I just received an email directed to all SAG members giving an updated report to contract negotiations with the AMPTP. The top headline is:
The AMPTP Wants to Use Excerpts From TV Shows and Motion Pictures Without Actor’s Consent on the Internet….And Beyond
New Media is one of the biggest issues in contract negotiations. The studios still don’t know how to monetize video on the internet and are still experimenting with ventures such as Hulu at the same time making deals with various online video distribution companies including Apple/iTunes/AppleTV. I know of these issues first hand as a web developer who used to manage FX Networks and helped to establish their online video distribution of their shows using Brightcove. The key question that needs to be answered before royalties can be paid to actors for “internet use” is how do you track and control video views and distribution? This can get pretty tricky. Using Brightcove, there are built in metrics but other distribution services may not have these tools. And who will keep the studios honest? In my experience I’ve seen metric numbers be “adjusted” in order for a studio marketing team to sell more ad space or get bigger budgets for their group, so who’s to watch the studios and keep them honest as to how much royalties to pay back to the artist based on internet “views”?
For the savvy actor, this is actually an exciting time. Forget the bickering between SAG, AFTRA and AMPTP. This is the age of opportunity and empowerment. It has never been easier or cheaper for actors to be seen by larger audiences other than the 99-seat theater. If you’ve paid any attention to the video revolution on the internet you will know of the publicity and opportunities non-actors have received from stupid videos on YouTube. Entrepreneurial actors are already online creating brands - monetizing their creative work and creating bigger opportunities. Just read this article:
Rise of the internet star…
So what are you doing to take charge of your acting career? Why are you sitting around waiting for your agent to call? Go out and create your opportunities.
Published on Thursday April 24, 2008 .
It’s been a long time since I’ve gone to a commercial print audition but tomorrow I will be going out for an IBM print job. I considered turning it down, but $1,500 for a 10 hour work day is actually more than I usually make doing freelance - so I figured why not?
Published on Thursday April 10, 2008 · Filed under: Announcements .
The top of my wishlist is to re-design this blog which I’ve neglected over the years. But in the meantime I’ve started another blog just for fun called “One Man’s Wishlist” which just lists stuff I’m interested in - from shoes to gadgets and everything in-between.
Published on Tuesday March 25, 2008 .
5k : 32.35min. I was able to shave 1min off my last run by sprinting for 10 seconds after walking. I’m still not able to run the entire 5k, but I’ve vastly improved since the Navy Seals Fitness Challenge where it took me almost 20min to cover 1.5 miles. I’m also trying to change my running style to become a fore-foot striker and incorporate Pose running techniques. So I’m running about a mile on my forefoot and the rest of the time mid-foot staying conscious of where my feet land (so that I don’t over-stride) and listening to the sound of my feet as they hit the ground so that my feet are light and I’m not creating unnecessary friction between me and the ground.
Published on Tuesday March 25, 2008 .
From Yahoo Answers:
It depends on your sex
High School Boys: 15’s are excellent
16s are great(STATE qualifying)
17s are good
18s are average
19s are not good
20s are “Do you even try or Are you injured?”
15min??? That’s a 5min/mile pace! Right now that seems impossible to achieve since I can’t even complete a 5k without walking some of the distance. My goal is sub-20min. Then I’ll enter my first 5k competition.
Published on Saturday March 22, 2008 .
5k : 33.37min. I just picked up the Nike+ iPod sensor to start timing my runs. Even though I’m wearing New Balance RC1001 I made it work by sticking the sensor under my front laces.
Published on Monday February 11, 2008 .
Here are my final results for the Navy Seals Fitness Challenge:
|
500m swim* |
Push-ups |
Sit-ups |
Pull-ups |
1.5 mile run |
| SEAL Competitive |
10:00 |
80 |
80 |
11 |
10:00 |
| SEAL Standard |
12:30 |
42 |
50 |
6 |
11:00 |
| ME |
13:36 |
55 |
64 |
7 |
19:36 |
*breast stroke or side-stroke only
Not too shabby since my only preparation was a 250m swim and 500m swim the previous week. My only complaint is that I was stuck in a swim lane with 2 slow swimmers ahead of me. I passed one guy but couldn’t get around the second guy which cost me making the SEAL standard time of 12:30. The running on the other hand, is something I knew I would have problems with. In the end, I was the last competitor on the track, but I didn’t care. I just wanted to complete the course no matter how long it took me. Plus, I have never run a 7min mile in my life - which is about the pace I would have needed to run in order to meet the standard. My running is awkward to begin with. I’m a total “heel-striker”, which according to my Google research, is the most bio-mechanically inefficient way to run. So I really need to work on my running. But overall I had a great time. I’ve caught the competition bug. Next stop, Ironman. 
Published on Saturday February 9, 2008 .
Published on Monday February 4, 2008 .
Last week I signed up for the Navy Seal Fitness Challenge. It’s a free event sponsored by the Navy to see if you can pass the initial fitness test for entrance into the Navy Seals. Everyone thinks I’m crazy especially since the event is next Saturday, but I think I have a chance. The Seal standards are: 500m breast-stroke / side-stroke swim in 12.30min, 42 push-ups, 50 sit-ups, 6 pull-ups, and a 1.5 mile run in 11min. It’s been years since I’ve swam laps, but I’m pretty confident in my swimming. I can complete 42 push-ups and 50 sit-ups without too much problem (and even without resting), but I’ve never been a good runner so the 1.5 mile run in 11min would be a problem for me. I’m going to hit the pool this week just to re-acclimate myself to the water. It’ll be fun to compete. I want to start competing in athletic events like this anyway so this will be a good introduction.
Published on Wednesday November 28, 2007 .
I’m burning the candle at both ends and in the middle. But I have nothing to complain about. This year has been incredible and I’ve been blessed with so many opportunities. I’ve got work raining down on me - and I’m not even talking about my day job. Unfortunately I’m not talking about acting either, but rather outside technology/internet projects. I can barely keep up. I feel I need to grab as many opportunities as I can while they exist ’cause ya never know what tomorrow will be like. Hollywood is quickly trying to converge into the digital/internet world and I’m a part of it in every aspect and from both ends of the business. It’s exciting albeit exhausting talking to so many people about so many different ideas, projects, opportunities. My own creative projects as actor and producer are also proving to have big possibilities - I just need the time to concentrate on them. At this point it’s a race to the new year as I have a couple projects I need to finish and deliver before Christmas all while taking care of holiday errands and doing XFlowsion (a high energy yoga/cardio) 4 times a week trying to reach my goal of 10% body fat by year’s end.
It’s amazing to think how much I’ve accomplished since the beginning of the year. I’ve been very blessed.