TED.com Speaker on Overcoming Adversity

The speaker, Chris Anderson, in the TED.com video truly did inspire an audience both directly and indirectly.  The studio audience could feel first hand how inspiring the future looks for all of us.  The indirect audience, via the web, can also feel inspired.  It looks very bright the way technology has expanded and broken the barriers that were initially in place.  An example from the video that comes to mind was the fact of how watching video online has evolved from impossibly too large to upload to now watching billions of hours through companies like Youtube.  Another example is when he even said we’ve evolved to the age of face-to-face communication via online video chat.   Years ago, today was considered unheard of.  Through the change, we have overcome adversity.

A significant event from the video was towards the end when there was an excerpt telling the story of Christopher Makau, of TED Kibera.  He tells about self-help groups, transforming a trash site to now growing vegetables….and also establishing a film school where learning takes place.  Knowledge and growth is now flourishing where robberies and waste were originally taking over.  The speaker shared this knowledge to us and gave us a deeper understanding of how important it is to develop a following, or “crowd” (TED.com), have ideas, or “light” (TED.com), and passion, or “desire” (TED.com).

The explosion of “Little Demon”, the Youtube dancer sensation, inspired a creation of a dance troupe that led to their appearance on the Oscars.  Anderson built trust through his inspiration, leadership by allowing us to gain awareness to what life has become.  He also shed light on the limitless possibilities of the future, and that excites all who will hear.  Lastly, Anderson demonstrated that viral can make something big, even greater.  The way that his speeches are now available in several languages has shown how his following has gotten behind him and now.  Going global allows one to be heard across several other cultural regions as your idea continues to spread to an even larger audience.  It’s amazing!

Reference:

TED.com ©2010, Chris Anderson

http://www.ted.com/talks/view/lang/en//id/955

The MPAA...and What it Has to do with the Music Industry

           The Motion Picture Association of America, Inc., MPAA, was created by a group of movie producers and distributors in 1922 with the intent to create a more positive appearance for the film industry.  By the late 1960s, Jack Valenti became President of the MPAA.  The Association created The Production Code, or Hays Code, to invoke self-censorship.  According to mpaa.org, it mandated that all films be reviewed for material deemed as “offensive” prior to their release.  When Valenti had become President, adjustments were made to this Code because he “founded the voluntary film rating system giving creative and artistic freedoms to filmmakers while fulfilling its core purpose of informing parents about the content of films so they can determine what movies are appropriate for their kids.” (mpaa.org, History).

            A major program in place is the protection of creative works.  MPAA has established Public Awareness Campaigns to prevent and decrease movie theft.  “Often these efforts are focused on the creation of local, targeted initiatives that combine legislation, the dedication of law enforcement and a consumer awareness campaign to curtail film theft and raise awareness about the problem in cities, states, and countries around the world.” (mpaa.org, Public Service Announcements).  The website brings to light to Rogue websites which traffic stolen information or products over the Internet. This is very important to the music industry because part of the film’s project is to develop a soundtrack.  So, just as movies are stolen from the Internet, the music is as well, each time a movie is illegally downloaded.  That is another opportunity for the artist, in addition to the actors, producers, and directors, to not receive residual income for their work.  We realize the much is affected by stolen property: jobs, compensation and safety (i.e. malware). 

            Other programs in place raise awareness is Camcorder Laws, Copyright Infringement, the different types of Content Theft, and education, and also a link to view tv shows and movies legally.  Apparently in forty-one states, cam-cording a federal felony.  I do believe, these programs are very positive not only for the film industry but the music industry as well.  As a direct correlation with my industry, the initiatives from the coalitions and preventative measures seem to enhance the awareness of illegal activity, thus limiting the opportunities of theft.  I will continue to follow up on the programs the MPAA have in place.  I found it very interesting with the magnitude of steps being taken. (mpaa.org; Camcorder Laws, Rogue websites).

           

Reference:

Motion Picture Association of America. (2011). Mpaa.org. Retrieved June 3, 2012, from http://www.mpaa.org/contentprotection/public-service-announcements

            http://www.mpaa.org/contentprotection/camcorder-laws

            http://www.mpaa.org/contentprotection/roguewebsites

            http://www.mpaa.org/about/history

© 2011 Motion Picture Association of America, Inc.  All rights reserved.