Celebrate National Old Stuff Day and Do Something Different!

Today is National Old Stuff Day! At this point you must be thinking what is it and why do Americans need a day for everything?

National Old Stuff Day has plenty of disagreement about what the day actually means, but here are the different meanings and you can choose for yourself:

National Old Stuff Day is…

- a day to stop doing the same old stuff and do something different in life.

- a day to clear out the clutter and make way for the new.

- a day to celebrate things that are old and dear to you.

To address the issue of Americans having days for everything I would like to think that it keeps ordinary lives interesting, teaches new things in extraordinary ways, brings awareness to the mundane and is just plain entertaining.

And on that note I’m going to celebrate National Old Day by doing a few things:

1. Do something new. See a new movie, cause after all I do work in the industry.

2. Value the old. (Hmm, this one is tricky, do I visit the experienced parents? Notice I didn’t say old, I said experienced, in case any family members are reading this. Or see an old movie like Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat, because today is also Dr Seuss day!

3. And clear clutter. I have tons of things I can donate and help give those items new homes.

Sounds like a win-win!

ACTION POINT: What are you going to do today?

SUGGESTIONS: If you work in TV, Video or Film, check out the newest issues happening and how they are changing your work. Or if you work in other creative areas see what new techniques or workshops are publicized and how it will benefit your business.

I’d love to hear about your efforts and share in the process. Tweet me @suzettemariel or leave a comment.

Image http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/Television_Video_and_g178-Red_Retro_TV_p42960.html

Hollywood Post Alliance gives you what you need to be current in production and post

Do you work in production or post production? And yes this includes you media stylists, hair designers, makeup artists and actors. This post is for you. This week I had the privilege to attend the Hollywood Post Alliance in Palm Springs, Ca.

If you work in TV, film or video you know how important it is to stay current on the latest information in the industry. HPA is the platform to stay current, be a part of making change, sharing knowledge with others and more. Massive amounts of tech information flowed from various stages and breakout sessions covering archiving data, working in RAW, managing workflow, IMF, audio, file based workflow, foreign language translation and the impact on TRT, higher frame and technical aspects, asset management in production, centralized broadcasting, workflow for mixing in Dolby, color correction LUTs and more.

As a freelancer, one of the great things about conferences is learning new techniques and tips for being more efficient in your workflow, managing systems, implementation of presented ideas, clarification of processes and introduction to new products and loads more. But what does this mean for the actor or the makeup artist or the sound guy who works at the local level and is a freelancer? Well, let me tell you, the higher ups who are making the policy decisions and updates will demand change on how you do your job. You must learn how new systems and cameras, such as the release of BlackMagic Design’s new Cinema Camera will or can input or output audio, how the BMDCC will change how you style hair, how technology can make acting in a dangerous scene safer through the use of CGI and other new industry developments that arise everyday.

Everything I’ve stated seems common knowledge, but believe me, many new people in the industry and a few veterans haven’t updated their toolkits and aren’t familiar with the changing landscape of the industry. Things are ever evolving and it’s our job to change and keep up as well.

Action Point:
Now is the time to dust of the old ways, build new skills or update the old ones. Check out what conferences are happening in your industry and attend them. Be a part of what’s happening, instead of letting life happen to you. Make it a goal to attend at least one conference a year.

National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) in Las Vegas, Nevada is coming up next, will you be joining me there?

Connect with me on twitter @suzettemariel or Facebook and get the latest news on happenings in the TV, Film and Video Industry.

Happy heart day means love yourself too!

It’s Valentine’s Day and what better way to celebrate love than taking care of yourself? So often as freelancers and small business owners we work more hours than we do taking care of ourselves.

So today and at least once during each month take time for yourself and discover what you can do to honor yourself . Still not convinced? Check out this collaborative blog post that I participated in with 24 other business experts discussing extreme self care and why you deserve to help yourself first.

http://www.margodegange.com/2013/02/extreme-self-care/

Share with me what you do to take care of yourself first. I would love to be able to implement your ideas and learn some new techniques. After all isn’t that what  life should be about, sharing, learning and exploring?

Feel free to decide what social media site works best for you to connect with me on:

twitter @suzettemariel or Facebook www.facebook.com/Mariel.Suzette

5 great ways to start the marketing of your film

 

I just finished 2 days of shooting a short film I co-directed and produced with OneRiver Media and prior to shooting I did some research to decide how best to market my film. Big name production companies have full PR/marketing departments to get the word out and create buzz for their project, but small indie films like mine have to do it all themselves. For a start here are five great ways to begin marketing your film.

1. Logo – Capture the essence of your film with a great logo. Never underestimate the power of a logo to create a visual identity that the audience will connect with. It must be something that immediately strikes a chord in the heart of the moviegoer. Pay close attention to colors that will make an impactful statement. Think of red for horror movies and blue tones for action movies.

Check out American Horror Story and their use of red in their logo. http://www.fxnetworks.com/ahs/ The use of red adds the element of blood and violence to its logo.

On the lighter side of things look at how Ice Age chose to use blue in its logo to define the edges and added a 3D effect to the font. http://www.iceagemovies.com/us/ The color capitalizes on the theme of water, hence the use of blue.

For more in formation about the uses of color, view this link http://www.colormatters.com/color-symbolism/color-symbolism-theories

2. Trailer – Your trailer should be, in a few words, DRAMA, COMEDY, TENSION and MEMORABLE. Creating a trailer for your short film is one of the most crucial elements toward marketing your film. What you include and what you leave on the cutting room floor will determine if your audience will hand over their hard earned cash to see what you have to offer. Know specifically what category your film belongs to and cut the trailer towards that end result. Add key words from the movie that give the audience something to connect with and couple it with high impact scenes and you will have yourself something worth viewing.

3. Print/Marketing materials – Most movies have print and other types of marketing materials to create visuals that coincide with the film. Indie films should be no different in this respect. Create postcards, posters, stickers, standees or whatever to get the word out about your film. Create some promotional giveaways to entice viewers to connect with your social media and follow the films progress. Which brings me to, the use of social media for film.

4. Social Media Vimeo/YouTube – Creating attention online is a great way to gain attention and attract followers to your film. The big three, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are always a good start to get the marketing ball rolling. However there are more social media outlets available to garner attention. Check out the following and see how they might contribute to your marketing potential: Vimeo, Pinterest, Google+, Foursquare, Tumblr and Instagram.

5. Forums/ Groups/ Networks – The marketing fun doesn’t stop at social media. If you belong to any forums, online industry groups or online networks, these places are a great way to share your film. But a word of advice, don’t spam the groups with blatant promotional posts and links. Find a more subtle way to educate and entertain your colleagues by creating posts that share what your learned or challenges you had to get them interested in what’s on screen as well as behind-the-scenes. LinkedIn has a variety of groups available in the filmmaking community, as does Facebook. Choose groups that closely resemble the niche that you are involved with. Be active in the group and support other filmmakers works. Grow your network through engagement rather than solely relying on self promotion.

So there you have it, a quick sure fire way to start promoting your film.  I’d love to hear what you are doing to be creative in your endeavors, leave a comment or questions. Contact me for a setting up a private consultation to strategize for your film.

 

Go forth and be creative!

 

 

Image credit: Posterize  http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/agree-terms.php?id=10053564

 

Promotional poster of American Horror Story. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

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• 10 Feature Films You Didn’t Realize Started As Shorts (flavorwire.com)
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CASTING NOTICE- MALE ACTOR SF Bay Area Jan 2013

Casting Notice- MALE ACTORS

Looking for one dark haired male aged 30-40 years old and one light haired male 50-70 years old for principal role in short film, primarily funded by Blackmagic Design and OneRiver Media. More info and updates on Suzette Mariel FB page.

Shoot to be held January 17-18, 2013 with the possibility of one other shoot date TBA. All locations shot within the SF Bay Area.

THIS IS A PAID, NON-UNION JOB. Pay scale is determined by experience. You will receive screen credit and financial compensation.

This film is scheduled for viewing at film festivals, the SF Supermeet, Atlanta Cutters, NAB, Hollywood Post Alliance Tech Retreat, Editor’s retreat in Cancun, Mexico, and various additional workshops and presentations associated with Blackmagic Design Cinema Camera.

Please contact Suzette@suzettemariel.com if you are available and interested. Please submit a professional digital headshot, and I will get back to you with an audition time.

Include your name, email address, phone number, website if available, headshot, and a photo that shows your physique, and acting resume.

You may contact Suzette Mariel directly for more information. Subscribe to the Suzette Mariel FB page to follow the updates associated with this film, future projects, events and workshops.

No cards for you at Christmas

No cards for Christmas, but that doesn’t mean I’m Scrooge.

I made the resolution years ago, to stop sending “Christmas cards”, but that doesn’t mean I’m Scrooge, anti-holiday or broke. What it actually comes down to, is less stress. And isn’t that what life should be about?

Sending out gifts or cards for a productive new year, is easier and less offensive then sending Christmas gifts and running the risk of offending someone’s personal holiday. In business its always good practice to include everyone. It’s also cheaper because you no longer need to get it there by December 25th with million dollar overnight postage. So I’m putting the American version of Christmas on the banned list and sticking with the more inclusive holiday of New Year’s.

A new mantra…I choose to live with less stress, enjoy life more, live better and healthier.

If you and I have made a personal connection and I have your address, chances are something is coming in your mailbox to kick off the New Year in a sparkling clean fashion. “hint, hint”

Regardless of the holiday you celebrate, I wish everyone a wonderful moment in time and a very productive, successful, happy and prosperous New Year!

12 Goals on 12-12-12 for the new year

 

Today is 12-12-12, what are you doing to make it special?

I thought about it for awhile and want to do something that would last for the entire year. I want something that was not  for an evening but something that would actually make a difference in my life and other’s as well. It’s an unusual date and to commemorate this date I want to set 12 goals for the new year for myself. And what better way to approach goal setting then to hold yourself accountable by putting your goals out to you the readers of this blog.

So here goes my 12 goals for the new year:

1.  Uplevel my business with my new mentor
2. Finish the details for my two books and get them ready for  publication
3. Double my involvement with my charities, and start my on charitable efforts
4. Take more vacations (Yes that’s right, I need to plan some relaxation time with all of the goals I plan to achieve.
5. Create a workshop/seminar for new freelancers
6. Use more recycled products in my business
7. Offset my carbon footprint
8. Increase the number of books I read
9. Attend more conferences
10.  Network more with like-minded individuals ( A few months ago I joined the NAPW- National Association for Professional  Women. I’m looking forward to getting to know the group better in my local chapter.
11.  Launch physical products that benefit social and environmental issues
12.  Meditate, journal and be in harmony more with myself

 

Thanks for being a part of my goal setting session for next year. I’m looking forward to making changes that will not only do myself some good but others as well.

Please feel free to connect with me and let me know if you plan to make any goals for the new year. Let me know how I can help you reach new heights in your business.

 

Check out this other articles and find out what others are doing on this memorable day.

Photocredit: Simon Howden

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Simple pleasures give you peace of mind in your business day

Simple Pleasures Morning Ritual

Most business days start with emails, phone calls, proposals, and invoices to send out, it’s an overwhelming feeling before your day even gets started. There’s a way to get around the hectic brain overload. It’s something I call simple pleasures.

Are you curious about how to make these simple pleasures work for you in your business? If yes then let’s get started.

Simple business pleasures essentially are finding ways to enjoy the process while focusing on the end result. Here are a few examples about what it means to create the experience of simple pleasures.

Create a ritual that you follow first thing in the morning before starting your business day. Doing something for yourself each day in the morning starts your day off feeling strong and empowered.  Start with your list of tasks that need to be accomplished and grab yourself a tall, sweet and creamy latte while you’re working on your morning routine.  We all know how caffeine can get your day jump started with a jolt. If you need a smoother entry to your day then try a fruit juice or a smoothie. It’s all about creating a simple pleasure that can be introduced in your morning ritual to make you feel strong and empowered.

Another suggestion, is to plan your breaks into your workload. Just before you start a high powered meeting take a break before you start. During the break find a quiet spot with a pleasant atmosphere, and create a sense of well being within yourself and positive focus around the topic of your meeting. This simple pleasure helps build a sense of peace within you before the meeting. It helps you stay on topic and builds a buffer between you and any frustration that may arise during the meeting due to outside sources of stress. Use the memory of the break, to bring yourself back to a state of wellbeing, and carry on with the meeting feeling recharged.

When uploading articles and information to your social media sites choose articles that are in your industry that really speak to you. The simple pleasure of reading a well-written article can spur ideas that generate more business or exposure for you company or product and your audience will like them as well.

Simple pleasures are the key to life but can also be a source of empowerment in business. Find ways to incorporate sources of joy in your work process.

 

Share with me what you do to create simple pleasures. I can always use some new sources of business pleasure. Tweet me @suzettemariel or share on my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Mariel.Suzette

 

ACTION POINT: Create a morning business ritual and begin your journey to empowerment.

 

 

photocredit: Notebook and coffee by Sura Nuaplradid

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Monday motivation – The world needs what only you have to offer

The worlds needs what only you have to offer.

Feeling a little down today? Look at the following people who never gave up and reached their dream despite setbacks:

J.K. Rowling author of Harry Potter, was separated and raising a child alone and jobless, became divorced but still pursued her dream of writing and went on to continued success.

Jean-Michel Basquiat – Modern American Artist who battled drug addiction, and homelessness to go on and achieve international artist status.

Jim Carrey (actor) during his teenage years his family slept in their VW van before his rocket to success. Jim Carrey is an actor, comedian, writer, producer and runs his own charity called Better U. http://www.betterufoundation.org

John Woo (Director-Mission Impossible 2 and Face Off) was homeless at age 7. During a fire that broke out on Christmas day it destroyed his home and the homes of 50,000 other residents in China. He still went on despite hardships as a child to become a world famous director of top selling movies.

Paul Roget didn’t go through life broke only miserable until his break through. We all use his product today. At the age of 61 he invented the thesaurus and twelve years later produced the first thesaurus book in print.

Never give up what you are meant to do, there is something the world needs and only you have it.

Sending out my best positive motivation to you to get through today and on to tomorrow and your destiny. Send me a shout out on twitter @suzettemariel and let me know how you get motivated.

Photocredit 3d earth by Chrisroll

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Success Saturday