Las Vegas, NV
This year’s Consumer Electronics Show was “ok.” Historically, the monstrous gathering of gadgets and the mad scientists behind them have come together in effort to out-wow each other in technology device development.
At last year’s event, 3D televisions and tablets stole the show. This year, there were simply more 3D televisions and more tablets. However, with slimmer, smarter home devices, the street-buzz and lunch-room conversation yielded more talk of connectivity. Connecting tablets to phones, phones to tvs, tvs, to laptops, laptops to automobiles, and whatever other crazy combinations of content consumption we can think of. This is where the cool was found. With innovation from staid standardization organizations like DLNA, or brand spankin’ Shazaam-esq newbies like ConnecTV, users can more easily pull content from one device to another, while content providers can more easily create experiential opportunities before, during, and after viewing a specific piece of material.
Also, don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t all a deflated experience. With hot ticket items from cool companies big and small, there were definitely a few winners to be noted. Take a look:
Emperor’s Chair. If this thing had an onboard toilet, you would never have to leave it. Multiple screens, keyboards, state of the art sound system, cup holders, and reclines and retracts every which way from Sunday. Words with friends addicts, beware.
Motorola’s MotoACTV. Move over Knight Rider, this watch does more than talk to your car. The thing can not only track your workouts, but make training recommendation based on your performances, act as a pedometer, an mp3 player, and even tell you which songs you work out best too. Plus it automatically uploads your workout history and projections to an online system to better manage and attain your fitness goals.
Kinect Powered Skateboard. Our good friends from Chaotic Moon churned out this doozie and tooled it around Austin, TX for an incredible viral video. Then they brought it to CES, and created a tech-geek frenzy. With the power to travel up to 32 miles/hr, the Segway may now have a run for it’s money.
And of course a few other honorable mentions!
Jeep/Call of Duty collabo
Samsung tablet digital caricatures.
Leaping athletes show off ear bud stabilization.
Chaotic Moon Labs’ Board of Awesomeness from Chaotic Moon Studios on Vimeo.
Continuing our ongoing work with Dr. Victor Pineda and the World Enabled organization, Genius Effect recently spent 10 days in Nairobi, Kenya, assisting the development of the African Youth With Disabilities Network (AYWDN). With close to 40 individuals representing persons with disabilities across 13 different African countries, the convening was designed for AYDWN to further define and execute its mission to increase equal opportunity for persons with disabilities throughout the continent.
Our work there was to help develop and enhance communication, messaging, and storytelling content both internally and publicly. Taking a step further, our group laid the foundation for a new technology tool that allows ease of information sharing across the network. We had a truly amazing time working alongside the likes of George Soros’ Open Society Institute, the Disabilities Rights Fund, and International Disabilities Alliance with policies recently developed by the United Nations.
During our time on the ground, we also experienced the International Day of Persons with Disabilities in the heart of Nairobi, a celebration filled with live music and dance, arts, crafts, and presentations all by, or for, the accomplishments of persons with disabilities.
Then at the tail end, you know we had to get a safari in!
2011 was truly an amazing year for artist, Miles Regis. Kicking the year off with a 3D arts project alongside Intel, Adobe, and Alioscopy followed by close to a dozen (solo and group) art exhibitions, then wrapping with 3-day pop up exhibition/store at the Downtown Los Angeles Art Walk with Music Skins; Miles work year has had a huge impact on the fine arts, technology, and creative culture communities.
This month, you can find Miles and his work at the following:
January 12th: Downtown Art Walk. Part II of the General Pop-Up store, featuring limited edition Miles Regis Music Skins, as well as the large scale pieces they were created from.
January 18th: Affordable Art Fair opening reception featuring wood assemblage series; benefiting Free Art of Abused Children.
Jan 21st: Miles Regis artist talk at Affordable Art Fair. Demystifying the Print Process:
Edition One Hundred contributing artist Miles Regis will share his painting and printmaking process. Sat, Jan 21, 1pm
by Chris Denson
When the chance to visit TEDx Detroit came up, I was more than elated. Not only is Detroit the poster child for American fiscal disaster, or the up-and-coming blueprint for rebirth, it is my hometown. And thanks to my work with The Regan Group, I had a semi last minute round trip ticket to the Motor City, and a pass to one of the most innovative and inspiring gathering of minds I’ve seen live in a long time.
Since I had forgotten to pack a phone charger, my early morning mad hunt for one meant that I would be 40 minutes late to the event. Not late enough to miss the first speaker or meet a few people in the lobby, but late enough to not be included in the giant “X” photo with other 1500 people in attendance. 
Once on site, the collective energy was thick, and I knew I’d be in for mind blowing day. Not only was it great to be back home, it was great to be at my first TED conference.
The morning started off with a talk from Lex Khune, a Detroit radio legend who launched 89X fm; a white guy with a law degree who interviewed Ice-T and NWA at Lollapalooza when it first kicked off in the D for his then budding radio station. Prefaced by the often mispronunciation of his name (ie, “Alex Kooney”), his “no labels” topic set the tone for the event, focusing on letting go of preconceived notions about the city, ourselves, impossibilities, and what we thought we might be in for for the day. Throughout the day, topics and speakers ranged from Julie Aigner-Clark, creator of Baby Einstein, who reminded us that if a housewife can and turn her child’s attention into a multi-million dollar business, there’s no reason we can’t follow our natural inclinations to the same level of success. Or Rob Bliss who taught us about getting local governments to trust his expertise in creating world-record breaking gatherings of human beings on their streets; whether via 3000 person water balloon fight, or 30000 person airplane drop, a 500ft water slide with 30000 attendees, or his world famous, world record Lip Dub Video. Or even Dr. Claude Pruneau a leading scientist who showed us how to break atoms down to quarks and how we never stop searching for where we come from or where we’re headed.
Ironically, one of my favorites was Charlie Cavell, a tall, young, lanky Kindergarten teacher with a high voice who paced back and forth a half-pace too fast in a state of comfortable nervousness. He talked about parents and teachers working better together for their children’s education. He told the story of how a wake up call to one parent just to ensure that her son was at school on time, led to her eagerly setting foot on school grounds (son in tow), before Charlie even arrived that morning. He ended the story with one of my favorite quotes from the day: “…because people don’t care what you know, until they know that you care.”
With numerous other talks from folks like Leonard Slatkin, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s conductor; award winning anti-bully book author, Tara Michener; a group of robotics pioneers, and stellar performances from amazing music and dance talent, (one rap group freestyled using words tweeted in by the audience on screen), TEDx Detroit was well executed, well-produced, well-planned, and well… just plain old good.
Check out a few flicks I captured from my seat.
TEDx Manifesto:
We are the X. The multipliers. The catalysts. The connectors. The amplifiers. We challenge the status quo. We come together to collaborate, to share fresh ideas and to find inspiration. We are optimistic about our future. We believe Detroit’s best days lie ahead. We are the people who are making it happen. We believe that is an idea worth spreading.
Let them lead the way… Thank you Mr. Youth for this wonderful insight:
Hopefully we’ll see you there! If you’re interested in sponsorships, please feel free to let us know! Comic Con in San Diego is right around the corner and Wayne Brady is hosting an incredible event, put on by Michael Davis creator of one of Comic Con’s most popular offical panels, “The Black Panel”. The panel will be held on Friday on the Comic-Con show floor while the party will be held at a private location.
Sponsorhip packages are available for both events.
Visit www.theblackpanel.com for details! Contact us to get involved.
Our client, Let It Cast is now launching in the US! Let It Cast is the #1 digital casting and auditioning tool in France, used by over 1/3 of the professional actors in the country and most of the major networks, production companies, and agencies. Now in the US, they are working with Center Theatre Group, looking for the lead role for the next stage production of FUNNY GIRL. Secondly, they are looking for a fresh leading man to play young surf legend, Jay Moriarty, in the film MAVERICKS, co-starring Gerarad Butler.
MORE DETAILS BELOW!!!
FUNNY GIRL
Center Theatre Group and Tony Award-winning director Bartlett Sher announced that the search for the next Fanny Brice in the classic romantic musical comedy “Funny Girl” has gone digital. Women, ages 21 to 35, whether they are Actors’ Equity Association members or non-members, are encouraged to submit an audition video via Let It Cast to be considered for this star-making role. Auditioning and full use of Let It Cast is free.
“Funny Girl” is set to run Feb. 1–26, 2012, at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, with previews beginning Jan. 15. More information can be found at www.centertheatregroup.org/funnygirlcasting.
MAVERICKS
A major motion picture is being prepared on Jay Moriarty’s life, to be directed by Curtis Hanson (LA Confidential, 8 Miles, etc.) and starring Gerard Butler. The search is on to find someone to play Jay at the age of 15-18. The production is very serious about finding the person with the best spirit to play Jay. Auditions are open to all – you need not be a professional actor. Prospective candidates can audition online from anywhere in the world, by visiting Let It Cast and following a few easy instructions. Auditioning and full use of Let It Cast is free.
ABOUT LET IT CAST
Let It Cast is an innovative casting tool that works to reduce the often hundreds of pre-production hours spent looking at headshots, viewing reels, reading resumes, making phone calls, and auditioning countless mismatched individuals. Let It Cast allows talent the opportunity to record and upload their actual auditions and not only a headshot and resume. As an enabler to the creative process, Let It Cast creates the opportunity for the talent to be as elaborate or contained as they feel they may want their audition to be – or as the production calls for. As for the production process, Let It Cast creates a streamlined work-flow process where production staff easily search locally or search the globe for the right talent.
Be there! It’ll be an awesome time!
More details at www.academyofawesometour.com
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| Hey Everone!
Enter Code “NWGENEFSB11″  Genius Effect is pleased to announce our partnership with Sustainable Brands 2011. Now in its 5th year, this conference is an opportunity for you to network among peers and collaborate with other global leaders who are driving the change toward a sustainable brand future. SB’11 provides real examples of how companies and brands are taking the lead in setting standards, building partnerships and driving change in support of society and the environment. As a preferred partner of SB’11, we have the opportunity to extend a 20% discount ticket price to our community to attend the conference. Take this opportunity to sharpen your skills and gain the knowledge and tools that you will need to be an effective leader – at a special community member reduced rate! What Sustainable Brand Leaders will be learning at SB’11:
We are proud to be able to offer our dedicated community members a discount to attend this premier conference in Monterey, June 7 – 10. Please use this code: “NWGENEFSB11″ to get an extra 20% discount! |
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by Chris Denson
Pop quiz, hot shot: You’ve got two marketing proposals sitting on your desk. One suggesting a robust plan with humorous and witty creative going out to radio, internet, TV, mobile devices, outdoor, print, social media, and events all over town. The other, involves giving an equal investment of your year’s marketing budget to families in need across the country. You’ve got a deadline passed that should have been met weeks ago, and you have to respond within 24 hours… or else. Which one do you choose, hot shot?… Which one do you choose?
So yes, that was a terrible reenactment of Dennis Hopper’s phone call to Keanu Reeves in the movie, SPEED. My apologies for putting you through that. However, it helps to make a good point. For some, the question is a hard one. For others, who are part of a relatively new way of connecting with audiences, it’s a no-brainer. “Hot Shot” – being part of the new(ish) wave of “Purpose Over Presence” marketing, chooses the families in need.
In today’s marketplace, consumers are hit with anywhere from 2000 to 5000 ad focused messages a day. And that number is no surprise. With the ever-growing trend of “Device A.D.D.,” we spend all our time on cell phones, computers, console games, television, dvr’s, tablets, emails, 3D movies, twitter, facebook, instant messaging and God knows what else - and the poor little brands are just trying to keep up with us! What this seething desire and need for brands to be seen has left us with is a ton of seemingly meaningless messages, missed signals, and misfired opportunities to connect. Presence. Be present wherever the consumer is.
But then we forget that human beings are not just machines that click buttons and purchase items and download movies. We forget that people need to feel genuinely connected to something…anything. Heck, that’s how Device A.D.D. works! People want to see what their friends and families are up to. They want to feel appreciated and see how many people “like” their status updates. They want to keep checking on that cute guy or girl to see if there’s a chance for romance. They want to be able to watch that episode of WALKING DEAD, before everyone tweets all the new details without first writing “SPOILER ALERT.” We want it so bad, that they’ve had to make laws to prevent us from doing it while we’re driving and crossing the street. Nobody wants that stuff interrupted! Unless… it’s something truly meaningful to them that they feel an emotional connection to and actively be a part of.
That’s where Purpose comes in. An authentic action on behalf of an organization that cuts through the clutter of Presence. And because of Presence (remember, 2-5000 messages/day?), Purpose becomes even more important. Purpose allows both the brand and the individual to share that “feel good” moment. Purpose can be as big or small as we want – but most importantly should be in line with the brand’s core principals. Just made a movie about domestic violence? Donate a portion of your sales to a womens’ shelter. Why not take it a step further an organize your cast and crew to volunteer there for a day? Looking to sell your art work? Allow a few of the pieces purchased to be donated or housed in a children’s ward at your local hospital. Chances are, the collectors may not even have room for new work (thus may not have purchased) anyway, and it feels good to do good! Want to promote the new such-and-such car? How about allowing people to nominate their most generous family members, neighbors, friends, or community leaders for their need to win one! They can submit photo, video and written testimonials to your site, and suddenly you’ve got mounds of emotional, promotional content there ready to be connected with.
It’s a fun way to solve your marketing problems, and it’s a great story to tell. I’ll leave you with a few brands we like that are doing a good job:
