November News from Creative Convergence

Hi Everyone,

We hope you enjoyed your Halloween weekend and
have some of our own tricks and treats for you:

*Media Brand Workshop: Set the Stage for 2011
*What is Tongal?  It’s Where Creators Meet Brands
*New Media Film Festival in SF this week!
*Win Stuff: Join New Media Film Festival Online
*Upcoming Writer Events in San Francisco
*New Indie Publishing Contest
*Join Us at NATPE in Miami, January 2011

MEDIA BRAND WORKSHOP: SET THE STAGE FOR 2011

Several of you on my list have already signed
up for our upcoming Media Brand Workshop.

If you are not an emerging expert author or
content creator in the process of creating
or marketing content across media platforms,
skip down to the bottom and enjoy the Mp3s.
If you are, then please read on…

I am really excited to share with you an
opportunity for what I know is going to
be a fun and productive couple of months
for all of our participants.

If you’re not sure how having a Media Brand
applies to you as an emerging or established
content creator listen to Mp3 from 2010
San Francisco Writers Conference
“Building a Media Brand” at:
http://bit.ly/cFaGJH

I’d love you to take a minute to learn more
about the opportunities this upcoming
Media Brand Workshop will provide for you.

I know many writers, authors, experts and
content creators often struggle with aspects
of their branding, marketing, content
development, networking and general decision
making on how to prioritize.

They often look to representation, when in
fact there are a lot more complex facets of
their brand development that need to be build
out that typically need to be in place in
order to attract the right representation
and opportunities in the marketplace.

You can get all the info at:
www.yourmediabrand.com
Use coupon code: MyList

My role in this course is to create a
safe and supportive environment that gets
you to focus on your content, branding
and marketing.  You’ll create a powerful
vision and a clear path to get from where
you are to where you want to go.

I see it as my job to inform, inspire &
challenge. Your job is to participate
contribute and connect. In the process
we look at the various aspects of
creating a powerful media brand.

A “brand” has everything to do with
being a successful writer, filmmaker or
content creator because you are creating
a file in people’s brain and you have
to be responsible for the tags on it
and the information in it.

A brand is a promise that creates an
expectation in the mind of others and
is built by repeated interactions.
Everything you do, write or say is an
expression of your promise.  Your
media brand then delivered over
multiple media channels.

Suze Orman, Martha Stuart,
Dr. Phil, Donald Trump, Michael
Crichton, Harry Potter and The
Simpsons are just a few examples.

Whether you are writing fiction or
non-fiction we look at 6 areas of
opportunity & points of access for
you across:
*New Media
*Traditional Media
*Self Publishing
*Traditional Publishing
*Television
*Film

We also go over the 5 skills that it
takes to develop a media brand:
*Brand Identity
*Entrepreneurship
*Storytelling
*Tech/Technology
*PR/Communications

We’ll meet on Monday nights and
Thursday evenings from
Nov 14 – Dec 16 at 5:30PM PT
on Mondays and 4PM PT on Thursdays.
There is also an optional session
Monday, Nov 8 if you sign up now!

We have office hours, private consults,
Mp3s and supplemental materials.

This is a content workshop so I will
read blogs, bios, websites, manuscripts,
screenplays and more…I also encourage
you to share your work and provide
feedback to others.

And as it is a Workshop we also have
limited enrollment.

If you’re familiar with my
Screenwriting Career Intensive you know
how motivating and informative these
classes can be, but you’ll find this
one take a more hands-on approach from
me with your creative and professional
development.

What will you get out of it?
For everyone that is a little bit
different.  We’ve had alumni with no
previous media experience get full page
stories about her non-profit in People
Magazine & Reader’s Digest. Our alumni
Alexis Niki wrote & produced the
webseries “My Bitchy Witchy
Paris Vacation” – and another
alum kindly reviewed it
http://nblo.gs/9viSd
People have gone on to produce short
films, write & perform plays and put
together business plans and book deals.

You can get the information and
register for Media Brand Workshop
at: www.yourmediabrand.com
Be sure to use coupon code:
MYLIST

So far for our Fall 2010 program we
have participants from Australia,
France, Michigan, New York, Los Angeles,
Texas & Virginia.  They are experts,
entrepreneurs, coaches, filmmakers,
storytellers, novelists, TV writers
and more…

They are all also people who’ve decided
they need some additional support,
insight and feedback to maximize both
impact and exposure. They also like the
idea of having an impartial view as this
is program is provided as an educational
resource.

And what’s great about this course is
that it doesn’t matter where you are in
the process or if you are interested
in writing a blog and building out your
social networks or building a platform
and developing content worthy of a major
publishing, TV and movie deal.

Plus we’ll be bringing in 5 agents/managers
to talk to our group before the end of
the year.  It’s a great opportunity to
explore finding the right representation
in film, tv or publishing.

If this sounds like the right opportunity
for you, I look forward to working with
you in this class!

And join us on our social networks
on Facebook & LinkedIn at:
Media Brand Workshop and on Twitter
@yourmediabrand

Here are some fun & informative
interviews we’ve done over the past
couple of months:

Media Brand Workshop Conversations

Chris Bruss, Producer at Funny or Die
– Download MP3 at: http://bit.ly/bFVT7U

Rick Polizzi, Producer on “The Simpsons”
– Download Mp3 at: http://bit.ly/aWUIVP

Mark & Jeanne Simon of
SellYourTVConceptNow.com
– Download Mp3 at: http://bit.ly/9P1APL

Ralph Scott of Credit the Edit
- Download Mp3 at: http://bit.ly/bwbuZg

WHAT IS TONGAL?
IT’S WHERE CREATORS MEET BRANDS

We’re excited to welcome Tongal as a
sponsor to the New Media Film Festival-SF
Bay Area.

Tongal is an online platform that
facilitates the collaborative creation
of video content and media via
crowdsourcing in a multi-phased process.
They connect our global community with
the businesses that need them.
www.tongal.com

They are currently running a project with
Allstate Insurance. Anyone with any kind
of creative background can contribute.
These are short ideas about what insurance
will be like in 20+ years.  Even if they
can fly, are powered by liquefied garbage
and come standard with autopilot, twenty
years from now, people will still own and
operate personal vehicles. Thus, we will
still need insurance from a reputable
company with great customer service.
That’s why Allstate is asking you to
imagine life in the year 2030.

This project will be worth a total of
$15,000 and will consist of three
entry phases.  They’ve just entered
Phase 2 – Submit your ideas in 500
characters or less.  Use the 5 winning
ideas from Phase 1 as a jumping off point
or create your own.  Get the details
for this project at:
http://tongal.com/project/allstate

NEW MEDIA FILM FESTIVAL IN SF THIS WEEK!

Friday Nov 5 & Saturday Nov 6 at
VizCinema

New Media Film Festival-SF Bay Area,
The Best of New Media: What’s New,
What’s Next…Honoring Stories Worth
Telling.

Meet award winning game, film, book,
show, web series & app creators!  It’s a
dynamic program with panel discussion,
Q&A meet-n-greets, mini-workshops, demos,
screenings in these categories: Web Series,
Shot on RED, Animation, Documentary,
Feature and SRC-Socially Responsible
Content.

Speakers include:

*Steve Perlman, CEO of OnLive.com, an
inventor and entrepreneur with over 80
technology patents.

*Will Wright, Creator of Bar Karma on
Current TV and original designer for
“The Sims” games series which, as of 2009,
is the best-selling PC game in history

*Jaime Wilkinson, Producer, “Star Wars:
Uncut” (2010 Primetime Emmy Award winner
for Outstanding Creative Achievement in
Interactive Media – Fiction).

Join panelists from: Producers Guild
of America-Northwest (PGA-NW), Writers
Guild of America (WGA, West), IndieGoGo,
San Francisco Film Society, Red Planet
Studios, Movieset.com, Academy of
Television Arts & Sciences, Code and Theory,
Larsen Pomada Literary Agency, Manic D Press,
Red Wheel/Weiser Books/Conari Press,
Women’s National Book Association SF Chapter,
AuthorsTeam, Credit the Edit, Flingo.tv,
Unity Technology, Babelgum.com,
Sharethrough, Tongal, Motorola, Magnicode
and more!

New Media Film Festival premiered in LA
in June 2010 and will be in SF Bay Area
with an expanded forum and line up of
industry executives & content creators.

FESTIVAL COMPETITION:
Judges are professionals from Industrial
Light & Magic, Pixar, Summit Entertainment
& United Talent Agency. There are World
Premiere and Northern California Premiere
screenings. Winners will be announced on
Saturday evening.

Location: VizCinema at 1746 Post St.,
SF, CA 94115
Dates: Friday, Nov 5 & Saturday, Nov 6
Time: 9AM – 7PM & 7PM – Midnight
Website: www.newmedifilmfestival.com
Register:  http://bit.ly/sfnmff

For 20% off use discount code: special20

Look forward to seeing you there!

Susan Johnston
Founder/Director – New Media Film Festival

Philippa Burgess & Brad Kushner
Co-Directors – New Media Film Festival-SF
Bay Area

WIN STUFF: JOIN NEW MEDIA FILM
FESTIVAL ONLINE

Sign up on New Media Film Festival
Social Networks
On Facebook & LinkedIn: New Media Film
Festival and on Twitter @newmediaff
and nmfilmfest_sf to be eligible to win
New Media Film Festival Prizes.  Giveaways
each week.

Upcoming giveaways include:

New Book – Coffee Break Screenwriter
by Pilar Alessandra

Steve Kaplan’s Comedy Intensive
Chicago, Nov 6 & 7, Winnepeg, Nov 21 & 22,
Los Angeles Dec 4 & 5.
More info at: www.kaplancomedy.com.
And get a $50 Discount when
you mention New Media Film Festival.
Email skcomedy@aol.com for discount payment
info.

Free Manuscript Evaluation by Ralph Scott
of Credit the Edit.

Free Anime Studio animation software from
Smith Micro Software.

Free Seats into Media Brand Workshop,
Online Program Nov 14 – Dec 17.
More info at: www.yourmediabrand.com
To register use discount code: MyList

Plus download now a great LA Free Resource
Guide “Did You Know LA?” EBook by
Director/Founder of New Media Film Festival,
Susan Johnston at:
http://bit.ly/diduknowla

UPCOMING WRITER EVENTS IN SAN FRANCISCO

All About Ebooks, November 12 at Hilton
Financial
$20 Off.  Mail Your Check before 11/8
& Mention New Media Film Festival in
the Memo.
More information at: www.allaboutebooks.us
I will be speaking there on a panel
about enhanced ebooks.

San Francisco Writing For Change Conference,
November 13 & 14 at Hilton Financial
$50 Off.  Mail Your Check before 11/8
& mention New Media Film Festival in Memo.
Full Conference Details at:
www.sfwritingforchange.org

San Francisco Writers Conference,
February 18 – 20, 2011 at Mark Hopkins
Hotel – Conference Info at:
www.sfwriters.org

It’s one of my favorite events and I
I’ve spoken there on Media Branding,
Selling to Hollywood and Book to Film

Listen to 2010 San Francisco Writers
Conference Mp3 on Session “Building a
Media Brand” at:
http://bit.ly/cFaGJH

And if you are looking for a treasure
trove of content from writers conferences
around the country check out:
www.vwtapes.com.

For as little as $10 each you can listen
to any of hundreds of inspiring and
informative sessions with agents, editors,
producers, publicists and more.

NEW INDIE PUBLISHING CONTEST

San Francisco Writers Conference has
just announced their new Indie Publishing
Contest where you can win up to $30,000.

Writers can begin submitting entries for
consideration immediately. The contest
is open to all American-based writers
who are invited to enter up to the first
5,000 words of an unpublished, finished
manuscript, short story, essay or poem
in the categories of: fiction,
non-fiction/memoir, children’s/young
adult or poetry.

Cost per entry is $35 for fiction,
non-fiction/memoir and children’s/YA.
Poetry entries are $25 each. Writers
can begin submitting entries for
consideration immediately.  The deadline
for entries is January 5, 2011.
Learn more at:
http://bit.ly/an286R

JOIN US FOR NATPE IN MIAMI, JANUARY 2011

NATPE | Content First
Fontainebleau Resort, Maimi Beach
January 24 – 26, 2011
Early Bird Discount – Before Dec. 10th
Register at: www.natpemarket.com

We’ll be there along with Mark & Jeanne
Simon of SellYourTVConceptNow.com
Learn more about the pre-conference
Hit Makers Summit at:
http://www.sellyourtvconceptnow.com/summit

Plus Free Mp3 Downloads from
LATVFest | Talent First
www.latvfest.net

Podcast #1:  Interview with Jordan Hoffner,
Director, Content Partnerships, YouTube
- http://bit.ly/latvfest

Podcast #2: Interview with Writer/Producer
Greg Berlanti
- http://bit.ly/latvfest2

Podcast #3: Interview with Emmy
Award Winning Executive Producer
Steve Levitan
- http://bit.ly/latvfest3

Podcast#4: Interview with CEO and
Founder of 3Ball Productions,
J.D. Roth
- http://bit.ly/latvfest4

To your success,

Philippa

Find us on Facebook at:
Creative Convergence & Philippa Burgess Course
On Facebook and LinkedIn at:
Media Brand Workshop
On Twitter
@creativecvg & @yourmediabrand
Blog:  www.creativecvg.wordpress.com
Join our company mailing list: http://bit.ly/b6MZcd

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Cast Your Vote — Support Content Creators

Hi Everyone,

It’s July!  I can hardly believe the first 6-Months of 2010 are already behind us.

I hope you’re progressing well on all fronts in your creative, professional and personal life.

As a member of Your Signature Story one of the benefits is that you are part of a community.

Among us are writers, authors, filmmakers, experts, entrepreneurs and content creators.

Today, I’d like to ask you to take a moment to support some fellow content creators and thought leaders –

people with passion and purpose — with your online votes.

VOTE NOW!

The first is for a long-time friend from Montclair High School who has dedicated himself

to THE WATER PROJECT!  Peter Chasse and his team are on the ground providing clean

water to African communities.  Given that my dad has spent his career committed to

economic development in Africa and a world that works for everyone — this

one is really personal to me!!!

The top 200 vote winning charities each get $20K
http://bit.ly/beiked
$20k would let them bring on a new hire and as an entrepreneur I know that’s a big deal!!.

And share the link with your networks – a quick Tweet or Facebook post from you and them…something like:

Help The Water Project provide clean, safe water for African schools.

Vote for them to win $250k from Chase at http://bit.ly/beiked

VOTE NOW!

The second round of Votes is to Support entries into Orpah Winfrey’s OWN TV Show.

These people need views and votes from you.  I’m going to share just a few of these with you

but feel free to check out others.  There are some really talented folks in this mix.

Ray Faulkenberr, PhD

Searching for Higher Ground

http://bit.ly/cppKbO

VOTE NOW!!

Marla Miller

OWN Again

http://bit.ly/9G2o70

VOTE NOW!!

Didi Zahariades, MA 

Executive & Life Coach, Motivational Speaker, & Psychotherapist Coach To Win

http://bit.ly/c1SaEh

And if you know anyone else who has entered the competition — please email me

at course@creativecvg.com with the voting link and I’ll include them in my roundup.

To your success,

Philippa

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Sweet Googleeee Moogleee!

Craig Lew’s filmLil Emo’s Halloweemo” is an official selection of the San Diego International Children’s Film Festival and will be screened at Comic-Con on July 25th! Room 9! Be There!

Check this film out at:  http://www.lilemogirl.com/

Follow @lilemogal

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Hello from Philippa – Invitation to Stay Connected

Hi Everyone,

I hope you are all doing well.  Just a quick note to invite you to
stay connected.

In the past couple months I’ve set up some new social networks and
wanted to make sure that you get the opportunity to stay up on the
latest.  It’s also a great way to stay connected with all the other
great people you’ve met and expand your network.

Join our mailing list:
http://www.webmarketingmagic.com/app/join.asp?merchantid=106574

Find us on Facebook: Creative Convergence, Philippa Burgess Course &
Philippa Burgess
Facebook Groups:  Philippa Burgess’ Screenwriting Career Intensive,
Philippa Burgess’ Your Media Brand Mentor, Philippa Burgess’
Transmedia Guide and Hollywood By Phone.  We also have a group for
Chris Soth’s Your Screenplay Mentor and Chris Soth’s Mentorship
Group.  We’re still figuring out Fan Pages vs. Groups so you’ll find
both for Chris Soth and Hollywood by Phone.  There are also groups for
Chris Soth’s Million Dollar Screenwriting and Million Dollar
Screenwriting & Content Career.  We’re going to need to consolidate –
but in the meantime, this is where we are…

In LinkedIn you can add me as a connection at pb@creativecvg.com.  The
groups we have there are Million Dollar Dollar Screenwriting & Content
Career and Sell Your Content.

Follow us on Twitter: @Creativecvg  @scriptcareer @hwdbyphone
@philippaburgess @sellyourcontent @signaturestory @chrissoth

I am also on Plaxo: philippa@yoursignaturestory.com

Read our blog at: www.creativecvg.wordpress.com, www.ysscommunity.wordpress.com

Join us on our membersite for content creators: www.yoursignaturestory.com

I know a lot of this needs to be consolidated and streamlined, but in
the meantime — a start so that you know where to find me and I can
get the word out to you on things that I believe are worth your time
and attention.

To your success,

Philippa

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Paris, October 27, 2009

Hi Fellow YSSers,

Some of you already know that I’m producing a web series I wrote called MY BITCHY WITCHY PARIS VACATION.

My Bitchy Witchy Paris Vacation

The story is about a fifteen-year-old girl still desperately waiting for her first period who travels to Paris with her menopausal mom so they can stop bickering and re-connect. The girl’s pregnant older sister comes along to ensure her mom and sister don’t kill each other—only she has some hormonal issues of her own. The idea sprang from an article in the New York Times on the topic of older mothers going through menopause at the same time their children go through puberty.

I’m excited about finally taking the plunge and producing my own writing. These are my goals for the web series:

1)       To showcase my ability to come up with a fun, marketable concept AND to execute it well.

2)       To learn about developing underlying materials—such as a web series—for concepts that could live in other forms—such as a feature film.

3)       To learn about the production process.

4)       To learn how to use social networking to promote my projects.

5)       To build community and gain fans.

The energy that has been generated by this project has been amazing. Seasoned professionals are excited to donate their time and expertise. One of the actresses loves the script so much she’s willing to travel on her own dime from Switzerland to play the mother! I’m very touched by how people are embracing my project and making it theirs, too.  The promise I made to my incredible cast and crew is that I would do everything I could to promote them and to ensure that the series is seen by as many people as possible.

To that end, I’m going to need help. That’s why I’m reaching out to all of my friends, colleagues, and contacts, including you, my fellow classmates here.

I’d like to invite you to have a look at the media kit I’ve attached and to visit the Bitchy Witchy website (www.bitchywitchy.com). If you like what you see and feel inspired to become part of the Bitchy Witchy adventure, here are some ways you can help:

1)       Join the mailing list and post a comment while you’re visiting the website.

2)       Join the Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/home.php – /pages/My-Bitchy-Witchy-Paris-Vacation/173022712008?ref=ts

and tell all your friends to join, too.

3)       Contribute financially. Every little bit helps. There is a DONATE button on the website. All contributors will be listed on the website and in the credits (under the heading: “This web series was made possible by the generous support of…”). Producer credit is available for anyone who contributes or raises 500 euros/700 dollars.

4)       Nudge me to post updates on the blog and social networks.

5)       And perhaps most importantly – watch the series when it comes out in early 2010 and share it with your friends and social networks!

I appreciate your support in any form it takes, including cheerleading from afar. Meanwhile, please let me know what I can do to support YOUR projects, now or in the future.

Here’s the press kit:

http://s3.amazonaws.com/YSS/PDF/BWMediaKit.pdf

And a chat with director, Kartik Singh who is also a MDSCC course participant and YSS community member. http://s3.amazonaws.com/YSS/MP3/YSSCommunity-BitchyWitchy.mp3

My best,

Alexis Niki

alexis@thethirddraft.com

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Denzel Unstoppable in Brewster, OH

Submitted by Candee Kramer
www.CandeeKramer.com

What do you do when Hollywood arrives in your flyover state?  You run to check it out.  So when a film crew descended on Brewster, a small rural town in Ohio’s Amish country, I grabbed a friend from nearby Canton and we did our own Unstoppable location scouting.

Amish buggy

Unstoppable is Tony Scott’s latest endeavor with Denzel Washington about a runaway train and Brewster is the home of the Wheeling and Lake Erie Railroad.  Townsfolk said an abandoned tower in the rail yard was stripped down for use in filming.  Of course, we would rather have a peak at Denzel or Chris Pine (Star Trek) or Rosario Dawson (Men in Black II) or Kevin Dunn (Transformers) than a tower.

Brewster Welcomes Denzel

Scott and Washington last worked together in The Taking of Pelham 123. In this film, Washington plays a seasoned engineer who hops on an empty, runaway train with a young conductor, Chris Pine, to stop it before its toxic cargo can reach a large city. Dawson is Connie, a dispatcher, and Dunn portrays her boss.

The Station Restaurant

But, unlike a train barreling down the track at top speed, we were stoppable.  The pleasant woman at the base camp politely declined our offer to help. (Hey, I’m a production assistant and my friend is a sound engineer.)  She told us we were not the first to try.

Unstoppable base camp

During lunch at the former train station’s dining room, my buddy decided we should crash the set by darting through five tracks of rail cars. I showed her it was a working train yard.  She recalled she hopped freight cars to attend Woodstock.  I reminded her she was stoned.

Wheeling & Lake Erie Rail headquarters

But there were some lucky ones.  Twenty-eight men and one woman from the area were cast as railroad workers for a scene that establishes the runaway-train premise at the start of the movie. Filming ended in Brewster on Friday, Sept. 4.

W & LE railroad tracks and tower

The rumor is that the film crew will be there until mid-December, but some sources say this notion is off-track and that it’s actually hurtling toward a rail yard in Bradford, Penn., and then on to Bellaire, Ohio, in November. Stay tuned to this station.

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Welcome to the YSS Community

 

We’ve got a fantastic YSS Community.  I encourage you to share your stories as you navigate entertainment & media.  This blog is your place to introduce yourself and report on what you’re experiencing as a writer, author, expert or content creator.  Feel free to share what you see and learn.  Whether you’re in process shooting a webisode, going on a round of executive meetings, receiving an award, attending an event, discovering something new, or connecting with industry execs in Hollywood, Publishing & PR, - be sure to take this opportunity to write about it and share it with us.

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