Tag Archive for 'Projects'

I’ve Taken It Upon Myself

Published
by
Anthony Thompson
on November 25, 2008
in Interesting, Media, Movies, Podcasts, Projects, Social Networking, Technology, Television and future
. Comments

Yesterday, on Twitter, I made the comment that I didn’t think broadcasting was a good move.  Today, I’ve changed my tune.  I’ve decided that moving on with broadcasting and film making is an excellent choice.  There are two things I have to take into consideration first.

One, I can’t expect to get any of my shows or movies picked up by a large company.  Those days are over.  Big production studios don’t want to spend the time or money funding your movie, its too risky.  You have to distribute yourself.  That leads me to point two.

Embrace technology.  That is the only way an up and coming film maker can get ahead right now.  If you want to start a show, awesome.  Do it.  Give it to the local access TV station, but also put it online.  You have to use the Internet.  There are too many film makers afraid of the Internet and its pirates that the space is WIDE OPEN.  Joss Whedon proved that an online release can be done, can be successful, and can be profitable.

What I’m talking about is not marketing to the online demographic.  Make the movie or show YOU want to make and put online and where ever else.  Then, pimp yourself.  Make yourself known to everyone.  Just do it.  If you don’t embrace the future of broadcasting right now, you will be left in the dust and you will be behind.  Understanding the online space and utilizing it will be your greatest asset.  Just wait and see.

I do admit.  It might take a while to get up and running.  It might take some time to get popular.  Just keep on doing the show.  Keep making movies.  Be smart about it.  Gary Vaynerchuk always says if you release good content, the rest of the work will be done for you.

I’m going to be starting a show very soon that will help you guys start your online projects.  It still doesn’t have a name, but if you do a podcast, a weekly show, an independent film, anything that you create out of your own money, sweat, and tears, I want to hear about it and I want to talk to you about it on my show.  Go ahead and get a hold of me and lets talk.  Just take a look to the right over there and use any of those social networks, email me, or use the contact tab.

Traffic Gazing

Published
by
Anthony Thompson
on November 8, 2008
in Projects, Site Dev and future
. Comments

I just took a look at the traffic on this site and it is abysmal.  Not to be surprised as I haven’t updated with anything interesting in a long while.  Not to worry, however, I am in the process of finalizing the list of equipment I need and will so be in possession of a lot of it.  Pretty much the only thing I need is some sort of shotgun microphone.  Still debating on various models.  When all is said and done, you will get to watch me talk rather than read me talk.  Fun, right?

So, at least every Sunday, I vow to write something about Film, Film Gadgets, or just being a Film Geek.  Kinda goes with the theme I’ve set up with the title of this blog, I think.  For example, I already know I will talk about HDV and VTRs and what to be careful of on Sunday.  Don’t worry, I’ll explain some stuff.  So, if you are at least semi-interested in that, fire up your favorite RSS reader and subscribe here.  Well, it’s over to your right… there, where it says “Subscribe in a reader.”  Good, you found it.

I’m off to bed now.  Peace.

Anthony Thompson
Twitter - @moogaman

New Project(s)

Published
by
Anthony Thompson
on October 25, 2008
in Media, Movies, News and Projects
. Comments

There are a lot of very exciting new opportunities on the rise.

Last Wednesday, the IFC in Kansas City (forgive their website) held a seminar given by the Angry Film Maker, Kelley Baker.  The seminar was about distributing your films.  Not finding a company that doesn’t give a shit about you, but actually doing the work yourself to get your movies out to the public.

The process involves a lot of Gary Vaynerchuk’s principles in relation to the Personal Brand concept.  Having an online presence gives you a HUGE advantage if you want to start making money from your films.  The whole concept behind self-distribution is talking to people, being a brand, and maintaining ownership of your content.

After the meeting, Jerry and I were talking about the projects we are working on.  We started with the horror short we are (hopefully) shooting this weekend.  It is an awesome script, if I do say so myself, which I would hope I do, because I wrote it.

Then thought turned to the longer horror we’ve been working on since July.  We still don’t have a script, but we are getting closer and closer.  We have some pretty cool ideas, but nothing solid from any of the writers we’ve given the concept.

Regardless, Jerry and I have decided that we are probably going to try to get at least a little cash from this project.  We plan on showing it at UCM’s campus, if they let us, and giving a Q&A afterwards.  To me, there is something very compelling about two student film makers talking to students who want to be film makers or are interested.  It could be an inspiration and a wake-up call to a lot of students who think that taking classes will be enough to be marketable in Broadcasting and/or Film.

Another project I’m working on is a show about independent film.  It will be a simple, one camera show, where I will talk about independent film and independent film makers.  I would love to have film makers send me trailers of their films for me to show.  I would even like to be sent screeners of the films and review them on the show if the film maker so wishes.  Of course, I would give my review, good or bad.  There’s a lot more, logistically, that I need to work on, but that’s the bare bones of the project.

As you can see, some really exciting stuff is starting to come together.  In addition to the art auction project, I am really excited about everything that is coming together.

WL.TV Spoof!

Published
by
Anthony Thompson
on May 28, 2008
in Funny, Interesting, Media, Podcasts, Projects and future
. Comments

Sometime in mid-June, Gary Vaynerchuk of Winelibrary TV will announce a contest to spoof his show.  Apparently the prize for which will be sick (his words, not mine).  You may ask, if he going to annouce the competition, how do I know about it?  Well, he pseudo announced it today (05/28/08) on his show.  It was real quick, you have to keep an ear for it.

I know several of you out there, specifically those Lexy and I spend many of our weekends with, would find this kind of project fun.  So, if you guys want to help write, shoot, whatever this, give me a shout and we will get this done and produce the BEST WL.TV spoof on the net, ever.

One More Audio Project

Published
by
Anthony Thompson
on April 28, 2008
in Projects and School
. Comments

This is the last audio project I have for you guys.  This is an 60 second Audible commercial.  Personally, it came out pretty good and the music in the back works.  Agree?  Disagree?  Tell me what I did right or what I should have done better.  I want your opinions, I do.

The music is “Westside” by pingnews.  I really like what it adds to my voice.  Kudos pingnews, you do good work.

Final Animation Project

Published
by
Anthony Thompson
on April 28, 2008
in Projects and School
. Comments

Final as in the final assignment for my Multimedia II class, not final as in final ever.  The following embedded video is “Creepy Doll.”  It is based from the Jonathan Coulton song and has been properly accredited (I hope).  Please, let me know what you think, leave comments, give me feedback, share with your friends.  It would mean a lot.  Thanks for watching.


Creepy Doll from Anthony T. on Vimeo.

Another Project

Published
by
Anthony Thompson
on April 21, 2008
in Projects and School
. Comments

This is another project for my Audio I class.  We were assigned to do a 30 second commercial with music or sound effects.  I decided to go with music in the background.  It took a while, but I think the music I chose did an okay job.  I couldn’t really think of anything better that would have worked, but truthishly, I only looked for a little while this morning.

The rhythm of my speech turned out really good and I like the speed of delivery.  If I am wrong or you disagree, let me know.  I welcome criticism and use it to my own benefit.

The music is Untitled 4 by teru.  It was found on ccMixter.org.  There, that should fulfill the Attribution part of the CC license.  I realize the commercial is for a commercial company, but the use of the music won’t make me any money, so that should be okay in terms of non-commercial.

I believe I have been kicked

Published
by
Anthony Thompson
on March 21, 2008
in Media, Podcasts, Self Realization and Technology
. Comments

Gary Vaynerchuk has just kicked me in the pants of my brain. Does that make any sense? Nah, but the visualization works, right? Well, watch this video and we shall discuss.

Ok, so what did you think? Not bad, eh? It is a great philosophy if not a little… self-sacrificing? I don’t know. Maybe because I have been so me-centric that I see all of the ways that people could take advantage of you using the 80/20 Rule. Then again, if you do that with most everyone you have a relationship with, it would probably balance itself out. Some would give you back that 20 (maybe less), but others would give back upwards of 80 right back to you. Then you have about an overall 50/50 return on your relationships. Makes sense to my fancy brain.

As I watch/listen to more and more podcasts, my creative side starts yelling at me to do something. Creating and distributing a podcast would be a great experience and I think a fantastic opportunity to really reveal my view on a lot of issues. I’m not talking political-type stuff, but how I feel about video game companies, tech companies, whatever, and their moves into the market. The problem is that my interests lie in so many different areas that condensing them all into one show would be difficult. Then that begs the idea. Should I create a network like TWiT or Revision3? Have many shows that are each about their own little thing? Then if I decide to go ahead and produce a podcast, where do I get the money for bandwidth and production? Though, I could definitely host it on sites like YouTube, Viddler, or Revver until the show gets popular enough (ha) that advertising can pay for the bandwidth for a site.

Then again. Why don’t I just do it? Of course, I need to evaluate why I would be doing this. Am I doing it for me? Just to see if I can? Shouldn’t I be producing a show more for those people who would be watching it than for myself? In that case, what could I give to the internet community? Of course, I would be giving myself to them, but there needs to be more than that. There needs to be something about the show that provides the viewers or listeners with something they either can’t or wouldn’t want to get any where else. Gary is right, the fact that there are people that visit your blog out of the billions of awesome minds, ideas, and content on the web is pretty dope.

If I decide to go into the podcast producing arena, I will need partners. Some of you have already expressed interest in this, but I am getting closer and closer to an actual want and desire to get this project started. Who wants to be on this train?