Meet Pierce Lilholt, Entrepreneur

Pierce Lilholt is a serial entrepreneur. He creates companies and brands. In his free time, he likes to play the piano. To learn more about him and his work, please visit www.PierceLilholt.com.

1. What drew you toward media and communications as you built your career?

Media and communications are fun! 2. Would you tell us a little more about Lilholt Technology Solutions LLC and the work you do with software and other technology?

Lilholt Technology Solutions LLC is an internationally diversified software development and information technology company. Lilholt Technology Solutions is launching an app in conjunction with the media giant Universal Language Productions. With Universal Language Productions as a branding and content syndication partner, Lilholt Technology Solutions plans to leverage the ULP network to launch the ULP TV app. The first launch phase of the ULP TV app includes a multi-platform rollout across Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Android, as well as a fully functional experience on web browsers at www.ULPTV.com.

3. As a serial entrepreneur, how do you choose the projects you wish to become involved in?

I choose projects based on their FV. FV is term used a lot at Universal Language Productions. FV, or Fun Value, is a percentage based on an individual's FVI (Fun Value Index). Everyone has a different FVI, because everyone has a different idea of fun. What someone might find fun, another person might find scary, overly stimulating, or downright boring. When I am choosing a project, I disregard my own FVI, and I consider the potential FV that the results of the project will have based on the FVI of the target market. If it is not fun, I don't touch it. If the FV is high, I am all over it. It's all about the fun!

4. What projects are you currently working on?

The project I am most excited about is ULP TV. ULP TV makes watching TV easy and fun. Unlike Netflix or other streaming services where you have to know what you want to watch and then search for or browse for the titles of shows you want to watch, ULP TV allows you to flip through channels like you are watching cable TV. Searching for something to watch isn't fun. ULP TV is a container app, so anyone can make a channel and syndicate content they want to watch to custom tailor their experience and watch the shows that they think are fun. Friends, family, and people all over the world can tune in to watch your syndications. You don't need to make a channel to start watching. The channels are organized in ways which are conducive to the easiest possible watching experience. People often wonder why you can't filter out all of the four and five star reviewed movies on Netflix. I think it is pretty obvious. I believe that if I filtered out all of the four or five star movies and TV shows on Netflix, I would watch all of the highly rated movies and TV shows and never even peek at the titles with poor ratings. In my opinion, that would make Netflix seem much less valuable. With ULP TV, you can see what is popular, and watch what is good. ULP TV is just plain FUN!

5. Do you have any plans for 2017 that are particularly exciting for you?

I only have one plan for 2017. I plan on having the most fun in 2017! Now, that's exciting!

Thanks, Pierce!

Check out Simo Benbachir's Interview with Victoria Summer

As a blogger, sometimes I want to tell everyone about a particular interview I've done. It can be especially exciting to interview an artist toward the beginning of their already simpressive career, when you have the strong feeling that this person is only going to become more and more successful as time goes on.

So I want to share the good news of Dubai TV Alarabiya News English reporter Simo Benbachir (aka Simobb), as he recently enjoyed the opportunity to interview popular British actress Victoria Summer. You can see a video of the interview by clicking here to visit the English language site for Alarabiya. The interview was hosted at Lab Art Los Angeles by Iskander Lemseffer and directed by Brian Patamakanthin.

While their conversation took place as part of the publicity that Victoria Summer is doing for her new starring role in Game of Aces, you probably know her from two other very popular films in which she had supporting roles. She played Julie Andrews in in Walt Disney Pictures' Saving Mr. Banks starring Tom Hanks as Walt Disney and Emma Thompson as Mary Poppins author P.L. Travers. She also appeared in Paramount Pictures' Transformers: Age of Extinction, directed by Michael Bay.

In Game of Aces, directed by Damien Lay, she plays the lead role of British nurse Eleanor Morgan. The movie is set during WWI and is described as both a romance and an adventure. It has received good notices in the L.A. Times and other media.

I think you will enjoy the engaging interviewing style of Simobb. He is a Moroccan TV reporter who covers entertainment and "gossip" stories in a fun and upbeat way. He has over 18 years of experience in media and is a well-known presence at many glamorous international events.

You can see that he enjoys sharing Victoria Summer's story of perseverance as she spent a number of years funding her acting career by working as a nanny and personal trainer. She worked in musical theater in London for some time before moving to Los Angeles to follow her dream of breaking into American film and television.

In her own words, "The secret is persistence and staying focused; I just keep going, and I do not stop. You have got to take off any poky barrier that comes your way and staying on that one path knowing where you are going and keep it going.”

For the full conversation between Simo Benbachir and Victoria Summer, click here.

Introducing VStream for Streaming TV, Movies, and More

Have you ever thought about doing a "digital audit" and looking at how much money you spend for everything you use digitally, such as cable TV, streaming services like Netflix, music services like iTunes, your internet provider, and more? Cable TV is one of those things that just hasn't gotten any cheaper, and in some respects, it feels like they're pricing themselves out of the market, with people choosing to drop cable in favor of streaming services.

If you're interested in reducing your bills and shifting to a streaming service, you might want to check out VStream. You get over a thousand channels, access to thousands of movies and TV shows, international movies and TV, radio stations, and more.

It's a portable system that works with any TV; basically it's a small box. The system is easy to use and runs Android 4.4 KitKat. It has built-in wifi with an external antenna, and the manufacturers promote it as having stable receiving. Plus, you can deal with just one remote control instead of a zillion of them.

And if you're looking for a business opportunity, you can become a VStream Licensed Media Consultant and set other people up with the system. In my opinion, this is one of those products where if you try it yourself and love it, you'll be a natural at selling it, too. After all, who doesn't want to save money on their digital media bills? For more info, contact http://www.tvcableguy.com/.

Introducing CreativInn, a Site to Share Creativity

I was glad to happen upon the CreativInn website. The idea behind the site is to help creative people share their work and be noticed. Creatives can sign up for the site and showcase their projects, link to their websites, share videos, promote events, and more. Also, if you are someone who represents artists, you can use the site to set up pages for the people you represent.

The best way to get an idea of CreativInn is to check out their directory. There are some interesting profiles to explore, with more added all the time.

In browsing the site myself, I found some cool photography work from several different artists. One listing that really stood out to me was the page for Le Village des arts de Dakar in Senegal. The village has exhibitions year round and supports Senegalese artists who work in many different media. The photo below is from the profile for Village des arts de Dakar, and I have to say that it makes me want to see more!

The site also has a blog which offers creative tips and tools. And you can follow CreativInn on Facebook and Twitter to learn about updates to the site.

In short, CreativInn is a new platform for artists, and I think it is going to grow quite a lot this year as more and more artists--and art enthusiasts--discover the site and what it has to offer. One of my favorite things about the site is that it has an international scope, so you can learn about artists and projects from all over the world. And isn't this one of the best things about the internet, that it allows us to share in the creativity of other people without geographic distance being a barrier?

Meet Sharon Bolt, Author of a Free Press Release Report

Sharon Bolt is a dog behavior expert who has had great success in the press over the last eight years, and she's now showing other people how they can get unlimited amounts of free publicity, too. To that end, Sharon has written a report called "How to Write a Press Release that Gets You Tons of FREE Publicity, Gives You Expert Recognition and Increases Sales." To download this report for free, visit GetFreePublicityToday.com.

1. How did you first learn of the power of the press release in your career as a dog behavior expert?

I was first introduced to the power of press releases through a marketing course. It was the first time that I realized that there were reporters, journalists, and producers looking for knowledgeable people who have educational, newsworthy, and entertaining information to feature in the press.

I had thought that publicity was only for the large companies and corporations with big marketing budgets, so it was a real eye-opener to discover that it was also for small companies, individuals, and non-profit organizations.

Like a lot of people, I had heard only negative stories about the press, so it was good to put myself in a reporter's shoes. I realized that they have a lot of slots to fill and welcome stories that will make their job easier.

It's also really fun to do: not only is it lucrative for your business, but it gives you instant authority in your field, and it's exciting opening up a newspaper and reading your article, listening to yourself on the radio, or seeing yourself on TV.

2. When it comes to promoting a business, what are some tips for coming up with a newsworthy angle for a press release?

It's true a press release needs to have a specific topic or angle and be newsworthy, interesting, and not a disguised advert. Here are ten story ideas that could be used.

• "Top 10" lists of helpful information
• Offering anything free
• New company launch
• Release of a new product
• Winning an award or special title
• Change of key personnel (hiring, retirement, resignation, death)
• Charity work and charitable contributions
• Achieving milestones (anniversary of the business)
• Seminars/conferences/workshops/teleconference/webinar/trade shows
• News of the wild, weird, and unusual

3. For someone who hasn't written a press release before, what are the benefits to taking a do-it-yourself approach rather than hiring a marketing firm or consultant?

There are so many benefits to writing your own press releases. The most common benefit is cost. Employing the services of a marketing company doesn't come cheap; you would need a PR budget, and it affects your bottom line as the publicity is no longer free.

Another benefit is if you don't get featured from a press release you send out, it costs you nothing, whereas you'll likely still need to pay agency fees regardless of the results.

When I started my publicity journey over eight years ago, I initially enrolled with a PR company. I was one of many people on their books and decided to run my own PR campaigns alongside what they were doing.

I did receive some local press from their promotions, but by doing it myself, I received national exposure and quickly started working with celebrities.

By doing my own PR, I was able to focus solely on my business, rather than the focus being diluted to a number of clients. I also was, and still am, more enthusiastic and passionate about my business than they were, which I think is only natural; no one is more passionate about their business than the business owner themselves. The results spoke volumes, and I quickly ended my contract with the PR firm, and over the last eight years, I have received many £100,000s worth of free publicity.

4. What are some criteria you might suggest for evaluating a press release to determine if it will be effective?

In order for a press release to be successful, it needs to be relevant to the media outlet it is sent to. For example, if it's sent to the local newspaper, it needs to have a local angle and/or you should live in that local area. It also must contain the 5 W's as an article can't be written without them. The following is an example for a story about a new beekeeping business.

• Who: You and your company, "Bee's Knees," and your target market (farmers for produce pollination, hobbyists, commercial endeavors).
• What: What it is/does and any special features you offer (classes, supplies, removal of unwanted hives, pick-up and delivery, sale of honey, beeswax, royal jelly or queens/workers to start other hives).
• When: The official opening or when the launch took place or will soon take place.
• Where: Where you're located and why you chose that location/venue/town.
• Why: There's a myriad of possible answers for this. You may have perceived a need for this type of business, or it may have been your hobby and you decided to monetize it. You may be taking over the family business, realizing a childhood dream, or starting a business for your retirement.

5. In your experience, what is the biggest myth about getting free publicity that holds people back?

The biggest myth is that you need to know everything in your field and have been in business for many years in order to claim the "expert" position and be featured. This is not true. When I first received national press about being a dog behavior expert, I had a natural healing business and not a dog training business! I know that sounds strange but this is what happened...

I love dogs and had recently got two male Parson Russell Terrier puppies from the same litter. I was told by numerous dog trainers that it was the worst case scenario and I would need to re-home one of them as they would fight for the top-dog position. There was no way that was going to happen, so I was on a mission to stop these predictions from coming true.

I learned my dogs' language instead of trying to humanize them, and I shared this method with my therapy clients with their dogs. The results were astounding, so when I heard a national radio station (BBC Radio 2) was doing a story about dogs, I contacted the show and offered my services. Three days later I was sitting in the studio being featured on their show.

I had a great time. I was introduced as a dog behavior expert and gave their listeners lots of dog training tips and advice. My local press at the time was actually about my transition from healing people to taming unruly dogs. There was nothing to hide.

The definition of expert in the Oxford English Dictionary is: "A person who is very knowledgeable about or skilful in a particular area."

This is not governed by how many years you've been in business, and you don't need to know absolutely everything.

Dare to be different, believe in yourself, and the sky's the limit!

Thanks, Sharon!

Meet James Sklar, Podcast Host

Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, James Sklar attended Syracuse University, studying Russian, Finance, and Marketing. He has traveled extensively throughout Europe and was the very last individual to walk through Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, Germany. James has lived in San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles, but he is now proud to call Western Massachusetts his home. He has always been a great lover of the spoken word medium. James is always listening and is grateful to have the opportunity to be heard.

The James Sklar Show is a podcast which covers a variety of topics, including life in the Berkshires, current events, food, and history. Check out a sample of his show by listening to his belated Father's Day podcast...

1. How did you first get interested in podcasting?

I started listening to podcasts a few years ago. My interest in spoken word begun with The Lost Lennon Tapes which aired in the 80s. The content was riveting. Ever since then, I've been hooked on the medium. Now with podcasts, the joy is listening when and where I want.

2. What are some of the topics you cover on The James Sklar Show, and how do you get your ideas for what to talk about?

My topics come from everyday life, an article, news, or whatever I feel like discussing. Generally, I bounce from one to the other.

3. What do you think that the element of audio adds to a reader/listener's experience, compared to just reading a blog post?

The audio creates an intimate relationship between speaker and listener. Reading a blog post is less engaging. I find that audio adds a sense element which personalizes content, which is key and what separates audio from other mediums.

4. As a listener, what do you personally admire in other podcasts, and what are some of your current favorites to listen to?

Passion and integrity. I listen to The Unexplained with Howard Hughes, since I love the subject matter and his delivery. I listen to Coast to Coast AM, due to the interesting variety of topics they explore. For laughs, I will listen to Doug Benson's Doug Loves Movies, because it's so silly and can be very funny.

5. For someone just getting started in blogging, podcasting, and other online media, what's your best advice?

Just start! It's so easy. My motto is don't talk about it, be about it!

Thanks, James!

Meet J. J. Hebert, Author and Publisher

J. J. Hebert is the author of the bestselling books Unconventional and Weepy the Dragon. Unconventional has spent time on the Amazon.com Top 100 bestseller list and has also occupied Amazon's #1 spot on the Inspirational and Christian Fiction bestseller lists. Meanwhile, Weepy the Dragon has also found success, spending time atop the Children's Dragon Stories bestseller list at Amazon and frequenting other Amazon bestseller lists.

J.J. is also the founder of MindStir Media, a self-publishing and book marketing company. When he's not busy writing his next book, he's busy helping authors self-publish their work and offering personalized guidance along the way.

1. When it came to getting your own books published, what inspired you to publish through your own company?

I self-published Unconventional back in 2009, before the big self-publishing "boom" that we've seen today. I was originally represented by a literary agent. The agent's job, as many know, is to shop a manuscript around to major publishers and secure a deal. I had my agent for about six months and we decided to split amicably... My writer friends encouraged me to try self-publishing. At that point, I felt like self-publishing was my "last resort." After much hard work on my end, Unconventional went on to become an Amazon.com bestseller. I've sold over 100,000 copies to date. After seeing the success of that novel, I decided to go ahead and self-publish Weepy the Dragon, a children's picture book I had written many years before. I didn't bother pursuing traditional publishing this time. I went straight to self-publishing as a "first resort."

2. Do you find that most of the sales of your books have come online, or do you also sell a number of books in person at events and in brick and mortar bookstores?

I'd say over 90% of my sales have come from online retailers such as Amazon.com. As a self-publishing author, I realize that in-store/brick-and-mortar distribution is very difficult to secure. Most chain bookstores work almost exclusively with traditionally published books. Thankfully, for the self-published author, most people buy books online nowadays--so there is a very large market for selling books online.

3. Why did you decide to reach out to authors through MindStir Media?

After the initial success of Unconventional, authors actually started contacting me for help. They essentially wanted to pick my brain and understand how I had achieved that level of success. Of course, I can never guarantee a certain level of success for anyone, but the marketing tools and strategies I used on my own books are proven and have done wonders for my career. I ultimately decided to open MindStir Media to the public in order to professionally assist authors throughout their self-publishing journey.

4. In addition to actually publishing your clients' books, what are some of the services you provide for authors?

MindStir Media offers what I call assisted self-publishing. Many authors see the term "self-publishing" and think they have to do everything themselves. MindStir actually offers full-service publishing services such as book design, illustration, professional editing, printing, ebook conversion, distribution, and marketing. I also personally mentor each MindStir Media author.

5. As you touched on earlier, a lot of self-publishing authors feel they have to totally "go it alone." What are some of the reasons that you would recommend that authors collaborate with other people in getting their book on the market?

Self-publishing authors need to remember that they are competing with traditionally published titles. Those titles are professionally edited, designed, and marketed. A serious self-publishing author needs to focus on quality above all else. This means hiring an editor and designer, and even collaborating with a marketing expert/team if possible. There are instances where an author is also a professional graphic designer, and in those cases it makes sense for the author to design his/her own book, but an author should always hire a professional editor. Assisted self-publishing is perfect for authors who want the extra hand-holding and advice. There's no shame in an author assembling a team around him/her. It makes a lot of sense to surround a book with professionals. In my opinion, this gives it a better chance to succeed.

Thanks, J.J.!

An Introduction to Vidicom

Since its beginnings in 1982, Vidicom has become a large and diverse company which creates and distributes media through a variety of media channels. Though the company is based in New York City, its reach stretches across the country (and around the world). If you have traveled for business or pleasure to big cities like Boston, Dallas, and Los Angeles, there's a good chance you've seen Vidicom's media while on an airplane, in a taxi, or in a hotel. Vidicom also shares content online through blogs, communities, and sites like Facebook.

Vidicom creates custom content and utilizes their 30+ years in the industry to find the right venues to maximize distribution. With so many types of media within their reach, they can help companies find the right viewers according to the viewers' hobbies, interests, history of media use, etc. What sets the company apart is the way they reach viewers when they are both at home and away from home. Through their in-flight media content, they read over two million viewers each month.

Over the years, Vidicom has worked with a solid roster of well-known brands, including Continental Airlines, Nestlé, Chanel, L’Oréal, and Ralph Lauren. Their more recent innovations include using QR codes in taxis to allow people to easily interact with media content.

For more information about Vidicom, check out their tumblr blog and flickr page.

Meet Matthew Martino, Author, Entrepreneur, and Film Producer

Matthew Martino (full name: Matthew Mathetes Chihwai Martino) is a British entrepreneur, film producer, and bestselling author. He is perhaps best known as the author of the aviation guide Let's Fly and the subsequent founding of an online resource called Lets Fly Academy, which was well-received by aspiring pilots and aviation enthusiasts worldwide. His book Go For It is aimed at young entrepreneurs and has reviewed glowing reviews from various authors, blogs, and magazines.

With Matthew's 21st birthday just around the corner, it's a pleasure to interview him and find out what's new in his busy life.

1. How do you balance all the aspects of your work--from being a pilot and working with Lets Fly Academy, to producing and acting in films, to writing and now promoting your books?

It does seem like a lot, but it's not as bad as it looks. I spend more time producing films and promoting my books as this requires a more hands-on approach, but my key weapon on balancing these is getting help. I always hire people brighter than me, and they assist me.

2. What inspired you to write Go For It, and what will readers learn by reading the book?

Go For It was an inspiration based on my business failures. I didn't want others to get a taste of my fate, so it's more of a entrepreneurs' manual so that they don't end up in the same boat as me.

3. How did you first become involved in working in film? 

I've always been one for the camera; I did a photo-shoot when I was 16 and since then I've just never looked back. I now enjoy producing more that actually being on screen and in all fairness age is catching up with me; I'm 21 soon!

4. What are a couple of your favorite film projects of those you've worked on so far? 

That's a tough one. Every project I've worked on has memories of its own, but my personal favorite has to be Ortega and His Enemies as I met some super-amazing people while producing it, and it's also been a big learning curve for me.

5. How are you currently spending your days, and what projects (film, books, entrepreneurial, etc!) can we look forward to seeing from you over the next couple of years? 

I'm currently spending my days planning future films. I have no immediate plans of writing. My hands are still recovering from the last book. In the next few years I'm hoping to produce some inspirational and entertaining films in as well as do some more traveling. I just can't stay put; even on set you'll find me--here, there and everywhere. 

*

To find out more about Matthew C. Martino's future films, visit www.imdb.me/matthew

Thanks, Matthew!

Transfer Vintage Home Movies to HD with Treasure Coast Film

Do you have a box of your parents' or grandparents' home movies in your attic? Did you know you could see those images in top-quality HD format?

Treasure Coast Film transfers 8mm and Super 8 film to high definition video. Technicians will handle your film with care as they transfer your movies to newer digital formats, then put the files on DVDs, hard drives, or other media.

Treasure Coast Film offers very competitive pricing, and if you read the explanations of their film to HD transfer process, you'll know just how carefully they'll be treating your irreplaceable films. Prices include the cost of cleaning film prior to transfer, and there are optional services for color correction as well as correction of underexposed and overexposed film.

After you have your films restored and transferred, check out these useful tips on film preservation to keep your family memories safe.

Meet Curtis James Salt, Independent Filmmaker

Curtis James Salt is a independent filmmaker in Boston, MA. For samples of his work, check out his page on Vimeo. His credits include directing/producing the New England Film award winning documentary The Reality Behind Closed Doors. Most recently, his feature length script Adonis is currently in the top 100 scripts (for Drama) at the Filmmaker's International Screenwriting Awards. His newest endeavor is the fantasy Mosden that is currently in pre-production.

For information about the crowdfunding campaign to help support the production of Mosden, please see the IndieGogo site for the project. See also the Facebook page for Mosden.

1. What is the meaning of Mosden, the title of the short film you're working on?

The title "Mosden" actually refers to the name of the fictitious language that all the characters speak. Early on in the script, the main character Canvas (played by Matthew Eriksen) discovers a mysterious note left for him alongside a box of colored pencils and a mirror. The note's message reads "Mosden" and that's the first time you actually hear Canvas speak. So it seemed appropriate to name the language after that message. Some of the language is made up from scratch while the rest is a mixture of Latin, Russian, Arabic, Japanese, Cantonese, French, and more; all sliced up together so it feels somewhat universally familiar in nature, but also very organic. Currently I'm working with each actor on tailoring the vocabulary of the language and finding what sounds most natural for them to speak; then translating the words on the page from English to Mosden.

2. In exploring the experiences of a character named Canvas, how does your film work with the idea of creating art as a metaphor for creating other experiences/meaning in life?

[Laughs] Your question is incredibly close to being "on the nose." You follow Canvas from his inception, or what some of us refer to as his "birth." He has to teach himself how to walk and talk. Eventually he acquires the box of colored pencils and learns whatever he draws on the walls becomes real. This is where the audience can start to dissect the metaphors hidden within the story if they choose. For example, the first character Canvas creates is RED (Olivia Moriarty) who he has to then teach everything he had to teach himself. Red in return falls in love with him. The next character created is GREEN (Harry Aspinwall), who is very bitter and envious of their relationship. It quickly becomes apparent that the art/characters Canvas creates represent either an aspect of the human psyche or characteristic of how we perceive things. Eventually he creates his opposite, BLACK (Cezar Constantine) who is the literal definition of malice; who in return creates his own art/characters that conflict with Canvas until the climax of the story. The ensemble of this cast remain very "one note" and true to their color(s), whereas Canvas becomes fleshed out and whole, learning from each of them. In the end I hope my intended message becomes very clear; nothing in life is ever just black and white. (I also promise this movie doesn't end as a dream or an acid trip!)

3. What would you say distinguishes experimental fantasy film from the more narrative filmmaking that viewers may be used to seeing?

Knowing that you're creating a project with a macro budget practically forces you to be experimental in order to achieve your ultimate vision. This can hinder a lot of filmmakers and tends to make them play it "safe," which I feel nine out of ten times results in an end product that's all too familiar to today's audiences. I think embracing the notion that you have to get creative allows you to start to think outside the realm of more conventional storytelling.

With Mosden, I gave myself the challenge of trying to create a short film that appeals to a worldwide audience. So I watched a lot of movies that I love and inspire me (The Cell, The Fifth Element, Moulin Rouge) and examined what made them so appealing. Hopefully, if I did my homework correctly, you're going to get something extraordinarily unique. It's much simpler to summarize Mosden as an experimental fantasy, then to also add it's a comedy, musical, drama, fairytale, and did we mention that it's very abstract? [Laughs] Once again, I swear it's not an acid trip.

4. What are some of your personal goals as a filmmaker?

Never to compromise. Always collaborate. Remember that you might not always be right and to listen to your actors and crew. It might sound ambitious of me to say, but I always want to work on a project that I'm passionate about, opposed to doing it just as a job. I would love to get discovered (as I think most do) and be able to make movies that can appeal to a much broader audience and someday hopefully work with the people that inspire me. Regardless if a movie I work on is seen by 10 people or 10 million, I always want to provide an experience that makes people forget that they're watching a movie. Any filmmaker that is able to achieve that is a true master at their craft. Thirty years from now I hope someone can tell me that I inspired them. My all time favorite quote (from Moulin Rouge) represents my love and approach to filmmaking the best, "Why live life from dream to dream and dread the day when dreaming ends?"

5. In addition to contributing to crowdfunding campaigns, how can viewers help support independent filmmaking--and why is it important that they do so?

I think filmmakers today are both blessed and cursed by influence of social media. Crowdfunding didn't exist when I was a kid, unless you went door to door. Thanks to sites like YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, and more, your voice can either be heard or lost amongst the sea. I compare crowdfunding to playing the lottery. People gamble on playing the odds, and you just hope that they're in your favor. When a person is lucky enough to "win" because of people who believe in them, people get discovered! Amazing stories get told! Original pieces of art get created! A majority of the movies, directors, writers, actors you see and love, would not exist today if it wasn't for independent filmmaking and the support for it.

Thanks, Curtis!

An Insightful Blog from an Experienced Writer, Director, and Producer

Melissa Jo Peltier is one of those people where you may not recognize her name at first, but you've surely seen some of her work. She's the co-author of five best-selling books with the "Dog Whisperer," Cesar Millan. She directed and co-wrote a documentary about child abuse that was narrated by Oprah Winfrey. She was co-executive producer of My Big Fat Greek Wedding. These are just a few of the items on her resume.

Peltier's latest project is a novel called Reality Boulevard, which is grounded in her own experiences in Hollywood as the reality TV industry has taken over a bigger and bigger share of TV programming.

For readers who'd like to know more about Peltier's perspectives on reality TV (hint: she's not a fan), she's created an engaging blog on her website where she shares her reflections on the realities (and unrealities) of reality TV. Peltier does a lot of reading/research, especially about media and kids, and recent blog entries referred to studies done by the Girl Scouts council and other organizations.

For more about her novel, check out the Amazon page for Reality Boulevard, available as an ebook for Kindle.

Meet Lyndol Keith Woodruff, Chief Connection Officer with EyeLevel Entertainment

Lyndol Keith Woodruff is an actor, comedian, and entertainment entrepreneur. Originally from Dallas, he moved to Hollywood in 2003. He is a skilled communicator and networker--and a student of personal growth who has a vision of putting the heart back into entertainment, which he calls his "Mission with NO Intermission!"

Lyndol is currently working to raise money to produce an online TV show with positive content. EyeLevelTV will bring new music artists to the world as well as top motivational experts and business owners with amazing success stories. For more about EyeLevelTV, check out their campaign on Indiegogo.

1. How would you describe your role as Chief Connection Officer with EyeLevel Entertainment?

I love this role! It is simple and fun. My job is to connect with people. Find out what is important to them, what moves them, what excites them. It is important for me to understand other people's desires and vision so I can figure out a way to connect it to what we are doing if it makes sense, that simultaneously moves our vision and their vision forward effectively, collaboratively.

2. In your career, how have you combined entertainment with entrepreneurship?

At the heart of being an entertainer, I am here to connect people to inspiration, new ideas, concepts... and I realize more and more that it's almost the exact same thing that I do as an entrepreneur. I connect people to opportunities, to possibilites, so I find it intriguing that being an entrepreneur and an entertainer, these things go hand in hand. They both rise out of my desire to connect with people and have fun!

3. What drew you toward working on an online TV show?

Awesome how this happened. I was representing Hunter as a singer/songwriter and brought Kent Jacobs to the house to see him perform a single we were working on. Little did I know, Kent had just partnered with YouTube and Machinima and he told Hunter and I we should have our own webseries on his new network, NOW TV Live. We had all kinds of ideas, so Kent urged us to start our own network focusing on transformation, so we partnered with him, and here we are.

4. How have you utilized your experience with networking to find collaborators for Eye Level TV?

My brain has this special function of taking a look at what people naturally do well, and figuring out how to implement their skills and resources into what I am doing to help us both move forward. I have a unique way of understanding two visions and how to connect them.

5. What does it mean to you to bring a sense of heart and mission to entertainment?

Bringing a sense of heart and mission to entertainment is to own your greatness, own who you are, authentically... 100%, caring for others, cooperate, collaborate for the greater good. Empowering people, by highlighting how powerful our choices are.

Thanks, Lyndol!

Meet Hunter Wade, Chief Inspiration Officer with EyeLevel Entertainment

Hunter Wade is a musician, speaker, writer, and actor on a mission of inspiring the world to a higher potential. He has formally studied Music Therapy as well as Sound Engineering, been featured on ABC's Lost, played Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, and released two independent albums.

Hunter is currently working to raise money to produce an online TV show with positive content. EyeLevelTV will bring new music artists to the world as well as top motivational experts and business owners with amazing success stories. For more about EyeLevelTV, check out their campaign on Indiegogo.

1. How would you describe your role as Chief Inspiration Officer with EyeLevel Entertainment?

As the Chief Inspiration Officer, it's my job to hold the subjective vision. I am forever keeping my sights on the BIG WHY behind all we are doing and inspiring others back to that regularly. It is also my duty to stay fresh, keep current, and to continue to challenge myself to grow personally as well as professionally. I stand as an example of what is possible when we choose to believe!

2. What are some qualities you're looking for in choosing artists to feature on your online TV show?

When I am scouting talent, the first thing I notice is rather subtle to most people. I am getting a sense of a person's "come from" or their underlying intention. I am less interested in the packaging or look than I am in the heart of the artist. Transparency, authenticity, confidence, and creativity come together in an intriguing way to create something tangible--yet, I am more interested in the subtle energy I feel in a person's presence. You could say, I like to feel their "vibe" but that's fairly hokey. ;)

3. When did you first start thinking about starting an online TV show, and could you talk a little bit about your process of bringing this idea to fruition?

I actually decided to launch a network that focuses on responsible media long before I ever imagined any specific show concepts. The idea initially emerged when I was 18 and really solidified in conversation with my best friend Jason when he and I had an auto-glass company in AZ about 14 years ago. My path from AZ to launching this network certainly wasn't direct. Without going into too much detail, I'd say the process of bringing this to fruition has involved a LOT of surrender, an immense amount of persistence, and an intense willingness to be uncomfortable!

4. Why did you decide to reach out for funding through Indiegogo, and what are some other opportunities you see for other people to collaborate with you on this project?

I decided to use the Indiegogo campaign platform as a way of reaching a larger audience with our mission. This is totally about YOU! So I wanted to attract people who share the "Giver's Gain" philosophy and give them a platform to share their message with the world. There are so many opportunities to get involved with us. We work with a "Find a Need and Fill it" philosophy. So basically:

Get out there and make a difference with your talents.
Share about EyeLevel and KNOW that you are an important leader of this movement.
Employ the philosophy, "It's easier to ask forgiveness than to ask permission!"

When we see you taking the ball and running with it, we are likely to offer you a formal position with the company. In fact, two others have jumped in, found a gap in what we are doing, and filled it in with their skills--and now they hold equity in our company. That's Giver's Gain philosophy in action!

5. What are some of your personal goals in terms of expressing your own sense of purpose through music, performance, and other forms of art?

I want to be in musicals, sing at Red Rocks and the Hollywood Bowl, get a Grammy or 5, be the voice of a cartoon character, and remake Mary Poppins as Burt the Chimney Sweep. I want to share and be known for developing a new vocal style that incorporates chanting--I have been perfecting this style for 15 years. People who have heard it become entranced and freak out a little because it is very powerful and unlike anything we are accustomed to hearing. I believe with all of my heart that I have been given a very powerful gift that can be used for global transformation, so my deepest aspiration is to listen with an open mind and heart for the call of inspiration to lead me into the highest and best use of these gifts. I am ridiculously grateful to be living this adventure in this time with all of you!

Thanks, Hunter!