Thursday, 28 July 2011

The Fine Art Of Grooms Speeches


Making a speech on your wedding day is a really big deal. There is a lot of pressure to make sure you cover everything from praising your beautiful bride, to thanking her parents and your guests for being there.
Getting married is one of the biggest steps that anyone can take in their lives. Knowing that you are committing to that one single person, and starting a new life together is a wonderful feeling, but at the same time it can be rather daunting as well. With this in mind, it is clear why a wedding day can be filled with excitement but at the same time a lot of nerves and anxiety.
Added to this anxiety is the thought of making a speech. Every guy that gets married is faced with the task of standing up and making a speech. This is commonly known as the grooms speech.
Grooms speeches can be a little tricky to get right. While it is often the best man's job to provide the entertainment for the evening by delivering a humorous speech, the groom has to find the perfect balance between keeping his speech light hearted but at the same time deep and caring.
Grooms speeches are a fine art. For me the best way to make sure you deliver a great grooms speech is to make sure you are ready and well prepared for the big day. When I was married and faced with the task of making a speech in front of all my friends and family, the best thing I did was look around for other grooms speeches to get a really good feel of what you are expected to say and cover. This was the single best thing I did when preparing for my speech.
After reading through about twenty different grooms speeches, I was able to then start building up my own speech. I took all the best opening lines and built them into a clever witty opening. I then was able to make sure I had all the right protocol covered and made sure I thanked all the right people for being there and for their help with the wedding.
I was then able to work my own personal thoughts and feelings into the speech, by expressing my feelings towards my wife and sharing a few stories about how we had met and our time together.
I also took some of the best jokes from these other grooms, speeches which was a really great idea because everyone likes a funny speech. No one wants to sit for ten minutes and only hear a serious wedding speech. Making sure you balance your grooms speech with the right amount of comedy is essential.
All in all, my speech went down very well. I knew before I stood up that I had a winning speech, because I had literally picked out the best lines from other grooms speeches and built them into my very own 'super groom speech'. Talk about a powerful concept.
If you are faced with the arduous task of standing up and making a speech in front of your family, friends and new bride, then I would highly recommend you spend some time going through grooms speeches to make sure you can deliver the best speech possible. In my opinion it is well worth the time, effort and cost to do this because you are essentially building a bullet-proof grooms speech that you know will not fail you on the big day.

Strategies to Get Over Your Fear of Public Speaking


I love public speaking. I love the ability to talk to others and share idea's with them. I love to look at the impact I am having on the lives of others. I gain an incredible adrenaline rush when I am called to stage and begin to share the wonders of my life for others to experience. It has not always been this way.
I use to see public speaking as just that, talking in public to a lot of people. That was my view on this very scary subject. I could almost feel the people's eyes staring at me. I could sense their desire for me to fail so they could pull out the rotten fruit and throw rotten tomatoes or apples at me and "boo" me off stage. I think this is how most people envision public speaking. Even before speaking, they run the thoughts through their minds of how horrible the experience will be.
So what changed? Why did my vision of public speaking change? Why do I get excited now instead of scared stiff? How can that happen you ask? Easily. I quit listening to the 99% of everything I read about public speaking either from books, the Internet, classes, toastmasters, Dale Carnegie courses, etc...
In order for you to become the speaker you wish, your thoughts must change. Let me explain. Public speaking is public speaking. The dynamics are pretty much the same. About the only difference is the subject matter and the presentation. You must change how you view "public speaking". For example, I don't give speeches. I give talks. What's the difference? To me, a speech is something you say to a crowd and talks are how you speak to your friends. Quite a difference. What is your emotional response if I say to you, in 5 minutes, I want you to talk to this crowd vs. I want you to talk to your friend? I bet the emotion can be described like a teeter totter. I know my reaction to those two sentences are dramatically different.
There are only two qualities you need to become a great speaker. Here they are: 
  1. Have a subject your are so passionate about that you lose sleep over. As I like to say, "Have a why that makes you cry". What are you desperately passionate about?
  2. Have a deep-seeded, emotional, gut-wrenching desire to desperately share that idea with others.
That's it? Yes, that's it. Ever see a really great movie? Ever tell your friend how great it was and that they needed to see it? That's the same pattern you need to follow when public speaking. I know everyone else gives you "10 steps to better public speaking" and such. Let me ask you this, did you have great eye contact, use gestures, feel very comfortable, speak up when talking to your friend about the movie? I bet you did. People focus on the little things that will come "naturally" as you develop as a speaker. You will have great eye contact, stage presence, hand gestures when you follow the two qualities.

Writing Scripts Properly


Is becoming a script writer a realistic way to break into the entertainment business? It could be, if you go about it correctly. Writing scripts is not as easy as it might seem, and getting paid for it is even more challenging, but it surely can be done.
Before launching a job writing scripts for Hollywood, it definitely helps to have an understanding of what you want out of your writing job. If you see writing scripts as a means to have your foot in the door to be able to become an actor or professional performer, you're likely on the wrong path. Writing scripts very rarely ever ends in job in front of the camera. Even if you're dreaming about a job as a director or producer, script writing probably isn't your ideal way in. A job as a production assistant is a better way to learn the basics of movie or TV production. After that you can work your way up the ladder to the position you have always wanted.

On the other hand, if you find writing scripts skillfully as an end in itself - if that's the career you want for yourself - then the best way to begin with is by writing. First of all, just before writing any scripts, you need to familiarize yourself with the format of the media or genres you prefer to work in. Script writing for a half-hour TV sitcom is rather dissimilar to writing scripts for feature length motion pictures. There are plenty of books on the market about script format as well as story structure which can teach you the correct way to approach the kind of script you intend to write.

Be aware, though: Writing scripts isn't a magic bullet. The majority of literary agents, producers, and studios do not take cold submissions. That means that they will not even check out a script that you give them, unless of course it has been recommended by a person they know. And even if your script gets read and liked by the right people, that is not even close to an assurance that anyone will pay you for it. It is good to write several high quality scripts and have them in your back pocket to prove your writing chops, but don't assume that you will get paid for writing scripts on specification in that way.

Many individuals aim for a job in writing. All things considered, writing careers allow for creativity and self expression, and give you opportunities to research and write about things that appeal to your interest. Many individuals also love the idea of the versatility that comes along with a writing job. Instead, what you should wish for is a job re-writing an existing script, or adapting a property just like a novel or comic book. If your writing shines and an agent is happy to represent you, eventually you may get employed to accomplish a writing or revising job for a producer or even studio. And then writing scripts will not just be your dream, it will be your job.

What Is Film Marketing?


Also known as movie promotion and movie advertising, film marketing is a vital aspect in enhancing your move production's revenue. Every major Hollywood movie distribution company and studio has a dedicated departed for film marketing & nbsp; which is responsible for creating and implementing a cohesive and efficient movie advertising campaigns across many media platforms such as magazines, trailers, internet, newspapers and billboards.
Movie production business is seasonal and cyclical by nature. Most major film releases are usually done during the summer, Christmas and holiday weekends such as Labor Day, Memorial Day and Thanksgiving. The high competition among quality movies during those days prompts film marketers to develop ways on how they can make their production stand out and be a cut above the rest. During the past few years, the major strategy used was to 'make it big'. Many blockbuster movies were allotting as much as 50% of the budget for film marketing and advertising alone with the hope of boosting ticket sales. A good indicator of a successful film marketing campaign is its gross sales on the 1st weekend of a movie's release date. Opening weekend sales revenue is a direct reflection of the excitement that has been produced by the campaign.
Popular Film Marketing Strategies
A theatrical trailer is often used as the first marketing strategy for a movie to astound its audience. A year before release date, distributors are already running carefully edited movie trailers that are audience tested. Movie trailers should contain special effects, a plot's twists that will leave the audience want for more. As soon as a trailer hits most theatres, movie studios usually unveil the official film website. The site should allow visitors to view several trailer versions, behind the scene acts, mini documentaries, review plot synopses, pre-order movie premier tickets and even download wall papers, MMS, games and ringtones.
And now as the release date is closer, film marketing strategies include press conferences in magazines, newspapers and TV shows. Press junket is a film marketing technique where journalist, reporters and critics are gathered in a single location for a weekend full of interviews with the cast, screenwriters and directors.
The internet is becoming a target spot for publicity blitzes. The principle behind is to bombard the public with so many images and movie promotions that it certainly becomes a 'can't miss' event. This is where producers create viral videos that will be posted in social networking sites like You tube, face book and so much more.

How to Break Into Hollywood As a Screenwriter


Being a cinematic screenwriter or television writer is one of the most exciting and lucrative careers in the entertainment industry. However, it requires a lot of hard work and study along with writing talent, and the ability to follow a lot of formatting rules. A college degree is not necessary, but good writing samples and the willingness to do a lot of networking are the main tools required in the entertainment industry. A prospective screenwriter ideally loves watching movies TV and can easily adapt to a variety of storylines and characters.
  1. Select two or three television shows you regularly watch and feel you could write for. Watch as many episodes as you can, noting the main stories and character interactions. Read a lot of screenplays and books about cinematic screenwriting and television writing.
  2. If you live in or near New York or Los Angeles, try to get a job or internship in the industry. Script readers, production assistants, writer's assistants and other entertainment assistants have all become cinematic screenwriters and television writers in the past. You can see which production companies handle movies and television shows by looking at the end credits of each show or reading publications such as "Variety" and the "Hollywood Reporter."
  3. Write scripts, and inform people you know that you are hoping to become a cinematic screenwriter or television writer. This will help you possibly meet an agent, who can formally introduce your work to a producer hiring writers for a movie or television show.
  4. Keep writing new scripts, and do not become discouraged if it takes a long time to meet the right people who can help you become a screenwriter. Never pay someone to read your literary work, as this is usually fraudulent.

Go On Vacation Leave With Award Winning Screen Play!


One of the best ways to overcome writers block is to get in the proper mood, to get away from the daily distractions, and this will prevent further procrastination. Perhaps it's time to go on a vacation, to get away, to get away from the hustle and bustle and all the common occurrences of your daily life. But where will you go? Where can you go to get away from all of this nonsense? That my friends is up to you, but I'm here to tell you that it works quite well.
For many years I traveled around the country in a big luxurious motor coach, and I would often Park on a vista overlooking a beautiful valley, Lake, or the ocean. It was truly inspiring and it helped me write much better. Often I would watch the seagulls glide by, or the local wildlife scamper outside the window. A sail boat out on the lake, or a family riding around on jet skis off in the distance gave me a sense of reality, and also helped me relax.
No distractions, not a care in the world, just myself, my laptop, and my mind. It is amazing the truly incredible stories you can come up with and the depth at which you can develop your characters, and hone your skills as a writer by using this technique. Now I'm not saying you need to go out and buy a million-dollar motor home to do this, after all you can go find a timeshare rental somewhere with a good view and not much activity around, and then start writing.
Maybe like to take hikes, well then take a digital recorder, you will be amazed how fast you can walk 10 miles while you are writing your story. You will be losing weight, getting in shape, and preparing one of the best manuscripts you've ever done. Trust me these techniques work, I use them. You have to find your inspiration, sometimes you have to get away to do that. Why not go on vacation and leave with an award-winning screenplay? Please consider all this.

Not Everyone in Hollywood is Out to Steal Your Screenplay Script - But Some Are


When you talk to screenplay writers, they are often a little sketchy. They want you to sign all sorts of nondisclosure agreements to talk with them, because they believe everyone is out to steal their screenplay script. That is complete and utter paranoia, and probably not justified. The reality is not everyone is out to steal their screenplay, however some are. Indeed, it probably depends on where they are the time, for instance in Hollywood.
Good ideas, and original thoughts are hard to come by, and many writers who come up with brilliant scenarios and situations of the human endeavor, do have original thoughts. Still, one thing I found even after signing nondisclosure agreements is people come up with movie scripts in a certain genres which have been done many times over. In fact, sometimes the situations they describe are not unique at all.
Instead perhaps, they may have either saw the movie and forgot they saw it which gave them the idea, or they are such loners that they don't realize these are common experiences that people have from time to time anyway. There is another situation which happens, and that is with people who may not be aren't screenplay writers, but they are perpetual storytellers, they make up situations that never happened to them but they tell them in the first person.
Now then, some of these people are delusional, and their memories have been tricked by a movie they saw, or they force themselves into identifying with the character in their minds to the point where they've redone the story and made a believable. They think it is okay to tell other people the story, because they believe it, so other people will believe it to. It's even more interesting when these same people are writers.
The other day, I was talking to someone at a local Starbucks, and he was telling me a story, as if it was something that happened to him, but it was something that I actually saw in a movie, and I am assuming he did two, or that he read a book which the movie was based on. It's not the first time this situation has happened to me, I find storytellers all over the place. I'm beginning to wonder if we have a mental problem in our society - and one which completely permeates the world of creative writers.
Interestingly enough, maybe the people who are paranoid that someone will steal their screenplay, are the very people who were stealing situations and events they saw in a movie and telling them as first-person stories of their own experience. This is something I suspect, and I have not read much about the psychology of this issue, but since this pattern keeps repeating, it would seem to me that we do have a psychological problem with humans adopting movies as personal experiences and allowing it to trick their minds and memories, or using these movies to live vicariously through, almost to the point that they are no longer living their own lives.