The Future of the Television & Movie Industry

The Future of Technology

noreply@blogger.com (Verax Media) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 03:24:00 +0000

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Where will technology be in 10, 20 or 30 years from now? Will we still be carrying cell phones, Smart Devices, laptops, netbooks, I Pads or other devices? Will concept watch be the new device where we can stay in touch with people via technology and not in person? (Itechfuture.com 2012) Or will technology bring us back to the foundation of communicating with people face to face and learning to appreciate the simple things in life? More and more people are glued to cell phones that they negate the simple communication method of talking and listening. More people are talking at a rapid pace, like they are texting and are just looking to accomplish the next sale, referral or business deal.

I believe technology is a great tool to create a better process to automate certain process but not replace the human touch and element. For instance when calling a company for service or technical questions I would like to speak to a live person who is not rushing me off of the phone. Great customer service cannot be replaced with technology but should be enhanced. People still like to speak with people when needing questions answered instead of being asked to email your concerns and wait for a response.

When companies are seeking to sell you something they will use the human element to convince you that this is the product you need. When it comes to service it all becomes automated and a barrier just to speak to the company you just invested in. I believe it is our responsibility as Graduates within the Entertainment industry to bring back the human approach within our business model and embrace technology as a tool and not the answer to all of our problems. Remember as we mature within this industry we will become part of a generation of people who seek human communication and not be dependent on a text, tweet, and email or friend request on Facebook. Build your vision, create your business but let technology allow you to lose the very people you are trying to reach which are you customer. The customer always likes to heard and understood and they will remain loyal as we meet their needs. Use technologies to fulfill your mission not replace your mission.

Reference:

Itechfuture.com 2012 Concept Watch of the Future retrieved on April 24, 2012 from http://itechfuture.com/page/3/

Are we prepared for the future of Technology?

noreply@blogger.com (Verax Media) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 01:21:00 +0000

It seems as if media and social media content are the driving force for new technology. It amazes me at the progression of technology with Smart Phones, PDA’s, Net Books, Nook, IPAD, Kindle Fire and more. The driving forces with all of these devices are media content whether it is Netflix.com, Hulu.com or social media such as Facebook and more. Recently I was looking at a Nook, which I purchased and I asked myself, what was the deciding factor for making this purchase? It was simply social media, digital books that finally won my attention and productivity.

Simply put, was I able to use this device like I was on my Mac Book Pro? I use the Mac as my main computer at home and I needed a handy device where I can surf the web, check emails, conduct presentations and more. I thought I could do this on the Nook until it crashed eight days later while viewing the GQ magazine. So I traded the Nook in for the new IPAD 3 and the cycle started over again. I must say I am totally satisfied with my device but I still question myself and say what made me purchase this device? The answer was I wanted something lighter and easier to handle where I can continue to connect and thrive within this digital age.

What I began to realize is that the devices that are coming out are just a derivative of the whole. We started with desktop computers, which transitioned to laptops, net books, PDA’s, and the list goes on. But all of the devices pretty much do the same thing, which is check emails, watch TV, listen to music, share files, connect on Facebook and much more. The real questions should be where are we going with the reproduction of the Internet and social media in another size device? How much smarter can our phones be? Do we need an EBook reader or can the IPAD or laptop be enough? Will we be happy with the phone just ringing or do we need to watch TV, answer an email, and check Facebook before we can take another breath?

Now I love technology as the next one but I must stop and ask myself, am I within a Technology Matrix? Can I get out or do I need to slow down and let technology serve my life and goals? If I do not ask myself these questions I will be impressed with the next device, which is different in size but does the same things as the other devices that I already own. Only time will tell or the next device will determine if we start the cycle all over again. Can’t wait for the next version of the IPAD!

Business Plan Tips Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Verax Media) — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 13:01:00 +0000

These past several weeks has been interesting since my mind has shifted from what I thought a business plan was to what a business plan really is. I thought a business plan was just an explanation of your initial idea and people would be happy to come along. Now I understand that a business plan is more than that which encompasses a projection of sales and revenues, expenses, an overview of your board and much more.

I believe the most important part of a business plan is the business itself, which will allow an investor to determine if they would be interested or not. The second most important part is the financial part of the business plan, which allows them to see income statement, projected cash flows and the balance sheets. The business plan should show good profit potential in a short period of time as stated by Tim Berry. (Articles.bplans.com 2012) This allows an investor to see several things, first if you understand your business enough to see how you will earn money and take care of expenses. Second it allows an investor to determine if you have projected enough sales to cover expenses, pay yourself and the investor back. The investor is interested in how long it will take to get back their initial investment along with the return on investment.

Another important aspect of a business plan is the structure and how you will run your business. Will it be a C or S Corporation, Sole Proprietor or Partnership to name a few? These business structures allows an investor to determine if you have carefully planned and allocated risks when it comes to the type of organization. If you plan on being a sole proprietor then you assume all risk and debts of the company and an investor might not be interested in investing money into a solo entity.

The specific changes that I made with my plan in particular is to find a way to increase sales to create a greater rate of return for investors. The business plan allows me to see on paper what areas that will be a potential concern and needs adjusting. From reading what Mark Cuban states I believe if you are not passionate about your business then it will never work. (Entreprenuer.com 2012) The investor before reading the business plan reads you and determines how passionate you are about your plan.

The most important section of my plan that would interest the investor would be my sales projections and how I plan to make money. This area needs to be defined more clearly so they can how soon the company would be profitable and when they can potentially receive a return on their investment. Another great tip that I can take away is that you should always prepare several business plans, this allows you to make modifications and adjustments along the way since it is a document in the works. (Smallbusiness.foxbusiness.com 2012)

Reference:

Articles.bplans.com 2012 Funding Tips for Small Business retrieved on March 25, 2012 from http://articles.bplans.com/financing-a-business/funding-tips-for- small-business/133

Entreprenuer.com 2012 Mark Cuban’s 12 Rules for Startups retrieved on March 4, 2012 from http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/222524

Smallbusiness.foxbusiness.com 2012 Top 10 Business Plan Tips for raising money retrieved on March 25, 2012 from http://smallbusiness.foxbusiness.com

Business Plan Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Verax Media) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 02:31:00 +0000

Developing a business plan is important if you want investors to read it and take your potential offer very serious. But when it comes to a business plan what do investors look for? What makes a great and interesting business plan that will pique the interest of investors and allow them to write a check and fund your idea?

While reviewing successful businesses we decided to review what were some points entrepreneurs should focus on when presenting ideas to investors. Steve Ellis, who is the founder of Chipotle states that one of the most important aspect of a business plan is the name. Steve began his dream with a loan from his father for $85,000 and is currently the co-CEO and Chairman of the Board in 2005. (Bpexpertviews.blogspot.com 2012) I am one that agrees that if a name does not match the idea or theme of the business then it will leave the customers or patrons wondering who you are. If the potential customer wonders who you are then they will take their resources elsewhere where they know what to expect.

A name can project a grand idea or it can come across as a small mom and popshop, well it depends on what you are looking for. Ellis states that it must portray who the owner is and the concept the owner is trying to portray. (Bpexpertviews.blogspot.com 2012) Ellis also states that “ a logo must be simple and to the point for it to be appealing”. (Bpexpertviews.blogspot.com 2012) Also the slogan must be catchy and unique and take the consumer on a journey and be well rounded with the concept. (Bpexperts.blogspot.com 2012) I believe what Steve Ellis is telling us to do is to Keep it simple and clear when it deals with the concepts of your business plan so the consumer can understand your vision and idea.

Billionaire and Investor Mark Cuban states that for a business to succeed you must know your core competencies and focus on being great at them. He also states that you should “never start a company unless it’s an obsession and something that you love”. (Entreprenuer.com 2012) I totally agree that if you are not passionate about your dream and vision then when turmoil’s and trouble comes then you will seek a way out. Successful business owners all have one thing in common; they over come adversities and find a way to win.

I believe the most important task of a business plan is to create a vision and outline and a coherent set of values for your company. (Allbusiness.com 2011) I believe that you can have the best or better idea than your competition but if your plan dies not create a vision for the future or a vision period then it will not last through the test of time to be and remain successful such as McDonalds, Dell Computers, Apple, Microsoft and others just to name a few. As we walk away with these tips I hope they will assist you in penning your dreams and making your business a reality for all to enjoy.

References:

Allbusiness.com 2011 Top 10 tips for writing a business plan retrieved on March 4, 2012 from http://www.allbusiness.com/writing-small-business- plan/16689921-2.html

Bpexpertviews.blofspot.com 2012 Bobby Flays and Steve Ellis retrieved on March 4, 2012 from http://bpexpertviews.blogspot.com/

Entreprenuer.com 2012 Mark Cuban’s 12 Rules for Startups retrieved on March 4, 2012 from http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/222524

Artisitc and Social Responsibilty

noreply@blogger.com (Verax Media) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 20:37:00 +0000

As we mourn the death of Whitney Houston, who was and will remain one of music’s greatest talents to grace the microphone we must learn the lessons behind every story. I believe we were about to witness an artist who was making a comeback and take back control of her life. We know that she has just finished taping the remake of “Sparkle” which is to be released in August was quoted as a comeback for Whitney Houston. (Argusleader.com)

Whitney was a pioneer in the height of her career who broke barriers and encouraged other stars to follow their dreams. Now we begin to see new breed of artists and executives who are beginning to be artistically and socially responsible such as John Legend, Tyler Perry, Oprah Winfrey and more. Being in the limelight now comes with a responsibility to empower and enlighten the masses with your gifts and talents as well as helping those less fortunate. In order for music to evolve in the next phase there must be social and artistic responsibility, which is the same that we expect out of leaders whether in business or politics.

The spotlight is not about just increasing sales but more importantly increasing your message and mission. I believe Whitney came to the realization that her presence and influence demanded a responsibility and many near her stated that she was on a comeback trail. On set many stated that she was on time, ultra professional and knew her lines. (Thedailybest.com 2012) I believe that the new artist will understand the responsibility of their audience not just in the sense of marketing and sales but the social and artistic responsibility to their audience and fans.

If an artist understands their true mission and fulfills that through the realm of music then an artist will understand that in order to fulfill the mission they must remain focused. If the mission is simply just selling more music then the artist will always chase sales. But if their mission is a larger cause then their mission and work to fulfill their part to empowering and bettering our society will guide them.

Reference:

Argusleader.com 2012 Houston’s ‘Sparkle’ movie sticking to August Release retrieved on February 19, 2012 from http://www.argusleader.com/article/20120216/ENT/302160008/Houstons-Sparkle-movie-sticking-August-release

Thedailybeast.com 2012 The Saga of Whitney Houston’s Last Movie ‘Sparkle’ retrieved on February 19, 2012 from http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/02/13/the-saga-of-whitney-houston-s-last-movie-sparkle.html

Reviving your Online Presence

noreply@blogger.com (Verax Media) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 01:39:00 +0000

Earlier in my career I was not a fan of online marketing since I though naively that it was not important. I was stuck in the methodology of print advertising with magazines and flyers since cell phones had not dominated the market. I conducted my business earlier seeking magazines to place ads in that would garner viewership and potential clients. As I evolved I learned the power of a website, online advertising and marketing but did not see the big picture of an actively managed website. In the graph below you can see the Internet as an important source in the early 2000's compared to books, television and radio. (e-vangelie.blogspot.com 2012)

When websites such as MySpace, Facebook and other online sites came to play I totally ignored the emergence of social networking and marketing. I thought who would want to put their business for everyone to know and update their stats so people can keep in touch and failed to see the diamond in the rough. The key was that “people would see” should have been the trigger that captivated my mind to understand the new consumer and customer.

I am not one to broadcast my personal business online but I now see what young tech execs were seeing which was the gold coast of the information highway to reaching new customers. Businesses began allocating more and more resources to cultivate this new arena and more consumers created the demand for online advertising and an effective online presence.

I understand now that having a website posted in cyberspace will not get the attention of anyone if you are not actively managing and doing due diligence to ensure your site is getting the traffic and reaching your potential customers. I am now learning the importance of SEO or Search Engine Optimization. This is important since it improves the visibility of your website within the free, organic, editorial or natural listing on search engines. (Searchengineland.com 2012) I also learned the importance of keywords so people can find your site over the competition. This is really a long way from just getting your website on the web to now taking time and care to understanding your audience and ensuring you are reaching them. If this is the beginning of the Internet what will the future unveil, only time will tell?

Reference:

E-vangelie.blogspot.com 2012 Good news in digital age retrieved on February 5, 2012 from http://e-vangelie.blogspot.com/2005/06/internet-users-importance-of.html

Searchengineland.com 2012 What is SEO/Search Engine Optimization? Retrieved on February 5, 2012 from http://searchengineland.com/guide/what-is-seo

SOPA causes protest.

noreply@blogger.com (Verax Media) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:06:00 +0000

The SOPA or the Stop Online Piracy Act was introduced by Representative Lamar Smith of Texas to expand the authority of the US Law enforcement to fight online trafficking of copyrighted intellectual and counterfeit goods. This bill would allow an enforcement and shutdown of a site without a trial or traditional court hearing. (Huffingtonpose.com 2012) Now this might be great news for a site that is known for violating copyrighted and intellectual properties. But what about a site where it could be proven that a violation did not occur? This could be too much power to soon without a fair trial or both sides being heard.

An example of the Bill was the shutdown of Megaupload.com who was charged with violating copyright laws, conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to commit money laundering and criminal copyright infringement. (Megaupload.com 2012) Now the users of Megaupload.com who were using the site for legitimate purposes were affected and went to Twitter to demand their content back. (Eweek.com 2012)

Many Hollywood studios along with Record companies supported the bill, which would have allowed them to receive a court order and have the violator of a supposed copyright infringement to shut down their site. Also this would have caused the enforcement of cutting off payment processing of sites or removal of paid advertisers and more.

Now as a movie producer I would support the remove of pirated or wrongful use of copyrighted material since this ultimately creates loss of revenue. But as a person who practices free speech then what would be considered unlawful use of copyrighted material? If I took a movie that I purchased and uploaded to my site without the expressed written authorization of the copyright holder then this would be in direct violation of the rights that they are granted. But what happens if I disagreed with a particular viewpoint of a governmental party or was using my site to express my viewpoints, could this be considered under the bill as a particular type of infringement?

Would the SOPA or PIPA Act cut off the voice of free speech or just goes after copyright and counterfeiters as they stated they would do. So lets take this conversation a bit further, supposed someone had footage of a cover up or corruption scandal and wanted to post on a website and bring forth the truth under the right of free speech? So if the information would be devastating depending on whose image is at stake would this be potentially an infringement under classified information or some future made up category or an expression of free speech?

It seems that in the name of security we begin to trade security in exchange for our freedoms and I believe that is why the potential Act was opposed. Only time will tell as to the extent of the new Internet police frontier or a scraping and stripping of our First Amendment Rights.

Reference:

Eweek.com 2012 IT Security & Network Security News retrieved on January 22, 2012 from http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Security/SOPA-PIPA-Online-Piracy-Lead-Weeks-Security-News-651755/

Huffingtonpost.com 2012 What is SOPA? Anti-Piracy Bill Explained retrieved on January 22, 2012 from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/19/what-is-sopa_n_1216725.html

Megaupload.com 2012 Megaupload retrieved on January 22, 2012 from http://www.megaupload.com/

Where is online independent film distribution headed?

noreply@blogger.com (Verax Media) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 18:47:00 +0000

In the past several years we have seen the explosion of independent film producers within the market place. These produces can shoot produce and distribute their creative content and work for pennies on the dollar. The main difference for independent producers and Hollywood producers is the audience that they reach. Hollywood producers will have more resources to film crews, A-list actors, top sound engineers and more. The independent producer has the ability to be creative and produce what they like lack the resources of Hollywood producers but will be able to compete on all levels. So in retrospect when you compare the two they both will have a finished product but the audience is what separates them.

Independent producers have grown with the help of the Internet, film festivals; The Sundance Channel and Independent Film Channel just to name a few. This is a picture clearly of David vs. Goliath only in the sense of resources and audiences but in the area of creativity independent producers has the upper hand in communicating their message without board approval.

A new platform that is presented is The Watchbox, (thewatchbox.com 2011) which is a new VoD platform or video on demand that allows content creators to upload projects, footage or extras and set their own rental price. (Screendaily.com 2011) This is a unique direction for film producers but for the viewers who are used to watching Netflix and paying only $9.00 per month to view as many movies that are available. But if you are a true fan of independent films then paying $.99 to $4.99 to view creative content is a great deal.

My only concern for the independent producers is that other platforms such as Netflix and YouTube, which have more content to view, can create a medium for independent filmmakers and charge for viewing and create revenue sharing opportunities. I believe a platform should be created where fans of independent films should have a plan package where for one price we can view a certain amount of films, which will create revenue for various films and gives viewers the option of selecting various films.

Reference:

Screendaily.com 2012 Sundance host unveiling of two online services retrieved on January 22, 2012 from http://www.screendaily.com/news/distribution/sundance-hosts-unveiling-of-two-online-services/5036779.article

Thewatchbox.com 2012 The Watchbox retrieved on January 22, 2012 from https://www.thewatchbox.com/about-us

Entertainment Success 101

noreply@blogger.com (Verax Media) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 04:35:00 +0000

The world of media and technology has merged to present new opportunities for artist and production companies to reach a larger audience. At the same time it is the responsibility of the artist and Verax Media to practice online courtesy for the sake of public image. How you conduct business says a lot about who you are, but what happens if someone is stalking you via text messages? There was a case where Justin Bieber was constantly being texted by an individual named Kevin numerous times. Justin, being tired of the texts and calls tweeted the individual’s number, which resulted in about 26,000 phone calls and texts. (Entertainmentlawupdate.com 2011) This caused the individual to shut off his phone and change the number to wave off the unwanted attention. This simply was not justified since Justin Bieber could have had his lawyer call and let the gentleman know to stop calling or texting. This method of revenge was childish and could have resulted in a civil or criminal claim. Whether or not a case could have been presented is not the issue but Verax Media and the artist we represent must conduct ourselves in an appropriate manner whether online or in person.

As the Internet continues to evolve and online media companies experience growth we must be aware of new tactics that we might encounter while expressing our view or blogging. In a recent case Righthaven LLC, which is a copyright holding company, owns copyrights from its partner newspapers and seeks to sue website owners and bloggers who use their content without permission. This method is called copyright trolling and is a new method we must be aware of. If we decided to copy news article that was owned by Righthaven LLC and blog about it we could be sued. But recent court cases have ruled against Righthaven in a case against Democratic Underground. (Entertainmentlawupdate.com 2011) In the case of free speech we see that free speech will cost if we copy a news article without permission New trends and methods will develop as online content continues to grow and we must remain aware and protect ourselves from potential liabilities.

So as we continue to move from infancy to publishing reviews or discussing articles from other publishers we must ensure that we are gaining permission. Copyright infringement is an area that we must be aware of whether or not we are doing it for profit or not. We can be liable for copyright infringement simply from purchasing a website that was built for us and used images that were not properly cleared. (Legaltalknetwork.com 2011) Since we are a media company we are now aware of areas of concern and must conduct due diligence to ensure that we will not be held liable. The future holds a great future for Verax Media but at the same time a learning curve that will dictate our success and longevity within the industry.

Reference:

Entertainmentlawupdate.com 2011 Episode 13 Aug 2010 Copyrights, trademarks, fair use and net profit suits retrieved on December 18, 2011 from http://www.entertainmentlawupdate.com/2010/08/episode_13/

Entertainmentlawupdate.com 2011 Episode 23 Aug 2011 Monkeying Around with Copyright Law retrieved on December 18, 2011 from http://www.entertainmentlawupdate.com/?powerpress_pinw=771-podcast

Legal Talk Network 2011 Entertainment Law and the challenges of Celebrities retrieved on December 18, 2011 from http://legaltalknetwork.com/?powerpress_pinw=6993-podcast

Legal liabilities and the law of entertainment

noreply@blogger.com (Verax Media) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:35:00 +0000

In recent news CBB Consulting is suing Lions Gate alleging that the company owes them $61,500 for unpaid bills for Nicole Kidman Campaign. Part of the agreement was that CBB was to receive $12,000 per month since August until the Academy Awards. The contract that was drafted contained a right to terminate with a 5 day written notice which is what Lions Gate exercised. (Hollywoodreporter.com 2011) Their reason for opting out was for financial reasons since they were disputing with Carl Ichon for control of Lions Gate at the time.

This particular case is an example of breach of contract that was negotiated with both parties. From my viewpoint it seems that Lions Gate was correct in honoring its right to terminate, but what are undetermined are the services that were rendered. I believe Lions Gate is responsible for the months of service that CBB provided and should honor that agreement.

Conrad Murray was sentenced today to 4 years in prison for the wrongful death suit of pop star singer Michael Jackson. Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter three weeks ago since he was reckless in using Propofol to help the singer go to sleep without use of monitoring equipment. (CNN.com 2011) The type of legal liability is a crime which is defined as is a wrong in which a person intentionally inflicts injury, or takes something from another, such as murder, robbery, rape, theft, and so on. (Thismatter.com 2011)

My opinion in this matter is that I felt the Dr. should have received a longer sentence since it gives a message to the medical community to honor their oath or face the consequences. It appears that the law leaves room for the elites of society such as bankers, medical professionals and others to receive light sentences for wrongs committed while maximum sentence are pronounced on small petty crimes in the minority neighborhoods. At what point will justice line up with all people no matter the crime versus who has influence and resources versus who doesn’t.

Kanye West is currently in the news since a songwriter; Vincent Peters is suing him alleging that he stole his song from him. The song in question is “Stronger” and Vincent stated that Kanye acquired the song through the John Monopoly which is Kanye’s manager. District Court Judge Virginia Kendall dismissed the lawsuit stating under rule 12(b) (6) for failure to state a claim and stating that the parts of the song in question were not protectable under copyright law. The judge also stated that an ordinary observer could not conclude that Vincent’s song and Kanye’s “Stronger” song were substantially similar.

This would be listed as a tort if it is proven that Kanye copied this song from Vincent knowing that is was protected under copyright but the case ruled otherwise. I am sure that Kanye and his management team is capable of having their documents together when it comes to purchasing songs from writers as well not being sued for stealing materials.

These cases intrigue me since you are able to see the various legal liabilities from torts, crime and breach of contract. It shows the diversity of the law and who wins or loses depending on the scope of the law and what is legally right or wrong.

Reference:

Cnn.com 2011 Conrad Murray Sentenced to 4 Years Behind Bars retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/29/justice/california-conrad-murray- sentencing/index.html

Hollywoodreporter.com 2011 The Hollywood Reporter retrieved from http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/nicole-kidman-lionsgate-lawsuit- unpaid-bill-266611

Thismatter.com 2011 Legal Liability and Negligence retrieved from http://thismatter.com/money/insurance/legal-liability.htm

Is the media socially responsible or the driving force of consumerism?

noreply@blogger.com (Verax Media) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:24:00 +0000

Is the media industry the driving force of consumerism? Have we dismissed our social responsibility for the illusion of fame and fortune? Is the future of the media industry more concerned with creating consumers who buys into the materialistic lifestyles of fame and fortune?(Ruderfinn.com 2011)

Music videos today are more about cash, cars, boats, high profile friends and the need to be socially accepted. What happened to the days when we were trying to “Fight the Power” or raise awareness about police brutality and profiling? I believe that since we have been more concerned with stacking our chips or “letting it rain” we have lost the social message and responsibility and joined the illusion of wealth. (Thefreshexpress.com 2011)

True wealth is not measured in how many cars you drive or how many watches you own but in how many people you help and empower. Now todays musicians can make the argument that they are creating great music and empowering a generation to “get their hustle on” but is that enough. Do we empower them to help someone less fortunate than himself or herself or address real issues such as unemployment, poverty and hunger within our own country?

It amazes me that the leaders that preceded us had less to work with but were able to accomplish more. If Dr. King or Malcolm X had half of the resources and stage that some artist have today, imagine how much more they would have been able to accomplish. We must understand that we are still in a struggle for equal opportunity on a global scale. Unemployment continues to rise with the help of outsourcing overseas, education costs increasing introducing students to their real first mortgage in life while we continue living in a consumer driven society.

It seems that when we had less it empowered us to fight for our position in society. But as we gain more we fight to display who has more toys. Will we ever return to music where they raised awareness and caused us to see things clearly or continue down the yellow brick road of consumerism without being socially responsible for others?

References:

Ruderfinn.com 2011 Social Responsibility in the media retrieved from http://www.ruderfinn.com/move/issue-14/social-responsibility-in-the-media.html

TheFreshExpress.com 2011 The Great Debate: Black Entertainers and the social Responsibility
retrieved from http://thefreshxpress.com/2010/03/great-debate-black-entertainers-and-social-responsibility/

Gospel Music from a Managers Perspective

noreply@blogger.com (Verax Media) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 03:50:00 +0000

I was allowed the opportunity to speak with Devon Kelly who is the owner of DRK Productions and a manager of one of Gospels greatest choirs. That group is located in Chicago and is known as the Tommie’s. They were originally known as the Thompson community choir from the Reverend Milton Brunson who was the original leader and who passed away in 1997. Devon began managing the Tommie’s who is under the direction of Darius Brooks back in 2004 and has worked closely with their continued success.

He recently produced a reunion concert for one of gospels greatest choirs to come out of Brooklyn New York, The Institutional Church of God in Christ. (Facebook.com 2011) He was the creator of Soul Searchers, which was one of the hottest choirs to come out of Queens, New York as well as Togetherness. He has worked with many great gospel artists such as David Gates & Love Peace and Joy, Monique Walker, Darius Brooks, Desiree Coleman Jackson, Melonie Daniels, The Institutional Radio Choir and many more.

I asked Devon what is the future for gospel music from a manager’s perspective?

The future of gospel music is wide open with many opportunities for growth and expansion. We have made great strides over the years but still have a long way to go in order to reach the status of mainstream musicians who has audience appeal. We have so much ground to cover since we are well known in church circles but must come out of the that circle and make ourselves known to the world.

The church has produced many of the greatest gifts that we enjoy today in the form of singing and we must become responsible with our talents and share Jesus Christ with the world. If gospel artist would realize the power they hold within them then we, as a whole would be able to go much further and cover more ground. We have some of the best artist, singers, performer, musicians and then some, but we settle for so little instead of growing and expanding. The future is great if we make it great!

Facebook.com 2011 Devon Kelly retrieved from (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=281793055178661)

The Art of Negotiations within the Entertainment Industry

noreply@blogger.com (Verax Media) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 17:36:00 +0000

The entertainment industry, which comprises of music, television, movies and technology has evolved and is moving at the speed of light. Success within these industries requires knowledge of the past, present and the unforeseen future with your sights clearly on succeeding. Many people state they would like to succeed within these industries but very few do. To shed some light on the skills that are needed I spoke with an industry executive who has the experience and knowledge within these turbulent waters.

Tone Boots, (linkedin.com 2011) president of District Media in New York City is a prolific writer, director, producer and executive who has harnessed his knowledge by immersing himself within the industry and learning from negotiation to negotiations and deal to deal. His experience has created and co created outstanding projects such as Luke’s Parental Advisory, Hip Hop Hold’Em, Direct Effect Presents, MC Battle I & II and many more. (Imdb.com 2011)

I asked Tone Boots how do you separate the people from the problem and his answer was wrapped with wisdom, lessons and insight. The world of media is now surrounded with the negotiations of intellectual property, which by definition is property that results from original creative thought, as patents, copyright material and trademarks. (Dictionary.com 2011) We are no longer dealing with brick and mortar concepts but with ideas, creative works that can make money rather quickly.

When negotiating you are dealing with the person or persons who do not want to relinquish control of their idea. It’s hard to separate the person from the problem if they are willing to stagnate the project and let it die instead of moving their ego’s out of the way. Some people are very savvy and want complete control. People use their money, power and influence to enter into deals and will use shady methods to get what they want.

Dirty tricks and tricky habits will present themselves but you must create parameters that will not be breached. Be willing to walk away from deals by putting your foot down and leave a mark of Do Not Cross Me! Business deals and negotiations is a marriage. Would you remain with a spouse that constantly cheats on you? Would you sacrifice your dignity over a bad deal and lay your precedence on the line? Do not tolerate! Nip it in the bud and walk away for the sake of your principals and reputation.

Negotiate what you want and understand all aspects of the deal by asking many questions. Speak to people who know such as attorneys and other executives by gaining multiple opinions and third party perspectives. The question with negotiations is always “what do you bring to the table?” Generational gaps in negotiations will lead to different ways of thinking.

For instance someone can make one phone call and bring millions to the table while the person working within the project feel they should receive more. But without that one call the resources would not be available. Calls are measured by weight the difference between the old and new school way of thinking. This within itself requires negotiations as you measure and weigh the input each brings and decipher who gets what which is not always easy to do.

I was not able to present everything we discussed but truly appreciate the time he gave out of his busy schedule and the wisdom he shared for guidance in your respective careers. You can view Tone Boots profile at http://www.linkedin.com/pub/tone-boots/7/ab/a79.

Reference:

Dictionary.com 2011 Intellectual Property retrieved from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/intellectual+property

Imdb.com 2011 Tone Boots retrieved from http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2176895/

Linkedin.com 2011 retrieved from http://www.linkedin.com/pub/tone- boots/7/ab/a79

Can Cable and Satellite TV compete with Online Media?

noreply@blogger.com (Verax Media) — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 18:46:00 +0000

I must say that I an completely bored with Cable TV options since it seems that the same channels are shown over in local, national and HD. So out of the promised 250 channels it feels like there are 70 that are repeated over along with 50 or more music channels and outdated movies. Something must change and I believe with online media streaming and smart phones you will begin to see a shakeup in the cable and satellite industry as a whole.

Time Warner Cable who is the current provider where I live has a new app where customers who owns an IPAD can watch TV anywhere in their homes, but that is limited to just being home. (Timewarnercable.com 2011) DirecTV is currently advertising that subscribers can watch NFL games on TV, Laptops and smart phones, which is a small fusion to the online format. This programming is called NFL Sunday Ticket with other options such as Game Mix, Red Zone Channel and Short Cuts (DirecTV.com 2011)

The internet has the ability for programmers to directly offer their shows to be viewed directly to the internet but the current business structures keeps us trapped in an old technological wrapped box with the potential for new ideas right at our fingertips. Of course programmers would not want to rock the boat since advertising is an integral part of their budget and viewership within the cable and satellite arena solidifies their business agreements.

What would happen if a group of stations lets say Fox, ABC, NBC and CBS decided to show their programming strictly online with an online TV account like you have with cable and satellite? Could this be possible? Would it be profitable? I believe the system is currently being tested with the major networks making it possible to watch missed shows on their websites or on sites such as Hulu.com. Would this raise the cost of Internet if they did away with the current system? The most important question would be would any of them be daring to step into the technological future so we can free ourselves of the cable and satellite boxes to embrace the new world that is currently waiting?

Reference:

DirecTv.com 2011 NFL Sunday Ticket retrieved from http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/content/sports/nfl

Tmewarnercable.com 2011 TW Cable TV for IPAD Update retrieved from http://www.timewarnercable.com/nynj/learn/cable/TWCableTV/TWCable TV_iPad.html

Will DVD Sales encounter the same fate as CD Sales?

noreply@blogger.com (Verax Media) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 03:02:00 +0000

I have read many articles on the declining growth of CD sales and how it has affected the entertainment and music industry. While researching this topic I see that Wal-Mart is beginning to see the handwriting on the wall and partnered with Vudu to add video streaming. (Gigaom.com 2011) Wal-Mart purchased Vudu 18 months ago and held on to its prized acquisition until now. Why now? Well the decline of DVD sales and people seeking to watch content online has allowed Wal-Mart to adjust its business strategy. This strategy will allow Wal-Mart to offer online streaming as well as the opportunity to purchase a physical DVD.

Now if Wal-Mart is ahead of the curve what about the rest of the industry? Viacom faced the music earlier this year as they reported revenue decline as DVD sales dropped. Viacom, which owns Paramount, made a strong showing at the box office but was offset by the drop in DVD sales. The results were that DVD sales dropped 44% to $638 million. (Nytimes.com 2011) Now if Wal-Mart, which sells DVD’s and Paramount, which produces movies, have faced decline then I believe there will be a shift in the future. As consumer spending softens towards DVD’s and trends towards online viewing I believe studios, mega stores and cable firms will have to adjust.

Earlier this year in June, executives from HBO and Netflix discussed that DVD still has some potential growth in some markets. Netflix states that on an average day customers are renting 45,000 titles out of the 100,000 titles they carry. Now this is less than half of the inventory and I feel that online streaming will be the major boost of revenues in the future. (Mesalliance.org 2011) Now Netflix is in a good position to offer online streaming to its consumers as long as it gains permission from the studios to do so.

HBO has also jumped onto the online streaming platform with HBO, which allows viewers to watch over 1400 of their favorite movies, and HBO shows on mobile devices and IPAD. I believe this is just the spring board for HBO to jump into the streaming market if it needs to and if it does not agree with current arrangements with other vendors. They see the writing on the wall as well. GO HBO

Reference:

Gigaom.com 2011 retrieved from http://gigaom.com/video/vudu-walmart- website/

Mesalliance.org 2011 Netflix, HBO Talk DVD Opportunities Amidst Digital Growth retieved from http://mesalliance.org/blog/2011/06/03/netflix-hbo- observe-opportunities-for-dvd-amidst-digital-growth/

NYTimes.com 2011 Viacom Profit and Revenue Decline as DVD Sale Drop retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/04/business/media/04viacom.html?_r= 1

Ted.com Anthony Robbins - Why we do what we do?

noreply@blogger.com (Verax Media) — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 01:41:00 +0000

Why We Do What We Do?

I reviewed a video conducted by Tony Robbins, which spoke in 2006 at Ted.com, and he discussed Why we do what we do? I chose Tony Robbins because he has the ability to reach many people across various industries and focuses on the person that can change themselves and the world.

The reason why I enjoyed this speech that Tony Robbins presented was that he spoke on principals that anyone can use to produce results. He began his discussions speaking about immersions, which means that we learn by getting involved into our dreams. We learn a language by immersing ourselves in a culture to better understand what we are trying to communicate.

Tony Robbins goes beyond motivation and discusses “The Why”, or Why we do what we do? This to me is profound since if you never discover the why or understand fully why you chose to do what you do you will drift away from your cause and purpose. A statement was posted within the discussion which was “Effective Leaders have the ability to consistently move themselves and others to action because they understand the “invisible forces” that shape us. (Ted.com 2011)

Discussed was the “Art of Fulfillment” which is about appreciation and contribution. Do we do what we do just to make money or does it fulfill us as humans and does it contribute. I find this to be very important for me to build my business since I have a burning desire to explore and reveal truths and nullify the myths or lies that has permeated our society. As a society we need to understand and embrace truth whether we like it or not but believing a lie will stop us from growing as well as embracing life and beauty which resides all around us.

What we can take from this discussion is we must have resourcefulness over just resources. If we depend entirely on resources we will always have a shortage but if we have resourcefulness we will do what drives us and the invisible forces will shape us and move us into the direction we need to be to fulfill our goals. Resourcefulness is passion, creativity, determination and resolve. When you are ready to make a change you will when you discover the why and do it!

Reference

Ted.com 2011 Tony Robbins asks Why we do what we do retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks/tony_robbins_asks_why_we_do_what_we_do.html

The Importance of the Motion Picture Association of America

noreply@blogger.com (Verax Media) — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 20:38:00 +0000

MPAA or otherwise known as the Motion Picture of America is an important Association within the film and motion picture industry. The MPAA was created in 1922 by Samuel Goldwyn, Louis B Mayer and Joseph Schenck and at that time was called Motion Pictures Producers and Distributors Association of America. The purpose of starting that organization at that time was to resist the government censorship of American Films and to create a better image in the public for the industry as a whole. At that time silent films were the majority and they wanted to protect and safeguard that role. (Mpaa.org 2011)

The MPAA evolved in the 1960’s along with the United States, which was confronting women’s rights, civil rights and labor movements. The MPAA was facing a different type of industry, which was frank and open and had to come up with a rating system, which would evolve with the changes. Former Senator Chris Dodd who is now the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer now heads the MPAA. The MPAA assists the industry in the film rating which allows viewers to understand the content that they will be viewing at the same time trying to balance the viewpoints and artistic freedoms that the artist utilizes to express themselves.

G rating or General audiences allows all ages to be admitted and does not contain nudity, sex, violence and would not offend younger viewers and parents that brings them to the theaters as well.

PG rating or Parental Guidance suggests that some content would not be suitable for children to view. These pictures may contain brief nudity, some foul language and depictions of violence and parental guidance is necessary.

PG-13 rating may be inappropriate for children under the age of 13 that could contain drug use, violence, and expletive language. More than one expletive language would require a higher rating such as an R rating.

R rating or Restricted is for movies that state that children under the age of 17 would need to be accompanied by a parent. These pictures would contain adult images, drug abuse, sexually oriented nudity and more.

NC-17 rating or No One 17 and under Admitted is a movie that a no one under 17 is admitted and is recommended as an adult content.

These ratings have assisted the growth of the movie industry by informing the public the kind of images or content that would be displayed. This helped the artistic community continue making films with creative expressions and allowing them to utilize their freedom of speech. The MPAA is also concerned about assisting in the passing of laws that protect copyright and works also help prevent illegal tapings of films in many states. They also promote viewing and supporting real shows from legitimate websites and purchasing DVD’s from authentic sources, which helps the industry, grow as a whole.

Can the Public Trust Big Media?

noreply@blogger.com (Verax Media) — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 03:19:00 +0000

Now in recent turn of events we see an example of Big Media abusing its power and trust with the general public. Recently Rupert Murdoch who is the owner of News Corp was questioned for three hours in front of Parliament in London for charges of phone hacking. The company News of the World which is now defunct was charged with illegal phone hacking and bribery which rocked the news world. The company would use this information to get exclusive information for top stories. Now since this incident occurred in the United Kingdom, News Corp is a United States Company that employees 53,000 across the world. (variety.com 2011)

Now this should concern the public at large since the privacy of individuals were violated and exposed for the gain of a corporate entity. News Corp is in the business of delivering news and information to the public which is something that we have grown to trust as accurate and complete and this would begin the process of tarnishing that image. If the organization is believed to bribe or violate laws and rights of people then we must begin to question the veracity of the information we receive.

This story which is the beginning of deeper concerns displays the magnitude an organization is willing to go to remain competitive. What happened to reliable journalism and credible sources for receiving information? Why are news companies and high ranked officials working so loosely together without proper levels of checks and balances. This is a concern since you must wonder if the news you receive is accurate or tainted to a version that is acceptable to the public.

Rupert Murdoch is defending his position states that the inner circle of the leadership had no knowledge of any wrong doing or phone hacking. Whether or not the leadership was aware or had knowledge of the accusations this still reflects badly on them and could ultimately affect the US organization. Several executives as well as British police officials have resigned (www.nationaljournal.com 2011) which states that they are trying to bury some pertinent information that could lead to more investigations or diffuse a fire before it blazes out of control.

References

National Journal.com 2011 After News Corp Scandal, Congress Peers at Dow Jones retrieved from http://www.nationaljournal.com/tech/after-news-corp-scandal-congress-peers-at-dow-jones- 20110720

Variety.com 2011 Murdoch Eats Humble Pie retrieved from http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118040111?refCatId=18

Is Big Media a Good Idea for America?

noreply@blogger.com (Verax Media) — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 15:09:00 +0000

Now I am one who loves big cities, big dreams and big ideas like the next one but when is big too big and when does it become ineffective and detrimental to society as a whole. Now when things grow they are supposed to help the community at large but this does not seem to be the case with big media. Media has evolved from just newspaper, magazine and watching news to become a hybrid of information that we can access 24/7 on multiple platforms. Now I am all about receiving concrete, credible and reliable information but when it only comes from a handful of sources one has to wonder if the information that is being relayed is completely truthful.

The problem with a few handling the masses in any arena will lead to more destruction than assistance since this is the formula for control by the few. We have witnessed this across various industries such as energy, telecommunications and banking to name a few. Media in America is now controlled by what is called the Big 6 (www.stopbigmedia.com) which are the largest conglomerates that controls what we see, hear and understand about the world whether it is true or a tainted perspective that they want you to believe in.

The Big Six are General Electric, Walt Disney, News Corp, Time Warner, Viacom, and CBS. (http://www.freepress.net/ownership/chart/main) Their reach has expanded to where they can initiate, pre-produce and produce projects, which will take away creative freedom and artistic viewpoints. The Big Six do bring a lot of good to the table as we are dealing with the interrelated world that we currently live in but at the same time a concern is growing that we must be aware of. If six people at your workplace controlled what you watch, listen, and understand then what choices do you really have?

This is what we must be aware of and begin to decipher whether or not this direction is something that will enhance our society or control the masses to think and feel a certain way. We are a people of free thoughts and independent mindsets which makes us unique which is why we can not allow ourselves to be driven into a direction would rob us of those freedoms.

The Future of Entertainment as we know it

noreply@blogger.com (Verax Media) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 03:32:00 +0000

In recent news in late March 2011, Tyler Perry renews a deal with their distributor Lions Gate for a multi year deal that will cover movies and home entertainment. The companies’ partnership has been in existence since 2006 with releases like Diary of a Mad Black Woman and his latest release Medea’s Big Happy Family. Lions Gate which is a leading global entertainment company and located on the NYSE is responsible for titles such as Nurse Jackie, Saw Series and Conan the Barbarian just to name a few.

Lions Gate is considered a mini major and independent from the Big Six studio systems that controls the movie industry. The Big Six which consists of Warner Brothers, Paramount Pictures, Walt Disney, Columbia Pictures, Universal Studios and 20^th Century Fox makes it quite difficult for mini majors or independent studios like MGM and Lions Gate to succeed within a competitive market. The Big Six has subsidiaries at their disposals such as New Line Cinemas, HBO Films that is part of Warner brothers whose parent company is Time Warner.

The Big Six studios controls 85.9% of the market leaving less than 15% to be divided amongst major minis and independent studios. This is an alarming number that must be taken seriously since the arts and entertainment industry, which was known for its independence and creativity, has been swallowed up by major entertainment studios whose goal is profit driven for shareholders and studio executives. Has the creative art form as we knew it been stifled by a handful of major studios in the name of profit?

This is an argument that is worth questioning since a few major minis exists and hold on to their independence as they seek to change the industry with new talents, new ideas and ideally ownership. If there remains only a small portion of market share for independent studios to capture then why be in the game? Ideally I believe the independent studios have the advantage if they create new formats and avenues for ideas to be shared and viewed by the mainstream public.

Smaller organizations are known for making great decisions and flow with the public needs such as Netflix who gained major market share from Blockbuster with its innovative ideas of utilizing the Internet for viewing and ordering movies. Netflix now has over 23 millions subscribers who can view their movies over Internet ready TV, gaming consoles and the internet. Essentially Blockbuster was late arriving to the game and it continues to cost them. This is the same advantage independent studios have if they would utilize technologies to their advantage.