Sunday, December 14, 2014

Moving Forward. . .

As I press forward toward the realization of SpeakLifeTV I’m reminded of an old saying “anything that is worth having is worth working for.”  What started off as a great idea has, over time, grown into an entity that has a life of it’s own.  An entity that has it’s own share of problems, hurdles and obstacles that it must overcome in order to fully come to fruition.  One specific hurdle being licensing issues.

One of SpeakLifeTV’s shows is an animated series that is produced using a particular animation application.  In using this application, although the main characters are custom made, I’ve found that we are not permitted to use the character’s likeness on our store merchandise.  This is a pretty sizeable hurdle to jump and we are looking for creative ways around this particular rule while still remaining perfectly legal.
Making sure that all of our actions when building SpeakLifeTV are within our rights, and do not violate the rights of others, is one of our greatest missions.  We are seeking to create a positive, informative, channel and in order to do so, we must be careful to remain within copyright, and other governing, laws. 

Another concern that has presented itself is our means of DVD distribution.  Finding the right print-on-demand distributor that will allow us to keep the rights to our material has been sort of a treasure hunt.  I’ve found great aggregators that had all of the services that we required available at a moments notice and some that wanted to nearly own our content in order to print it.  Researching these types of businesses is valuable part of the building process of any type of new company that has self-publishing needs.  The best things to look for when choosing a distributor or aggregator are: 1) retention of your own publishing and copyrights, 2) provision of an ISBN or other descriptive cataloging number, 3) clear description of the royalties that you are entitled to.


 Keep in mind that it’s always best to read the fine print and find out all of the details before signing up with any company. Look for reviews to read, ask to see testimonials and always remember to ask loads of questions.  It’s better to know what you’re getting yourself into in advance than to find out down the road that you’re stuck with a company that you no longer have need of.

Sunday, November 2, 2014

The great joy of SpeakLifeTV!

In this day and age there are several different types of liabilities that plague companies like the one I am planning to create.  Not only will SpeakLifeTV be a web based “television” channel but we will also offer products for sale in our online store, daily giveaways and uncensored faith based, family friendly, programming.  Being able to offer all of these types of services will be a great benefit to SpeakLifeTV but they will not be without their challenges and obstacles.  The most important challenge that is of widespread concern is the new increased risk of data breaching,

            More and more, during the past few years, companies of every size on the spectrum have had data breaches.  Cyber hackers have done a number on companies such as Target, Home Depot and Staples making shoppers leery about using their credit and debit cards.  To combat this type of apprehension we will have secure purchasing that requires the customer to enter a CAPTCHA code before they are able to their purchase.  SpeakLifeTV will also not have the site store available on our mobile app to prevent accidental purchases.


            There are also two other areas of concern that faces SpeakLifeTV is our intention to host daily giveaways.  There are three types of giveaways, sweepstakes, contests and lotteries and each type comes with their own set of rules and regulations.  Not properly following them could “place your giveaway into the classification of illegal lottery.”  SpeakLifeTV will simply have participants enter their name and email address onto a provided form and submit it without asking for additional steps of criteria.  The second concern is media censorship.  Typical television shows that are broadcast over network and cable channels are governed by the rules and regulations set forth by the Federal Communications Commission.  These shows have to monitor their content, language and even the types of images that they can show.  Typical censorship laws will not bind SpeakLifeTV because we are an Internet based channel that governs itself.  Our site’s homepage will notify visitors of our faith based, religious and family friendly content so that those who may potentially be offended by our content will have the choice not to view it.  Our intention is to bring joy and to speak life into everyone’s day and not to offend or degrade in any way. 

Sunday, September 7, 2014

The Business of Negotiations. An Interview with Producer D. LAMAR. of Madison Music Group.


In the entertainment industry, it’s not uncommon for those of us who have started our own companies, from the ground up, to wear multiple hats.  The initial stages of owning and operating any type of Production Company, whether it’s music or film, can throw someone for a loop if they’re not versed in the art of business negotiation and how to make the best deals for themselves and those they represent.  I recently got the chance to interview the established music producer Dennis “D.LAMAR” Martin of Atlanta, Georgia to find out how he deals with deal making, negotiations and keeping up good relationships in a not so friendly industry.

D.LAMAR


D.LAMAR is the son of June Pace-Martin, a member of one of Gospel Music’s most influential groups, The Anointed Pace Sisters, and Pastor Dennis Martin Sr. One could definitely say that D.LAMAR was born into the entertainment industry, cut his teeth on many musical instruments and even earned his “acting chops” in the 2003 film “Fighting Temptations” starring Beyoncé and Cuba Gooding Jr. He’s produced hits with the industry megastar Teddy Riley and is currently expanding his own production company, Madison Music Group, LLC (which is named after his daughter Madison), to include more artists and increased artist representation.


SBE: Tell us about your company and any type of negotiations that you've had to make in order to get things accomplished?

D.LAMAR: My company Madison Music Group, LLC, is a Record Label based out of Atlanta, Georgia.  I've had to negotiate distribution deals, radio airplay, artist and producer contracts and the list goes on.  It's a constant grind and major everyday hustle! Negotiation is most important when owning any business but especially a record label. To ensure your company, and team’s, success you must negotiate with people that are already where you're trying to go and be willing to take help but make sure you're benefiting in the process.


SBE: Have you had instances where you have run into people who didn't "play fair" or who practiced "dirty tricks"?

D.LAMAR: I've had many relationships with Artist, Producers, and Label Executives that went sour because of bad business. If we can't negotiate and come to a mutual agreement, then there's no need for us to do business any longer. There comes a time when you have to know how to separate personal from business! If you don't make a separation between the two then your business will never be successful. So, in my experience with these kinds of individuals and situations the outcome has been a complete cutoff to all business endeavors with that individual and/or company.

SBE: Have you ever had a situation arise where you were close to the person you were conducting business with and things didn't go as planned?  If so, how did you separate the relationship that you had with the individual from the problem at hand in order to come to a mutual agreement and still keep the relationship in tact?

D.LAMAR: It's HARD doing business with people you've known for a long time because they feel entitled to a "hook up" or "discount" or a "freebie". I have had that problem several times and I had to wear my CEO hat, instead of the personal role, and in some cases, the relationship ended completely.  I had to understand that this is a business and if we can't govern ourselves accordingly then there's no need to even have a business. So be it a family member, a friend or whoever, if we can't do "Business" then we just need to keep it personal and leave business alone.


SBE: Would you say that you "drive a hard bargain" or that you are easy to deal with in terms of negotiations?

D.LAMAR: I'm very easy to negotiate with, just as long as the person I'm negotiating with is fair and reasonable. After all the purpose for starting your own business is to make a profit. So both parties have that agenda in mind when entering a negotiation. If we can see eye to eye and come to a common ground, I'm very easy to work with.

SBE: How do you handle deal making to insure that all parties benefit from the outcome?

D.LAMAR: I take a close look at what both parties have to offer. For instance, if I owned a candy production company and I need to get my candy to the public I would find a store that sold candy. The problem is a lot of stores sell candy, so what I would do is find a storeowner that doesn't sell candy and make my item an exclusive item at their store. That way if anyone wants candies at that store then my product is the only one being sold. So I'm bringing exclusive sales to the candy store along with a sales percentage. That's just an example of how you can make a partnership be beneficial to both parties.


SBE: What is it like working with Entertainment Industry greats like Teddy Riley?

Teddy Riley and D.LAMAR
D.LAMAR: It was an opportunity of a lifetime! Not everyone is as fortunate as I am to work with people such as Teddy Riley and various other Major Artist and Music Producers. I have learned so much from Teddy Riley on the business side of music and entertainment as well as pointers and advice on my production. God has truly favored me and I don't take any of my blessings for granted!

SBE: What is next for MMG?

MMG Artist LeLe Patrice
D.LAMAR: The next thing on the agenda for Madison Music Group MMG is dropping our first artist LeLe Patrice’s single "I Love You".  We haven't set a release date yet but be on the look out for it really soon. We're also looking for artist and music producers that want to be apart of MMG. We are a family at Madison Music Group and we want to see other people that have the drive and energy like us be successful!  





D.LAMAR and the rest of the Madison Music Group are definitely on the rise! There is currently a fundraiser on "GoFund Me" to help support the expansion of MMG where they’re seeking real music lovers who are willing to donate to the label to help them keep REAL MUSIC alive! This is the legacy that D. LAMAR wants to leave behind for his children, real music for real music lovers.

Friday, August 8, 2014

My Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Visit Hollywood.com

Recently, on my quest for more entertainment news, I stumbled upon Hollywood.com and became completely enamored!  It quickly became my “go-to” place for facts, and fun, concerning the entertainment industry and here is my list of why you should check it out:


1)   Site’s “ease of use”

I’m someone who HATES a cluttered website loaded with colors and music or commercials that start blasting out of nowhere.  Hollywood.com isn’t one of those sites.  Everything on the homepage is organized so that visitors can quickly access specific information or browse certain topics.  The on-site ads are not intrusive at all. Kudos for proper ad placement!


2)   The awesome “Movies” section!

The “Movies” tab has everything from upcoming movie trailers, movie reviews and satirical articles hailing a film’s shortcomings.  At the moment an article entitled “17 Reasons Anna Kendrick Would Make An Awesome Girlfriend” is trending on the site as well as an interesting review of the film “TheHundred-Foot Journey”.  The movie review titles are cleverly written and will make you either run toward the theater to see the film or to the hills to get away from them.  The articles are well written, factual and entertaining.



3)   It’s slightly “gossipy” but I like it!



4)   And the list goes on. . .

The “List” tab has 20 of the most diverse lists ever.  From “25 BiopicsEveryone Should See” to “Ranking Every Actor Who Has Played Hercules (fromWorst to Best)", this section has a movie list for every occasion.  For those who have a Netflix subscription there’s the “25 Shows You Must Add to Your Netflix Queue” list.  In the mood for a great romantic comedy? Try “The 20 Funniest Romantic Comedies of All Time”.  Want to relive the days of your youth?  Read “26 Movies that Defined Your Childhood”.  Have you been given a short life expectancy?  “The Ultimate MovieBucket List: Top 100 Movies of All Time” is the best choice for you!



5)   A Picture’s Worth A Thousand Words

The “Photos” section features a “Hot Photos of the Day” slideshow that shows celebrities doing everything from Miley Cyrus dog walking (she’s walking . . . while holding a dog . . . that counts right?) to Katy Perry in a “pizza-patterned onesie” (it’s strange, I know).  It’s always a boost to the regular Jane’s ego to see celebrities caught in candid moments, sans makeup, and in frumpy gym clothes.  It makes them seem more “real”, more human even, to those of us on the outside looking in.
 


            Hollywood.com gives you nearly everything you need to make an informative decision when selecting a great film.  If you’re the kind of person that likes to keep up on which movies are sweeping the BoxOffice, Hollywood.com lists the top 10 movies in the country and how much they’ve grossed to date.  The list is updated weekly and also included the number of theaters that show each movie.  Personally, I like to base my movie viewing on reviews, buzz and catchy trailers but, no matter how you like to get your current entertainment information, Hollywood.com is the place to go for it!

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Enlightenment via TED




I searched all over TED.com for a video that I felt particularly passionate enough towards to write about it. I skimmed over some, started and then stopped others but, found exactly what I was looking for in a video entitled “The Story of Ezra”.  The film’s creator Newton Aduaka presented the video. 

Newton Aduaka
Born in Eastern Nigeria during the Baifran war, Aduaka was raised in Lagos.  He graduated from the London International Film School in 1990 and established his own production company, Granite Film Works, seven years later. During the span of 2006 and 2007, Aduaka co-wrote, directed and executive produced “Ezra” which was his first non-independent funded film.

“Ezra” depicts the life of a child soldier, from Sierra Leone, kidnapped during the country’s civil war.  Struggling to return to a sense of normalcy after the war has ended, Ezra must undergo rehabilitation in efforts to help him become the boy he once was, while facing accusations of murder.  His sister, along with the rest of his village community, has implicated him as the murderer of their parents and mutilator of others.  “Ezra” is the story of so many children who lost not only their family during this war but their innocence as well.  Drugged, brainwashed, beaten and threatened into submission in order to become the youngest, and most dangerous, army that the country had ever seen.

During his presentation, Aduaka appears nervous, yet passionate, about “Ezra”.  He said that it feels like “he’s coming home” to talk about his accomplishments over the years.  He describes his body of work as “a handful of films, two feature films and a handful of short films” but we are reminded that it is not the quantity, but the quality, that counts in the end.  Aduaka presents “Ezra” with all the sentiment that a small child would present a handcrafted masterpiece to his mother.  He hopes that, because he crafted it with all of his heart, we will like it. 


“Ezra” was released in 2007 to mixed reviews but, in my opinion, those are the best types of films to see.   Called hard to followby the New York Times and difficult to watch on Indiewire.com, “Ezra” seems to be the kind of movie that people can’t watch because they don’t want to watch.  In this day and age most people would like to forget that these events ever happened.  If they happened in another country then, they don’t impact you.  If you can’t pronounce the names of the victims then, they become exotic, less of a human and more of an inanimate object. “Ezra” is precisely the movie everyone should watch so that they become aware of the world around them and the plights of other people.  Upon closing, Aduaka said “Africa should remember, so that we don’t go back here again.” I say, the world should know, so that we don’t repeat it.