Film: DVD Distribution

Cinema Minima: New service for movie makers? DVD retail program splits revenue with filmmakers.

I like where this is heading! Polish your audio, tweak your soundtrack, tighten your scenes and follow their link to submit your film.

Update June 01, the morning after: After thinking more about this, I wonder where this was five years ago. The technology existed. Will these units be standing on the peer watching internet distribution sail away with the gold? They'll still have their silver, just as digital photography and home printing hasn't destroyed photo retailers.

Cool idea, too late to the game, but it will be good for exposure.

Film: Project Lil' PmP

Game Boy Micro to be portable media player? - Engadget - www.engadget.com

One of my future projects was to tag a portable media player with LMH's Short Film division. That future was far off due to mostly to the limited reach because of costs. It got closer with Sony's PSP, but it's still too big and has a limited reach. Soon, for under $180 you can get an EPMP (extremely portable media player). Will a 2" screen be detrimentle? I think it adds to the ability of sharing 30sec-5min short films! If you have feature-length movies on it, that's a no go.

I now plan on having a tagged EPMP, perhaps giving it away with a membership to LMH. I would want to include music, short films and spoken word (poetry, short stories, audiobooks). I just got goosebumps...that's a very good sign.

What are your thoughts on a EPMP? What content are you most likely to use on it?

Life: Self Promotion as an Artist

How can artists promote themselves everyday? Inspired by St. Louis native Scott Ginsberg, I started wearing my Leper's Media Holdings press pass with my name and title on it everywhere I go clipped to my iPod Shuffle lanyard. Wether they first notice the Shuffle or my tag, everyone does a double-take. It gives me a natural opportunity to talk about what I'm doing with LMH. Maybe I'll add my 30 second "elevator pitch" or a 30 second video promo to my Shuffle.

How can artists use this concept?

• Musicians can put their album art in a tag and keep all their own songs on the Shuffle. When someone asks them about it, they can give out a copy of their album art and let them hear a couple tracks. They can even try to jack it into the speaker system of the place they're at. Talk about creating a stir and getting people to talk.
• Filmmakers can put small collectible posters or lobby cards in a tag and hand them out when people take notice. They can store a movie trailer on the Shuffle (or any thumbdrive) and play it when possible.
• Artists can create small, collectable cards with their favorite piece the front to hand out. The Shuffle/thumbdrive can contain a portfolio presentation.

Wear these everywhere you go. Keep in mind that every tag should include multiple copies of your work with contact and buying information on the back. The Shuffle/thumbdrive is of course optional, just another interesting idea. I would love to see every artist representing themselves like this. Imaging you're walking around and see 3 out of 10 people wearing a tag. It could become well known enough that people will go around trying to collect all of the cards out their. For the shy artist, this will increase your approachability and, eventually, help you break out of your shell so we can find you and your inspiring creations.

What other ways can you think of for constant self-promotion as an artist?

BLATANT SELF-PROMOTION: I'm currently developing our first perpetual project for LMH's Art division. Project: Art Addiction is designed around a similar notion. Get people interested in collecting art in their everyday life, outside the traditional gallery opening. If you're a photographer or traditional artist, contact me at lepersmedia@gmail.com for more information and how how you can get involved.

Technorati Tags: art, filmmaker, iPod, life, music, promotion

Life: The ONE Campaign | Upcoming Events

The ONE Campaign | Upcoming Events

Help the community...help yourself...help the arts. Promoting yourself doesn't have to be a purely selfish endeavor. The natural result of helping your community through your art will result in greater awareness than most PR firms can dream of.

How do you, as an artist, help your community?

p.s. I'll be in Chicago at the Tonic Room on June ONE

Music: Music, music everywhere!

Slashdot | Sirius in Negotiations With Apple

Apple is once again discussing adding satellite radio to the iPod. When I first heard the rumors of Apple talking with XM (my preferred provider), I got excited. Now it's with Sirius (meh). My thought process went like this: I'm listening to my favorite channel, hear a new song I really like, hit a button to either immediately purchase and download that song (leading to the eventual, "Hi. My name is Brett, and I am a music addict.") or add it to a temporary cart on my iPod. Next time I sync up on my computer, it asks me if I want to purchase that song or view the artist info. Include the inevitable iTunes subscription service and you have an unlimited custom channel wherever you are. Add wireless podcast subscriptions (already included in the next iTunes) and you have the true new wave of radio and communication.

How would you use a satellite enabled iPod?

Music: Mash-ups

Mashup of the Week Podcast is a fairly new site. I just discovered it today , and now have some great new songs to add to my Beastles and the Grey Album collection (also check out Dj BC's mashups, fantastic stuff). The sad part is that most mash-ups are illegal. How can we expect society and culture to evolve if we continue to stifle creation and re-creation?

As new artists start to license their material with Creative Commons, this issue will only exist for past property. Trent Reznor did the unthinkable in RIAA terms: he released "The Hand That Feeds" free for anyone to edit in an original pro tools package for garageband. Wow. I get goosebumps just thinking of how this will evolve. Just...wow.

What's your favorite mash-up? Who's your favorite forward thinking musician?

"All evolution in thought and conduct must at first appear as heresy and misconduct."
- George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)

p.s. Welcome to my mind.