Industry Awareness! Avoiding Liabilities!!!!!!!

 

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I was blessed to have an advanced law course in the entertainment program that I am currently enrolled in. This course has allowed me to understand the great concept of risk management, and preparation that entertainment lawyers must have, to produce the results needed to assist and represent a good artist and excellent brands! It is my goal to share the expert knowledge that I have gained from this course and from listening to industry related podcast.

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I reviewed a podcast that covers “The basics of intellectual property Law” by J. Craig Williams of the Williams Lindberg law firm, PC (An Intellectual Property and Business Law Firm). This link offers valuable information with a focus on the problems that businesses and the creators of intellectual property are facing today. Mr. Williams offers information ranging from infringement in regards to movie sales and the status of current piracy laws. He also enforced the movement of intellectual property overseas and how the internet and Congress have trouble safeguarding the speed of technology. Attorney Williams recommended that we police our intellectual property and be knowledgeable of the rules we currently have in place regarding exported music. He suggests that we change and adapt with technology as it develops because technology is constantly changing and in this field, we must stay current. You can view his podcast at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haRJgfA-bDg&feature=related. Mr. Williams and his firm also offer information on their website. You can click the link below to utilize a virtual consultation involving trademark law, patent law, copyright law, business law, computer law and non specific categories of entertainment law.
 Their site is, http://www.coloradoiplaw.com/trademark-law/virtual-consultation.html
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The second podcast serves as an update for entertainment lawyers and professionals. This podcast discusses the liability for entertainers due to how they misuse social media. The podcast starts with a discussion on Justin Beiber’s manager tweeting the location of a concert where Justin was due to perform, which resulting in an overcrowded event and his inability to expeditiously re-tweet the fans informing them that the event was canceled. These potential liability cases also discuss Justin Beiber  releasing the phone number of a immoral fan-- which are potential damage and privacy claims. Profit participation and accounting procedures is a topic that is also discussed on the podcast whereas a joint venture between Warner Bros. and a bundled license of 100 movies were set to be created with film maker Allen Ladd Jr. The case between Ladd and Warner Bros was determined in Ladd's favor for the films, Blade Runner, Chariots of Fire and a lot of other projects. Unusual high profit deals were discussed regarding court rulings which favored the terms that were used in the "actual contracts and fair dealings. " This podcast serves as a discussion between entertainment lawyers where you can listen to the wrongful behavior and follow up on fair use cases that are currently pending in the media. Feel free to click on the link below to utilize the entertainment law discussion at http://hw.libsyn.com/p/9///9876797a2f92a3a/EntertainmentLawUpdateEpisode013.mp3?sid=ec67c42edec984f6d9d98c64bf91d148&l_sid=22761&l_eid=&l_mid=2074351. “summary of entertainment cases” by Entertainment lawyers.  Episode 13. You can obtain more information at www.entertainmentlaw.com, createprotect.com, www.bennettlaw/tamarabennett.

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The third podcast covers works that are in the public domain and works that are currently protected by  copyright. Mr. Oatts discusses the nature of music that is in public domain, he interprets the song writers state-of-mind regarding sharing their music and the need for musical copyrights. As a film maker I must properly cite the original owners of all music that I use or include in my projects this includes the musical score, the writers. etc.,. Their are methods must be taken to ensure that all musical collaborations and scores are properly cited and recognized if they are going to be used in your work. View the link to this podcast at,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rptna0yLe4U “music copyright” by Trevor Oatts

I listened to an additional podcast that covers intellectual property infringement and the competitive advantage of copyrighting all intellectual property. The speaker discusses the potential risks that are involved with intellectual capital and the process that creators of intellectual property can take to avoid losing their ideas and material. He also offers examples of possible monetary amounts that potential liability claims might cost. The podcast offers information on IP holding companies, how distracting litigation cases are, and how innovative software and inventive ideas are.  You can view this podcast at, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLvMZujfEzY&feature=related "intellectual property"

These podcast offer pertinent information that I can incorporate into my future film production business. There are several entertainment law and intellectual property issues that any entertainment company could possibly face. The nature of the entertainment industry is a very constant and complex. The best way to arm yourself in the entertainment business is to be fully aware and get as much information as possible. Thanks for your time!

The Latest News in Film!

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http://www.inquisitr.com/99691/colin-firth-grateful-for-uk-support-after-oscars-win/

My goal with this blog submission is to identify three of the most recent court cases that have impacted the film industry. They range from infringement cases that also involve an excellent Oscar nominated film, i.e. King Speech, to piracy issues with Warner Bros. studios, followed by a breach of contract issue involving yet another Oscar nominated film, Black Swan.

First, is the case involving The film, The King’s Speech. This case involves improper usage of a common phrase, "No animals were harmed" that was used in the end-credits of the film. However, the disclaimer happens to be a registered trademark that was used without permission. The AHA having a trademark on this phrase for several years, has allowed them the right to be involved in film productions so they can ‘personally’ certify that no "animal actors" are harmed during the filming process. For those who seek permission to use the phrase, the AHA makes several requests along with the ability to participate in the film process. They demand advanced copies of scripts, require on-set access whenever animals are used and they also review daily call sheets to ensure the safety of “animal actors” and the use of their phrase.

According to the article written by Scotty Donaldson, as early as last year, the AHA sent out “cease-and-desist letters to the producers and distributors of five films, including Oscar-nominated District 9”. Although, they have never had to enforce the trademark in court. The Weinstein Company, is distributing the film, The King Speech. The AHA says it was never invited to monitor The King's Speech, however, and so it demands that The Weinstein Company,  remove the phrase from their credits. Apparently they are in the process of working something out.

 The AHA is standing by the power of their trademark. Their phrase is an assurance to movie-goers that no animals were harmed during the production. I am impressed that they were clever enough to have the rights to such a common, coined phrase. Their ability to stand behind the phrase and police the usage of the term makes the trademark even more powerful. They are right to continue to pursue any company that they feel violates and uses their intellectual property without approval. Their action to hold companies accountable shows that as a company, they are properly “policing” their name, their brand and their reputation!

According to the Dominion Post, Basin, an attorney at Greenberg Glusker, says the AHA trademark is valid, and he compares their phrase to the 'Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval' along with certification marks that may typically be found in the food and beverage industry.

Unfortunately, If the case is pursued in court, the AHA would have to prove that by using their seal of approval that, The King's Speech devalued its certification. Funny thing is, that this case is not about earning profits from damages, its more about setting an example and making a point that their is an approval process that companies must be mindful of before they are allowed usage of the intellectual works of others. On the other hand, it's possible that the film makers were unaware that the commonly used phrase was trademarked, and they found themselves at the center of a battle, being accused of infringing on the property of another.  The outcome of this case depends on if AHA is able to prove that by using the unauthorized phrase if they are creating consumer confusion. This also includes if    the wordplay of a phrase is manipulated or referenced in a different way, it may still stand close to the original phrase that is owned by the AHA, indeed causing consumer confusion.

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The legal issues following the production of the film Black Swan consist of the production company, Overnight LLC suing the former Chief Aaron Kaufman for $10 million for breach of contract. Scott Shifel Of the Daily News asserts that Kaufman is the "ex-president" of the original production company and that he left the team just as the production started filming. He held the film due to contract demands, and among other things he also exposed the company to an embarrassing sexual harassment dispute which he caused by pursuing an employee. Kaufman denies all accusations and explains that he left the production company due to disputes between he and Schwartz, who was executive producer at the time. However, Schwartz is still listed as executive producer but is not eligible for an Academy Award nomination and the production company will not earn any production credit due to the conflicts that occurred at the time. The lawsuit states that it is solely due to "gross lapses in judgment" which cost millions in lost revenue and producer credit on the film "Black Swan."

Somehow, I wonder if the misappropriation of funds and conduct will follow Kaufman, especially if the outcome determines that he owes a substantial amount of money to those that were apart of the company prior to his retreat to start another venture. However, time will tell and there is always a pattern of behavior that the courts utilize as a determining factor in these types of cases. This will certainly be an interesting case to follow as the pages turn and the story continues to unfold! Ten million dollars is no walk in the park and is not easy to obtain! Perhaps the court judgment will rule in favor of the production company but for a reasonable amount.

On the other hand, the lost wages can be determined due to the producer credit and missed opportunity that comes with being ineligible to get the deserved producer credit. If the circumstances were different, the producer credit would have been credited, the company would have their credit and wages would also increase! Perhaps, ten million dollars doesn't look like such a large number when you note the facts! Kaufman argues that he will sue Schwartz for libel. The case is of course one persons word, against the other. While evidence is being obtained, Kaufan and Schwartz will continue to throw stones and it will be a while before we get close to the true source of what truly happened during business hours at Overnight LLC.

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Warner Bros Film Studios is also pending a lawsuit against them for pirating by using anti-piracy technology without permission! The company is ironically known for its plight against piracy. However, they have not utilized the true emphasis of the term, "practice what you preach!" According to Terrance O'Brien of The Daily News, Warner Bros. has been using a unique identifier to trace pirated movies back to their source.  By embedding the films that they have distributed to the press and to theaters, Warner Bros has been issuing take down notices and single handily tackling piracy in their market. However, the very identifier that they have been using is a protected item, owned by a German company called Medien Patent Verwaltung (MPV). This is the perfect example of a company somehow believing they are above the law. With all the filings that Warner Bros has attempted against the public and members of the press, it is outright foolish of them to commit the very crime that they push so hard to eliminate. I'm sure the evidence obtained will speak for itself and judgment will rule in favor of the MPV company.   

I will definitely follow these cases and provide you with all the information as the truth unfolds. Today has been great! Tomorrow will be even better! Until next time! I'll meet you at the top!

You can find information on these topics at:


Press. (2011, July 2). What could impede the King's Oscar? | Stuff.co.nz. Stuff.co.nz - Latest New Zealand News & World News, Sports News & NZ Weather Forecasts. Retrieved March 4, 2011, from http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/entertainment/4625301/What-could-impede-the-Kings-Oscar.

Preston, M. (2010, December 27). "Black Swan" Involved inProduction credit Lawsuit . NBC Chicago. Retrieved March 4, 2011, from www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/movies/NATL-Black-112492014.html

Scotty Donaldson: King's Speech Has Legal Issues - We Should Patent A Movie Credit Phrase!. (2011, February 6). Scotty Donaldson. Retrieved March 4, 2011, from http://www.scottydonaldson.com/2011/02/kings-speech-has-legal-issues-we-should.html

Trotta, D. (2010, December 24). Film producer sues over Black Swan | Reuters. Business News - Indian Stock Market, Stock Market News, Business & Finance, Market Statistics | Reuters India. Retrieved March 4, 2011, from http://in.reuters.com/article/2010/12/24/idINIndia-53763220101224

The Manager....Magician or skilled genius?

I was blessed to have a product and artist management course in the entertainment program that I am currently enrolled in. The course has allowed me to understand the great concept of judgment and integrity that mangers must have to produce the results needed to assist and push a good artist, product, event, action or theme beyond its idea to becoming reality! I was given a task, to share the best practices, principles and ideas that I have gained from this course and identify how I will apply them to my career. I must admit that my ideas of a managers role were a lot different from what I've learned through this course and by actively pitching and working as a manager to complete the tasks at hand. I personally believe that in this business most of our roles are correlated, therefore allowing good artists to become producers, producers to become directors and so on! The possibilities are endless....I have come up with 5 rules that you must apply to your business to become great in your future endeavors. Please view the rules below:

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Rule 1: Know yourself and be careful that you are aware of your goals. Write down all your ideas, expectations any questions you may have as you lead in this new role. This will allow you to favor all areas of development and also show that you trust the quality of time.

Rule 2: Know your market. Do this by understanding and spending time with customers. You can service your target market better by knowing what they want. Develop effective research, you can do this by making sales calls, utilizing focus groups and tracking your goals. Once you do this, you take the information back to your team and use it to build and develop.

Rule 3: Always set standards and goals for yourself! This will allow you to focus on the ultimate task at hand and discard any ineffective material that doesn't fit the overall future goal. This serves as a map to help design your path and also can be used as a reference of what it took to get where you are.

Rule 4: Always look your best. Looking good reinforces how you feel about yourself and confidence is key in this business. I would choose to invest in someone who looks me in the eye, speaks well and shakes my hand rather than someone who shifts nervously, avoids eye contact and is afraid of physical contact.

Rule 5: Make it your business, to know your business! Most mangers have no traditional business training but they are established in the entertainment business enough to compete and advance. Using your business fundamentals, utilizing your professional network, classmates, instructors and essentials will allow you to set yourself apart from others and gracefully move forward at a much faster pace.

As a future owner of a film production company and publisher of fiction publications. I am currently in the process of applying these rules to my life.

   

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This course has reinforced my theory of the changes in the entertainment business and how the  realities of generating revenue have also changed. In the music business, overall sales of downloaded singles and albums have increased for the first time this year. This former area of music sales and airplay exposure are becoming more dependent on sales in other areas. While radio focuses on building audiences for advertisers. The recording industry is interested in selling albums based on concerts and touring. We are currently facing the deepest recession in history, followed by a 2010 year-end total of a 5 percent decline in concert ticket sales in the U.S. The entertainment currently relies on management, and the behind-the-scenes creators to sell entertainment and redefine its business model. Being aware of this is motivation for those of us "dreamers" to get ourselves together and become what we dream to be! Today has been great, tomorrow will be even better! Thanks for your time and I look forward to sharing with you. Until next time!

Allen, P. (2010, October 18). Music industry needs to redefine itself. http://blogs.tennessean.com. Retrieved February 26, 2011, from blogs.tennessean.com/opinion/2010/10/18/music-industry-needs-to-redefine-itself/.

Artist management resource. (n.d.). Music Manager and Management Roles. Retrieved February 26, 2011, from www.artistmanagementresource.com/music-manager-roles.html

Artist Manager : Proprietor and Driving Force!

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            I was given a task to interview a “bonifide” artist manager who is actively working in the entertainment industry as a regular part of doing business. I was able to interview Tino Pasquier, Co- Owner of Firesquad Records, an independent record label that he started shortly after graduating from Clark Atlanta University in 2003. Mr. Pasquier is a passionate, charismatic entrepreneur who represents four hip hop artists that are all on the Firesquad label. While actively working as a manager, Mr. Pasquier is also working to market an entertainment company called, The Mayan Factor, that he will run with his older brother.           

This logo is the property of Firesquad Records LLC

            As part owner and creator of Firesquad Records, Tino Pasquier  is a powerful force within his company and finds himself using the skills that he obtained from earning his Business Marketing degree years ago. Mr. Pasquier demands positive results in his business and he definitely delivers results through people. By employing professionalism, commitment and integrity, Mr. Pasquier builds relationships, negotiates and coordinates booking talent, among other major characteristics that he describes as preeminent traits that all managers must entail.  

The following is an excerpt from our interview:

ME: First, I would like to thank you for allowing me to interview you and highlight your company!

TINO: No problem! This is one of my first times on the other side of the interview. It feels good to be recognized.

ME: How did you get started?

TINO: I attended college with my first artist. I met him during my senior year. We worked in an organization called Vision Inc. I kind of fell into it after I saw the artist, ‘Gumbo’ perform. I had never worked as a manager before then. It was amazing to see  how likable he was with people and how raw he was on the mic. He had the perfect mix of talent and poise and I saw a lot of potential in him.

ME: With this being a new experience were their any challenges that you faced with your artist?

TINO: Challenges of the relationship with my artist were rare. We saw eye to eye on most things but I would say that we have had a major difference in marketing techniques.

ME: How did you initially work through those challenges to get the job done?

TINO:  We didn’t have any big challenges. Overall, we had a mutual understanding about our goal to move forward. We already had a great relationship but working together and sharing a vision made us the best of friends. One of the main challenges was to get through the hurdles in our personal lives to accomplish business our goals.

ME: Have you had any unique experiences that you would like to share?

TINO: The entire process has been unique. I think it’s interesting that we began to create music and projects out of the walls of a dorm room and now were building and becoming stronger forces in the entertainment industry.

ME: What special advice would you give a person entering this field?

TINO: I don’t think there is any special advice but I would say that if you are interested in entering this field then you should be applying to internships so you can see first hand what goes on. Reach out and be honest about what you want because this type of position isn’t for everyone. There's lot of commitment that goes into a management position--any management position. Multiply hard work by three because the entertainment industry forces you to work with tons of personalities and egos and that’s what separates the ones that talk from the ones who really work.

ME: What personal qualities are important to being successful in this job?

TINO: The qualities that are important to being successful in this position include true drive, the drive to push everyone around you. You have to be willing to dictate, supervise or take over to make an activity happen. You must work well  under pressure, always be presentable and ready to pitch or fight for an idea or a major deal.

ME: From your perspective, what are the challenges working in this field?

TINO: One major challenge can be coming into this position thinking that someone will push you. You must be a self- motivated individual, open minded and willing to fall a few times so you get the ultimate learning experience. If you don’t adapt to the environment and prove that you belong then you wont be successful. You’ll be left behind.

ME: What do you think of the experience you’ve had so far in terms of entering this field?

TINO: The overall experience has been amazing. This is something that you and the artist must believe in. The journey to the top is what makes it all worth while. To believe in someone and be apart of their development creatively and professionally. From creating themes and strategies to executing them. Dealing with the media, Dj's, magazine companies, sponsors, etc. to dealing with the internal ups and downs makes the experience memorable. We learned so much that has prepared us for situations that may not necessarily be related to music. But to create something from nothing, working on our own is special. Selling over 75,000 units unsigned is amazing. Ludacris sold 50,000 units underground so go figure. We are in it for the long haul. This has been a great experience, eight years in the making.

            It has definitely been a pleasure sharing information on Tino Pasquier and his company, Firesquad Records. Please stay tuned as we will do a second artist management focus, reviewing Sherry Marsh of Marsh Entertainment in Hollywood, California.  Once again, it has been a pleasure sharing with the world! I am feeling more accomplished than the day before!

Negotiation & Deal Making: Leverage and Power for Project Blaq!

I was given a task to interview a professional who is actively working in the

entertainment industry in a deal-making capacity who negotiates as a regular part of doing business. I was able to interview Jasmin M. Goodman, President of J. Michelle Media. She is a clever entrepreneur who works with individuals in a deal-making capacity while working on, the brink of technology with a unique social media content based company. The first of its kind, Project Blaq is an ad based, web platform that streams quality independent media content that is created and developed by black media makers. This platform connects audiences with independent filmmakers and content producers. Visitors of the site can view bios, discussion boards and utilize the ProjectBlaq social networking platform.

As President of J. Michelle Media, Ms. Goodman not only negotiates with potential staff as an employer but she also negotiates and deals with potential company filmmakers and representatives as well as building relationships with business professionals and potential members of her target audience. Ms. Goodman has the final say with everything that is implemented as well as how products, advertisements and information is placed on her media platform. Lets be honest, Ms. Goodman is a very diverse individual.

The following is an excerpt from our interview:

ME: First, I would like to thank you for allowing me to interview you and highlight your company!

JASMIN: No problem. Thank you for choosing me!

ME: How did you get started?

JASMIN: My first true exposure to media and video production was as a freshman at Clark Atlanta University. My experiences at CAU have been instrumental in everything I've done in my career. Also, because of those experiences and the people I've met, my entire team is made up of Clark Atlanta graduates.

ME: What makes your company different from others?

JASMIN: Project Blaq, LLC is unique because it's a platform that will stream independent film and video content developed by black media makers. There is currently no platform that streams only high-quality content.

ME: What's your ultimate goal working in this business?

JASMIN: My ultimate goal for ProjectBlaq.com is for it to become the premier online destination for black media makers and black audiences. When people go online, I want it to be the first site they consider for entertainment. I want to provide an alternative for black media makers currently seeking mainstream validation.

ME: Have you had any unique experiences that you would like to share?

JASMIN: The whole process has been unique. Building a site of this nature is definitely not easy! From finding quality content to finding our target audience, because of the uniqueness of the concept, each step is unique. Each day I'm learning something new. It's also great to build a company with amazing people.

ME: How have you used leverage to move forward in this business?

JASMIN: Leverage has been critical. Leveraging relationships has been the number 1, 2 and 3 keys to developing this project. We've yet to launch the site, and solid relationships have been critical to every phase of development.

ME: How have you used power to move forward in this business?

JASMIN: In terms of power, the power of God's grace has been beyond a blessing. We have established amazing connections with people and organizations that are anxious for us to launch. On another note, I think it's also important to have confidence in yourself and also your concept. If you don't believe in your project, no one else will. But please understand, if you have a great concept, don't be discouraged if some people don't get it or don't receive. It's not for everyone to receive. It's not for everyone to participate. Find your target audience and focus on satisfying them. That in will give you power to grow your business to the next level.

ME: How do you deal with dirty tricks or tricky tactics?

JASMIN: Thankfully, we haven't had to deal with any deceitful tactics. I make sure to understand each phase of the development and I'm not afraid to ask tough questions. Also, I don't make a move until I feel completely comfortable with the idea presented.

It has definitely been a pleasure sharing information on Project Blaq. With the permission of Ms. Goodman I plan to follow the development of Project Blaq and interview her during each major phase of her project! It has been a pleasure sharing with the world! I am feeling more accomplished than the day before!

You can find out more information on Project Blaq at http://www.projectblaq.com/

Are book adaptations generating sufficient revenue for the film industry?

With the film industry making science fiction master pieces into blockbusters and generating a great deal of revenue why would they stop when they have a good thing going?

They did it with Jurassic Park, a 1993 science fiction thriller based on the novel by Michael Crichton. The film grossed more than $914 million worldwide, becoming the most successful film released up to that time and is currently the highest grossing feature film in North America. It is also the most financially successful film for NBC Universal and Steven Spielberg. This feature is regarded as a landmark in the use of computer-generated imagery, and development.  This success has encouraged great developments in film. Recently with the Harry Potter franchise. Harry Potter is a fantasy-adventure film series based on the novel by J.K. Rowling. Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, Harry Potter’s “Half-Blood Prince” a 2009 film, broke the record for the biggest single-day worldwide gross of all time. In five days the film made $394 million, breaking the record for biggest five-day worldwide gross in history. With a total gross of $934 million, it became the 8th highest grossing movie of all time and the second highest-grossing film of 2009 (behind Avatar).  The film was also nominated for many awards, including best visual effects, best production design and best cinematography. There is currently another literary franchise due to hit the big screen:

http://anime-artbooks.com/anime-artbooks/akira-animation-archives-artbook-otomo-katsuhiro/

Also a science-fiction masterpiece, the Japanese comic (manga), “Akira” created in 1988, by Katshuhiro Otomo is no different. The fiction masterpiece stretches over 2,000 pages, 6 volumes and has won almost every Japanese Manga award imaginable. Each volume has its share of blood and gore and is over 350 pages long.

To bring the live action comic to life, Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures are set to distribute the film. Along with Leonardo DiCaprio who is due to produce the film, and with Book of  Eli’s Albert Hughes as director. The original story was set in post nuclear war, Tokyo, However the movie is expected to set in New Manhattan 2019. The story revolves around a neo-nuclear biker gangs that get caught up in a genetic experiment run, bringing on heat from the police state that controls their expansive city. The story is set around the (motorcycle), gang leader who is responsible for stopping the destruction that follows. The project entails politics, physic forces and futuristic weaponry. Recently, Albert Hughes has confirmed that Warner Bros. wants a PG-13 version of the project that will run as two features, although he may not return for the sequel. According to Slash Film reports, there are also talks of Oscar winning Morgan Freeman (Red, and Seven) earning the role of Colonel Shikishima and Zac Efron (of Charlie St. Cloud), also playing the role of Shotaro Kaneda (the gang leader). Although these acting roles have not been confirmed, there is much controversy and rumors being set around the project that is set go into production sometime around 2013.

http://anime-artbooks.com/anime-artbooks/akira-animation-archives-artbook-otomo-katsuhiro/

The project is centered around Member Kaneda whose latent powers are exposed after he is subjected to a government experiment - was set in post-nuclear War Tokyo in 2019 while the new movie is expected to be set in New York. As the Gang leader, Zac's character would be responsible for stopping the destruction which follows. This live-action adaptation of the popular Manga Akira for Warner Brothers already has a following of fans and critics who are tweeting and blogging about the anticipated production and release of the popular comic.

Hopefully the two-part adaptation will be as powerful as the comic was. If the adaptation touches the least bit on the literary storyline the project will definitely be far from a PG-13 rating however the action and suspense that viewers are used to seeing will of course be as close to the original storyline as possible. I'm sure that Warner Bros. will get their moneys worth with so many anticipating the following of such a high grossing series that although it was created in the 80s, continues to have a great deal of demand.

You can find more information on this topic at:

Fisher, Russ. (2010, Feb. 10). Re: The Hughes brothers negotiating deal to direct the live action Akira remake. Retrieved on Dec 06, 2010. from www.slashfilm.com At
http://www.slashfilm.com/the-hughes-brothers-negotiating-deal-to-direct-the-live-action-akira-remake/. or

Fisher, Russ. (2010, June 23). Re: New screenwriter hired for live action Akira remake. Retrieved on Dec. 06, 2010. from www.slashfilm.com at http://www.slashfilm.com/new-screenwriter-hired-for-live-action-akira-remake-albert-hughes-talks-pg-13/.

A 'Precious' Sequel? Wasn't the first project enough?

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/movie/precious-based-on-the-novel-push-by-sapphire/stills/6

I recently read an article titled, Would a ‘Precious’ sequel be too painful? which suggests that Sapphire, the author of the novel Push and director Lee Daniels could possibly be working on a sequel project, following the success of the film, Precious. Sapphire is working on a sequel novel, “The Kid” due to be released next summer. The project will focus on Precious's son "as he approaches manhood -- alone, brutalized and with the soul of an artist." While giving reference to the idea of a sequel partnership between Daniels and Sapphire,  Rust says the movie Precious was a redemptive piece but I have to disagree. Rust, the writer of this article attests that watching Precious blossom under the guidance of a caring teacher and finding herself through writing, gave viewers hope. Perhaps being born under wretched parents, being over 200 pounds and illiterate, made viewers feel that her fighting spirit came through. However, the pain staking realities of her life didn’t give me any hope. Ms. Rust refers to the novel as “a literary punch in the stomach” and I had to agree that the book although detailed and vivid was very painful. The film itself was depressing and offered a false sense of hope because Precious found literacy and peace and was granted assistance to provide for her children only after learning of her HIV positive status from her mother who was visibly crazy and dying. Such a sequel would be too much although I’m sure someone would find the project to be refreshing because the boy simply survived.

Rust also concludes that before working with Daniels, Sapphire had been approached to bring her tale to the screen, but she repeatedly declined, for fear that her work would be turned into something exploitative. But after several years of persistence, Sapphire gave Daniels the green light on the project, which went on to earn acclaim in the following areas: Lee Daniels's nomination for best director, Geoffrey Fletcher’s win for best screenplay, Gabourey Sidbe’s nomination for best actress, and Mo'Nique's win for best supporting actress.

Rust refers to the movie Precious as being “yet another down-trodden story of blackness.”
However, she later contradicts herself by saying that “If Sapphire has another story to tell, and if it even comes close to work she did in Push, then, I say, bring it. Please.”

This article touched on a few emotions that i felt in the theatre after viewing Precious for the first time. None of those feelings were of hope or of empowerment. Precious was a very strong willed character that we wanted to win. Her desire to overcome was strong and powerful but it seemed as if Daniels crushed her attempts with one saddening event after another. I can’t say that I’m surprised because I saw his earlier movies, Monsters Ball and Shadow Boxer. Both projects included over the top, odd sex scenes that dictated a major theme in both films. Precious had a deeper tone to those scenes but they left me just as uncomfortable and angry.

I was under the impression that the stereotypical exploitation films died in 1970, perhaps I was wrong. Not outright racially motivated with pimps and hoes but its a bit more subtle. how Precious pictures herself to be of a light complexion with blue eyes and says that she wants a "light skinned boyfriend with good hair." How she leaves her body and enters another place with the red carpet and the fancy furs whenever she feels hurt or intimidated. Whereas her dysfunctional home relationship goes a step further and her mother calls her fat, black and stupid wherever the script allows. As if Daniels couldn’t get his point across without making ‘black’ skin seem so demeaning and associated with negativity. Perhaps the self esteem of the Precious character could have been touched up a bit. To have her wearing the most uncomfortable, tight, grungy outfits and speak of her desire to be of a lighter complexion was not enough. We can also associate the movie poster of the young black teenager looking distinctively like the “mammy” character. We don’t need to purchase pancakes to see this character duplicated. Perhaps Precious has made a successful journey into womanhood because she has moved on from the sexual abuse, verbal abuse and illiteracy. However the Precious’ character can also relate into the visual image as a young Mabel character that Tyler Perry plays to be viewed as Madea who he describes as being a mixture of his mother, aunt and other women in his family lineage. I personally feel that enough is enough with the weak, stereotypical, battered, over-sexed and abused characters of black womanhood that Hollywood has the nerve to constantly display. We need accurate images of our culture, not limited, under developed characters that we cannot associate nor relate to. I don’t blame Sapphire for providing us with a glimpse into the life of strong, young woman who went through the storm and dared to survive. The book was exceptionally deep and entertaining. However, the script version is quite different and didn’t convey a proper message. Hollywood should have known better to continue to convey a genre of emotionally battered black women that seems to be displayed in theaters everywhere. To include a sequel of this degree would be adding to the niche of disturbed blackness. With studios filtering what viewers are allowed to see. Its problematic that one can view a teenager living in a half way house with two children and a deadly disease as inspiring. Corruption and weakness have become the categories of  progression in film making to represent the life of African Americans. While exploitation once again has the driver seat towards the future in film making for our culture. The question we need to ask ourselves is not involving a sequel. Rather than when will we progress enough to appreciate films like Rosewood over Boyz in the Hood? When will actors like Denzel get the accolades they deserve for all the well received portrayals that characterized a strong black man prior to his role in Training day where he was corrupt and dangerous? One day we will see the scope of images for what they are and not be so blind as to believe that we are progressing.   

The article can be found at:
Rust, Suzanne. (2010, Nov. 23). Re: Would a precious sequel be too painful. Retrieved on Nov. 24, 2010. From www.thegrio.com. At
http://www.thegrio.com/entertainment/would-a-precious-sequel-be-too-painful.php.

http://gossiponthis.com/2009/10/23/new-movie-precious-featured-on-the-cover-of-the-new-york-times/

In the world of entertainment, "free" comes with costs!

The site for the motion picture Association at www.mpaa.org produced an interesting article titled, "Digital music and movies report: The true cost of entertainment" produced by McAfee. In this industry report the mpaa informs us of cyber-crime and how to prevent it. The article can be found under the policy and research category. There is also a section titled industry reports which outlines independent reports. To view the article you can use the following link,
 http://newsroom.mcafee.com/images/10039/DMMRReport_US_25Aug2010.pdf.

This report offers a very accurate risk assessment for viewing, streaming and
downloading free content online. Findings include an increase in riskiness of the sites for users that type in the word “free” in the search engine. According to McAfee, there are highly suspicious URLs associated with fan pages and comment boards on sites.

Highly trafficked sites are targeted with downloading videos, streaming movies,
screen savers and live feeds. One example is that during April 2010. McAfee identified websites hosted in Russia and Brazil that advertised videos and  images for the FIFA world cup but led users to rogue anti-virus programs which accessed users personal or financial information.

The strong demand for free content introduces users to numerous risks. These so called, “free” sites have become a forum for attracting users that are unaware of the dangers but are searching for free content and media. Illegal content is now designed to look sophisticated and professional to exploit consumers. It is difficult for the average consumer to determine what services are legitimate. This type of ability fosters new more active sites that host or distribute illegal or illegitimate media.  On these host sites users can rank content, online media users download video content, along with music, movies, ring tones, etc.,

 Cybercrooks also take advantage of consumers who are attracted to breaking news, and hot topics. Searching a popular artist and their recent hit brings more risk than simply searching just the artist. These virtual crooks implement malware by redirecting users to download or click "ok" to material that they don’t want when they are attempting to view or download videos or movies. Researchers have discovered over 700,000 web pages that are identical to the look that youtube has, except they were created to spread malware. Online advertising on media sites are also opportunities to spread viruses, or get personal info from users.

McAfee noted that there's a 40% increase in websites that are delivering infected MP3 files or built for the sole purpose of conducting some type of cyber-crime. This includes malware infection and identity theft, towards anyone who's looking to retrieve MP3 files online.  Due to the demand for digital media, cyber-crime is a very big business. Any media that can be streamed is at risk including, TV, film and music.

McAfee suggests that when searching entertainment content without being aware of where the content is coming from, users become more exposed to risks.

Movie fan sites are likely to infect users. Cyber-crooks lay traps through in-demand movies. Movie fans expose themselves to a host of risks by using unauthorized illegal content they often become victims of identity theft, malicious code that's downloaded with a streamed movie. However, ratings, reviews and theatre inquiries are surprisingly safe.

The information provided in this report is important to the industry because we live in a technological society where young adults are the leading users of technology and teenagers are the future leaders in society who thrive off using gadgets, smart phones, uploading and retrieving information, video conferencing and streaming content and videos on youtube and sites identical to youtube. Their is no limit to the abilities that users have as they track responses, fans, followers and potential social networks that they also connect with. We are in a information age where technology gains status over all genres of material that may be accessed.

Article:
Greve, Paula. (2010.). Re: "Digital music and movies report: The true cost of entertainment." Retrieved on Nov. 10, 2010. From www.mpaa.org at  http://newsroom.mcafee.com/images/10039/DMMRReport_US_25Aug2010.pdf.

Non-Verbal Story telling

Non-Verbal Story telling at ted.com

I viewed an online video on ted.com that showcased a speaker named, Chris Anderson. Anderson’s video is called, “ideas worth spreading.” This clip can be shown on the following link http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/chris_anderson_how_web_video_powers_global_innovation.htm.

It was interesting because Anderson provides us with information regarding online video and explains why he believes that online video is far more advanced than print media. He shares evidence that video technology is a powerful source which replaces the face-to-face component that allows us to relate to elements of material that is presented.

His assertion that innovation emerges out of groups is very accurate. I believe his theories because I personally love to log on to youtube and watch interesting clips that people create. Most of the clips that I watch are referred to me and if I find them interesting I will refer them to someone else and the list goes on. The truth is that we thrive off entertainment and the way we learn of new material is often through word-of-mouth referrals. We are a social species that relate more through visual media than anything else. Although print media is still a popular source of information, we seem to be going away from the traditional way of reading and focusing on e-books, audio books and even online publications. With the way that technology is moving us forward we will soon be offering mini computers and technology to the k-12 student just so they can be prepared for the advancements that will be current during their time. To compete in today's society it seems that we must use computer technology and become familiar with it so we can be aware of whats current. 

In reference to the video. Mr. Anderson opens up to his audience by showing us a clip of children dancing and explains that these children are self taught how to dance through web technology. These clips not only piqued the audience but also kept their attention throughout the speech. He also shared a clip that was created in Kenya, Africa on the advancement of the people and the culture. Using video technology as a source we were able to see the vegetables that the natives planted and witness the development of their people by simply watching a simple video.  Mr. Anderson asserted that web technology is an eco system on how innovation emerges due to the fact that millions are connected and able to view a clip of material once it is uploaded. His examples offered me more of a visual representation of the facts that he explained. We are often told that great speakers are excellent story tellers. Mr. Anderson definitely provided us with a plethora of information and shared his findings by presenting facts in a excellent story telling format.

Antoine Fuqua...... Execution and project control ........ !

I read an interview on Antoine Fuqua, the director of Brooklyn’s Finest!
This interview discusses the creative direction and control that encompasses a Fuqua film.

For those of us who dream of making it big in Hollywood. We must acknowledge Fuqua’s efforts and allow ourselves to do the footwork if we hope to reap the benefits of a successful Hollywood icon and project manager.

If you are not familiar with the work of Antoine Fuqua his resume includes, Training Day, and is followed by Tears of the Sun, King Arthur, and Shooter. In 2001, his movie Training Day brought in $77 million at the domestic box office and earned Denzel Washington a Best Actor Oscar. While filming his latest movie, Brooklyn’s Finest, Fuqua involved the local community in the production by employing hundreds of residents of the Van Dyke housing projects, the central location in the storyline.  Prior to filming in Brooklyn, Fuqua started the Fuqua Film Program, a 12-week summer program for Brooklyn youth. 

The article can be found at:

Interview:
Nunziata, Nick. (2010, Mar. 3). Re:  Antoine Fuqua (Brooklyn’s Finest). Retrieved on Oct. 2, 2010. from www.chud.com. At http://www.chud.com/articles/articles/22772/1/INTERVIEW-ANTOINE-FUQUA-BROOKLYN039S-FINEST/Page1.html

You may also find more information on Antoine Fuqua at:

Talbert, Marcia. (2010, May). Re: ‘Backtalk with Antoine Fuqua’ Retrieved October 5, 2010 from blackenterprise.com/magazine. http://www.blackenterprise.com/magazine/2010/04/15/backtalk-with-antoine-fuqua/

Fuqua proves to his viewers that control and execution are key components that will make a project come to life. Fuqua stayed in Brooklyn prior to filming to prepare and get a feel for the characters, the neighborhood, the streets that he would reenact. This filtered the culture and the language of his project. He was prepared and did his homework and it obviously showed. Fuqua committed to the project but stayed true to his vision. He edited the project himself to ensure that he would get the ending that he wanted. “If it was a studio ending everyone would have walked away.”

With current television shows and films reinforcing the power of the badge and reflecting positive policing. Fuqua offered viewers a very different perspective. Shows today focus on the anatomy of forensics i.e., bones and forensic files. We also have options of shows that focus on old unsolved cases. Shows that find unique ways to solve cases and get in the mind of a killer to psychoanalyze criminals. The never ending re-runs of law & order and the new season openers for the show. Shows that follow and allow the focus to stay on different branches of law enforcement and focus on the police force itself. Of course we’d dare to forget the comedic shows that assist the police and its partnering agencies. The shows like medium, monk, numbers, criminal minds, the unit, CSI, NCIS, cold case, along with new shows such as Rizolli & Isles, Lie to me and the list goes on.

Fuqua releases a different frame of emotion with Brooklyn’s Finest. He executed this by putting the focus on the gritty, not so pretty action. Fuqua sold us with believable characters that dared to reel us in. Showing 3 different stories of men who served on Brooklyn’s police force. The film showed us a glimpse of the realities of the world behind the badge. Fuqua shares how he was able to present us with a raw street film and do it his way.

In the article he also shares his personal experience working with Ethan Hawke, Richard Gere, Don Cheadle and Wesley Snipes.  Let his success be a lesson to us all. Taking a pay cut to get total creative freedom on the project is not an ordinary action. His methods of execution were successful and serve as a great example as to how much work goes into a successful project! Fuqua also contends that his next cinematic goal is to do a film about Pablo Escobar. He is blessed with the gift of storytelling and he is disciplined enough to execute the story with hard work and the drive to do what others wont. I’m sure Fuqua will give us a great story along with an excellent movie!