Kenneth Brangah x Charlie Rose

OR CLICK HERE to watch.

If you want to be up on an “authentic+real+talented” actor then you should peep my man Kenneth Branagh. This cat is a good as they get when it comes to delivering riveting performances time and time again. I will never forget how perfect his performance was in HAMLET. Take a few minutes to listen how this man describes the creativity that is required in acting and creating stories; very smart man and do yourself a favor and watch a real performance by renting HAMLET on Netflix.

Ben Silverman x NBC + Future of Media

NY Times brought Ben Silverman / NBC to my attention over the weekend and it made me reflect on all things media and entertainment. Wow - this business is changing rapidly every day.

Ben is famous for revolutionizing the scripted and unscripted international TV business. He started as an Agent at William Morris and opened an office in London and never looked back. After being an agent he started his own shingle (as they like to say in Hollywood) called Reveille and he didn’t just run a great company, he murdered the entire game. He sold properties to broadcast outlets all around the world and leveraged the momentum by selling his company to Liz Murdoch’s Shine Group.

WHAT'S THE FUTURE OF MEDIA?

Nevertheless, this article got me thinking about the state of affairs in media today. A fragmented marketplace, audience deteriorating, a large portion of the masses not even bothering to turn on the Television anymore much less spend their hard earn money to watch a motion picture. What is Hollywood to do? - Click here to see my posting on Entertainment Trends.

You have older folks (all about lean-back media experience see here), younger folks, and then the kids. The kids!!! Forget about it. I thought I was tech-savvy by the sole fact I grew up in the 80s to 90s digital and technology evolution but kids today? Wow - they have a gadget in their hands by the time they are born and they are on their way to becoming uber-tech savvy.

So what can we make of this new media world we live in today?

The means of distribution content are changing.

How people want their entertainment is changing.

And great story matters now more than ever before.

For a content creator this means a lot of things but first and most importantly you must start to rethink the way you tell stories. I think the Fast Company piece on Transmedia does a terrific job shedding light on how Sci-Fi content is perfectly suited for today’s new media world.

Also, I think content creators have to get more aggressive about tailor making every last detail in the story and make it all come together cohesively. As Mark Gill says, “Talent matters more. Quality of emotional content matters, period.”

Telling stories has always been and will continue to be just like the art of branding. Just like a fashion designer puts together a collection of creative thoughts and aesthetics to create an a idea that has a strong impression in our minds; story creators need to do the same in their own right to tell great stories. Like Renzo Rosso of Diesel says, you have to be perfect at "every aspect - before we were selling jeans, now we are selling a way of life."

INTERNET & ENTERTAINMENT

Nevertheless these are nasty times for Hollywood, Madison Avenue, and traditional media; and you know what? Digital media doesn’t have all the answers for the future of entertainment either! At least not from a monetization standpoint. While many people around the world are spending an average of a 1/3 of their time online everyday - brands and online distribution outlets have yet to figure out how to monetize the medium at a HIGH LEVEL (see: Twitter, Facebook, Etc.). Is the Internet really going to be the answer or will it just be one of many important platforms we bundle into the entertainment programs we are creating now and in the future?

DISTRIBUTION RACE & MONETIZATION

The other interesting thing to watch will be how will we get content and entertainment delivered into our homes. Think about it - right now we have our TV boxes, TVscreens, DVD players, video-game consoles, and more. Right now there is a big tech-big business race between Apple, Microsoft, Panasonic, Sony, Tivo, DirectTV, Time Warner, Comcast, and then more for control of the distribution method of top-quality professional content. Will those who control the pipes have leverage in the future? Only time will tell. Who wins that race and how we streamline the content distribution process will determine a lot for content creators, producers, studios, TV networks, brands, and consumers.

WHAT TO MAKE OF ALL OF IT?

To recap, audiences are now very much fragmented. What will become of the means in which our content and entertainment will be distributed? Who wins the race to win over the pipes that feeds us that content and how will that change the marketplace? (See: Apple/iTunes/music biz) How does the internet relate to and affect it all? In chaotic times - great story matters more than ever before.

Hopefully once the dust settles from this new and fresh era of Internet and Technology we might discover new business models that will ensure the kind of success and transparency Don Draper was accustomed to.

Until then - I will just keep plugging away trying to create that next instant classic while I update my status on Twitter.

Louis Vuitton Dreams

The hot lifestyle-Angeleno-fashionista Paula Miranda reminded me to keep dreaming by showing me this dope animated Louis Vuitton short. Thanks for reminding me to keep dreaming and reaching Paula!!

And in the words of my man Kenny Mac - happy mommas to yo momma....

L.A. Reid x Charlie Rose

If you don't know about the legend that is L.A. Reid (the man behind the scenes making it happen in music) then I suggest you get comfortable and watch him drop knowledge with Charlie Rose.

Mr. Reid is a major-major inspiration of mine. He talks about instincts, talent, packaging, and having taste and understanding talent. Being aware of your strengths and weaknesses, and making it all work.

Antonio “L.A.” Reid is a three-time Grammy Award-winning American record executive, songwriter, and record producer, best known as the co-founder of LaFace Records. He is responsible for signing and helping bring Toni Braxton, TLC, Usher, Ciara, OutKast, Dido, Avril Lavigne, and Pink to multi-platinum album sales.

Meet Curt@!n$

Have been hearing about this cat name Curtains for a minute now. Had a chance to meet with this up and coming hip-hop artist the other day and I was blown away by his vision for something different in a creative environment that is ripe for change.

What you notice on all of Curtains tracks is that he comes hard, owns it, and isn't shy of spitting out the truth. Something I always like to see in any artist. If they don't spit the truth that we all know to be there but don't want to see then WHO will force us to stare in the mirror? There is great wisdom in all forms of art....My hope is that we all pay a little attention and do more to become the change we wish to see in the world.

BLACK FOLKS


NIGHT OF THE LIVING DOPE


MAESTRO KNOWS x CURT@!N$

FY freaking I!! Check out my boy's new online show. He is getting his content hustle on profiling some of the cooler people and scenes in the City of Angeles; I see you Maestro!! Check it out here.

Marc Jacobs x Kate Moss x Justin Timberlake x Vogue

Big thanks to Kanye for putting me up on this AWESOME shot of Marc, Kate, and Justin. Wow. This one really hit me.

Mickey Drexler x Charlie Rose

If you are a fan of business or fashion or the fashion business then you need to get up on my man Mickey Drexler.

My pops would constantly be telling me about this savvy business man when I was growing up (See: Kapler School of Business - thanks pops!!!).

My Dad would always rave that Mickey was the brains behind The Gap's rise to prominence in the 90s and how he rose from a corporate embarrassment by turning the then fledging J. Crew company around to make it one of the most profitable brands in the world.

CLICK HERE TO PEEP THE GREAT MICKEY DREXLER x CHARLIE ROSE INTERVIEW. . . for some reason the Google Video has a hard time embedding into blogger.



Mickey has some really interesting thoughts on smart strategy to successfully surround oneself with great talent. Mickey is more intrigued with young workers who have worked in coffee houses, restaurants, bars, etc.

Mickey would rather have people with passion and tenacity who have worked in high energy environments who have not had "privileged" jobs. See 3:10 in the interview to catch Mickey's thought on the matter.

I think Mickey is 100% spot on here. My restaurant experience in college inside and outside the kitchen has had a serious impact on the development of my corporate career. One of the many things the experience taught me was that there is no shame with getting a little sweat on your brow in pursuit of great service.

I think that is what Mickey is eluding to here. This is 27 minutes well spent people. Pick up some intel from a titan of an industry.

Fresh Sounds: N.A.S.A. + Santi White Remix

The N.A.S.A. x Kanye x Lykke Li x Santogold track came across my desk somehow this week. Have not been able to stop listening to it. Why? The Lykke Li hook is out of control; why haven't I gone crazy in a bar yet to this jam? People behind the curve or is it just me?

Check out new track from N.A.S.A called ELECTRIC FLOWERS via Dazed and Confused.



This Santi White LIGHTS OUT remix is a lot of fun too. People are definitely not snoozing on Santi!!

Man of 2009 so far: Mickey Rourke

Yo! If you don’t know who Mickey Rourke is then you better get up on him because this cat is a legendary as they come. Sure you can say he was just playing “himself” in THE WRESTLER or you can take a moment watch his interview with my man Charlie Rose and get a peep into this man, his phenomenal rise to stardom, twisted fall to failure, and comeback to his current moment in the…you know it…SPOT LIGHT. . . .

See his KICK ASS Spirit Award speech that was on IFC the other day (thanks perez hilton).


Charlie Rose x Mickey Rourke

Fresh Sounds: Mickey Factz

If you have been sleeping on the second coming of hip-hop in Mickey Factz well then you better get with it. Click here to read a great Billboard article that can catch you up to speed on everything Mickey. Great interview below as well for you to get to know him; his world and where he is taking us.

As Mr. Factz likes to say; “I do this for my culture” and I can’t agree more.


FACTZ INTERVIEW



GOOD MONEY


AUTOMATIC