All posts in Industry

Caribbean Film Production Service Industry

By admin on

After Hollywood came Bollywood, and with it the dream of many developing countries to benefit from the big film business and its many dollars rolling into the country. One of those regions is the Caribbean, which has all those beautiful different Islands with diverse scenery and with the advantage of being closely located in a very small territory. Apart from that it is in close range to international airports in the US, Canada and Europe. Those Caribbean islands that used to be former English, Dutch, and Spanish colonies are mostly independent countries nowadays and they have fantastic scenery and naturally beautiful landscapes. Those may very well serve as the location background for movies and television shoots. This can turn into a good second income, generated out of the country’s natural resources along with the tourism industry.

Jamaica, Cuba, and Barbados were among the first ones to make efforts to attract international film and television producers to the Caribbean Islands for their movie productions and TV commercial shoots. That is apart from the French Islands St. Martin, St. Barts, Guadeloupe and Martinique which are still part of France and had always been used for French television and film productions. For the other islands, it started on a smaller scheme – the beautiful beaches, tropical gardens, romantic fishing villages and plantation houses along with luxury mansions were first accepted as backdrop by the fashion magazines and catalogers for their fashion photo shoots as a photographic production needs a less developed infra structure than a film shoot.

Even though the Caribbean region is geographically closer to the United States, but it was mostly Europeans who believed in the possibility to turn the Caribbean region into a mayor playground for international film locations. Along with many government agencies, they were the first ones to put money and efforts into the development of this industry.

Today one of the most successful companies providing locations and film, video and photo production service in the Caribbean region is “The Caribbean Production Service Company”, who had started in Barbados in 1998.

After having visited several Caribbean Islands, they had decided that Barbados offers the best possibilities for the start of this kind of support service for the film industry in the region. The main subject was to get Barbadians to open their doors to those foreign film teams and to convince government agencies to be supportive to the new venture. Now in order to save foreign production companies money in bringing in all crew, the company had to train local people to be professional crew and this worked best through learning by doing. The government also supported by paying talented students film schools in the US and the UK.

Today the company can offer a whole list of local film crew. For the production side there are: Location Scouts, Casting Directors, Line Producers, Production Managers, Location Managers, Production Coordinators, Set Coordinators, 1st and 2ND Assistant Directors, Script Continuity, Production Assistants, Set Runners, Hair Stylists, Make up Artists and Assistants, Manicurists, Wardrobe Stylists and Assistants, Pressers, Tailors, Caterers, Drivers, Security, Couriers,.
In the ART DEPARTMENT there are now available Art Directors, Props Masters, Props Builders, Buyers, Set Constructors, Set Dresser, Music Composers, and Musicians. And in d the technical Department: Cameraman/woman video, 2ND Assistant Cameraman/Clapper/Loader (35 mm), Sound Operator, Playback Operator, Gaffer, Spark, Best Boy Gaffer, Key Grip, Best Boy Grip, Generator Operator, Video Casting Operator. So the international clients only have to bring in the minimum from their creative department as well as the movie director, DOP and 1Ac.

As the company has expanded to productions also on other islands, and where there is not enough local crew available crew from Barbados and other, mainly the French islands are joining in.

There is a 2nd office now in St. Martin to better serve the Northern part of the Caribbean. One of the most successful companies providing locations and film, video and photo production service in the Caribbean region is “The Caribbean Production Service Company”, based in Barbados since 1998 and now operating in the entire Caribbean region. They trained numerous young local people in the nature of film making and are now benefiting in having the best choice in Caribbean crews in the region.

The Importance of Experience in the Construction Industry

By admin on

Do you really need experience for a construction job? Several would say that experience is not really necessary, and many construction companies do hire workers with no experience for smaller jobs. But according to James Day, an experienced AECOM public health engineer, experience is vital especially for construction and engineering students. “Start looking for work experience as early as you can, even in your first year,” Day advices students. “Dont wait for your departments work placement tutors to feed opportunities to you.”

And Day isnt the only one who thinks experience is essential. Most graduate recruiters agree that construction-related experience really improves a graduates chances of landing job offers in the future. In the TARGET jobs recruiters board held last year, majority of recruiters pointed out that generally, when it came to job offers graduates who had industry work experience were better able to answer pertinent questions and tackle assessment exercises.

Benefits of Experience

The benefits of experience are not only limited to graduates, but extends to those who continue to expand their experience through the years. James Moschoyiannis, better known in the construction industry as Jim Moschoyiannis, is a director and shareholder of one of Australias leading construction companies, L.U. Simon Builders. But he didnt get to where he is now simply out of pre-graduate experience, but years of continued experience and learning. Throughout his career Jim has handled projects of every scale and from every sector, which led him to be promoted from being project manager to construction manager in just 7 years and appointed director in just 6. His long and fruitful career is evidence enough that experience is crucial not only in landing those first construction jobs but making it to well-respected positions within the industry.

Gaining Experience at the Start

For the majority of those entering the construction industry the most difficult part is finding opportunities to gain experience at the very start. Usually, recruiters wont take graduates on an unpaid basis due to minimum wage legislation, and most other companies cant afford adding paid placement students over the people they have already hired.

So what can construction students do to gain some early experience? Here are some helpful tips:
Get sponsored. Sponsorships or scholarships from construction companies will not only provide financial support to students but will guarantee work experience placements, particularly during the holidays.
Apply for paid work experience schemes. There are plenty available online for all kinds of construction-related positions from quantity surveyors to engineers to project managers.
Work-shadow. Knowing the predicament of construction students, recruiters have been very keen on giving students every possible opportunity to gain experience. One of these is work-shadowing opportunities. When students spend time observing professionals at work rather than taking on work themselves, they dont go against any legislation and still gain insights regarding the work involved. To gain this opportunity, students must write well-researched and well-written cover letters and CVs asking for permission to work shadow a professional.
Voluntary work. Its possible to do voluntary construction work during the gap year, but this may require a fee or some fundraising for certain charities.
Temp work. If possible, students should check whether they can get temp work in a related field.

Theres no doubt that experience bears a lot of weight in the field of construction. Gain it early and develop it consistently and you can achieve much success in the industry.

Replica Industry Reviews

By admin on

The replica industry has been around for a long time. Depending on if you have the know-how, this industry can actually be a very profitable one. It is illegal to sell replicas as if they are the real brands in most developed countries. However, if you are honest about what you are selling, and do not copy the brand name exactly, the replica industry is perfectly legal and legitimate. It is also one of the few industries that is recession-proof. The replica watch industry actually recorded an increase in profit during the recession, since most people could no longer afford designer accessories, yet still wanted to maintain their lifestyle.

Some replicas are very poorly made. If you decide to invest in replicas that make it painfully obvious that they are knock-offs, then you probably will not make a lot of money. Replicas need to be made so that they are practically identical to the real thing. Well-made replicas make it impossible to tell the difference between a real thing and a knock-off unless you examine the actual materials of the item up close. If your replicas are almost identical to the real thing, then you could make good money from investing in the replica industry.

However, it is illegal to use a companys trademarked brand name. It is also illegal to use a watchs design. Both these traits are copyrighted to the watchs original manufacturer. It is estimated that the replica industry causes a one to three billion dollar loss per year to the real manufacturers. The majority of replica items are made in China. Some are made with some precious metals and materials (like gold and leather) and these are known as high-end replica. Others are not made with any precious materials and are known as low-end replica. Sometimes the replica are cheaper than the brand name by a very significant amount, and sometimes replica are only cheaper than the brand name by a little bit. The latter is the one that is usually marketed (falsely) as the real deal.

Those who are successful in the replica industry must be very fashion-savvy and must have a good understanding of the fashion-industrys constantly evolving trends. The whole point of replicas is so that the individual can be a part of the most recent fashion styles. No one wants a replica of last seasons fashions, or last years it item. They also need access to the real products in order to be able to fashion something very similar to it. It is hard to make a copy of a product simply by looking at its pictures. High-end replica makers usually have the brand name product and mimic it very carefully and thoroughly.

The replica industry is a multi-billion dollar a year industry. It is illegal in some countries, but completely legitimate in others. Most people will avoid breaking their local laws by purchasing their replica items online. Since there are no copyright laws in other countries, purchasing from them is technically legal.

Niching the Online Handmade Industry

By admin on

Niching the Online Handmade Industry:
Setting up Shop

By Dennis Speer

Copyright 2011 All Rights Reserved

Nooks and crannies. It congers up visions of an old house in a Hardy Boys adventure. A complex floor plan, three stories, hidden stairways, secret passages, lots of nooks and crannies and maybe even haunted. For those who remember The Hardy Boys or even those who have actually been in a house like this, you know what Im talking aboutthey just dont build them like that anymore.

These nooks and crannies had niches used to display a special vase, a special memento or other special home dcor, and the effect could be very powerful. These niches became a special presentation of things of importance that demand recognition. The more special the item, the more special the attention it derived from it. This unique presentation creates uniqueness and appeal.

This unique specialization creates the niche effectspecialization within a specialization. And so it is within the influence of internet marketing and the niche effect of the Online Handmade Industry. To be recognized here you must be uniquely special!

The Online Handmade Industry is driven by handmade artists. So, just what is a “Handmade Artist”? Just ask one and you will get a myriad of answers. To be sure, they are artists who are devoted to their craft. They are artisans who craft their devotion. And they are crafters who create handmade art products and visual arts. They all have a significant impact and influence on the Online Handmade Industry.

Establishing a niche isnt difficult, but it requires what some call the three PsProper Prior Planning.

Identify your specialties. What you are really good at will drive quality in your products. By prioritizing your specialties you instill uniqueness of your products. And when you create your specialties you infuse them with the finest qualities that become the reputation for your niche.

The process of establishing, prioritizing and creating special things is critical to niche marketing, and even more so if your market is online. There are many marketplace venues representing the Online Handmade Industry and literally millions of art products competing to be seen, selected and purchased by consumers. Most handmade artists are keenly aware of this condition.

So, add presentation to the checklist. The quality of presentation is as important as the quality of the products being presented. The niche effect requires a high degree of specialization, the finest quality achievable and the best, and most unique, presentation online. Digital imagery becomes a significant part of the equation and the image presented must reflect all of the other components. A bad photo of great art work or crafted products wont sell online, plus the visual attraction of the products can be a large part of its uniqueness. Many handmade buyers are attracted to the idiom because most of the items presented are one of a kind.

The next step is to find your audience. Simply creating great stuff and presenting it online wont in itself attract buyers. Sellers need to find their buyers, not vice versa. The unique nature of niche marketing is especially evident in this regard. When using titles and descriptions of products understanding the implications of Search Engine Result Pages (SERPs) becomes the key. Word competition is enormous, so choose the keywords used in these areas carefully, using words and phrases buyers would likely use to find you. This is especially important when your shop is located on a handmade marketplace where thousands of items reside.

Other important marketing tactics include social media (some marketplaces have complete social media applications built in), networking and follow up with buyers. Creating your brand identity will help buyers remember your products. (See my article: Evolution of Branding: The Art of Buzz)

With niche marketing quality teams with quality. Maybe MacGyver could build a rocket launcher out of a few Popsicle sticks, but Popsicle sticks arent really the stuff of quality art products or visual arts.

Display your works in the midst of other quality products. Present your works with the finest quality venues and surround yourself with the finest quality artists. Its attractive!

How Independent Fantasy Author C.S. Marks Broke Through the Publishing Industry

By admin on

AuthorHouse indie novelist C.S. Marks demonstrated how indie publishing can triumph in getting traditional publishers to pay attention by appealing to specific readers in a very crowded market. Ms. Marks is the writer of A Tale of Alterra, The World That Is trilogy that has just lately been obtained by the traditional publisher, Sea Lion Books. Her cross-channel victory took five years in the making, brought on by many book exhibitions, book signings, online and offline mingling with fantasy readers and authors all over the continental US. Marks’ grueling endeavors eventually paid off in the end when Sea Lion Books discovered her novel via a book blog visited by one its senior executives. The executive supposedly bought a copy of her book on the strength of the reader feedback for Elf Hunter, the first book of Tale of Alterra trilogy, which gained an average of 4.5 stars from 112 reviews on Amazon’s customer review box. The author’s success leads us to determine the following insights about her independently published book marketing tactics that any enterprising indie author can certainly benefit from: Obsess Over Your Own Book’s Publicity Ms. Marks continuously went to book conventions, organized book signings, and signed up with writing forums for over five years before getting discovered. Her persistent habit of promoting her book and spreading her passion for great fantasy writing paid off in the end with her book’s discovery. Even now that she is considerably more visible and getting more publicity through the marketing support her traditional publisher is providing, she never ceased marketing her book. She continuously appears in interviews and keeps in contact with her fans. Link up with Online Book and Writing Forums Writers evolved into better authors when they listen to commentary and use them in a way that works best for their readers. Ms. Marks actively solicited reader feedback from friends, fantasy forum members and writer’s forums. These forums provided her with important suggestions. Signing up for these forums usually costs nothing but the feedback they provide are invaluable. Through her continuous effort of reaching out to potential readers she eventually succeeded in refining following book installments which only got more readers to want to try out her books even more. Take advantage of the Influencing power of Online Book Reviews Book reviews provide strong social proof for online book buyers. C.S. Marks realized this and have freely distributed excerpts and whole books to interested readers who would review her books. In return, many readers offered positive reviews on Amazon’s Customer Review engine. Many different book cataloging sites GoodReads, LibraryThing and Shelfari are good book marketing platform, so it is best to develop your presence on these social book sharing platforms as well. The fantasy author has definitely progressed from her self-publishing days with AuthorHouse. By the looks of it, she is well on her way to reaching a wider audience. With an elf’s luck, her books may yet become the next Lord of the Rings fantasy bestseller! For more book marketing tips go to the AuthorHouse Writer Advice Center, or learn from the experience of real self-published authors themselves.