Look Familiar?

-by Dan dos Santos



A few years ago, a student of mine sent me an email letting me know that she saw one of my paintings in a movie she had watched. I've had a -lot- of people tell me similar things, and I usually dismiss it since those people are usually my Mom and Dad and tend to think anything remotely SFF related must have been created by me. But this person was a student of mine, and intimately familiar with my work, so I felt it worth looking into.



That student was kind enough to mail me a copy of the DVD, a rather large budgeted Bollywood movie called Saawariya. I was expecting to see, at worst (or best, depending upon your perspective), one of my paintings hanging on a wall as a camera quickly panned past it. I was pretty shocked to see that within the first few minutes of the film, my painting 'Shiva's Crown' appeared not as a small piece of background art, but as a massive stage backdrop.

My first reaction was 'Whoa!', quickly followed by, 'Wait... WTF?' I was never contacted about this usage, let alone paid for it!



Now, I've had clients stiff me for payment in the past, and it usually just takes a few nasty phone calls before they finally pay up. But this was something totally different. This wasn't a commission whose invoice was just past due... this was blatant copyright infringement on a global scale. I realized I was going to have to sue Sony Pictures, and I cringed. I have never sued anyone before, let alone a massive corporation like Sony, and had no idea what it entailed. I just envisioned myself going broke taking the case to court, only to be squashed by the massive legal team of the 'Big Bad Corporation'.



Luckily, that's not how it went down at all, and I'd like to share with you a few things I learned through the experience.



The first thing I did was find a Lawyer who specialized in entertainment. I ran a few Google searches, and found a guy in LA who handled just these sort of cases. He gave me two options;

1: Pay him his hourly fee to write a letter to Sony and hope they cough up the money. If they don't, continue to pay him his hourly fee to pursue the case.

2: Pay him nothing, but give him 30% of the awarded damages should we win any.



Not knowing how long something like this could go on for, I thought it best to choose option 2.



My Lawyer had me watch the movie and document every instance where my painting appeared on screen, as well as clock the total running time of those appearances. I also had to send him proof that the painting in question had be created before the movie went into production. Luckily, the painting was used as the flyer for a gallery show I was part of back in 2003.



He then proceeded to write a letter to Sony describing the infringement, demanding payment, and threatening them with legal action if said payment wasn't remitted. Sony, in turn, stated that they were not legally responsible for any infringement since the were just the producers, not the creators, and that the creators of the film had signed waivers, making them the guilty party. This actually discouraged my Lawyer quite a bit, since this means we had to hunt down the studio in India that created the film, and that the infringement was now subject to that country's laws.



We found the studio responsible, and once again my Lawyer wrote a letter demanding payment. Surprisingly, they replied very promptly, were very apologetic, and sent payment immediately in order to avoid any legal action.



The sum I received as compensation was more than fair, and certainly much more than I would have charged them had they simply asked permission in the first place. I did not receive a Zillion dollars however, as I'm sure my Lawyer was hoping. I don't know that I would even want to receive an unfair amount of compensation (simply on moral grounds), but a few things prevented that from happening anyways.



The biggest hurdle in receiving compensation was that I had never registered the image with the US Copyright Office. There seems to be a lot of confusion surrounding copyrights, so I thought I would clarify a few things. Firstly, every image an Artist creates is instantly copyrighted the moment it is created. The Copyright office does not grant copyrights, it registers them. The purpose of this registry is for just these sort of cases. If someone infringes a copyright, you have proof that you own the copyright, and that they were either negligent, or were aware of the deliberate infringement since the image is on file. If you have not registered the image, the culprit can claim ignorance, and is held far less responsible. Basically, we have laws about this stuff... but if you can't prove a law was broken, then there is no crime. Hence, the need for a registry.



If you have not registered your image, you can only sue for the fee you would have initially charged, plus a little extra to serve as a future deterrent. Without the deterrent, people would always steal their images hoping to never get caught, and if they did, the only repercussion would be having to pay what they would have had to in the first place. If the image is unregistered, you can not sue for amounts over $30,000, and you can not be compensated for legal fees.



All this changes if you've registered your image.

If your image is registered, meaning the infringement can be proven as deliberate, you can sue for up to $150,000 per instance, as well as all legal fees incurred. Further more, the judge can serve an injunction, stopping the movie from being released in theatres or sold as DVDs until the the matter is settled. Not being able to release a movie would be a financial disaster for the studio, so they would likely settle for any amount you asked.



So the lesson in all of this is, even though you own the copyright to everything you create, it is in your best interest to register that copyright. Now, you must be saying to yourself, 'I've created hundreds of images... wouldn't that cost a fortune to register them all?' The answer is 'no'. You can print a single book containing all of your work, and register that book. All images contained therein would then be copyrighted as well. The only downside to this is that the effective date of those copyrights would be when the book was created, regardless of how old any image inside of it was.



To make it even easier, you can now register your images in the form of a PDF through email.

Go here for more info: http://www.copyright.gov/

"Make Out With Violence" DVD

Tom's Corner:



Make-Out With Violence
(The Deagol Brothers 2008)



Well, it's been nearly a month since I've written a review. I'd like to say that this is due to an amazing series of incidents involving time-travel, explosions and a swashbuckling adventure, but really, it's due to snow. If you live in the northeast, you know what I mean. Also my car died, and that was an ordeal. But you don't come here to hear my problems, you come here for film reviews and pie (we're out of pie, by the way...sorry). So here's a review of the Deagol Brothers first film, “Make-Out With Violence.”

I will just say that I loved this movie. It was well shot, tightly edited and the actors gave stellar performances. Narrator and the youngest person in the movie, Brett Miller plays Beetle, the youngest of the three Darling brothers. Co-writers Eric Lehning and Patrick DeVos play Patrick and Carol Darling, twin brothers who live with Beetle and their father, who is largely absent. Leah High plays their friend Addy, who Carol has unrequited feelings for. Tia Shearer plays Anne Haran, who pines for Carol. Jordan Lehning is Rody, the best friend and “coolest guy they knew.” And then, there's Wendy (Shellie Marie Shartzer). Wendy disappears before the movie's start, and her funeral is an important part of the opening. Seen mostly in flashbacks, Wendy is the person who leaves a hole in the lives of all her friends, especially Patrick, who has strong feelings for her.

After the funeral, Beetle and Carol go out to a field to look for cicadas...and find Wendy, strung between two trees and seemingly dead. She's actually some bizarre form of zombie, who only moves sometimes (otherwise appearing as a full-on corpse) but has a hunger for living flesh all the same.

The boys take her home, and later, after filling in Patrick, take her to Rody's, since he has left for the summer. This is where things take a turn for the creepy. Anne Haran is hitting on Carol, and Carol wants nothing to do with it (their “date” is hilarious). Carol wants Addy, but she wants Brian (Josh Duensing), Wendy's boyfriend, but he's distraught over his loss. Patrick, meanwhile, wants alone time with Wendy, which gives Carol the creeps, so he decides to employ Beetle to spy on him. Patrick needs Carol to be busy and out of the way, so he gives him a list of ways to get Addy to like him. Everything culminates the night of a house party, when secrets begin to bubble to the surface.

If you're a fan of zombie horror, this is not your movie. If you like coming of age movies, you may be into this. I am not 100% sure just what I make of it, but I did enjoy watching it, and if you give it a chance, you may too.

- Tom

DVD EXTRAS:

Deleted and Extended Scenes
Deleted Score
Commentary
Behind the Scenes
“My Saturday is now ruined” featurette
Radio Spots
Soundtrack Performance Videos
Booklet with Essays (and a wonderful cover that is reminiscent of Daniel Clowes)

A Teaser

by Arnie Fenner

I try not to talk about Spectrum too much here on Muddy Colors—though sincerely appreciate it that others have and really want to deeply thank everyone that recently participated in #18—simply because we have an official website already (maintained by our capable son, Arlo Burnett, and administrative assistant, Jackie Miles).

But there are a couple of Spectrum-related things in the offing that are part-and-parcel with what we've been trying to do all along and which I think will be of interest to many visitors here. Honestly, I'm pretty excited about them. Though the second bit of news will have to hold for at least a few days until some of the niggling details are ironed out (it's worth waiting for, trust me), the first...well, the first is something we want everyone to start talking about. It's sort of a "preview" announcement, I guess, but with these sorts of things it's never too early to set the wheels turning—and part of that process is in reaching out. We want opinions. We want in-put. We want suggestions. Because Spectrum has always been about community, about all of the artists joining together to call attention to our profession, to what we do. And what is this great and mysterious something we want people to start talking about?

We've reserved the Grand Ballroom in the Kansas City Convention Center—46,000+ square feet of first-class exhibition space. We're also looking to rent either the adjacent Folly Theater or the nearby Midland Theater for a special event one night—the live presentation of that year's (#19's) Spectrum Award winners. Hotels and restaurants (cheap or expensive) and bars and theaters are all within short walking distance of the convention center. Our goal is to create an art faire for fantastic creators of all stripes and all sensibilities—a gathering of the tribes, so to speak—where they can sell their work to the public without competing with movie studios and Playboy bunnies and actors for attention. A central locale that won't break the bank to get to, show at, stay or eat at. A venue where artists can socialize with their contemporaries and peers, workshop, share, and promote. A place where fans and collectors of all manner of fantastic art—for comics and books and films and the gallery market—can meet their favorites and buy originals and prints. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students to meet and be inspired by some of the legends in our field. A, once again, community...coming together to celebrate our field and our craft, to help tell people first-hand what the fantastic arts are all about. Details—the hows, the whys, the wheres, and, yes, the cost—will be released in the weeks ahead. But in the meantime, a question:

What do you think a "fantastic art convergence" should include?

Discuss. Please.

"Uptown" in The Baltimore Examiner

Corey Williams of The Baltimore Examiner wrote a cool piece about our 2nd feature film, Brian Ackley's Uptown (Special Edition DVD can be purchased HERE).

Here is some of it below:



"'What are you doing with the salt' is Ben’s response when he is on his first date with Isabel. Isabel’s interesting response is the beginning of a wonderful independent film. “Uptown” is an independent film directed by Brian Ackley. The films focus is on Ben (Chris Riquinha) who has been single for a long time. Ben finds himself attracted to Isabel (Meissa Hampton) on their first date. Before the date is over Isabel opens up about her past five years and her present living conditions which throw Ben off balance."

Read the full piece HERE.

Francis Ford Coppola: On Risk, Money, Craft & Collaboration

I just found this awesome little interview with film maker Francis Ford Coppola (via Boing Boing).

http://the99percent.com/articles/6973/Francis-Ford-Coppola-On-Risk-Money-Craft-Collaboration



A lot of what he has to say is incredible apropos across many creative fields, including illustration.

He also hits on a lot of topics that we have been speaking about quite recently here on Muddy Colors.



"The cinema language happened by experimentation – by people not knowing what to do. But unfortunately, after 15-20 years, it became a commercial industry. People made money in the cinema, and then they began to say to the pioneers, 'Don’t experiment. We want to make money. We don’t want to take chances.'



An essential element of any art is risk. If you don’t take a risk then how are you going to make something really beautiful, that hasn’t been seen before? I always like to say that cinema without risk is like having no sex and expecting to have a baby. You have to take a risk. "

What Actors Need to Know Re: Resumes and Rejection

As part of the Back Stage video series "Short Cuts," casting director Bernie Telsey, of Telsey + Company, explains what actors need to know to further their careers on stage and screen. This includes some vital information on resumes and what to do about rejection.

It's not too late!!!!

The Spectrum call for entries deadline is TODAY.

If you haven't sent out your entries yet, it's not too late... Entries need only be postmarked by the end of the day.



Don't have a quality printer?

Go to your local Wal-Mart with a CD, and print your images using the one hour service. Or, use the Kodak Instant Picture Maker. Both produce great quality prints, are quite color accurate, and relatively inexpensive. A single print will run you between $3 - $5.



The Kodak machine prints on extra glossy paper which can be a bit hard to view under certain lighting. Given the choice, I'd opt for the one hour service, which prints on a satin Fuji paper. For the first several years that I entered Spectrum (and got in), these are the type of prints I submitted.



Worried about packing your prints?

Use your local post office. The 8x10 photo prints will fit easily into a flat rate Priority Mail envelope.

You can fit a ton of them in there, as well as a sheet of cardboard for added durability, and it still costs just $5.



So go for it!

You've got 17 hours left, and times-a-wastin!

Inspiration: FASHION

-by Dan dos Santos



Costume design is an integral part of any good fantasy illustration.



A good costume can be the main driving force of a composition, or it can be used to add a deeper backstory to your character. Either way, it's importance is not to be understated.

I gained an intense interest in fashion starting back in High School. Though, you wouldn't guess it by looking at me now, since I rarely get out of my pajamas these days. I do however still maintain that interest, and try to implement it's influence in my work whenever I can.

Two of my favorite designers, by far, are Jean Paul Gaultier and the late Alexander McQueen.



Jean Paul Gaultier, born in 1952, is a staple in the world of fashion.  Pioneering the use of unconventional models, like those that are heavily tattooed, pierced, transgender and even obese, he made a huge impact on the fashion world in the 1980's. He is self-taught, and is best know for his edgy, almost futuristic look. Relying heavily on leather and often utilizing a lot of metal in his designs, his work is perfect inspiration for the SFF artist. It's no wonder he was selected as the lead clothing designer for films such as 'The Fifth Element' and 'The City of Lost Children'.



Some of my favorite Gaultier designs:

Another one of my favorites is Alexander McQueen. Alexander managed to make a major impact on the industry in a very short time before he committed suicide last year at the age of 40. For me, Gaultier is a master of texture... but McQueen is the master of textile. He could take fairly simple patterns, and make them absolutely extraordinary with just the use of color. Pure, unadulterated design. Alexander is the perfect example of the old adage 'Less is more'. It's a shame we won't get to see where he would have taken it.

Obviously the work of these two men span much more than what is shown here. I implore you seek out more. If you have any personal favorites, please share them with us in the comments section.

Charm: A Pro Actor's Secret Weapon

JoeEdelman.com's Bob Fraser, a career writer, director, producer and author, has a condensed word of advice for actors transitioning into the pros.

"I am often asked what I think is the most important characteristic of a successful actor. Usually I answer with one word. 'Nice.'

You’ve heard the evidence of this, if you’ve spent any time in the industry (or on the East Coast, the business.) “He’s such a charming guy.” “She’s just delightful.” A “joy to work with.” You hear this sort of thing about actors who are working regularly. Oh, talent is important — but being a nice, charming person is the secret to working regularly. No matter how you behave, you will get a reputation in our “small town.”

There is the flip side (often expressed by out of work actors): “I’ve heard that he’s a snake” — or other equally unprovable and generally negative comments that you will hear about actors who have jobs — usually said by people who don’t have those jobs. This sort of rumor-mongering just proves the point. Actors who are working are usually the subject of wannabe conversations and the first thing that is attacked is their personal reputation.

Watch all the actors who have jobs and see how they behave. I guarantee you that a significant majority of working actors are nice as pie. Sure, there are those surly, unkempt and dismissive types — but it has been my observation (after more than 40 years working in the industry AND the business) that those folks fade quicker than a cheap t-shirt.

Nope, the ones who build solid, long lasting careers are nice people about 94.2% of the time (Fake Statistics R Us®).

Why is this so?

Well, let’s look at the typical working situation for the professional actor:

In the theatre there are the several weeks you have to rehearse many hours a day in a hot, stuffy, rehearsal room with a bunch of people you’ve just met – in order to get the actors “playing as a team” (some call it ensemble which is just a fancy way of saying working together as a team — with the same goal in mind). Then, in success, you will be seeing and working with this group 8 times a week at a high level of concentration and hard work. Once the show is up and running you will also be dealing with costume people, scenery crew, lighting guys, box office folks, etc., etc.

For film and television actors it comes down to seeing and working with the same 125 – 150 people 5 days a week, 10 – 14 hours a day for months at a time. On film and television sets, a lot of money is being spent every minute of every day. If you think that this adds to the stress of the workplace, give yourself a gold star. With that many co-workers, under the same stressful working conditions, who do you think fares the best?

That’s right, nice people.

Think about any work situation you’ve been in yourself. Did the complainers, rumor mongers and generally nasty people add to your day? Did the non-working “dead wood” make things more pleasant? The guy who comes in late, leaving you to do his work – is he your pal? The gal who takes hour and a half lunch breaks and never has your 267A forms ready on time – is she invited to your barbecue?

The theatre and the sound stage are places of business. If you want to do well in a business setting, being nice is a good place to start.

What do I mean by nice? Well, helpful is good. Concern for others is a definite part of it. Polite. Encouraging. A good listener. Willing to lend a hand. Amusing. Caring. The easy way to accomplish this is just behave like Cary Grant or Audrey Hepburn.

Can you imagine Cary or Audrey complaining about the food, the second AD, or gossiping about other actors? Of course not. It would be shocking if they swore like sailors, didn’t bother with personal hygiene, or said nasty things about their co-stars behind their backs. If you believe they actually did these things secretly — well, you’re just wrong.

Believe me, charm is gold in show business. The main component of charm is being a nice person. Nice is currency in our business. Check out the behavior of stars when they are interviewed. Listen to what the interviewer says about the star. “Charming” is a word you will hear often.

This is no accident. The stars become stars by practicing this crucial component of their business “personality.” I’ve known a few Oscar winners, several Emmy winners and a half dozen Tony, Golden Globe and other award recipients. The common thread among all of them was their “niceness.” In fact, though they were all talented actors, I think the thing that put them over the top in these awards contests were that they were popular among their peers.

Most people who have that sort of popularity are charming, delightful, nice people. I’ve seen it since high school — and you probably have too.

What this all comes down to is one simple lesson for the rest of us — try being nice, as well as talented – and you will probably book more work, make more friends, and have a real shot at the dream.

You remember the dream, don’t you? The one you started having when you were 13 or 14 or 15? The dream of success, recognition, and being well-liked by your peers.

The good news is that this critical component is something you can work on without anyone’s help. Just keep in mind that you have total control over only one person’s behavior — your own. You can choose to practice being charming, nice and “a joy to work with.”

Get it? You can choose to make yourself into Cary or Audrey right now – and you can make it happen without spending a cent on classes, workshops, showcases or coaches.

Isn’t that nice?"

Bob Fraser is an actor, writer, director, producer and author of Bob Fraser Workshops.

Showing At The Society of Illustrators

Gregory Manchess

For those of you who are near New York City, I’m having a small show of my work.

A selection of paintings will be hanging in the Members Gallery at the Society of Illustrators, opening February 1st. There will be about seven large paintings up, bridging the gap between mainstream illustration, science fiction, and fantasy work.

It has been a long, arduous road working between science fiction and mainstream illustration. It was difficult to make a mark in either part of the field, but the subjects are intriguing and my interests are quite diverse. I think this selection will highlight some of the pieces I had so much fun producing for a variety of assignments.

The Society of Illustrators is every illustrator’s home away from home. Shows constantly revolve through the newly refurbished main galleries, embracing all aspects and genres of illustration. Spectrum has held two retrospectives there, as well as numerous Art Out Loud events, and lectures. Each annual show is a must-see for every aspiring illustrator, and classic paintings from every decade for the last one hundred years continually grace the hallways and restaurant walls.

The Members Gallery is the most intimate of exhibit space at the Society, sitting directly across from the historic and quaint bar, overhung by one of Rockwell’s greatest pieces, The Dover Coach.

It’s always a chance to get up close and personal with many of my heroes’ work. I’m constantly coming away with new inspiration on each visit. It’s an honor to hang there and I hope you can come by during the month. And let me know what you think.

For those of you who aren’t near NYC, below is a visual list of the paintings in the show.

Members Gallery at the Society of Illustrators, 128 East 63rd Street, btw Lexington & Park. February 1st through February 26th.

"Who Da Man?" Episode 2

Check out episode 2 from the web series called "Who Da Man" starring our very own Thyais Walsh from Cookies & Cream.

This star studded web series also stars Carl Payne (Martin), Joe Clair (Rap City), Richard Brooks (NYPD Blue), and others. The series is directed by Abdul Malik Abbott, who directed Jay-Z's infamous 'hood classic short film Streets is Watching, and RocaFella's State Property.

What happens in relationships between married couples that causes the intimacy to fade away? Too often, many women don't feel loved anymore... And men find themselves struggling to understand what's wrong. Actor/Comedian Red Grant makes his debut in this webisode. The men and women enjoy a few laughs while privately discussing the issue of "sexual draught" in marriage relationships. Based on the play "Waiting 2 End Hell" by William A. Parker.

Here is Webisode #2 of Parker's, "Who Da' Man?", a Made for T.V. Episodic.

"Man Cave/Girl Talk"



More episodes HERE.

Experimentation

By Justin Gerard

I am a chronic experimenter.

Most of the following test pieces were done between client projects. They are all victims of a continuing campaign whose goal is a better understanding of the mediums available to the contemporary illustrator.

Some of these experiments seem to give good results:

Oil, thinned with 80% Galkyd, 10% linseed oil, 10% OMS mixture* over Golden Heavy Body Acrylic underpainting on gessoed panel, sanded smooth.

While others seem to give rather poor results:

Oil, thinned with Galkyd Lite over Golden Acrylic Ground for Pastels, over FW ink underpainting, on paper glued to MDF.

MISSION FAILED.

Both cases help lead to a better understanding of the tools available, and how to use them.



This quest for understanding is complicated enough with the wide array of classic painting mediums that artists have used in the past and that are still available, but to make it even more complex, modern paint manufacturers add new mediums to this list every year.



Holbein has released an acrylic paint that can be lifted out after it has dried.

Winsor & Newton has released an oil paint that can be thinned with water. (You heard right: Thinned with water.)

And Golden releases new acrylic products every other week, all of which behave in new and ingenious ways, from drying instantly to a matte finish, to staying workable for days, to actually painting the painting for you while you eat french toast that it made for you.

Golden, you totally rock.

The same goes for supports, brushes and essentially any other tool a devilish cunning marketing division can conceive of.



While many of these new products may be just marketing fluff, some of them are quite useful and provide the artist with materials that are more archival, faster-drying and safer to use than tools of the past.

But do they result in better art? Or just more efficient art?

Is all this really necessary?

A critic of this approach might suggest that this chronic experimenting is a misuse of one's artistic energy. That the artist's energy is better placed in slowly perfecting his skills with a particular medium over the course of a career.

And truly, some of the greatest contemporary master's techniques are stunning in their straight-forward simplicity. Paul Bonner, whose amazing work looks like it must involve every medium ever conceived of, as well as unimaginable dark powers, says merely that, "Mostly I just mix up some watercolor on a dinner plate and start painting."

Oil, thinned with M. Graham's Walnut Alkyd Medium over Holbein's Acryla-Goucahe, on gessoed MDF.

Our critic might also suggest that this sense of chronic experimenting could lure the artist into believing in "silver bullets" that can somehow make up for deficiencies in drawing ability and craftsmanship.



We hear that an artist used some exotic medium and think, 'if only I had that exotic medium, my work would look as good as his.' Those of us who've tried this experiment are familiar with its generally dismal results. A special medium can offer small comfort to a poor composition.



However, while we must admit that the silver bullet is perhaps the wrong way of looking at it, there is something to be said for understanding the tools available to the contemporary artist.



And we may site examples like James Gurney, a painter who actually does appear to know a vast amount about every medium ever conceived of and uses each of them as necessary to achieve his artistic goals.

Tests showing varying degrees of success and failure

with Winsor & Newton's Artisan Water-Mixable Oil Paint and Mediums

When I do these experiments, I tend to keep tight notes as well as take photos of the various stages. In my notes I record details, like drying times, workability and surface quality.

Not only does recording the steps help me to remember how I did a particular piece, but it also helps me remember not to shoot myself in the face when I am half-way through another piece executed in the same manner. Often at the half-way point a piece reaches what some illustrators call "The Ugly Stage" where if the artist doesn't have a firm knowledge of how the piece will look at the end of this stage, he may literally kill himself.



While these experiments are not always helpful, and can result in some dismal failures, I find them extremely helpful in sorting which tools work for me and which tools don't.

Winsor and Newton Griffin Alkyd Oil Paints, thinned with a 75% Liquin, 25% OMS mixture* on MDF.

* Denotes a mixture that might well kill you dead without proper ventilation.

Getting Representation For Your Work

So I've told you why you need an attorney to get meetings with companies and work as a professional in this industry instead of a hobbyist.

You may be thinking “Okay Monica, I see what you're saying but how do I get that representation?”

I just saw an online job post where someone was seeking representation for a TV show concept. Setting aside the fact that this person had some unusual requests for the final outcome if some legitimate source was interested, writing a response as to my personal requirements made me think it might be a good idea to tell you what agents, attorneys or anyone else dealing with you on this sort of thing is thinking.

Aside from my work with One Way or Another, I interned with a well known talent agent a few years back. This company has been in the industry for over 35 years and I learned a lot about the perspective and mindset of an agent. The ones I've encountered have a similar viewpoint and this can also apply to them.

Here are 3 basic considerations to keep in mind:

1. The representative's reputation: As an industry friend told me recently, the role of an attorney in these transactions is to be a stamp of approval. The presence of the representation is like wearing a seal that says “This product is worth hearing about since it will make money for our company/make us look good for our boss/increase our market share in a particular demographic/other good thing that makes a Sony or an IFC take you seriously.”

No entertainment attorney, agent or any other representative wants to be known as the person who endorsed a bad idea, works with an unstable personality, or is responsible for the network/film company/whomever you're dealing with losing money. They live or die by their industry reputation.

It's the representative's job to screen out the garbage & only go to bat for the best prospects.

2. The representative's time: Time is a very precious commodity. Agents and attorneys are very, very busy people who get asked ALL THE TIME about getting involved in meetings with major companies. They do not have time to hold your hand or tell you how to behave. If you want personalized attention or hand holding, that's where a manager comes in.

3. The representative's experience: Experience costs money, plain and simple. It is an insult to any professional to expect him/her to work for free or below typical costs. This might seem intuitive but I have seen lots of people post Craig's List ads seeking representation with high power industry connections but wanting to offer little to no pay. That's called living in a dream world; if you know someone who is doing that, tell that person to snap out of it.

So, keeping these factors in mind here are 6 tips on how you can successfully get representation:

1. Treat getting a representative the same way you'd treat the pitch meeting with a major network. Your job is to impress the representative with the value of your product. Remember, we hear about these things all the time. Tell the agent why (s)he should consider YOUR project instead of the 20 other projects (s)he's being asked about. What makes YOURS special & different from the rest? Make us care about your project & consider taking the next step.

2. Do your homework. Have you considered whether others have done something similar? Is there a market for your product? Who is it targeted to? What markets are you considering? Do you have projections for your possible success? If you can't answer questions like these, that means you're not ready for representation.

3. Do the relevant paperwork. Be prepared to give the attorney or agent basic paperwork like a budget, your treatment and other items that you will get asked about. If you don't have these basic documents ready to hand to someone, again you're not ready for representation.

4. Prove you are dedicated to making it happen. Flakes are a dime a dozen in the industry & no good agent or attorney will waste their time on anyone who isn't professional. You'd better show up to meetings, prove you are reliable, be accountable for your actions and do what you say you will. If you agree to get revisions in by a certain date, you'd better do everything in your power to meet the deadline.

Attorneys are required to follow directions in most things and state bar committees, law firm bosses and judges can be much like loan sharks. They don't care if your grandmother is in the ICU or you didn't make enough money to pay licensing fees one year: if you don't follow directions or pay your licensing fees when they're due, you can get suspended from legal practice.

One of the biggest peeves of an agent or any producer, attorney, etc. is dealing with flakes. Do not be one. Remember, this is still YOUR project and if you aren't going to give 110% to it why should anybody else?

5. Do NOT assume people will work for free. If you want a freebie, get a friend to help you. We have bills to pay like everyone else and representatives at any stage of the game do NOT run charity operations. You might get someone to help you at a reduced rate or for free if they believe in you & see major potential but that is an extreme rarity. If you ask about it, you will likely be laughed out of the office.

Just as workers making low wages tend to be apathetic about their jobs, representatives will be apathetic to your needs and concerns if you shortchange them. They will also tell other agents, attorneys & so forth so their colleagues will not waste their time on someone who causes too much hassle for too little reward.

Finally, 6. No secrets. You're going to have to keep the representative informed if you want him/her to do an effective job. If you burned bridges with someone or refuse to work with a particular entity, speak up. Do not make the person look foolish in a meeting by not knowing the answers to people's questions or basic facts about your presentation. This is a good way to lose your representation; let the rep do his/her job.

If you can get the representation, then you have achieved a victory many people never get.

- Monica

Contact Monica for legal advice/representation at Monica@1wayoranother.net

Follow Monica's personal blog HERE.
Follow Monica on Twitter HERE.

(Monica C. Trombley is the legal administrator/project manager at One Way or Another Productions. She is a licensed attorney in both NY and CT.)

Dancing in the woods and other advice.

By John Jude Palencar

On Friday Eric Fortune posted some artistic advice that resonated with a number of visitors to our blog. Most have read or leafed through the book "Drawing from the Right Side of the Brain". That book offers hands-on practical exercises for the artist to develop a way of seeing the world. The material Eric posted was a bit different. As artists we all know creating art is a bit of a mind game. While we all have fairly decent dexterity and can come up with solutions for a variety of projects. There is a point were we all get "blocked" or have stagnant periods in our creativity. Eric stumbled across the material he posted while working in the art department of a Midwest company. He didn't know the source of the material that he posted. After reading Eric's post something sounded familiar. I was sure that I had read these constructive suggestions before. Since I haven't read this book in a while ( I will have to revisit the material) I am about 90% sure that this is where Eric's source material came from...


The book is titled "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron (ex-wife of James?). Her book addresses many of the pitfalls and creative blocks that all creative people face.

Now I must go dance in the woods....


Amazon Link "The Artist's Way

Alrick Brown: From Plainfield to Sundance

I first met Alrick Brown at Essex County College in Newark, NJ, where I went to see a screening of his award winning, satirical short film, The Adventures of SuperNigger. It was around the time I was finishing my first short film, and Alrick and I spoke for what seemed like hours, where he gave me insight about what to expect in the indie film world that till this day I have never forgotten.

About the worldwide film festival circuit, he commented, "I keep seeing the same faces, bro." Whether a comment on the community's acceptance of minority filmmakers into film competitions, or simply an assessment of just how few filmmakers of color are working outside of traditional themes and genres, those words, in my personal experience, still strike a chord with me.

Alrick's film Kinyarwanda will premiere in Park City as an entry in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition. Here is IndieWire's in depth interview with Mr. Brown below:



"Fresh, insightful, and profoundly moving, 'Kinyarwanda,' the first dramatic feature film conceived and produced by Rwandans, is an extraordinary telling of the 1994 genocide that expands the common victim/perpetrator narrative to illuminate the complex fabric of life during the tragic event, and the even more complicated process of redemption in the truth and reconciliation process.

Director/writer Alrick Brown and cowriter/producer Ishmael Ntihabose elegantly interweave six stories based on true accounts—a Tutsi/Hutu couple, a small child, a soldier, a pair of teenage lovebirds, a priest, and an Imam—as they are affected by the Muslim leadership of the time. Little is known about how the Mufti of Rwanda—the most respected Muslim leader in the country—forbade Muslims from participating in the killing of the Tutsi. As the country became a slaughterhouse, mosques became places of refuge where Muslims and Christians, Hutus and Tutsis came together to protect each other."



Read the full interview HERE.

- Princeton

Tips and Tricks from an Art Slave

By Eric Fortune

Actually this is not by me. Back when I worked as an in house illustrator at Gooseberry Patch......... ok, now that the chuckling has quieted down, one of my co-workers gave me a copy of some tips for freelancing. Although they make a lot of sense they aren't always easy to follow. Most of the artists I know are workaholics, not always a good thing. I wish I knew the source of this information so I could include it. Unfortunately, it's was handed to me as a copy of text on a page. I have transcribed it and will hand it to you. Go in prosperity and every now and then take a break.


Tips and Tricks from an Art Slave

The cost of a thing is the amount of what I call life which is required to be exchanged for it, immediately or in the long run.” – Henry David Thoreau
You know the old saying, “Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it.” You marketed, you mailed, you contacted. Now you have all of these deadlines looming and you are overwhelmed. You get worried, you aren’t motivated, and ideas are not coming. So you work later and harder. Welcome to the world of an art slave.
This is not where you want to be as an artist. After all, one of the reasons we love being an artist is the freedom that we have. But, if you are not disciplined, an art career can be just like any other job: stressful, mindless, paycheck motivated!
Be an artist- not an art slave. Find a ritual that works for you. Stay connected to the river of ideas…your inner voice…your muse. Whatever you choose to call it, art is a spiritual process. If you aren’t cultivating a relationship to creativity, you probably won’t have one when you need it. Here are a few tips that work for many artists I know, including myself. The only problem is: you have to do them every day to make them work.

1. Get up happy. Say some affirmations. Get rid of the negative chatter in your head-that voice that says things like, “I’m not coming up with any good ideas. I’ll never make this deadline. I’ll never be good enough to do this job.” Instead, train that voice to say something positive. Reprogram yourself. “I am illustrating books that people love. I am happy with my art. My career is going great. I am a successful artist…” This might sound too simple, and you’ve probably heard it before from the self –help gurus. Have you ever actually tried it….consistently over a few months?
2. Exercise and stay healthy. This is not an option. When you feel healthy, you are more open and ideas come more quickly.
3. Sit quietly each day, do yoga, or meditate. Get calm and peaceful so that when the ideas come, you actually realize they are there. Worry, anger, fear, and other emotions actually block the ability to grasp those sparks of imagination.
4. Create a place and time to be at work. This is important if you are working at home. Your mind needs to understand, “I am now at work. I will now be creative.” So sharpen your pencils, put on music, sit before your drawing table and begin.
5. Don’t talk too much about your ideas; this depletes some of the magic. On a subconscious level, your wonderful idea has become a real thing in the world. It’s not real, and it won’t be, until you do it. So, instead of sharing your magnificent thoughts, go make the work happen.
6. Take time outs doing something you love. Go to a museum. Sit by a lake. Walk though the woods. You must replenish yourself. Fill the well. Don’t view this as goofing off…this time is very important.
7. Don’t be a workaholic. This is difficult, because you won’t know it, until it’s too late. Your friends and family will know it before you will. ONLY YOU CAN CONTROL THIS. Be the work police and set your own boundaries. Make a contract with yourself. “I do not wok on Tuesday and Sunday. I go on vacation without my work. I have lunch with a friend on Friday every week. I only work from 9am to 2pm. “Put up a sign. Remind yourself that you are free to set your own schedule. Work as late or as little or as early as you want, but make sure you’re enjoying the pace.
Remember, somebody you know will be published before you or more often than you. They will be more successful. They will sell more books. They will get more speaking engagements. You think you will never make it. You won’t…unless you stop working so hard to catch up. Find your own pace. Find your own style. Do what works for you. Be patient. Change happens in incremental ways. When you consciously make these daily choices, you will see a big difference in your life over time…and you will be balanced enough to notice!
8. Don't believe all the ugly rumors about Eric Fortune. Most of them are NOT true.... Yeah, I thought this one was a little weird too. Oh well.

Meet Michael Ryan Bretz: Photographer.

Michael Ryan Bretz began winning awards for his photography at the tender age of 16. Originally from Ohio, Michael moved to Massachusetts, NYC, and ultimately Nashville, at times working from his own studio, while still in photography school. He would go on to work with countless, top notch companies.

Michael will be shooting on set stills for some of our upcoming southern-based shoots. He is available for on set/behind the scenes photography for any of your production needs.

To contact him, see more of his exquisite work, and read more about his adventurous journey as an artist, check out his personal website and see for yourself.

Life Models and the Art They Inspire

by Donato

Live figure drawing has been one of the greatest sideline pleasures I have experienced as part of a freelance career. What other job has you stepping into a studio in SoHo New York with dozens of other artists to pass away three hours of time in studious contemplation of the human form...and call it work!! (and write it off on your taxes !) These breaks from my regular studio time have been ways to recharge my creative batteries and revisit the human gesture which , when confronted by the amazing things live models can do, reminds us how little we know about the beauty in posture, lighting and the subtle power of gesture.

As a realist painter, I rely heavily upon my models to open the door in conveying emotion and gesture that I can never have dreamed of. Every time I sit down in that cellar studio, many times with artist friends, and watch the model twist, arc, and collapse, I am tongue-tied with the visual language I am still learning to speak. It is a humbling and motivating event every time, year after year...

I wanted to take the time to recognize a few of the models I have met through life drawing sessions at The Spring Street Studio and the art they have helped inspire. These are just a few of the projects which have flourished from the seeds planted at Spring Street.

So find yourself models or friends which will take your art to a new level, for it certainly has worked for me...

Model Richard Holly (above right and below)

The Hobbit: Expulsion

with Richard Holly as a few of the dwarves.

Model Francois Moret.

After meeting Francois at Spring Street studio and calling him in for a commission, I discovered he was a huge art and science fiction and fantasy fan. We quickly became friends and I proceeded to hire him for over 15 projects through the course of the years, from Magic cards to book covers. He was an amazing talent and an integral part of why these paintings were so successful and powerful.

I lamented the day he moved from New York!

Thank you Francois!

(and congratulations, as he is a father now)

Model George Liker

George had a stare that bored straight through you. It was kind of scary sitting in the room with him, imagination running as I attempted to decode what was going on inside his mind. Regardless of his internal workings, George was a stunning model...