Recent Projects from M Models and Talent Agency

With offices in Toronto and Calgary, M Models and Talent Agency helps find talent for a wide variety of roles in everything from print media campaigns to prime-time television shows. They work with models and actors of all ages, from children to adults, and they work with beginners as well as people who have already been featured in many ad campaigns or acting projects. In short, they are a respected agency made up of talent agents who have many years of experience in all aspects/genres of media.

Some of their most recent placements have involved campaigns for such famous names as Comcast, TRESseme, York Transit, Ford, Jordan, Tvo, Cineplex, and Nintendo. The Nintendo job was for a YouTube promotion that was broadcast live from the YouTube offices.

Some other recent jobs involved a music videos for The Weekend, Michael Buble, and the French artist Yao. Even more exciting was the job landed by M Models and Talent's client Thomas K. who landed a part on the Investigation Discovery show, Fear Thy Neighbor. And two clients, Christopher and Arya K., have recently been featured on the vampire-themed show, Shadow Hunters.

I've shared the link to the M Models blog before, but I just found out that they have an Instagram account, too. Check it out here. Whether you're a model or actor looking for work, or a casting director looking for talent, I think you'll find this Instagram feed to be a great source of inspiration. And be sure to visit http://www.mmodels.typepad.com for more detailed descriptions of the projects M Models and Talent Agency works on every day.

Meet Crystal Dayton, Graphic Designer and Photographer

Crystal Dayton is a passionate graphic designer from Toronto, Ontario. Her talents are varied with a predominant focus in graphic design and photography. She holds a diploma for the Visual and Creative Arts program at Sheridan College, and she currently works as a freelance graphic designer. She is a creative, reliable, hard-working designer who has helped businesses and individuals with professional designs.

Learn more about Crystal and her work by visiting crystaldayton.com and by checking out her blog and her Twitter feed.

1. How did you know you wanted to pursue a career as a designer?

I really always wanted to be a graphic designer, but I had people saying to me, "you should find a more stable job," so I listened. Then eventually I decided I need to do a job I love, and design is something I love. Also, I don't like the idea of a stable job; I like adventure, not knowing what's next. I know eventually my art will turn into a career. So I've had a lot of going back and forth with my career.

2. How does your creative work as a painter and photographer influence your perspective when doing design jobs?

My creative work as a painter influences my design work because instead of simply thinking more for appeal, I want to make something unique like a painting rather than just a design. My photography influences my designs because I usually add my photos to my designs.

3. Would you tell us a bit about some of the design projects you've especially enjoyed working on?

Lately I have been really enjoying designing logos. I find logos are really fun to make, and they require a lot of creativity. Also, I get to meet a lot of people who have their own businesses and sometimes even other artists. I really enjoyed making one logo in particular; it was for a graphic designer who wanted a logo for her graphics company called TaylorMade named after her son. She didn't know how to use the software so I designed it for her.

4. I see that you offer design services through your own website as well as through Fiverr.com. Are most of your clients local, or are you finding clients all over the world these days?

I just joined fiverr.com in October of 2016. I used to have my clients more locally, but now since I have joined several freelance sites, I am acquiring clients from all over the world.

5. What's your advice to someone who needs something like a logo or a book cover design and isn't a designer but wants to do it themselves instead of hiring a professional? What are the benefits of hiring a pro, and do you think the design services are actually more affordable than people might think?

If someone doesn't want to hire a pro to do it, I would suggest learning the programs, showing your design to other people to get feedback, looking into what kind of company you want to be because that should be portrayed in your design, and also reading up on design. The benefits of hiring a pro are it saves you the time to learn the software; the pro is already creative so you may get more options from them; and it's good to discuss what you want because it helps to brainstorm with another person. Services are usually more affordable than you would think; depending on what you want, for example, on Fiverr you can get a basic design for about $5, but if you want something more you may have to spend a little more.

Thanks, Crystal!

More with Mike Gagnon, Author and Artist

Mike Gagnon is a distinguished author and comic creator whose genre defying work has been featured in books, comics, film, and television. He's known for breaking the expected rules of genre, and he likes to use genres such as horror, scifi, and drama to explore common human experiences.

Last month, I interviewed Mike about his writing and art in general, and with particular emphasis on his new crime noir novel, Skidsville. Check out that interview here.

Mike has a lot of projects going, and today he answers a new set of questions, focusing on his satirical novella called Sex and the Circus. If you want to see samples of his work, you can also find him on Wattpad.

1. What inspired you to write Sex and the Circus?

Basically, it's my commentary on things I've observed in North American society. I wanted to tell a story of someone who must learn to assert and value themselves, while struggling with undeserved obligation. Patty is an amalgamation of several women I've known in my life, who I've often seen first hand, often struggling to help others without being appreciated for it. There are still a lot of women in modern society who go from home, to college or university, to marriage and may never assert themselves and create their own independent identity. In fact, the gender doesn't really matter that much. I think many men and women both struggle with some of these feelings and situations. I choose to write the story around the character of Patty, because I think that most people, male or female, will find it more relatable.

2. What are the challenges when it comes to writing a novella rather than a work with both writing and illustration?

I think the challenges mostly come from form and function. Some authors struggle with novella and short stories, whereas I am just the opposite. I don't believe in wasting the reader's time with unnecessary filler. I write a clear concise outline and then cut anything unnecessary or redundant. I don't believe every point I'm trying to make should be hammered into a reader's head 10 times. That's really the only reason that Sex and the Circus is a novella; it just didn't need to be larger than what it ended up being. When it comes to graphic novels, words and images together, the challenge is format learning how to write a properly formatted script and apply that knowledge. You must play film director in your head and not only tell the story, but describe gesture, body language, and facial expression in a way that is understood, especially if someone else is drawing it.

3.When you come up with an idea for a new book, how do you decide or know if it will use words or visual artwork or both?

My roots are in comics and graphic novels, and I'll always love them, but, for me at least, the process of producing a comic is more expensive and time consuming than a novel. Every idea I have, I get a feeling very early on as to whether the concept would be better suited to novel or graphic novel format. Many ideas would work for both, so I'll make a judgement call based on scheduling and time constraints. If I know my schedule doesn't have room to complete an illustrated graphic novel, I'll produce it as a novel first, and then revisit the concept when I have time in my schedule to illustrate it or gather a couple of people to help produce it. There are some projects I just see as comics, and those, I'm holding on to for now in the hopes that I'll get time to draw them, but they may end up seeing life as novels or novellas first.

4. In writing a satire, how do you strike a balance between being funny and possibly going too far?

I live by a rule used by many comedians. There is no too far. Just when you're at the edge where you're becoming apprehensive and uncomfortable, that's where you should be. If you're ever feeling uncomfortable while reading one of my stories, it's because I want you to. That scene was written to make the reader face something, or see something I'm trying to say. Often the message is that something isn't as scary as is commonly believed or that characters can make unexpected decisions that you could also make in your own life.

5. What have you been working on lately, and do you have any projects planned for the new year that you're especially looking forward to working on?

My next book is already in the bag. It's a story about abusive relationships and mental illness, and one of the characters happens to be a vampire. It's expected to release on Valentine's Day 2017. There will be more info about it released after the Christmas holidays. It's a full-length novel, and I'm really looking forward to releasing it and getting people's reactions. It's a close personal project, and I'm dying to tell people about it, but I can't yet. Of course, I love my characters in Sex and the Circus, too, and I believe the story carries a lot of important messages and life situations, humorous and dramatic, that readers will identify with. Also, I'm currently producing my next novel that will be coming out after that. It's going to be a statement about corruption in political and financial circles, told as a Western. I tend to gravitate mostly to genres of humor and horror, but I love all genres, so I make a concerted effort to switch things up with every book. I had had no shortage of horror concepts in the last couple years, but I don't want to perceived as a horror writer, but an author that can tackle anything. Because of that I purposely alternate between other genres, like drama, humor, true stories, western and sci-fi. I already have the concepts I'll be working on for the next couple years plotted out, so there will be a lot of fun and entertaining stories for me to share with readers over the next couple years, including a few horror stories. I'm really looking forward to the stories I will get to share in 2017.

Thanks again, Mike!

Meet David, Private Investigator and Translator

David is a licensed private investigator with experience in corporate investigations, missing persons, background investigations, unlisted phone number investigations, and email investigations just to name a few. He has experience working in Japan and the USA. He has access to US and Canadian databases. Japan has no databases, but he has methods and connections with that country.

He is also an experienced translator who can speak, read, and write Japanese fluently. He has translated several different kinds of documents including but not limited to legal documents, a computer game, and manga. His college degrees are Japanese (scored the highest on Jouyou Kanji Test), Criminal Justice (awarded most valued student), and TESL/TEFL.

In short, he will work hard until your work is done. Learn more at privatedetectiveagency.us.

1. How did you first get started working as a private investigator?

My father worked many years as an FBI agent. There was a lot of influence there. I did look into the FBI and CIA as possible career choices. However, I was disappointed to find out just how politicized government agencies can sometimes get. Politicians make shady deals at times, and government agencies get caught in the middle. I decided to create my own agency so I didn't have worry about any of that. Therefore, I majored in Criminal Justice while earning private investigation hours as an apprentice. After I graduated, I worked in a private investigation agency in Tokyo, Japan. Those hours added up, and I was able to receive an agency license for my own company.

2. We've seen lots of "private eyes" on TV and in the movies, but how does the reality of private investigation differ from the image portrayed in the media?

The media often confuses private investigation with police work. This misunderstanding is especially seen in Sherlock Holmes movies where he is working side by side with the police. It is good to have friends in law enforcement, but private investigators do not partner up with law enforcement every day. They do their job, and we do ours. I sometimes report illegal activity to the police when I find evidence of criminal activity, but that is about all there is with any "partnership."

We don't arrest people and if we do any criminal act, our license can be revoked. Television dramas often have private investigators picking locks and committing home invasions. This is an illegal act and is not done by any private investigator that wants to keep his license. Jessica Jones even pulled a fire alarm in a hotel and unlawfully detained a suspect. She would be arrested and her licensed revoked in the real world.

Private investigators are in the information business. We investigate and give information to our clients.

3. For people who have never hired an investigator before, what's your advice in terms of knowing when hiring someone would be helpful or productive?

The first thing you need to know is if they are licensed. Illegal agencies do exist, and I wouldn't recommend using one. Then you need to find out if they specialize in whatever it is you need to find out. I specialize in corporate investigations, background checks, missing persons, unlisted phone numbers, and email investigations for both the USA and Japan.

4. Does your work as a translator sometimes intersect with your investigation work?

Yes, it does. In Japan, I also translated legal documents and emails for the agency I was working for. It also intersects when the client is American and the case is in Japan or vice versa because I need to translate all the findings for the client.

5. What else would you like readers to know about you and the services you have available online?

I have a history with some very difficult cases and will work in an effective manner to get your case solved. My website is privatedetectiveagency.us. The website for my partner in Japan is yaminotantei.org. This means I have investigators on site in both countries. Clients may contact either one of us.

Thanks, David!

Meet Mike Gagnon, Author and Artist

Mike Gagnon is a professional author, illustrator, and instructor. He's been creating novels, comic books, and graphic novels since 2000 and has worked for companies such as Marvel and Dark Horse. He also teaches cartooning and writing classes for all age groups at various schools and colleges in Canada.

Mike's latest book is a crime noir called Skidsville. Learn more about him and his work by visiting http://www.gagnonwrites.com/, and see samples at https://www.wattpad.com/user/MikeGagnon.

1. Have you been interested in both writing and drawing since you were a kid--and when did you know you wanted to build a career in writing and illustrating?

I got into writing and drawing early on, especially at first. When I was about five, I discovered comic books. They grabbed my attention instantly and I had a passion for them. I started tracing characters into new stories and making my own. I was too young at the time to understand that I was also storytelling. I knew right away, from that early age, that I wanted to work in comics and creative ventures.

2. How did you come up with the idea for your latest book, Skidsville?

I wanted to tell a gritty crime story, but I wanted to tell it from a different perspective than usual. Most hardboiled crime noir features a protagonist that's a homicide investigator, or the stereotypical private eye. I wanted to take a look from the point of view of a criminal. He may be a bad guy, but readers can empathize to a certain point that he is a bad guy for the right reasons. As bad as Joey (the protagonist) is, he's nothing compared to the level of corruption and callousness of the antagonists that surround him. He's nickel and dime to the "real" criminals. There's some underlying themes I wanted to explore, basically the idea of a story without a "good guy," just various layers of "bad," but also that things and people are not always what they appear. The "hero" of a story may have to atone for their actions. I originally wrote it as a graphic novel script, but time and budget put it on pause for awhile. I did however get time to adapt it into a novel, which is the book I'm promoting now. Readers can find it at finer book retailers or their favorite online bookseller. Retailers can get it from Ingram Distribution.

3. What has influenced your definition of noir? Are there particular novels, comics, films, etc. that have especially inspired you?

There's a lot of things. Frank Miller's Sin City is a big one, Will Eisner's classic work on The Spirit, as well as the film adaptation. Bruce Willis movies, like Last Boy Scout, Die Hard, Last Man Standing. I'm currently working on the graphic novel version of Skidsville again. The graphic novel will be black, white and red, which may lead to some comparisons to Miller's Sin City work, but I don't think there's any similarity beyond that. I think Skidsville is its own thing. It's an idea, doing black, white and red, that I've had for a long time, before I discovered Sin City, but over time has grown into being also a nod, or homage, to Miller's work. There's also a pretty handy book I use in the classroom from time-to-time called How to Draw Noir Comics by Shawn Martinbrough.

4. What are some of the challenges for authors/artists in presenting visual work in an eBook format compared to print?

Well, let me tell you, it all depends on platform. eReading still isn't super image friendly, but there has been progress. Kindle, for example, has a comic creator, for creating and formatting comics for Kindle readers and apps. It can even allow you to set up panel-by-panel reading instead of page-by-page. It isn't perfect, mind you, and it can be a challenge when you want to set up reading for a page with a very dynamic or original layout to the art and panels, but it's better than nothing. Kindle has special creators for children's books and text books now, too, so they are recognizing the unique needs of each format. Comixology also works well and although it is now owned by Amazon, it seems to have a bit smoother system for panel-by-panel. Things like Smashwords can be great for getting your eBook distributed to multiple channels, but they still aren't set up and compatible with image heavy books in a lot of cases. DrivethruFiction/DrivethruComics is a good option for simply uploading a .pdf file that people can download and read.

The challenges are different for comics with print. In eBooks, you're struggling to make a sensible flow with panels and software programming to ensure readability, and with print you need to watch safe areas, margins, and bleeds so nothing important gets lost when the book is trimmed to its final size. The content is printed on larger paper and then cut to size, so if your pages aren't sized or aligned right, you can lose parts of your art that you didn't want to.

5. As someone who also works as a teacher, what's your best advice to those who want to learn to write and/or illustrate comics and graphic novels?

Never stop learning and never fear failure. We get obsessed and worried about our image in this modern social media age. Share your work and make mistakes. No one is perfect, and making mistakes is how you learn and improve. There will always be people who are just mean and comment and don't like your work. It will always be. Ignore them, they're not worth it. Understand that not everything is for everyone. Some people don't like crime noir stories. That's fine. It doesn't make them, or me, right or wrong; they just have their own taste. For every book or drawing or comic, someone is going to like it and get what you're trying to say. That's who it was for, the people who get it and enjoy it.

There are also some great and helpful books out there for people to help them get started in all aspects of comics and writing: The DC Comics Guide to Writing for Comics by Dennis O’Neill, Making Comics by Scott McCloud, The Business of Comics by Lurene Haines, Perspective: Made Easy by Robert Lee, and a ton more. You can find more books that I recommend as well as my own books and articles on the subject at www.mikegagnon.ca.

Thanks, Mike!

Meet Asif Zamir, Toronto Business Consultant

Asif Zamir lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and started working to help support his family when he was around six years old. By the time he was a teenager, he had worked for several companies and also been self-employed. Over time, he began working as a consultant to help businesses succeed, with an emphasis on new, small businesses in the startup stage. He devotes much of his time to ministry and philanthropic work.

Learn more about Asif by visiting AsifZamir.com.

1. When, as a young man, did you realize that you wanted to go into business for yourself?

When I was young, around age 6, I would sell candy door to door, and people would buy from me because I was cute. I liked the freedom of managing my finances and setting a schedule. At age 15, I dropped out of high school and started my own business consulting company. To be honest, I didn't have much of a choice; I had to drop out of high school and start a business because I was dirt poor for the majority of my life, and we were struggling to get by financially. So I took a chance at doing something more with my life than just getting by. It's not like traditional jobs were paying big money to teens back then, so I needed to start a business to have a shot at real money.

2. How do you choose the business ventures that you want to pursue?

When I was young and dumb; even 8 years ago it was all about the money, and that gave me nothing but heartache and stress. Now I think about my happiness and my relationship with the client. I'd like to make money, lots of money, but I'd also like to build a friendship. I'd like my client to reach or surpass their goal, but I'd also like to enjoy the entire process. If I can gain a friend, that's ideal, and if we can both make a lot of money, that's even more ideal.

3. What's your advice to other people who want to be self-employed but aren't sure where to invest their time and money?

My honest advice is to not be self-employed. Honestly, it's a lot of hard work before you reach your goals, usually 10 years. Most people can't handle this, and it destroys their marriage and self-esteem. If you understand this fact and still want to do it, have a vision for the long term. I see so many people fail because they think, "I'll start a business today and be successful tomorrow, and if not, then I'll quit!" And those people always fail every time. But people who have a vision for 10-20-30 years always succeed. Always. Take a look at any success story: the person worked for many years to achieve what they wanted. Go ahead and read 100 success stories online, and you'll see that it usually averages out to more than 10 years of hard work. People who think it takes a few weeks or months are mentally insane. Go ahead and invest in your education. If you're going into a business, know everything about that business. When I was 15, I read every book available in the library and bookstore. I find if people won't even read a book on a subject, they aren't really interested.

4. How do you find time to do all the philanthropic work that you do?

That's where my life gets tough. Typically people want financial freedom for the purpose of gaining time, and so I've gained time, and now I use up all my time by giving it away. It's tough for me to balance it out because everyone wants an hour, or a hundred people want ten minutes, and I'm learning to say no to a lot of people and a lot of invites. I try my best to take it as it comes to me. A few days ago I had a relaxing evening planned for myself but instead spent it visiting someone in the hospital who specifically requested my visit. I won't get another relaxing evening in for a while, but I'm trying my best to keep my life balanced; like I said it's a struggle for me.

5. What projects are you currently working on, both business and charitable endeavors?

I'm working on one of the most interesting business ideas ever with a lady who wanted to run errands for strangers. She's very rich now and has a full staff. I helped her set up her website, and draw up a plan and structure, and most importantly I helped her set realistic goals and gain her first 250 clients and hire her first employees. Gosh, she's basically more successful than me now. She charges anywhere from $50-$200/hour to do any errand for you. She's been asked to wait at a person's house for the cable man, to pretend to be a friend to an executive at a dinner, and everything in between; usually it's dropping off dry cleaning and picking up groceries, things along those lines. She makes a fortune, and I really enjoy this project; I'll be sad when my contract is finished.

I'm also participating in a beta-stage project which involves having churchwomen go to the streets, and paying prostitutes to attend church services so that they can connect with God, people, and social workers who will help them get out of the sex industry permanently. The project has been mostly successful, and I find that it's sustainable. Changing one life each week, helping one person at a time, it really adds up. Actually this one lady, she was really young when we met her in downtown Toronto years back, and she's graduated college now and you would never tell she worked the streets. She's brilliant and she's reaching her life goals.

Thanks, Asif!

M Model and Talent Agency in Canada

Since I last posted about M Model and Talent Agency, the models and actors who are represented by this well-respected Canadian talent firm have been busy appearing in a variety of print and film projects.

The firm's website is located at http://mmodels.ca, and whether you're looking for talent or want to become a model yourself, you can find useful information here. It gives a list of past clients, which include well-known media brands like MTV, Time, Discovery Channel, and Virgin Mobile. Other clients are the makers of popular products such as Mattel and Coca-Cola.

If you're looking for a model or are interested in working with M Models in any capacity, the best thing you can do is to contact them directly via email or phone. They also maintain a regularly updated blog at http://www.mmodels.typepad.com/ which shows their models and talent in action by sharing photos and clips from recent projects.

Over the summer, models from M Models have appeared in commercials for Sun Life Financial, programs on The Shopping Channel, advertising for TRESemme, and in an anti-racism campaign sponsored by the government of Ontario. I always enjoy visiting the M Models blog to see the variety of projects that they have helped people produce by connecting clients with quality talent. Their work also shows a commitment to diversity as they represent models of many ages and ethnicities.

Check out their site and blog to learn more about the good work they turn out month after month and year after year!

Meet Areeb Yasir, CEO of compevo communications

Areeb Yasir is the CEO of compevo communications and has driven compevo's strategic growth since 2001 in the IT and hosting markets.

1. Why did you decide to start compevo communications?

I've always wanted to be an entrepreneur and anticipated this move from a very young age. I think I've always been interested in the business world. Going into the IT world was only natural because I've been obsessed with computing and technology since I was a child.

2. How has your business developed since you started the company in 2001?

Honestly I started small; we started by selling CD-R discs and offering tech support and basic consulting and web development to the local Vancouver, Canada area. Within a few years, we grew with clients around the world while offering a variety of IT services, hosting and software products under our many brands from multiple parts of the world, with a focus on Asia.

3. Why has cloud hosting become so popular?

Cloud hosting has become popular because of changes in society, namely where everything we do is connected and on-line.

It is only a natural response that services to support this new way of living from personal to business would drive exponential growth in a short period of time. However, with the Cloud, I may be biased but there are also many pitfalls in terms of security, reliability, and privacy that most firms and individuals have not understood or addressed.

4. What are the benefits to your international customers of having your servers based in Canada?

In Canada we do not have the Patriot act, yet we are still quite neutral in terms of routing to the whole world, so we bring a lot of benefits of being close to the US with slightly less government oversight and intervention. Canada has proven itself a politically and economically stable country throughout many world events and the financial crisis of 2008, so many firms see value in working with a Canadian company. With that said, many of our clients opt to host their data in China or Russia for enhanced privacy, so long as their operations are within the legal framework of their respective countries.

5. I noticed that your personal website offers quite a variety of content related to software, hosting, and more. How do you choose what to share on areebyasir.com?

Quite honestly it is a bit of a toss-up. If I have time to get on the blog and I'm in the middle of something or just completed a task, a lot of times I just blog and document what I did. I think it's also important to humanize yourself and stay grounded. At the end of the day whether we work for ourselves or work for someone else, all jobs have their pros and cons.

A lot of people say to me, "it must be great to be your own boss," and I'll chuckle and explain that in some, if not most ways, it is like having a large amount of bosses with high expectations and tight deadlines--not to say I don't find it all thrilling, but it's important at least for me to remember compevo is only here because of our customers and our dedication and innovation to cutting edge, reliable IT services.

Thanks, Areeb!

Introducing Gabe K, Langley BC Realtor

Gabe Kadoranian is a real estate professional based in Langley, BC in Canada. He also serves Surrey BC, Cloverdale, White Rock, Delta, and Abbotsford. I've seen a lot of websites for real estate businesses, and his is one of the best as it is informative, offers lots of excellent pictures to let you see what properties are available, and gives you opportunities to gather more information for free (such as a free valuation to see what your house is worth on the current market). Check out his site at http://gabek.ca/.

Another nice feature of his site is that he has detailed sections for buyers and for sellers, and it's easy to contact him for more information and/or to get answers to any questions you might have about buying or selling a home in Langley.

A lot of people are looking to live in Langely because it's a great, quiet place for families and is ideal for commuting to Vancouver. You can find a wide variety of houses and condos, including both existing homes and new construction. The area has a strong economy and lots of shopping and amenities; plus it's a beautiful places with hundreds of acres of parks.

Gabe K has been working in real estate since 2009 and spent many years in the corporate field before that. He left his corporate career for real estate because he wanted the opportunity to work more directly with people and to give outstanding customer services to his clients. "When I discovered a career in real estate," he said, "I never looked back."

He puts a lot of emphasis on communication and building relationships. He invites potential clients to contact him any time and is always glad to sit down for a coffee and a chat about his favorite subject, real estate--or more accurately, the real estate goals of his clients.

Meet Leon Barnard, Inventor and Designer

The inventor and designer of ATRE Power Stations is Leon Barnard, who resides in Surrey, BC, Canada. Leon was a mechanical engineering technician who moved up the ranks to Commodity Manager for a Fortune 500 corporation.

His interests in development of the ATRE Power Station started after a purchase of solar panels which did not perform under short and dark winter days in BC, Canada. He wanted something that delivers power in all weather, 24 hours a day.

Leon is just launching an IndieGogo campaign to fund the production of an Earth Ambient Temperature Resistant Power Station. Learn more at https://www.indiegogo.com/at/ATRE.

Leon also has several videos posted on YouTube to give you more of an idea of how this green technology works.

1. For laypeople, could you tell us what Earth Ambient Temperature Resistant Electricity (ATRE) means?

If one to watch the video here at http://igg.me/at/ATRE, the crowdfunding campaign site, you can see how the ATRE Power Station uses earth metals shaped by design into an antenna-like array which is then brought into contact with the earth to "electrify" the small galvanic cells at the rate per surrounding temperature. If the temperature increases, the flow of electricity increases, and if temperatures drop, the opposing electron charges in the crystals increase. In each panel, we use batteries to control the resistance of voltage buildup, and from there we derived the name Earth Ambient Temperature Resistant Electricity.

2. What are the benefits of ATRE compared to the green energy sources of sun and wind power?

ATRE Power Stations use water as input source, a relatively free energy source. ATRE Panels produce an electrical current 24 hours a day, independent from sun, wind, or other energy inputs. ATRE Panels do not use oxidation as a process to charge electrons, making this a natural and emission-free source of power.

Since water is relatively "free," and the ATRE Power Station does not need "clean" water, this form of electricity is considered continuous and free.

3. How did you first come up with the idea for creating your battery design?

My experience with solar panels in BC, Canada on many short and dark rainy days during the long months of winter was disappointing, and it triggered my research to find an electrical source where sun and wind does not matter. I also had the criteria of emission-free power, and a natural and clean form of energy.

4. How big will the power station be, and do you know where it will be located?

The technology is absolutely scaleable, which means that laptop computers, cell phones, and other small equipment could potentially become self-powered with tiny ATRE Power Stations. For the purpose of the campaign fundraiser, the model proposed will be as large as a medium fridge that one would purchase at your local appliance store, but at least at half the cost of your fridge due to the simplicity of the technology used.

My plan is that the initial commercial unit will be purchased like a fridge, installed in a corner of a room, and plugged into the grid--and then you can immediately save on your energy bill. It's a plug and play type of technology.

5. Why did you decide to pursue a crowdfunding campaign for your project, and is there anything else you'd like readers to know about it?

The Indiegogo.com platform requires us to explain the use of the funds and the reasons for the crowdfunding campaign, so you can learn a lot more about it by visiting our page there. Anyone interested in this project can visit the site and watch the videos and visit links to other sites that display prototypes in action and illustrate the design progress for the commercial unit.

Thanks, Leon!

Meet Leonardo Pacheco, Intuitive Psychic Reader

Leonardo Pacheco has been one of the world's most highly respected and sought after intuitive psychic readers for over 25 years. He was born with an intuitive gift and shares this wonderful gift with others. He is described by people as intuitive, understanding, sympathetic, and very down to earth. He provides those that he counsels with a combination of insight and knowledge to make it a seamless and fulfilling experience.

Visit him online at www.LeonardoSousaPacheco.com. Below is a video testimonial from one of the people who has worked with him.

1. How did you first know that you had intuitive abilities?

I first realized that I had intuitive abilities when I was 12 years old. My cousins were planning a fishing trip one night, and I saw a vision of them on the boat and the boat tipping over and they drowned. I went to my mother and father and told them what I had seen and not to let my cousins go fishing. Being 12 years old nobody believed what I had said. Later that evening, my cousins did indeed go fishing and none ever returned as they had drowned in the ocean.

2. Over the years, have your abilities become stronger and/or more refined?

Yes, over the years, I have found that I have become better able to focus my abilities and hone in on what message is for the person I am giving the reading to. When you have a real psychic gift, it is very difficult to control. There are many times when I am out in public and sense things or get messages that are for the people standing around or brushing up against me. It makes it difficult for me because if I am standing next to someone and can see that they have an illness, have been abused, or a loved one that has passed on is trying to contact them, I can't say anything to them--it can be overwhelming at times. So, over the years, I have trained myself to try to only pay attention to these messages for the people that come to me for help.

3. Would you tell us a little bit about the meetings/sessions that you hold via video calling?

I do Skype video calls so that people that are not local to Toronto can still have access to me for help. On these types of calls, I ask them not to tell me anything about themselves and to simply let me tell them what I see and any messages that are being sent to me for them. This way, they can see that I am real, and it reassures them that what I am telling them is true because there is literally no other way for me to know it. A lot of times with fake psychics, they ask questions to gather information upfront to help with their readings. Someone with a real psychic gift does not need to probe people to be able to give them answers to their questions.

4. How do people generally implement the guidance you give them into their daily lives?

Most people that see me take my guidance and advice very seriously. I am not the person you want to see if you are looking for entertainment. I am the person you want to see if you need help and have questions you want answered. I can help you to see what is coming in your life, and if you want to change it, I can give you the guidance and tools needed to steer your life on the path you want it to go on.

5. What do you think is preventing people from being happy--and what can they do to become open to more happiness?

Not knowing the truth can prevent people from being happy. Many people wonder about things or have questions, and it can eat away at them--they need to seek out answers to the questions they have to put their mind at ease and get guidance.

It's important for those that come to me for help to know that I will not sugar-coat anything. I will tell them what I see, and it is up to them what they do with that information.

Thanks, Leonardo!

M Model and Talent Agency Review

M Model and Talent Agency is one of the hottest agencies in Canada. Their clients regularly find work in print ads as well as commercials, and a variety of companies come to them for their model/talent needs. In fact, if you want to find someone to hire or if you want to become a model, you can learn more by visiting the agency's website: http://www.mmodels.ca.

Models and actors represented by M Model and Talent have landed a lot of really interesting work recently. The agency is based in Toronto, and they pick up work both locally and nationally (and sometimes internationally, too!). Really they have worked with many very famous brands that are known all over the world.

Some of the latest gigs completed by models/talent from the agency include a Bank of Montreal commercial, a Jolly Rancher commercial, and a music video for a song by Future featuring Drake.

Here is a great example of some work done by two models from M Model and Talent. It's a commercial for Rogers Blue Jays Fathers Day promo.

The best place to keep up with the work done by talent represented by M Models is to follow their blog at http://www.mmodels.typepad.com.

Meet Matthew Hatt, Artist

Matthew Hatt is a former sous chef and Canadian outsider artist. His work can be seen hanging in all parts of the world. His art combines different styles and includes words that he thinks encourages the viewer to think. Check out his work on Instagram and Facebook.

1. I really like the textual aspect of your work. Why did you decide to include text in your paintings?

I think great art makes you think, and I starting adding text to create another level in my work. I wanted to create three "truths": my truth in what I am thinking in regards to the text, what the viewer reads into it, and what it actually means.

2. When you create a work, do you have the idea for the text before you start painting, or does the text occur to you as the visual part(s) of the piece comes together?

It all depends on the piece. Sometimes I create the visual first, and sometimes I know exactly what I am going to write before I start the visual. It all depends on the amount of time I can spend working on a piece at the time.

3. How did you find time to create your art when you were working elsewhere--and did you leave your job as a sous chef to be able to focus more your art?

I have always been creative and doodled and things like that. I worked for a sous chef for almost 15 years, but I had to give it up in 2006 when I was hospitalized for a mental illness. The kitchen was too stressful for me to return to. But then my Grandmother required a full time caregiver, and I stepped in. Been doing that ever since. I love it, and it gives me time to paint, when she doesn't need me.

4. What and/or who has influenced you as an artist?

Warhol, Maude Lewis and Basquiat. But mostly life. All the text in my paintings come from real life or some of my delusions.

5. What keeps you motivated to continue to create art?

It's basically an obsession. It's not something I could stop even if I wanted to. They are not all perfect, but it feeds my need to tell my "story."

Thanks, Matthew!

Meet Nick Sutherland, Entrepreneur

Nick Sutherland is a 17-year-old entrepreneur who started his business out of the basement of his home. He then grew it to what it is known today, and the company, HQC International, has warehouses globally.

1. What gave you the idea to start your own business?

Back in 2013, I took a high school business entrepreneur course, and I started up a small phone fixit business called CellFurb. While fixing phones, I soon realized that there were no phone part suppliers in Canada. I then began research on where I could find high quality parts and began to establish relationships with Chinese manufacturers. By late 2013, I came to the conclusion that I had found a market niche and began work on my new sole proprietorship business, HQCParts.

2. As a young person running a business out of your home, how did your family and friends respond?

As a young teenager running a business out of my home, my parents were very supportive and proud. As HQCParts grew, my mother used her own business knowledge to encourage and support me. My friends were customers of CellFurb and were very interested and supportive of my new business.

3. Do you sell spare parts to individuals doing DIY projects to repair their electronics, or do you only supply parts on a wholesale basis to retail repair shops?

We generally we supply to our wholesale customers but we do offer individual part sales on our website (ShopHQC.com).

4. What do you think were the key factors in your business growing from your basement to warehouses worldwide?

In late 2014, I came across an opportunity to partner with a prominent customer. With Derek's support, we were able to take HQCParts to the company it is known as today.

5. How did you come to choose the name HQC International?

When trying to come up with a name, I came across the slogan High Quality CellPhone Parts but then decided to adopt that name as HQCParts. After about a year of HQCParts, we decided to reflect our growing sphere of international business and changed it to HQC International. In the beginning of 2015, we incorporated the business, creating HQC International Inc.

Thanks, Nick!

Meet Jason Mainella of Teeny Drones

Jason Mainella is the co-founder of Teeny Drones, a company based in Montreal, Canada which builds nano drones that are so small that you can hold them in the palm of your hand. Learn more at www.teenydrones.com.

1. Why do you think that more and more people are interested in drones?

I think it's the combination of people's desire to fly, and advances in technology that have made remote-control aircraft more affordable and stable.

2. What inspired you to start your company?

We noticed that people are buying remote-control helicopters that were falling apart too quickly on consumers. You crash them once, they blow up, they fall to pieces, and people are disappointed. We wanted to sell something that is a bit higher in quality along with being fast and affordable--something that wouldn't break easily.

3. How would you describe your goal with Teeny Drones?

We would love to see mini drones in the hands of one million people. I enjoy introducing people to the fun and art of droning. Drones are a great nexus for combining the power of games and technology, and the power of having fun. We hope to bring as much fun to as many people as possible with our Teeny Drones.

4. Why did you choose the quadcopter as the drone to launch your company?

I love gadgets and the fun of taking things apart and putting them back together. Drones are so interesting to me for their technology, and especially the quadcopter. With the quadcopter, there are four motors going on, plus the gyro system to calibrate. I think everyone will enjoy giving it a try.

5. How do you see Teeny Drones expanding over the next couple years?

We plan to sell accessories for the quadcopter as well as other drones. Our idea is to expand from the starter drone to a medium drone and then to a larger drone. I also would love to create and sell a small drone integrated with a virtual reality headset.

Thanks, Jason!

Meet Ricky Reidling, Creator of BoysTown

More than 10 years ago Ricky Reidling wrote, directed and played one of the lead characters a pilot about seven men and their lives in a place called BoysTown, a gay mecca in Los Angeles. After shopping it around to the gay networks in the U.S and finding a lack of funding from them, the show ended up on DVD. Much to Ricky's surprise, it became somewhat of a phenomenon and also played at a film festival.

After releasing a feature film called Heels in 2010, Ricky decided to give BoysTown another shot, and he filmed another episode of the show. It caught the attention of the OUTtv in Canada and was picked up for a full season. The show currently airs in four countries and was just renewed for a second season.

You can order the first season of BoysTown on DVD at www.boystown.us, or download it on Itunes. The first season soundtrack is also available on Itunes.

1.Growing up in a small town in Georgia did you ever think you would have your own TV show?

No, I grew up dirt poor and not in the best living conditions and once thought that was the life that was handed to me and I would be stuck with it. I got married (to a female) when I was 20, had a job in a manufacturing plant, and lived in trailer with my father and other siblings. Something didn't feel right and had to change. I knew there was a bigger world out there, and I wanted to experience it. I wasn't being fair to myself or to the other people in my life.

2. So being gay did not feel like an option for you at that moment in your life?

No, or at least I didn't think so. I grew up in a small Bible belt community, and coming to terms with my sexuality was not easy. The first male lover I had was mentally and physically abusive and tried to kill me, and I thought that's what I deserved.

3. You've been with your partner for several years--is he supportive in your career choice?

Very, on his days off he would come help out on set. As we always say, he is the corporate one, and I am the creative one. It works.

4. You were just renewed for Season 2 of BoysTown. How are you feeling about this?

I am truly humbled by it all, but for me it's about redemption.

I am very critical of myself and my work. I was writing, directing, editing, and jumping in front of the camera while wearing many other hats all at the same time last season, and I feel that my character suffered because of it. There were many days where I had to yell action, slate for myself, and then immediately get into character and deliver lines. It's not a good place to be in.

And as far as writing, I think there were some brilliant moments in the show, but there were also some times where I think I went a bit dark.

5. What can we expect for Season 2--and what are your plans for the future and BoysTown?

I now know what to expect, and I am less stressed and ready to bring it. We are bringing a female into the mix who is going make for some fun storylines. My goal is to keep the audience engaged with every episode.

Everything I do is a growing process to things bigger and better than I did before. So expect that from me for next season, on all accounts. I would love to see us air here in the U.S in regards to if it's a gay network or not. I hope Season 2 will open other doors for us. For me personally, I will keep doing what I love and what I am most passionate about.

Thanks, Ricky!

M Models and Talent Agency Has Models and Actors for Your Next Project

Are you located in the Toronto area and looking to hire models or actors for a project? This could be any number of types of project such as print ads, web videos, television shows, movies, and more. The talent at M Models have worked on all sorts of projects, and if you check out the M Models website and/or follow their Facebook page, you can really see the agency at work because they regularly update their content to show recent jobs that their clients have landed.

M Models isn't just a great resource for models and actors--it's a great resource for people who need to hire the best talent for their projects. Because M Models works with so many individuals, they can help you find just the right person you need for a job. If you need a specific look and/or a specific type of experience, they can find you the person you need.

What projects have recently featured talent from M Models? The latest projects featuring M Models' talent include a promotion for SweeTarts candy, a TV commercial for Hot Wheels, a public service announcement for breast cancer awareness, a PowerFitness informercial, and an ad for the Canadian Olympic Committee.

M Models handles a diversity of projects and regularly works with top-quality companies, organizations, and individual talent. They are based in Canada but have an international scope! Check them out online at www.mmodels.typepad.com. And here's a sample of their talent at work...

M Models and Talent Agency, Review of 2015 Commercial/Print Projects

We're just barely three months into 2015, and M Models and Talent Agency already has a lot to report because the models and talent whom they represent have been getting a lot of work. The agency is based in Toronto, and you'll see the work of their models and actors in Canada, the US, and beyond.

Some recent examples of campaigns their models have appeared in include a Wal-Mart print ad from a model in M Models' kids division, a commercial for the Pan Am Games, a print ad for Canada's Department of Finance, a commercial for Pet Valu, and a commercial for the Hockey Hall of Fame. The team at M Models also place a lot of talent in music videos, include recent videos for Glorious Sons, Tyler Shaw, and Tory Lanez.

For an example of M Models talent at work, watch this 30-second video of the aforementioned commercial for the Hockey Hall of Fame. It features two actors represented by M Models.

I've posted about M Models before, so check out this post for an overview of M Models and what makes their agency thrive. They are a busy, popular agency, with over 12,000 likes on their Facebook page as of this writing. If you are a model or actor in the Toronto area--of if you are a business, band, or other person/group looking to hire talent--I think it's worth your time to give them a call.

Meet Ed Roman, Musician and Songwriter

Ed Roman is an award-winning singer/songwriter, performer, and multi-instrumentalist from Shelburne, Ontario, Canada. Blurring the lines between pop, rock, folk, and country music genres, Ed's uniquely crafted songs have received regular rotation on more than 100 terrestrial radio stations across North America. Ed is a 2014 Artists Music Guild Award Nominee and a 2014 Artists In Music Award Nominee. He is also a 2014 International Music and Entertainment Association Award Winner. His current album, Letters From High Latitudes (an homage to his Ontario home) is a critically-acclaimed vehicle for Ed's socio-political, earthly-conscious, and globally-aware messages. This earthy, funky, and magical mix of music has earned Ed Roman airplay chart recognition and won over legions of fans around the world, known as Ed Heads. Learn more about Ed by checking out his website, EdRoman.net.

1. What inspires you to write a song, and did anything in particular inspire you as you worked on your latest album?

First off, let me say thank you for having me today, and it's a pleasure to speak with you.

It's really hard to pinpoint what inspires you to write a song as there are so many things that propel us into an emotional framework of thinking. I'm continually inspired, moved, and enlightened by so many things I see from day-to-day. Not only other people's lives but my own. I am greatly inspired by things that affect our habits of living, the things we do and don't understand about other people including ourselves. I'm very passionate about politics, agriculture, and the state of the human condition. In the day and age that we live in, it is essential to feel passionate about the circumstances that we love and the things that bring us to anger, then to take action. These two extremes are like a melting pot of emotional thinking.

A song like "I Told You So" on my new album Letters From High Latitudes is posing metaphors that are asking questions about where the commodities that we consume come from and how they are manufactured, to the political discourse and state of corporate federal politics that overrides, in many cases, civilian rights and freedoms. Because I study politics and come from a very political background, I can understand how these subtle changes have occurred over a long period of time and yet in our existence of human civilization, a blink of an eye. I feel most connected to my music when I'm singing and playing about things that matter not only to me but to my fellow brothers and sisters.

2. Considering that you play 90% of the instruments on Letters From High Latitudes, would you tell us what your recording process was like?

That's true, and on much of the music or songs, I play a little bit of everything. Of course, I play bass because that's my primary instrument, but also drums, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes, and the multitude of squeaks and whistles that are more like icing on the cake.

I played with so many wonderful musicians, including Chris Taggart, Antony Cook, David Patel, Michael Freedman, and Tobias Tinker. In our own right, we have created some incredible recordings, but at the same time, music is more like a candy store of limitless possibilities. So many musicians I know, including the ones that I've mentioned, all dabble on different instruments, and it's a really healthy way for you to release yourself from the things you're always working on with your principal instrument.

As I have my own studio, Area 51, it's very easy for me, day-to-day, to experiment with different instruments in my audio laboratory, more like a mad scientist hidden in an old airplane hangar on some distant field in a forgotten forest. As I'm writing the songs, they themselves are the ones that tell me how the music needs to unfold in the recording process. As I am a composer, I can start to see how music needs to be painted, so to speak. Some of the music, because of its construction, requires a band in a live off the floor process. It's important to try to capture these electric moments as they happen as opposed to a sound on sound recording that you can build over the course of the day or period of time. I always love interacting with other musicians and love getting other people's opinions on the flow, rhythm, and textural colors that make up the overall tapestry of the song.

3. How does your connection to Ontario influence your work as an artist?

Ontario is the birth canal of my life. I was fortunate enough to have a rural childhood which included long summer days spent by creeks, catching fish, and taking endless bike rides without the worry and troubles of an inner-city whether it was building tree forts in the woods or building tightly woven constructions of corn to make fortresses in our fields. We lived symbiotically on our farm with our animals in our environment on almost 1500 acres.

Ontario breathes more like an abundant basket of life, energy, and hard work. As kids we pushed ourselves in every environment when it came to art and being creative: music coursed through Ontario and us. It was infectious to the point of a complete embrace. So many people that I knew in late grade school and all through high school all played instruments of some kind. Whether it was Sadie Hawkins dances, battle of the bands, assemblies, or hours on a frozen pond at local carnivals or fall fairs, music was a part of our DNA and Ontario. Its abundance of freedoms and abilities to create at whim is what fueled us as young artists.

Today once again in Ontario and the country of Canada, all those things which I just mentioned that I hold so dear need to be protected and preserved for all Canadians and Ontario's people to enjoy once again. It propels me to take action in my language and lyrics and music that I write to try and reinvigorate people's emotions and passions when it comes to the things that we are most concerned about. I write about pharmacological acts, bills, and Parliament that affect the civil rights and freedoms of not only people in Ontario but in this country. My guitar is the greatest and most powerful weapon that I can wield in a passionate and pure way towards these concepts every day of my life.

4. How would you describe your music to someone who hasn't heard it before?

That's a great question, and as I'm always being asked by so many people who have not heard my music, you need to be able to explain what that is in very few words. I could say my music is thought-provoking and has elements of satire and humor. I could say my music has a bulky and funky edge that is reminiscent of things of the past yet the same time has a new and innovative feel. I could say my music is political commentary on the day and age that we live in. I could say my music has elements of folk, rock, jazz, country, progressive, or even funk; but if I had to say in a few words, it's like a 57 Chevy blowing up in your kitchen.

5. What projects are you planning to work on over the next year or so?

Letters From High Latitudes has been doing extremely well over the last year, and as I've been doing interviews, TV appearances, and a whole whack of radio, I also have been releasing videos the whole time. The latest video for the track "I Found God" has been doing extremely well and getting a lot of plays as well as being embraced in social networking by a great a deal of socially consciously active people.

I'm planning a trip to the island of Jamaica to record my next video. Letters From High Latitudes features the song "Jamaica," and as I have a godchild and incredible amount of friends and newfound family, I plan to shoot a video and release it sometime in the month of May or early June. At the same time, I've also been doing a lot of writing, and I'm planning to embark on a new recording project for a new album that will be released sometime in late 2015.

I'm also headed down to Austin, Texas to play at the Red Gorilla Music Festival, running parallel to SXSW. The band and I will be at the Thirsty Nickel on 6th street in the heart of beautiful downtown Austin, smack dab in the middle of the festival. We will be on at 7 PM. Then we're down in New Jersey in Cape May on 27th of March for the Cape May Music Folk Festival. I'll be playing at the beautiful old Alethea's at the Inn of Cape May.

Once again, thank you so much for having me, and it's a pleasure to be able to speak with you today. If you're listening to Ed, then you are an Ed Head. Come by and check me out anytime at www.edroman.net. Over and out.

Thanks, Ed!

Meet Shane Lambert, Author

Shane Lambert is a freelance writer based in western Canada. He writes about tennis at movietvtechgeeks.com, and he has published his fiction with Amazon. Check out Shane's book, A Preference for Transience, part one of his travel/adventure ebook series "Back to Alberta, Back to Edmonton," on Amazon, Amazon.ca, and Amazon.uk.

1. How did you first become interested in writing?

I first became interested in writing as a student. I enjoyed English class more than all others in school, and that interest helped me put a lot of work into the subject. That in turn led to good marks and positive feedback from my teachers. Then in university I naturally gravitated toward the arts and humanities instead of the physical sciences. Accordingly, my writing skills developed, and when it came time to earn a living, writing ability was something I could offer employers.

2. I'm interested in the genre of a travel novel. Why did you decide to write about traveling in the format of a novel rather than a memoir?

I thought that a fictionalized account of my travel experiences was the way to go both to appeal to an audience and to allow me the artistic license to embellish or omit. Memoirs, in my understanding, are more of a serious attempt to reflect on one's life with historical accuracy. A fictionalized novel puts no such pressure on the writer from that point of view, as long as it's communicated to be a work of fiction. I didn't want to have to worry about being accurate as I wrote, and I wanted to keep other people out of my writing so fiction was the way to go.

3. What inspires the protagonist of A Preference for Transience to leave the town where he grew up?

He's unsatisfied with pursuing what he thinks is a boring career. Also, there's a pure wanderlust factor that kicks in. He needs a change of scenery.

4. In your experience, what are some things we can learn or experience through travel that we don't experience at home?

Travel is a form of education that's superior to textbook studies or studying film and literature. So you can learn all you want about a country from home, but there's nothing that replaces actual experience in the country. Plenty of things surprised me when I traveled, from how much poverty there is in the USA to how many people didn't like me for prejudicial reasons.

Also budget travel isn't about first class seats in a plane and five star hotels. There are plenty of challenges to be faced, and so there's natural growth from that.

5. What are some other projects you're currently working on?

I receive a lot of orders for my tennis writing on Fiverr. I also hold down a regular job as a hotel manager which is very absorbing. Other than that, I have no projects on the go except writing the "Back to Alberta, Back to Edmonton" series. I hope to be able to devote more time to it in the future.

Thanks, Shane!