Just Graduated. Now What?

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The film industry is not easy to break into, especially since having a film degree is not a guarantee for finding a job. As an art form, film is not about how much you know about it but it is about how much talent and dedication you are able to show in a small amount of time. With the film industry expanding into the cyber world, it is a great opportunity for up and coming filmmakers to revolutionize and polish an industry that is just in the making. Although Hollywood has been around for over 100 years, now is the time for change and we are all here and ready to witness it. Most film graduates that I have met during the last few years can’t wait to head to Los Angeles and find a position. As I try to stay in touch with these people who were once classmates and currently friends, I have reached a conclusion:

Hollywood is not the way to break into the business.

As independent filmmakers have more technology and sources to expose their content, it is no longer about getting a big studio to produce your script; it is about creating good enough content to attract the attention of the millions of people in the World Wide Web. This by no means implies that Hollywood is dead, or that there are no opportunities out there. The opportunities will always be there, but they are fewer than the demand for them. Since Los Angeles and New York are the main cities of entertainment, entertainers head to them, ignoring the fact that the rest of the world needs entertainment as well.

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As a recent graduate, I only have one piece of advise. Take the knowledge you have gained to a place where people have no idea of what you are talking about. It sounds counter productive, but it is in fact a great idea. Why go to the place where everyone knows how to do just the same or even more than you? Direct your knowledge to a place that needs development in your field. If you don’t like the way people work, teach them. If you feel you are surrounded by uneducated people? Educate them.
Start being a cause with your education and not an effect. As Alvin Toffler said on his book Revolutionary Wealth, knowledge is relative to time. There may be people that possess a great amount of knowledge, but if that knowledge is not updated, it is no longer relevant to the new knowledge. You are updated in your knowledge, at least for today. Share your knowledge to an extent, and you will see that gaining a following is much easier than wrapping cables at Universal Studios. 

The Avengers

Piture from: Screenrant

A compilation of Marvel’s greatest heroes gets to the big screen to astonish audiences around the world. The Avengers, a film that includes Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Thor, Black Widow, Nick Fury and Hawkeye is a mix made in heaven for a night of entertainment. With a cast repertoire that includes Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, and Chris Evans, The Avengers provides a variety of personalities that compliment and contrast each other.

Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man/Tony Stark

Two spies, a multimillionaire with weapons, an invincible green giant and an ageless super soldier are brought together by a one-eyed agent to save the world from a revengeful god from another planet. This is the premise to a story that provides an intense buildup to a climax that unravels into a nice and clean conclusion that is followed by Marvel’s famous post creditscene, which reveals a possible sequel.

Although there is no specific protagonist for this film’s storyline, Robert Downey Jr. steals the spotlight with a performance that delivers fluidity and wit to his Tony Stark and Iron Man roles. For being such a complex mixture of superheroes, one would expect this film to be all about the action and the special effects. On the contrary, the storyline is able to efficiently introduce each character and their own personal stories as well as to efficiently engage the audience with some light humor.

The fact is that the target audience for this film is anybody who wants to enjoy a nice movie out. Although it would seem that it is targeted to men and comic fans, The Avengers is a film that can be enjoyed by any type of genre or age and does not demand the audience to have seen all previous superhero films. Great direction, action, flawless special effects, wonderful cast and a touch of humor are some of the elements that mix up together to create a very audience friendly and entertaining film.

A Film Needs a Marketing Plan

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When making a film, it is important to understand that it is not all about the creative process. On the last post, I talked about a business plan and how relevant this is to making your films a reality. Today, I am going to talk about a specific element of a business plan, the Marketing Campaign. Marketing is a big deal when it comes to promoting and distributing a film. 

As we create a story, and get involved in the production process, we must understand who exactly is the audience that is going to be watching your film. Is it for children, teenagers, young adults, men, women, etc? This is one of the most important questions because marketing is not only about selling your project. Marketing is the way you will establish a relationship between you and your audience who will eventually become your fans or followers. Click here for more in depth information about marketing. 

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Nowadays, marketing is easier than it has ever been. The Internet and social media have opened the doors to several ways filmmakers can launch marketing campaigns, which have proven to be effective if done correctly. Hollywood is even taking part in this new marketing movement with Lionsgate’s Hunger Games successful campaign through Facebook and Twitter. Experts in business plan development like Eric Sherman reiterate the importance of a marketing campaign in the process of developing a project and getting your film out to the world. 

The biggest problem that we face today as independent filmmakers is that there are so many ideas running back and forward that it becomes hard to keep track of them. My advice is to stick to one, and follow the business plan steps to get this idea to become a completed project. Once a project reaches completion, we can go ahead and take on the next project. Use the tools that have been provided for you and do the research. There are several resources like blogs that will advise you and guide you on how you can get started on your own filmmaker career.

Funding Your Films

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A great part of the success filmmakers have in the industry is based on the information they know about the business of filmmaking. Although we are all artists, and it hurts every time we have to focus on the business side of film, it is important to be informed of what the trends are, what people are looking for, and how you can start to get your plan going. All of this requires a small process where the filmmaker has to make a plan and get it to action. A business plan is a great way to start, this will make you sit down and actually think step by step what must be done to achieve success. But where do we start? Well, once you have a plan, it would not hurt to get a professional to look at it and tell you whether you are wasting your time or on the right track. 

Eric Sherman is a devoted filmmaker that has gone through all the filmmaking process. He has directed, produced, wrapped cables, done make-up, made popcorn,  etc. He also does consultations for business plans, budgets and schedules. If I had to recommend someone to look at your business plan, this would be the guy. He knows about both worlds, something that is hard to find in consultants. Sherman was born and raised in Hollywood, and after attending Yale and co-founding its film society, he has been a consultant for some of the biggest studios including Universal and Paramount. He is currently educating young filmmakers with lectures in California and universities around the country. With such knowledge of the industry, he is with no doubt an expert in the subject and has the ability to recognize strengths and flaws in a project.

But why should we go through all this process? As independent filmmakers, we do not have the resources to pay an expert for an opinion. True. Maybe your plan does not need to be revised by an expert, but if you do your research on the experts, on what they are looking for and on what you have to offer, then you are already heading the right way. Right now, Hollywood is staying in a safe zone where uncertainty is no longer a variable that studios are willing to invest in. They are looking for safe, for steady plans that will guarantee a profit instead of a loss.

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by LeadsFinderSoftware

A successful business plan has 5 key components: An executive summary, a marketing plan, a competitive analysis, a management team, and a financials section. All these sections are of great importance because each of these sections will break down your plan to its bare bones. These elements are considered key because they will paint a picture of the “whole” and will allow any potential investors to see the essence of your project with the backup of your research. “The Executive Summary must communicate to the prospective investor the size and scope of the market opportunity, the venture's business and profitability model, and how the resources/skills/strategic positioning of the Company's management team make it uniquely qualified to execute the plan” (Lavinsky, 2010). Quote extracted from here.

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On the other hand, there are people like Dave Lavinsky. He is the co-founder of Growthink, USA’s biggest strategic advisory firm. Lavinsky agrees with Sherman’s view on what the key elements of a business plan are. However, Lavinsky is very clear in the fact that as filmmakers, we tend to make things look ‘creative’. This is a mistake that many filmmakers frequently do. Investors are not looking to see how creative you are at the moment of revising your business plan. They are business people, and as such, they are only interested in the numbers and the profit they could make out of your project. For more information, I recommend his blog which has great insight on finding capital for your projects.

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So don’t make that mistake and stick to the words and numbers. It may not look pretty, but it will get you the funds you need to make wonders. Now your plan went from being a pitched idea to a viable project waiting to fall in the right hands. So get started on your research, and you will be executing your plans in no time. Remember that the artist also needs to know about the business. Don’t fall behind!

The Lorax: A Wakeup Call

Just after spring break, people get back to their normal lives and sometimes change some habits for the better. It is important to realize that there are always things we could be doing better, and a film

that sets a great example for both adults and kids is The Lorax. Directed by Chris Renaud and Kyle Balda, this film offers a fantastic story that communicates a surprisingly educating message from which we could all learn.

Being it is a simple story, this animated feature takes place in a future world where industrialization dominates humanity and extinguishes nature. When Ted (interpreted by Zack Efron) discovers the existence of trees through his crush Audrey (interpreted by Taylor Swift), he starts a voyage in which he defies not only the society in which he lives in, but also nature itself. When he meets a tree-protecting creature, the Lorax, Ted discovers a wonderful world full of fantastic animals, psychedelic trees and a welcoming community. Through a new business, Ted starts exploiting the resources given to him by nature and eventually has a conflict between success and morality. The story concludes with a strong bond between nature and humanity where a teenager reunited nature with humanity.

The Lorax is definitely a catchy and entertaining film that will for sure leave a grin on the audience and a conscious feeling that will start a green wave that will hopefully get us more in touch with our planet Earth.

With the beginning of a technological era, it is important to foster this ecological conscience and social responsibility that comes with all the scientific advances of humanity. So The Lorax is not only a great plan for a night out with the family, or friends, but it is also an opportunity to awaken our awareness to what is going on in the world. This feature counts with all the necessary elements to entertain any audience with magnificent visuals, a flowing story and a lesson that could leave anybody with the empowerment to live in a better and active world.

Buy tickets near you here. 

References:

Leadership Lessons from The Lorax

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The Hunger Games: A Digital Marketing Revolution

With the exponential rise of the Internet and the resources that it provides to access information throughout the world, it is no surprise that the film industry is finally taking advantage of it. After years of investing a great portion of budgets in marketing, studios have begun to use social media sites to promote their films.

Video by Youtube

Lionsgate may be the pioneer of a revolutionary digital marketing movement with the incredible success of their latest film Hunger Games. This film, which is a book adaptation, received over 156 million dollars in the box office on its opening weekend. This is not new to the industry. What is new, is the fact that most of its marketing campaign was done through social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter and through the use of new technologies. With the release of a free iPhone game, the Hunger Games franchise grew its following from that of the book.

It may have been a bold move, but it has successfully changed the parameters under which Hollywood markets its films. If one film can bring in 156 million dollars with an online marketing campaign, so can many others. This evens out the playing field for us, the independent filmmakers. How?  Well, if studios start promoting films through social media (which is free), and succeeds, there is no reason why we can’t all do the same.

According to the NY Times, this marketing strategy is a  "blizzard of other inexpensive yet effective online techniques to pull off what may be the marketer’s ultimate trick: persuading fans to persuade each other."  The truth of the matter is that today, we are the creators of information and we have the abilities to spread it out if we use the right techniques and use the correct research methods to reach the audience. Search Engine Optimization is the only tool that we need as content creators to reach those who will divulge our information.

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Lately, all my blog posts have been a little more about the industry instead of the craft. The reason for this is the urgency for our generation to really understand that we are in the middle of a drastic change. The sooner we understand how to deal with all the change that comes from a transition, from second wave to third wave civilization, the sooner we can start building our future. When I talk about a “wave”, I am referring to AlvinToffler’s Wave Theory.

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Subsequently, we need to understand that from now on, the industry will not be just about mass manufacturing and distribution, but it will be based on knowledge as well. We have come to a point where currency in not even the only form of payment anymore. Content creators out there are selling their content for “tweets” or “likes”, and we are experiencing the beginning of The Social Media Revolution.

The Social Media Revolution is defined by that moment in the time continuum where humanity’s use of technology opened up the opportunity to inter-communicate. By doing so, we have expanded our voices throughout the globe and achieved things that our forefathers could only dream of. Society finally has the ability to have a collective voice. A voice that has the power to stop animal abuse; to fight for human rights. A voice whose power has stopped laws from passing and  taken down governments. This is our voice, and we need to learn how to use it. Some people are already doing great things with this voice, while others resist the change, a change that is inevitably going to happen.

Most resistors to this change are those who belong strictly to the second wave. These industry dinosaurs are the generation of workaholics and like such, they simply refuse to stop working. This affects the working cycle tremendously, especially in our transition time. We now face two different generations trying to run the world in two completely different ways, and this, my friends, is what all this chaos is all about.

Luckily, there is no cheating nature, and we are getting closer to our shining moment. Be prepared, because change is coming; and the more you know about it, the wealthier you will be.

New Laws for a New Wave

When it comes to a new wave of technology, economy and society, it is important to understand that we are in the middle of a drastic change. Since we are the new generation of filmmakers, we are going to be dealing with a vast amount of new problems that our predecessors did not have to encounter. Technology is evolving in a rate faster than the blink of an eye, and with it comes a great deal of new problems and new solutions.

Extracted from BBC.co.uk

The Internet is an integral part of today’s film industry and its pros surpass its pros. However, there are still new problems that need to be solved and one of them is Internet piracy. A pioneer in this subject is David Puttnam, the U.K’s Film Distributors’ Association president. Puttnam has made rigorous statements supporting a campaign to “ approach website enforcement against online piracy to help protect distributors and right owners..."

"A vital step for the technology sector is to signpost legitimate search options far more clearly and to delete links to sites that promote illegally sourced content," Puttnam said in a speech scheduled to be delivered Tuesday in the British capital to a gathered audience of movie industry reps" as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

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In this proposal, Puttnam emphasizes in the importance of enforcing cyber law and removing illegal links from the World Wide Web. This is an extremely important step to take for us since in little to no time, it will be our content out there getting stolen. In order to protect our intellectual property and distributors from piracy, we do have to act on this matter.

People are aware of such links, and they are also aware of torrents and other file sharing routes that make the online piracy process very simple. The down side to this is that at the rate of piracy that we are going, unless we act on this matter, our films will be out there for free and a film career will not be enough to support a lifestyle. 

Podcasts: An Education on the law of the Industry

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Understanding the legal implications in the entertainment industry are just as important as being part of it. As artists and content creators we should all be aware of how we can protect ourselves from getting into a lawsuit.  Marty  Schwimmer talks on a podcast about trademarks on the Internet and this is an extremely important matter. As a filmmaker, the Internet is a mainstream to the rest of the world and therefore your name should become your brand. An online presence is just as important as being part of the industry. In the late nineties, the Internet industry began to grow and the search engine litigation industry was born. The industry has been evolving and nowadays we are subject to a vast amount of information and so other people have access to our information. This is where trademarks come in hand. But how does a trademark affect the independent filmmaker? All brands out there own the trademark to their products and we have to make sure that we are not infringing on other people’s trademark. For example, something that some entertainers like to do is the mocking of a brand. These are very delicate waters and although it is possible to pursue fair use in case one of these companies files a complaint, we must by no means taint the image of any brand or company. We are creative people and as such, it should not be difficult to make up a brand to use instead of using an existing and registered one.

On another hand Brett Lewis talks on a podcast about domain names. We can always go online and buy any domain name, but be careful on what domain name you register under your name. We all know what brands are so important that they are obviously trademarks, but make sure to do your research before registering a domain. Why? Because if you register a domain name that is already a trademark, you may find yourself in a deep lawsuit for taking somebody else’s domain.

Podcasts are a great way of learning about all of this information. There is a podcast called “When media doesn’t wear a tie” where the importance of copyright is discussed. In this podcast, it is explained that users of platforms such as the Leopard Lilies platform have to copyright their own work in order to assure that even though the content is being displayed, it will never get stolen.

We all need to protect our content and learning about how to do so can save us all a headache and a lawsuit.

Here is a link to more podcasts about Trademark and Copyright laws. 

The Hollywood Temp Diaries: Resume Template - Follow at your own risk

A little something I stumbled on one of my favorite websites www.tempdiaries.com ! Enjoy!


The Hollywood Temp Diaries: Resume Template - Follow at your own risk: Not a good resume I frequently get emails from people asking me to read and critique their resumes. As much as I'd love to help with th...

The Law Knows no Fame

When it comes to Hollywood, it is important to recognize that although it looks like it is everybody’s business, when it comes to the law, each to his own.  The amount of lawsuits that occur in Hollywood is not even a third of what they show on television and it is important for us, the filmmakers, to understand that our craft requires detailed prevention in order to protect not only our companies but also our assets and ourselves. A lawsuit in Hollywood can go in any direction and disputes can occur between individuals, institutions and the state.

In 2012 alone there have been several lawsuits including the Dick Clark Productions (DCP) vs. the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), Hollywood Studios vs. Limewire, and Kevin Messick vs. Film Co. cases. These cases are just examples of the different types of lawsuits that you, as a future filmmaker, could get involved into.

Getty Images

The Dick Clark case is, according to The Hollywood Reporter, a “ trial between the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and Dick Clark Productions over who controls broadcast rights to the Golden Globe Awards.” In this trial the HFPA’s allegations are that Dick Clark went ahead and renewed a broadcasting contract with NBC without the HFPA’s authorization. Although this case has not yet come to an end, the outcome is not easy to predict since, in 2004, Dick Clark had a stroke that has left him ill for the past years and has not yet testified in person. Opposing counsels have asked judge Howard Matz to take into account previous depositions and statements made by Clark dated as far as 1993, which would act against the producer if considered in the ruling. The truth of the matter is that in this case, there was a legal document missing that could have saved both parties all the trouble. If HFPA and DCP had signed a contract specifying that the Golden Globe Awards matters were to be handled by both parties, then there would be documentation of such agreement. Now, Dick Clark states that he does not remember previous statements made by him, and he is most likely to show up in court and testify in person.  So what is the lesson here? Document every agreement made just to save your time and money.

Another great example of how things can turn around for a company is the Hollywood Studios vs. Limewire case. Limewire, a company that no longer exists, had to settle copyright allegations agreeing to pay $105 million dollars to record labels. But this was not the end of the fight, not only are indie labels requesting the same amount of money, but now Hollywood Studios including Viacom, Disney and Universal amongst others, are prosecuting Limewire for illegal distribution of movies and TV shows. Although there has been no price tag on this infringement, it is argued that all the file sharing could have led to millions if not billions worth of losses. Copyrighted material is extremely sensitive in the film industry and although people protest against “cyber-laws”, the fact is that all these laws protect us as filmmakers. One day, it could be your movie out there, where people are streaming and downloading for free, and you never saw a dime from those “sales”.  This does not mean Leopard Lilies agrees with SOPA and PIPA, but there definitely needs to be some kind of regulations to protect us, the creators, from having our content stolen.

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Last, but definitely not least, is an example of how co-workers can turn their backs on each other. On the Kevin Messick vs. Film Co. case, Kevin Messick is pursuing producer credit and compensation for the latest Tom Cruise film, One Shot. According to The Hollywood Reporter,

The complaint says Messick, Granger and Levinsohn agreed in 2005 to jointly develop One Shot into a feature. Later that year, Paramount came on board, after which Messick says he spent five years developing the project with Granger, Levinsohn and their company. Then, "beginning in July 2010, Granger and Levinsohn began excluding Messick from meetings with the screenwriter and the studio and withheld certain drafts of the screenplay for the picture," the complaint alleges.”

Now, Messick is not only suing for compensation as a producer, but he also wants to be able to take part in any sequels. There are several E-mails that seem to be genuine and this lawsuit is most likely going to favor Messick. It is extremely important not to only create and sign contracts, but to follow them as well. A breach of contract like this one cannot only damage your company’s economy, but most importantly, its reputation.

So you have read about some cases that you may or may have not heard about before, and this is only a reminder that the law does not forgive Hollywood, as most people tend to believe. There are people who make a living out of lawsuits and we need to protect ourselves from encountering any of these situations. As filmmakers, it is our job, if not to know about the law, to hire somebody who does. This will save you lots of money and time in the future.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

 The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a story about a 12 year old orphan who lives within the walls of a train station in 1930’s Paris who embarks a mysterious adventure that involves him, an old magician and a robot.

Cast: Sir. Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, Asa Butterfield, Chloë Grace Moretz, Jude Law.

Hugo is definitely one of the most mentioned films at the end of last year. It is an adaptation of Brian Selznick’s The Invention of Hugo Cabret, a literary adventure targeted towards children. Its main character, Hugo (played by Asa Butterfield), who stared in The Boy with the Stripped Pajamas, embarks in a search for a connection with his passed away father by attempting to fix an animatron, which hopefully has a message for Hugo. In the process of collecting several pieces, Hugo meets Georges Meliés (played by Sir. Ben Kingsley), an old filmmaker who works in the station’s toyshop. Without knowing it, these two characters will make a connection that will last forever. But this is just a premise to a fantastic story where a relationship between man and technology is born in order to find a profound connection with the past.

 

To understand a little more about the depth of this story, it is worthy to mention that George Meliés was a revolutionary in the film industry and is considered a pioneer in the special effects and editing of film. After dedicating years of his life to magic, his amusement for the Lumiere brother’s cinematograph led him to explore the method of film as an entertainment media in the times of war. By pursuing his instincts, this filmmaker was the sole creator of films like Journey to the Moon (1903), a film that was Selznick’s inspiration to develop his book. But Selznick was no stranger to film; in fact, Selznick learned everything he knows about film when he was just a kid from David O. Selznick, known for his productions King Kong (the original), and Gone with the Wind amongst others. After writing the book, Selznick decided to replace as much of the text as he could with imagery, which were also used by the filmmakers as storyboard images for the big screen adaptation.

The greatest surprise came when director Martin Scorsese announced that he would be making the book’s adaptation. His inspiration was his daughter, who read the book and asked her father to make “a film I can watch for once” as Scorsese revealed in a red carpet interview at the Golden Globe Awards ceremony. More than one person was surprised to see the director of Taxi Driver and Shutter Island make such a masterpiece of a family film. In fact, the International 3D Society has rewarded Scorsese with the Harold Lloyd award for his stunning use of 3D.

Being his first encounter with 3D, Scorsese is able to transmit a Paris that has never been seen before and a depth that manages to involve the audience in a magical experience of the Parisian life in the 30’s. His job was so good, that even Steven Spielberg confessed it was the best use of 3D he has ever seen, and this includes his own films. Scorsese’s development of the story and his composition are flawless and the cast direction really demonstrates that Martin is, without a doubt, the perfect director to tell a story about film history. Nothing like a great filmmaker recreating what was made by another great film and entertainment magician.

Hugo was definitely a golden closing to 2011’s films. With more than $64,000,000 global sales, it was more than expected for this film to win a Golden Globe Award and for it to continue getting recognition during 2012. Hugo is simply a magical adventure for all ages and it will make its viewers happy as it ends. It is also a film that says much more about Martin Scorsese than any of his films.

2012 Year's resolution

     "Art completes what nature cannot bring to finish. The artist gives us knowledge of nature's unrealized   ends."            Aristotle.

I would love to think that I was one of those artists who made things more beautiful than they ever got to be. That all I had to do was enhance what nature has given us for the amusement of others. Unfortunately, humankind has made it impossible for this to happen, for we are not finishing the beauty of nature, we are destroying it. As time goes by we seem to be less conscious of the effect that we have in nature and our surroundings.

     My ultimate goal as a filmmaker is to provide knowledge of nature's unrealized end but I feel the responsibility to first provide knowledge and consciousness to those who live a life of denial. Mediocrity has led more than one person to believe that if they do one good deed for the world, their grain of sand is already there. That is not true. I want to show the world the life we could be living if we had good habits and a good relationship with our planet.

     I want to create atmospheres and worlds so beautiful that they make people be willing to actually do something to get to that point, to where nature is not beautiful enough, to where art is the ultimate medium of beauty. If I can make people see past all stereotypes, races, governments and economies to see real beauty I would consider my ultimate goal to be achieved. I could leave this world knowing that what I did helped future generations. 

This is my resolution for this new year. 2012 will bring great things to the world and to the artists that are willing to express their opinions regardless of what others may think. So get out there and start completing your new year's resolutions my fellow filmmakers, lets make some art!