Calling ALL Atlanta Actors, Directors, Writers and Filmmakers!!

Not having control over your destiny is not a powerful feeling. When looking for a job you look for a field of work that excites or interests you. Acting and film is no different. Actors, directors, writers, and others have allowed themselves to fall victim to the money driven film industry. For those who want the freedom of choice and the luxury of expression, The Georgia Big Picture Conference sponsored by the Atlanta Film Festival grants aspiring members of the film industry an opportunity to control the destiny.

The GABPC is a 3-day intensive conference with over 35 industry professionals at your fingertips to share their knowledge, stories and insight and answer your questions about working in the entertainment industry. The conference will take place April 17, 18 and 19 at Hotel Midtown (Peachtree and 10th) and is divided into creative and business tracks to help you gain knowledge and hands on experience to create your own project. The Conference is also partnered with the Atlanta Film Festival, so an attendee can maximize their experience by attending both.

This conference satisfies the creative and business aspects of this industry.
The Business Track includes seminars entitled, From Here to Hollywood: Industry Networking Basics, Documentary Dialogues, Film Entrepreneurism: A Producers Panel, Breakdown: Budgeting & Production Scheduling, In the Can: Marketing & Promoting Your Completed Project, and Distribution Options and Alternatives.

The Creative Track includes: CampusMovieFest, Directors Boot Camp, Pt 1(Pre-Production: Casting & Directors Vision), Directors Boot Camp, Pt 2 (Production: Filming), Directors Boot Camp, Pt 3 (Post Production: Editing) Seeing Red: Production on the Red Camera.

The key to opportunity is knowledge and utilizing resources. Being able to know all aspects of your craft and industry increases the chance of success. For more info or to register, go to www.gabpc.com

Short on Cash? Bartering May Be Your Best Bet

Another bank failed in Georgia and I'm sure they're falling down in your state too, so what's the small biz owner to do??

Never fret, there is a solution! For those of us - small biz and just regular old folk looking for a good deal, bartering may be the next best thing! Yes, bartering. Who knew? Well apparently, the brilliant folks at NuBarter saw this happening a long time ago and set the wheel in motion.

Now we have a well-oiled machine helping businesses sustain this pyscho economy that comes and goes with the wind!

Victor Arnold of HB Fitness in Smyrna was in need of podiatry work when he decided to explore opportunities available to him through NuBarter. Victor shares, “When I joined NuBarter, I mentioned to Jenny and Aaron the issues I’d been having with my feet.” He continues, “They told me of a podiatrist that was a fellow member in the Atlanta area and I called to schedule an appointment.”

Click here to read the whole story.

http://www.nubarter.com/

Where do the Uninsured Go for Healthcare?

There are so many people without health insurance in today's economy. People who lose jobs, lose their health insurance. If they have children, then their children go without health insurance as well.

There are so many reasons this is a bad situation, but there's help for those who live in Charlotte, North Carolina!

Fellow Humanitarian, She-Ra and Community Activist, Donna Murray Lacey, executive director of CVIM (The Charlotte Volunteers in Medicine Clinic) and staff, along with community partners, will be observing Cover the Uninsured Week providing free vision screening; open to the public, on Wednesday, March 25th at the clinic's site at 1315 Beatties Ford Road from 5pm - 8pm. They will also have a community outreach on Friday, March 27th from 10am - 2pm with several health screenings and health education sessions at The Greenville Center located at 1330 Spring Street.

In North Carolina, almost 1.3 million people are without health insurance. Cover the Uninsured Week is a project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. This is a nationally recognized week that helps build support and provide awareness to America's uninsured.

Early detection is the key to living a long and healthy life. Screenings provided during this event may provide a path to a proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Educational materials provided will equip the community with the proper tools and resources necessary to make wise and healthy decisions.

Volunteers will be on hand to provide prostate cancer screening and HIV screening. In addition, our community partners will provide health and wellness information. Our partners include: Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, The McCrorey YMCA, Prevent Blindness North Carolina, Mecklenburg County Health Department, National Marrow Donor Program, American Stroke/American Heart Association, State Farm Insurance 50 Million Pound Challenge, Total Touch Chiropractic Wellness Center, Metrolina AIDS Project, Pfizer Pharmaceutical, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of North Carolina.

CVIM is committed to helping residents of Mecklenburg County who do not have health insurance coverage and continues to have a major impact within Charlotte-Mecklenburg County.

CVIM is credited for changing peoples' attitudes about their health and healthcare delivery and has been covered by media such as: V101.9, Q92.7, WFAE, WGIV, News 14 Carolina, WSOC-TV, Pride Magazine, The Charlotte Observer, The Charlotte Post and Advance for Physician Assistants.

Please support us and our partners as we support the community to bridge the health gap. For more information about CVIM and its vision of service to Charlotte-Mecklenburg's uninsured or to inquire about becoming a donor, partner or volunteer, please visit http://www.cvim.org/call Donna M. Lacey at 704-350-1300.

The PR Saga: Featuring Chris Brown & Rhianna

As a publicist, I often wonder about my fellow publicists – specifically Chris & Rhianna's publicists as they try to figure out how to manage this crisis PR situation. I can only imagine it's daunting at best, but a statement of "She's doing well, thanks for asking" is not really saying anything.

The media is now saying they are back together, that she is pregnant, that Chris really doesn't want her, that she's 'head-over-hills in love' ...blah, blah, blah....can we get some real truth from the sources? I'm just saying...

The public wants to know what's really going on – hey, they are in the PUBLIC'S EYE and LOVE the attention when it's making them lots of money. I say, since you're profiting on my attention when it works for you, then I at least need a decent answer as to what's going on.

Not only that, here's a chance to really shine in the face of tremendous adversity as a publicist. Some things I would do are:

• Seek out an "exclusive" with a few trusted sources in print, TV or radio
  
• Put out an official blog and let the fans know that you know they are concerned omitting twitter and Facebook as sources
  
• Have an answer for media speculation - quickly
  
• Make some phone calls to organizations, businesses, etc. and work to partner by being a voice of reason, an advocate, etc. to soften the blow
  
• Last but not least, keep it moving the best way you can with your head held high
  

When you're in the public eye, it's hard to deal with a private situation publicly, let alone in actual privacy when no one seems to understand you need time and space to come to grips with things.

Nonetheless, they are someone's clients, but they are also people.

Fellow publicists, what do you think? How would you handle such a crisis?

Fitting Into the News

How to Get Positive Ink in Newspapers and Magazines

“It's amazing that the amount of news that happens in the world every day always just exactly fits the newspaper.” -- Jerry Seinfeld

In the PR business, one thing to always remember is that the task of executing good campaigns for our clients isn’t nearly as challenging as the task of a newspaper or magazine editor. While PR professionals follow the news trends, editors have the responsibility of setting them. They decide:

· the priority for each story,
· the amount of space to devote to it,
· how to illustrate it, and finally…
· how to ensure it reflects the truth!

And newspapers have to do that every day. No holidays. No breaks. Magazines go more in-depth, and because most are monthly, their challenge is far greater. They begin work on the issue that hits the stands in May way back in February, and they have to predict which stories are going to be relevant two or three months from the time it is researched and written.

The reason I point this out is because the number one pitfall of those seeking news coverage doesn’t concern the quality of the press release, the timing of the story or the skill of the spokesperson being interviewed. It concerns recognizing the needs of the editors, who are the gatekeepers between you and your story and the millions of readers they reach. From their standpoint, their newspaper or magazine does not exist to “give you coverage.” It does not exist so you can get your name in the paper and generate customers for your business.

Their publication exists to inform and entertain their readership enough to keep them subscribing. In so doing, they provide enough readership to justify selling display advertisements that appear next to their articles. In other words, the newspaper cannot make money by serving you or your company in its editorial space. It can only survive by serving its readership.So, the primary part of the equation is your approach to these editors. It’s not about bending them to your will, but rather tailoring a story and angle about your company, service or product that will appeal to their readership.

Moreover, it can’t sound like an infomercial. Anything that is too commercial will earn the response, “buy an ad.”Here are some tips on how to shape that angle:If You Want to Get in the Paper, Then Read the Paper

If you want a newspaper or magazine to feature you, then first you’d better see what they are featuring in their pages. Once you understand what they write about in their pages, it will be easier for you to see how you could fit in.

Analyze if You are Actually Newsworthy.

If your business is in an industry that is getting a lot of press lately, chances are you could piggyback on the headlines. Does your business offer solutions for people to help beat the recession? Right now, that’s a home-run story in most markets. Has your business beaten the odds or overcome adversity? Do you have an inspirational story to tell regarding how you prevailed over misfortune? Newspapers and magazines love to feature those kinds of angles, because they are universal and appeal to everyone.

Select the Right Tool to Get Coverage

When you have something to communicate to the press, use the right tool for the job. Most companies issue a press release whenever they move two inches to the left. Press releases should only be used when there is something “newsy” to communicate. Incidentally, reporters and editors don’t refer to them as press releases.

According to the Associated Press Stylebook, they are called news releases. You should think of them as news releases, too. Sometimes a simple email to an editor with three sentences describing the story angle is enough. Sometimes a pitch letter is what’s required. Remember, you don’t want to waste the time of the editors you are contacting. Give them as much information as they need to decide if you’re newsworthy, and that’s it. They won’t read a 4 page press release, so don’t feel compelled to write the company manifesto. They won’t read it, anyway.

Ask Yourself If You Would Read the Story You Want to PitchBe objective and ask yourself, if you were reading a magazine or newspaper and saw a story like the one you want the press to write on the page, would you take the time to read it? If you can imagine the headline in your head, and then hear yourself thinking “Who cares?” in response to it, chances are you need to come up with another idea.Bottom line…If you want to get in the paper, then you need to think more like the editors who control that gate. The better you can help them serve their readers, the more they will want to write about you.

Marsha Friedman,

CEO
1127 Grove Street,
Clearwater, FL 33755
http://www.emsincorporated.com/

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More Sex for Today's Seniors? New Book Reveals the Secrets to Sexual Bliss in the 'Golden Years'

Speaker/Author Phil Parker Releases His Third Title, Grandpa Does Grandma: The ABCs of Senior SexGrandpa Does Grandma: The ABCs of Senior Sex is just in time for Valentine's Day lovers (old and young) to continue expressing their love for the remaining days this year! Parker uses 26 tastefully done illustrations that complement each letter for your visual enjoyment.

With wit, humor and even a softer side (from a female's point of view), The ABCs of Senior Sex offers a sexual romp through the alphabet written not only for seniors but also for anyone who believes that older people aren't "doing it" anymore! Parker says, "This book is about acknowledging and confirming that we're never too old to enjoy our bodies and the pleasure we derive from exploring and fulfilling one another." He continues, "People's attitudes have changed about sex. The seniors of today are not the seniors of yesterday, trust me!"

Today's seniors report that they are having sex far more often and have more positive feelings associated with sex than their counterparts just 30 years ago. According to the study, from 1971 to 2000 the proportion of 70-year-olds reporting sexual intercourse increased, although interestingly, more married men say they are having sex than married women. Among married men, 68 percent were having sex, compared to 52 percent in 1971. Among married women, 56 percent were having sex, compared to 38 percent in the 1970s. Inspired in part by a visit to a local bookstore where he usually begins his day with friends, Parker was approached by a female employee in her early 20s with whom he normally exchanged morning pleasantries and was asked his age. When he replied he was going on 70, the young woman asked, "Now that you are almost 70 and don't have sex anymore, what do you do for excitement?"Parker continues, "She was serious! I quickly satisfied her curiosity and went about my business. It did, however, get me thinking. Does the majority of our younger generation believe that seniors don't have or enjoy sex?" Visit www.GrandpaDoesGrandma.com and Click here to read more...

Atlanta's Esteemed Medical Professionals Embark on Extreme Makeover Challenge

Atlanta, GA - December 2, 2008 - Based on the successful television special documenting people who undergo makeovers, some local Atlanta-area doctors are embarking on their very own version of the show, "Atlanta's Ultimate Makeover." The private kick-off celebration with sponsors, friends, celebrities and supporters, is at 7 pm, Thursday, December 4th, at the Tracy Nicole Boutique in Vinings. RSVP is required.

Invited celebrity guests include "Chili" of TLC, reality stars of Real Housewives of Atlanta, R&B Singer, Tony Terry, recording artist, Melissa McCloud and others.
Sponsorship opportunities are available for this wonderful cause! If interested in becoming a sponsor E-mail at publicist@thewritestylzprfirm.com and reference "Sponsorship: Atlanta's Ultimate Makeover." To RSVP to attend this event, please refer to our press contact.

Click here to read more.