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 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 Friday October 5, 2007 · Filed under: Hollywood,
Life .
I just found out this morning that if you are a SAG member, you cannot
be an employee of SAG. I guess it’s a conflict of interest - but isn’t
the president of SAG a SAG member? I feel snubbed.
The job seemed cush - 32 hour work week + overtime managing, fixing, creating SAG web properties. But I would have to take an “honorable leave” from SAG in order to take the job.
So when the choice came up between a six figure job and my flailing acting career I chose: my flailing acting career cause you couldn’t pay me any amount of money to give up my dreams.
Plus, I already have a job at a company that doesn’t care that I’m an actor that goes on auditions from time to time.
Published on Wednesday July 11, 2007 · Filed under: Auditions,
Life .
It’s 2.40am. Tonight I answered some emails regarding some freelance web development work I’m in the middle of, then I did some initial MYSQL/PHP coding for this sweepstakes promotion website I need to have finished before the end of this week. I’m now in the middle of setting up subversion across our dev, staging and production machines, importing all the code and establishing a production workflow using subversion to deploy files across the machines. Tomorrow I have a commercial print shoot for McDonalds in the morning. I’m not sure what the usage of the photos will be for (billboard, product packaging, in-store ads, etc, etc) so I could be possibly be appearing in future McDonald ads, or on McDonald product packaging, whatever. I’m just grateful for the job and the chance to make new contacts. You know what they say in Hollywood - it’s who you know. After my commercial print shoot I have an audition for another commercial print gig. This would be for some dog medicine product. It’s all good. Auditions - print, commercial and theatrical have been non-existent this year, especially since my commercial agency dropped me last year. But that’s why I’ve been creating my own projects such as IT Gangsta. IT Gangsta is still evolving and I will be producing one, if not two new episodes this week. It’s just hard when you have to write the script, plan the shots, setup the camera, lights, shoot it, strike the set, digitize it, edit it, score it, then upload it and publicize it. But that’s what it takes to be on the cutting edge.
Published on Wednesday May 16, 2007 · Filed under: Technology .
Update: 10,000 Joost invites now available here: http://www.joost.com/presents/techcrunch/
If didn’t already know… convergence is the wave of the future - the merging of Hollywood and the Internet creating a new digital media landscape. Joost is the company/buzzword of the moment which was started by the lucky bastards who created and sold Skype to Ebay for a couple billion. Joost is TV on the internet delivered to your computer full-screen with added features such as instant messaging and search baked right in. Right now, Joost is still in beta and is invite only. But you can get your own invite right here. But they only have 20,000 invites so you better click the link right now.
I’ll be trying it out on my MacBook Pro tonight.
Published on Wednesday September 20, 2006 .
Sunday we had a substitute teacher come in and coach our scene study class. Just like in high-school, a lot of people didn’t show up for class because there was a substitute. Unfortunately for them, they missed out on a great class. Diane, our guest teacher, spent at least an hour talking about the key to having a career as an actor. The secret: know thyself. Know your type, know your personality and the aura you project. Know what your character handle is in real life and use your personality and real life idiosyncrisies to permeate in your work. That is what will make you stand out from the crowd. Don’t try to be somebody else. Be confident in who you are and what you have to offer as an actor. She gave examples such as Bill Macy and Philip Seymore Hoffman who you wouldn’t of ever thought of leading actors at first look, but then they created great careers by creating great characters.
This was a great lecture and something I really neded to hear and reinforce in my mind. Diane even spent the time asking each of us what roles we are most commonly sent out for and if we feel we match those roles. I told her how when I was “younger” I was also sent out for a lot of asian gangster roles but never booked any of them. She said that just by talking to me in person she could see that I am definitely not a gangster type. She said I project more of an Asian Carey Grant (who would’ve thought? Not I). I guess this would also match Tom’s comments of how I have this bit of sophistication about me. Honestly, I would’ve never said these things about myself, but how enlightening. What’s even more interesting is that I brought in a comedic monologue I wrote dealing with the struggle of self identity. How ironic.
Today I drove into Hollywood for CBS Showcase auditions and as I approached the casting office I noticed a big sign on the door “CBS Showcase Auditions are Next Week Not Today”. So I immediately called my agent who verified this. Oh well. At least I know that I can prepare a monologue very quickly.
Published on Wednesday January 25, 2006 · Filed under: Acting,
Goals,
Life .
At the beginning of this year I had set a couple of goals for my acting career:
· Land a guest starring role on a prime time network tv show
· Land a supporting role in a major motion picture film
· Land a lead role in a feature length, high visibility indie film
· Get a manager who can help jump start my career
These goals seem pretty high especially since I can’t even remember the last time my agency sent me out for a theatrical audition. (ok I lie, it was last summer for a guest starring spot on Malcolm in the Middle) I’ve been really wanting to find a way to “make things happen”, to make that permanent transition from the office cubicle to the movie set. Anthony Robbins has been telling me for weeks that if I really focus and meditate on my goals I could make it happen. Just as he did with his own life in creating his motivational empire.
So for these past 2 weeks my mind has gone into over-time trying to devise ways to accomplish my goals and dreams - from becoming financially independent, to becoming that award winning actor I see in my mind. And I have come up with a few crazy ideas that just might work.
One of them is happening right now.
I decided to put myself on eBay and auction my acting skills to the highest bidder who would put me in a TV show or feature film. To up the ante I decided to donate the proceeds of the auction to charity. Crazy huh? I intended to just post the listing and leave it to “fate” to see if anything happened, but I started getting a lot of positive feedback from friends and family. They said I needed to get this in the press. So I started tweaking the listing and doing guerrilla PR by sending the link to various blogs and news sites. I started getting more hits and H urged me to send out a press release. I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to spend $500+ on an official press release and distribution but then I found www.prfactory.org who would write and distribute my press release for $179. So that’s where it’s at now. An official press release is being drafted and will be sent out in a couple of days. Steve McCardell, the man behind PR Factory even mentioned how much he liked the idea.
So maybe I have something here? The chance to score an additional 15min of fame which if used properly, could jump start my career? I dunno. At the moment I have 198 hits on my ebay page but 0 bids. It’s a chance. But that’s all I need.
Published on Wednesday January 25, 2006 .
UPDATE: I now have an official press release that I will be sending through the newswire and to different media outlets. The bad news is that PRWeb has rejected the press release stating that they no longer publish stories dealing with ebay auctions. I think this is a load of BS because if you search the PRWeb site for recent press releases concerning Ebay, it will turn up several articles within the last few days. In the meantime, I will be submitting the news release through eworldwire.com.
At the beginning of this year I had set a couple of goals for my acting career:
· Land a guest starring role on a prime time network tv show
· Land a supporting role in a major motion picture film
· Land a lead role in a feature length, high visibility indie film
· Get a manager who can help jump start my career
These goals seem pretty high especially since I can’t even remember the last time my agency sent me out for a theatrical audition. (ok I lie, it was last summer for a guest starring spot on Malcolm in the Middle) I’ve been really wanting to find a way to “make things happen”, to make that permanent transition from the office cubicle to the movie set. Anthony Robbins has been telling me for weeks that if I really focus and meditate on my goals I could make it happen. Just as he did with his own life in creating his motivational empire.
So for these past 2 weeks my mind has gone into over-time trying to devise ways to accomplish my goals and dreams - from becoming financially independent, to becoming that award winning actor I see in my mind. And I have come up with a few crazy ideas that just might work.
One of them is happening right now.
I decided to put myself on eBay and auction my acting skills to the highest bidder who would put me in a TV show or feature film. To up the ante I decided to donate the proceeds of the auction to charity. Crazy huh? I intended to just post the listing and leave it to “fate” to see if anything happened, but I started getting a lot of positive feedback from friends and family. They said I needed to get this in the press. So I started tweaking the listing and doing guerrilla PR by sending the link to various blogs and news sites. I started getting more hits and H urged me to send out a press release. I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to spend $500+ on an official press release and distribution but then I found www.prfactory.org who would write and distribute my press release for $179. So that’s where it’s at now. An official press release is being drafted and will be sent out in a couple of days. Steve McCardell, the man behind PR Factory even mentioned how much he liked the idea.
So maybe I have something here? The chance to score an additional 15min of fame which if used properly, could jump start my career? It’s a chance. But that’s all I need.
Published on Sunday January 1, 2006 .
Woke up at 7am today, walked the dog for 20min, went to the gym, walked around the block for another 20min waiting for the gym to open, did 90lbs on the sled for 12/10/8/6 slow reps, jumped on the hack squat machine did 90lbs for 12/10/8/6 slow reps, put two 25lb plates on a bar and did 2 reps of 8 squats, then ended with a 10min walk around the block. Now I’m hurting.
I also continued my workbook from Tony Robbins site. I’m setting a lot of big goals for myself this year. Now I have to start by creating a ritual for success. My problem is that in the mornings I have a hard time getting up, so I’m going to try drinking coffee first thing to get my brain in motion and get my butt in the gym. I’m also going to really work on instilling confidence in myself.
My foot is off the starting block and I can feel the momentum. Ain’t nothing gonna break my stride, Ain’t nothing gonna slow me down.
Published on Wednesday December 28, 2005 .
If I were to pick a model for success Robert Rodriguez would be at the top of my list. According to the new Jan/Feb 2006 Men’s Health article “Take It From Me”, Robert Rodriguez has it all:
In 1992 he parlayed his $7k indie movie “El Mariachi” into a succssful and very lucrative Directing career and production studio.
He is both creative and highly technical, he can do it all, he’s a jack of all trades
His high tech Troublemaker Studios is also his residence and he lives outside Hollywood
He successfully balances work and home life - his wife produces with him and his kids collaborate crreatively
He’s always creating
He lives, works and thinks outside the box
He says, “There are no limits except for the ones you create for yourself”
He’s achieved my top goals: creative freedom and financial freedom. He’s turned his “work” into “play”, he balances his family and work and he’s his own boss. Now that’s success.