The Mastery Journey in Entertainment Business is only
the foundation
Month 1: Orientation
and Mastery: Personal Development and Leadership
Throughout
this fast-track mastery program, I had to commence a 12 different trial
intensive classes that would shape and overall prospective of Entertainment
Business Masters of Science Program. During this time, was able to obtain a
part-time General Manager Position for the summer at Subzero Catering &
Events during the summer of 2015, and still work as a part-time supervisor at
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf gave a sense of time controlling with full time
course studies that I’m profoundly grateful for. During the first course,
Orientation and Mastery: Personal Development and Leadership, and coherently
complete the course’s objectives as well as a get a inclusive of the program by
one of the head chairs of Full Sail University, and what’s to come in the
current entertainment world.
Personal
Development course help broaden the horizons on where I belong in the world, it’s
still in the field of entertainment I desire, but what has proven to be one of
my strongest is a managerial card.
However, I do love the taste and smell of coffee and delight people with
upmost customer service qualities I have, I thrive on building relationships
with people and would enjoy managing a coffee shop while constructing Parallel
Vendetta Entertainment, LLC (PvE Studios). A visual presentation was done on http://www.dipity.com/mpanda1986/Mastery-Journey/ Dipity website, to give a overall inspirational
ideal what I would accomplish in this class, basically predicting what’s to
come of shaping Amanda in a box to the public eye, which was a nice sentiment
while creating a starting blog of this Mastery Journey.
Month 2: Executive
Leadership
In
executive leadership, got to learn leadership material from Greene and Maxwell,
to distinctive voices that are still to this day defining leadership. Taking
directly from a pervious assignment “Maxwell would be better suited because of
team intensive strategies to work with other individuals, and eventually work
my way up to either a lead designer and have a voice in green lighting future
projects.” What has changed from 10 months ago is being apart of a respected
and invaluable company in the entertainment industry, while gradually forming
Parallel Vendetta Entertainment, and being the director and founder of a
company. In Chapter 7 of Maxwell and Greene, it is mention how to develop a
leader within, was has changed is who I surround myself is what will help shape
me into an ideal leadership role, without the people, I’m nothing.
During
month 2, was able to research a prodigious woman in the entertainment industry
as well, I went with Drew Barrymore because of our similarities of
personalities and a party induced past. Also known as a former “wild child”,
Drew has this charisma, and self-discovery through many painful memories, dark secrets
proved to be an awaking, which lead to her success today. Similar to Drew, I
have a few dark secrets that I will take to my grave, but it wasn’t tell this
recent year of 2014, late 2015 of this graduate program I knew what I wanted in
my life. It took a good a mere 26 years of my life to put a lot of partying to
rest, and wake up and smell crumble ashes of debt, or sweet smell of roses of
success of venturing onto a everlasting career, family and security, it’s about
time for this lady to finally grow up, but I won’t ever give up my purple color
hair!
Month 3: Project
and Team Management
Jumping
onto Project and Team Management, stereotypically the assumption understood
what it takes to properly lead and manage a team. However, the curveball was to
better prepare number, and the financial income statement it takes to run a
forecast budget with revenue. During week 3, product and artist management was
done to teach endorsement and how to pick the best offer given to the client,
and what pros and cons to chose between a Ford offering, Ralph Lauren, Wyndham
Resorts and Gatorade with ideal proposals to the client. From this assessment,
was able to rank various of offers in order to prepare to the client, based on what
was most beneficial, ranking Ralph Lauren for the career long-deal, to taking
Ford and ability for Ford to offer client a vehicle, then Gatorade for
asserting client has no tobacco history, and finally taking the Wyndham
Resorts. The only offer I would endure is Rolex, because combining For and
Gatorade, as a team we already have a lucrative multi-million deal, and once
that deal has ended, there still being potential with Ralph Lauren, with
Wyndham Resort only being a two-year term, it may lead to their hotel chain
sponsorships.
SWOT
(Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, Threats) analysis was to set-up Melime 4
Entertainment (Parallel Vendetta Entertainment) and produce originality for
this start-up company. Finally, proposing a pitch and I look back and quite
absurdly at the original inspiration “Dying Hollywood”, because of over
exhausting already told ideas to the big screen. As of now, I base innovative
stories for short films or video games constructed on reality, with hint of
make-believe on getting a door open to either a potential employer, or creating
my own employment.
Month 4: Business
Storytelling and Brand Development
The
message was to gain a further understanding of building a strong presence in
business and making it marketable to consumers, by using storytelling and brand
development. To really digest the only way consumer’s will remember the
business is having a strong brand, becoming an icon that is memorable to be
foretold to everyone and strengthen the business presence to the entertainment
industry. A major and respectful game company that introduces humans, orcs and
elves to protect a lavish yet mysterious world titled Azeroth, from Blizzard
Entertainment/Activision. Blizzard is the “ultimate dream job”; Blizzard
Entertainment is a memorable and highly recognizable logo to many gamers across
the world. This successful
company is known for Warcraft, Diablo, StarCraft and World of Warcraft, and a
very famous Warcraft trading card game that brings role-playing card gamers to
battling out at live events.
Blizzcon
is another live event to bring fans of their games, and unite them at a massive
weekend extravaganza; Blizzard also had made their mark in Comic Con, game
conventions alike, and having a clear focus when it comes being market driven to there business success
of understanding there customers (Successful
Business Plan, Abrams 99). Researching a company I look up to brought
insight to what buyer persona means, a positioning statement that guarantee’s
players to have a superb experience playing anyone one of their games. A
assignment that really stood out as well was doing a brand audit, and really
dissecting a current employer, and how it’s beneficial to have and ideal target
market, audience, and accomplish creativity and care because building a brand
consumers will love.
Month 5: Entertainment
Business and Finance
Going into this class I was
expecting the stereotypical crunching numbers in operating a new business, or
do a little figuring out simulated companies finances. The class taught how to properly run cash flow, interest is
calculated when pulling out a loan and the payback cost which was quite eye
opening when graduating and the expectance of paying back student loans. Another
wakening, was considerate the full effect and definition of Crowdfunding, a
different term into raising and funding a project through a large amount of
people, generally using the Internet, and has quite grown popular for mass
causes or independent companies funding a there project. Also it is usually
based of a common interest between the people contributing money towards a
service, project, product, investment, cause or experience.
A
few popular websites are known for Crowdfunding, such as gofundme, kickstarter,
indiegogo, teespring, youcaring, causes, giveitfoward, and a few other notable
websites that rank in the top 10 sites for Crowdfunding traffic. . A wise choice of using internet Crowdfunding to support Parallel
Vendetta Entertainment, or video game for that matter to start or launch
independent game developer careers, and using Kickstarter, Gofundme and
Indiegogo are the top three or raising at least 25-50k for the video game Big
Boy Bruce, roughly because pay of a few designers as well the primary portion
will go towards paying fees to launch games through multi platforms, game
contests, travels and assistance with marketing campaign.
Month 6: Negotiating
& Deal making
Negotiating and Deal making provides the necessary tools on how to
predict an opposing team, locking deals, predicting how a meeting will go as
well as learning negotiating tricks during this course. For example, for the
first week we were able to review a sample negotiation between an independent
filmmaker striking a deal with a woman athlete, but the challenging part was
gaining footage of her personal life. Dissecting the video by separating the
parties to underlying problem, and placing their personalities aside by
implementing a mutual benefit for bother parties. Assuming, anything involving
negotiating and deal making comes a lot of perpetration; research beforehand or
it will fail, with the help of an remarkable book titled “ Getting to Yes”.
The
key ingredients of success, Never loose eye contact, no matter what visual
representation the other person is giving, because it is giving a sense of
direction where to go in terms of negotiation. Being stern and direct, only
budding a little when it comes to finding a reasonable solution for both
parties agreement. Deal making is like a game of chess; the one who claims
checkmate is basically the winner of the battle, until negotiations and
contracts are signed. As I develop myself as a women of business, I’ve come to
realize all these paths I had to take to get to my MSc., and fear of getting
back into the entertainment industry is long broken, and ready to negotiate my
way towards victory.
Month 7: Product
and Artist Management
How
to overcome conflict and what strategies that must be implemented when handling
a artist career, and use of product placement was a generally idea placed when
going into month seven. Reflection on a assignment of researching a industry
professional and her path as a manager, Sharon Osborne, a music manager,
promoter, reality television star, author, talk show host, entertainer, concert
producer and successful mother. Key lessons for this , how powerful networking
is, and gut making decision will take you a long way, knowing which market to
manage and knowing what the public wants to see through public relations. Never
back down there are emotional pitfalls .What Sharon Osborne taught, was how to
cope with personal complications being in the public eye, aim to win even if
everything seems to fall through with business relations.
A
useful insight was the “One Million Cups”, was as future business people in the
industry of understanding what is expected when companies market and present a
idea to a series of investors. Ability to digest the pro’s and con’s of the
presentation, such as, Let’s
start with the overall weakness in the presentation, on Jennifer reaction and
how Yoga Dog would deal with the religious aspect, and knowing that there may
be parents pulling children out of school because of Yoga Dog. Now let’s end on
a positive high, the strengths with the presentation was fairly straightforward
and had exact 30 episode viewpoint, and was seeking the funds for possibility
of full 18 episode season. Succumbing to ideas of partnering with previous
schools and students, to help develop projects from start-up company PvE, LLC
and having the backbone and knowledge of product and artist management.
Month 8: Advanced
Entertainment Law
The foundation of knowing the rules, laws and boundaries when it comes
to entertainment law and what components is configured for intellectual
property for movies, music, games or any other form of entertainment. Being
aware of current cases, and past cases will help assist if anything conflicting
comes in the way revolving around federal law. Investigating patents,
protection against copyright infringement, protect the company from any conflict
action of any similar qualities of storytelling, or creative ideas. This month
taught the great extents that are need to get PvE Studios protected, and while
marketing is a major factor, as well as social media , I won’t have to deal with loss of sales if there is a counter suit to
block publishing because of properly protecting patents and copyright
protection.
To
have no fear when any game is created and inspired through visual, digital and
emotional storytelling, and securing all grounds towards inspiration and give
credit to deserving developers, designers and storytellers. An information
assignment, IP Audit was to understand various of key relations from advanced
law, and how it formulates that into company. Such as, Trade Secret and what
protection it will give the company. Protection: Short Films and video games
are on a constant innovative journey, and a long lifespan for creativity.
Setting and founding proposition between everyone involved with M4M
Entertainment, that everything discussed, creative or document with M4M will
need to be proposed as a legal document, and well protected by ligation in the
courts, a non-disclosure agreement.
Month 9: Entertainment
Media and Publishing
Entertainment
Media and Publishing, was a interesting path to learn more about the various of
ways to publish a video game directly, or indirectly to the public. Going into
this as a independent game developer, the best route is to bypass and some game
publishers in the industry, because they’re almost becoming irreverent in the industry. In this day and age, game
developer can overpass the corporate standard of large game publishers, however
won’t gain as many incentives marketing wise or proper front and back-office
staffing. Game Developers, and indie designers are learning to become more
self-aware of not having a exclusive relationship with a publisher, and still
succeeding in publishing their game, because simply the game industry is
changing towards digital content sales and away from the physical games sales.
Let’s take out the middleman, which is quite profitable to sell a game directly
to Apple, Amazon, and Google storefront, and probably the vastest reason mobile
game’s are in demand in the industry.
A formal letter was created to resurface prices and cost
to file a start-up company DBA business name, and choosing between limited or
sole partnership. Legalzoom.com, is a well-crafted site dedicated to business
wanted to directing work with little interactions from lawyers. This site has
everything, generally I suggest to shop around first before retaining legal
documents, I’ve done the research in California, and this is personally the
best route
and most affordable for “Parallel Vendetta Entertainment (PvE): Artistry in
Action” paving the way for games/short film industry. I’ve personally had dealt
with them in the past for name change reason, instead of paying $1500-$2, I
approximately paid $500 including required documents, paying for a judge
hearing and posing notices in the newspaper. Still knowing the publisher’s importance, as
well as gaining momentum from indie and
small publishers for the game industry will help launch bigger success into
getting green lit from STEAM, PlayStation, Xbox and more!
Month 10: Digital
Marketing
Expecting
for the class to have a well-rounded idea what implements are required to have
a successful marketing campaign, actually proven to be more difficult then
expected. During the entire program, this class required a lot of trial and
error with a common sense factor of properly assuming what finances are
essential for a marketing campaign. Generating a marketing canvas for this
course made myself self aware of knowing the competition, market, knowing KPI
goals and what percentages are used determine the cost of the product. “Digital Landscaping”, and what does it entail tying into the entertainment/video
game industry, it involves the evolution of online interaction, marketing,
awareness and various forms of social media.
Revolution of digital games is
widespread, from smartphones to tablets, beacuase this day and age everyone is
on the run, and it’s necessary for the company to have a digital format on a
mobile device. Objectives Goal Generator, help refine accurate marketing
efforts for the marketing plan so the customer will know what is being
purchased. Major factors of digital marketing, is knowing how much profit PvE
would take out of , exluding salaries, adveristings, game festivals, travel,
unity pro, cupytight insurance, postage/shipping and publshing websites into
the conversion values of the worksheet. The Campaign marketing plan budget will
have a price tag of $3500 -$5000 range, to increase a loyal engagment to gather
fans and followers to purchase our video game products. Leaving this class,
really had to fine tune 3 goals split into Social Media, VLOG into email
marketing.
Month 11: Business
Plan Development
During
this month, it was clearly stated by a former student from full sail how
importance in the entertainment industry is to have a business plan. It’s
extremely similar to a elevator pitch, you will never know who you run into,
and how many will be particularly interested with a greater success rate if
handing a copy of a business plan. This course staged numerous segments every
week of reviewing previous classes, and fine tuning the companies identity,
without really knowing the purpose of a SWOT analysis, and now finding out it’s
importance of differentiation. For instance, opportunities for the company,
Multiple materials in the entertainment industry: Parallel Vendetta
Entertainment will prioritize video games, while media and short stories will
be secondary in the industry. To provide a wide range of entertainment, will
keep Parallel Vendetta Entertainment opportunity more extensive to be
effective.
While a few critical and key points that
will make the company successful by developing a new and unique market segment,
and understanding the targetable market share. Indie companies are trying to be
the next superlative entity, and unique in the video game/entertainment
industry. The best way is to refine what PvE Studios practice, emotional
storytelling meet’s pleasure, and guarantees an emotionally challenging
experience with our games, short stories, media and immersing that into the
business plan. Eventual goal for this class was to prepare a rough idea and
establish a business plan as future entrepreneurs. Ideally, going into this
class, I was unaware of expectations the industry standard has in looking for a
business plans with start-up companies, and mold into the current market.
Month 12:
Final Project, Business Plan
To the
concluding chapter of this Master’s Program, and full speed ahead to digest
everything plowed into our head in a head is quite miraculous, but refreshing
to still go back and review what’ve I’ve learned and accomplished from one year
ago to today. Sewing all the pieces together, and overlooking, proofreading the
business plan for the past few weeks before submission is quite nerve
wrecking. These past two months really
tested the fate of the company, and inspire even greater heights of Parallel
Vendetta’s Inspirations, as well as being prepared legally. Mission statement
was reborn: Parallel Vendetta Entertainment delivers high quality
entertainment, an independent game publisher that delivers through multiply
online websites. Short film production, our mission is to partner together with
local filmmaker’s, and film schools by giving students valuable experience on
being on a short film location while developing inspired scripts by the PvE
Studio team.
Parallel Vendetta Entertainment mission statement, “ To inspire expressively thought-provoking stories & gameplay,
beyond years of imagination, while conveying upmost eminence content with Video
Games and Short Stories through PvE studios, artistry in action”. “Provoking and
thoughtful Emotions”, the company partakes in creating an insightful connection
between the player, and it’s video game character arc in any media released.
“Thoughtful”, is a reflection of practicality perception of a different world,
providing engaging world environments and game mechanics. Parallel Vendetta
Entertainment, being a start-up company is an investment of each developer,
designer to the power of the player, thus the final project is to harness the
next stage after years of educational growth, developing PVE in the long run,
and primiarly seeking employment in the entertainment industry as a creative
project manager. This years and crafted my love of entertainment, music, movies
and of course video games, and lit the spark of stepping my way back into the
industry as an experienced industry professional.
-A.H.
