Filmmaker's Dream Blog

Filmmaker's Dream Blog is the go to place for aspiring and passionate filmmakers. We would love to hear from you! What could we add to the site? What would you like to know more about? What are some of your film ideas you'd like to share with us? Leave a comment below and let us know what you think!!

Who doesn't love horror flicks? ...Well there's actually quite a few, but to those who love scary movies just as much as I do, let's take a look at some upcoming horror flicks!

The most anticipated film I'm really excited to see, is Sinister! It just holds that eerie and creepy vibe that no matter what you, do you can't escape from the source of evil. It comes out on October 12, 2012..Check out this trailer!

What do you get when you mix, old motel, video cameras, torture, and 911? No, not an up to date Psycho, but the new movie, The Helpers. This one looks like it could be really scary or something just like every other horror flick or a Vacancy copycat. What do you think?


Who's a fan of the classic film, 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre'? It's an old classic gruesome film that gets me every time and guess what? It's going 3D. When I heard the film was starring singer, Trey Songz, I immediately stated that it will probably be another teen horror flick dud. BUT after watching the trailer, the visual elements of the film look a bit promising, and I will definitely check it out.
The film will be released in January 2013.

Another renewed classic scary flick, 'Carrie' will be released in 2013 as well starring Chloe Moretz. I'm really looking forward to seeing new effects being used and what kind of new edge directors will give it. No trailer has been released on this yet.

Check out this great list of other upcoming horror flicks arising in the next year! 2012-2014 Horror Flicks

I hope you're all excited as I am to see just how scary these films can get!

Are you a horror flick director? Love gore, twisted killings, and showing a dark side? Get ready to show off your skills in the Cabin in the Woods film contest hosted by Vimeo. The winner takes home $10,000!
Here are a few rules:

• You must be over 18 years of age to enter this competition.
• Your script should not exceed ten minutes in length.
• We will only accept videos uploaded to Vimeo.
• Entries must be submitted by midnight on October 23rd 2012.
• The judges' decision is final.

If you haven't watched Cabin in the Woods, you're in for a real treat. The film was unique, funny, and had a few scary moments. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be purchasing the movie myself. Go out and grab your camera, get down to editing, and submit that film!

               Are you ready for a new ride amongst beautiful animals, a small life boat, and the wide Pacific Ocean?  You’re in for a treat with the new movie release of ‘Life of Pi’, coming this winter.
               The novel, Life of Pi written by Yann Martel, will be turned into an adventurous 3D film soon to be released November 21, 2012. The film tells a story about a young man named Pi from India who is the son of a zookeeper who becomes trapped in a shipwreck with zoo animals ( zebra, monkeys, hyenas, and more). After surviving the storm, he finds himself in the company of the animals and a Bengal tiger on a small life boat. Fear begins to erupt from the beginning, but after time unfolds a friendship is formed between Pi and the tiger. Through the rough seas of the Pacific Ocean, more challenges arise as their boat continues to sail.
          
         The screenplay was written by David Magee. The film holds a very strong cast of actors, which includes, Tobey Maguire, Irrfan Khan, Suraj Sharma, and many others. The filming location for the 'Life of Pi' takes place in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. According to IMDb, M. Night Shyamalan attached to write and direct this story at one point.
Suraj Sharma will play the role or Pi and Tobey Maguire will play the role of Yann Martel, the author of the story.

         The visual art and elements of this film are absolutely beautiful and in excellent quality. I personally look forward to watching the film this coming winter to see how well it relates to the original story. Many people are extremely excited to see the film and ready to give their critiques.  This film is sure to be a big box office hit before the end of 2012. Please watch the trailer below to find out more about this fantastic film!

There are many experts within the film industry that have to oversee a business plan in order to make sure the movie is successful. The right person to look towards in this case would be the film producer. The responsibilities of a film producer include:

• Producing a film within its budget
• Supervising the film project from concept to distribution
• Secure financing for a film project
• Hire cast/crew to make sure the film is delivered and put together to the best of its ability. 

The list goes on and on as far as what a film producer has to do to make sure the film happens. I decided to research and review two industry experts to see how they gained their success in the business department of film. The industry experts I have chosen are Kevin Geiger and Kathleen Kennedy.
Kevin Geiger is known for films such as, 'Reign of Fire', 'Species', 'Chicken Little', and 'Henry's Garden'. With his major focus being in digital arts, Kevin has also offered great details on having an indie film business plan. Kevin says, "Most indie filmmakers have a strong creative pitch, but not a strong business pitch when going to investors, and if those aren't linked, you've got a problem." According to Kevin, a few key factors investors are looking for an a business plan include:

• How are the investors going to make their money back?
• Prepare a cash flow projection
• Create a business plan presentation for investors
• Select development and advisory teams.

Check out his great informational videos below!
The next industry expert is Kathleen Kennedy, by far one of the most successful film producers of all time. She's produced films like 'Jurassic Park', 'ET', 'Adventures of Tin Tin' and many more. Kathleen attended San Diego State University and later worked as a camera operator, video editor, and floor director. Kathleen started as a production assistant in working with Steven Spielberg and worked her way up to becoming the second most successful film producers in the world. Kathleen Kennedy is now the co-chair person for Lucasfilm. ( Deadline, 2012)
Kathleen Kennedy says she became lucky after taking a job as a production assistant for Steven Spielberg's '1941' and later became a producer. Kathleen mentions how she looks for someone who is talented, nice, balanced, with various interests in the film industry when hiring new people. She also mentioned that for great advice you have to have a lot of tenacity, work hard, and strong values to make it in the film industry. (HollywoodTV, 2007)  Kathleen gives excellent advice in the video below for ways to make it in Hollywood.
 Deadline. (2012, June 01). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.deadline.com/2012/06/lucasfilms-names-kathleen-kennedy-as-co-chair/

HollywoodTV. (2007). Kathleen kennedy how to make it in to hollywood [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlxCUyC9fmE

If you haven't watched the first Luv.Net, please watch it now! Me as well as the original cast and new actors are putting together the sequel for Luv.Net! The sequel to this story is highly intense and a complete thrill ride before you even sit down comfortably. All of the actors are extremely excited to jump back on board and put the film together. I can't wait to get started. I also need some help and support, as a strong contributor to the indie film community, I'm asking for a huge favor for any of you out there to please help support this film. You can do this by checking out my KickStarter Campaign for further details! More information about the film will be posted soon! Thank you so much for all of your support!
Show Your Support Here

After entering in the YourFilmFestival contest, which has been featured on Youtube for nearly 5-6 months. The film festival is being put together by Ridley Scott and Michael Fassbender to send ten amazing filmmakers to the Venice Film Festival. One lucky winner will get the chance to get their film remade into a Hollywood film for half of a million dollars, along with $25,000 in their pocket. Unfortunately, Luv.Net didn't make it into the top 50, but with over 15,000 submissions sent in the competition was very stiff. After checking out some fellow independent filmmakers' work, I came across a film called, ' Fish' which made it into the top 50 semi-finalists. The film is based on two cousins looking to survive off of each other in the streets of Trinidad. They steal and commit very small petty crimes to get by, but steal from the wrong person. The film is both intense and keeps your attention the entire time. Every part of the film feels real and although there aren't any buildings blowing up or special video effects being used, the story gives a real edge. The quality of the film is absolutely gorgeous and puts you into the environment of the story. It is apparent the amount of work and dedication put into this film and I believe it deserves to be apart of the top 10 finalists in the YourFilmFestival contest. The film was created by Shaun Escayg, located in the United States of America. It was really great to see someone from America could put together a film that has a foreign film type of edge to it. If you really enjoyed this film as much as I did, vote for it on the YourFilmFestival channel on Youtube! Be sure to check out the other 50 semi-finalists that entered into the contest as well. The films may spark a new inspiration for you to get out there and start shooting!

When it comes to self-distributing your films online many filmmakers turn to YouTube or Vimeo to post their films. Both video hosting sites are great to use, but have different attributes. We will cover the pros and cons of both websites to market and your distribute your films better.
YouTube
YouTube was created by 3 former employees from Paypal in 2005. YouTube has truly changed so much media by allowing for anyone to upload and broadcast any videos or themselves on the internet. Only a year later, Google purchased the website for $1.6 billion dollars. Later in 2008, YouTube signed an agreement contract with MGM, CBS, and Lionsgate, to build competition with the website Hulu which broadcasts TV shows online. Now that you know some history on YouTube let's review the pros and cons.

• Pros
• Formats to upload: .AV .MKV, .MOV, .MP4, DivX, .FLV, and .ogg and .ogv.
• Upload time: 15 minutes. ( the video is measured by the time not the space which is great, because you may be able to upload a better quality video, but shorter.
• 3D and HD videos are enabled. Users can upload 3D videos!
• Receives over 4 billion views per DAY! (Limer, 2012)
• More people use YouTube, so it is easier to direct people to your films on YouTube.
• Revenue! - You have the possibility of receiving money for your work.
• Cons
• Not an artsy exclusive website. YouTube is more of free range for ANY type of video to be broadcasted on the internet.
• Harder to stand out, amongst the viral videos.

Vimeo
Vimeo was created in November 2004 by Jake Lodwick. Interactive Corp purchased Vimeo in August 2006. The word 'Vimeo' comes from rearranging the word 'movie' but putting it in an order so the word 'me' is also used. Vimeo is strictly a community for indie filmmakers to share their work and films amongst each other. Now that you know some history on Vimeo, let's review the pros and cons.

• Pros
• Extra storage! Vimeo allows you to post a minimum of 500MB a week, but if you upgrade to Vimeo Plus for $60 a year, 5GB a week is the limit you can post. 
• Network.. When you use Vimeo you're amongst all other filmmakers and sharing your work, becoming inspired, and collaborating with others now becomes easier. (Staff TIME, 2010)
• Better Quality.. Vimeo strongly supports HD footage, which if you have the basic package, you're able to upload 1 HD video a week.
• Groups- Vimeo offers different groups and allows you to create your own groups, which helps inspiration and networking.
• Cons
• Less traffic.... Vimeo ranks as #116 on the Alexa ranking site, whereas YouTube ranks as #3.
• No Revenue...Google owns YouTube as well as Adsense so gaining revenue for YouTube videos became an option, but Vimeo has yet to receive that option.
• Less awareness.. Not as many regular viewers that aren't indie filmmakers have heard of Vimeo, so be sure to give them the correct link to your work.

It's a tough decision to choose between both video hosting sites, but it depends on your objective as a filmmaker. If you're looking to build and develop as a filmmaker, the go to website is Vimeo, but if you're looking to gain recognition and get your film seen by anyone, YouTube is the sure option. My recommendation  is to choose both!! Neither website owns exclusivity rights to your work, so you have the option to go with both sites to get the best of both worlds.
*FilmFestival Awareness*- YouTube will be holding a huge film fesitval called, 'YourFilmFestival' as part of the Venice Film festival in Italy. Of course, the film I produced, 'Luv.Net' was entered and the 50 semi-finalists will be announced on June 12 @ 4pm. The audience will get the chance to vote on the top 10 finalists which get to go to Italy all expenses paid!! Stay tuned for further details.

References:
Limer, E. (2012, January 23). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.geekosystem.com/youtube-4-billion-pageviews/
Staff, T. (2010, August 25). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2012721_2012728_2012746,00.html

Kickstarter is a great website that lets you pitch your idea for anything to gain funding for your project. Kickstarter is also partnered with Amazon and allows you to set up your business account through Amazon to receive any money you gain through your Kickstarter campaign.
Website Review

• User Friendly: Kickstarter is a very user-friendly website and isn't too complicated to use. The layout is very simple, yet keeps you interested in the site. 
• Features: Kickstarter includes your own mail inbox for messages from contributors or other people. You're able to gain inspiration from other projects from the discover feature. A help page and a blog is provided on the top corner of the website to give you any resources or answer question you may have regarding Kickstarter.
• Recognition: Kickstarter has been featured through CNN, TIME, BBC, and Wired.
• Socio-Cultural: Kickstarter has a social network feel to it even though the platform is for funding. The website allows you to connect with so many different types of people and helps you build a fan base. (Malik, 2011)

Process

• During the process of gaining funding from Kickstarter you must have your idea formed and ready to show. The best way of getting your idea understood is by making a video of yourself to give your audience something to connect to. Promote your kickstarter campaign on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Set a goal for when you need the funding for your project as well as how much you want to achieve. You will also need to come up with some type of rewards for your contributors so they receive some sort of incentive for donating money to your project. The rewards can be big or small, but you will need at least 1 or 2 for the people who decide to help you out. 

Success

• Many people have gained a lot of success and funding from Kickstarter. Over millions of dollars have been donated to thousands of projects pitched. A new hit web-series, 'Awkward Black Girl' received over $60,000 from their funding campaign. 

Pros & Cons

• Pros: Kickstarter is one of the easiest ways to reach multiple people and pitch your idea. The amount you can receive is unlimited, all it takes is a great idea that encourages people to want to help donate. If you exceed your funding goal, you can still receive any extra money given. 
• Cons: If you don't reach your funding goal by the deadline, even if its $1 short, you don't receive any of the money that was donated. All the money donated will be turned over once the entire campaign deadline is reached.

Competitors

• A similar website to Kickstarter is Indiegogo. Indiegogo is the largest funding platform website. Indiegogo allows you to keep all of the money that you raise even if you don't meet your funding goal, but with a higher percentage cut. If you reach your goal, you must pay Indiegogo 4%. If you don't reach your goal, you have to pay 9% to Indiegogo. Indiegogo is used by over millions of people all over the world and considered to be a very successful website. The site is extremely similar to Kickstarter, but with a few minor changes. Check out Indiegogo here: Indiegogo

Start your campaign for your wonderful projects today! Don't let money become an issue, because if there's a will, there's a way. Visit www.kickstarter.com or www.indiegogo.com

References:
Malik, O. (2011, May 25). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://gigaom.com/2011/05/25/why-kickstarter-works/

How would you like to publish or distribute your own film/web series/tv show?
Times have changed so much when it comes to getting yourself out there. Filmmakers are almost able to create anything, from 3D movies to getting their film shown all over the world. Did you know that now you can self distribute your own films? A great website to check out is CreateSpace. It's a publishing/distribution website that's owned by Amazon which allows you to distribute your films on Amazon. How awesome would it be to allow others to purchase your film and receive it as a DVD or Video on Demand? While viewing the website they've got everything from publishing books, music, and film, so there's more than one form of media to get out there. With CreateSpace you can be sure to keep track of your inventory with the option of being able to stream your own video. The greatest thing is that so many people use Amazon and that only leads to more exposure for you. Marketing your film can be tough, but CreateSpace also has a full resource center which provides excellent tips on how to market your film and get it out to the right audience. The cost for setting up your online account is completely free! Sure, you could use YouTube or Vimeo, but this is allowing for you to make money off of what you create without having to lift a finger. The CreateSpace Disc on Demand feature reduces the risk of delay in inventory and spikes in demand or product shortfall. The Disc on Demand feature also allows you to get your films out in the market before hitting other retailers. There are some excellent tv shows and films that don't get a chance to make it out on DVD because of the cost for DVD authoring and copies. CreateSpace reduces those costs and makes it affordable for you so that you can get your work seen and out there. If you list your work in their online catalog, it can increase greater availability to future customers. Last, but not least one of the greatest features CreateSpace has to offer is the ability to forecast sales and the likelihood of how much you'll need to spend according to your audience. CreateSpace is an excellent website to use if you're really serious about distributing your own film, tv show, etc. Visit www.createspace.com
References: CreateSpace. (n.d.). Createspace: Self publishing for books, music, film.. Retrieved from https://www.createspace.com/Special/Enterprise/Studio/index.jsp

     After listening to some of the legal podcasts posted in last week's post, I decided to review them and give my opinion of the podcasts. I gained some valuable information that I could apply to my own situations from each podcast. They all gave me something to think about concerning legal matters.


Review on Legal lens on 'The Descendants'
      This podcast took a while to get into, the main topic for nearly ten minutes was a discussion about games on Facebook and the success of its new platform. The film, The Descendants stars George Clooney in a story about heirs taking in an estate that lies on the coast of Hawaii. The film covers trust law and protection of property. According to the podcast, the film is a great story that goes over the legal matters of inheriting property, wills, and things that often happen to families in similar situations. This is a great way to gain some insight of legal liabilities through watching a film.


Review on Controversy over cameras in court
         The supreme court has never allowed cameras in the court room, but lately controversy has begun to rise over cameras being used. Nancy, a speaker on this story mentioned that cameras could bring harm to court cases. Nancy mentioned how video clips can end up on YouTube or alter participants' behavior from feeling self-conscious. Another argument that came up, was that it is a public access type of court room and the public should be able to see it. Nancy mentioned that an audio recording should be enough in this case. Personally, I think it should be determined t the case type, participants, and the judge. Not all cases may need to necessarily be recorded. I can see Nancy's point of view, if the public audience has nothing to do with the decision of the case, is it really fair to use it for entertainment purposes?

Review of Making Out of Ashes
       September 11th was a very tragic event that all of America is well aware of. The fact that a documentary was done in honor of the victims is very honorable. It was very interesting to learn how the producers gained information from families involved in the 9/11 event. The creative side to filmmaking is always expressed, but learning about the legal aspects behind the scenes of the film is very important.  Homeland security was a very strong contributor to the story. The producer mentioned if it was okay to use the strong emotion in the film or if it was too much. Personally, I feel that emotion is the strongest key to a film.

All of these podcasts were on very different topics, but still surrounded the legal side of things whether it's an example law, using law in film, or how something as simple as cameras and media could spark possible lawsuits and controversy. Take a moment to review the podcasts from last week and give your opinion on them as well.

Here are some very helpful Podcasts I found dealing with the Entertainment/ Film Industry in the legal area. It is important to be informed in all aspects of film and legal matters are definitely apart of that. Enjoy the Podcasts below!
A Legal lens on 'The Descendants' Podcast : Listen to this Podcast!
Controversy over cameras used in supreme court :Listen to this Podcast!
Making of Out of the Ashes, this is a documentary funded by the government to support victims of those that lost loved ones in the 9/11 event. Get the legal background scoop of this story here: Listen to this Podcast!

Lawsuits in the Film Industry
Lawsuits happen all the time, but it's always more interesting when it's in the entertainment field open for everyone to probe. I have decided to get the scoop on a few interesting lawsuits dealing with three types of issues. All of these types of lawsuits can help you with figuring out how your legal agreements should go when dealing with your own production company or working for someone else.

1.  'Cowboys and Aliens', was released this past fall of 2011 and held an interesting concept. So interesting, that the true creator, Steven Busti, recognized the storyline came from a comic book he wrote back in 1994, 17 years before the movie was produced and released.  Steven Busti is suing the producers for copyright infringement as well as unspecified damages. Many people questioned if it was just a coincidence or if the producers really knew about the story prior to producing the film. Steven Busti stated that the comic book was featured in the Comic Shop News which also featured a story about Scott Rosenburg, who is the producer for the film. I feel that Steven has every right to sue for copyright infringement. Rosenburg could have simply asked for permission or given a share to Busti for using his concept or story. So far, no producers have responded to the lawsuit. Always protect yourself in situations like these, no matter how small you may view your idea, someone may think of it as a great stepping stone for something they want to create as well. View the story here: Busti vs. Producers of 'Cowboys and Aliens'
2. Ed Helms' stunt double claims a set accident caused brain injuries from the film 'Hangover 2'. Scott Mclean took on the role as a stunt double for Ed Helms in the film Hangover 2 which was released last summer. The film was shot in Bangkok, Thailand. Mclean was badly injured when a stunt went terribly wrong during a car accident scene. Mclean is suing Warner Brothers for a stunt where he had to lean out of a window of a moving truck. Another car lost control and resulted in a major collision.  The stunt coordinator changed the timing on everything which caused the accident to go wrong. Precision and timing is everything when it comes to serious stunts like these. Mclean suffered seizures, speech impediments, brain trauma, and physical impediments. I feel that Mclean has a good reason to sue Warner Bros. for the stunt that went wrong in a situation that could have turned fatal. When dealing with stunt doubles of your own it is important to have agreements, safety, and someone experienced in the medical field on set of shooting your film. View the story here: Ed Helms Stunt Double Sues Warner Bros.
3. George Lucas loses Star Wars copyright case at Supreme Court. The prop designer, Andrew Ainsworth, who created the helmets for the Stormtrooper sues George Lucas for being able to have right and freewill to sell his own replicas for what he created. The supreme court ruled that the director's copyright had been violated in the United States. Although some copyright materials were violated, the court continued to make the decision to allow Ainsworth to sell his replicas. In 2004, Lucasfilm stated that he violated intellectual property rights and has no right to sell them. Lucasfilm also stated Lucasfilm remains committed to aggressively protecting its intellectual property rights”-Lucasfilm. This is a tricky situation, with the film being so iconic any characters or products used in the film are highly noticeable if used elsewhere. At the same time, because the film has been around so long and everyone knows about it, what harm is it really doing by selling a particular costume replica. Also, Ainsworth created those, and without him they wouldn't exist to begin with. I understand both sides to this case, but I think it ended fairly. Always protect your creative content that you do for anyone other than yourself. View the story here: George Lucas loses some rights to Star Wars

References: 
TMZ Staff. (2011, December 1). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.tmz.com/2011/12/01/cowboys-and-aliens-lawsuit-copyright-infringement-comic-book/

TMZ Staff. (2011, August 31). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.tmz.com/2011/08/31/ed-helms-stunt-double-hangover-2-bangkok-thailand-brain-injuries/

BBC. (2011, July 27). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14287864

Although I'm always sharing help and tips for other filmmakers out there, I thought I would share some of my own work. Of course all of my work can be found at www.vimeo.com/lindseypressley. Here is my latest short film I re-edited due to my discontentment. This film was shot in May of 2011 in 6 days right before my graduation from undergraduate school. The first release was July 4th after finally receiving the software needed to edit the film( Final Cut Pro). As time went on, I thought 'I could make this so much better if i take my time.' So, that is what I decided to do. The second release was on Valentine's Day 2012. I received some very positive feedback on it and look forward to shooting the prequel over the summer titled, 'E-manic'. This film is about a stalking maintenance man and a girl who finds herself in a triangle of drama. Take a look at this month's inspirational film, 'Luv.Net'. I wrote the script a couple of years ago and used full creativity, because I didn't think I would be able to shoot it, in turn it actually did work out. I had no crew of a sort. I believe I had one production assistant for about two days of shooting, other than that I was on my own. I held the camera and got to directing. I felt I had full control and a little help could have worked, but I still managed to pull it off. Either way Enjoy!

Managing your own film production is a huge achievement, but it is also tons of work. Aside from all of the basics you learn about filmmaking and business, there's still tons more to know. One thing that you'll have to deal with is conflict. Dealing with a conflict in a film production will arise especially with a larger crew. Your actors will need to relax and be comfortable before performing. Going into a film production company with a positive attitude and knowing how to manage stress will help keep tension low.
      Usually, the film director is in charge of keeping a peaceful environment together. Here are some tips to help you manage your own film production company and help with others.

1. Give a motivational pep talk

• Before everyone starts to get into a frenzy of shooting, let everyone know how valuable they are. Give gratitude to everyone there and make sure everything is calm before starting.  

    2. Be direct

•  No one else is going to be able to read your mind, so stay as clear and direct as possible when giving instructions. Remain respectful but still show assertiveness when speaking. Send emails and reminders before meetings and shoots to keep everyone on the same page. A great way of communicating is to create a group on Facebook or using Google Groups, to keep everyone on the same page.

    3. Don't waste time

•  The biggest value to a filmmaker is time. Don't waste time on petty things that can be addressed later. Prioritize the most important things that need to be completed at that time.

      4. Stay cool

• Always remain cool, calm, and collected. Although you may feel comfortable with the crew and actors, but everyone will be keeping a close eye on how well you manage the set. You don't want anyone telling any prospective teammates that you're difficult to work with. (Joel, 2011)

       5. Treat everyone as a team

•  Everyone's role is very important. From the PA to the lead actor, everyone should apart of the team. When people feel they belong to a team they are more likely to value their position. Let everyone know how their role depends on others and vice versa. This will decrease the risk of people not showing up at the last minute.

**The last important tip is to always have back up plans ready, because  usually Murphy's law will show up.

References:

Joel. (2011, January 15). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.austinfilmmeet.com/resources2/how-to-manage-conflicts-in-the-film-production/

    Becoming a manager for an actor/actress can completely benefit you and the artist and numerous ways. Many artists are so creative they don't always know the effective ways of managing themselves or marketing their talent to stand out and succeed. The entertainment industry is a very tough field and getting out there and noticed is just half the battle. So what is an Artist Manager exactly? An artist manager is someone to help guide the artist in any way possible in such a way that they succeed. Here are some great tips to becoming a manager.
1. Experience and or education is key.
Artists want someone that is going to be able to handle the pressure and hold the knowledge of managing them well and knowing how to get them into fame. Gaining a Master's degree in business management or entertainment business can truly help in this situation. Finding local bands, actors, artists, or public figures and helping them establish their career can gain great experience.
2. Management Agreement
Creating a management agreement will only help the you and the artist to stay on track. If any disputes or complications arise, it's always beneficial to have it documented so both parties are able to review the rules and regulations. Management agreements are divided into eight major subject areas:
1. Appointment of Authority

•     Appointment Designation: This provision designates the manager to perform certain specific acts. It is important that the appointment decisions be made clear.
• Manager's Duties: All of what the manager is to do to help the artist should be laid out on the table and gone over multiple times. Here are a few key phrases used in the artist management world. 
•   To represent the artist as an adviser in all business negotiations. 
• To supervise professional engagements.
• To consult with employers in the entertainment and literary fields.
• To cooperate with and supervise relations with any booking and literary agents whom the manager may from time to time employ with the artist's consent.
•  Power of Attorney: A power of attorney is an instrument authorizing another person to act as one's agent or attorney.
• The Employment Agency Disclaimer: Many management agreements disclaim any duty to employment for the artist.

2. Management Compensation
 When the artist and manager have agreed on what the compensation to be paid for what the manager's services will be, many issues still need to be resolved. Many of the issues may include percentage base, time of payment, reimbursement of expenses,  and other matters connected with the term of the agreement.

• Establishing the Percentage Base: Once the management percentage has been established, after the form of compensation is utilized, the parties will need to determine the base of the percentage to apply. Most managers earn about 10-15% of the artist's income.
• Determining the Time of Payment: Determine when you as the manager will be getting paid. Time of payment may be monthly, quarterly, or semiannually.
• Reimbursement of Expenses: Normally a manager will be reimbursed for all of the direct expenses an artist needs. Depending on whether or not the artist's money is at stake, may determine a negotiation between the artist and the manager to where both are able to benefit. 

3. Exclusivity: Representation of the manager is very important. Usually the artist grants the manager an exclusive right of representation, but the manager is not obligated to the same provisions as the artist. The basic reason for this one-way type of exclusivity is to capture the unique talent of the artist. It's virtually impossible to duplicate the style and personality of another artist.

4.Terms, Options, and Extensions: The term of the manager agreement is important so both parties know how long they are obligated to abide by the rules set between the manager and the artist. Options should always be considered, because things change constantly and you don't want to feel trapped in a situation. Extensions are also helpful, a future project may arise and may take longer than expected and an extension may be needed.

5. Termination: No one wants to go through any type of termination or cancelling of anything. Everyone wants to hold strong and positive relationships to avoid negative emotions. While managers always hold hope and anticipation for their artist, goals and plans may not always stay up to par.
 (Frascogna, 2004)
Now that you're aware of some pretty important tips when becoming an artist manager or know what has to go in, you can get an idea if this is a job you think you may want to pursue.
What's the difference between an agent and a manager?
The difference is quite simple, an agent takes care of booking for shows, movies, etc. A manager oversees everything helps the artist succeed including contacting agents to help with booking.

Reference: Frascogna, X. (2004). This business of artist management. (4th ed., pp. 50-60). New York: Crown Publishing Group.

What do you love most about Photoshop besides making yourself look like you're in space with Tom Cruise? Well only the simple fact that you can retouch things, get rid of blemishes, and basically bring out that gorgeous supermodel underneath all of those flaws. It sucks that it can only be in pictures though, right?...... WRONG! Red Giant Software has created a great plugin for After Effects called Cosmo under the new magic bullet series. It can smooth out skin to make you look amazing and the best part is that it can be done on video!! Now you know that the real people in those music videos don't truly look all that great after all. Red Giant is selling it for only $99. which is a true steal! I got a chance to play with it myself and was pretty impressed. Check out this video to get an example of how it was used.

I came across this film yesterday just looking to see what people have created and I fell in love! The camera shots, the editing, the style, everything was beautiful and so simple yet so complex. The writer and director is Hilton Carter. This film made it into many great film festivals and I can see why! Please check this out to not only be inspired but to watch a beautiful story with barely any words.

Nuit Blanche is a gorgeous film that has absolutely no dialogue but is beautifully edited and holds some awesome visual effects! It was a finalist in last year's 2011 Vimeo Video Awards. Check it out for January's inspirational video of the month!
Click here for the Nuit Blanche video!