Reality-vision:: Is this stuff real?

Trouble in Reality...

2012-02-23T21:53:00.000-06:00

There’s trouble in the land of reality television this week. The latest reality television controversy stems around NBC’s “The Biggest Loser’s” contestants on the current season, and it just may be a breach of contract for those involved. There are recent reports that all of the remaining contestants of this seasons’ Biggest Loser walked off set and refuse to compete, because producers brought back all previously eliminated contestants to compete once again. Current contestants think this is an unfair move and refuse to compete under the current conditions.

I’ve got a few thoughts about the recent turmoil:

A. Could this just be a publicity stunt on the behalf of a lower rated season of “The Biggest Loser”?

B. Are these contestants really that stubborn?

C. And, if all of this is really true, what kind of crazy lawsuits are on their way from NBC to the walk off contestants?

Regarding the first possibility, I can’t help but think how lame it would be for NBC to stoop to this strategy, yet also brilliant at the same time. I certainly think it has a WWF stage flare to it, but I could see how it would work in the end. If they round up enough Biggest Loser fanatics and blog writers to stir the pot of speculation, perhaps their desired ratings will come forth.

In terms of the second thought, if these contestants are just that stubborn, I, and many other viewers will be disappointed, especially those who tried out for the show and didn’t make it, but would have put their all in changing their lifestyle on the ranch…after all, that’s what the show is all about, right? Riiiiight. Lines get blurred when there’s cash and cameras involved. These contestants may really have let the lure of winning prize money or the rush from getting attention from producers get the best of them. I hope that it’s not true, but then again, I hope that my first speculation isn’t true either. Hmmm. It’s almost a lose-lose here, folks.

And, for my last thought, if this is indeed a stunt that the contestants have pulled off, I would bet there’s going to be some hefty lawsuits filed by NBC and perhaps other affiliates, such as advertisers through product placement, etc. I could be wrong, but I would imagine that signing a contract to be a contestant on “The Biggest Loser” doesn’t leave you much wiggle room to walk off the show and interrupt production and not get penalized in some way. That’s where I will be very curious to the outcome, if it is indeed true, and not just a producer publicity stunt. I’d hate to see things go awry with the network and contestants on something as silly as this.

Time will tell, I guess. May the least drama-filled contestant win!

'Biggest Loser' Castoff Contestants on Strike Are Sabotaging Their Lives:

http://www.tmz.com/2012/02/23/biggest-loser-john-forger-strike/#.T0bjNMpEHu1

Business Tips From Reality Television Star Donald Trump

2012-02-08T15:01:00.000-06:00

In honor of one of my favorite reality television shows starting up this month, “The Celebrity Apprentice”, I would like to dedicate this post to our dearly beloved, or not so beloved, Donald Trump. Because this blog focuses on the happenings of reality television through the lens of what I’m learning in my time at Full Sail University in their Master’s of Entertainment Business program, I’ll keep in line with that theme and highlight some business tips from reality star, Mr. Trump.

While Mr. Trump himself was unavailable for a brief interview the next decade, I thought I would go to the next best interview source – the internet- and find some tips from “The Donald” on how to set yourself up well in the precarious world of business.

Below are a few tips on succeeding in business I pulled from a video on YouTube, titled “Donald Trump’s Words of Wisdom”.

“Push your teammates and employees. Don’t push them over the edge, but push them.” What I hear from this is that the people who work with and for you probably have a lot more in them than they think. If you push and challenge them beyond what they would normally do, chances are they are going to be far more productive and successful. Squeeze every ounce of their potential out.

“Separate yourself from the pack.” It’s good to provide some sort of differentiating factor about you or your business that will bring you above the crowd, so to speak. Mr. Trump knows very well how to do this. He provides goods and services that are exceptional and full of quality. In this way, his clients and customers know without a shadow of a doubt they are going to receive the best possible service, and continue to use his services, whether it’s buying property, or going on vacation at his resorts.

“Try not to show your fear. When you hear the “no” you have to figure it out. Maybe you’re doing something wrong. Take that “no” and turn it into “yes”.” Trump says that if you keep hearing “no”, you need to figure out what is keeping you form getting to “yes”. By hearing “no” you are able to make the necessary improvements and become a better person.

Though our man Donald Trump can be quite a controversial figure in the public realm, he really is worth listening to in the area of business. The man knows what he is doing and has been quite successful. Anyone who has the title “billionaire” attached to his or her name probably has some worthwhile advice. Hopefully you find these few tips helpful and put them into practice for your own business endeavors!

Practical Business Plan Tips For the Entrepreneurial Newbie :: Part Two

2012-01-29T17:59:00.000-06:00

In my last post I discussed a few things I had learned from professionals who are experts in the area of creating business plans. Reading through the different articles again and coming to the end of a great month in my Business Plan Development class, I thought I would spend a little time talking about the act of market forecasting and also honing in on the right target market for your business.

In my last post, Scott Shane’s article “Start Your Business in a Favorable Industry That You Know Well” was a great building block in digging deeper into market research and forecasting for my business. Because his article only covers a fraction of what I need to learn I decided to look for other articles that talk about the importance of forecasting to get some ideas. One article I came across was simply titled, “What is a market forecast?” by Tim Berry. Mr. Berry unpacks the importance of doing in depth research of your particular industry to make sure there is promise of a growing market in years to come. For my school program I am working on creating a reality television company and have done a bit of research about the television industry in general. For my market research I learned that according to Nielsen, in 2011, there were 115.9 million television households in the US, while there is a suspected first-time-ever decline in 2012 to 114.7 million (http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/media_entertainment/number-of-u-s-tv-households-climbs-by-one-million-for-2010-11-tv-season/.) I also learned that according to eMarketer, the average adult spends 4 hours and 34 minutes each day on a television set, which is up 10 minutes from last year.

In terms of revenue, the large national networks are raking in a TON of money:

NBC Universal - $5.2 billion, up 17% in Q4

Source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2011/08/comcast-corp-delivers-strong-quarter-nbcuniversal-revenue-up-17.html

CBS - $3.9 billion, up 11% in Q4

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/17/us-cbs-idUSTRE71F77220110217

ABC - $10.4 billion, up 7% in Q4

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/nov/11/disney-reports-rise-in-profits

In addition to the above information, I have learned from reading articles and books that it’s important to be very specific about your target audience. The more specific, the more specialized you can be in your marketing efforts, which will pay off in the long run. Thanks to my Business Plan Development class, I have been able nail down a specific target market as well. Rather than broadly targeting the ever-popular 18-49 year old group that most advertisers go after, I am targeting a group within this group, particularly the passionate millenials (18-29 years old) who have a desire to do something meaningful with their life beyond making money.

With the research I have conducted in the last several weeks I believe that I have been able to see more realistically what my competition and future market success can be. I also have realized that your research is never really complete. Things are always changing and evolving within your market, and it’s important to stay on top of trends in order to make your product as attractive and popular as possible. Overall, I have picked up invaluable insight and advice regarding creating a successful business plan from my professors at Full Sail, as well as all the online research from experts in the business world and entertainment industry.

Business Plan Tips for the Entrepreneurial Newbie

2012-01-06T12:41:00.000-06:00

At this very moment, hundreds of thousands of people are creating plans to start up the next great business to solve one of the world’s problems; but the one thing standing in the way? Green…cold, hard cash. That’s where investors come in and evaluate a start up company's business plan and evaluate whether it is a viable idea. In this post, I’ll be taking a brief look into a couple of angel investor’s advice, and some practical tips about what they are looking for in a business plan.

Scott Shane, is a successful author (Illusions of Entrepreneurship: The Costly Myths That Entrepreneurs, Investors, and Policy Makers Live by (Yale University Press, 2008)) with a teaching background in Entrepreneurial Studies from Western Reserve University. Mr. Shane offers some pretty simple tips for those looking to start up a new business in an article titled, “Start Your Business in a Favorable Industry That You Know Well”. He contends that if you are well-versed in an industry that is not succeeding, such as the auto industry, your odds of success are far less favorable than if you pick starting up a business in the software development industry, which is booming. As you begin to dream up plans for the next big idea, it’s important that you are doing the proper industry research to know if you are working in an industry that will pay out big time, or is past its prime. Knowing the forecast for your industry before launching you business can be very helpful before presenting to investors. Investors will want to know upfront if there is a high success rate in your particular industry and will probably shy away from an industry that has flat-lined.

Marty Zwilling is CEO and Founder of Startup Professionals, Inc.; Callaman Ventures Board Member and Executive in Residence; Advisory Board Member for multiple startups, along with long list of other business accomplishments. Marty hosts a blog (where his previous bio information was snatched) that focuses on giving business startups practical advice on what to include and what to avoid when seeking funding. I read his article titled, “Early Stage Start Ups Need Friends, Family and Fools” and gained some great insights into walking in to a room with a dozens of angel investors. Marty also has some pretty simply tips listed that if followed could be make-it or break-it for a start up. Out of the list of ten or so suggestions there were a couple that particularly stood out including – Ask for the minimum rather than the maximum; and Communicate the risks, and write down the agreement.

Some people may not want to communicate the risks up front for fear of showing weakness in a business plan, but the opposite is true really. If you have you’re your proper research you will be aware of potential pitfalls in your industry or your specific business plan, and be able to plan for and recognize them immediately if they do indeed pop up. This shows that you are responsible and trustworthy.

Regarding asking for the minimum rather than the maximum he goes on to say, “Set some milestones for three or four months out and show what you can do, then ask for more.” In a book I read recently “Start Something That Matters”, by Blake Mycoskie, founder of TOM’s Shoes, Blake builds off of this concept of using as little money as possible to get a company off the ground. He speaks in great detail in the book about how the company was able to keep costs low because decisions made up front to not be extravagant in their spending. This equals to the company starting out of his loft apartment in Santa Monica, and now being house in a simple warehouse with many plywood cubicles. If you show investors that you are going to steward their resources well, you’ll have a much better chance in having them open their pocket books.

References

Scott Shane bio. (2011) Businessweek.com Retrieved January 5, 2012 from http://www.businessweek.com/bios/scott-shane-2250.html

Shane, S. (2008) Start your business in a favorable industry that you know well. Retrieved January 5, 2012 from http://smallbiztrends.com/2008/06/start-your-business-favorable-industry-know-well.html

Zwilling, M. (2011) Early-stage startups need friends, family and fools. Retrieved January 5, 2012 from http://blog.startupprofessionals.com/

Mycoskie, B. (2011) Start something that matters. New York : Spiegel & Grau

Magical Elves Productions - An overview of a popular reality television production company

2011-12-11T20:21:00.000-06:00

For this post, I decided to highlight Magical Elves Productions, a reality television production company that is doing quite well. Magical Elves Productions is a highly successful Los Angeles based reality television production company most well known for shows such as 2010 Emmy winning, “Top Chef”, “Top Chef: Just Desserts”, “Braxton Family Values” and “Americas Next Best Restaurant”, to name a few.

With a name like Magical Elves, there’s bound to be something interesting, and dare I say, magical, about their programming. In order to get a feel for the company, let’s take a brief look into the main masterminds behind it. Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz formed a working relationship back in 1999 when they both worked for VH1. Hitting Number 19 on “The Hollywood Reporter’s” Reality Power List, the pair has been a force to be reckoned with over the last decade.

In an interview with Variety, this last August, Jane and Dan share that one of the secrets to their success is keeping a sense of humor. From the Variety interview:

"What has characterized our relationship from day one is that in times of great crisis, we usually find a way to make it funny," says Cutforth. "We literally end up laughing about it and then we figure it out. First we freak out, then we laugh about the fact that we freaked out. Then we fix it."

This duo has proved that thinking fast while under pressure is one major key to success in their industry. Another big key to their success is taking on projects that are new and challenging, and maybe outside of their norm. A great example of this is the undertaking of producing the undeniably successful documentary, “Never Say Never” featuring the success of teen sensation, Justin Bieber. They have proven that stepping outside of the box can prove incredibly beneficial. According to the website “The Numbers”, “Never Say Never” has grossed over 121 million dollars worldwide in theater and DVD sales. With their track record, Magical Elves shows no signs of letting up in their success. This truly is a company to keep an eye on.

Reality Television in the Digital Age : Self Publishing on Blip.tv

2011-11-28T20:42:00.003-06:00

It’s no secret in this day and age that the digital landscape has taken over pretty much every area of life. From online shopping to reading your favorite magazine, the Internet and now smart phones and/or other handheld technological devices, life has drastically changed. The way we consume media has especially changed. Brick and mortar buildings in some cases are becoming a thing of the past, especially regarding music and video stores. Another area of media that is also changing due to the digital revolution is reality television.

Reality television is one of the fastest growing genres of television and shows no sign of stopping. It seems every one and their brother has a great idea for reality television, the trick is how to get your show produced and distributed amongst all of the competition. If you or someone you know has tried to create a reality program you are probably aware that the odds are against you in succeeding. Chances are someone else has already taken your idea and it’s on a major network, or no one cares to listen to your awesome pitch. What now?

That’s where the digital age has changed the game for many aspiring reality show producers. I have recently learned about a website titled, blip.tv that is host for dozens of original web series including reality programming. If you have an idea, a video camera, and a tripod, says COO Dina Kaplan you can host a web series on blip.tv (click to see a video with more from Dina). It’s that easy. Instead of waiting for the big dogs (producers and networks) to come to you, why not get your show out there in cyber world on a new and growing in popularity medium.

Though blip seems to still be a little bit of a niche market and not quite as mainstream as Youtube, it’s growing and gaining a bit of a following. From Google Ad Sense, they report that every month blip.tv receives over 3.2 millions users, of which, close to 30% are men between the ages of 24-34 with some college education and an average annual household income of $25,000-$49,999.

Another great aspect of blip.tv is that you receive revenue every time your shows are viewed due to advertisement you can allow at a few different times during your show. Blip.tv offers a 50/50 compensation plan with it’s show creators(click here for more details). In order to get the most “bang for your buck” blip would recommend opting for pre-roll, overlay, post-roll and mid-roll ads. To learn more about how to earn revenue with blip click here for a video explanation from Steve Woolf, the West Coast Director of Content for blip.tv.

Good luck, self-producers!

From Pitch, to Pilot, to Millions…or at least enough to pay your studio apartment rent.

2011-11-13T17:17:00.000-06:00

With my last post focusing on landing an agent and having that unique proprietary element to get you ahead in the rat race that is reality television, I thought I would point in the direction of some tools I have found helpful in getting one step further to producing great reality television. An interesting website I came across last year is videojug.com. Videojug.com is an assorted jungle of wonderful information whether you’re learning how to cook, date, or most importantly ;-), learn how to produce reality television.

Here you’ll find some great videos featuring interviews with some very successful reality television executives, giving their inside scoop on how to “make it happen”. Mark Cronin, a reality television executive producer and owner of 51 Minds, takes some time and explains what happens after the pitch and a network actually does like your idea. If a network does indeed bite on your idea they may give you a small amount of money for a treatment, which is usually about a 1-5 page outline of what the show will be. It includes a short logline, a several paragraph synopsis, and then a short breakdown of each episode. From there they may give you money to shoot a pilot, and if they like what they see from there, they may fork out some additional cash to produce the entire series to hopefully air in the “big leagues”.

Cronin gives some simple advice for those looking to pitch. First and foremost, be entertaining. Whatever your show is, make it that way in the pitch. If it’s incredible high energy, make it high energy. If it’s thought provoking and serious, make it just that. Either way, leave your audience looking wanting to know more.

Hopefully this brief post will be at least a little helpful for those who are in the beginning stages of getting their show produced and distributed. Though it may take quite a few years to have the clout to pitch to executives, the time in between is incredibly valuable. Make the most of whatever opportunities come your way, no matter how big or small. Don’t despise the small beginnings; they could one day lead to a big wide open door.

Takes One to Know One: Finding An Agent to Represent Your Work in Reality Television… and THEN what?

2011-11-13T17:13:00.000-06:00

Greetings, to the blogosphere world-

I’ve been on a somewhat of a five-month hiatus from my program at Full Sail University, and this is my first month back in the saddle again. It feels great to be immersed in learning about the industry once again, and even being able to immediately apply the knowledge. The class that I’m picking up with is Entertainment Media Publishing and Distribution. It’s an incredibly practical class offering up invaluable tips and tools in order to get one’s creative worked published or in distribution.

I thought I’d write about some of the things I have been learning in regards to one of my main areas of interest in the industry, which is reality television. One of the first areas we have covered in the class is the topic of agents, and whether or not they are necessary. What I have learned, is in order to get your reality television show pitched, you’ll more than likely need an agent; and in order to get an agent, you’re going to have to prove that you’re experienced and very good at what you do, otherwise an agent won’t give you the time of day. They are only interested in pitching projects to the networks they know will more than likely be a success. So, it sounds to me like it’s almost near impossible to find an agent, which means it might be near impossible to pitch your idea you’ve been dying to share with the world. Incredibly encouraging, huh? ;-)

Well, what if you are indeed one of the lucky that break through and find an agent who is willing to risk their career for a rookie, wet behind the ears, who they see a great deal of promise in? How likely will it be to have your pitch picked up by a network? This week, on Full Sail’s campus, they’ve been hosting a number of industry professional workshops as a part of Hall of Fame week. I sat in on a seminar very creatively titled, “The Reality of Reality Television”, with several seasoned reality professionals including Full Sail 2010 Hall of Famer, Troy Devolld, most well-known for his success with VH1’s number one hit, “Basketball Wives”.

While speaking to the audience, these professionals gave us students some great advice in pursuing our dreams, especially in relation to reality television. One take away I picked up in response to the question I just posed about the likelihood of your pitched being picked up even if you do have a rock solid agent is the importance of having a unique proprietary element, or a unique set of rights you control. An example of this would be pitching a competition reality show centered on a specific well-known host, and having proof that you already have an exclusive contract with that person. Having this sort of proprietary element could make you stand out among the clamoring crowd with the same idea. Be sure that your idea is most likely not new, you’ll just have a key element that gives you clout over the next guy with the identical pitch.

So, with that, my take away from the week is to get out there, network like crazy with people in your field, which could lead to snagging the ever-elusive agent; find your unique proprietary element; be willing to start at the bottom, and you just may find yourself in that boardroom of executives ready to pitch the new best reality series of the season…or at least one step out 472 more, closer. :-)

Summary of Entertainment Law Podcast - Bob Ambrogi and Gordon Firemark

2011-05-28T21:56:00.003-05:00

This week I listened to an episode of “Lawyer to Lawyer”, hosted by Bob Ambrogi, who practices law in Massachusetts, focusing on media and technology law. In this episode, Ambrogi interviewed Gordon Firemark, a Los Angeles based lawyer who has his hands in a several areas of entertainment law.While most lawyers have one focus within entertainment, Firemark has a wide focus of theater, film and finance. He has a background in theater having been involved since junior high, and has been a sound technician in theater throughout the years.

During the podcast, Firemark and Ambrogi, touch on a variety of topics spanning entertainment law. One specific area I found interesting was their discussion on IP (intellectual property) and the common errors podcasters encounter when dealing with it. Firemark goes on to say that there are some common misconceptions people apply to IP when podcasting. He has noticed that many podcasters don’t think that fair use laws apply to their show because it’s not for profit, when in fact, that is not an accurate assumption. Another area he has helped navigate is web design. He mentions that companies often will hire a designer to make a big, new beautiful site, only to find a couple years down the road the owners of the stock photos used on that site are calling them out for not having the proper licensing.

Another discussion I found particularly intriguing was surrounding celebrities and moral clauses in their contracts with management teams. This was a timely discussion as earlier in the evening I was working on an assignment for my Advanced Entertainment Law class through Full Sail University, and had to assess an endorsement agreement for an athlete that had an undefined moral clause in it. After hearing Firemark discuss moral clauses and why they are important I had a better understanding of why a company would even request someone to sign it. What I gather is that a moral clause is not necessarily present in every contract, but might be present if a client has a history of running into the law, or causing trouble.

Firemark also gives a brief run down of how competitive the entertainment industry is especially when it comes to practicing law. He makes mention that many of the larger firms are cutting back on lawyers due to the economy and unless you are able to open your own smaller firm, it’s incredibly competitive to get into entertainment law.

From listening to this podcast I realize that practicing law I the entertainment industry can be grueling, and hard to break into, not unlike most aspects of the industry. In order to succeed you’ll need to work incredibly hard and make yourself stand out among the crowd, showing that your law skills surpass your competition.

Link to the podcast: Entertainment Law and the Challenges of Celebrity- http://legaltalknetwork.com/podcasts/lawyer-2-lawyer/2010/10/entertainment-law-the-challenges-of-celebrity/

All is fair in love and reality television...well, almost...

2011-05-08T16:29:00.001-05:00

I’m currently enrolled in an Entertainment Law class through Full Sail University where we’re delving into the very common, yet very unfortunate issues of legal problems in the entertainment world. I’m currently working on a business plan for a reality television production company that produces family-friendly reality shows while also highlighting major global social issues. As I’m researching the field, I’m finding that it’s very critical to know copyright laws when diving into this territory.

This post will take a look at three recent issues regarding reality television and legal trouble. It surprised me, in a way, that I didn’t have to look very long to find some pretty major cases taking place that as I read through them, seems they could have been prevented had the parties involved done a little research, or done simple things such as writing out an actual contract. It amazes me what heartache can be avoided by simply covering all your bases before even making a move on a project.

http://entertainmentlitigation.com/2011/04/23/4-million-verdict-against-ae-television-affirmed-in-favor-of-flip-this-house-creator/

The first article I read was, “$4 million verdict against A&E Television affirmed in favor of ‘Flip This House’ creator” written by Hank Fasthoof. It’s about a recent decision from the courts to award Richard Davis $4 million from A&E for his wildly popular reality show “Flip This House”. Davis claims that as he and A&E executive Charles Norlander negotiated a deal for A&E to take on Davis’ idea, A&E would split the profits 50/50 with Davis; the main problem here being, there was no written contract spelling out these agreements. Davis took A&E took court after the show filmed a pilot and 13 episodes and saw no money, says Fasthoof in the court case summary. The major dispute that erupted was due to the fact the Norlander and Davis never wrote down their agreements in writing. Much of their “agreement” was somewhat wishy-washy. Through it all, a jury in an appeals court did indeed side with Davis saying that Norlander, though he never came out and directly said that A&E agreed with the 50/50 revenue split, his comment, “Okay, Okay, I get it, I get”, during their initial deliberations was a sufficient verbal contract legally binding A&E to their of the 50/50 bargain, therefore landing Davis with a $4 million paycheck. Not bad for never putting in writing.

What I see from this case is a very unfortunate example of how important a mutually accepted written contract can be. Though it did end up working out for Davis in the end, much time, money and probably professional relationships could have been saved if the two had just been proactive enough to be adults, sit down and hash out both sides of their expectations by writing out a legally binding contract so there was absolutely no question of who expected what. Unfortunately that was not the case, and it cost A&E a HUGE chunk of change they were not expecting to part with, and I imagine some big red flags to be raised by both parties in how to execute further deals. It goes to show, no one is immune to legal trouble.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/09/27/us-hilton-idUSTRE68Q04Z20100927

Another recent case I found is what you could say is indirectly related to reality television. Back in September of 2010, Paris Hilton, star of hit reality show “The Simple Life” was awarded a major undisclosed settlement from Hallmark when they used her coined phrase “That’s hot”, made popular by her role in “The Simple Life”, with then best friend, Nicole Richie. Hallmark made a bad choice to use her jargon in a greeting card line back in 2007, which caused Hilton and legal team to jump on the legal wagon to prove a publicity rights infringement. The 9^th Circuit Court of Appeals eventually sided with Hilton saying that her phrase was indeed infringed upon, and that Hallmark could not claim First Amendment rights on this one. In my opinion, Hallmark needs to back up off Hilton…they’re just jealous they didn’t think of that phrase themselves. :-) In all honesty I did find this article very intriguing. While the judgment doesn’t necessarily surprise me, after all, I’m pretty sure Paris’ legal team will only pounce when they have significant proof that they will succeed, I am slightly surprised that Hallmark was not aware of the dangers of publicity rights infringement…who do they think they are…Paris Hilton? ;-)

http://thecommunicationsjournal.com/can-reality-be-copyrighted/

And last, but certainly not least, the above link is a recent case surrounding the wildly popular NBC reality show, “The Biggest Loser”. If there’s one thing I have been learning about court cases related to reality television it’s the terms “substantial similarities” and “scenes a faire”. The former is what the courts will judge a copyright infringement case against, in this case, “Phat Farm/Fat Pharm” vs. The Biggest Loser. The creator of “Phat Farm” accused NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” of stealing their concept for a weight loss show. To make a long story short, in the end the court threw out the case before trial stating that there were no substantial similarities between the shows and that the concepts were protected as “scenes a faire”, meaning they concepts are so common that they are not protectable. According the article, courts will ask three main questions in these copyright cases: 1. Is there an official Library of Congress Registration? 2. Was there access to the material claiming to be infringed upon? 3. With the independent creation and the creative expression found within, is there any substantial similarity within the element of that creative expression? In this case, there was no evidence pointing to the fact that NBC had infringed in any way upon “Phat Farm’s” concept.

I’m learning that it’s pretty much a race to get your idea out there first. The chances of you being the ONLY person with your particular concept is fairly slim, and whoever gets to the finish line first will have a serious advantage. I’m also amazed that people don’t do their homework in knowing the law and understanding just what constitutes illegal copyright infringement and what does not. From what I have seen in the reality television sector, unless someone comes out with a show that is almost identical to an existing one, one is not going to have a shot in the courtroom with claiming copyright infringement. It’s seems all is fair in love and reality television…well, almost...

Please leave your comments, opinions or questions below. Would love to hear your thoughts on these issues. Thanks for reading!

"Cuz Baby I Perform This Way..."

2011-04-24T19:38:00.001-05:00

As I look back at what I’ve learned this past month in my Artist and Product Management class through Full Sail University’s master’s program concentrating in Entertainment Business, I am full of new ideas, concepts and overall excitement for a career in the industry in the near future. In my time at Full Sail, I’ve gotten totally sucked in to my class reading, many of the books are ones that I’ve browsed pre-Full Sail and wanted to buy…now I get to read them for my educational enrichment! Along with these educational reads, I also have been creating a PLN (Personal Learning Network) that spans Twitter, LinkedIn, many RSS feeds and, of course, facebook. As my PLN grows, so does my knack to find the most recent and riveting entertainment news. With all of that said, this post is dedicated to some of the earth-shaking news in the world of entertainment, and how it ties into what I’ve been learning this past month. What is the topic and breaking news? None other than our dear friends Lady Gaga and Weird Al Yankovic…

How do these two even fit in the same sentence together besides the obvious fact that, well, they are both just plain ole weird? In a recent flurry of events this past week, Weird Al made it known that he attempted to parody Gaga’s “Born This Way” with his “I Perform This Way” single, but was rejected by Gaga and her management team to move forward. Weird Al has for years been making parodies of well-known artists song from “White and Nerdy” to “I’m Fat” and thought he would give a shot at Lady Gaga, who thus far had escaped his good-fun poking parodies. Though Weird Al doesn’t need permission to release these parodies, he’s made it a general rule of thumb to get approval from the artist. In this case, Weird Al’s management team contacted Gaga’s team and eventually got a “no-go” after hearing the song. Mr. Yankovic was so shocked and bummed by the news that he wrote about his feelings on his blog and posted the “what would-be” song for fans to hear despite not actually officially releasing it. All of the profits would be going to the Human Rights Campaign if released.

Here’s where the drama continues to unfold…turns out Gaga never actually heard the song, and her manager took the liberty of rejecting the song. After all of the hoopla, Gaga ended up hearing the song a few days ago, and actually loved it, and also approved it. Phew, huh? ;-) It all goes to show you, artist and manager relationships can at times over-step boundaries. Now, let’s be honest, this managerial decision to reject Weird Al’s song isn’t the end of the world, unless you’re a die hard Weird Al fan, but in the end it makes me question Gaga’s relationship with her manager a little bit. I’m sure he/she’s a great guy or gal, and is just trying to keep her focused on preparing for her tour, but at the end of the day, that should have been Gaga’s decision. Those are the types of bumps that are likely to happen along the way unless an artist and manager sit down and hash out their communication plan and what’s most important. Again, overall, not the biggest decision in the world about Weird Al’s song, but it brings up a good point of keeping communication lines open with your manager, or the artist you are managing. Let’s face it, at the end of the day you could be missing out on a Weird Al parody. Word to the wise: Managers- communicate to your artists. Artists - communicate with your managers. Thanks for listening, family and friends. :-)

Facts referenced from this article: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31749_162-20056596-10391698.html

And, for a listen of the highly anticipated single: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUxXKfQkswE

Artist Management: What ARE those managers looking for?

2011-04-17T22:14:00.001-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SKjPrr9yTE

Panda Band Management interview at SXSW

As I watched this interview with a manager from Panda Band Management, I am reminded of once again how difficult this business of music can be to break into. It takes some intense focus, vision, planning and execution to even come close to making it big. This blog will focus briefly on the interview with Ray of Panda at SXSW, and then talk about some very important factors artist managers need to be looking for when taking on new talent. In essence, this post could be very helpful to both someone looking to become an artist manager, and also a band looking to gain a manager.

From the interview, Ray says the most important step is to have a plan, and have a plan on several levels…recording, distribution, touring. Management is there to help you achieve your goals, but you need to have goals, first. He suggests that the band is ready to record, or already have recorded. It also comes down to who they want their audience to be. In order to reach those audiences, they will have to make a product that appeals to them.

Ray also mentions first tours doesn’t usually make money, they end up being more of an investment to broader your audience. You get to meet a lot of new people and make new fans. You are also far more attractive to your fans at home because you are expanding your resume in a sense.

So, with that advice from a manager to a new artist or band getting started, I thought it would good to expand upon what a manager should be looking for before committing to new talent. From “This Business of Artist Management”, a book I’m reading for my Product and Management class through Full Sail University, I have been learning about what a manager is looking for beyond business organization assets. It’s very important to assess the creative skills and package that the artist or artists bring to the table. It’s not good enough for an artist to just have a good voice, but they need to bring the “whole package”, if you will. Some suggestions the book give from Chapter 10 are: taking inventory of your artist’s sound, their material and physical appearance.

When listening to an artist it’s important to see what differentiates them from the crowd. If you’re signing another Christina Aguilera, you are going to need to find a new angle to market her. It would be really helpful to sign an artist off-the-bat who is unique and offers something new. Physical appearance, as unfortunate and shallow as it may be, is also incredibly important in the entertainment industry. In order to be taken seriously, an artist needs to look their best and show some edge and pizzazz. A manager’s job is to point these things out, and make sure they are managing an artist who is unique and has a great look.

By taking a full inventory of an artist, a manager can have a good grasp on what direction the professional relationship will go. Overall, it’s important to plan as an artist and also a manager. In order to gain success in the music business goals need to be established and carried out. The relationship between the two is crucial and will set stage for success.

Artist Negotiations : Interview with Sherida Morrison, founder of Energy Theory Management (NRG Theory)

2011-03-20T22:43:00.000-05:00

Over the weekend I interviewed Sherida Morrison, founder of NRG Theory management, an artist management/consulting company. She started the company a couple of years ago under the name S&M Management, but officially went on the books as NRG Theory about a year ago. Currently the company operates with a small team that packs a punch in the industry managing- 3 performing artists, 1 audio engineer, 1 graphic designer, and 1 web designer. They work on both a contractual and non-contractual basis with their artists.

Sherida and I are in the same Negotiation and Deal Making class for our Master’s of Entertainment Business program through Full Sail University and have been learning the art of negotiation in the industry. In my brief phone conversation with Sherida I asked her some questions about how often she negotiates, what she negotiates, and some challenges that she faces on a regular basis. Though she is fairly new on the scene I figured I could learn from her experience. Sherida negotiates on a fairly regular basis for job whether it’s how much her audio engineer should be paid for gig, or negotiating fees for her performers.

When I asked her about her previous of negotiating knowledge before entering the business, she mentioned that she had not been formally trained. She explained that she learned from a lot of trial and error at the beginning. Like many of us without formal training in negotiating Sherida made mention that she would sell herself short walking into a deal because she wasn’t sure what she was capable of even if she was representing someone who had notable talent. There were many times when she would fall, but the most important thing she conveyed was that she picked herself back up again time and time again. Though it was hard and she made some mistakes, she was able to push forward and make solid progress and learn from each negotiation.

I asked Sherida what has changed in her approach from when she was just beginning in the industry until now and she mentions confidence being a key factor. She mentioned that before “I was afraid to ask for what I was worth and if they said “no” I would just retract.” It’s a different ball game for Sherida now as she is extremely confident in the artists she is managing, knowing that she is promoting someone incredibly gifted and worth the money.

If there’s been one thing I have learned about negotiation and deal making in this current course at Full Sail University it’s be confident and walk into a negotiation prepared. The more you set yourself up on the front end with research and self-confidence, the more you be able to walk out of a negotiation with not only a great deal, but a mutually beneficial deal that will help build your rapport in order to build a wider clientele base.

For more information on NRGTheory, visit their website.

Any "Biggest Losers" out there???

2011-02-19T22:53:00.001-06:00

Things are ramping up again for Biggest Loser contestant hopefuls all around the country. This weekend begins the 5 city stretch of open casting calls for the next season of NBC’s beloved series geared towards Americans who have over 100 pounds to lose. For a complete listing of cities click here: CLICK HERE.

For many it’s the break they have been looking for with a lifelong struggle and all out battle with their weight. These hopefuls come with the dream of being whisked away to the Biggest Loser ranch where they can once and for all focus on getting healthy.

So, what to expect when putting oneself through the grind at a Biggest Loser casting call? First of all, come with plenty of rest and nutrition in your body. These are long days. Biggest Loser casting director, Holland Striplin, who has been casting for the show since Season 5, recommends bringing plenty of healthy snacks, water, and lawn chairs since it is a lot of waiting in line. Holland also recommends to just be yourself in front of the casting directors. This is a common request from casting directors from shows that don’t require the normal “Let’s Make a Deal” attire throughout the duration of a season. Most, if not all of the time, these costumes serve as a distraction from the casting directors seeing who you really will be during the season. At the ranch, all costumes are stripped, and contestants can’t hide behind the façade of character they’ve made up, which is the beauty of the show, and how the breakthroughs happen. For more tips, check out this article: CLICK HERE.

For more information on losing weight in a healthy way even if you’re not a part of the next season of Biggest Loser, head over to their website and sign up to be a part of their online community. Just because you were not chosen for this season, or subsequent seasons, it does not mean you still can’t win the battle against weight. A new and healthy life is possible, but more likely to be achieved within the context of community.

Now get out there and audition, and even more importantly, begin changing your life now!

Blush Free television? It could happen.

2011-02-04T19:08:00.002-06:00

I’m a girl who comes with a lot of passion for reality television. Ever since the creation of shows such as “Survivor” and “American Idol”, something in my gut has been stirred and fire up. I love watching, celebrating, and also critiquing it. One my main critiques stems from the profane themes that run rampant within this type of programming. It comes as no surprise that reality television produces some of the most profane content on the tube currently.

Even with so-called “family-friendly” shows like “American Idol”, with the addition of beloved Steven Tyler (I really do love him), we’ve also seen an incredible increase in the show logo used as bleep symbol over Mr. Tyler’s mouth over the few weeks of this new season. American Idol is not the only show out there that provides an obscene amount of obscenities (no pun intended).

I happened across an article on the website, Parents Television Council, written back in 2002 highlighting the increase of profanity in all forms on reality television. I was shocked (and yet not) when I browsed through the statistics the shared. For instance, no surprise, “The Osbourne’s”, which follows the life of legendary rocker, Ozzy Osbourne and his family, holds the record for the most profanities per hour. This MTV show, as reported from the PTC website, had a combined average of 140.5 instances of offensive content per hour, due to their vulgar language. Wow!

Check out the article to read more about the crazy statistics regarding profanity/ violence, etc.: http://www.parentstv.org/ptc/publications/reports/realitytv/main.asp

What if there was an alternative? What if those of us who love reality television and see the potential for what amazing good it could do began to produce something different? Something clean…and dare I say, blush free? Stumbling upon this article was even more of an affirmation for the project I have been working on in my Business Storytelling and Brand Development class through Full Sail University. We had to create an entertainment company and conduct several projects regarding the creation of our company. In a last minute decision I decided to create a reality television production company, called “Blush Free Productions”.

Our mission statement: Our mission at Blush Free Productions is to create family-friendly programming that highlights major social issues, providing viewers with a call to action, all the while entertaining through exceptional storytelling.

I have posted one of my latest projects regarding the creation of Blush Free Productions. Take a look, and dream with me what profanity free, yet entertaining and meaningful reality television could like!

Ptaszek.molly bsb.projectthree

View more presentations from Molly Ptaszek.

NAPTE 2011 || Content First

2011-01-30T12:10:00.002-06:00

NAPTE is the National Association of Television Program Executives.

This organization serves exactly who you think- those working as executives within television. Their current tagline is, “Content First”, which in incredibly encouraging. In a day when much of television is as solid in content as a jet-puffed marshmallow, NAPTE truly is working toward partnering with and training leaders in the television sector to produce excellent content in programming.

When sifting through the NAPTE website one can find many helpful resources. One resource I was drawn to immediately was the annual conference, which just took place in Miami over the 3^rd weekend in January. It was event full of executives in every facet of business from: marketing, to finance, and technology. The NAPTE conference is chock full of networking and learning opportunities for both the seasoned exec, as well as the fresh-out-of-the-gates execs.

According to their website, the conference is the one of its kind in America that reaches out to a very broad international market as well. It’s said that they were 76 countries represented at last weeks conference. From what I can see on the NAPTE site, this is THE place to be in January if you are in the television industry. They state that their organization is here to be a catalyst for new opportunities, and provide excellent networking opportunities with executives from around the world. The website is a gold mine of resources that are available at any time and place around the world. They feature the latest news in industry trends and connect members with global opportunities.

Judging from these comments, I know where I should be in future years come the month of January…NAPTE convention here I come!

“Everything we are talking about doesn’t work, unless you engage in great content.”

“It’s a place where you can look a few years ahead.”

“It’s all about meeting people.”

Click here to watch the NAPTE conference preview. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEHmXnhp-wo

Naomi Klein: Addicted to risk | Video on TED.com

2011-01-30T11:41:00.000-06:00

Naomi Klein: Addicted to risk | Video on TED.com

In this lecture titled, "Addicted to Risk", journalist Naomi Klein takes us through a really interesting lecture dealing with risk and how much is too much when it comes to the way we handle our countries resources. I was fascinated by her examples of ways that your country has taken full-blown 5-alarm risks in the name financial gain. She talks quite a bit about the BP oil leak and how some of those closely involved in the leak responded. She quotes Tony Hayward, the CEO of B.P. as saying this in regards to the spill “The Gulf of Mexico is a very large ocean. The amount of oil and dispersant we are putting into it is tiny in relation to the total water volume.” It is incredible to hear a comment like this that seems to reduce the implications of this environmental atrocity. What rings true in my ears about this comment is wildly risky behavior; making poor choices and minimizing the outrageous outcomes.

Klein goes into more detail regarding the risks our government takes to run our country especially regarding finances. Their decisions sometimes reflect the belief that somehow, someday everything will work itself out, so let’s take this monumental financial risk and see what happens. She also makes a bold statement in equating many of these decisions with men at the forefront, and women there to clean up the mess afterward. I am not sure to what extent this comment truly is accurate, but it was interesting to ponder. Women seem to approach large risky decisions with a more level approach, thinking about the far-reaching effects and consequences, whereas men are focusing more on how this decision help them right now.

Though Klein talks more about taking environmental risks than anything in this lecture, the same concepts and principals can be applied to any aspect of life; but since this is an entertainment blog, we’ll look at from the entertainment perspective. What she is presenting here is some great advice for those in the entertainment industry. I am currently in a master’s program for entertainment business through Full Sail University, and we are all working on creating our own entertainment companies. Klein’s advice about assessing the risks and being proactive about the consequences of those risks is imperative for my fellow upcoming business owners and me.

We need to take a serious look at how feasible our business ideas are, do incredible amounts of market research, and then do some more, and also make wise decisions about the funding of these companies. I have seen the ideas of my classmates over the past couple of months, and have been so encouraged and motivated by their ideas, that I would not want to see them any of them fail because of making risky decisions that end up doing more harm in the long run.

Moral of the story, get some great mentors and business advisers to surround and give you sound advice as you start up your new venture. Just because it’s your dream and passion, doesn’t mean it will be a cakewalk. The more wise counsel you receive, the more likely you will not be dealing with a business catastrophe the size of the B.P. gas leak! Good luck, everyone!

Mark Zuckerberg: Time Magazine's Person of the Year - 2010

2010-12-18T19:02:00.006-06:00

What, if it were a country, would be the third largest country, only behind China and India? Ok, I guess the giant title above probably gives the answer away a little too obviously, but would you have known if the title and Zuckerberg's name wasn’t there, that facebook would be the 3^rd largest country in the world, due to how many members have joined? As of December 2010, facebook, the social networking phenomenon has mustered 550 million users since its inception in 2004. 550 MILLION. We are talking a friggin’ empire here, people.

As we wrap us the end of another year, I thought it would be fun to jump off-topic for this blog, and highlight someone and something a little bit different than my typical casting posts. Clearly, facebook has changed the world over the last 6 years. The world will never be the same because of this networking tool, courtesy of Time Magazine’s Person of the Year: Mark Zuckerberg: founder and creator of facebook.

Controversial as he may be, I am incredibly grateful for this man and this terribly addicting and time-sucking device. Yes, I probably spend WAY too much on facebook, and ignoring either my schoolwork, or cleaning my house, but there is just somethin’ about this thing. In just over 4 years, from the time I joined facebook in 2006, I have connected with hundreds of friends, close and not-so-close; I have seen pictures of former classmates children, read countless status updates, written countless status updates, shared my favorites Hulu or Youtube videos, to name a few. I honestly can’t remember life pre-facebook. It’s just like the cell phone; what did we ever do without it? And though there are many positives to facebook, there have also been reported negative affects. This excerpt from the Time article gives an insight into all the mayhem taking place:

“Facebook is supposed to build empathy, but since 2000, Americans have scored higher and higher on psychological tests designed to detect narcissism, and psychologists have suggested a link to social networking. According to the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 81% of its members have seen a rise in the number of divorce cases involving social networking; 66% cite Facebook as the primary source for online divorce evidence.”

So, either you way you look at it, facebook has made quite a splash in our present world. As with any good thing, there comes the risk of overdoing it, or abusing it, in which case moderation is always an option. In an attempt to apply moderation to my facebook life, I pledge in this new year, to check my facebook only 4 times an hour, rather 62…now THAT’s moderate. :-) Just kidding…settle down friends…I don’t have a facebook problem. Right?

And with that, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year; and may you all take a break from your facebook updates and stalking to spend some much needed time with the ones you love, celebrating the reason for the season, which in MY opinion is... the birth of Jesus!!!

Gotta run…gotta check my fb.

This is article and the facts presented were based of of this Time article: http://www.time.com /time/specials/packages/article/0,28 804,2036683_2037183,00.html

Resource for Getting "Audition Ready"...

2010-12-16T13:30:00.002-06:00

Everyone can agree that when putting yourself out there for that audition for an upcoming feature film, a commercial, or modeling agency, you will need to put your best image forward. In order to compete against the hundreds of thousands of people also vying for lucrative jobs in the entertainment industry, it is incredibly imperative to look and feel your best. Many factors go into sharpening your image, but where to start can sometimes be an overwhelming task. And then, if you’re like me, wearing sleazy clothing, that leaves little to the imagination doesn’t exactly thrill you, where do you go to get tips from other like-minded people?

In my search for finding companies that have the same values I hold, and also a passion to help women realize their true beauty, inside and out, I came across and fantastic website, titled appropriately, “Fashion Meets Faith”. Regardless of your religious beliefs and values, Shari Braendel, fashionista and inspirational speaker gives truly valuable and relevant advice for women who are looking to spice up their wardrobe, by learning the basics of hair, makeup and clothing, in order to present a wholesome, yet unmistakably vibrant look.

From a free online color analysis, where you can “Discover what colors make you shine, and which ones shouldn’t even be in your closet”; to her fashion events designed to help women and young girls plan their wardrobes well, and learn new makeup and hair techniques that can give a confidence boost, “Fashion Meets Faith” is a one-stop-shop in finding valuable resources to get you started on your journey from, yes I’m going to say it…"drab to fab!" There is a “boat-load” of information to sift through on the website, which is a little overwhelming at first, but as you click through each link, you’ll notice Shari’s heart in helping women look and feel great, and also her commitment to her faith.

So, if you or someone you know, especially an industry hopeful is looking to gain some great fashion advice, all the while speaking to inner beauty and self-esteem, “Fashion Meets Faith, by Shari Braendel is a no-brainer stop on your quest to look your best!

Disney now casting for a live action movie starring Tinkerbell...

2010-12-09T15:02:00.000-06:00

I might have a 4 year-old niece who may or may not have her world rocked upon the releasing of this film, "Tink", starring Elizabeth Banks as the one, the only, Tinkerbell.

If you or anyone you know would like a shot at an audition for this sure-to-be dazzling real-life fairy portrayal, give a lil' click here:

http://www.featurefilmcasting.com/2010/07/disney-auditions-for-live-action.html


   Tinkerbell-Elizabeth-Banks image
   Pixplanete/PR ; Disney

Mark Burnett: Choose Your Companions Before Your Road

2010-11-30T16:55:00.001-06:00

In this video, Mark Burnett, one of my heroes in television, talks about what makes you and your business successful. Burnett is an expert in producing reality television and has had a successful run with creating such shows as "Survivor", "The Apprentice", "The Contender", and now, "Sarah Palin's Alaska". He is a "no-nonsense" entrepreneur with the business savvy and interpersonal skills to be one the most successful media giants. I have been reading Mr. Burnett's book, "Jump In, Even If You Don't Know How to Swim", and have been quite inspired by his can-do attitude followed by the model of just jumping in, even when you are not sure what you are doing.

I have learned quite a bit from this exemplary man, and am happy to have stumbled upon this video, highlighting the importance of building the right team of people around you on whatever project you are working on. It once again proves the man knows what he's talking about. In his time with creating reality television, Mr. Burnett has succeeded in building one of the most successful teams in the industry today. In the video, he notes that he has kept about 85% of his employees from his first reality endeavors with EcoChallenge. He has indeed built a team of rock stars who produce top-notch entertainment.

Mr. Burnett wisely says to the entrepreneurs he is speaking to in the video, "Having a successful business plan is one part of it...you have to have good people surrounding you." He goes on to say that if there are poor employees in your organization, business, etc, it's best to fire them, or you will not reach the full potential of success. Though firing is something not always easy to follow through on, it's a necessity in order to bring the most success to any project.

I find Mark Burnett to be an incredibly fascinating human being, one who has certainly not let his thinking remain "in-the-box". His knowledge regarding business, entertainment, reality tv, casting, and life in general has been most inspiring as I have read through his book over the past few weeks. I highly recommend, "Jump In, Even If You Don't Know How to Swim", to anyone looking for a little inspiration to follow your dreams and not be bound by your doubts. And from listening to this excerpt about building the right team, I am confident he is speaking from the heart and from experience. Thanks, Mark, for your incredible energy, vision and drive. You are truly an inspiration.

Actors West: SoCal company gives feedback and training to up and coming talent.

2010-11-30T16:12:00.002-06:00

This post is for all those aspiring actors/actresses who are looking for a little more feedback when it comes to an audition. It’s quite common in the audition process to walk out of the room thinking you nailed it, and then subsequently never hear back from the casting director. Instead of hearing valuable feedback about what you could improve on, you go home and dissect those fateful 2 minutes, wondering: “Was it may hair?”; “Or maybe it was my accent?”; “Did I have something in my teeth?” Without direct feedback one could work themselves into a tizzy wondering what the heck went wrong. Thankfully, a SoCal company, Actors West, has got your back. Actors West is a company devoted to you, the actor or actress looking to receive training from Hollywood’s top experts, and actually get that feedback you are lacking from a normal audition.

Actors West specializes in directing up and coming talent in how to snag that new part whether in a film, TV series, or commercial. They are fused with some of the best in the industry who are actually out on the frontlines and know what a director is looking for. Offering regular events including: connecting new talent with a manager or agent; commercial acting workshops; audition workshops and intensives; and the casting director intensive, Actors West is a well-rounded company offering a valuable stepping stone to those who want the ultimate exposure into the industry. Click here to see the many success stories of their clients. The list is deep with many mainstream shows and movies their clients have been connected with because of attending an Actors West event. If you or someone you know is trying to break into the industry and might need some great feedback about their auditions, and are looking to meet some incredibly professional and well-connected contacts in the industry, Actors West looks a viable option.

Calling Future Casting Directors!

2010-11-14T22:36:00.000-06:00

Do you have a desire to work as a casting director within the entertainment industry? This entry is dedicated to helping those who have an eye for talent, and skills of negotiation to take the appropriate action steps to move on to a successful career within the industry. I read an article this week called, “How Casting Directors Work” from Discovery Channels, How Stuff Works, which lays out some pretty practical tips on how to make your way into this exciting career. In their opinion, it all comes down to education, experience, networking and personality.

In terms of education, they suggest attending either a two or four year college dedicated to dedicated to either film or theater, as well entertainment business courses that can help seal the deal in the art of negotiations and contracts.

Experience is another area that will be key in becoming a casting director. It’s pretty common for casting directors to have moved through the ranks, starting at the very bottom of the so-to-speak food chain, and working their way to the top, sometimes offering their services for free. A great place to start is offering your time to a successful casting director as their assistant. This is an incredibly valuable mode of getting first-hand experience while learning from the best.

Networking serves as another great tool in getting where you want to go within the industry. The bigger your “rolodex” the bigger opportunity you have to provide meaningful opportunities for your clients.

And you can’t forget personality. As a casting director you will be interacting with a wide spectrum of people. It’s imperative to be able to manage all types of interpersonal relationships. Without the ability to mesh with a wide variety of personalities, one will be limiting the amount of clientele they can work with.

For more tips on how to become a casting director, check out this page on amazon.com.

Reality TV Casting Tips

2010-11-14T21:57:00.000-06:00

I recently watched a video from the casting directors from NBC’s, “The Biggest Loser” in order to gain tips on how to cast for a reality television show. Though it’s a fairly brief video the advice for the hopeful contestants is both practical and quite easy. The running theme I heard throughout the course of the clip was to be yourself; especially regarding a reality show where it’s fairly unscripted and you are cast because of your personality. It makes the most sense to be who are in front of casting directors rather putting on a false persona. This way you don’t have anything to hide if you are indeed cast for your desired show, which is easier on you in the long run, and far more genuine. Along with being yourself, have fun! Don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through, but be careful not to be overly dramatic or over-the-top. This can be a huge turn-off to casting directors and producers.

Website AuditionFree.com, gives some great tips on audition tapes from making sure to have the proper labels, to ensuring you have the proper lighting. They comment that a common mistake is shooting an audition tape in front of a window where it will look like you are one big shadow. Your lighting does not have to be professional, but you need to give consideration to the fundamentals in order to present a clean look. AuditionFree also goes on to suggest staying away from overly produced video footage, or footage that has too much computer graphics. They are not impressed with your computer knowledge and would much rather see a genuine version of yourself, and what a typical day entails in your life, rather than seeing your killer transition or graphics.

For more advice and tips on landing a role on your favorite reality television show, visit AuditionFree.com and Reality TV, where “The Biggest Loser” clip came from. And remember, when push comes to shove, “Be Yourself”! Good luck!

Interview with Adam She, "Actors, Models, and Talent for Christ" (AMTC) Director of Operations -Written by: Molly Ptaszek

2010-11-06T22:22:00.001-05:00

The following is an interview with Adam She, Director of Operations for Actor’s, Models, and Talent for Christ (AMTC). Adam was incredibly gracious to speak with me over the phone and let me in on this very successful and unique talent management company known for it’s strong Christian values. With an industry overwhelming full of smut and filth, AMTC is a breath of fresh air, providing wholesome, moral, yet beautifully talented individuals to bring a new perspective to the industry. For a deeper look into this one-of-a-kind company, check out their website – http://www.amtcworld.com. Don't forget to check them out on facebook as well.

Thanks to Carey Arban (AMTC - CSO) for responding to my e-mail and connecting me with Adam; and thank you Adam for your valuable time and insight. May the Lord continually bless your efforts to bring Light to an incredibly dark industry. The Lord is so good.

Friday, November 5, 2010

Molly Ptaszek (MP): How long have you been with AMTC, and what is your job is as the Director of Operations?

Adam She (AS): I’ve been with AMTC for 7 sevens years. I oversee all aspect of AMTC operations. I manage and supervise all of department heads and I also head up marketing. I am also a national scout and do some traveling for AMTC.

MP: What is the size of your organization; how many full-time employees?

AS: We have about 15 full time employees, and 100 contractors for anything from coaching, event planning, to administration. Some of our full-time staff are in satellite offices full time is in L.A. and Dallas, but our main offices are in Georgia.

MP: What makes AMTC stand out/unique compared to other talent management companies?

AS: We are very unique. We are one a kind; there is just nothing like us out there; that makes us unique. We have a history and reputation in our 29 year in business. We have never made making money out primary objective; that’s always been a little further down the list. Now that we please God as our number one priority, money has moved even lower down on the list. Publicly, we became a Christian about 4 years ago when my mother-in-law because a Christian. She is our CSO (Chief Serving Officer.) She does a good bit of traveling as a national talent scout., but she is more of a visionary for AMTC.

MP: Tell me about AMTC’s main events.

AS: We have two big tickets items; two, 6-day conventions They are opportunity in a nutshell. What we do is we teach people. The industry is all about what you know and who know. We teach people what they need to know to be successful. That’s why we have the convention.

MP: Who comes to the conventions?

AS: Agents, managers, and talent directors from the major markets...

MP: How have you built these contacts?

AS: God has been good to us. We have a good reputation. Industry contacts talk with each other and let people now. We have people reach out to us all the time as scouts. We are very blessed. We only accept those who are established and have a good reputation and track record. And we say 50-100 agents and managers because what we guarantee is one agent for 11 performers. We can from 500-1000 performers. We have closer to 1 agent to every ten performers.

MP: What is the success rate for your performers?

AS: 65percent will get at least one call back. That doesn’t guarantee anything, but it mean they have some interest. It’s an open door, like a first date. What that performer does with that open door is up to them. As for the percentage who book work, that’s harder to say; many placements can take place right away, or months down the road.

MP: Do you follow up or keep in contact with your performers?

AS: We do keep in contact with performers down the road. There is a follow up group who is available to answer questions as long as they need down the road; they can call and ask for advice…

MP: Where do see AMTC headed in the next five years; what are some of your goals?

AS: In this economy, any business is planning for growth or they will go out; so we are planning for growth. We are setting things in action to prepare. We are opening a training center in Dallas and Atlanta, and performers who are selected would train at these locations.

We are not doing any layoffs. We are hiring; for these new facilities; we are redoing the online curriculum; bringing in more coaches, people who are well trained at what they teach with the curriculum…

MP: Many talent organizations are using digital technology to bring more opportunities to their clients. The Screen Actors Guild has iActor, which allows their members to create an online profile to upload their head shots, resume and also video samples, and gives casting directors around the world the opportunity to search quite easily for new talent in the database; where does AMTC fall in regards to technology in this regard?

AS: We have an online curriculum and our students have a profile. It’s more teaching and not exposure. As far as offering details about talent online, most of our bookings, they are going to want to see people person on person.

Mp: How has the use of social media affected your business strategy, and what social media techniques do you use?

AS: We have facebook and Twitter, as well as a team that maintains those accounts and posts regularly. We make announcement when we have auditions. Technology is future.

MP: As someone who will be starting fresh and will be up against a lot of competitors looking for the same jobs in the industry, what is some advice you would give to stand out about the crowd?

AS: I think if you are going to achieve success you must be a networker and have a strong desire to build relationships. You also have to have high core values. There is no substitute for core values. My advice is to work as an apprentice with a reputable person; to learn the ropes day and in and day out. Don’t be afraid to volunteer your time. Everyone has to pay his or her dues in one way.