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Saturday, January 31, 2009
REVOLUTIONARY ROAD IS AN EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTERSam Mendes has such a talent for making films about depressed people who
feel desperate and stuck. His dreamy and flush-colored drama about a young couple living in a Connecticut suburb during the
mid-1950s is a nice work of art. You would expect great performances from Kate and Leo but I really thought Michael Shannon
stole the show as the genius yet troubled son of Helen Givings played by Kathy Bates. This is a crafty drama brilliantly directed by Mendes. There were many frames of the film that could easily be displayed
in an art gallery. Just like "American Beauty", he can take a simple shot and make it compelling and memorable.
If you're looking for a bowl of laughs or a cup of cheer, this probably
won't be for you. If you appreciate intelligent dramas about real people struggling with the inner turmoil of life and
coping with very difficult realities, you will really like this movie.
7:47 pm cst
Friday, January 30, 2009
DON'T REINVENT THE BUSINESS WHEELThe speedy way to a successful business is by watching and learning from
your competitors. With taking the time to investigate what has made their business work, you will be able to discover
the best methods and improve upon their model. Here are a few ways to examine your competition: Watch and Ask: Observe your competitors both online and offline, or through word of mouth.
Don't hesitate to ask others about your competitors. Study
and Search: Look at your competitor's website and search other sites to see what they are doing and how they
are doing it. Find out what they are saying about their products and services. This will help you to see how they
use the Internet for advertising and as a marketing tool. Socialize
and Mingle: If you run an online business, consider joining social networking sites to follow or befriend your competitor.
If you primarily conduct business offline, consider attending like-industry seminars. Either way, this will afford you
opportunities to learn about your competitor in a non-threatening environment. Reputation and Integrity: Learn if your competitor lends a helping hand when needed or does he/she
bully their way around. Good character is something to mimic and will promote your business quicker than being nasty
or having a negative attitude. By understanding your competition,
you are essentially creating a successful business plan. Therefore, don't reinvent the business wheel. Just
watch what your competitors are doing and then do it better.
10:07 am cst
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
THINKING OF PRODUCING YOUR OWN VOICE OVER DEMO? THINK AGAIN!Trying to produce your own voice over demo is like hitting the accelerator
with the emergency brake on. I get inquiries on a daily basis from eager students who want to get into voice overs that think
they can produce it themselves. Take it from someone who recorded his first demo into a Panasonic boom box. Don't do it!
It is more important than ever that you have your demo produced by a professional voice over coach who knows the
industry inside and out and what kinds of voices are being hired. A coach that can hear what you're doing wrong and help
you make the necessary corrections. A coach that can select the right scripts that match your particular voice and style.
One of the main reasons this is so important, is because agents and producers always seem to remember the lousy demos
they receive. If you make the decision to do it yourself and then decide a couple of years later to get it done professionally,
you may not always get a second chance. It's imperative that you don't waste your time and their time.
6:28 pm cst
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