I attended an event last night sponsored by the Writers Guild of America East about the economics of new media. Given my web series/production company, the WGA contacted me about signing with them as part of their 2.0 New Media initiative. Cool! So, as I'm in the process of forging a relationship with the WGA I thought I'd check out this event.
There were 3 panelists who gave their input on what the landscape is and how us New Media creators can shift our perspective to capitalize on these new opportunities: Anita Ondine (CEO of Seize the Media), Mark Lukasiewicz (VP NBC News Specials and Digital Media) and Moishe "Mo" Koyfman (Principal at Spark Capital). Basically here's the gist...the world is changing fast. What once were the gatekeepers of creative expression are now busting open. New platforms are continuing to emerge and we as creative artists have a duty and an opportunity to seize the reigns! But how do we profit from this new-found freedom? With traditional financial models falling apart as we speak, what form do we follow?
The answer is there is no answer. Comforting, huh...? What's exciting is that we get to have a hand in crafting the answer. Some possibilities? Sponsorship from a corporation, branded marketing, and crowd sourcing. Companies like Kickstarter and IndieGoGo help artists raise money by encouraging fans to contribute to a particular project and help bring it to life. The key is to engage the audience, get them involved in every part of the process. Give the power to the people!
Though a bit overwhelming, it is exciting to know that possibilities exist. People (myself included) are working really hard to create, to innovate, and to shape the landscape of media and entertainment as we know it. It's a big deal and I'm proud to be a part of it.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
My Mantra
As I'm integrating new tools and practices into my life, I've decided to come up with a mantra of sorts. Plus, I have a great audition tomorrow that I plan on booking. So here goes...
I welcome success, prosperity, happiness and good health into my life and into the lives of the people I love. I am amazed at how quickly I have been able to make my living solely doing what I love! How is it that so many exciting opportunities continue to present themselves to me? How is it possible to get paid so much money to follow my dreams? I can't believe that I am collaborating with and working alongside the best and the brightest talent in the industry. Great work continues to fall in my lap. Money continues to fall in my lap. My career continues to unfold in the most thrilling ways. I am able to share my success and riches with my family and my friends. I am able to give back to my community in a way that I never thought possible. I am continually challenged and inspired by my work and my peers. I am able to afford luxuries and have more than enough money to help support those less fortunate than me. I have the freedom to pick and choose my projects. I have the freedom to travel around the world. It's fun being in demand. It's fun sinking my teeth into provocative, challenging acting roles. It's fun getting my colleagues' work produced! It's fun setting a positive example to younger artists who have similar dreams. I feel amazed, humbled, inspired, grateful, empowered and overjoyed.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it :-)
I welcome success, prosperity, happiness and good health into my life and into the lives of the people I love. I am amazed at how quickly I have been able to make my living solely doing what I love! How is it that so many exciting opportunities continue to present themselves to me? How is it possible to get paid so much money to follow my dreams? I can't believe that I am collaborating with and working alongside the best and the brightest talent in the industry. Great work continues to fall in my lap. Money continues to fall in my lap. My career continues to unfold in the most thrilling ways. I am able to share my success and riches with my family and my friends. I am able to give back to my community in a way that I never thought possible. I am continually challenged and inspired by my work and my peers. I am able to afford luxuries and have more than enough money to help support those less fortunate than me. I have the freedom to pick and choose my projects. I have the freedom to travel around the world. It's fun being in demand. It's fun sinking my teeth into provocative, challenging acting roles. It's fun getting my colleagues' work produced! It's fun setting a positive example to younger artists who have similar dreams. I feel amazed, humbled, inspired, grateful, empowered and overjoyed.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it :-)
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
To stay or to go?
At what point do you throw in the towel? Do you just say, "Enough" ?
I've always been a fighter. I have a good sense of what I want out of life and I don't let too much get in the way. I think most often this determination and sheer will has been an asset to me. But once in a while, one encounters challenges in life and the question arises..."How many chances do I give this?"
My cousin recently emailed me about a last minute trip to LA. She had a radio audition with a network. She figured it would be a great opportunity to bring me along so I can meet her colleagues. After double checking my commitments in New York, I jumped on the opportunity. I've been wanting to make a trip out, I have no Giver performances scheduled, so why not? I quickly emailed my main LA contact, informing him that I'd be making a trip. Unfortunately, his office would be closed on President's Day and he said he might be going out of town. He would, however, be available to meet up for drinks later in the week. Ok! Minor concern about President's Day, but problem seemingly solved...All that now needed to be confirmed before we got tickets was my cousin's meeting with the network. After a lot of back and forth, she still hadn't gotten a clear confirmation from her contact. Meanwhile, the flights to LA went up in price. Uh oh. Given that I wasn't going to have to pay for a rental car or accommodations, though, I figured it was still worth the trip.
Finally after much deliberation, and after the network contact said he assumed she was coming all along, my cousin bought the tickets. Yay! Some time later she got an email from her radio contact canceling the audition. After all that?! With no appointment in LA, there was no reason for her to make the trip except to introduce me to her peers, which can happen down the line. What to do? To me, although disappointed, I figured it is not worth it for my cuz to take the trip with no meeting in place. I emailed my manager contact (who we were supposed to see for drinks) and let him know that the trip was going to fall through. He was totally fine given his work has been so hectic the past little while and Monday is a holiday with his office closing.
Cut to...the next morning. My cuz got an email from a big-wig radio agent she'd contacted saying he was available to meet her on Tuesday. Another wrench thrown into the mix! Now what to do? Shouldn't this process be easier? Is the universe telling us to go or to stay far away? Why do we keep running into roadblocks? Should I be staying in New York for some amazing reason next week? Am I reading to much into this whole ordeal?
Ultimately we decided it was best to postpone the trip. It seemed like we were trying way to hard to make the trip work and it just wasn't going to happen in this moment. I guess sometimes life falls into place nicely, and sometimes it just doesn't. Maybe (and most probably) none of this means anything. In the meantime...now at least I'll have something to look forward to!
I've always been a fighter. I have a good sense of what I want out of life and I don't let too much get in the way. I think most often this determination and sheer will has been an asset to me. But once in a while, one encounters challenges in life and the question arises..."How many chances do I give this?"
My cousin recently emailed me about a last minute trip to LA. She had a radio audition with a network. She figured it would be a great opportunity to bring me along so I can meet her colleagues. After double checking my commitments in New York, I jumped on the opportunity. I've been wanting to make a trip out, I have no Giver performances scheduled, so why not? I quickly emailed my main LA contact, informing him that I'd be making a trip. Unfortunately, his office would be closed on President's Day and he said he might be going out of town. He would, however, be available to meet up for drinks later in the week. Ok! Minor concern about President's Day, but problem seemingly solved...All that now needed to be confirmed before we got tickets was my cousin's meeting with the network. After a lot of back and forth, she still hadn't gotten a clear confirmation from her contact. Meanwhile, the flights to LA went up in price. Uh oh. Given that I wasn't going to have to pay for a rental car or accommodations, though, I figured it was still worth the trip.
Finally after much deliberation, and after the network contact said he assumed she was coming all along, my cousin bought the tickets. Yay! Some time later she got an email from her radio contact canceling the audition. After all that?! With no appointment in LA, there was no reason for her to make the trip except to introduce me to her peers, which can happen down the line. What to do? To me, although disappointed, I figured it is not worth it for my cuz to take the trip with no meeting in place. I emailed my manager contact (who we were supposed to see for drinks) and let him know that the trip was going to fall through. He was totally fine given his work has been so hectic the past little while and Monday is a holiday with his office closing.
Cut to...the next morning. My cuz got an email from a big-wig radio agent she'd contacted saying he was available to meet her on Tuesday. Another wrench thrown into the mix! Now what to do? Shouldn't this process be easier? Is the universe telling us to go or to stay far away? Why do we keep running into roadblocks? Should I be staying in New York for some amazing reason next week? Am I reading to much into this whole ordeal?
Ultimately we decided it was best to postpone the trip. It seemed like we were trying way to hard to make the trip work and it just wasn't going to happen in this moment. I guess sometimes life falls into place nicely, and sometimes it just doesn't. Maybe (and most probably) none of this means anything. In the meantime...now at least I'll have something to look forward to!
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