As Drea Dreams...Drea Does

Stewart and Seacrest: A Closer Look at The Savvy "Suits"

noreply@blogger.com (Drea) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:08:00 +0000

Everyone dreams to be successful. Some of us have been able to make our dreams a reality; and some of us make it happen and don't just wait on chance or luck. When I think of successful entrepeneurs who have not only made a name for themselves, but have made their names a "stand alone", self proclaimed empire. Those dreamers who have become doers, I greatly admire and intend to learn a great deal from. When it comes to "grabbing the bull by the horns", there are two relentless entrepeneurs that come to mind right away; Martha Stewart and Ryan Seacrest.

MARTHA STEWART:

Martha Stewart has the following titles: businesswoman, media personality, author, magazine publisher, talk show host host. She advises that all entrepreneurs create a well-researched business plan to get a grasp of how big their vision is and what they will need to achieve it.

In 2002, Inc.com published an article, "The Controversial Career and Stunning Success of Martha Stewart", in which I was able to get some insight and share with you. She was born Martha Kostyra, the second of six children born to a Eddie Koystra and Martha Ruszkowski Kostyra; this was a working-class home in New Jersey. Stewart's mother taught her how to cook and sew. Later, she learned the processes of canning and preserving when she visited her grandparents' home in Buffalo, New York. Her father had a passion for gardening, and passed on much of his knowledge and expertise to her.

"Martha Kostyra struck out on her own and became a fashion model in New York City while attending Barnard College for Women as an art history major. She was selected as a "Best Dressed College Girl" in 1961 by a leading fashion magazine. It was at this time in her life that she met the man who would become her husband for the next 20 years, a Yale Law School student named Andy Stewart"(Inc.com).

During this time, Martha became a socialite, hosting parties for New York's powerful people. She then worked as a Wall Street Stock Broker and had decided she had enough. She and Husband, Andy scrapped up enough money to buy a run-down farm house in Westport, Conneticut. They took on the restoration of the 1805 home on their own; this is where Martha summoned interior decorating. Eventually, this house became the model for the "Martha Stewart Living Show". In the basement of the farmhouse she began her small catering business. She began to sell pies and cakes to small boutiques and eventually opened up her own shop (Inc.com). "Stewart's food business led to assignments writing about food for several magazines. In 1982, it also led to her first book, Entertaining"(referenceforbusiness.com).

Soon after, Martha was already making television show appearances and taking interviews. Naturally, she was offered an opportunity by KMART stores to sell household items with her name on them. It wasn't until a few years later that she met her partner, Sharon Patrick, now Cheif Operating Officer of Martha Stewart Living, whom helped Martha buy back all her shares of the company and was the beginning of Martha's empire; in which she combined all her lines of business and created Marth Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. (referenceforbusiness.com).

Evan Carmichael's article, "Famous Entrepeneur: Lesson #3", illustrates Martha's emphasis on using a well thought out business plan. A well detailed business plan will assist in making key decisions. Stewart suggests that entrepreneurs shoud learn the difference between taking risks and taking chances. “The natural question to ask yourself is whether what you are considering doing is a well-calculated risk or whether you are poised to take what I would call a chance – a long shot that depends largely on luck,” says Stewart. “I dislike taking chances; but I think taking a well-calculated risk is the cornerstone of entrepreneurship.”

When Stewart was about to borrow $85 million to purchase Martha Stewart Living from Time Warner in 1997, she had to be realistic about the consequences of her decision. Her advisors cautioned her about the potential risks, but Martha rationally evaluated her odds and made the purchase. “It turned out to be the best investment I have ever made,” Stewart says.

RYAN SEACREST:

Ryan Seacrest has an impressive resume in which he is a radio personality, a television host, network producer and voice actor. He has even been dubbed "the most powerul man in reality tv". Seacrest was born in suburbial Atlanta, Georgia to Gary and Connie Lee. In an interview to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, "instead of playing with G.I. Joes or cowboys and indians, he would always have a little microphone and do shows in the house". As a child, Seacrest would perform in school musicals. As a teen, he became the public school announcer. He later won an internship with WSTR FM and scored an overnight weekend slot until he completed highschool (wikipedia.com).

After high school, he went to college to study journalism. He ended up moving to Los Angeles, California to continue his broadcast career. At 20, he landed a job on the KYSR FM afternoon show, "Ryan Seacrest for the Ride Home", which became the station's number one show and was nationally syndicated. In 2004, he became the new host of "American Top 40" followed by "On Air with Ryan Seacrest"(wikipedia.com).

His televsions career took off when he began hosting shows such as "American Idol" and eventually became executive producer and co-host of "Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve with Ryan Seacrest". He was called upon to serve as substitution for "Larry King Live". Shortly after, E! presented Seacrest with a $21 million deal to host "E! News" and Red Carpet Award Shows. He then became Executive Producer to reality shows such as "Keeping Up With the Kardashians", "Bromance", "Momma's Boys", and "Denise Richards: It's Complicated"(wikipedia.com).

Online Journal's Greg Stacy, worte a business article on Seacrest, "Ryan Seacrest's Business Ventures Will Earn $55 Million in 2011". The article states, "He has already sold one film project and has another in the works. In November he signed a deal with Clear Channel that's allowed him to start up his own music publishing business, so he will own the music he uses in his shows. He's signed what the Hollywood Reporter calls a "mega-deal" with NBC Universal, and in addition to reality shows he also plans to get involved in scripted television". The article also suggests that "Seacrest is even planning on launching his own cable network, in partnership with CAA and live entertainment company AEG. While he plans to contribute content, probably from his production company, Ryan Seacrest Productions, he says that it will not be branded the Ryan Seacrest channel".  

Still early in his career, Ryan has several interviews discussing his new business ventures and his plans to create his own television network as his peer and muse, Oprah Winfrey. I am certain that in a few years, like Martha, he too will be providing his own struggles and triumphs in executing an excellent business plan. No doubtedly, he is not the only person on this planet to avoid one.

As you can see, the savvy and successful entrepeneurs do not just hustle; they imagine, examine, research, and analyze in order to avoid risks and easily view the strengths and weaknesses in their business plans.

Fables and Fairy Tales Fad

noreply@blogger.com (Drea) — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 21:09:00 +0000

Phsycologist and Story teller, Dr. Jonathan Young, writer of "Once upon A Time: How Fairy Tales Shape Our Lives", published in Insider Magazine in 1997, wrote; "These tales are psychological mirrors and we become more complex as we mature. The story tellers intentionally loaded the adventures with heavy symbolism to reveal more meanings as we develop a deeper awareness of ourselves. Bedtime stories have enormous influence over our identities. People identify with certain characters in the stories they heard in childhood. To some degree, many live out these stories, largely unaware of how much the old tales may be shaping our lives."

It makes sense that the stories we hear as children, such as those of the Brothers Grimm, are so impressionable that we subconsciously carry those lessons with us in our daily lives. Interesting enough, renowned psychologist, Dr. Carl Gustave Jung, noted that the shadow energies in dreams and stories often appear as threatening witches or wolves.

Interesting enough is that such stories, that had been deeply rooted in our imagination, have become almost a keepsake of fonder times that we tend to relinquish in them from time to time with new and intriguing adaptations of the "softer" stories we heard as children. However, as we tend to get older, we become more inticed by the darker version of favorite past time fables.

In the world of Entertainment, we see that such fables and fairy tales have become ever more popular; especially with that of the mature audience. ABC's new hit show, "Once Upon A Time" has quickly appealed a favorable fan base. I, for one, am already a fan of the show. The twist in this story telling is that the fairy tale characters have been cursed by the Evil Queen and do not know who they are in this dark modern world that we reside in. It is a young boy Henry who seeks his biological mother Emma, Snow White and Prince Charming's daughter, to return to Story Brooke, Maine and break the spell. The way in which the writers of the show portray the characters and re-write the storylines and present it to the audience is not only intruiging but intelligent.

I am including a trailor of the show for your viewing pleasures.

Another similar show at the moment is that of NBC's "Grimm"; where an unknowing descendant of the Grimms Brothers is a crime investigator and learns of his heritage through "whimsical happenings" in each case. I have read several reviews on this show and have not found them to be so kind. However, I will have to personally look into that myself.

Not only are we seeing such shows on the small screen, but we are seeing them in the big screen as well.
"Snow White and The Huntsman" is another expected box office hit starring Kristen Stewart and Charlize Theron. Here is a glimpse of the captivating trailor. The film is expected to be released in the summer of 2012.

"Red Riding Hood" was another movie that came out earlier in the year starring Amanda Seyfried. Although it did not do as well as expected, it is apparent that fairytales are high in demand.

To read the original stories visit National Geographic's Grimm site.

I have become very interested in following this "fables and fairy tales fad" and intend to share my findings with you as time passes. From a psychological point of view, there must be a desire and a serious demand for such entertainment.

Twitter to Tales says Steve Martin

noreply@blogger.com (Drea) — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 17:51:00 +0000

This week, Reuters reports on Comedian, Actor and Best-Selling Author, Steve Martin. As it turns out, Steve Martin is planning on coming out with another best seller; only this time, its all about Twitter. Steve stated, "[d]ue to absolutely no demand, soon I'm publishing a book of my tweets. Many of your replies included! All my profits to charity." Grand Central Publishing reported that the book will be called "The Ten, Make That Nine Habits, of Very Organized People. Make That Ten," and will be a collection of Martin's tweets, as well as, responses from followers. The book is due for release in Summer 2012.

This story has created much buzz not because the actor is publishing another book, but because he is basing the book entirely on social media! Interestingly enough, it is an excellent marketing plan as for Martin intends to use some of his followers' replies. Steve Martin has over 1.7 million fans following him, including myself. I have no doubt that this book will be another best seller. I also find it interesting that he is taking this concept of social networking and giving it life. We tend to view social media as some kind of impersonal means of communication, but it really can be quite personal.

Thanks to social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook, we can view pictures, read other's comments and thoughts; we are able to see their moods shift and even learn about their lifestyle, etc. Interestingly enough, we make friends with strangers or speak to people we would have never imagined and have a "relationship" of some kind no matter how small it may seem. Due to the shared interests or shared friends we tend to have on these social media channels, we also tend to be influenced in various ways, such as where we shop, where we dine, what movies to see, how to vote, etc. All of these things can be influenced and used as a tool through the use of social media.

Steve Martin takes credit as an Actor, Musician, Comedian, and Author, but he needs to add Marketing Guru to his resume as well. Earlier this month, he tweeted, "Jack Black, Owen Wilson and I did the Ellen show today. Remind me, is that the movie? Or did we shoot a movie?"

Here is a clip of the interview mentioned promoting his next movie:

I am definitely looking forward to reading Steve Martin's book to see what he has to say about the concept of social media. I am certain that it will be enlightening, humorous, and witty. Although I have yet to read one of his books, I already feel I know his style for I do read his tweets.

An Exclusive with Entertainment Attorney Darren Heitner, Esquire

noreply@blogger.com (Drea) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 23:32:00 +0000

Darren Adam Heitner, Esquire, the lawyer, educator, journalist, athlete, and advocate, recently took time out of his busy schedule to share a bit about himself and provide some insight on the world of entertainment law.

Darren Adam Heitner, Esquire, is an attorney based in the State of Florida, who is licensed to practice on the state and federal level, and focuses on sports, entertainment, and intellectual property litigation and transactional work. He is the Founder and CEO of Dynasty Athlete Representation, Professor of Sport Agency Management at Indiana University Bloomington, and the Founder and Chief Editor of Sports Agent Blog, a leading niche industry publication. He is also the Public Relations Director of the National Sports and Entertainment Law Society and Associate Executive Director of the Jewish Coaches Association.

Such accomplishments no doubtedly began with a solid education. Darren has a Bachelors of Arts and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from the University of Florida. During his college career, he served two terms as the President of the "Entertainment and Sports Law Society" and Chair of the popular "UF Sports Law Symposium". His passion for his career is apparent. I asked Darren what first drew him to the entertainment industry. He expressed, "my involvement in sports. I started a sports agency and went to law school, focusing on sports law. Sports and entertainment are tied together in many ways. Being involved in sports led to involvement in the entertainment industry."

Most of us have a passion and not all of us have been able to completely relish in it. Mr. Heitner not only practices entertainment law, he is an educator as well as journalist. To be so dedicated, there must be something that ignites his fire. So, I asked Darren what fascinates him most about the industry, he replies, "The interesting issues and actors involved. Many of the matters involve intellectual property disputes, which I enjoy, and breaches of contract. I also love the transactional work involved."

With several years in practicing entertainment law, Heitner states that the most common mistakes he finds most people making in this industry are "poor drafting of contracts at the formation of important relationships. Many contracts involve a lot of money and the actors do not spend the time and money to hire competent attorneys to protect themselves ahead of time."

Prior to this interview, I let Darren know that I am a graduate student at Full Sail University majoring in Entertainment Business. Appropriately, I closed the interview, by asking Darren what he would advise a student or young professional starting out in this industry. "Work on building connections with those already entrenched in the industry. This industry is about who you know as much as anything else."

*** I would personally like to thank Attorney, Darren Heitner, Esq. for the opportunity to answer my questions and share his story, experiences, insights, and advice. I admire your passion and your drive. ***

Lime light and Liabilities

noreply@blogger.com (Drea) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 02:53:00 +0000

Holly Madison, best known as Hugh Heffner's sexy playmate girlfriend on the hit televsion series "The Girls Next Door", has recently insured her breast for $1 million. Holly expressed to People Magazine, "If anything happened to my boobs, I'd be out for a few months and I'd probably be out a million dollars," she told People. "I thought I'd cover my assets." According to the Reuter article, many stars have insured several body parts. This makes perfect sense to me. Holly Madison, as well as other celebrities, have built an empire primarily on their physical appearance. If anything were to happen to those "assets", more than likely, they would be out of work.

Also in the lime lights, is Barnes & Nobles Bookstore, whom purchased long time competitor Borders' client dvd order list as well as Borders Brandmarket trademarks in bankruptcy court. This is an excellent case featuring trademarks and brand recognition and the influences over customers. Borders has proven to keep loyal customers through the use of various intellectual property laws like that of the trademark. It was a good idea for Barnes & Noble to make such a purchase in order to win over Borders' clients.

A 150 year old Grand Hotel in Dixville Noth, New Hampshire has built on their brand during this "shaky" economy. Although, old hotels do struggle just as much as new resorts, there does seem to be an advatnage to its appeal. At the Balsams Grand Resort, there seems to be a smarter way to invest; in its brand. Local by the name of Roch states, "[etc] the advantage is there is more awareness in the market for historic hotels. They've got a name, they've got a reputation, they've got the word of mouth." Sometimes, taking the time to invest in what sets your company apart from others and protecting that image will benefit the business.

Book Distibution has a Problem?

noreply@blogger.com (Drea) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 00:38:00 +0000

At Full Sail University, where I am finishing up my Master's program in Business Entertainment, I am currently taking a Media Publishing and Distibution Course. In this course we often discuss Publishing and Distribution in the following industries of entertainment; print, music, film, and games. I for one tend to focus a bit more in the print industry.

The print industry appeals to me due to my background in writing. I have taken several courses in creative writing as well as professional writing. I have a background in Mass Communications and Sociology from the University of Central Florida. During which, my thought process in one day publishing my very own story and eventually book was made possible.

I have yet to publish any work. However, the interest in doing so is very much alive. The thing that has held me back is of course the dedication in writing a piece of work and being satisfied with completion. It is no secret that writers are never done writing. We tend to edit, and edit again, knowing we can do better and communicate in a more creative and intelligent form. A writer or any artist, often times competes with one self and is his or her own toughest critic.

When one is ready to publish, one must consider distribution channels. In the article, "Indie Publishing: The Problem With Distribution", it discusses the need to understand publishing and media enterprise. Author, Joel Friedlander, explains; "in order to operate profitably within this system, a publisher has to identify books that will have a very broad appeal, market these books to a national audience, print and distribute enough of these books to take advantage of mass media exposure, [and] absorb the losses on all “losers” by using the profits from big “winners.” This basically suggests, that as an independent publisher, it is very important to know how to market your book or it may not succeed once published.

The article continues to describe the "new world of publishing" in which independent publishers may be able to succeed through its "new world" distribution channels such as; amazon.com, the internet, social media, and ebooks. Friedlander states, "[a]ll this has created what you might call a golden age for indie publishing. As long as indie publishers understand the nature of the book distribution that’s available to them, and exploit the advantages they have over larger publishers, amazing sales can be the result."

As we have grown familiar with Mass Media and the world of Publication, we must also open our eyes to the many distribution channels being offered through the web today. Book distibution may be a problem to some, but to others it is but a challenge.

Drea Considers Castng Director

noreply@blogger.com (Drea) — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 23:57:00 +0000

During my time at edgefactory Omnimedia, I had the opportunity to assist the Creative Director. I would assist in searching for props and materials for shows, book hair and make up artists, search for images to be used in film, as well as search for talent.

I realized that I enjoy every bit of my work, but my favorite was that of finding the talent. I enjoy bringing the client or direcrtor's image to life by realizing their needs as well as their taste and feel for the project. This was by far my favorite part of work. To what others call work, I call play time.

Since I was a little girl, I would watch the Miss America and Miss Universe Pageants. I would always know whom were going to be the top finalists. As I child I knew that I wanted to work in the entertainment industry. At first, like most in the industry, wanted to be the one in the lime light. However, over the years, I began to understand my talents.

My experiences include; acting, singing, dancing, modeling, drawing, painting, and writing. A few of these, I have gotten a bit rusty at due to lack of practice. I believe that to entertain, is like being an athlete; one must practice and compete in order to eventually be the best when its time to perform. I understand the importance of discipline and perserverance.

Being a part of the entertainment is hard work that takes much dedication both on stage and back stage. I applaud the script writers, directors, and composers, for they are the master minds or the puppet masters in what is being performed for all to see. It is their ideas in collaboration with collegues and assistants working together in order for it to all come together as it should. The vision needs to be realized.

I have found that I understand both on stage and back stage roles fairly well. I have learned that I have a keen eye and talent for pulling it all together. That is why I believe that in my chosen career field of entertainment, I may be a skilled Casting Director. I enjoy making people's dreams come true as well as understanding the needs of the client. I have the experience and the talent, a sixth sense in recognizing what talents will be right for the task; just as those chosen in beauty pageants.

I understand that this position requires much patience for it does not always take a day to find the right talent for the job. I understand that working with creative indviduals may not be a pleasant task and once again, patience is required. I understand how the attention working with talents may require, again, I know I posses such patience to work cooperatively. Patience is a skill I have not acquired over the years, but one that has been gifted to me early on in my life.

After my experices as both a Model Scout and a Communications/Production Coordinator, I feel that I have found my calling as a Casting Director. I have been told that I am a very well connected individual and I use my networking skills whenever I can. I appreciate business from anyone, as I believe we all have a need for one another. This skill will enable me to be resourceful in working with others in search of acquiring the talent.

To know more about Casting Directors and their roles, please visit: http://filmtvcareers.about.com/od/basics/p/CP_CastingDir.htm and http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-casting-director.htm

Controversy in the World of Entertainment

noreply@blogger.com (Drea) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 00:34:00 +0000

Controvery exists everywhere- even in the world of entertainment. Just because the entertainment Industry may be viewed as artistic and glamorous, it doesn't mean that law and business practices don't apply. Today, I will give you three examples of current controvery in the entertainment industry.

I begin with one cause that is personal to me, the "Real Men Don't" PSA created by Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore in their efforts to end child sex slavery. The big controvery is that film maker Tom Kiesche has been using the "Real Men Don't" phrase since 2006. Online entertainment website, Bitten & Bound has an article, "Tom Kiecshe vs. Ashton Kutcher 'Real Men Don't' Controvery", compares both videos by Kiecshe and Kutcher and asks readers to see for themselves. They also report that a spokesman of Ashton's and Demi's told Canyon News, "This allegation is absurd. There are 7.8 million results on Google for the phrase (Real Men Don’t), used in all sorts of media.”

Another current controversy in the world of entertainment lies in that of the fashion industry. Its no secret that Calvin klein has been known to be quite controversial in many of his ads over the years. The most norotious was the Brooke Sheilds ad where the 15 year old at the time stated, "Nothing comes between me and my Calvins". This time its supermodel Laura Stone wearing nothing but underwear and her body along with the background seem to be spelling out a naughty word. That's right, the streets of Manhatan seem to be receiving the F-U-"ck" (the calvin klein signature). Click here to view the billboard. Fox News Entertainment reporter, Hollie McKay, interviewed editor of AdRants, Steve Hall; he stated, "It won't hurt the brand because CK isn't a brand people look towards to be ‘sensitive’ or ‘politically correct’ or just plain ‘nice.’ No. It's a fashion brand and by design, fashion brands push limits". As we all know, the 1980's Brooke Sheilds ad did just fine despite all the controversy. Makes you wonder if creating such controvery is a smove business move. I think it depends on the industry.

The final controvery I'd liek to share is that of Dreamwork's "Kung Fu Panda". In China there are protestors who feel the movie has "Americanized" the Chinese culture. The movie uses several Chinese elements to capture audiences-especially Chinese. Some Chinese scholars and artists have argued that film has twisted Chinese culture and serves as a tool to "kidnap" Chinese people. English News Editor, Fang Yang, reports that some Chinese view it as a "cultural invasion". However, many other Chinese viewers have been huge fans of the "Kung Fu Panda" movies. They often wonder why they (the Chinese people) have not ever created a movie quite like this before. The story also reports Deputy General Manager, Cao Hui, expressed "Technically, Kung Fu Panda is not more advanced than Chinese movies, but as for story telling skills, Chinese movies have a long way to go". The arguments closes with the understanding that there seems to be nothing wrong with using Chinese elements in creating fine cinema.

These three examples are perfect examples of current day controversy in the world of entertainment. There are tons of other examples found related to the entertainment industry. One must remember that the Entertainment Industry, like many fellow industries, have much legal guidelines to follow. The world of creativity is as much business as any other and it is always important to consider and explore all the outcomes and risks imagineable. Its never a bad idea to continue to conduct research and seek legal guidance or counsil.

Ready for Jurassic Park 4?

noreply@blogger.com (Drea) — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 23:56:00 +0000

Over the weekend, film director, Steven Spielburg announced at Comic-Con Interntional Convention in San Diego, California, that there will be a Jurrasic 4 coming to theaters in 2013 or 2014.

Spielburg made a claim; "We have a story. We have a writer working on the script, and I think we will see a 'Jurassic 4' in our foreseeable future, probably in the next two or three years."

Joe Johnston, the "Captain America" director who worked on the first three, had a bit more to add to Spielburg's comment. According to the Huffington Post, Johnson stated; "We are in discussions about 'Jurassic Park 4, the most important thing I can tell you is that it starts a new trilogy that will go off in a different direction -- a completely different direction that is very exciting."

Spielburg, a sci-fi film fan since childhood who made the genre movies "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial" and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," was at Comic-Con to receive an "Inkpot Award" for achievement in science-fiction movies.

Reuters claims that Spielburg received a standing ovation from the crowd and told them: "We all love the same source material that has brought all of us here and the source material has always been the collective imaginations of so many brilliant artists and storytellers."

Steven Spielburg is a man that needs no introduction. He is a man of innovation and strong imagintation. When he created the first Jurrasic Park in 1993, he really brought to life the pre-historic creatures and had them co-exist with human beings for the first time that hisotry and science would ever allow such existence. The film was indeed a success and so was the sequal, Jurassic Park 2. However, Jurassic Parl 3, may I just note was not directed by Spielburg, was not a success. The question is, are we ready for another Jurassic Park adventure after twenty years?

Since news of the anticipatd Jurassic Park 4, many fans are already becoming impatient. They are eager to see what this new film will bring. Whether it be a nostalgic crowd awaitng a film from their youth or a sci-fi infused audience, the buzz of Jurassic 4 is being heard world wide. There is no doubt that Spielburg will add much of his signature wonder to this highly anticipated film.

Negative Perception Negates deals for Casey Anthony

noreply@blogger.com (Drea) — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 19:46:00 +0000

Over the past three years, Casey Anthony has made a name for herself. She is one of the most recognizable women in the world right now. However, the way she acquired her infamous reputation had to do with the murder of her 2 and half year old daughter, Caylee Anthony.

Even though Casey was not found guilty of the murder do to insufficient proof, many entertainment professionals were aware of the attention that was drawn to this case. Hence, they assumed that they should cash in on her persona right away. As of right now, Casey has been offered a deal to appear on the Maury Show, a deal to star in an adult film, a movie concerning the case seems to be in the works, and of course a million dollar book deal.

However, several of those offers have been retracted due to the negative perception she has made for herself. Vivid's Co-Chairman, Steven Hirsch, has reportedly changed his mind after Vivid fans expressed that they want nothing to do with Anthony.

The question now is, will the other offers be retracted? If the porn industry does not want anything to to with Cassey, how will other appearances and books sell? The idea that these offers are directly intended to profict Casey, may in fact turn off the consumers. However, there has not been such a hype of interest in such a case since the O.J. Simpson trial. There has been talk that the jurors should come together to write a book about their experiences during this trial. There may be better chances of a profit for the jurors than there may be for Anthony. I have seen many messages throughout social media of people protesting Casey Anthony's offers.

"energy, emotion, and edge" with edgefactory Omnimedia

noreply@blogger.com (Drea) — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 19:21:00 +0000

Its been almost two solid months since I joined the edgefactory team as a Communications Coordinator. In my previous entries I expressed my desire to work in the entertainment industry and be able to give back to society in a positive manner. Now I know, that I have been blessed to have found a company that has the same beliefs as me and strives for perfection in all creative forms.

Let me first begin by introducing edgefactory Omnimedia. edgefactory OMNIMEDIA is a leading producer of creative video, meetings and special events for Fortune 500 companies, major industry associations and a host of other organizations. Founded in 1998, edgefactory is a multi-disciplined creative resource offering an array of services from creative writing, video production, graphic design, 3D imaging, original music and technical support.

"We are the award winning, 2010 EMMY® NOMINATED, edgefactory OMNIMEDIA, we are committed to providing world class convention and corporate video production services at affordable prices. Everything that we do, we do with energy, emotion, and, of course, edge".

Based in Orlando, edgefactory's experienced production team uses cutting edge technology to produce and deliver creative video content across the country and internationally. Among its clientele are film production agencies, Audio Visual companies, professional meeting planners, and Fortune 500 companies.

I will never forget the impression I got from these four men; Brian Cole, Keven Leonard, Ryan Haanstraa and Carl Pfeiffer, on my first interview. I was not only impressed by their experiences and skills but more impressed by their very apparent energy and passion they felt for their work. The positive energy I felt was contagious. This group of people clearly had their inividual "egde" about them. They are all very unique and yet, they manage to compliment one another beautifully. They are fresh and innovated. It only took a moment to know that I wanted to be part of their team.

In my short time with this respectable group of individuals, I have learned that they are eco-friendly in all that they do. I have learned that they are always willing to find a way to work on something they believe in even when things may not seem feasable. I learned that they LOVE what they do. They are a well connected and highly creative team with much "energy, emotion, and edge".

Talk Radio Producer Jose Zouain talks Entertainment and Negotiation

noreply@blogger.com (Drea) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:52:00 +0000

I'd like to introduce you to a good friend of mine and former co-worker, Jose Zouain of Zouain Entertainment and also known as "Zouain" from the hit talk radio show, "The Shannon Burke Show". He is currently producer to "The Ray Junior Show". I have watched this young man take different roles professionally and have been impressed by his people skills. Jose has to interact with all sorts of people daily. He has managed to own and successfully run his own entertainment business as well as produce radio shows. For this reason I have decided to interview Jose and see what he can tell us about his experiences in the entertainment industry as well as discuss negotiation.

"From the time I was four years old I knew I wanted to be in the entertainment industry at some point. I remember standing in front of crowds at a very young age and speaking to them very easily as I do today". These are the words of Talk Radio Producer, Jose Zouain. He reminices, "my first taste in entertainment came in the form of an internet radio station called PowerZone Radio. A guy approached me during my freshman year of college because he said I had a good voice and good knowledge of the format that he was broadcasting in this station. He taught me the basics of voiceover and Disc Jockey work and I worked for free for a few months while I was a freshman in college".

From there on, Zouain was approached by the largest DJ company in Orlando, White Rose Productions, to do work as an emcee in the orlando area for high end events. After four months of training, he received his first paycheck as an entertainer and from then on he knew for a fact that entertainment was the industry for him. While working as an emcee, his interest in being a disk jockey greatly appealed to him. He then began to DJ for celebrity weddings and high end parties all over the south east. All the while, he was doing full time work as an I.T. Some may call it a blessing in disguise, I believe that Zouain took charge of his life after getting laid off; he decided to pursue his life's passion working full time in talk radio.

"I approached a radio station and I was able to learn quickly enough that they entrusted their flagship show to me". Zouain expresses proudly, "I learned a ton there and through that networked with some very powerful and influential people in the industry". Since then, he has produced for a number of different shows, doing everything from booking guests, voicing, producing commercials, to on air comedy bits and commentary. I have personally had the pleasure of seeing him play all of these roles. Believe it or not, but we all play roles-often different roles; we either play them out or society places us within in them. This is something that can be used as leverage when negotiating. Reason being, we become experts in our roles and the way in which we play them influences how others perceive us. How we are perceived, can determine the outcome of closing a deal or settling a negotiation.

I asked Jose what advice he would give to those pursuing the industry. He responds, "To make it in the industry is a two fold equation. You have to know the job you’re applying for well. If you don’t, the networking you do could easily hurt you. You can become the person who talks a good game but doesn’t know what they’re doing. What separates an amateur from a professional is keeping your word". Jose and I can both agree that being knowledgeable is the best way to win a negotiation. When one is familiar with the work, one immediatley acquires respect and crediability. This is mainly due to the confidence a person has when he or she is certain of a subject matter. Always do your homework and stay abreast in order to better succeed.

He continues, "The other piece of that equation is to network. Network with your fellow classmates, coworkers, and anyone you come in contact with in the industry. The people you sit next to in class or work with you are people who you will more than likely run into in the future. Most branches of the entertainment industry are small. Keep that in mind when encountering anyone". Jose is absolutel right! In any business market-especially that of the entertainment industry, networking is key to good business. When one networks, one tends to affiliate themselves with cetain groups or chapters. As we network, we tend to form small and growing social enviroments of a particular group of people. This is how we resource and identify ourselves amongst others with similar interests. This is also a tool often used in negotiation. One should identify with the opponent and agree on a middle ground. The outcome of a good negotiation is always beneficial to both parties.

Zouain leaves us with one more important tip, "The Entertainment industry is one that it takes a special type of person to enter. You don’t get into it because you want to get rich. You get into it because you LOVE it. If you get rich in the process so be it, but I wouldn’t count on it".

**** I want to personally thank Jose Zouain for taking the time to enlighten us a bit more on the world of entertainment as well as provide us with a few tips on negotiation. ****

Pirates' Strange Ties

noreply@blogger.com (Drea) — Mon, 23 May 2011 00:56:00 +0000

Disney has had much success over the years and has been known for having impecable taste in creating immaginative family films. Probably one of the most recent box office successes was that of The Pirates of the Carribean and its sequals. Disney's Pirates of the Carribean: On Stranger Tides, was directed by Rob Marshall and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. The cast made up of: Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Ian McShane, and Astrid Berges-Frisbey to name a few.

Despite the bad reviews from film critics, Pirates of the Carribean: On Stranger Tides has kept up in the box office thanks to its large enthusiastic fan base. The movie still managed to open the box office with $90 million. However, this seems to be a disappointment for box office analysts who proclaimed Pirates would have a $100 million opening. As Thomsons On Hollywood suggests, "In the world of perception, a Wednesday opening might have made a difference. Had Disney unspooled Pirates 4 over five-days, they could be writing press releases heralding a $100 million-plus opening. They implemented a wise distribution maneuver with the last Pirates pic, At World’s End, opening on late Thursday evening prior to Memorial Day weekend, which bolstered pre-Midnight screenings to $14 million at 3,100 sites and total four-half day holiday gross of $153 million. It will be interesting to see if Pirates 4 crosses $100 million on Tuesday." Hence, poor timing and publicity accounted for the film not meeting expectations as they had with the first three Pirate movies.

This serves as a valuable lesson in regards to any business opportunities. It crucial and beneficial to always consider timing, location, and marketing plans to as a special formula to create desired earnings. I say this because depsite the poor review the critics gave this film, there are many fans still waiting to see this movie that could have been accounted for had they opened on another night of the week or better yet on a holiday weekend. Never under estimate the fan base. These strange box office opening results are due to poor executive ties.

I have included a video of the first trailor to the latest Pirates of the Carribean: On Stranger Tides film for you to enjoy.

Meet Vanessa Pascale Editor-in-Chief of Miami Living Magazine

noreply@blogger.com (Drea) — Tue, 17 May 2011 23:01:00 +0000

I'd like to introduce you to someone whose hard work, dedication, commitment, and passion has led to a fulfilling career in the entertainment industry. I truly admire and am very proud of my old high school friend, Vanessa Pascale , who has not only made a name for herself but followed her dreams.

My admiration for Vanessa's success provoked me to ask her a little bit about her journey along the way and her experiences in the industry. I plan to share her story and thoughts with you for they have been very inspirational and I am certain that it will be very influential to my career as well.

Vanessa is a fellow University of Central Florida alumni who, like many of us, did not have an easy start. She explained, "I spent almost an entire year actively contacting every major and minor publication I knew of. Finally, Orlando Style Magazine gave me a shot and asked me to interview Genevieve Gorder--an interior designer from the TV show Trading Spaces who now has her own show on HGTV: Dear Genevieve." Genevieve Gorder was her first big celebrity interview. I asked Vanessa of that experience and she feels thankful to have had the opportunity to have interviewed her since she was "incredibly nervous, as I’d never interviewed anyone before, and she was very patient and comforting. She really was so sweet and the perfect person to ease me into interviewing."

She declares that after graduating, she actively sought employment and even flew to New York City for interviews but nothing seemed to come of it. It wasn't until a close friend of hers mentioned that she was moving to California for grad school, she jumped at the opportunity to relocate, thinking there would be more writing opportunities in Los Angeles- the entertainment capital. She moved to Los Angeles in 2008 and continued freelance writing. It wasn't until 2009, that Miami Living Magazine's Editor-in-Chief decided to leave and suggested her for the job. She was beyond ecstatic she says, "I never even considered becoming an Editor, especially this early in my writing career".

I would think it to be normal for someone so early in her career to be filled with nerves and doubt in holding such a position, but not Vanessa. She immediately came into that title with grace and much determination, "since becoming the Editor-in-Chief, I’ve made sure to use this position to my advantage. I’ve actively and steadily built strong relationships with L.A. public relations firms enabling me to garner many celebrity interviews for the magazine and allowing me to showcase the type of writing I’m really passionate about: interviews. And I’ve been able to help my friends promote their careers and businesses, which is really great." Not only does Vanessa love what she does, she uses her talents and connections to help family and friends and she seems to find that rewarding. I'm sure this is one of the many reasons I am such a fan of this young, talented, and ambitious woman; she finds it within herself to do more with what is given to her and it shows.

I asked Vanessa what she enjoys best about her career. She responded, "What I enjoy most about my career is hearing about the journey of these incredibly successful people that I get to interview. It’s enlightening and inspiring. I am a very curious person so this feeds my need to understand people and learn from them." Its no secret that any good writer needs to satisfy their need to seek answers in order to understand and grow. Her response definitely leads me to believe that she has met her calling.

I also asked for her thoughts on the entertainment industry over the years and how she sees it evolving. "In my experience, this industry is very hard to break into. After speaking with people in the industry who have high up positions at major publications/companies, I have found that a lot of them have gotten their jobs because of who they know."

She continues, "There are so many talented writers out there and not enough positions (magazines) available. It’s really cutthroat. I asked a friend of a friend, who works at Vogue, for some advice and who I should contact about a job and she completely blew me off – did not want to help at all." It is no surprise that the entertainment industry is the most competitive and one must be resourceful and learn to use their networking skills.

To close the interview, I asked Vanessa what advice she would give to anyone pursuing a career in the entertainment industry. This was her response: "If I could go back and do it over, I would’ve tried to intern at Hearst while in college, that way I would’ve had my foot in the door and would’ve been able to move my way up the ranks. I think the industry is only going to get more exclusive and harder to break into as the years go on. For anyone who wants to pursue a career in media/entertainment, I suggest that they hit the pavement full force –this is advice I’ve been given and really live by. Anything worth having takes tons of hard work and if the talent is there and the determination is there, it’s only a matter of time till you’re given the opportunity to shine. Don’t give up."

***I want to personally thank Vanessa Pascale for taking the time to answer my questions and share some of her experiences, insights, and advice. I admire your work, your passion, and your drive. You are truly blessed to be living your dreams. I wish you well always. ~Drea***

Time to Emerge my Talent

noreply@blogger.com (Drea) — Thu, 05 May 2011 03:40:00 +0000

Everyone has their time...their moment in time, their time for change, their time to evolve as a human being. As you may have learned from my first entry, "The Shannon Experience", I am currently within the process of searching for my moment in time, have gone through a personal change or growth, and am in the process of evolving as a defined human being.

Many of us have been dealt a good hand and at some point have managed to not play the cards right. Many of us continue being handed opportunities but we do not know how to go about them. In order to win the game, we must learn to understand the game. This is why I am back in school. I am trying to acquire my Master's so that I can better understand the game and learn to overcome the obstacles that come my way. I plan to continue to learn and explore and give back to world.

How am I able to give back to the world? Well, in my previous entry "Ashton and Demi's Fight Human Trafficking", I mentioned the small ways in which I have been able to give back positively. What I have yet not mentioned is the fact that I left my internship position at the "The Shannon Burke Show". I loved being a part of that show. Contrary to what most believe about Shannon, he is a man with a good heart and a very intelligent one may I add. I guess my leaving was a blessing in disguise. I have parents that are often ill and there had been times where I would have to tend to them and the family owned business. I did not see it fair to the show, so I resigned.

It was time for me to really seek employment versus an internship. I already acheived my first challenge of leaving a job I could not tolerate with great pay to doing something I love for no pay. This is a valuable lesson I learned and I am certain that Robert Kiyosaki, aurthor of Rich Man Poor Dad would approve. After all the first lesson is to "never work for money". If you have not read it, I recommend you do for a better understanding of my thoughts as well as a window of opportunity for the creative mind. For many personal reasons, I had to search for a job with pay but one that I would enjoy. I have vowed to never do anything I do not enjoy ever again.

As a young girl, I had a vast interest in a career in the entertainment industry. I was a young and talented little actress, singer, and dancer. I recall taking modeling and finishing classes. I remember winning first place in a state school chorus competion. I will not forget my acting in a school play and my performance with story telling skills. I will always remember the way I would be able to look at something and draw it on call. I can't forget about my poetry, songs, and novels. Looking back, I had many talents and dreams to be pursued. Although, I know it may not be too late to pursue them, I do feel I may be able to help others acheive their dreams.

I am now a Model Scout for Emerge Talent. Not only do I understand what it is like to model and aspire to be so many great things, I understand the disappointment and hard work that comes with that process. I have always had a great gift for selecting the top picks in Beauty pageants. I know what people are looking for it seems. So why not put my gifts to work for others? I intend to scout fashion models and help make their dreams come true. I guess you can say I am emerging my talents with Emerge Talent and my models.

Ashton and Demi's Fight on Human Trafficking

noreply@blogger.com (Drea) — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 21:58:00 +0000

Back in 2008 I believe, I was taking a sociology course at the University of Central Florida when I first learned that slavery still exists today. I was shocked, then overwhelmed with disgust and anger, and immediately felt it was my duty to do something about it. I decided it was my responsibility to inform others about what was happening. I created a online forum on myspace and invited all my friends and family and made it public so that others may join. I rented the Lifetime movie, Human Trafficking and watched with friends. I joined the Polaris Project to stay informed as to was the government is doing and I relayed that information online as well. I did everything I thought I could do and I learned that I did educate quite a few people and that continued to spread. For a young college student, I did okay. Although, I always feel I could have done more and I always feel that I still can do more.

There are many different forms of enslavement but the one that infuriated me the most was that of sex trafficking. Britney Spears' song "I'm a slave for you", was a big hit and made the term "sex slave" seem sexy and playful. I do not believe that Britney condones sex slavery nor do I blame her song for enticing the sex trafficking industry to boom. I mention her because she was and may possibly still be an influential person in our society. Being a celebrity comes with all kinds of advantages, one of which is the ability to have followers. I condone Demi Moore and husband Ashton Kutcher for starting up the "Real Men Dont Buy Girls" campaign. Spreading the word is one thing, but relaying an influential message under such celebrity influences is powerful. I only hope that people continue to listen and spread the word and make a difference. I have high hopes for the cause now that this "power couple" has taken on the project. I wish them well and plan to see how I can get invloved in this because the fight against Human Trafficking and the exploitation of women and children matters to me. If one takes the moment to learn about it, I can guarantee you that it will matter to you. This is something that affects everybody personally.

Ashton and Demi went on Piers Morgan's show on CNN to discuss how they are using social media to spread the word. Ashton states it is important to go through social networking channels because the majority of human trafficking that goes on begins online, "so why not take it to the source?" I have included two links below. One titled, Andrea prefers a Real Man, which is a commercial for the campaign where one may be a part of personally. I still find it very neat to see technology create such a bridge and unite people. You will see a message with my full name and next to Eva Longoria; she then personally says "Andrea prefers a real man, do you?" with a picture of my facebook default. Its one way to put your face and your message out there with so many others in a unique way. There are many other commercials to choose from with many other celebrities to chose from. The second link you will see below is of a clip of Ashton and Demi discussing their campaign with Piers Morgan.

Andrea prefers a Real Man
http://cnn.com/video/?/video/world/2011/04/14/piers.kutcher.moore.trafficking.cnn

Bottom line, one can easily see how influential the entertainment world and powerful social media is today. So much so that it is a great marketing tool that should not be overlooked.

Limitless

noreply@blogger.com (Drea) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 20:31:00 +0000

Last week I saw the movie Limitless. This film was directed by Neil Burger and stars Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, and Abbie Cornish. In the film, a writer discovers a top secret drug that enables him use all of his brain and seems to give him super human abilities. We all use just a small protion of our brain; imagine if we could use all of it. Well, that's the idea and a very good idea may I add. What made this movie a hit is the very well written story line, the amazing visual effects, and fine acting. This film ran with the plot and left no details unraveled. I can honestly say it satisfied the audience's appetite for a good story.

There are many scenes or explanations throughout the movie that would make sense if we were to use all of our brain. I dont want to give away all the details but the film did make me think about our society and our culture and how we preceive others. Is it true that only the most intelligent are the survivors and the most powerful? It does make sense that the more we know, the more we can acheive and conquor. This is no secret but what the film suggests will make you think and understand what it is I am trying to say and what I am really questioning. Like I said before, I do not want to give anything away.

I believe a good story or show is one that makes you think about the world we live in and how we relate to others as well as being able to transport the audience and fully envolve them. That is what I believe this movie did and why it did so well with both critics and audience. The idea alone was brilliant and they way in which it was told was very well done.

A Night of Laughs

noreply@blogger.com (Drea) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 18:54:00 +0000

Sometime last week I was on my facebook and on my notification feed I noticed one of my "friends", Orlando Improv Comedy Club, ask if anyone has ever been hyptnotized. I simply responded "no, but I am curious". I then got a message from the Improv thanking me for participating and offered me eight free tickets to the show to see commedian and hyptnotis, J Medicine Hat. I could not pass up eight free tickets to see a show with friends. With money being tight these days, its limited the social life of many.

So there we were last Saturday night, there were six of us who made the drive to Pointe Orlando to see the show. I believe most of us have seen a comedy show and maybe a few of us have seen a hyptnotis, but are we able to believe? The reason I ask this is because although we may have seen someone get hyptnotized with our own eyes, and although we may know its a science that has been used in medicine and other theraputic treatments, and we are laughing hysterically at show, we still question if what we are seeing is real.

J Medicine Hat, was a funny guy. Like all comedians, he stated a lot of truths and a lot of stereotypes that we all know are true and we find that to be comical. Reality never fails to be entertaining, nor does fantasy, nor does mystery. This show had a bit of all three and with the help of food and drinks, this show was indeed a success. What I found to be the best part of the show is the people who left questioning it all; these people were the audience and even those who participated in the hypnosis. I believe that if a show makes one think, its done its job in fully entertaining like a good film or a good book.

Entertaining Stocks

noreply@blogger.com (Drea) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 18:45:00 +0000

Below is a link to a video clip discussed in my Entertainment Finance class that I choose to share with you.

http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/3894859/cashing-in-on-music-rights/

I have heard of this before...and it rang a bell once again when Robert Kiyosaki author of Rich Dad Poor Dad mentions that he invests in music and this was an example he used for assets. I do find it interesting, new and exciting! I think the reason it excites me so much is how much we have evolved as a society that now we look to the world of entertainment as an investment opportunity! So much has changed over the years and it only motivates me more to be financially savvy and while still being able to enjoy the "fruit of my looms"; as entertainment professionals, if we invest in our own industry our asset would indeed be our income and vice versa. Finance is no longer boring.

We do have to think about how much music artists have given up to make money due to the efficiency of technology. I for one am not so tech savvy, that I do still go out and buy the cd's or just youtube a tune. I also don't think its smart to spend between $1-3 on a song on i-tunes when I can get the rest of the artist's songs on their cd for $13; maybe I'm lets put it politely...dollar efficient. I have found myself going to record stores and have invested in vinyls-they are collectables and when one does their research, a very good investment in the long run. However, we all have to make a living for ourselves and if this is a profitable way for artist to do make that extra penny-great! It is a savvy business move right now and I do find ourselves in a time of change and innovation where even boring stocks and bonds can be exciting because we invest in our entertainers and their success becomes our success.

I am eager to give this a try and learn as much as I can about it. I have included a stock ticker in my blog with some stock in the entertainment industry and others for you to compare. I advice to keep learning and stay current because this is an industry that is always evolving and I am happy to be a part of it. This ever chaining world seems to have much interest in this industry and it shows.

Reviewing "Rich Dad Poor Dad"

noreply@blogger.com (Drea) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 18:24:00 +0000

I'm sure everyone has heard of the famous finance book, Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki, about how to be smart with your money and become rich in the process. A few days ago I received this book in the mail as a reading requirement for my Entertainment Business class. Before I opened the book, I decided to say something about me reading the book on Facebook. Of course, my friends had to give their two cents. Some would say that the book was an inspiration, others would say they re-read it often, others mentioned how they had purchased CASH FLOW the $250 board game, but then you would hear how its all common sense and stuff they already knew. Since I have never been savvy with finance and was never a fan of numbers, I decided to get myself motivated and just plunge right in.

My personal experience with the book is probably the one the Robert had with his experience with his mentors-his "dads". He was a child when he decided he wanted to know how to make money and learn about business and finance. I for one ran from it...until now. As Kiyosaki suggests that it is easier to teach a child rather than an adult who has to be re-taught, I found myself to be a grown up child, a clean slate, able to be molded easily. I believe this book is intended for everyone, but the notion is to learn at a young age, to create good habits early. Since I know nothing of finance, I realized I did not have to re-learn like most adults.

One thing I would say is that this book would be best for novices like myself. Even greater for those that want to start their new business and simply don't know where or how to begin. Its pretty much a motivational book that may inspire those with doubt and fear that things are possible to achieve. Robert Kiyosaki is a great salesman. He said it himself. In order to succeed, one should master sales, marketing, public relations, etc. He strongly believes in education and the importance of learning to deliver the business. One thing is to be a great chef, but how does one sell his/her dish? One must set oneself apart from others and learn to sell oneself. He teaches how he creates his assets and how he other entrepreneurs do what they do best, make money! He is the best example as how to sell common sense; he has built a fortune on stating the obvious but it is how he goes about it that makes the difference. The book definitely didn't tell me anything different, but it did give me a new prospective.

Nice to Network

noreply@blogger.com (Drea) — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 04:02:00 +0000

From early on we have been told that networking is key in establishing professional connections for our professional success. As part of having an account with linkedin.com, I have also made sure to network by joining groups where I can share ideas, news, and information with other professionals in my industry. Of the many groups I have joined, I wish to discuss one, "Orlando Entertainment & Event Professionals". Here, professionals will blog about their profession and their experiences, display job openings, training/conventions/meetings that may interest those in the group, and even provides an opportunity for members to interact and "connect" with other professionals.

The social group is set up like a thread. I may decide to post information about my company or random thoughts about the industry or the latest news that may affect those in my industry. Its very interesting to see how these professionals come together from all parts of the country and are able to relay information about the industry, their company, and themselves. Linkedin.com did something right when they created the opportunity for these professionals to form groups in this social media network. Its no wonder that linkedin.com has grown in popularity and is ranked as 4th in popularity after no other than Facebook, myspace, and twitter.

If you do not have a linkedin account and wish to grow professionally, I stress that create one and start networking with professionals that share the same passions and interests that you have.

Maybe Monty Makes Sense

noreply@blogger.com (Drea) — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 02:57:00 +0000

http://www.scottmonty.com/

Who is Scott Monty? Well, it turns out that Scott Monty is the head of social media for Ford Motor Company. He blogs about his views on social media and marketing, advertising, and PR on the web. I find his blog entertaining as well as informative...more than anything I enjoy the way he expresses his views and thinks outside of the box.

I want to focus on his latest blog "Must See Twitter" posted on February 23, 2011. He quotes; "What's that, you say? You work on Thursday nights? Sorry, but that's when our show airs". This is what he suggests people sounded like several years ago when families would gather around together to listen to their favorite show on the radio or watch on television. The experience of watching entertainment has changed completely due to advancements in technology and social media outlets. For one, if one is not able to view a program, one may be able to record it on the dvr. The most fascinating trend is the way we communicate. Monty, suggests that we twitter or Facebook our opinions and experiences on a specific show, fill, or product...we are able to not just communicate with our family at home but with hundreds and thousands of network connections globally. The experiences we have are constantly being shared through social media outlets every day, hour, minute, and second of the day. We are the best advertisers of the market today and will continue to be of the future.

Social Media and demographics

noreply@blogger.com (Drea) — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 01:57:00 +0000

Johanna Blakley: Social media and the end of gender | Video on TED.com

Johanna Blakley, Deputy Director of Norman Lear Center, studies the impact of mass media and entertainment in our world. She concentrates her studies in how mass media and entertainment influence out political, commercial, and social habits. Blakely discusses social media and the possible end of gender due to the mere fact that demographics can not be taken into account through the use of social media outlets.

What I found so interesting is not the fact that women are the largest users of social media, nor the fact that social media has taken us out of the demographic stereotypes, but the idea that companies will have a difficult time appealing to their audience, if they do not understand who their audience is. It is very interesting to see how social media outlets connect people who may not be originally associated in the same social demographic. She provides excellent examples of how social media has broken these stereotypes.

What will these companies do to market? Will they need to appeal to women just because they are the largest group in social media in every demographic category? Like Blakely, I do not believe so. I do feel however that gender roles can no longer be stereotyped as well as any other demographic factor such as age, income, race, ethnicity, relationship status, occupation, etc. Since the use of the internet, the world has become smaller in the sense that we are now more closely connected and openly communicate ideas, personal beliefs, political views, etc publicly. If we tend to like a movie, a show, a designer, a restaurant, we will say so through our social media outlet. Word of mouth is the best advertiser and this is where social media has come to play.

"no strings attached"

noreply@blogger.com (Drea) — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 22:56:00 +0000

Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher are starring in the new romantic comedy titled "No Strings Attached". The concept of "friends with benefits" is not new yet it never fails to lose interest. Everyone can relate at some point. The idea of crossing the line with your best friend, still being intimate with an ex, or simply not getting emotionally involved in a relationship. The idea of having your cake and eating it too is everyone's desire.

Desire is a muse for many novels, music, films. Human relation is an art form all on its own. I have yet to see this film, but I can understand the interest in the topic. It all goes back to whether or not we can have the best of both worlds or discover that we may want something completely differently. Human beings posses two organs in constant battle with each other when it has to do with human interaction; the brain and the heart (metaphorically speaking).

Natalie Portman is not only well known as a great actress but a well respected producer. She is up for an oscar award and I'm certain there is nothing that she can't accomplish. Romantic comedies are profitable mostly because of the vast audience it attracts. It attracts anyone who has ever loved or have the desire to be loved or to anyone who has ever been in an interesting situation. Basically, everyone can relate at some point I'm sure.

Burlesque

noreply@blogger.com (Drea) — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 20:56:00 +0000

Burlesque! The European art form with a sexy American twist that was very popular in the late 1800's to early 1900's seems to be making a come back. The musical film, "Burlesque" directed by Steven Antin staring Cher and Christina Aguilera has made a racy impact in today's sexual revolution. In the early 1900's this art form may have been a bit taboo. Today, women would agree that burlesque it classy, elegant, and seductive.

I attended a Burlesque show and class at the ICEBAR in Orlando, FL. Not only did I enjoy myself, but I realized that all the women there really enjoyed the show and the interest in taking classes was quite high. It may be because the instructor expressed burlesque to be all about the tease. Some how this racy art form became part of modern day courting. Some would even say that it embraces feminity. Sex has become a recreation and weighs heavily in relationships.

I was pleased to learn that Blissful Lotus, the company who teaches burlesque and other classes on intimacy, will be at ICEBAR every other wednesday night. I'm certain that the film inspired many women to embrace their sexual charge and proclaim their femininity. I am very interested to learn more about what else Blissful Lotus has to offer. I'm certain that this trend will continue to be a classic stamp in sexual history and human arts.