October | 2011 | being jordanm

Figure I might rattle this off while enjoying a brand new, Halloween-themed “Castle” (Hulu).

As part of a new pact with myself to reduce eating out at restaurants and cook more at home, I’m able to save a little more money. Unfortunately, this means a little more cash for my second indulgence: books.

What showed up last week?

Game Frame: Using Games as a Strategy for Success by Aaron Dignan (twitter, site)
Where Good Ideas Come From: The Natural History of Innovation by Steven Berlin Johnson (twitter, site)
Emergence: The Connected Lives of Ants, Brains, Cities, and Software by Steven Berlin Johnson

I’ve started Game Frame. It’s essentially an examination and guide to using gamification in real life. I picked it up after watching this speech by Dignan on the99percent. What? Not reading the99percent. You should if you’re interested in a brief site with amazing insights into making things happen.

The latter two have been stirring around on my wish list for a while and I’ve seen enough quotes on blogs and elsewhere from them that I felt it really necessary to read them, especially in context of my current interest new marketing and media models.

On that note: PressPausePlay. Watch it. Beautifully shot and highly relevant to the current and future of media creators and technology. It runs about 80 minutes and is available in 720p and 1080p via torrent.

Further, if you’re in any way involved, or want to be, in tv or film entertainment, you’ll do well to subscribe The Nerdist podcast. It not only has hilarious interviews with talented, funny people but Hardwick and crew are able to pull out great insights into career development for those wanting to be involved in entertainment. Throughout most of the interviews, you’ll find that being a working actor/comic/writer essentially came from hard work, patience, and, in many cases, creating your own opportunities.

That’s it for updates for now. Have some writing to do and some locations to scout and the day got started a little late. I blame the murky weather outside. Clouds?! In LA?! Come on…

Startup Producer: The Beginning

This is the first post on the new blog as well as in a continuing series I hope to maintain.

First off, what the hell does ‘startup producer’ mean?

As someone who has spent most of their life dabbling in the tech world, I’ve been enamored by startups and startup culture. I’ve tried to learn what I can from their business and mental models and apply the methods in my own life. I don’t limit this idea to only tech startups but to entrepreneurs and rogues of all sorts – people that strive to cut their own way through life and, most of the time, succeed at it.

Where does this fit in with being a producer? What exact kind of producer am I talking about?

Film, mostly. I could broaden that though and say ‘media’. I’m currently working with friends to begin a film production company and get a short film off the ground amongst other projects. My role as executive producer is to handle the nitty-gritty details of the production work such as budgets, location scouting, etc.

I’m hoping to bring some of the entrepreneurial spirit, creativity, and innovation into my pretty old school role and explore new options for creating exciting storytelling experiences. I like being a producer in the original sense of the word as well – one who produces. I hope to produce content through this series that will track my own progress as a newbie producer and inspire others with ideas as well forging connections with the film community at large.

Cheers

Jordan

being jordanm

los angeles + worldwide

Monthly Archives: October 2011

Quick Bits – 10.25.11

Startup Producer: The Beginning

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