Full Sail University

 

Full Sail University, does this school give you all the resources you need to succeed in the entertainment industry? 

I can answer this question, yes indeed.  FS is one of the best if not the best entertainment school to go through to receive your degree in the entertainment industry.  It doesn’t matter what you need to succeed, Full Sail is able to offer it to you.  I enrolled in Full Sail University back in 2009, I earned my BS degree in Entertainment Business and I went on to pursue my MS degree in the entertainment business.  It was a great experience and it gave me the skills that I need to make it in the industry.  I had hands on assignments that I was able to apply to my real life situations. 

I think that the most challenging part of Full Sail University is that the classes are crammed to give you the knowledge, and that’s what makes it challenging.  I am very excited that I will be graduating in the next few days.   

Full Sail offers a variety of courses for anyone who wants to get in the business, such as:

Entertainment Business

Game Design

 Computer animation

Creative writing

Film

Game art

Sports Marketing & Media

Recording arts

Recording engineering

Graphic design

 And many more……….

Full Sail University has many different courses.  I have learned everything that I needed to know to start my own business in the industry from behavior science to finances.   I am able to go back to FS as alumni and get any information that I may need.  It offers you an array of information to succeed.  They offer online interviews with people who are I the industry or who have worked in the industry for many of years.

Full Sail’s institutional graduation rate is 81% compared to 49% for all US higher education institutions.  The online classes contain and offer information that physical classrooms offer as well.  Full Sail University is a great school to attend.  It’s the best opportunity for an individual wanting to pursue a business in the entertainment industry.  You must have patience, organizational skills, and you cannot procrastinate you will never complete anything. 

360 DEAL

Heather McDonald of about.com defines The 360 Deal, as contracts that allow a record label to receive a percentage of the earnings of all of a bands activity instead of just record sales.  Under 360 deals, also called “multiple rights deals”, record labels may get a percentage of things that were previously off limits to them, like:

Concert revenue

Merchandise sales

Endorsement deals

Ringtones

http://musicians.about.com/od/ah/g/360deals.htm

It’s like a package deal offering concert booking, and merchandise sales, etc.  It is a deal with the record company, in which the record company participates in the income of all aspects of an artist career, in addition to making money off the records.  It seems to me that the label is also the artist manager; the label is involved in all deals of the artist revenue.  I believe this could be a good deal, the “one stop shop” you could call it, and the label with everything the artist will need to enhance the artist career. 

A good example is Live Nation; the Madonna deal was $120 million, Jay-Z signed a deal as well, with the concert promoter worth roughly $150 million.  Live nation is the promoter and the deal makes them the exclusive promoter.  Money is made from the concerts; merchandise sales (in which the sales are made through the website and at concerts), and touring.  This deal could be a win situation as long as the artist pays close attention to what comes with the deal. 

http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1727519,00.html

What is the most important part of a business plan?

The business plan is a document that helps to explain the concept of the company and to secure funding from investors; it gives the investors a view of the company. A great business plan will raise the capital needed to start your business. 

I believe the financial section of a business plan is the most important, because it gives the potential investor the breakdown of the financials and it also shows were the revenue is generated from.  It will give the investor the potential profit to be made off the project. 

According to expert Dave Lavinsky most business plans fail to raise money to get a company up and running.  Two reasons why companies develop a business plan is the game plan and the strategy says Lavinsky.  I think you must have a game plan and a strategy of how you plan on developing your business and how you plan to keep the company running and bringing in the revenue needed to satisfy your investors as well as grow the business. 

What I learned from the experts that I did research on is, the plan must be realistic and the plan must fit the needs of the industry.  The plan that I am in the process of developing has the potential to gain investors, because it clearly defines the company financial growth and it shows a steady growth within 3 years.  I was able to implement a few of the 8 factors that Tim Berry identified, it is a realistic plan, it can track results, and it fits the business need of the industry.  I will also use the business plan to do follow-up in the planning process and to ensure that the plan can be communicated to my staff so that the company runs smoothly.  The business plan clearly identifies the assumptions of the company and it gives a clear view for the potential investors. 

"Experts Views on the Value of Business Plans"

Dave Lavinsky and Jay Turo

Lavinsky and Turo used their market research, finance, and small business backgrounds plus their recently gained MBA skills and mentalities to systematically help these entrepreneurs succeed. Since that time, Lavinsky and Turo have built Growthink’s team, client base, and service and product offerings in pursuit of their mission of helping all entrepreneurs succeed.  http://www.growthink.com/about-us

Dave is an internationally renowned expert in the fields of business planning, capital-raising, and new venture development.  Over the past decade, Dave has guest lectured at top universities, developed over 100 business plans, and has written hundreds of articles on entrepreneurship, business planning and capital-raising.

According to Dave Lavinsky there are five attributes of successful business plans. Lavinsky states that there are two reasons why companies develop business plans, to determine the optimum strategy and game plan to grow their business and to raise money.  He goes on to say that most plans fail to raise the money needed to get the companies up and running.  SBA loans have decreased by 56% over the past 3 years. 

The 5 Key attributes of a winning business plan according to Lavinsky is:

1.     The right overall value proposition

2.     The right marketing and sales strategy

3.     The right business model

4.     Action plans developed from reverse engineering success

5.     They are communicated brilliantly

Tim Berry

Founder and chairman of Palo Alto Software and bplans.com, co-founder of Borland International, author of books and software on business planning, Stanford MBA. I believe in business planning but I don’t think a business plan is a document. I’m now chairman of Palo Alto Software, which in my case means blogging a lot, of course, also speaking, writing books, teaching, and helping you with business planning and entrepreneurship.  http://timberry.com/

Tim Berry states, “The value of a business plan is measured in money”.  Business plans are viewed as generic, but business plans can be utilized to get funding from investors, as well as being used as guidance for the company only.  He states that there are 8 factors that make a good business plan:  

1.     It fits the business need

2.     It’s realistic, and it can be implemented

3.     It’s specific, you can track results against plan

4.     It clearly defines responsibilities for implementation

5.     It clearly identifies assumptions

6.     Its communicated to the people who have to run it

7.     It gets people committed

8.     It’s kept alive by follow up and planning process

 A business plan should be followed an updated regularly to benefit the company.  The most important part of the plan is, if it fits your need and is it realistic.  Following the plan can help the company run smoothly.  Berry states that, “ No business plan is good if it’s static and inflexible”.  A good plan is communicated to all parties involved in executing the business. 

http://timberry.bplans.com/2009/02/some-key-questions-on-business-plans.html

Christian "Brooklyn Bonez" Robinson

Introducing: "Brooklyn Bonez"

Photo: Picture People (Dover Mall)

It takes that special something for an artist to succeed in today's hip hop market of the music industry.  Not many people know about the sacrifice, struggle and willingness to lose friends and gain enemies in order to succeed in life.  A new face emerges with eager spirit with the talent of artists that have made incredible marks in the industry, Brooklyn Bonez.  He is an American rapper of Panamanian and African American descent. He grew up in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, New York. Breaking into the music industry with no fear and with an open mindset he has the potential to be among the elite.

Using the over popular outlets of today's media Brooklyn Bonez has used these outlets as a way to broadcast his talents, with several videos on YouTube and random freestyles recorded. He is simultaneously and currently finishing up his debut mix tape entitled "I WANT IN" (the title is self explanatory).  Brooklyn Bonez has the work ethic of a man who lives, breathes, and eats his passion he also has two follow up mix tapes, the titles he will not disclose. BrooklynBonez is no stranger to a hustle or a grind or a sacrifice, he says his inspiration in music comes from Jay-Z, Jadakiss, and 2Pac, B.I.G., Fabulous J.Cole and Drake in no specific order.

Brooklyn Bonez also has the ability to be one of the most sought after actors in the entertainment industry; he has attended acting classes to enhance his skills as an actor.  He also played in several stage plays, but his desire is too one day play on the big movie screens in Hollywood.

What Brooklyn Bonez brings to the game is honesty, not ashamed to mention or boast about attending college or his goals to own his own businesses; he also is a believer of God but clearly states that he is not perfect. Not wanting to fall into the current norm of chasing a dream he would like to turn his desires into a reality.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgggpOHcbsc

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1470698615

New Up and Coming Artist/Actor: Greg “International Grizzly” Jones

My new up and coming artist, and his name is Greg “International Grizzly” Jones. “International Grizzly” may be a new emcee to the nation but he’s a veteran to the entertainment industry. Born in the projects of South Philadelphia, “International Grizzly” learned how to take care of himself at an early age.

In the era of hot beats and punch lines “International Grizzly” has the raw edge and aggressiveness of rappers from the South and West Coast. The sound of the Philadelphia rap scene is mix of Street Soul and Hip Hop that is originated from the Philadelphia blue-collar attitude, along with the soul music that the city of brotherly love is known for.

“International Grizzly” is a man from the streets who has refined himself and his craft. If anyone can authenticate the true Philly Street Soul sound and bring it to the world, it’s “International Grizzly”.
 
Greg Jones is also a seasoned and experienced independent actor starring in a role of a street hustler named “Calvin” in the movie THE ONLY WAY OUT. That Independent Award winning performance has paved the way for Greg to take lead and star in a new movie called MURDER WITH A DEADLY.

International Grizzly has performed at different venues and nightclubs throughout the city of Philadelphia.  His best endeavor yet, he was chosen to perform in the UROCK tour scheduled to begin in May 2012.  Robert Curry will host the tour from the platinum selling group “Day 26” from MTV's Making the Band 4.  This is just the beginning of a fast rising career for Grizzly; it will bring him recognition that he is so deserving of. 

Be on the look out for “International Grizzly” coming to a city near you.  Like him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

http://www.facebook.com/InternationalGrizzly

https://twitter.com/#!/Intergrizzly

http://urocktour.com/

http://www.reverbnation.com/Internationalgrizzly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMIlg_rs630

Industry Experts

Mark Litwak


Entertainment Attorney Mark Litwak Gives Us A New Look Into Hollywood - Filmnut
Mark Litwak an entertainment lawyer whom works with filmmakers. His practice includes trademark, copyright, contract, multi media law, intellectual property, and book publishing. He assist filmmakers in the marketing and distribution of their film.

Litwak advices that the film industry is a risky business and you must be willing to realize the path you must take to succeed; “there are no rules”. He advice; you must have a good story to tell if you are a filmmaker. If the story is boring, it will not capture the attention of anyone, and it will fail. You must have a creative marketing plan to get your film out. Niche films can be successful, “word of mouth is the best form of marketing”. Social networking is the key to getting the word out about a film; rather it’s a hit or a flop. A filmmaker should always have a lawyer or an adviser before signing a contract, because most distributors are aggressive as Litwak states “ sleazy” and most contracts benefit the distributors and not the filmmaker; you must research their track record from others.

Writers has a hard time to get agents because agents are looking for established writers who can get the sales, according to Litwak it is “very-very hard to get an agent”, he says it better to get a filmmaker to take on your project of turning a book to a movie.

To succeed in the film industry as the writer or the filmmaker, you must be creative and create something that grabs the audience attention, as well as finding an advisor such as an lawyer, agent or someone who will assist you in finding the best resources to get your film distributed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NryrU1uwqPI


Daniel Friedma

Music Industry Forum -- Daniel Friedman -- Artist Contracts

Daniel Friedman and entertainment lawyer who began working with rap groups, his law firm complained that he was bringing too many rappers to the office; he began expanding and growing. Friedman brought more and more artists in, the law firm told him he needed to drop his clients or leave the practice. Friedman refused and he said, “I’m out of here” he packed up and started his own practice.

Friedman discusses the copyright laws; ‘the copyright holder can reproduce the work, and no one can record, publish or put in movies without copyright holder permission”. According to Friedman, a copyright can create from another work, such as Weird Al Yonkervich, which would be called derivative works. The owner owns the copyright always according to Friedman, when an artist signs a contract with a label, the record company becomes the owner of the copyright except for the underlining composition.

When understanding copyright laws, the artist should seek the assistance or advice of an entertainment lawyer, because it can become puzzling trying to understand when you will need permission from the copyright holder to utilize other people music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXtws-zVhzE&feature=related


 

Gordon Firemark

Monkeying around with contracts

Gordon Firemark entertainment lawyer discusses the lawsuit of Caters News agency claimed that they purchased portraits and other images taken by a black macaques (monkey) who took the camera of David Slater, a photographer and shot self-portraits of herself.  Slater licensed the pictures to Caters; the pictures were placed on a website (www.dailymailoline.com).  Caters claims that it was a violation of the copyright law, but the law states that it must be human authorship.  Caters had no claim. 

This case is bizarre because even though Slater didn’t own the copyright for the pictures, he does own original digital files, and he can sell or license the material to others, is this considered underlining composition?

http://www.entertainmentlawupdate.com/2011/08/elu-episode-023-monkeying-around-with-copyright-law/#more-771

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2011051/Black-macaque-takes-self-portrait-Monkey-borrows-photographers-camera.html#ixzz1mFNaPQks