored to the interests of the audience.

Who knows? You may also get stats about the interest people have in helping the homeless. Clearly, engagement is the way to go.