Another sign of the times - a new indie film site called The Auteurs is promoting itself at the Cannes Film Festival with a video competition sponsored by HP, Facebook and Flip. 250 people will get the chance to grab a Flip camera and shoot a 3 minute short film. The winner, as determined by a jury receives $10,000 cash and a HP workstation with a 30 inch display - plus you get to keep the camera. Don’t expect the resulting videos to be Cannes-worthy though since the Flip video camera is a small solid state consumer device that only shoots 640×480 video. It will be interesting to see how many people actually participate in this competition. I think this sort of stunt/promotion would be better suited to another film festival such as Slamdance .
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I just received an email directed to all SAG members giving an updated report to contract negotiations with the AMPTP. The top headline is:
The AMPTP Wants to Use Excerpts From TV Shows and Motion Pictures Without Actor’s Consent on the Internet….And Beyond
New Media is one of the biggest issues in contract negotiations. The studios still don’t know how to monetize video on the internet and are still experimenting with ventures such as Hulu at the same time making deals with various online video distribution companies including Apple/iTunes/AppleTV. I know of these issues first hand as a web developer who used to manage FX Networks and helped to establish their online video distribution of their shows using Brightcove. The key question that needs to be answered before royalties can be paid to actors for “internet use” is how do you track and control video views and distribution? This can get pretty tricky. Using Brightcove, there are built in metrics but other distribution services may not have these tools. And who will keep the studios honest? In my experience I’ve seen metric numbers be “adjusted” in order for a studio marketing team to sell more ad space or get bigger budgets for their group, so who’s to watch the studios and keep them honest as to how much royalties to pay back to the artist based on internet “views”?
For the savvy actor, this is actually an exciting time. Forget the bickering between SAG, AFTRA and AMPTP. This is the age of opportunity and empowerment. It has never been easier or cheaper for actors to be seen by larger audiences other than the 99-seat theater. If you’ve paid any attention to the video revolution on the internet you will know of the publicity and opportunities non-actors have received from stupid videos on YouTube. Entrepreneurial actors are already online creating brands - monetizing their creative work and creating bigger opportunities. Just read this article:
So what are you doing to take charge of your acting career? Why are you sitting around waiting for your agent to call? Go out and create your opportunities.
1 CommentIt’s been a long time since I’ve gone to a commercial print audition but tomorrow I will be going out for an IBM print job. I considered turning it down, but $1,500 for a 10 hour work day is actually more than I usually make doing freelance - so I figured why not?
0 CommentsThe top of my wishlist is to re-design this blog which I’ve neglected over the years. But in the meantime I’ve started another blog just for fun called “One Man’s Wishlist” which just lists stuff I’m interested in - from shoes to gadgets and everything in-between.
0 Comments5k : 32.35min. I was able to shave 1min off my last run by sprinting for 10 seconds after walking. I’m still not able to run the entire 5k, but I’ve vastly improved since the Navy Seals Fitness Challenge where it took me almost 20min to cover 1.5 miles. I’m also trying to change my running style to become a fore-foot striker and incorporate Pose running techniques. So I’m running about a mile on my forefoot and the rest of the time mid-foot staying conscious of where my feet land (so that I don’t over-stride) and listening to the sound of my feet as they hit the ground so that my feet are light and I’m not creating unnecessary friction between me and the ground.
0 CommentsFrom Yahoo Answers:
It depends on your sex
High School Boys: 15’s are excellent
16s are great(STATE qualifying)
17s are good
18s are average
19s are not good
20s are “Do you even try or Are you injured?”
15min??? That’s a 5min/mile pace! Right now that seems impossible to achieve since I can’t even complete a 5k without walking some of the distance. My goal is sub-20min. Then I’ll enter my first 5k competition.
0 Comments5k : 33.37min. I just picked up the Nike+ iPod sensor to start timing my runs. Even though I’m wearing New Balance RC1001 I made it work by sticking the sensor under my front laces.
0 CommentsHere are my final results for the Navy Seals Fitness Challenge:
| 500m swim* | Push-ups | Sit-ups | Pull-ups | 1.5 mile run | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEAL Competitive | 10:00 | 80 | 80 | 11 | 10:00 |
| SEAL Standard | 12:30 | 42 | 50 | 6 | 11:00 |
| ME | 13:36 | 55 | 64 | 7 | 19:36 |
*breast stroke or side-stroke only
Not too shabby since my only preparation was a 250m swim and 500m swim the previous week. My only complaint is that I was stuck in a swim lane with 2 slow swimmers ahead of me. I passed one guy but couldn’t get around the second guy which cost me making the SEAL standard time of 12:30. The running on the other hand, is something I knew I would have problems with. In the end, I was the last competitor on the track, but I didn’t care. I just wanted to complete the course no matter how long it took me. Plus, I have never run a 7min mile in my life - which is about the pace I would have needed to run in order to meet the standard. My running is awkward to begin with. I’m a total “heel-striker”, which according to my Google research, is the most bio-mechanically inefficient way to run. So I really need to work on my running. But overall I had a great time. I’ve caught the competition bug. Next stop, Ironman. 
Last minute studying and research for the Navy Seals Fitness Challenge this weekend (my time slot is on Sunday):
Breast Stroke:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2YN3irK1N8
Combat Swimmers Stroke
http://www.sealfitnesschallenge.com/swim.html
Proper running technique
http://style.uk.msn.com/getfit/sportandexercise/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5815561
http://www.posetech.com/library/pp-RW-0001.html
Inspiration
http://youtube.com/watch?v=j8vqYHLm7V4
Last week I signed up for the Navy Seal Fitness Challenge. It’s a free event sponsored by the Navy to see if you can pass the initial fitness test for entrance into the Navy Seals. Everyone thinks I’m crazy especially since the event is next Saturday, but I think I have a chance. The Seal standards are: 500m breast-stroke / side-stroke swim in 12.30min, 42 push-ups, 50 sit-ups, 6 pull-ups, and a 1.5 mile run in 11min. It’s been years since I’ve swam laps, but I’m pretty confident in my swimming. I can complete 42 push-ups and 50 sit-ups without too much problem (and even without resting), but I’ve never been a good runner so the 1.5 mile run in 11min would be a problem for me. I’m going to hit the pool this week just to re-acclimate myself to the water. It’ll be fun to compete. I want to start competing in athletic events like this anyway so this will be a good introduction.
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