MY JOURNEY INTO THE STRANGE, NEW DIGITAL WORLD

Without giving my age, I will admit that the current state of the media industry is a world away from the days of my youth. Books, magazines and movie rentals, seem to be a thing of the past, as the constantly changing potential of the internet is driving the proverbial final nail into the old media coffin.

Let’s take movies for instance. The VCR was first introduced to the “general” public in the late 1970’s, with the “VHS” format of videotape. No longer did you have to go to the theatre in order to see a movie. VHS eventually made Blockbuster Video the premier entertainment venue, the ultimate alternative to the movie-going experience. Now, internet movie vendors like NetFlix, and neighborhood ATM-style kiosks like Red Box, have made convenience and low prices the new norm in home entertainment. Personally, I’ve enjoyed the “new technology ride”, knowing that I’ve seen the transition of technology from traditional movie going (drive-ins and theatres), to the sofa-and-microwave popcorn movie experience.

Given the fact that there was no internet available to “average Joe’s” like myself until the early 1990’s, traditional print was the only game in town. Now, with the “save a tree” movement and the emergence of eBooks and online news media, the paper version of the “morning paper” is becoming a thing of the nostalgia. I now watch the day’s news stories on my computer.

I will never be as new-technology-challenged as the people who refused to learn how to set the timer on the VCR, but I must admit that some of today’s technological advances are still way to Star Trek for me! Take for instance, cell phones. I’m from the “ol’ school”, where turning a rotary phone dial was the NEW technology! Okay, maybe not THAT ol’ school, but you get the picture! Nowadays, smart phones are already over 5 years old, and I’m yet to own my first. Though I’m content with the basic phone call and the every-now-and-then text message, I must say that seeing my younger classmates scanning credit cards and making bank deposits with their phones makes me a little covetous! Hopefully, there’s nowhere in the bible that says, “Thou shalt not covet thy classmates iPhone”!

Currently, I’m learning how to use Google as a tool to get more people to view my blog site, and in the near future, my website. It must be working because you’re reading this post! Nonetheless, it’s just another scenario of how things have changed over the years. Back when, companies would pay to have an advertisement placed in the newspaper, on billboards or in the Yellow Pages. Now, they use tools like Google that can track your search engine request patterns, and cater online ads according to your patterns! Is Big Brother watching you? Nah! Google is!

And finally, this is for the previously mentioned new-technology-challenged relatives of yours that always tell you to look something up on Google. This site allows you to say “Look it up yourself!” except in a respectful manner. For educational purposes, I started a search for “the number of days in June”, but you can customize it to fit whatever they asked you to search for. http://lmgtfy.com/?q=number+of+days+in+June

God Bless

What Would Jesus Watch???

On January 13, 2005, a television show titled “Will’s Christian Spotlight (WCS)” aired for the first time on BLAB-TV in Sarasota, FL. The show featured musical guests, an interview with the owners of a local Christian bookstore, and was hosted by the show’s creator, Will Spottsville. The show aired for six months on BLAB. Now, Will Spottsville is taking WCS and other Christian-themed TV show concepts to a national and international market. His production company, Spotdog and Angel Productions (SAP), is the vehicle that will make it all happen. 

Spotdog and Angel

Let’s meet the husband and wife team that created S & A Productions. First up is “Spotdog”. His real name is William Spottsville III. He inherited the nickname Spotdog from his dad, uncles and aunts, all of whom also carried the name through childhood and adulthood. Will is a talented Emcee that has the gift of gab, and he’s not afraid to use it!

 

Then there’s Angel. Born Angelique Jackson in “Nawlins”, LA, she met the love of her life at Grambling State University in 1992. The rest is history! This songbird is the financial brains of the operation, but she’s also a powerful, anointed vocalist, singing with the likes of The Mississippi Mass Choir and The Williams Brothers.

Origins

Will (Spotdog) Spottsville and Angelique (Angel) Jackson met on January 21, 1992 on the campus of Grambling State University in Northern Louisiana. That summer, while Will was completing an internship in Atlantic City, New Jersey, he wrote a historic letter to Angelique. The letter stated that “everything resulting from our love for each other will be called a Spotdog and Angel Production.” To this date, their love for one another has produced 3 handsome boys and an awesome television show concept.

Beliefs

Because Spotdog and Angel Productions is a Christian-based entity, our core values will reflect those that are written in the Holy Bible. Also, the word SPOTDOG, when turned around, spells GODTOPS, or, God Tops, meaning God is above all. This fits perfectly because Spotdog and Angel will produce Christian-related material.

Future for Spotdog and Angel

The future looks bright for Spotdog and Angel Productions! Will is currently enrolled at Full Sail University, where he is getting his Masters’ Degree in Entertainment Business. Will is taking advantage of networking opportunities and industry resources that are included with enrollment at Full Sail. In fact, the pilot for WCS will be taped at a studio on Full Sail’s campus in Orlando, FL. 

CD and DVD Distribution Made Simple

            An interesting thing happened while reading a classmate’s post on a discussion board in my Media Publishing and Distribution class: I learned something! I learned something of importance! I learned something that has opened my eyes to the new ways of the world of entertainment. That something that I learned can actually be applied to my business concept; Spotdog and Angel Productions (SAP), a creator of Christian-themed TV show concepts and positive, inspirational music products.

            My classmate’s post told of several online CD duplication and distribution entities. But none caught my attention more than a company called Disc Makers (DM).

DM is what I consider to be a “one-stop shop” for all things musical and print. Not only can you get your music and adjoining artwork placed in a professional-looking CD package, you can also get your material distributed to the places you see fit.

The Disc Makers website (http://www.discmakers.com/) guides you through every step of making your CD marketable. Also, the site has made it easy for a newbie to the world of duplication and distribution (like me) to learn what the process entails. It seems as if the people at DM actually want you to understand the process of getting your creative works to the world. No smokescreens or fine print here, DM puts in all in front of you, hoping that building relationships trumps making a quick buck.

CD’s and DVD’s are not the only products in which DM specializes. Promotional materials such as artwork templates for CD and DVD jacket inserts, and poster and postcard templates for artist and record label logos, are also offered. Additionally, CD mixing and mastering services are available for recording artists. They even have a blog where you can find helpful information on everything from the best podcasting microphones, to tips on how to land a performing gig at a music festival.

In essence, Disc Makers is one of the best resources available for an aspiring or established musician. It’s safe to say that I can see DM and SAP having a very lucrative relationship in the near future!