Week 6 EOC: How do I see my role starting in the industry?

When I think about breaking into the industry, the path that will get me there will most certainly be built on relationships and exposure. No one will see you in the dark, unless you shine a light, or unless you were born with incredible night vision.

As I plan ahead in my mind, I see myself working the independent business owner circuit providing digital media services to help expand their businesses. On my own time, I would like to produce a few shorts of different genres. Ideally, I would have complete creative control and use all my skills to create the projects.

It would be amazing to gain exposure through an original work and become famous overnight. But, realistically, I think that I will have to stay in touch with the technology, fellow creators, and social networking sites to get my work out there.

I think that it is fair to say that I will have to take some chances. It is easier to do it now as a no name industry professional than to be a famous somebody and risk that that chance you took may not come out in your favor.

Lastly, I also have come to the conclusion that I have to be an active part in my media creations. I need to maintain dignity about my work and pride. Now that I am ending my school days and stepping into my days as an industry professional, I want nothing more than to produce the kind of work that I can be proud of.

Week 5 Photo Challenge: Directors Chair

This was an interesting challenge. I would consider myself a pretty knowledgeable user when it comes to Photoshop. I spent a long time looking for the right chair to use. I wasn’t sure what I was going for but I went through about 50 chairs until I came across five that I liked. Two of them had watermarks so that narrowed it down to three.

One was all white and very modern looking. That was my favorite but it technically was not a director’s chair. It was just a part of an ultra sleek furniture collection but if I was picking out a directors chair… that would be the one I would pick. I would definitely buy that for the house if it weren’t so expensive.

The final two were your average wood frame and canvas back material chairs. One was blue and the other was black. They were almost identical. I went with the blue one since it happens to be my favorite color.

Next was the photo. I had a friend take a few close-ups of me and a few full body shots. I decided to use one of the close-ups because the way I was sitting in the other two posed a problem when cutting out the pictures.

I used the magnetic lasso tool to cut myself out of the background and cut it to a new layer. Then I was simply able to just hide the background. Luckily, the chair I used was on a white background but it wasn’t tall enough, so I just made a new layer that was taller and dropped the chair layer on top of it. Next, I dropped my self on top of the chair layer. After some resizing, cropping, and image finishing, I was done.

Week 5 EOC: Progress towards my Four Professional Contacts and Progress on Networking.

I never use to network. I did not realize how important it was and how often opportunities are handed out by it. I just thought it was a schmooze and booze fest. That may be true to some extent, but it actually is fun. Last summer, I was doing an event for my job and ended up talking to one of the Catering Directors at the venue. She told me that our company has been on the preferred vendors list at their resort for years and it was clear why. She said we always do a good job and are professional.

Right then and there, I realized something. It was not about schmoozing, in the grand scheme of things, but more about creating a connection to establish a relationship. I knew that if I wanted to be successful that I had to start building these relationships within the industry. So, whenever I was out with some friends and we talked to people, I tried to make a connection. I have made a few good ones. I met a few people who were interested in doing some commercials for the web and for presentations. I also met a few contacts in the hotels through friends that work in the casinos. I like to strategically show up when they are getting off and have them introduce me. So I am getting there. I have faith that I will have my contacts.

My father is opening up a restaurant in few weeks. This has been over a year’s time in progress. I decided that I wanted to be a part of the journey. I went with him on meetings and met some of his contacts. That is how I met three of the four required contacts for this class. I met his CPA, lawyer, and insurance agent. I briefly chatted with them about what I was going to school for and what my plans were after graduation. They told me to call them when I needed their services and I said I would. That last contact I needed was a banker and I did not have to look farther than my house. My roommate work at a bank and there you have it.

Week 4 Photo Challenge: Movie Poster

My sister is a graphic design artist. Her last year of college, she was inspired by mannequins. As she was driving home, if she a stray mannequin laying in the trash, she would rescue it. By the time graduation rolled around she had a whole extended family of them. It was quite bizarre. If you would open any door in her condo, there would be a mannequin staring at you. I jokingly said, "We're being attacked!"


The funniest thing was that we all (my sisters and I) waited for my mother to go to sleep and when she did, we planted the scariest one, the one in this poster, in the hallway. Figuring she would get up at some point to maybe go to the bathroom or get a drink of water, she would not have any indication of what was lying ahead of her as she rounded the corner in the hall.


Well, she did get up, and let me tell you…the shrillest scream I ever heard! She assaulted that mannequin like it stole her pocketbook! Hence, I said we have to do something with all these mannequins. They were just merely existing as decorations in her condo.


I snapped a few photos the last day I was in North Carolina and an idea occurred to me, a stop-motion film on people being attacked by mannequins. Short, simple and sweet. In between some dramatic cut scenes would take place to further the story-line along. I like the idea of taking something so ridiculous and having fun with it.

Week 4 EOC: Executive Summary

My concept for my business is to provide affordable Audio and Visual services. You do not need a million dollar budget to produce great, memorable, and professional media. A great testament to that is a new, innovative show titled, “Rhett and Link Commercial Kings.” They have a huge YouTube following and at the same time produce professional, creative, and entertaining videos.

It is true that the level of technology that is out there and available to the mass consumer market has created the buzz of becoming an industry pro with consumer products. The difference is knowing when and how to use them.

There is a market for my video and audio services throughout Las Vegas. There are a lot of independently owned businesses and there will always be a need for commercial production. This is a town that thrives on entertainment and events. That alone is another market. Videographers and audio technicians are in demand but for the right price. That is where I come in. I can provide some of the same services as the competing production companies using less expensive but equally functional equipment and at a better rate since the cost of me to start will be a lot lower comparatively to my competitors.

My immediate financial gain would be to turn a profit and be able to invest back into my business to meet my long-term goals, which would be to have several independent contractors and be able to provide full audio and visual services and be able to compete with my competitors on a more commercial level.

Week 3 Photo Challenge: Storyboard for a Commercial

I did a commercial, not too long ago, for an online cooking show titled “Ergo-Cuisine.” The message of the show was to convey to the audience that cooking does not have to be complicated for anyone to do it.

When I initially was coming up with the creative aspect for the shoot, my first idea was to put together a multi-cam shoot of several cooking segments and the commercial would consist of quick cuts, from segment to segment. The motto of the show is, “fun, fast, and for all.” The motto is the important selling point to the audience and I wanted to convey that viewer. I decided to do take that motto and integrate it into the video as text overlays. At the end, there would be a text animation of the show name and necessary information.

The shoot would take place in the chef’s own kitchen, to create a warm an inviting appeal for the viewer. Watching a chef cooking in a commercial kitchen on a cooking show sends an air of intimidation to the viewer. The average viewer does not have half the equipment of a commercial kitchen and the only commercial grade appliance they may own, more than likely, is a stove. I wanted to parallel the idea that, even though, the chef is classically trained, he goes home to a fairly typical kitchen as the typical viewer does.

It is important to bring out the message of the show and I believe that I captured it in its justice.

Week 3 EOC: Where are you now and where are you going?

A common thread in my life lately has been the, “life talks,” I have been having with my father. Now I am having them with my friends. It seems like we are all in the same point in out lives. We’ve all come down this winding road and are about to come to an intersection of paths. Prior to a year ago, I was not sure of what I would be doing or how I was going to get there. It occurred to me that I am going to have to take the pencil and draw my own way. Sure Career Services can be a tool, but it is ultimately up to me to make my professional career happen.

This past year, I have really tried to get my act together, professionally and financially. I started free-lancing. Some projects I do pro-bono hoping they will call me back every year and maybe in the future, they made need me for something else. I have also started doing projects outside of class to expand my demo reel. I am currently working on the beginning stages of a commercial for a new restaurant in town. My goal is to get my name out there and be in the position to always be working on something.

It would be nice to take all my work to next level. That requires capital. I do not have much of to spare at the moment. As the famous saying goes, “Life happened.” I am working towards being in a better financial position to advance my career. It is coming along. By next year, my goal is to only have one bill I am responsible for, and that is the almighty student loan.