A Life In Business

What I Did On My Summer Vacation - the 2011 San Diego Comic Con - A Pocket Production Video by Patty Mooney

2011-08-11T11:16:00.000-07:00

San Diego Comic Con has come and gone. It was typically outrageous, amazing, intense and awesome. Crystal Pyramid Productions sent out several crews to cover all kinds of interesting events, including interviews with Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried, Rob Lowe and Mark Hamill, who will be appearing in a movie called "Sushi Girl" that is already generating lots of buzz.

This is a little Pocket Production that I made that shows many of the highlights. Enjoy!

YouTube is the Thermometer of Innovation - by Patty Mooney

2011-07-28T11:11:00.000-07:00

Image by cleopatra69 via Flickr "People watch more than 2 billion videos a day on the site - that's more than double the number of videos viewed less than two years ago." - according to Zak Stambor, in his Internet Retailer article, "The Lure of Motion."

Wow.

2 billion videos a day? Again, Wow.

So you can see that there is some really stiff competition for eyeballs out there these days.

When my husband, Mark Schulze, and I began producing our educational, special-interest videos in the 1980's, there were not that many other companies out there doing it except for the big studios putting out their multi-million-dollar theatrical releases. So, pioneers that we were, Mark and I made the world's first massage video - "Massage For Relaxation." We made the first mountain-bike video - "The Great Mountain Biking Video." We made the first mountain-bike racing video - "Battle At Durango." We made the first step-aerobics video - "Steppin' Out: Ultimate Interval Training System." We made the first erotic male dancers video - "California Big Hunks." We made the first anti-terrorism video - "Anti-Terrorism: Weapons & Tactics." And we made the world's first around-the-world mountain-biking video - "Full Cycle: A World Odyssey."

None of these shows made us wealthy, nor have we been sought after by anybody over our pioneering efforts, and companies with bigger marketing budgets snatched up our ideas and packaged them into glossier wrappers, but.... And it's a big "But"... We have enjoyed our entrepreneurial lifestyle, and had a lot of fun creating our "babies." Isn't it the All-American dream to make money doing what you love, calling your own hours and not having to answer to any boss but yourself? It's not the sort of life that just anyone can live. Some people really do need the structure of a 9-to-5 job.

But for people who are energetic, social, talented and know how to communicate, you really can achieve your dreams.

So, now back to YouTube. More than 2 billion videos viewed a day! Yes, the game has definitely changed since the last century. But one thing remains the same: There is always room for pioneers and innovation. Opportunity is alive and well, for the entrepreneurial spirit.

San Diego Comic Con Here We Come

2011-07-21T08:08:00.000-07:00

Today is the first day of the 2011 San Diego Comic Con. It is the most attended of any convention in the City of San Diego. It is intimidating in its Hulk-like proportions. Our video production company, Crystal Pyramid Productions, has been tapped by several broadcast studios to send crews in there. We've been working the Con for over a dozen years now. I can remember some sparkling moments which I will share...

Image by cleopatra69 via FlickrImage by cleopatra69 via Flickr

When I was still a "mere pup" at sound mixing, back in 1999, I bopped Lucy Liu on the head with my boom pole. It was one of those extraordinarily embarrassing moments where the adrenaline zooms up and down your body, encasing you in an immediate sweat while causing your face to glow a bright red. She was very gracious about it. She said, "Don't worry, I'm fine," and we went back to the interview. Later, when I saw her in "Kill Bill," I know she could have put a serious hurting on me. Thank you, Lucy Liu, you are one class act!

That same year, Mark and I were in the Press Room and spotted Arnold Schwarzenegger sitting at a table. We approached him to see if he was up for an interview about the movie he was appearing in, "Terminator 3." He didn't want to be interviewed, but he did consent to shake my hand when Mark introduced me. The weird thing, though, and it's a pet peeve of mine, was that he didn't look directly into my eyes as he was shaking my hand. That's disconcerting. Learning about his recent behavior in regards to a secret affair and love child frankly did not surprise me at all.

Last year I ran into Zoe Saldana in the ladies' room. I really wanted to snap her pic but bathroom photos always seem so creepy, and I didn't want to sully our short-and-sweet chat with a bonehead request for her photo. She, like Lucy Liu, was a lovely woman with a beautiful smile. And I really enjoyed seeing her in Avatar.

Image by cleopatra69 via Flickr

One of my favorite Comic Con memories is interviewing three of the original cast members from "Forbidden Planet" about five years ago. They were so funny. All I had to do was lob them a question and then sit back and listen as they replied in a well-choreographed way. they were all quite charming and deserve more recognition as pioneers in the sci-fi/comic-book industry.

I'm looking forward to this years encounters and ensuing stories. Stay tuned!

Are You Thinking of Selling Your Business?

2011-07-14T14:00:00.000-07:00

Image by Diana Parkhouse via Flickr LOS ANGELES — Are you the owner of a small or medium-size business in the creative of media industry who dreams of “getting out” and retiring, writing a memoir, or simply getting away from it all? Thinking about selling your business? In today’s economic climate, selling your media or creative business can be a complicated and daunting experience.

The skills and knowledge you acquired by running a successful business are not necessarily the same skills you will need to sell it.

There are 10 things to consider. And our friend, Stuart Gross, presents all the pros and cons in his article featured in his article at Post Magazine. Food for thought!

Know Your Comfort Zone - by Patty Mooney

2011-06-28T09:26:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia I had a nice, long conversation with my 90-year-old mother a couple of days ago. She related a story about our mutual friend, Mrs. B, who was our next-door neighbor when I grew up in the suburbs of Detroit. Mrs. B now lives in Arizona by herself, as her beloved husband passed away a few years ago. Mrs. B is 89 years old.

Mrs. B went to go see her doctor who prescribed a sitz bath. For those who do not know what a sitz bath is, it is just that - a bath in which you "sit." It can be shallow or a bit more full, and it can contain epsom salts or herbs. The point is, this doctor prescribed a bath to an 89-year-old woman.

She got herself into the tub and then she could not get out. She let the water out and ended up spending the night in that bathtub.

At that point in their conversation, my mom, who pulls no punches, said to Mrs. B: "What the heck were you thinking? You haven't taken a bath in ten years. Did you think there'd be some kind of divine intervention???"

"And then what happened?" I wanted to know.

It was a Saturday night when Mrs. B had camped out in her tub. On Sundays she was a regular at her local church and when she did not show up at church on the following morning, one of her friends came to see if she was okay. They got her out, and Mrs. B was none the worse for wear, except for maybe a little wounded pride.

But her experience got me to thinking.

For one thing, maybe we trust in doctors a little more than we should, especially if we know the limitations of our own physical comfort zone.

But beyond that, when it comes to business, it's a good idea to know the delineation of our comfort zone. If you consulted an expert who told you that in order to reap in more customers you would have to revamp your entire website starting from scratch, or invest in Search Engine Optimization because they had a patented method that guaranteed top placement, or attend a weekend seminar that would guarantee ten new clients, but the seminar cost $10,000... Would you be stepping into a sitz bath from which you could not easily emerge?

What would you do? Would you trust this "doctor" more than the little voice that emanates from your own heart? How familiar are you with the nuances of your very own comfort zone?

Food for thought, isn't it?

World's Worst Drivers - A Video

2011-06-21T11:11:00.000-07:00

I always get a good laugh whenever I see this video, so I wanted to share it with you. Our stock footage library, New & Unique Videos, provided a clip in this compilation of weird, odd and otherwise crazy drivers. Our clip is the "Headrest Driving a Car." If you like to laugh, this will guarantee you a few chuckles.

Ruby Summer Want Your Loved Ones Safe - by Patty Mooney

2011-06-10T15:40:00.000-07:00

Ruby Summer are an emerging pop duo of sisters named Ruby and Summer (thus "Ruby Summer.") They sing their own original music.

This PSA that Crystal Pyramid Productions just produced features Ruby Summer talking about the new pre-paid taxi card program here in San Diego, implemented by RADD, the Entertainment Industry's Voice for Road Safety. The "RADD My Safe Ride Home" program is intended to discourage
drunken driving and give teenagers and senior citizens access to secure rides.

Check out this awesome PSA (I edited it). It's only 30 seconds long! And if you like the idea, you may want to invest in the lives of your children and other loved ones by purchasing them a $30 "My Safe Ride Home" card.

Blogging Betta

2011-05-18T11:11:00.000-07:00

Image by cleopatra69 via Flickr This is a post I lifted in its entirety off of a LinkedIn Group, some advice from a woman named Renee King, on how to improve traffic to your blog..... Best advice in a nutshell I have seen in a long time. Good stuff! Thanks Renee!

Renee King • I always tweet and post my latest articles on twitter and my FB fan page and I get quite a bit of traffic with that. Join communities that actively support promoting other bloggers (like linkedin) & as a travel blogger, I find TBEX to be immensely helpful. Be sure to have social icons clearly displayed on your blog. No one can tweet, stumble, FB share, subscribe to your RSS feed, digg or reddit your posts if you do not have a plugin installed on your blog where they can do so. Use sexybookmarks (they have every SM icon that exists) or a similar plugin (google social media plugin or go to your wp admin panel, click on plugins/add new and search for one that best suits you. I can't tell you how many times I've wanted to show support but couldn't because no social icons were there.

When commenting, don't give a cursory "Nice post" comment. Try to post something substantial...something that would make the reader want to go check out your blog. Who knows? They may start following you and subscribing to your feed, etc. People usually ignore boring comments. If there is any way possible add the comment luv plugin to your blog. I know that sometimes it will conflict with other plugins and can't be used, but you never know until you try. Comment luv will display a commenter's last post title right after they comment on a post. This is a great promotional tool and I can say that it helps to get people to comment because they KNOW that there will be a link left behind that someone can click on to get to their site.

Don't be afraid to be opinionated (never nasty) because that is when you typically get more comments. My most commented posts are my inspirational ones....not all will agree with it....but the good news is that they will come to your site and say what's on their mind....and if they agree they will say so as well. Be sure to try to build a community with your twitter and FB , etc followers, if they like and believe in you they will go out of their way to promote you. Engage with them! The worst thing you could do is to constantly post articles and never 'say' a word to anyone. Meet, talk and get involved online.

One of the greatest challenges is bounce rate....that is, people coming to your site (maybe via a link) and never really staying long enough to read the article or search around the rest of the site. I read something the other day that resonated with me...increase your font size. People are getting older and finding it difficult to read small text, so some will give up and leave.

World of Shooters - A Website Directory Review by Patty Mooney

2011-05-05T11:05:00.000-07:00

Now that the Yellow Pages are going the way of telephone booths, telegrams and Victrolas, one turns to the Internet to search out anything and everything. This includes services and Image by cleopatra69 via Flickrproducts. As a San Diego video production services company that hires out camera crews, camera operators, producers, teleprompters, and editors, to name a few, we have listed ourselves on various online directories hoping to capture the right eyeballs that will enlist our assistance with their video production. I would say that more than 90% of our business comes from our presence online.

On one of my recent forays into the crashing waves of the Internet, I came upon a new venue for camera operators and Directors of Photography that seems promising. It's called World of Shooters and proposes to match up video shooters with potential clients. There is an annual cost to sign up but they promise not to extract any percentages from sales like other sites do. They've divided up shooters by the types of rigs they work with, as follows: Panasonic P2, Sony tapeless, Red, DSLR and Tape/Media.

It's a very uncluttered site with straight-forward goals. In this age where there is now an infinite spectrum of video cameras - and people who wield them - this promises to be an oasis for the thirsty, and discerning, client to find just the shooter they are looking for.

Testimonials, The Gold Nuggets of Marketing - by Patty Mooney

2011-04-26T10:10:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

"Hooray! The video's approved & all done! It looks amazing, you did such a wonderful job with it, you are the absolute best! Thank you so much!"

These are the words that every video producer, camera operator and editor loves to hear! A testimonial like this, in addition to stroking your ego, can also work on another important level. This and other glowing quotes can go into a collection of Client Testimonials which you can then show to potential clients in your quest to generate more work. Start collecting them from your satisfied, ecstatic clients. Do it while your good job is still fresh in their mind.

If you have a LinkedIn account, request testimonials from your LinkedIn contacts (if, indeed, you have worked together - otherwise, don't) and then don't just park them there, spread them around. Add these testimonials to your website, sprinkle liberally in your emails, and on your brochure. Don't be shy about blowing your own horn.

The way to a client's heart these days is with proof from others that you can do what you claim you can do. A collection of good testimonials is like a little sack of gold nuggets that just keep on aggregating.

A Woman in a Man's Industry - by Patty Mooney

2011-04-19T10:17:00.000-07:00

Image by cleopatra69 via Flickr I have been contemplating what it's like to be a woman in an industry that has long been dominated by men. What inspired me to think about this is a recent invitation to speak to a college class of women who wish to enter the video production industry but who have trepidations about the male-domination aspect.

When there's a room containing ten men and myself, all I can say is, I like the odds. But joking aside, video production is an industry that chose me. And now that I've been a part of it for the last nearly 30 years, I don't even think about being in the minority as a woman. Maybe it's because talent has no sex, no race, no creed. Talent is talent.

Cover via Amazon

I remember seeing a documentary about a female editor Dede Allen who died a year ago (4-17-10), after having spent 60 years editing movies including "The Hustler" starring Paul Newman, "Dog Day Afternoon" and "The Addams Family." 60 years! She loved what she did, and did what she loved. Learning more about her life and her passion for editing really inspired me to get more deeply involved in editing myself. I did not think to myself, "Gosh, I am now a woman editor." I also operate a camera, a boom pole and a mixer (not all at once!) and when I do, I think of myself as a sound mixer or a camera operator. I simply do the work, and then go on to the next gig.

So my advice to young women who are interested in joining this "male-dominated" industry is to figure out whether working within the industry is going to fulfill your passion. If so, go for it. If not, keep on searching for that form of employment that is going to make you happy. Dede was an editor for 60 years because she loved it, and I've been involved in video production for going on 30 years, because I love it. Do something you love whether it's male-dominated or not, because by the time you get rolling, nothing will matter except for the fact that you are making money by doing something you enjoy.

To Blog or Not to Blog - Where Does the Time Go? - by Patty Mooney

2011-04-12T11:00:00.000-07:00

Image by cleopatra69 via Flickr Good news, bad news: We have been working more on production and editing gigs, but I have had less time to blog. It's a real Catch 22 - I've got lots of fun stuff to blog about, but hardly any time to do it.

When I was in my early twenties, I asked my father why it was that time seemed to slip by faster as we got older. Remember when you were eight and it seemed like a thousand years until your birthday? So when anyone asked how old you were, you'd say "eight and a half" or "eight and three quarters?" My father said that when you are two years old, a year is half of your life. When you are 20, a year is one/twentieth of your life, and so on. Now that I'm - er, uh - okay, I admit it - 55 years old, one year is one/fifty-fifth of my life, and when I'm a hundred, a year will slip by like a day.

Thus it seems that there is hardly enough time in the day to do all the things we need or want to do anymore. I have stopped subscribing to magazines because I have a towering stack of magazines that have never even been cracked open. I used to be a member of a paperback book ordering service. You know the kind that lure you in with six free books, and then you only have to buy so many more throughout the year? Unread books just started to stack up because I never had the chance to read any. Even with the best intentions, I'd bring a book or a couple of magazines along on a staycation to a local hotel, or on a trip back home to Detroit, but just never had a free moment to read except maybe on the plane. Scientists have said that we grow an entirely new skin every seven years, so maybe I have grown six lifetimes away from the fourteen-year-old I used to be, the one who would go into her bedroom and curl up with a tome like "Gone With the Wind" (I read it twice!) or anything by Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, D.H. Lawrence, Anais Nin or Colette.

It's my premise that all the time-saving devices that now glut our lives, on the contrary, suck all the time out of our lives! Think about it. How long do you spend at the computer screen? And then when you return home from the office, how long do you sit on the couch in front of the television screen? Are you a video gamer? Do you own a cell phone with multiple applications? A laptop? A Bluetooth? An iPad? When do you disconnect? Do you ever take a walk outside in Nature, away from all the cement? And if not, then why are you alive?

A futurist and inventor named Ray Kurzweil has written a book called "The Singularity is Near," which opines that within the next century, "there will be no clear distinction between human and machine, real reality and virtual reality." It's a fascinating theory. Will we humans indeed become one with the Borg? (Please see Star Trek episodes to learn more about the Borg.)

Before that happens, I want to make sure to have spent as much time sitting next to a babbling brook and watching the dragonflies and hummingbirds flit against the backdrop of a sunny blue sky, as is humanly possible. And what about you? Have you had any interaction with Nature recently?

The Megamind Panel with Will Ferrell, Tina Fey and Jonah Hill - A Video Edited by Patty Mooney

2011-03-25T14:35:00.000-07:00

Today I came across the video that I had edited last year for DreamWorks - the San Diego Comic Con Panel featuring Will Ferrell, Tina Fey and Jonah Hill, who were there to promote their film, Megamind. This is footage that was shot for I-mag (those large "Image magnification" screens you see in big conventions and events) by convention videographers, plus hand-held crowd footage shot by the DreamWorks producer. I sewed it together into this amazingly awesome video.

A New Award For Our Video Documentary - by Patty Mooney

2011-03-03T16:54:00.000-08:00

Image by cleopatra69 via Flickr
Today I went out to the mailbox and found this letter from Communitas Awards:

Congratulations, we are pleased to inform you that Crystal Pyramid Productions is a winner of a 2011 Communitas Award for your nomination, "The Invisible Ones: Homeless Combat Veterans."

Communitas Awards recognizes exceptional businesses, organizationsand individuals that are unselfishly giving of themselves and their resources, and those that are changing how they do business to benefit their communities.

Our judges found that Crystal Pyramid Productions clearly exhibits the spirit of communitas, a Latin word that means people coming together for the good of a community. Crystal Pyramid Producions joins other Communitas winners recognized for specific programs involving Image by cleopatra69 via Flickrvolunteerism, philanthropy or ethical, sustainable business practices.

Well, we are thrilled! We don't do community work or produce pro bono documentaries for kudos and applause, but it sure is nice when it happens. All the work we have done on this documentary, and all the work we will do in the future is really all about one thing: to draw attention to the plight of our homeless veterans, and to make sure that those who have served our country have a roof over their heads and a comfortable place to rest their weary heads.

Where Are We Going With This Internet Thing? - by Patty Mooney

2011-02-25T11:42:00.000-08:00

Recently I had the golden opportunity of being a "fly on the wall" as a bevy of Thought Leaders spoke their minds about social network marketing, SEO and all the nuts and bolts of the Internet. The Online Marketing Summit came to San Diego a couple of weeks ago and our video production company, Crystal Pyramid Productions, videotaped interviews of about three dozen people who are involved in Internet marketing.

Keep in mind that the Internet is the single greatest change to the way information is Image via Wikipediacommunicated, since television. According to author, Al Ries, "The Internet is a new medium and we don't get very many new media. Before the Internet, the previous “new” medium was television. So over a course of history, you can see that “new” mediums took a long time to develop. First there was the printing press created by Gutenberg several centuries ago, which gave us the printed book and the periodical (which includes both newspapers and magazines). Then several hundred years later, we got radio and finally television, and now we have the Internet. Every medium changes society. One may ask, “What is the key consequence of the Internet?” It’s the first global medium. You see, radio, television, newspapers, magazines, books… they all are basically national. We have books published in Germany, Spain and many different countries. But each of those editions is published by different people in different forms and unique to those various countries."

Thought Leaders at the Online Marketing Summit all keyed in on just a few potent facts:

- Content is King, and Data is the New Currency. Take your content and create new and different content out of it. Transcribe a video and turn that content into a White Paper. Write an article about how you transcribed your video and turned the content into a White Paper. Make ten smaller videos out of one large one. I think you get the idea.

- SEO - Search Engine Optimizaton is ultra-important and companies serious about ranking high on Internet search really need to have an employee dedicated to optimizing their site(s). News flash for young people fishing for a career: there's now a dearth of SEO experts and the field is wide open.

- Mobile applications are "The New Gold Rush." If you look at your web page analytics or insights, you will see how much traffic you are receiving from mobile applications. This traffic is on an upward slant.

Think about how knowing these gold nuggets of information can help you with your business.

Photos by Mark Schulze, Director of Photography, Crystal Pyramid Productions

Top Left Photo:
Aaron Kahlow, Chairman and Founder, Online Marketing Summit

Andrew Goodman, SES Advisory Board & President, Page Zero Media
Ray "Catfish" Comstock, Director of SEO, businessOnLine
Bruce Clay, SEO Speaker, Consultant and Instructor
Anne Kennedy, SES Advisory Board, International Search Strategist, Beyond Ink USA

Top Right Photo: "Fly on the Wall," Camera Operator, Patty Mooney, Crystal Pyramid Productions

Video of the Week - Jay Leno and the California Big Hunks

2011-01-20T11:20:00.000-08:00

Our stock-footage library, New & Unique Videos, has some pretty interesting footage in the vaults. Jay Leno has used several clips from "California Big Hunks," a male erotic striptease video (no nudity) which we produced in 1985, and we think our show inspired the Chippendales franchise (1987 video production date). Many of the videos we produced in the 1980's were the first of their kind and we were pioneers in the home-video industry. That and $3 will get you a cup of coffee, right?

Anyway, this is a compilation of clips that Jay Leno featured on The Tonight Show. Laugh and enjoy.

Get More Customers By Putting Out a Candy Dish - by Pamela Wilson

2011-01-18T11:18:00.000-08:00

If you've ever worked in an office environment, you know there's one shortcut to becoming popular among your colleagues. Position a candy dish on the corner of your desk, and keep it filled with goodies. It's a great way to guarantee you'll get chatted up by all sorts of people who otherwise might not have stopped by to say hello.

Content Marketing is Like a Candy Dish:

No matter what your business sells, there's a way to create marketing materials that are useful for the target market you want to reach. This is what content marketing is all about: packaging information your market will find valuable, then offering it to them as a way to market your business.

Keeping a "candy dish" with content available will help you attract, inform and retain customers to your physical location or website.

Let's look at some examples:

- A natural lawn care company could put together a guide to lawn care challenges through the seasons, and what to do about them.

- A writer could present an e-book about common grammatical errors and how to spot them.

- A life coach could write a special report about how to create space for life-changing new habits.

- A pizza shop could create a "busy night meal plan" that shows how you can call for pizza, and while you wait for delivery, make a quick salad that will complete the meal and feed your family fast. (Of course I know nothing about that...) Image by hodge via Flickr

The key is to think about your customers, what their lives are like, and what challenges they're dealing with. Then create content that they'll value so much they'll want to save it. Give it to them at no charge.

They'll associate your company with the value you've provided, they'll thank you for the problem you've solved, and they'll think of your business the next time they need your kind of product or service.

Free Design 101 e-course! Visit Pamela Wilson's Big Brand System and start growing your business with great design and marketing.

Article by Pamela Wilson

The Stinging of Susan Renteria - A Current Affair Story

2011-01-13T11:13:00.000-08:00

Our video clip of the week is from the old Current Affair series. Crystal Pyramid Productions used to shoot interviews and B-roll for many segments on A Current Affair. In this one, moderator Tim Green spins the story about Susan Renteria, the young woman who wanted to take a contract out on her Marine husband's life. Unfortunately for her, she was trapped like a fly in a spider's web during an elaborate sting operation in Yuma, Arizona. It is one of the most chilling stories with which we have ever been involved. Director of Photography, Mark Schulze, was the videographer, and Patty Mooney was Sound Technician.

"Massage For Relaxation" Now Re-issued on DVD

2011-01-11T11:11:00.000-08:00

Our company, New & Unique Videos, produced the first-ever instructional massage videotape in 1985, called "Massage For Relaxation." This award-winning video has now been re-issued on DVD and is appearing at Microsoft kiosks around the world. Cleo teaches the viewer how to give a Swedish oil massage including Shiatsu and Reflexology techniques. Cleo also reveals the secrets of self massage and Glowing Salt Rub. Here is the "Massage For Relaxation" trailer.

Fun Gigs of 2010 - by Patty Mooney

2011-01-06T16:09:00.000-08:00

Dr. Oz, the doctor everyone wants as a personal physician - appeared at the National Association of Black Journalists' awards gala to speak to conventioneers about such matters as heart disease and obesity. Crystal Pyramid Productions videographers Patty Mooney and Mark Schulze were there to capture all the action on long-lens cameras for the IMAG.

Mark Schulze, Director of Photography and Videographer, captured footage of vehicles utilizing the newly installed express lane on Highway 15 with Patty Mooney as driver. It's not as easy as it sounds, as we had to pull over to the side of the highway on a couple of occasions and videotape passing automobiles, then re-enter the stream of traffic during rush hour and jet across five lanes to access the "Hot Lanes." Yep, Patty's palms were sweating.

Crystal Pyramid Productions videographer and Director of Photography, Mark Schulze, and Patty Mooney, Sound Technician and Producer, climbed aboard the coastguard cutter Hamilton in order to interview the vessel's popular chef who had won a prestigious award. The video crew were invited to enjoy lunch with the cutter's crew and indeed the fare was very good.

Crystal Pyramid Productions Director of Photography and videographer, Mark Schulze, orchestrated a live webcast in a San Diego studio for Cardio Care Live. Two doctors and a moderator spoke while utilizing a Power Point presentation, and then took questions from audience members via a live feed.

The Crystal Pyramid Productions crew of Mark Schulze on camera and Patty Mooney as Producer, with Luke Jungers on sound, followed San Diego's own Bachelorette, Ali Fedotowsky and her fiancee, Roberto Martinez, through Crate & Barrel as they selected items for their cozy home.

Remembering Leslie Nielsen - by Steve Dacri

2010-12-07T10:10:00.000-08:00

My friend, Steve Dacri, is a great magician. In fact, he is the greatest living sleight-of-hand magician in the world. He lives and works in Las Vegas, but he gets around, serving up platters of fantasmagorical magic to fans all over the USA. He has regaled Mark and me with some interesting stories from a lifetime performing magic; he has experienced everything from appearing on the Johnny Carson Show to seeing Milton Berle in his birthday suit, in the dressing room. Here he shares his remembrances of the late, great comedian par excellence, Leslie Nielsen.

I was a huge fan of his work, and especially after “Airplane”, he was flying high in a second career as a comedy heavyweight. I had just signed with a new agent in Hollywood, and as it turns out, this agent was also the agent for Nielsen. One of my first meetings at the agency, there he was, big and shining and full of mischief, and we met in the agent’s office, where I showed him some magic and found that he was a huge magic fan. We hit it off right from the start, and he invited me to join him for lunch at his then favorite joint, called Mirabelle’s on the Sunset Strip. Over lunch, we talked about magic, and then he showed me his prized possession, an electronic remote-controlled fart machine which he would hide in various spots and trigger whenever the time seemed appropriate. He had the thing hidden under his coat that first time we met, and when we got into the elevator, he waited until the doors closed and all of a sudden he let it rip…a huge loud obnoxious fart filled the silence of the elevator, and he just smiled and looked up at the ceiling, I was doing my best to hold it in. (the laughter, not the fart).

He asked me to show him ways of hiding the thing, so whenever we would meet at the restaurant, we’d be sitting at the bar, he’d hand me a deck of cards and ask to see a trick, then after my performance, he would whisper something to me and secretly hand me the box.

See the rest of the story at Steve Dacri's Blog.

Leslie Nielsen, Farting and Eye-Popping Comedian, RIP

2010-12-02T09:15:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia In his blog, my friend, Mike Kurtz, shares a personal story about the late, great comedian, Leslie Nielsen. I think you will enjoy it.

Many people only remember him as a comedy actor but he started in TV back in the late 1940's as a very serious leading man. One of his famous films from the 1950's is a science fiction move called the "Forbidden Planet". He played a leading role as a crew member of space ship on a rescue mission. The movie is also famous for creating "Robbie the Robot."

To read the rest of Mike's story and check out a video outtake of Leslie, click on Mike's blog:

DP Mike's Blog

Crap In is Crap Out - by Patty Kay Mooney

2010-11-29T14:59:00.000-08:00

Image by cleopatra69 via Flickr We have been involved in video production since its infancy when video cameras were like lead bricks producing lousy resolution (it seemed good at the time), and video editing was linear. These days video seems to have reached the maturity of shall we say, a teenager who has flair but yet is very conflicted.

For one thing, video now looks very good on the web. You can play movies or television shows on Netflix or other providers, on demand, and the quality is pristine. On the other hand, there are so many available formats of video that it makes your head spin. Would you prefer 4x3 standard or 6x9 high definition? What's the best file for export or sharing, .avi, .mpg, .mp4,.mov? The list goes on. And what's the best camera to capture a movie on? The Red? The Sony Cine Alta? A Canon DSLR? It's great to have choices, but it can wreak havoc on the small company that wants to stay on the cutting edge while providing services to many different clients who all want different things.

Today's "consumer-grade" equipment is better than the "industrial-professional" equipment from days of yore. Many production houses are now sitting on equipment for which they paid hundreds of thousands of dollars, that has been rendered useless by today's standards.

There is another phenomenon that I have noticed. Production houses do their utmost to deliver crisp, crystal-clear, beautifully-lighted, phenomenal video with awesome sound. But in cutting corners, there are companies that are willing to use video that is nominal at best, at their web sites or during presentations for large audiences. The other day we were at an award ceremony where Mark accepted an award as a "Top CEO" nominee. The main honoree was unable to be there in person and so he had ftp'ed a video from his cell phone. Both Mark and I were mortified to see the heavily-pixelated, non-lighted, echoey-sounding piece that was, to us, like fingernails scratching a chalk board. Pretty bad. Back in the day, there was this motto: "Crap in is crap out." I think you get the picture.

Judging from recent movies like "Harry Potter" and "Avatar," there are audiences that appreciate beautiful movies. But the acceptance of Skype video, cell phone video and other forms of bad quality video at widely-seen venues is disconcerting. Imagine if everyone built their own house. You'd have a neighborhood full of these shoddy, lopsided, Dr.Seussy homes. Would you really want to live in one? How soon before the roof fell in or the plumbing exploded? So why would you produce a video that lacked any production quality? Why would you not want to put your best foot forward? I will go further and say that if and when you decided to hire a professional production company to create a video and post it to your site, it would stand out like a gem among all the crappy videos out there that never should have made it through the Internet pipeline.

Stay tuned as video production moves from teen angst to its mature young adulthood.

Carpet Cleaners With An Attitude - by Patty Kay Mooney

2010-11-12T13:29:00.001-08:00

After hosting our umpteenth annual Halloween costume party, our carpets were sorely in need of some attention. So we called up a local carpet cleaning company called One Source Carpet & Tile Care, and Shaun arrived with an assistant and some heavy-duty equipment. They proceeded to make short work of the white Berber carpeting in our living room where just a few days earlier, revelers had danced to the music of a very good band called "Stone the Giant."

There was this nasty stain that we'd been dueling with for a decade, ever since the year we had first installed the carpet, when someone had spilled soy sauce next to the sofa. The question of why anyone would bring soy sauce into somebody's white-Berber-carpeted living room has nagged us to this day. (No one ever "fessed up.") We have had other carpet cleaners attempt to dispel the "damned spot" but this time, with the help of Shaun, it seems to be gone.

Shaun also cleaned the grout in our tiled kitchen which is the stage for dozens of parties and gatherings every year. Everybody knows that the kitchen is today's version of the hearth of yore and people plus food will naturally put wear and tear on a kitchen floor. The tiled floor now looks so good that maybe it's time to celebrate with a party!

What we appreciated about the One Source crew was their attitude. They arrived on time, and they performed their work with a smile. Shaun said that he really enjoys cleaning carpets, and it shows in his results. This made me realize that it is a good idea to always hire or work with people who have good attitudes. Life is so short; why waste your time with people who aren't enjoying what they do in life?

Heads Up on More Relentless Scammers - by Patty Kay Mooney

2010-11-04T10:12:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Nobody likes getting scammed. It feels like someone has thrust a pail full of sludge into your face. There was one time in New Orleans, in the mid 80's when my husband and I were trekking across the street at dusk on the seedier end of town, when two hoodlums approached. "Uh oh," Mark said.

The tall one boasted, "I bet I can tell you where you got your shoes! Give me fifteen dollars if I'm right!" Mark and I looked at each other, knowing that we had to play by our wits because this scenario could go very wrong, very quickly. We continued walking towards the lights and throngs of N'awlins. "Sure, uh huh," said Mark.

"You got your shoes on the ends of your feet!" said the tall one, victoriously extending his hand. Mark shuffled through a pocket and pulled out a crumpled five. "Here ya go." We of course kept on walking.

"Hey, this ain't fifteen!"

"That's all you're getting from us," said Mark, who at that moment, pulled open the door of a Hurricane establishment filled with frothy neon concoctions in plexiglass bins, and ushered me in. We stayed inside, among the giddy crowd, tasting the Strawberry Daquiri, Pina Colada, Bananarama, etc., and we bided our time until we were certain those two street creeps were long gone.

Now just imagine those two players by the hundreds in the virtual cities of the Internet. I have noticed so many more scammers edging in through the teeny cracks in my computer's Malware these days. Their spam is rude, relentless and annoying. But it's becoming easier to identify, even just by glancing at the subject line.

When you see email from a friend with nothing in the subject line, and only a link in the body of the email, get rid of it. It means that someone has probably hacked your friend's computer and is sending viral links to everyone on your friend's email list.

The Nigerian banking scam has morphed into more sophisticated and less obvious types of correspondence. We recently received what seemed to be a bona-fide email from someone seeking our video production services here in San Diego. HOWEVER, after googling the company name, I found that other people had received similar emails that were proven to be a scam. So, when in doubt, google the company, the name of the person sending the email, or any other information appearing on the email.

Something else that offers a clue as to the efficacy of the email is grammar. I noticed that the woman who queried us about our video production services claimed to be a doctor working with a company in the UK, but her English grammar was atrocious. An email fraught with fractured English MIGHT be on the level, but PROBABLY is spam that stinks of scam.

We Internet surfers have reached a time in our lives when it is wise to be wary of all the sharks, jellyfish and sea snakes propogating the waters. Invest in good security software for your computer, and always be aware of your surroundings. Safety first.

Want to Make a Web Video? - by Patty Kay Mooney

2010-10-29T10:10:00.000-07:00

Image by cleopatra69 via Flickr Have you been thinking about producing a web video for yourself or your business? Green screen is the red hot ticket right now for people who want to talk about what they do, or what their business can do for potential clients. A short (one to two-minute) video posted at your site will help stimulate SEO (Search Engine Optimization) rankings and you will finally have staked your claim in the ongoing "Gold Rush of the New Millenium" which is all about web videos.

Why green screen? When the editor keys out the neon green background, you can replace it with anything you want - the Great Wall of China, dolphins riding a wave, a live volcano, you name it. This is a far better option than shooting you with your back to the wall of your office where there is no depth of field, or a boring background. The beauty of green screen is that in addition to you presenting your "elevator speech" to the general public, your selected background will be supporting your content. Are you an attorney? You could put the Hall of Justice in the background. Are you a solar panel installation expert? You could show the homes you have worked on with bright, shiny, money-saving solar panels.

Prior to booking a video production crew to videotape a green screen session with you, I have some suggestions. Write out a script of what you want to say. Read it aloud several times, to get a sense of the timing. In these days of post-MTV, it is now better to have five one-minute pieces than one five-minute piece. People just don't have the kind of time to watch anything that they think is going to take up several minutes of their time. Make it short and sweet and the likelihood of people watching will be far better.

Next, stand yourself in front of a mirror and deliver your talk. Better yet, have a friend videotape you on an available video camera. By no means do you want to post THAT video to your site. Showing an unprofessional video on a professional site will do more damage than if you had never posted a video at all. What you want to do with this "video sketch" is study it. Do you like your hair? Do you like your clothing? Do you see that you need to look directly at the camera and engage the viewer, rather than letting your eyes dart side to side, or look up to try and gather your thoughts? Use this sketch to decide how you'd like to wear your hair, whether or not you should wear makeup (men, you may need a little powder to keep the shine down), and remind you to sit or stand up straight, and not slouch. It's easier to implement any necessary changes to your presentation before committing it to high definition video.

Just a little time and forethought will help make your production smooth and professional, and you will look and sound marvelous.

Ali & Roberto Furnish Their Love Nest - An Extra Video

2010-10-15T16:19:00.001-07:00

Mark Schulze, Director of Photography, and Patty Mooney, Producer, interviewed Ali Fedotowsky and Roberto Martinez, the newest Bachelorette couple, about how they furnished their new apartment, for this piece now appearing on Extra:

Extra TV - Ali & Roberto's Love Nest

The Japanese Business Card Ceremony - by Patty Kay Mooney

2010-10-07T07:10:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

I have not been to Japan, but I have admired the Japanese culture's affinity for beauty ever since I was a young girl. They have bequeathed much to us. The first thing that comes to mind is Sushi, my favorite cuisine. Then I think of Kimonos, Kabuki Theater, Flower Arrangement, Calligraphy, Sumo wrestling, Bonsai, Anime, Tea Ceremony, Haiku and the list goes on.

A couple of weeks ago I was sitting next to a very interesting gentleman on a plane flight back to San Diego. He had recently been to Japan. When we exchanged cards, he mentioned that it is the height of rudeness in Japan to not have your business cards in a business-card holder. This so fascinated me that I googled the etiquette of Japanese business card exchange, and here's what I discovered.

Exchanging business cards in Japan is nearly as complex as the traditional tea ceremony, which, like learning to play the piano, takes many years to learn. "Meishi" is the Japanese term for the exchange of business cards. When exchanging cards with a business person in Japan, it is considered good etiquette to:

1) Have cards printed on one side in Japanese, and on the other in your own native language; offer the Japanese side facing up towards the recipient. Bring more cards with you than you think you will need. You may as well not even book a flight to Japan if you are going to forget your business cards, as you will be a persona non gratis without your cards. Carry your cards in a slim and attractive business-card holder, not in your pocket.

2) Offer the card with both hands as a sign of respect.

3) Because a business card is thought of as a piece of the person and not just a tool to jog your memory later, you should peruse the card carefully and memorize all pertinent information right then and there.
Image via Wikipedia
4) It is considered rude if you accept someone's card and then fold it, write on it, rip a corner off or stick it in your pocket like wadded-up gum in a wrapper. Place it into your special business card holder.

As with the Japanese tea ceremony, the Japanese business card exchange, a ceremony in itself, requires thought and practice. There is far more to be learned than I have mentioned here, so if you do find yourself traveling to Japan, do some homework and study the correct etiquette before you climb aboard the plane.

I find that these are simple ideas that could be incorporated into business card exchanges right here in the USA. It's aesthetically pleasing and a nice way to honor the person you have just met and with whom you would like to do business.

Tony Curtis, An Elevator Love Tale - by Patty Kay Mooney

2010-10-05T10:05:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia The news of Tony Curtis's passing brought back the memory of an experience that goes back about 25 years when Mark Schulze and I were riding up an elevator to the penthouse of the Hilton in Las Vegas to a Penthouse party. In those days, Mark and I attended video software shows to find new distributors for our home videos, and to shmooze with our friends in the business.

When Tony Curtis joined Mark and me in the elevator, we were struck by his regal bearing. He was wearing an ascot and had a beautiful woman on each arm. Mark was bold enough to address him. "Mr. Curtis," he said, "I really have enjoyed most all your movies."

Tony paused for the perfect amount of time before replying, "Sir, you have me at a disadvantage, for I have never seen any of YOUR movies."

Mark grinned and said, "Touche, Mr. Curtis!"

Just then, of course, the elevator car came to a stop and the doors rushed open. Mr. Curtis and his entourage stepped into the teeming cocktail party, and were immediately enveloped by martini-toting, buxom Penthouse girls, thus ending our Tony Curtis moment.

But oh, what a moment it was.

The Flying Professor: Aviation English on the Fly - by Faith Vietti

2010-09-22T11:11:00.000-07:00

Image by cleopatra69 via Flickr In August 2007, I saw the writing on the wall. The impending doom of institutions of higher learning in California were hanging in the balance as budget cuts and internal restructuring would soon tip the scale into a deep chasm of uncertainty.

It was then that I made a decision to leave the world I once knew and exchange it for an adventure into the unknown. Uncertainty for most can be unsettling; however, I had a firm belief that something better awaited me.

I spent what seemed an eternity trying to reinvent myself to no avail. Day upon day, I retired to inexhaustible frustration. Change in and of itself is easy; implementing it, however, is where the challenge is. A wind of good fortune did blow my way and soon a door opened. A local business owner in Santa Monica, Maurice Pinzon, engaged me in what would become one of the most memorable conversations of my lifetime.

What follows is a remarkable story about my friend, Faith, who, true to her name, exercised enough faith in herself to manifest a new and exciting career. Read the rest of Faith's story at Blue Sky Business and Executive Aviation News.

Ten Powerful Marketing Tips For Small Business - by Ann Marie Rubertone

2010-09-21T12:00:00.000-07:00

Image by cleopatra69 via Flickr 1. Print your best small ad on a postcard and mail it to prospects in your targeted market. People read postcards when the message is brief. A small ad on a postcard can drive a high volume of traffic to your web site and generate a flood of sales leads for a very small cost.

2. No single marketing effort works all the time for every business, so rotate several marketing tactics and vary your approach. Your customers tune out after awhile if you toot only one note. Not only that, YOU get bored. Marketing can be fun, so take advantage of the thousands of opportunities available for communicating your value to customers. But don't be arbitrary about your selection of a variety of marketing ploys. Plan carefully. Get feedback from customers and adapt your efforts accordingly.

3. Use buddy marketing to promote your business. For example, if you send out brochures, you could include a leaflet and/or business card of another business, which had agreed to do the same for you. This gives you the chance to reach a whole new pool of potential customers.

4. Answer Your Phone Differently. Try announcing a special offer when you answer the phone. For example you could say, "Good morning, this is Ann Marie with Check It Out; ask me about my special marketing offer." The caller is compelled to ask about the offer. Sure, many companies have recorded messages that play when you're tied up in a queue, but who do you know that has a live message? I certainly haven't heard of anyone. Make sure your offer is aggressive and increase your caller's urgency by including a not-so-distant expiration date.

5. Stick It! Use stickers, stamps and handwritten notes on all of your direct mail efforts and day-to-day business mail. Remember, when you put a sticker or handwritten message on the outside of an envelope, it has the impact of a miniature billboard. People read it first; however, the message should be short and concise so it can be read in less than 10 seconds.

6. Send A Second Offer To Your Customers Immediately After They've Purchased
Your customer just purchased a sweater from your clothing shop. Send a handwritten note to your customer thanking them for their business and informing them that upon their return with "this note" they may take advantage of a private offer, such as 20% off their next purchase. To create urgency, remember to include an expiration date.

7. Newsletters - Did you know it costs six times more to make a sale to a new customer than to an existing one? You can use newsletters to focus your marketing on past customers. Keep costs down by sacrificing frequency and high production values. If printed newsletters are too expensive, consider an e-mail newsletter sent to people who subscribe at your Web site.

8. Seminars/ open house - Hosting an event is a great way to gain face time with key customers and prospects as well as get your company name circulating. With the right programming, you'll be rewarded with a nice turnout and media coverage. If it's a seminar, limit the attendance and charge a fee. A fee gives the impression of value. Free often connotes, whether intended or not, that attendees will have to endure a sales pitch.

9. Bartering - This is an excellent tool to promote your business and get others to use your product and services. You can trade your product for advertising space or for another company's product or service. This is especially helpful when two companies on limited budgets can exchange their services.

10. Mail Outs - Enclose your brochure, ad, flyer etc. in all your outgoing mail. It doesn't cost any additional postage and you'll be surprised at who could use what you're offering.

Tips provided by Ann Marie Rubertone

Combining Business With Pleasure - by Patty K Mooney

2010-09-07T09:08:00.000-07:00

Image by cleopatra69 via Flickr
It's been 23 years since Mark and I decided to start aggressively combining business with pleasure. We were involved in video production and had just discovered the sport of mountain biking. We racked our brains on ways we could combine the two. Voila! How about producing some instructional mountain bike videos?

Both of us dove in, and pioneered the first-ever mountain-bike videos which we distributed around the world enjoying thousands of sales. Every serious mountain biker HAD to have our titles in their video library. Sales have since subsided, as the market became saturated with videos, then DVD's and now Blu-Rays. Now our videos are considered "classics" and because people are starting to feel nostalgia for the 1980's, they may enjoy a popularity with the "next generation" of mountain bikers. We'll see.

We have so many friends who feel chained to their jobs, going nuts on Fridays and dreading Mondays. They eagerly await their retirement years when they can do exactly what they want with their time. But it's not like the body gets more youthful and energetic as time advances. It's quite the contrary. How do you even know you are going to make it to 65 or or even 55? Are you dragging your feet through life to a job you can't stand, just for the money?

Entrepreneurs are able to avoid that feeling. I've certainly paid my dues in all kinds of jobs ranging from babysitting and picking weeds to bussing tables and waitressing. There was a short stint as personal secretary to a quirky millionaire who turned out to be a sexual predator. Oh yes, dues have been paid.

Looking back I find that when I really started following my heart - that little "voice in your Image by cleopatra69 via Flickrhead," I no longer worried about where my next job or paycheck were coming from. When your mind is free of worry, the channel is free for the circulation of money. The nature of money is to circulate, and if you worry about money, or hold on to it too tightly (i.e., don't give to charity) it's like a crimp in an air hose and you'll start suffocating. These things have been written about by everyone from Napoleon Hill, to the people in "The Secret." So I won't cover it here.

I will just encourage you to follow your passions, for time is fleeting. Don't be one of those people who says "I will be happy when..." You're missing the opportunity to be here now.

How to Use Video As a Marketing Strategy - by Patty K Mooney

2010-09-02T10:10:00.000-07:00

Image by cleopatra69 via Flickr

Savvy business leaders look at a spectrum of options to make their services and/or products known to others and increase business. Video is an excellent way to reach prospective clients, inform them about the products you offer, and persuade them to buy. There are several reasons why video is the preferred marketing tool of professionals worldwide:

· If a picture is worth a thousand words, then video speaks volumes.

· You can find a way to present any imaginable product and service on video, and reach selected viewers.

· Companies of all sizes and types can afford to produce a video with budgets ranging from modest to extravagant.

If you are wondering how video could benefit your business, you must ask yourself these questions:

· WHY do you want to produce a video? To build your business? To inform people about you? To recruit team members? To sell product?

· WHO will you target to watch your video? Will this be a multi-media event for prospective clients? A training video for employees to increase and/or improve productivity? Will you air a television commercial, public service announcement or infomercial to TV or cable audiences?

· WHAT will your video be about? Will you introduce your products and/or services to the local community? To the nation? To the world? Will you make an offer to viewers and present them with a call to action?

· WHERE will you air your video? On television? On cable? At your place of business? At other sites? Will you engage in a direct-mail-marketing campaign? Your options are limitless.

· WHEN do you want to present your video to your audience(s)? In time for an annual convention? An upcoming seminar? To coincide with a global event such as the Superbowl or the Olympics?

· HOW will you make your concept a reality? Consider joining forces (and sharing costs) with a business associate or two. Then undertake a step-by-step plan of action:

1. First, answer the above questions.

2. Determine how long the video will be.

3. Decide what your budget is.

4. Contact several video producers in your area and ask to see their information and examples of their work. As in an employment interview, ask about their experience: How long have they been in business? What kinds of videos do they specialize in? Have they won any awards for their work? Study their client and equipment lists; learn the difference between broadcast-quality high-end Betacam SP versus Industrial Hi-8 or SVHS. To be really thorough, call a few names on the client lists and ask them about the production company in question.

5. Request bids for your video, based on your concept and budget. Select the production company you feel will best provide what you want.

6. Make sure that you have a good line of communication and that the production company understands exactly what you want.

7. The video production company you have chosen can ease you through the next several steps, from writing the script to editing the finished show and duplicating copies of the video for distribution.

Keep in mind, it is wise to over-estimate how long it will take to produce the video, since productions tend to take longer than you think. After your show is “in the can,” ask for the raw footage so you have the option to re-edit your video later if you desire.

Now that you have produced your first video, treat yourself to some popcorn, turn down the lights, slide your video into the VCR, put your feet up and enjoy the show. You deserve it.

EurekAlert! The Place to Go for Science News - by Patty K Mooney

2010-08-31T12:43:00.000-07:00

Image by cleopatra69 via Flickr Recently we produced this web video for AAAS (The American Association for the Advancement of Science) about their service, called EureAlert!, science news that is accessible to researchers, scientists and reporters, including embargoed news.

It's a good example of the kind of video that you can put on your website to present and explain the kind of services you offer. I like to say that just because you have a video camera does not mean you know how to operate it to produce professional-quality shows. If you are trying to put your best foot forward, don't do it with a badly-made video.

This is a show we're proud of, and will probably submit it for an award at a film festival or two. It's been translated and captioned in five additional languages, so it is making its way around the world. Enjoy!

EurekAlert! Web Video from Patty Mooney on Vimeo.

San Diego Comic Con 2010 - Photographs by Patty K Mooney

2010-08-10T11:59:00.000-07:00

Happily we worked as a broadcast video production crew at this year's San Diego Comic Con, the city's largest convention. As usual, the place was packed with costumed fans. You see everything from Klingons and Predators to Avatars and lots of sexy wenches. Here are a few shots taken on and around the Con.

The Other Guys Hit the Red Carpet - by Patty Mooney

2010-07-26T14:45:00.000-07:00

Image by cleopatra69 via Flickr

"The Other Guys," a raucous detective comedy starring Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Samuel L. Jackson, Eva Mendes and Michael Keaton, will soon be coming to a theater near you. It looks like a raging good movie and here to talk about it at last weekend's San Diego Comic Con, were Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg.

Not since meeting Vince Vaughn and Jewel at a Super Bowl red carpet appearance several years ago, has this sound technician been impressed by a super star. Why? When Mark Wahlberg came sauntering over to our crew, he looked at me and said, "How are you doing today?" His acknowledgement of me, an audio gal hidden behind a mixer and beneath a set of earphones, made my day. It's really rare when a celebrity offers any sort of recognition to the lowly video production crew, although it's the camera op who makes them look good, and the sound tech that makes them sound good.

The other thing I wanted to add was how much cuter he is in person.

Will Ferrell gave a nice interview. That funny guy always seems to be on "funny" mode, so that was a pleasurable moment of the day.

Image by cleopatra69 via Flickr

Eva Mendes looked gorgeous in a tight-fitting, bosom-revealing gold lame' dress, but didn't have much to say other than how much she enjoyed working with Will and Mark. I remembered her from the time I had produced a segment for Extra at a Comic Con back when she was starring as Nicolas Cage's girlfriend in "Ghostrider." She didn't have much to say back then, either.

Keywords are a Girl's Best Friend - by Patty K Mooney

2010-07-20T09:08:00.000-07:00

Image by cleopatra69 via Flickr

Many of you already know the high importance of keywords liberally sprinkled throughout your "real estate holdings" in Cyberspace, i.e., your business website, your Flickr account, and your blogs. But some of you don't. So I will take this opportunity to educate you here and now on how you must EMBRACE keywords and get to know them and get all buddy-buddy with them.

Remember that movie with Kevin Costner called "A Field of Dream?" "If you build it, they will come?" The same holds true for your blog or website, but ONLY if you build your platform with keywords.

So, if you're a plumber, you would use such keywords as "plumber," "plumbing," "bathroom repairs," "unstop kitchen sink" etc. If you are a videographer, like me, you'd use keywords like "videography," "video producer," and you'd want to point the seeker over to your town, so you'd say "San Diego video production" and "San Diego broadcast crews," etc.

There are all sorts of free software plug-ins out there that can help you zero in on all the keywords you could possibly want to use. Be careful, though, because you don't want to use TOO MANY. And you don't want to use irrelevant ones. So, you, the plumber, would NOT use terms that had nothing to do with your service like "sexy girls dancing." As BooBoo used to say to Yogi the Bear, "The Ranger wouldn't like it!" Yes, indeed, the search engines will punish you for messing around like that. If you don't mind getting pushed over to page 88, or entirely off Google or Bing, just try it.

Take every opportunity that you can to get your keywords out there. Do not title your home page "home page." It's a rookie mistake but the good thing is it can be easily fixed. Use the description in your web pages' title bars to explicitly list your keywords but in a phrase that makes sense, such as "San Carlos Plumbing and Heating Service for Homes and Businesses." Don't let any opportunity fall through the crack or you could be missing out on business. It's a battle out there, and your one greatest weapon in the dirty, dustry fray is keywords.

So, to recap, embrace keywords wisely, do not abuse the use of them, and employ only the ones most relevant to your product or service. When posting photos at Flickr (or any other photo-sharing service), if you want people to find your work, load up on the keywords, even the ones that seem obvious to you, like city, state, country, or even the predominant color in the photo. Just litter your Cyber-village with keywords and let the spiders have their way with 'em.

Who Likes Big Dogs? I Like Big Dogs - by Patty K Mooney

2010-07-14T17:32:00.000-07:00

Image by cleopatra69 via Flickr

One of my most interesting gigs as a producer was a recent interview for Extra with Terri Seymour who interviewed Owen Wilson, George Lopez, and woof-woof, Marmaduke. I've noticed that most baby boomers such as myself are familiar with the oafy Great Dane from his comic-strip days - reaching back to 1954, but the younger generations are sniffing the movie cautiously. And possibly due to that the movie seems to be suffering from bad reviews.

Owen and George (the voices of Marmaduke and Carlos the Cat, respectively) sat and spoke about their collaboration on the movie on the sands of Imperial Beach where only moments before, the annual surf dog contest had taken place. There was quite a potpourri of man's-best-friend in surf outfits or their usual fur coats, but the stand-out was Marmaduke in his tall director's chair.

When you think about how far animation has come, to a point where hair looks like real hair, and fur like real fur, compared to the first Mickey and Minnie films, you have to admit we've come a long, long way. It's a little sad that nobody really takes note of this, other than video or film production people, and that we have, as film audiences, become so doggone jaded.

I'm waiting until "Marmaduke" comes to Netflix and then I'm going to rent it and microwave some popcorn and then my husband and I are going to enjoy the good old days that a rambunctious dog and his kitty-cat sidekick are sure to invoke.

All Work and No Play - by Patty K Mooney

2010-07-01T07:07:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy," which is bad enough. But anyone who has ever seen "The Shining" can attest that all work and no play turned Jack into an axe-wielding maniac. What is the lesson for the rest of us?

It's good to balance work and play. We all need to step away from the computer from time to time, and get a life. Back in 1982 when my husband and I were backpacking in New Zealand, we learned that a six-week vacation is mandatory for the Kiwis. Not so here in the U.S. People are known to go to work with nary a break, and when they get into their cars in the morning, they are angry and a danger to other drivers on the road. Sometimes it seems like our highways are one big seething mass of pissed-off worker bees.

Haven't you noticed how much better you feel about returning to work after a nice vacation? More people need to take more time off. My husband likes to take a day off every week to play disk golf at the local course with his buddies. It's a nice reward for all the hard work he does, shooting beautiful video for clients. The resulting happiness of that nurtured inner child is reflected in his work. I'm not so great at throwing frisbees, so I like to go for a hike or a mountain bike ride during the week. These forays into nature and away from the desk help keep me balanced so that I enjoy my work when I get back to it.

Today's my birthday, so I'm giving myself the day off. See you next week!

The Cost of Money - by Patty K Mooney

2010-06-29T07:07:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Today I would like to talk about the cost of money. It has been said that "Money is the root of all evil" but money is merely a medium of exchange. It's the lust to acquire money at all costs that becomes problematic.

Anyone of us in business is in it to make money, to provide food and shelter for ourselves and our families, to buy a romantic dinner from time to time, to vacation in Yosemite, Cozumel or Tuscany, perhaps, as a reward for our hard work, and to maintain a good standard of living.

Anyone who has seen the film, "The Corporation," is privy to the conclusions presented to the viewer; namely, that if a corporation, which enjoys the status of an individual, were actually a person, that person would be a psychopath because its one main goal is to generate income without caring who gets hurt in the process.

We all see the proof of this in the latest ecological disaster in the Gulf of Mexico which makes British Petroleum look like a Tim Burton version of the Cat in the Hat. BP wanted to cut corners here and there and failed to include the kind of technology that would have nipped this tragedy in the bud. Their rig exploded, taking eleven people with it. Now it appears that BP has prevented activists from saving endangered sea turtles prior to burning huge oceanscapes filled with burgeoning oil.

The sea turtle most affected by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill is the Kemp's Ridley which is listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Parties responsible for killing the endangered turtles are liable for criminal penalties that include prison and civil fines of up to $25,000 per violation.

As a result, BP perversely has a financial incentive to let the endangered turtles be incinerated rather than to allow rescue crews to cull them from the burn boxes before the containment fires are lit.

"They ran us out of there and then they shut us down, they would not let us get back in there," said turtle rescuer Mike Ellis in an interview with conservation biologist Catherine Craig that was posted on YouTube.com. (Source - MyFoxTampaBay.com)

Clearly the actions of BP leading up to the tragedy, and in handling their spilt oil, reveal to any thinking person that they care more about money than people (or endangered animals) and just want their life back.

I have a feeling that over the ensuing months, and years, we are ALL going to want our lives back, but the people feeling it the most are those in the Gulf who had livelihoods that are now destroyed.

Not ALL corporations are psychopathic. Case in point. Our company, Crystal Pyramid Inc., is a corporation. As one of its principals, I decided to use my super powers for good, and recently collaborated on a music video that the songwriter, Katherine Archer, of St. Augustine, Florida, and I hope will bring more awareness, and aid, to the disaster in the Gulf. It's called "Black Black Blood."

I wrote about my collaboration with Katherine in a recent blog in "A Diary Left Open" in an entry called "Black Black Blood."

Here is the video. Please share it with all your friends so that we can all get on the same page regarding our shared future. I think we all realize by now that it is not about money. It's about love.

Radio Interview 101 - by Bryan Farrish

2010-06-17T12:00:00.000-07:00

Why Smaller Stations Can Be Better

People who are trying to get interviews for the first time invariably want to start out on the "biggest" stations in the biggest cities. You can't blame these folks, because from the outside it does look as if that's the way to make the most things happen for them (since these stations "reach the most people"). But it's not. Making things "happen", meaning sales, web hits, speaking engagements, etc. is not just a function of how many people you reach; it's also a function of how many TIMES you reach them, and how much you SPEND reaching them. Take a look at the market (city) sizes here...

The situation can be compared to the opening of a new restaurant: The amount of food you sell is not just a function of how many people walk or drive by your location; it's also a function of how many TIMES they drive by (staying open for just one day would yield little sales,) and how much you spend to put your restaurant there in the first place. And so the idea of radio interviews is that you want to hit as many people as possible, several times, and do so for the least amount of money as possible. This leads us to smaller stations. Smaller stations/markets have advantages because:

o They are more likely to ask you back for additional interviews; most listeners need to hear something several times before they act... and this is how you make that happen.

o They are more likely to ask you to become a regular, i.e., every Tuesday at 2pm. This sort of makes you a weekly guest, and many listeners will think you actually work at the station.

o They are more likely to have the receptionist give out your phone number to callers. Larger stations just have too much going on, and, their receptionist (many times they are temps) are in constant change.

o They are more likely to put you on their website. Talk about a free plug!
This would never happen at a big station.

o They are more likely to announce your website repeatedly during your interview. This is crucial to getting traffic to your site. Larger stations/shows (on average) will simply resist doing this.

o They will more readily post their opinions of you in the radio discussion groups. Think radio people don't talk to each other?

o You'll stand out more as a pro speaker, since larger stations in larger cities are already saturated with established speakers. You want to be the biggest fish possible... that is, if you want to be hired.

o You'll reach a wider demographic of listeners, since smaller cities have fewer stations, and thus each station has a broader group of people listening to each one.

o Their advertising rates are less; bigger station ad rates are so high you probably would not be able to buy even a single commercial, much less the
20+ you would need every week to sell your offering properly.

o They may offer to continue give-aways of your product (i.e., free on-air
promotion) for several days after your interview. This will NEVER happen on a large station.

o They are far more likely to take a syndicated show from you, should you ever promote one to them. You only stand a chance of starting syndication in smaller markets, anyway.

o And finally, they are FAR easier to book interviews with in the first place, because they get FAR fewer people trying to do book them. So you (or the person/firm you hire for booking) is going to have a much easier and less costly time setting up your interview schedule.

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Bryan Farrish Promotion is an independent promotion company handling radio interviews on talk and music radio stations.
310-998-8305 - interviews@radio-media.com

When Social Media Goes Wrong - by Mike Clough

2010-06-15T08:08:00.000-07:00

Image by webtreats via Flickr

I have been dabbling in many of the social networks now open to us all. LinkedIn proves to be ever more valuable in many aspects. Through one of the groups to which I belong, I became acquainted with the work of Mike Clough, someone who has written many articles on his blog about the benefits of social media in marketing. Isn't this something that is important to all of us?

I came across one of his latest articles which really resonated with me, and I think that it will with you, too, about scenarios where "social media goes wrong."

Mike says, "I believe that social media has leveled the playing field to some degree between big business and small business. Nonetheless, as with many great things, it can sometimes go wrong. A recent experience of mine illustrates this point..."

If your curiosity is piqued, as was mine, go check out the rest of Mike's article here: When Social Media Goes Wrong. I am not the only person who was curious about the topic. You'll find comments from several other bloggers who weigh in with their thoughts, as well.

What Does Fair Use Mean to Bloggers? - by Patty K Mooney

2010-06-10T07:07:00.000-07:00

Image by cleopatra69 via Flickr

Any savvy blogger knows exactly what Fair Use is, but may have some confusion as to usage of various components that may fit into your blog, including music, video, articles by other authors, etc. Because we are now under way in a new century, aboard a new vessel known as "The Internet," just how do you know for sure whether it's okay to lift a video off of Youtube, a Jimmy Hendrix tune off a CD, or a quotation from the New York Times?

This video answers many of these questions. The bottom line is that the law will not be on your side if you choose to make money off of someone else's content. So be careful, and if you have any concerns that are not addressed in this video, then perhaps it would be wise to consult an attorney who specializes in Fair Use.

More WebProNews Videos

Why Do Salesmen Need Laptops? - by James Mowery

2010-06-08T07:07:00.000-07:00

Image by Arbron via Flickr

Why do salesmen need laptops?

Business people were once confined to their offices. They had to tolerate annoying coworkers because there was just no other way. On trips, they had to rely on hotel televisions and pay-per-view movies. Meetings on the road had to be conducted by phone in order to get everyone on the same page. With the advent of laptop computing, those are things of the past.

Laptops used to be the ball and chain that salesmen carried around. Those computers were slower and more awkward than the desktop computers, so they were the piece of hardware that people loved to hate. Technology caught up, and now laptops are replacing the desktop as the computers of choice for many users.

Those same salespeople can now get out of their offices without needing to worry about being effective. They can hang out at the coffee shops and type their reports, avoiding distractions in the workplace. They can manage time more efficiently because a follow-up report can be written in the parking lot right after a client visit.

Relaxing is a lot easier for those with laptops. Where these individuals once had to rely on hotel movies, the technology is available to stream movies right to the businessman's desktop. They can play a few hands of online poker and win the world.

The laptop's size makes it a perfect tool to carry anywhere. Worries about communication have been reduced, as the laptop's power allows users to talk anywhere. In general, laptops are a boon to society.

About the author: James Mowery is a computer geek who writes about technology and related topics. To read more blog posts by him, go to Led TV.

Social Media and Video Production - by Fred Ashman

2010-06-03T08:08:00.000-07:00

Image by cleopatra69 via Flickr

The production business is, in my opinion, one where the use of social media can be quite helpful when used judiciously. The amount of time consumed with social media needs to be balanced. Also the content of the blog or tweet is very important as business people are so barraged with media that unnecessary or unwanted communications can make the sender into an irritant rather than helpful.

The company vs a producer vs the director or editor or talent each have different needs in communication. Part of the idea is to keep yourself top of mind to customers and potential customers, without being a pest.

Like most of life, the best solution is finding the right balance.

45 Lessons of Life - by Regina Brett

2010-05-27T19:24:00.000-07:00

Image by cleopatra69 via Flickr

Written By Regina Brett, 53 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me...
It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone...
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first pay check.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give it time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

A Tale of Two Restaurateurs - by Patty Mooney

2010-05-26T10:45:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Subtitle: If the Customer Is Wrong, Then You Don't Need My Business

Long ago, my husband and I used to frequent a local Vietnamese restaurant - the first one established in San Diego. It wasn't in the greatest location, but the cuisine was fantastic. Mark and I would go there once or twice every week. Then Long, the owner, decided to move his family and business into the ritzier section of town, and sold the place to another restaurateur.

With trepidation, Mark and I continued frequenting the restaurant, but the food and service began to decline until one evening, when we had invited four people to join us, I did not get served my Pho (noodle soup) until everyone else had finished eating. To say the least, I was quite upset and left there telling Mark that I never wanted to return and as far as I was concerned, that restaurant could just disappear. Within a few months, we passed by the place and noticed that it had been vacated.

I often wondered whether that eatery had imploded due to the energy of my wrath. But I'm sure it boiled down to the lack of good customer service.

Fast forward to a recent excursion to the Sonoma wine country where amazing restaurants abound. Our wine broker, Alan, took Mark and me to a Sonoma bistro called "The Girl and the Fig" where they serve "country food with a French passion." Alan often takes his clients to the local wine-country restaurants and brings his wines along so that clients can enjoy the food-wine pairing, and he can then sell his wines. He and his partner produce the Abstract wines which are quite good. You may have read Alan's piece that I published earlier this year called "Rocking the Vineyards of Sonoma."

Alan told us he had called ahead to make sure that he would be able to bring his own wines, and that the woman to whom he had spoken assured him that the corkage fee would be $10 per bottle. He had already shared two bottles of wine with us during our dinner and had opened the third so that it could breathe. Now this is when the owner, a guy named Michael, walked over, not to see how we were enjoying our meal, but to vilify Alan for having opened the third bottle, and then to chastise all of us about it. He grabbed up our wine glasses and would not allow Alan to pour that third bottle of wine. I felt as if my fingers had just been rapped with a ruler by a nun in a black habit.

And yet, when the bill arrived, there was a corkage fee of $15 per bottle (despite what the woman on the phone had told Alan) and the third bottle was included - even though the owner had not allowed us to consume it. Nobody likes conflict, and Alan was trying to entertain us, his visiting guests, sans any negativity. But what's right is right - right? So we told Michael that Alan had called prior to coming and was told the corkage fee would be $10. And a corkage fee of $10 is reasonable in these economic times, the three of us believed. If we had known that the rug would be yanked out from under our feet and we would be charged $45 for three bottles (one of which we didn't even drink), perhaps we might never have gone to that restaurant at all. Michael said, "Nobody here would have told you $10 per bottle." Then he turned on his heel and walked away.

In 1908 César Ritz (1850-1918), the celebrated French hotelier is credited with saying 'Le client n'a jamais tort' - 'The customer is never wrong'. "The customer is always right" is widely thought to have evolved from Ritz's quote. Hasn't everyone heard of the Ritz? The place is celebrated in song (Irving Berlin's "Puttin' on the Ritz.") It's even a word in the dictionary - "We went to this really ritzy joint." And who has not eaten Ritz crackers?

I do not believe that The Girl & The Fig will enjoy a hundred plus years of notoriety as Ritz has. They may serve food with a French passion, but Ritz's concept of the customer never being wrong has not resonated with Michael the owner of The Girl & The Fig. It's not advised to go through the work and constant challenges of establishing and running a restaurant, only to piss your customers off.

I have waited a month since our little soiree to write this, so I feel dispassionate about it now, and am sharing it as a lesson to all of us.

There was one good thing that came out of it though. Alan, Mark and I coined an entirely new word which you, too, are free to use. "Douche-baggery" - as in, "What douche-baggery is this!" Or, "There seems to be a high level of douche-baggery afoot." It's vocabulary with a French passion. Use it, share it, and recognize it when you see it, because the customer is never wrong.

How to pick a password that's secure and easy to remember - By Chris Gaylord

2010-05-12T13:17:00.000-07:00

Image by Zellaby via Flickr

Try to pick a lengthy string of characters that's easy to remember, but gibberish to others.

The man accused of one of the juicier hacking cases of the past few years is no Internet mastermind. On June 24, a French citizen who goes by the pseudonym "Hacker Croll" will face charges that he broke into Facebook pages, e-mail accounts, and the Twitter feeds of then-Sen. Barack Obama, singer Britney Spears, and other celebrities.

How did he break in? Police say that he's just a good guesser. By cruising through blogs and social-networking pages posted online by his victims, he allegedly dug up enough information to guess people's passwords and security questions.

This trick is pretty easy to pull off. Try combinations of family names, graduation dates, birthdays, favorite bands or sports teams -- all information that many of us share willingly online.

This isn't a call to scrub down your Face book profile until it's pointless. But Hacker Croll's story is the latest of many (often-ignored) reasons to improve your online passwords. But since doing so is such a nuisance, here's a simple, easy-to-remember way to craft secure passwords for all the websites that you visit.

Before we roll out the grand plan, let's walk through why most passwords stink.
First, do not use common words or patterns. The most frequent password on the Internet is "123456" -- nearly 1 in every 100 people uses it. It's simple, can be typed quickly, and is the first thing hackers will try. Throw in the next 4,999 most popular terms and they make up 20 percent of all passwords used online.

These numbers come from computer security firm Imperva in Redwood Shores, Calif. The company stumbled upon a list of 32 million passwords posted by a bragging hacker who had recently snatched the data from RockYou, which designs software for Facebook and MySpace.

This rare look into people's password habits showed how lax or at least unoriginal people can be, says Rob Rachwald, who helped write Imperva's report.

Hacker Croll's tactic works well when targeting specific people, but Mr. Rach wald says that most online thieves cast wide nets.

"It's not me trying to guess individual passwords," he says. "Hackers use so-called 'dictionaries,' " lists of common terms and phrases that a computer tries one after another until it finds a match.

Since 1 in 5 accounts draws from the same pool of 5,000 passwords, an automated program has pretty good odds -- especially since Imperva estimates that modern PCs can race through 110 tries each second.

That leads to the second rule: The longer a password, the better. Eight to 10 characters work best. Why? Even if you avoid common terms, some hackers could still attempt to "brute force" their way into your account. This means telling a computer to try every permutation that it can think of until it busts in. On average, a five-character password will last a couple of hours against such a barrage, according to John Pozadzides, CEO of software company iFusion Labs. Eight characters will hold up for centuries.

This also explains why sticking to lower-case letters is a bad idea. "Adding just one capital letter and one asterisk," Mr. Pozadzides says in his report, "would change the processing time for an eight-character password from 2.4 days to 2.1 centuries." (While he calculates hacker speeds differently from Imperva, the scale is what's impressive.)

The solution? To pick a lengthy string that's easy to remember, but gibberish to others, think of a phrase. For example, Hamlet's line: "To be, or not to be: that is the question." Boil this down to an initialism: TbontbTitq. Now swap in some numbers and special characters: Maybe "2" instead of "to" and "?" to replace "question". (Zeroes make nice "O's" and "3" works as an "E".) You've now got 2bon2bTit? -- a 10-character chain with all the fixings.

Add another layer of security by extending it for each website. That way, if someone figures out one of your passwords, they don't gain access to all of your accounts. Attach Fk to your Facebook password or maybe Hm to Hotmail. Better yet, reverse the order of these additional letters to further obscure their meaning.

Five Essentials Steps to Success - by Angela Newman, Pink Ladders

2010-04-28T16:42:00.000-07:00

Image by marcof via Flickr

W Work Ethic
O Optimistic Attitude
M Manage Tasks and Set Goals
A Affirmations
N Never Give Up

When you hear the word 'success', what do you think of? Some people define it in terms of financial success; making a certain amount of money or what their net worth is. For others success is being happy in their career and personal life; enjoying what they do for a living, having family and friends that contribute to their life's happiness and making a difference in the lives they touch.

But regardless of your definition, when you climb your 'pink ladder' there are five essential steps I recommend you take that will help you achieve success in your career and personal life. I have spelled them out in an easy format for all women to remember.

W Work Ethic
Work ethic is so important to the success of your career but unfortunately not at the top of everyone's list. Having high work ethic is simply how you do your job. It's about being self directed, taking pride in the output of the work you submit, doing what needs to be done (and more) without complaining and looking out for the company's best interest in all the decisions you make on its behalf.

O Optimistic Attitude
What is your general attitude? Make sure it's a positive, optimistic one as attitude will play a big part in your climb up the pink ladder. Managers will be less than enthusiastic to promote someone that constantly complains about their job, the people they work for and with and always sees the glass half empty.

M Manage Tasks and Set Goals
Everyday whether its work related or personal, we have many tasks to accomplish and each goal we set has several tasks within it before the goal is complete. I use the Pink Ladders Task Manager to write down my personal and work related tasks. It is nearly impossible to remember all the things that must get done so having a system to keep you focused and on track is essential. There is nothing worse than forgetting about a critical deadline for a project or customer.

A Affirmations
Affirmations are positive statements based on the present tense as though it has already occurred even though it has not. By doing so, it reinforces to your subconscious that it is so. Remember the saying, ''If you believe it, you can achieve it"? Saying affirmations frequently reminds you and tells your subconscious that you can achieve your goal and before long you will start believing it even if you didn't to begin with.

N Never Give Up
Having a 'never give up' attitude is critical in achieving success. There will be times when you may feel like giving up hope or giving in to the pressure but don't. It's important to keep moving forward on your goals in order to live the life you want. Climb your pink ladder as high as you want to go; it's entirely up to you.

Check out Pink Ladders

Don't Think Outside the Box - by Penny C. Sansevieri

2010-04-15T14:41:00.000-07:00

Cover of Working Girl

We hear it over and over: "think outside the box," but what does it mean - and does it really work?

I was inspired to write this piece after reading a book called You, Inc.: The Art of Selling Yourself (by Harry Beckwith and Christine Clifford Beckwith/Business Plus). They address this in the book, but I'd like to take this a step further. First off, if the box you're in works, well, it works for you. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, right? But here's a twist. Don't go outside the box, enhance it, add to it and infuse it with influences you wouldn't normally have been exposed to.

Have you ever noticed that the minute you step outside of your "space," like going on vacation or traveling a different way to work, that something pops? A creative solution emerges to a long-term problem, or you suddenly hit on a new story twist for your next book.

As authors, publishers, entrepreneurs, speakers, we are called upon to be creative. We want unique ideas to write about and unique messages to sell them. So we try and get creative and move out of our comfort zone. Now, while I'm all about moving out of your comfort zone, the out-of-the-box thinking that marketers love to tout isn't really that effective or, for that matter, even possible.

If you're struggling to be creative or to problem solve, you might want to take some time to add some new influences to your day. Sometimes if I need to flex my creative muscle I will try and find a correlation between something totally opposite what I am working on. Meaning I'll try to find the common thread. It's a fantastic exercise and again, it'll help to stretch you and bring more influences into your box.

Do you remember the movie "Working Girl"? In it Melanie Griffith was trying to climb the corporate ladder but part of her never really fit in. She read all the wrong magazines, didn't really dress the part, but in the end she came up with an idea that was the center story of the movie. A New York executive asked her where she came up with it and she said, "Reading W." "W?" the exec questioned. "Yes," Melanie's character said, "you never know where the good ideas will come from." And that's my point exactly. You never know where and when inspiration will strike, but if you're sticking to the same routine, it'll be a lot tougher to find inspiration than if you shake up your day. Here are some ideas to help you get there. Consider one or all of them. You'll be surprised what you learn!

1) Read a magazine you wouldn't normally read: If you are in business and you read Business Week or Entrepreneur that's great, but the likelihood of either of these magazines expanding your horizons is minimal. Why? Because they're really telling you more of what you already know. I travel a good deal and whenever I'm in an airport I try and pick up a magazine I wouldn't normally read. Try this, you'll be surprised what you learn, and something outside of your normal scope of reading can trigger new ideas.

2) Watch a movie you would never normally watch: If you're a western junkie, try watching a chick-flick or vice-versa. I know for you die-hard thriller watchers this might make your skin crawl, but trust me, a change of pace is always good to trigger the creative juices.

3) Listen to a different radio station: This is really fun, and even better, why not try listening to a station outside of your area? I grew up in Belgium and will sometimes listen to Belgian radio. I also love digging into the podcasts on NPR and other talk radio shows.

4) Go to a tractor pull instead of the opera: OK, maybe not exactly, but the idea here is to expose yourself to something new and again, try and find a creative way that it ties into your book or area of expertise. One year after watching the Tour de France I was inspired to write an article called, "Biking and Book Marketing: what the Tour de France can teach us about marketing our books." Odd as it seems, this article got a lot of traction. We ran it in our newsletter and many bike-fan sites ran it too, no surprise because authors are everywhere.

5) Change your work surroundings: I'm not talking about moving offices, just try working somewhere else. Sometimes if I'm buried in minutia and struggling to be creative, I'll pack up my netbook and go hang at my local Starbucks for an afternoon. Working on a plane does this for me, too, and knowing this, I save all my creative challenges for my next flight (fortunately, or unfortunately depending on how you look at it, I've been flying a lot these days). The point being, sometimes sitting at your same desk and same chair doesn't do anything for your creativity; in fact, often it stagnates it. Just like standing water, every once in a while you have to drain your mind of the usual, input the unusual and see what happens.

The idea of "thinking outside the box" was coined by an advertising firm eons ago, and we've used it, and in many cases overused it. Yes, it means be creative, but as I pointed out earlier, if you're doing well then clearly your box works for you. Instead of trying to move outside of it, try bringing new influences into it instead. You'll not only find that your creativity is moving again, but the ideas, which before had seemed stuck behind a roadblock, are now more like free flowing traffic.

Where will your journey take you?

Reprinted from "The Book Marketing Expert newsletter," a free ezine offering book promotion and publicity tips and techniques.

My Husband Invented the Helmet Cam - by Patty Mooney

2010-04-06T17:42:00.000-07:00

At the time, it was just another "MacGyver" maneuver. Mark often invented ways to enhance his video productions. If anything went wrong on a set, he would always know what to do to jury-rig a solution.

But back in 1988, when we were producing the first mountain-bike how-to video, "The Great Mountain Biking Video," Mark knew he had to figure out a way to create some good "POV" shots, by which the viewer could see what the mountain biker was seeing, as he or she coasted down a mountain-bike trail.

Thus, he bolted a VHS camera to a motorcycle helmet and attached the camera by cable to a VCR that was packed into a padded backpack. When you think of today's button cams and lipstick cams, this primitive rig was truly unwieldy. But it did the job.

Click here to see Mark's story, and see some of the first-ever helmet-cam footage - a descent on the Mammoth Mountain Kamikaze Downhill race.

I also added this story to Wikipedia.

Is Entrepreneurialism for You? - by Patty Mooney

2010-04-01T09:09:00.000-07:00

Image by cleopatra69 via Flickr

Besides being a rather difficult word to spell, is entrepreneurialism really for you? A lagging economy tends to trigger that soul-searching mode where you wonder if you will ever be less trapped and more fulfilled by the things you do to make money.

I came upon this great little questionnaire on the topic, by Daniel Isenberg, who is a Professor of Management Practice at Babson College. He calls it his "2-Minute Isenberg Entrepreneur Test" and adds the caveat, "Be honest with yourself; the worst lies are the ones we tell ourselves."

Jot down your answers and see what you learn about yourself.

1.I don't like being told what to do by people who are less capable than I am.

2.I like challenging myself.

3.I like to win.

4.I like being my own boss.

5.I always look for new and better ways to do things.

6.I like to question conventional wisdom.

7.I like to get people together in order to get things done.

8.People get excited by my ideas.

9.I am rarely satisfied or complacent.

10.I can't sit still.

11.I can usually work my way out of a difficult situation.

12.I would rather fail at my own thing than succeed at someone else's.

13.Whenever there is a problem, I am ready to jump right in.

14.I think old dogs can learn — even invent — new tricks.

15.Members of my family run their own businesses.

16.I have friends who run their own businesses.

17.I worked after school and during vacations when I was growing up.

18.I get an adrenaline rush from selling things.

19.I am exhilarated by achieving results.

20.I could have written a better test than Isenberg (and here is what I would change ....)

According to Isenberg, "If you answered "yes" on 17 or more of these questions, look at your paycheck (if you are lucky enough to still get one). If the company that issued the check isn't owned by you, it is time for some soul searching: Do you have debts to pay? Kids in college? Alimony? Want to take it easy? Maybe better to wait. Do you have a little extra cash in the bank and several credit cards? Do you have a spouse, partner, friends, or kids who will cheer you on? If so, start thinking about what kind of business you want to set up. It doesn't matter what age you are: research by the Kauffman Foundation shows that more and more over–50s are setting up their own businesses. Talk to people who have made the plunge, learn how to plan and deliver a product or service, think about that small business you might buy, talk to people with whom you would like to work, and talk to customers."

As an entrepreneur myself since the age of seven when I picked weeds for a nickel apiece, I can tell you that neither money nor fame have ever been driving factors for me. It's a "here-now" kind of thing. I chose not to have children, so it's a lot easier to take the leap of faith necessary for entrepreneurial endeavors when you don't have a bevy of people who depend on you for their very existence. It's very satisfying to be the navigator, pilot and tailgunner all rolled into one. The master of your own fate.

Some people are not cut out for the entrepreneurial life. We worked with a self-contractor for several years who quit freelancing to work at a university where he would be paid like clockwork twice every month. He now has to get up at "oh-dark-thirty" every business day of the week, but he loves it. He's fulfilled, he's performing work that he enjoys, and he's supporting his family.

So really, as Isenberg says, it all whittles down to you being completely honest with yourself. Are you an entrepreneur, or aren't you?

(Above photo by Patty Mooney taken at an entrepreneurial video production gig that featured actress and poker champion, Jennifer Tilly)

Anaheim Wants to Take Over San Diego Comic Con

2010-03-30T10:10:00.000-07:00

Image by cleopatra69 via Flickr

After 40 years in its San Diego home, Comic-Con International is being courted by Anaheim tourism officials interested in its 125,000-plus attendees, reported the Union-Tribune.

Officials hope the lure of greater event space and cheaper lodging will be enough to rend the decades-long relationship between San Diego and Comic-Con, but San Diego Convention Center officials hope to have expanded their own space by the end of Comic-Con's contract in 2012.

This news is not surprising, because it is many years coming. As an elite broadcast video crew that has collected interviews and B-roll at the San Diego Comic Con over the last decade, we have observed that it is getting too big for its britches.

But there's a Catch 22 or two. It's a convention that was born and raised in San Diego. Convention attendees enjoy the amenities, beauty and moderate weather of San Diego. They like going to the beach, Zoo, Wild Animal Park and SeaWorld when they've had enough of walking the floors at the Comic Con. They enjoy the fact that there are so many great restaurants within walking distance of the San Diego Convention Center. And did I mention the great weather?

So, if you take the SDCC away from San Diego, then it's no longer considered the San Diego Comic Con. Anaheim is okay, but it's no San Diego. Anaheim's got Disneyland. In the middle of summer, when Comic Con is scheduled, who wants to go to Disneyland at the hottest time of summer when all the kids are out of school and - at Disneyland. Um, not me. And can you name any great restaurants in Anaheim?

So Las Vegas? Plenty of room for large conventions? Yes. Good eats? Of course. Except, again, middle of summer, hotter than Hades, yada yada.

I believe that if the San Diego Comic Con move sout of San Diego, there will not be as many attendees. It's like trying to move a palm tree to Michigan. I just don't think it will survive the move.

There are several options on the table. They include enlarging the San Diego Convention Center, spreading out the Comic Con panels and events to outerlying hotels, extending the length of time of the Comic Con, etc. It's all up in the air right now. It's a real quandary. San Diego has until 2012 to think of something. In the meantime, if you haven't gotten your passes for the 2010 Con already, you're too late. Here it is, late March, and snoozers are already losers.

Qualities of a Leader - by David C. Baker

2010-03-25T08:08:00.000-07:00

Image by cleopatra69 via Flickr

Qualities of a Leader
What are the characteristics of a leader that others want to follow? As you’ll soon see, this list is a very personal one. In other words, we’d all come up with different elements when building the list. What I’ve tried to do, though, is to think of a complete leader. So I’ve asked myself this question: can I imagine a leader who isn't fair, for instance. The answer is obviously no. Each one of these, then, describes a leader’s characteristics, any one of which might hinder their effectiveness if missing in any significant proportion. What I’d encourage you to do--maybe even before you read this list--is to first make up your own list and compare it with mine. (These are not presented in any particular order.)

Approachable
A leader (which is really nothing more than the ideal form of a manager) is approachable, even with bad news. There’s an evenness and steadiness that gives those who must approach him or her a confidence that they won’t be yelled at or blamed unnecessarily. At the heart of approachability is simply a willingness to listen, first, before reacting to a particular piece of news.

Articulate
A leader doesn’t need to be some master spokesperson or have a Ph.D. in English, but they need to be able to articulate what they are thinking and feeling. A vision is not that useful unless it can be imparted to the others who will join along in that journey. It’s not just the words, either, but the tone and the speech patterns and the actual words that are chosen. You might say that a leader doesn’t have to be articulate, but they do need to articulate.

Authentic
A leader needs to be the same person on the surface as they are in reality, deep inside. Employees can smell a rat, and that rat often takes the form of a leader who dons a suit when at work, trying to be somebody they aren’t. The opposite of authentic is fake, and that fakeness can be manifested in the form of fake friendship, fake listening, fake humor, fake caring, etc. Real leaders are the same person at work as they might be if you bump into them at the grocery store.

Communicative
Not only are leaders able to articulate their vision, they actually do so. That’s what I mean by communicative. They frequently impact the environment by speaking to it. They are present and involved and know what they want, communicating that in ways that make a favorable impression on those they depend on to get the work done.

Competent at a Basic Level
Leaders need a basic level of competence. Just enough to understand the issues and be able to evaluate talent. They should not, however, be the most technically competent of the group. If they are, that may be a sign that they have hired helpers instead of experts. It could also mean that they were promoted for the wrong reasons (the best doer rather than the best manager). Let’s face it: all over the world you can find well-run companies whose leaders are managing others who are far more competent than they are.

Confident
Leaders are confident, but this is a tough characteristic to describe with balance. That’s because there’s always a fair measure of self-doubt with leadership. On that other end of the spectrum, too little confidence makes for ineffective leadership. So there’s a balance: enough confidence to inspire those following a leader, but not so much confidence that it leads them astray.

Decision Makers
Leaders who take too long to make decisions, or don’t make them decisively enough, are bound to struggle. To be an effective leader you must be a risk taker. In chaos and ambiguity, you must defy momentum and decide about direction and speed. It is fine--and even desirable--to tolerate ambiguity, but that analog environment cannot prevent digital decisions from being made.

Direct
Leaders are direct. Not rude, but direct. The difference lies in the intent and result. Being direct is motivated by a desire to truly communicate in a means whereby everything that’s necessary is included without any ancillary information or clutter. Hurting someone with directness is an example of poor leadership because it gets in the way of good, honest communication. Leaders are direct so that there’s no confusion about what’s being said or what’s behind it.

Disciplined
Leaders are disciplined. That means that they get things done, do what they say, plan and execute. They can set goals, control their actions, and systematically work toward a set of accomplishments. It’s not one unmet promise after another but real accomplishment, little by little.

Fair
A leader’s fairness will most likely show up when he or she is alone with someone else, talking about a third party who isn’t there. Will they represent the facts accurately? Will they provide an appropriate benefit of the doubt? Are they free from bias and dishonesty? Impartial and unprejudiced might be the best ways to describe a leader who is fair.

Grateful
I’ve noted elsewhere that curiosity and gratefulness are high up on the list of characteristics I’m looking for in a leader. Gratefulness puts things in perspective because, first off, there’s no false pride that something has really be earned. Grateful people understand that luck and circumstances are part of success, and they don’t get too full of themselves.

Honest
What sort of list would this be if we were describing a leader and didn’t include honest. And how could you work well for someone you didn’t trust and respect. It’s impossible. The last thing you need is a leader who says different things to different people, either because they’re afraid of conflict or because they are trying to amass power.

Hopeful
Great leaders are hopeful, even when they know all the facts about the circumstances. That’s not to say they’re optimistic, which can mean that they’re living in denial. Hopefulness is a founded belief in success. Follow the reasonable plan and find predictable results at the outset.

Accepting of a Minority Position
The group, however you define that, is often wrong. The supposed safety in numbers is elusive. In fact, nearly every moment of truth in the collective knowledge of a civilization has been characterized by a very small minority arguing their point until the masses climb aboard the idea. This means that a leader will often look wrong to the majority of those that he or she manages, and they will have to be comfortable with that position in the minority. Caution is called for, of course, because being in the minority doesn’t mean you’re right, either!

Merciful from Significant Personal Failure
Leaders are flawed, and they know it. They are plagued by some consistently surfacing weakness and/or some significant failure in the past. Maybe they’ve been fired, had personal financial difficulties, or were at the helm of a department that failed spectacularly. In any case, their personal failures haunt them to some extent, keeping them humble and merciful.

Pattern Matcher/Critical Thinker
The essence of intelligence is the ability to notice and categorize patterns. Leaders have that critical thinking skill and use it to analyze business problems. They see the possibilities and the outcomes like few others do, and therefore can set an appropriate course of action.

Curious
There are many words I could have used for this component of a leader, but curiosity is critical. Closely aligned with this would be perceptive, observant, and inquiring. All these attributes are utilized with a view towards the possibility that the leader is wrong. He or she holds a belief, but is always testing it against new information in new situations to further refine their learning and thus their convictions. They are always on the hunt for new perspectives that can be brought to bear on their management.

Predictable
By suggesting that a leader needs to be predictable, I’m not meaning to imply (negatively) that they always act the same way regardless of the circumstances. No, it’s more about those they lead being able to anticipate how a leader might think and or act. Leaders are purpose-driven and their actions arise from an observable belief system.

Purposeful
A purposeful leader is one who does things with a purpose. They have a plan, can articulate it, and then see to it that the seemingly random activities of a typical day are actually contributing to the execution of the plan. They aren’t willy-nilly in all sorts of fits and starts. No, they see how the small parts contribute to the larger picture and they execute with that in mind.

Self-Aware
Good leaders are self-aware. They know their own tendencies, and they know how their actions affect others. They understand that their great strength, if overused, can be their greatest weakness, and they attempt greater balance and understanding. Good leaders can step outside themselves and make a relatively honest assessment of who they are and how they are conducting themselves.

Stimulation Primarily from Outside Work
You’d think that any leader who throws himself entirely at work would be good to work for, but that’s not the case. Leaders like that expect too much of others, too. No, you want a leader who lives a more balanced life, understanding the role of work and the role of life outside work. A leader with an interesting life outside work is better at work/life balance issues.

Visionary
A leader must have a vision of the future. Otherwise, there’s very little likelihood that individual initiatives will be purpose driven. Why does this department or firm exist? How could it be better? What role could we play in the larger picture that would bring greater enjoyment and impact?

Finally
How do you measure up against this list? Are there some things to work on? Do you see any patterns that hold you back? Make you very effective? It’s something to think about, anyway. Great leaders instigate and nurture great culture, and great culture can really make a difference at your firm.

David C. Baker's company, ReCourses, Inc. ReCourses, Inc., provides individual consulting, seminars, speaking, and writing exclusively for firms in the marketing industry (design, advertising, public relations, interactive, and in-house).

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Perform Your Own Performance Appraisal - by CJ Westrick

2010-03-23T08:08:00.000-07:00

Image of Cj Westrick

Prepare for your next performance appraisal by reviewing these key issues:

Quality of work. Do you avoid errors and consistently meet required standards?

Quantity of work. Do you manage your workload well and accomplish all assigned tasks?

Accomplishments. What are you most proud of achieving?

Performance goals. Did you meet or exceed the goals set in your last performance appraisal? Do you have new goals for the next review period?

Time management. Do you keep up with production schedules and meet deadlines?

Safety. Do you work safely and avoid accidents and near misses?

Behavior and attitude. Do you work well with others, follow directions, take initiative, etc.?

Attendance and tardiness. Are you at work on time every day? Do you give adequate notice when you have to miss work?

Being well prepared for a performance appraisal will make it more meaningful.

Remember, one of the major reasons for conducting performance appraisals is to help you improve your performance and achieve your career goals. Always be ready for your review.

CJ Westrick is a Human Resources expert and runs the San Diego company HR Jungle.

A Letter From Twitter

2010-03-18T11:36:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Hi there,

In the early days of Twitter, I used to send out short updates just to keep everyone in the loop since so much was happening. It's been a while, but you signed up for short, monthly updates from Twitter so we thought it was time to start sharing more information. We've had quite a year. If you haven't visited in a while, we'd like to invite you to come have a look at http://twitter.com -- we've been busy!

Growing Up
In the course of a year, registered Twitter accounts have grown more than 1,500% and our team has grown 500%. Recently, we hired our 140th employee! His name is Aaron and he's an engineer focused on building internal tools to help promote productivity, communication, and support within our company. We celebrated with a little dance party.

Features of Note
Some features of note that we released over the course of a year include the ability to create lists, quickly spread information with a retweet button, and an easier way to activate your mobile phone to work with Twitter over SMS. We also built a new mobile web site that looks and works much better on smart phones.

Feeling Inspired
By working together during critical times when others needed help, sharing important information that otherwise might not make the news, and inventing new and interesting ways to use Twitter, you've shown us that Twitter is more than a triumph of technology -- it is a triumph of humanity. Projects like Fledgling and Hope140 were inspired by you.

Chirp!
While there may only be 140 full-time employees working at the Twitter offices, there are thousands of dedicated platform developers who have now created more than 70,000 registered Twitter applications creating variety and utility for all of us. We'll be gathering this spring at Chirp, our first ever official Twitter developer conference.

Thanks,
Biz Stone, Co-founder (@Biz)
Twitter, Inc.

The Best Thing I Ever Did For My Career

2010-03-16T08:08:00.000-07:00

Image by cleopatra69 via Flickr

The best thing I did was learn how to juggle my last year of high school and followed my passion into performing across the country with a comedy juggling act. It took total commitment to keep working on the skills but mostly on writing and developing the comedy material that accompanied the juggling. That was my first career for 15 years and bought my first house and then during a lull in bookings my dear brother suggested I go back to school, so I found a film program at the local Los Angeles community college (I'd already written 5 screenplays which I couldn't sell, so I thought I may learn how to make)
From that beginning I got into the Production Sound Mixing business and bought my second house. My third career has begun, in fits and starts, with a short documentary on relationships and a mockumentary which I directed, starred in and co-wrote and which is now being edited.
Now I have a feature script into a producer/actor which may be perfect for the lead role and be able to attain the money to make the low budget movie with!
James Ridgley
Independent Motion Pictures and Film Professional

Wake up in the morning! It's a gift.
Christopher Toyne
Owner, CTTV

After skimming the responses, I think the answer can be summarized as "took a big risk and made a major change"
Kimberly Greenhut
Video Production - Travel and Outdoor

Something I would not tell a college student today to do would be "drop out and follow your dream" but that's exactly what I did. At the age of 20, having taken all the Creative Writing classes I could in my Freshman and Sophomore years, my dreams instructed me to head west and be a writer. I hitchhiked from Michigan to California with about a hundred dollars in my pocket, and it's a good thing I knew how to type. In San Francisco I signed up with a temp agency, started earning enough money to rent an apartment, and gradually worked myself up from secretary to office manager. Circumstances then led me to San Diego where on Valentine's Day of 1982 I met my husband on the balcony of La Paloma Theater in Encinitas. We have been together ever since. It is my husband who drew me into the field of video production, something I never would have planned or guessed I would be doing, and loving so much. So I would say, follow your dreams and yet be open to new and exciting opportunities in life.
Patty Mooney
Partner, Crystal Pyramid Productions

Hard work and action is where it is at in any field. But dreaming is fun ! For example... when you buy a lottery ticket every now and then you dream what you would do with the money. It's fun. I think hard work in conjunction with envisioning your dream and seeing it and believing it is the key.
Sally Blake
Voice On Fire

Dreaming is like a blueprint to your future. It's a fine balance between dreaming, and living in the "here and now." You also have to be careful not to sabotage yourself with such thoughts as "I'll be happy when..." or "I can't...." That sort of thinking just places roadblocks on your own path. You are the one manifesting your dreams, whether positive or negative.
Patty Mooney
Partner, Crystal Pyramid Productions

Wow...lots of incredible energy and shares out there on this question. My view as a composer is that I wouldn't have been at the Sundance Film Festival just now if I had not taken risks in my life. To me it is all about being of service to the soul of the world with any project I work on even if it's a dark film or tv show. I offered that to the panels I participated in at Sundance which addressed the issues of risks and artistic relationships. The key is to do it all with "love in your heart" ... If anyone out there is interested in working with a composer with this message feel free to contact me or check out my website.
I end this with a great quote by an Indian sadu...
"Every good thing flows from the attitude of respect. For this reason, the
most important action you can perform is to welcome yourself and others with
respect and love." -- Baba Muktananda
Michael Mollura
Composer/Writer

Dreams are great but they remain dreams until you decide to put in the hard work to make them a reality. One thing that is, unfortunately, pounded into most kids these days is that dreams are ONLY dreams. They are told not to waste their time on dreams; grow up; start planning for your future; get a REAL job.
Well, I have a REAL job. And it started as a dream.
When I went into college, I was pre-med. I had been working in theatre since I was twelve for fun but, hey, I figured, let's get real. So I chose medicine as a direction. Without boring you with the details, at a certain point, I decided to follow my dream and go into entertainment. Now, I just had to call my Dad, a 23-year career military man, and tell him I was changing my major from Medicine to Theatre because I was going to be an actor. When I told him, his reaction? "Hell, you've always loved doing it, why not go for it?"
My point being that I had great parents who not only allowed me to dream, they let me know that they supported my dreams if I was willing to put in the effort to achieve them. They gave me the benefit of their advice and experience, but they never said "No, don't do it."
A friend's father put it best when he said "Most people spend half their lives learning a career. Then they spend the other half learning to like it." The key is to find what you love and make that pay your way. Maybe not the easiest path to take, but definitely doable and certainly more rewarding. Kids need to know that. Heck, all of us need to know that.
Steven Sears
Writer/Producer in Television and Film

Well, I agree that dreams are a necessary propellant in life. They allow you to see yourself in new and dynamic ways, and provide motivation to get up in the morning. But, dreams without a plan...without hard work...and without connecting with others...are fruitless. The ways that I''ve fulfilled my dreams so far, were to think beyond myself. I think of the best ways to try and achieve my dreams while I help others achieve theirs. We all come into this world alone, and leave alone...but the process from beginning to end is a collaborative one...in business...and in life.
Camille Feanny
Independent Program Development Professional, Former CNN Producer

Believe in yourself is always the first, hardest step. It gets easier from there.
Thomas Orsi
Complete Audio Post Production

I moved to Paris (from Los Angeles where I grew up) to start my film career.
Stephen Mitchell
Owner, Cine Paris

1- Got my Master's degree
2- Won an Emmy
3- Started my own company
Farzad Wafapoor
AdvanTech Media, Directing Manager

The only 2 credits I ever received: "Sound Engineer" on "Dangerous"-comedian/artist Bill Hicks, and "Apprentice Sound Editor" on "Velvet Goldmine" 1998, Miramax Films.
Nancy Albino
Broadcast Professional, AV Systems Installer, Sound Engineer/Editor

In 2000 we flew and landed Zoegling SG38, a glider which we brought from a museum in Germany, right in front of the Giza pyramids in Egypt, during the biggest NATO manoeuvres in history. We had permission to come within 40km of the pyramids....
In 2003 we produced the first ever moving in focus images of a wild Sumatran Tiger. The scientist which we were working with had studied the animal for 12 years and never seen one....
Wolfgang Knoepfler
Owner of Magic Touch Films

Five Golden Rules of Facebook - by Patty Mooney

2010-03-11T08:10:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

According to the latest statistics at Facebook's "Press Room," there are more than 400 million active users as we speak. More than 35 million of them update their status each day. There are now more than 1.5 million local businesses with active pages on Facebook.

As an entrepreneur and business owner, I knew that Facebook would be as useful to me as my membership in our local San Diego Chamber of Commerce for many of the same reasons. It's a way of keeping myself and my "status" in front of many pairs of eyes. I rarely talk about business at my personal site, but I recently started a Fan page for Crystal Pyramid Inc. and am starting to accrue fans. And there I can share pieces of advice about business, photos from interesting video production gigs, and other tidbits that will be of interest to our fans. Just as one finds when attending local networking events, you will probably not reap any immediate benefits, but your database of people interested in your business will grow, and if nothing else, it's a great tool to keep track of friends and associates.

Here are five Golden Rules of Facebook for the business person who wants to use Facebook as a way to enhance and acquire business.

1. Keep your personal page separate from your business or fan page. I have been known to indulge in a game of Bowling on my personal site, but it's critical to keep your business page "businessy." Friends and colleagues who are really into Mafia Wars, Farmland and all kinds of other applications will try and woo you, but these apps will rob you of your precious time. Any post that does not pertain to your business should be summarily deleted.

2. Keep It Positive. As many times as I have felt lured to post scathing reviews of restaurants, companies, or people, I have not gone down that road. Why? Those kinds of negative rants only reflect on you. Also, as they say, "Any P.R. is good P.R." So why give any press to people who don't deserve kudos or recognition? My mom always used to tell us, "If you can't say anything positive, don't say anything at all." This rule has held me in good stead for five decades, and for good reason. To attract the positive in life, you must emanate positivity.

3. Make positive comments on people's status updates. Not every status update needs or deserves a response, but when someone wins an award or achieves recognition, add a congratulatory comment. You never know who may read and appreciate what you have said, and become a friend, a fan, or even a client.

5. Post at least twice a week. Make sure you share stories, quotes, photos and videos that will be of use to others and not a running commercial about yourself. Be the good-hearted person you are, and have a consistent presence on your site. When people are ready to use your services, they will come to you because you are one of their Facebook friends.

"The Invisible Ones Homeless Combat Veterans" Garners Three More Honors

2010-03-09T10:10:00.000-08:00

I am pleased to report that our documentary, "The Invisible Ones: Homeless Combat Veterans" has been making its rounds in the awards circuit and we've just learned that it has won a very prestigious award called the "Golden Reel." It's a high honor in that the judges are all people who work in the media industry and so, where any normal person would not hear the sound of an air conditioner during an interview, this panel of judges would react as though it were fingernails on a chalkboard. If THEY appreciated the documentary, it's almost as good as receiving an Oscar, to us!

"The Invisible Ones" has also been accepted into two more film festivals, The Riverside Film Festival and the Fallbrook Film Festival. Both Riverside and Fallbrook are within driving distance for us, and so we look forward to attending and watching our show on the big screen.

Now, with Kathryn Bigelow's "The Hurt Locker" winning Best Picture and Best Director in the latest go-round, the attention of the film-viewing audience appears to be focused on our troops and the psychological damages caused by war. That adds up to good news for "The Invisible Ones." Stay tuned for further updates.

Constructive Criticism - by C.J. Westrick

2010-03-04T08:08:00.001-08:00

Image of Cj Westrick

When you must criticize, here is how to do so in a constructive way that gets your message across without offending.

Critique in private. Do not embarrass a co-worker by discussing his or her shortcomings in public.

Begin with a positive statement. Praise something about the co-worker’s performance. This sets a positive tone for the conversation.

Use objective feedback. Focus on the situation, not the person.

Explain what you believe went wrong and talk about how, together, you can rectify the situation.

Set clear expectations. Be specific about the changes you think need to be made.

End on a positive note. Stress how the changes you’ve suggested can help both of you perform better.

CJ Westrick owns and operates a human resources firm called HR Jungle in San Diego.

How to Produce Video on a Modest Budget - by Patty Mooney

2010-03-02T08:08:00.000-08:00

Image by cleopatra69 via Flickr

Now that video equipment is so much more affordable than it once was, more people are creating videos and posting them to their business sites, blogs and social networking sites. But did you ever hear that old adage, "If you can't do it right, then don't do it at all?" This applies perfectly to video.

Although I know how to use a wrench, I would not consider myself a plumber. I know how to use a screwdriver but I'm not an electrician. And while I know my way around the knives in our kitchen, I wouldn't go down to the local hospital and perform surgery. My point is that even though someone has all the tools at their disposal, it would take years for them to learn how to produce, shoot and edit a professional video.

I have some videos that I have shot and edited on my youtube page which I consider sketches. Some I shot with a camera the size of a deck of cards. Some document the music of bands that I like. Some document moments in time, such as peace marches or mountain bike rides. These are not professional videos and I don't post them at our corporate business site.

If you have a business and would like to post a video at your site to enhance your SEO (Search Engine Optimization) or market your company, you need to put your best foot forward. Nothing will turn off potential clients faster than an amateur video.

My company, Crystal Pyramid Productions, has been around since 1981 when my husband, Mark Schulze, started it. Then I joined him full time in the mid '90's. So collectively, that's around 40 years of experience. Throughout that time, we have learned many ways of saving time and money on video production which we pass on to our clients.

First, write the script yourself. We give potential clients a template that shows them how to create a script. In lieu of that, you could use a lined sheet of paper and draw one horizontal line at the top and jot down the topics "Timecode," "Audio" and "Video." Then draw two horizontal lines going down the length of the paper giving "Timecode" less room than "Audio" and "Video." Next, just free-flow what you see in your mind's eye, what the video looks like to you. Typically, under "Audio" you "Fade in music." Meanwhile, under "Video" you "Fly in corporate logo." You'll need to think graphically about what you want your video to say. Maybe you want to show your corporate headquarters, your reception area, people working at their computers. Don't worry about your script being amateurish. As producer, I help our clients polish up their scripts as part of the pre-production process. Any top-quality video production company will be able to do that for you.

As your script progresses, you want your message to be clear and concise. Whereas videos used to be 12 to 15 minutes, they are now generally from three to five minutes, because people just don't have much time anymore. Short and sweet is the mantra of the 21st Century. So your script may turn out to be three to five pages long. Think about whether you'd like to have narration by a female or male voice over, or if you'd like to have an on-air talent talk to the camera. This would call for a teleprompter.

All narration in the script needs to be shown with some sort of graphic. If you are employing testimonials, a talking-head holds the viewer's interest for only so long. You will need some additional "B Roll" to illustrate what that person is talking about. (B Roll is a holdover term from the olden days when editors could only create effects between scenes by using two different video reels, A and B.)

You can save money by using the talents of someone in your company as the spokesperson and/or voice over. They would need to be comfortable in front of a camera. A "wooden" person can do more to hurt your image than enhance it.

Many times the bids provided by large video production companies with high overhead will be inflated because they need to pay for their staff and large studio space. The world is our studio. We have very little overhead because we operate a home business so we pass the savings on to our clients. At times we have even turned our living room into an interview studio with a green screen or black backdrop. Clients including the Discovery Channel and History Channel have taken advantage of our warm and intimate space. It actually makes the interviewees feel much more at ease to be in a home setting.

There are many more details to consider when plotting out your company video. I will be talking about how to interview non-professional talent, the use of a green screen pros and cons, the use of HDV versus DVCam formats and more. So stay tuned!

Google Case in Italy Has Serious Implications for the Web - by Chris Crum

2010-02-25T12:23:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

A judge in Milan, Italy has convicted three Google executives over a video uploaded to YouTube in a case, which could have serious implications for social media and ultimately, the web in general, at least in Italy. The video, uploaded back in 2006, featured a group of school kids bullying an autistic child. Google says it worked with Italian authorities to help ID the person responsible for uploading it, and the uploader and other participants from the video were sentenced to community service.

Now, in 2010, Google executives David Drummond, Peter Fleischer and George Reyes (3 out of 4 defendants) have been convicted for "failure to comply with the Italian privacy code." They were all found not guilty of criminal defamation.

Should these Google execs be held accountable?

"In essence this ruling means that employees of hosting platforms like Google Video are criminally responsible for content that users upload," writes Matt Sucherman, VP and Deputy General Counsel - Europe, Middle East and Africa on the Google Blog. "We will appeal this astonishing decision because the Google employees on trial had nothing to do with the video in question."

This is a case of a business being held accountable for user-generated content. Isn't the entire web generated by users? What if Google's search engine (algorithmically) indexed something illegal. Should company execs be penalized, even if they comply with authorities' requests for removal of such content? Ask yourself these questions:

- What if YouTube, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc. had to shut down because it couldn't control the things users post?

- What if every blogging platform had to do the same?

- What if you went to jail for comments posted on your blog?

You're invited to become a Facebook fan of WebProNews!

You're not likely going to go to jail for comments posted on your blog, but the point is, that by allowing people to post comments on your blog, you are allowing user-generated content, that you can't necessarily control until after it's been posted, unless you don't let them go live until approving them. Google is being held accountable for content that users uploaded, which was not in their control until after the fact. YouTube users upload 20 hours of video every minute, according to Google.

You can see why this case is much bigger than just the specific instance it involves. The case is subject to appeal, but if it is not overturned, what will this mean for the web?

"The video was totally reprehensible and we took it down within hours of being notified by the Italian police," says Sucherman.

"To be clear, none of the four Googlers charged had anything to do with this video," he says. "They did not appear in it, film it, upload it or review it. None of them know the people involved or were even aware of the video's existence until after it was removed."

He goes on to talk about how the case "attacks the very principles of freedom on which the Internet is built," also mentioning that European Union law dictates that hosting providers have a safe harbor from liability as long as they remove illegal content once they are notified of its existence. "If that principle is swept aside and sites like Blogger, YouTube and indeed every social network and any community bulletin board, are held responsible for vetting every single piece of content that is uploaded to them — every piece of text, every photo, every file, every video — then the Web as we know it will cease to exist, and many of the economic, social, political and technological benefits it brings could disappear," Sucherman says.

If rulings such as the one against these Google execs were to become commonplace, how much do you think that would affect the social media industry? Companies like Google, Facebook, MySpace, etc. couldn't let users upload content, which essentially means social media couldn't exist. User-generated content couldn't exist. How could you blog? How could you leave a status update on Facebook, or upload a family photo to Picasa? There is always the possibility that some user could make a death threat or upload a murder video, so if the companies behind the services that were used to commit these crimes were held accountable, how could their businesses continue?

That's why Google is not only upset about the ruling against its executives, but calls it a "serious threat to the web."

Should Google (or any other site) be held responsible for content that users upload (even when said content is removed)? Share your thoughts.

About the Author:
Chris Crum has been a part of the WebProNews team and the iEntry Network of B2B Publications since 2003. Follow WebProNews on Facebook or Twitter. Twitter: @CCrum237

Apolo Ohno, God of Ice, is Also a God on Water

2010-02-23T14:40:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time there was this Olympian speed skater and "Dancing With the Stars" winner by the name of Apolo Anton Ohno who was challenged by CW Now to surf on San Diego's Mission Bay. There was only one catch. This surfboard would actually be a Powerski Jetboard that can reach speeds of 40mph, invented by Bob Montgomery, CEO of Powerski. Apolo said, "I speed skate faster than that. How hard could it be?"

CW Producers called upon Crystal Pyramid Productions to come and shoot Apolo's trials and errors on the Jetboard. Patty Mooney, Sound Technician, Mark Schulze, DP and Videographer, Apolo Anton Ohno, and CW Producer, Dan Fitzgerald appear in the above photograph and Bob Montgomery's happy face can be seen in the background.

Bob Montgomery explains to Apolo Ohno how to use the Jetboard. There's this one move called the "Flamingo" done standing on one leg and bending to the water with one arm. Bob wonders if Anton can dance like a flamingo.

Apolo knows he can dance and he has stamina. He is envisioning that flamingo thing.

He rises on the board and scoots around the bay.

But the flamingo is elusive.

The crew all watch as Apolo tries and tries again.

After a few practice runs, Apolo comes back to shore, to rest.

He is still working the flamingo out in his head.

Apolo Anton Ohno and Bob Montgomery

Apolo and Bob

Apolo is ready to head out again, and this time Mark will be shooting him from a jet ski.

Everybody gets into position on the water.

By now Apolo is thinking that San Diego's Mission Bay in September is a little bit cool.

Mark got some great shots of Apolo using his Sony HVU digital camera that shoots high-definition format and fits inside an underwater housing. And Apolo got down into a semi-flamingo.

After finishing the videography of Apolo Ohno skirting across Mission Bay on his jet-powered surfboard, Bob invited Mark to try out one of the boards. Mark is an accomplished athlete in his own right - he is usually first in the pack on a mountain bike ride, and has been known to enjoy a "hat trick" or two while playing in his soccer league.

Mark got right up on the board and started jamming around the Bay.

Bob was quite impressed with Mark's capabilities. All in all, a great day on the water for everyone.

Here's a video with clips from the CW show as well as some clips that were shot by Powerski's videographer. You will even see Mark in a couple of shots.

There's not much difference between prostate and prostitute, is there? - by Sanjay Chabra

2010-02-16T13:40:00.000-08:00

When doing business with people and companies from other lands, you can sometimes run into a wall known as "cultural inconsistencies." At least that's what I call it. As an example, I know my husband and I always used to laugh when passing our favorite Vietnamese restaurant (now defunct) called "A Dong."

When Sanjay's story crossed my desktop, I knew I had to share it with you, especially since our economy has speedily become a global one, and as the Beatles once sang, "Hands across the water." - Patty

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

The flight attendant at Heathrow airport said something to me, and I had no clue what she was saying. I knew she was speaking English, but for the life of me, I could not figure out a word she said. Another English speaking person had to ‘translate’ her English to my English. “You caan’t take the babe buggee insaaide th aeroplane.” It appeared, I wasn’t allowed to take the baby stroller inside the plane.

What? That’s what she said?!

This incident should have been an eye-opener for me (and an ear opener too). It’s not only what comes out of our mouths, but also what goes into our ears, that determines our ‘accent’. By the age of 8 or so, the way we speak and understand a language, is set for the rest of our lives. The muscles in the larynx are formed.

Ironically, I was on my way from Washington DC, where I now live, to India, where I originally come from, to start my transcription and closed captioning office. Outsourcing was the buzz word. The idea was to get US shows captioned there inexpensively and save money, and get rich fast!

I hired the best brains in India to start transcribing documentaries, sitcoms, movies, you name it. Even some Playboy videos. Nudity on screen is illegal in India so we would send only the audio files. You’d think that in the land of ‘Kamasutra’ things would be a bit more relaxed on this front. (There's still a standing arrest warrant for Mr. Rupert Murdoch, whose channel once showed a glimpse of female breasts. So what if this happened 12 years ago, we Indians don't forget breasts when we see them).

Anyway, we got started with the transcription. This is how it went:

“Hey, what ya doin’?” turned into, “Hey, what goes on there?”

“Hanna Montana isn’t Hanna Montana,” turned into, “Hanamon Tuna isn’t Hanamon Tuna.”

You f* piece of s* I’ll f* kill you”, turned into, “Sir, this is bad language, I can’t transcribe it. I am a good Indian.”

“What up, bro”, turned to “What’s up there Brooke?”

Uncle Harvey, I ain’t gonna do no boogie-woogie”, turned into, “Hey uncle Harvey, I’m late going to the Bookie Wookie.”

And so on… you get the drift.

Trying to run my company from my Washington DC office, I was pulling my hair by now. But, India was my country and these were my people. I had to deal with them with patience and compassion. So I hired an American accent expert and organized a training session for the transcribers.

It did improve things to some extent. ‘What up, bro’ became ‘What up Brow’, but things on the whole remained unacceptable for the captioning world where we strive for 100% accuracy. Compound to that, the difference in spellings: Colour, harbour, favourite, honour, analyse, centre, ageing, arguement, counselling, programme. By the end of it, I was ready to jump of an aeroplane in my pyjamas eating chilli, signing cheques and land on my brown coloured arse!

Some things did go well. Transcribing for Playboy was a breeze…after all, there aren’t too many ways you can misspell Aaaah, or Ooooh!

I felt such a relief when I threw in the towel and moved the transcription operations to Bethesda, Maryland. (We ONLY do captioning in New Delhi now WITH ALL TEXT TRANSCRIBED IN USA). Now the result is perfect, and my hair has come back (naah, not the hair).

So, the moral of the story? If you get your transcriptions done in India, or any other foreign country, then ‘Congressman in bed with enlarged prostitue' can get in a lot of trouble.

Do please have a look at our still amazing low rates (transcribed in USA and captioned in India).

Many thanks,

Sanjay Chabra
President
Talking Type Captions

Email Sanjay at sanjay@talkingtypecaptions.com

The Best Thing I Ever Did For My Career - Part 2

2010-02-11T14:45:00.000-08:00

Having the opportunity to work in promotion, advertising and cable television in N.Y.C. before I went to law school - which all helped me become a better entertainment attorney years later. So I agree with the person who said earlier, that learning as many skills as you can, and venturing out into areas that are unfamiliar to you, helps in everything you do. And whether you work in a company or are your own boss, becoming that person who is not afraid to take on new challenges and learn new things opens amazing vistas, and may lead you on a path to a career that you never anticipated.
Best of luck!
Judith Dornstein

One of the best activities was to interview countless industry professionals at Sherwood Oaks College events and Scriptwriters Network meetings. After I picked the brains of all those Oscar winners, Emmy winners, and A-list writers, I learned a great deal. My screenplay consulting business has increased substantially, too, because my clients benefit from my advanced understanding.
James Jordan
Owner at Candid Coverage

The best thing I ever did for my career was to leave my "staff" producing job and jump into freelance production. Working for myself for over 5 years has created endless opportunities.
Remember: JUMP AND THE NET WILL APPEAR!!
and to love.....always!
Jill Richardson
Broadcast Producer

The best thing I ever did was to quit my job as an office manager for a local union (essentially this was like turning off a money faucet) and joining my husband as the partner of his video production company back in 1994. At the time it was such a leap of faith, but I AM SO HAPPY I DID IT!!!!!!!! Sometimes I feel like "The most interesting woman in the world." :)
Patty Mooney
Partner, Crystal Pyramid Productions

Watered the rose beds of a line producer 2 times a week while he was on summer vacation in London. Upon returning to LA he hired me to work for Arnold Schwarzeneggar, who in turn signed my papers to join the Film Editors Guild. I met the editor who hired me show after show on that job... best move ever on my part... to smell the roses!
Eric Wiler Producer

I'm about to do it. Two days ago I decided it was time to finally stop giving in to daily distractions and procrastination and I traded in a timeshare week for a week alone in Sedona to finish my script. I leave Saturday, on a seven hour drive. I intend for this time away to be not only a chance to focus 100% on my writing but to send myself a signal that I am serious about my talent and my career. Everyone else believes in me; my manager, my agent, my teachers, my fellow writers, the contest judges who have given me prizes... but none of this amounts to anything if I don't believe in myself, and that means giving my work the time, attention and respect it deserves. Stay tuned for the results of this experiment!!
Lisa Rothstein
Award-winning screenwriter Freelance Copywriter & Consultant "The DaVinci Coach" for Creative Professionals

While being a subeditor in a district level newspaper in southern India (Mysore) which paid a paltry salary, I chanced upon foreigners who started frequenting the cyber cafe where I spent almost all my evenings. With a nose for news and to fill my columns in the paper, I started inquiring about their presence. This led to a chance of a lifetime when they led me to meet their Yoga teacher. The group had come to learn Yoga from him. The teacher in his 70s had started the Yoga classes only for foreigners and his elder son was heading a centre in New York where Gwyneth Paltrow, Sting and others were his students. Madonna was also a student and the Yoga teacher showed me pictures where she frequented his London centre. The photo was with Madonna and the Director's grandson standing together wearing a T shirt with 'Mysore Centre' inscribed on it. I wrote a story on the centre with the pictures of grandfather, grandson, son and the one with Madonna. It was for the Times of India Bangalore edition in their Backbeat page. I wrote under my other name 'Sinchana' and the title read "Madonna's Mysterious Mysore Connection". This article created a big furor in Mysore and my popularity soared. I got offers to write scripts for educational documentaries for the local media centre affiliated to the University under the UGC funding. Though money did not rake in as it does in commercial cinema it gave me tremendous knowledge and excellent network. I was assigned with a Producer and we brought out films with important personalities in India with international acclaim. This move helped me get a good position in a corporate sector in Bangalore. Two years later I moved out from Bangalore with my children following my husband to the West of India. It took me 7 years from 1997 - 2004 where I moved from one company to another continuing my work with print and electronic media, which became my hobby. Today I continue to make films as an alternate career. I must confess that my struggle and despair in those years paid off and I always thank God for whatever I have learnt and gained through the years.
Chitra Ramesh
Assistant Director at HMP CDC

It is only when we face difficulties and challenges and take them in a charishmatic manner, not buckling under pressure, we will definitely come out victorious. And we'll be better professionals than those who have been born with a silver spoon.
Sally Blake
Voice On Fire

Best thing? I'm not really wired to think that way as anyone's life is made up of many many choices, each one intertwined with the rest. Although there was no one "best thing", I followed what I loved and it led me here. I had no intention of being a Writer, much less a Producer. I had no real knowledge of that side of the business and no connection whatsoever. But I allowed myself the freedom to stay open to opportunities my life offered.
Steven Sears
Writer/Producer in Television and Film

Quitting my dayjob! It took me seven months of unemployment, but now Im no longer a teacher, but a graphic designer and sound engineer. And I am loving every single second of it! It's hard work and a difficult industry, but if you follow your heart, it will lead you...
Mark Simon
Owner, Sell Your TV Concept Now

Worked for a Non-Profit Theatre showing Films. One I selected for the series was a personal favorite - "Mon Uncle," a French Comedy. Two people came to see it, myself and Noel Paul Stookey! It was one of his favorite films, also. We became friends and I got my first job in the Industry! And a lot of good things came from that meeting.
Louis Mitchell
CEO, Sunset Productions and Entertainment Consultant

First, in order to move from off-line editor to on-line editor, I took a step back to assistant editor at an on-line post house in order to learn to be an on-line editor. Then I moved to LA (from Miami) to go from big fish in small pond to little fish in big pond. That was really hard but the right thing to do. Then I gave up my side acting career when it began to interfere with my editing career. (That's a whole other story). Then I moved from LA to NY where I seem to feel more at home (my entire family and wife and her family are from NY, so I guess I have NY blood and heritage).
Chaz Shukat
Avid/FCP editor

I would have to say, going out on a dream and writing my first screenplay.
James Adams, BSIT, MBAIB
Editor-in-Chief at The Adams Commentary

The best thing I ever did is something I do every single day - remind myself of the power of positive thinking.
Munaf Husain
President, Dancing Light Pictures

DECIDING. Anyone can dream all they want about what they can do or how unique and important their voice is. There is absolutely nothing special about dreaming. Actually deciding to do something about it, to take action to attain a goal, is the ONLY way to make a dream into a reality. This goes for making movies, this goes for quitting smoking, this goes for living the life that you think you should be living. In short, it's called walking the walk. If there's something that you've always wanted to have but don't have or you've always wanted to be but aren't, it's because you've haven't decided yet. Decisions lead the way. Everything else follows.
Simon Fraser
writer / producer / director at sifr4 digital media

Took some business training and learned how to build a "sales pipeline". Haven't looked back since...
F. Tyler Shaw
Composer and producer of custom original music for film, TV and multimedia.

Well, the "soundtracks" of my life have been to "Dream the Impossible Dream"...to be thankful for the "Wind Beneath my Wings"...and, in the end, to know that I lived life "My Way". Taking leaps of faith have defined my career, and so far, it has been a rewarding experience. Now, that's not to say there aren't trade-offs (I still don't have kids for instance) but like other modern women, I seek balance to define true "success". My career highs...so far? In my early 20's, I worked in the music business and watched the launch of careers like Mariah Carey, Arrested Development, Janet Jackson...and others...up close. In my mid 20s, I decided to go back to school to pursue my love of science and spent years living and working in the Caribbean and Central America studying people in remote fishing communities. That experience led me to spend the next 10 years of my life working as a "small fish in a BIG pond"...as an Environment and Science news producer at CNN. After 9/11, I spent two years on the "war desk", then the next 2+ years covering natural disasters. In the aftermaths of all those events, I noticed a growing number of orphaned kids who were falling through the cracks of international systems...and many were disappearing. So, I decided to research the plight of orphaned kids with a goal to help them meet their needs. I left to pursue my doctorate in Anthropology 3+ years ago. When I graduate this year, I plan to merge my skills in anthropology and investigative journalism to identify some of the most vulnerable members of the global orphan population and generate support for them with the help of the media. So, "career highs" in my view, are all the steps I've made that have taught me something new about myself and allowed me to grow. Some of the steps were rough...but so far, all have been rewarding. I wish everyone a peaceful and blessed journey as you also follow your dreams!
Camille Feanny
Independent Program Development Professional, Former CNN Producer

The Best Thing I Ever Did For My Career

2010-02-04T15:27:00.000-08:00

As a member of LinkedIn, there are a few groups to which I belong. Sometimes I'm fortunate enough to stumble across a great discussion regarding business or in particular, the field of broadcast production and multimedia. The following discussion, in which professionals share their own personal stories of how they found the road to success, I felt was worth sharing with you..... Interspersed are some production stills we have shot over our years of producing and shooting video here in San Diego. - Patty Mooney

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

I'm curious, if anyone is so inclined to share what the best thing they ever did for their career was? - Sally Blake, Voice On Fire

I spent three years of my life working on an incredibly rewarding project called EAST 182nd STREET. It was a dramatic television series which was completely created by Bronx teens and pre-teens. It featured a cast of 45 non-professional teens and pre-teens and was by far the most challenging and rewarding program I've ever done. It was life seen through the eyes of a teenager and was completely unpredictable. It has been a lot of fun for viewers who have seen it in a variety of venues. We couldn't sell it to American television, so we were only able to complete four episodes, but it was a crazy, wild, creative ride and that is the best thing I've ever done. And of course there was a whole personal mentoring side to the project which was incredibly valuable and rewarding for all of us. Thanks for asking.
Mark Gasper
Independent Motion Pictures and Film Professional & Business Television & Multi-Media Creator

Did you know that statistics show that we have more than one career in a lifetime? Years ago when I was trying to become a full time firefighter is was and still is VERY competitive. (Especially for a woman) I would say to NEVER give up. If you believe in yourself you can accomplish your goals. If you have a selfless
mentor it helps. I am now trying to incorporate what I learned in the fire department into my voice over career. Warmest Regards,
Sally Blake, Voice On Fire

I got laid off from a good, steady job and went freelance. There have been a lot of ups and downs, but I'm working right now with my 2-year-old son on my lap and it's hard to beat that. (Don't worry, I'll get more work done soon when his mommy takes over.)
Tor Kingdon
Co-owner / Sound Guy, Hear Kitty Studios

Great question! Not sure how to answer it, though. The best thing I suppose was being dogged in my pursuit of work when I lived in Colorado which landed me at High Noon Entertainment which is one of most prolific production companies for non fiction TV. I guess the worst thing was walking away from that after I felt I was burned out. But... it led me back home to Maryland where I have found the love of my life so... hard to say. :-)
Gay Pinder
Production/Communications Specialist

Two things -
1. left my "safe" staff job and went freelance
2. Stopped letting other people define who I was and what I did and went after
projects that added different skills to my resume
Mike Stivala
Show Runner at MY Tupelo Entertainment

I moved across country - I left my steady job as a the BIG fish in a small pond to join a BIG pond where I was a smaller fish. I increased my knowledge and my job skills to a level I would never have reached if I didn't make such a big move. In terms of being out of work - try doing freelance- if you write - write for a local blog or newspaper - if photography is your thing .. shoot and showcase your stuff to local outlets. Always remember - there are always NEW things to learn and you should always choose the harder path.... it's the one that's more rewarding in the end.
Danya Levine
Supervising Producer at CNN

Interesting question. I can't NOT do what I do so I've pursued every opportunity to do it with great enthusiasm and, as a writer, written and written and written. I've been writing since I was 5. When I'm producing, I make sure that I'm the best at whatever I do. I produce from the front and find that being willing to run out to McDonalds for 150 cheeseburgers at 4 in the morning gets far better work from my cast and crew than driving up in a limo on the day we get steak.
Deborah Osment
Filmmaker

The best thing I ever did for my career was starting my own Production Company after being laid off from my software development job. I was so miserable there and I had been wanting to move into filmmaking and video production for a LONG time but was a little worried about the money situation. I got laid off and used the unemployment money to support myself while I was building my business. Best thing that's probably happened to me on the job front. Now I've had the chance to work on so many interesting projects as well as direct my own movies and commercials, which has been amazing. =)
Paul Del Vecchio Film & Commercial Director
Triple E Productions

Best thing I did: marry my "bride" of 16 years this coming April. I was drifting at the end of a long radio career and just getting into voice-overs; she encouraged me and (emotionally) supported me as I moved from Connecticut to the New York metro - I thought I'd grow old with a loyal audience in Hartford/New Haven and retire from there. But life is what happens when you're making other plans (John Lennon said that), and life has been good so far. I've been freelancing at voice-over without a fallback for 20 years this month (plus a couple of years part-time previously). Adding a dimension: the strangest thing in my career is about to happen. I was in a college band that decided to go pro and make it as serious progressive rock artists; needless to say, you never heard of us (unless you lived in Providence RI and knew a band called Benefit Street). We broke up, I returned to radio and then voice-overs. Last April, someone wanted to digitize our demos and would-be masters for a project on RI music of that era, which occasioned the band reuniting by e-mail and recording one more song (adding parts live or virtually) for our album, which I expect to release on my label, Presence, in the next few months. The strange and wonderful part: the writer/lead singer, Rob Carlson, who has been professionally active musically throughout, is releasing a new album himself - "Pieces of Paradise" - and has asked me to join his band and tour with him again after 39 years! The release party/concert is set for Saturday, March 20th at Stage One in Fairfield, CT. Sorry for going on so long. Thanks for letting me "be amazed in public" about this. I'm still doing voice-overs - and having fun - but the reality of this additional new adventure is beginning to sink in, and I'm still getting used to how amazing it is!
Paul Payton
Voice talent at Paul Payton Voice-Overs & Narration

The best thing I ever did for my career was to take a break (while I still really enjoyed it) to raise a family. When I climbed back in, I had grown in ways I never could have foreseen. My passion for my work and my skills were only heightened by the time spent fully engaged elsewhere. I'm privileged to be have a career that I thoroughly enjoy and in retrospect, leaving it made the return even sweeter. I am a full believer in the notion that you can have it all but not all at once.
Kelley Rugg
Principal, Producer/Writer Rowboat Productions, LLC

Being at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival (where I am now) as a composer to represent and support the film CLIMATE REFUGEES. Just got an offer to do another film and enjoying the festival tremendously. This was a great decision!!! I love the screenings and the panels and talking "film and music" which is part of my soul.
Michael Mollura
Composer/Writer

I believe the best career change that I made over 4 years ago was when I relocated to Spain. I have always remained in production, 16 years or so now, but working in a completely different environment and in a different culture enabled me to have a broader sense of production in the global sense. Many doors have opened throughout the world and continue to do so.
Andrew T. Keech
Executive Producer / Partner at Team Works Production, Only Nine To Five

What a great thread!
I think my best move was quitting my well-paying job when they wanted to move me to another state and take my studio away. I started my own shop in 2005 and never looked back. It's afforded me numerous growth opportunities that never would have happened otherwise. Growth can be scary and uncomfortable, but when you look back you realize how much you've changed and your smile is a little brighter. Now I'm making commercials, documentaries and creative video projects for businesses large and small. Next up will be a short film just for the love of it.
Steven Washer
Principal, TotalView Media

How Do You Define Success? - by Iyabo Asani

2010-02-02T10:01:00.000-08:00

Do you know that the more successful you feel now, the more success you will experience later?

What is something you always wanted to do but never took the time to do? For example, surfing, attending cooking classes, taking a photography class. Think of something fun and childlike and not something work related.

I suspect that you have spent many years pursuing knowledge and education while focusing on your career. There are parts of yourself that you have neglected and are now crying out for attention. That is why I ask you what is something you always wanted to do but never did. Those parts of you are crying out to be heard.

You have such a depth of wealth, inside wealth, that you can tap into and create a wonderful life from. That wealth is part of the fullness of who you are. Living from the fullness of who you are is critical to your success. Success is not a partial or compartmental phenomenon but we all treat it like that.

Everyone wants to be successful. Success is encoded in our DNA. One of the critical human needs, is the need for significance in our uniqueness and individuality. This need for significance drives us to pursue success. However, something gets mistranslated in this pursuit of success. The point is that success is already ours. It is not something elusive that we want to chase after. Instead, it is something that is already ours as it is encoded in each of the cells in our body.

Therefore, our objective is to practice success, not pursue it.

Let us redefine success. If you look up “success” in the dictionary, you will find a definition that says: the attainment of wealth, position, honors or the like. What is missing in this definition?

“Happiness!”

Ingrained in our psyche is a definition of success that includes wealth and honors but not “happiness.” Maybe this is why you have felt unfulfilled in your “successful” job. Our entire educational system and socialization is about achieving success and wealth and position and honors. Now, your happiness is asking for some space in your life.

Did you know that happy people make about a million dollars more in their lifetime than unhappy people? Marci Schimoff in her book, “Happy for No Reason” teaches us that happiness is a habit that is worthwhile creating. Some people are naturally happy and some are not. You can cultivate habits that will help you create more happiness in your life. As you focus on creating more happiness in your life you will find that you are also making more money.

Think of it this way, unconsciously have been waiting for your knight in shining armor to ride in on a white horse and “he” never came. You thought your job, your partner, your car, your accomplishments were your “knight.”

Well, I have breaking news for you. “He” is not coming but you do still get the white horse! Except, you are riding into your life on your white horse and you have been riding it for a long time unaware. You are your own heroine!

For men, you thought you would experience grand satisfaction when you were able to provide for your family. And you did. But that feeling of satisfaction fizzed out and remains elusive. Now what? Your manhood is not tied into how much money you make. I promise you. This is a myth that men share. You are far more precious to your family and kids than how much money you make. You are far more precious to yourself than how much money you make.

So take the time to redefine success for yourself. Include in your definition of success play and laughter. Include happiness in it. Include feeling content and satisfied now in it. This is how you attract and create abundance. And finally, enjoy success now! Not later.

Iyabo Asani is a Business Mentor and Money Coach at Inner Genius Coaching

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