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Erin Smith- Founder of FacePrint

Posted by Ryan Principe

· Wednesday, November 13th, 2024

· 1 Comment

Erin Smith a nine teen year old girl, thought unlike anyone else. She was watching a video of a guy named Michael Fox, and from that video, Smith had some great ideas, and she couldn’t get those ideas off her mind. Her analysis of it was “Whenever a Parkinson’s patient would laugh or smile, it came off as really emotionally distant.” Smith took this and reached out to clinicians and caregivers to ask about this, and she found out that they have seen similar facial expressions from their patients. This was all before a Parkinson’s diagnosis was made. Smith who is a science enthusiast grew up doing experiments in her own kitchen. She wanted to make a change so people could be diagnosed with a disease, so she got to work and started to build a diagnostic system that was called FacePrint. This is really cool to see, as Smith saw a problem with a laugh or a smile, she knew there was a issue and that she needed to make a change to help these people out. She innovated in a special way to help this generation with a serious problem. Face Print is a selfie stick that captures changes in facial expressions over time to help catch disorders like Parkinson’s. Smith hopes that FacePrint becomes a tool that diagnoses and monitors the disease. As of now, her creation has an 88 percent accuracy rate and that is nearly 7 percent more than regular tools. Smith has been receiving funds from Michael Fox foundation and pharmaceutical companies. Her technology is going under trial at Standford University. Smith has done some many great things with this product and to sum it up she had said this “I really want to optimize for my personal learning,” and “as well as for the best way I can help shape and build the future of neurological and mental healthcare.” This is so amazing for a teenager to do. The fact that she is saving our generations health is just so awesome. She definitely fills for a girl with a mind like an entrepreneur but not only that, she wants to help everyone, that is so special.

Link to Source: Meet 16 Teen Founders Who Are Building Big Businesses — and Making Big Money | Entrepreneur

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Categories : Business, Film, Millennial Enrepreneuers, Technology, Women Entrepreneurs

Dreadhead Films

Posted by bonaquistmr23

· Saturday, October 12th, 2024

· 1 Comment

Meet brothers Julien and Justen Turner, young entrepreneurs in the film industry who do short narrative films, just at the ages of 25 and 21, respectively. Starting close to us, they have their business in Columbus, Ohio. Their inspiration started at an early age, where their parents had VHS cameras. They had the opportunity to use their mom’s old MacBook to play around with iMovie, where they got to play with special effects. They practiced their work first in the Midwest (Illionois), instead of the big cities like Hollywood.

Some of their inspiration flows from Tyler Perry, who made Atlanta a big film city. That’s their goal for Ohio. They don’t plan to move out of Ohio as they build their film industry. Another of their inspirations was The Karate Kid, where they got to see a black kid in a blockbuster film, and with a big afro, which inspired Justen to grow out his hair, which was the reason for the name of their film business.

Though young, their success has been noticed by many. They’ve been featured on platforms like Good Morning America, The New York Times, CNN, and MTV. They’ve also partnered with some big names, like Beats by Dre, Nike, Amazon, Air Jordan, and Adobe. They also received awards such as the Forbes Under 30, Webbys for the Best Video Campaign in Advertising and Best Video campaign for their Nike x Social Status campaign, as well as the gold award for New Director of the Year at 2023’s The Shots Americas Awards.

Their goal is to show their own journey and experience through their filmmaking life, by putting in some type of commentary in their work. At such young ages, they’ve been blessed with many opportunities, but due to their age, they’ve also been limited in what they can do. As they grow their business, they hope to bring longer-film narratives to the area. While they continue to pursue this career, they also want to be an outlet for others in the industry, by supporting other Midwest filmmakers.

1 Comment

Categories : Animation, Art, Business::Entrepreneurs, Challenge, entertainment, Film, Movies, Sci Fi Inspiration, Television

Kane Parsons, a Filmmaker Fresh out of High School

Posted by morganni23

· Monday, September 16th, 2024

· No Comments

A pair of images, one showing Kane Parsons, a young man. The other showing the original Backrooms image of a hall with its musty old carpet and aging wallpaper.

Kane Parsons and the original Backrooms photograph.

Kane Parsons is an online filmmaker and visual effects artist who has received viral attention for his horror short films. His most popular work is a series called The Backrooms. Parsons, who goes by Kane Pixels online, released the first installment in his Backrooms series when he was sixteen years old. The nine minute short film which was uploaded to YouTube in 2022 takes place in an unnatural, lonely setting. The protagonist wanders endless, maze-like yellow hallways rendered in vivid detail with the 3D animation software Blender. This protagonist, whose handheld camera serves as our viewpoint for the film, entered this strange world by falling straight through the solid ground beneath him and into a place disconnected from our reality. In the days following the suspenseful short’s release, it would become highly popular in several online spaces. It was inspired by a post on a message board from 2019, one which described the original concept of the endless Backrooms, and featured the iconic photograph most associated with the uncanny dimension. The series expanded on the concepts first established in that post, and would only receive more notoriety as it went on, trending with each new entry in its ongoing narrative. As Kane Parsons continued to thoughtfully produce the visuals of the films, he grew more and more ambitious. The digital sets only became larger and more detailed, and later entries would use advanced motion capture techniques to make characters’ movements as realistic as possible.

All of the impressive work that Parsons was doing got him the attention of more than just online horror fans. The independent movie studio A24 has chosen to adapt his series into a feature film. Kane Parsons will direct the film, and it is to be written by Robert Patino, a producer and writer whose previous work includes the HBO series Westworld. While simultaneously completing high school, Parsons was able to build a unique online identity and inspire others with his fresh take on the found footage horror subgenre. He is quoted by ABC News as saying, “I just love doing this, I somehow almost never burn out. And I think that’s partially because of how much people love this series. It just feels like everything I do has value.”

I can say personally that the stories Kane Pixels has created have fascinated and transfixed me. I am reminded, as I climb to the third floor of a furniture store, of those windowless carpeted halls. I find myself wondering, “What would I do if I found myself in an infinite IKEA, or an endless airport?” The success of The Backrooms has shown me that if an idea intrigues me and has the sticking power to hold in my brain, it is likely that other people will have similar reactions to it. If I can unearth a novel idea and put in the time and effort to build upon it, I can make something people will care about.

Sources:

https://www.wired.com/story/what-ar e-the-backrooms/

https://abcnews.go.com/US/backrooms-horror-storytelling-online/story?id=92623707

https://deadline.com/2023/02/the-backrooms-a24-developing-feature-based-on-viral-horror-shorts-1235249413/

https://www.youtube.com/@kanepixels

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Categories : Computers, entertainment, Film, Horror, Teen Entrepreneurs, Television, Video Production, Young Entrepreneur, YouTube

Tags : computers, entertainment, Film, teen entrepreneurs, YouTube

Documentaries and the Art of Stories

Posted by schlemeierej23

· Tuesday, October 31st, 2023

· 3 Comments

Picture this: You’re writing a story. What should you write about? Something interesting, something unique, something thrilling! You want to write about…. Wood. Well, maybe someone who works with wood. But –you say—that doesn’t sound like a story! Sure, that’s what you think, unless you’re Paul Sigler.

Paul Sigler is a cinematographer, graduate of Asbury University, and director of “Reclaim,” a student documentary about Old World Timber, and an employee given a second chance. But “Reclaim” is not just a documentary, it’s a story. After winning two awards in the Highbridge Film Festival, and showcasing at yet another festival, Sigler was able to work through the rest of his education with projects like it. Now, he has his own company, called Sigler Cinematography, Paul takes on all different kinds of projects, from weddings, to commercials, to mission and ministry showcases. With an eye for composition and a passion for the art, Sigler can make a story out of anything, and the redemptive themes in his work often showcase his faith.

It’s easy to think that only a fairytale, or some sci-fi thriller can make a good story. But Paul Sigler shows that a story can be found anywhere, and he tells his stories artfully. Seeing that more than one technique can be used for storytelling is a good reminder to anyone looking to pursue art. Even if you can’t follow what seems like the ideal path, forging your own is possible.

3 Comments

Categories : Entrepreneurship, Film

Jeremy Byers

Posted by turnbaughga19

· Wednesday, December 14th, 2022

· 1 Comment

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

This is a question that many of us get asked when we are very young. Some of us come up with ridiculous ideas–some even outlandish, like an doctor in space. However, for Jeremy Byers, at age 14, he knew exactly what he wanted to do, and he continues to pursue that dream: he wants to make movies.

Byers, now 19, created his first film in high school, and since then, has created his own film company titled Joker Studios. He says, “I taught myself how to do everything, learned from other filmmakers and looked up to famous directors like Stanley Kubrick and Sergio Leone.”

Byers’ accomplishments especially hit home for me, specifically because of his location and his interests. He is from Tyrone, PA, which is only about half an hour from me. Seeing his accomplishments in film is fascinating to me because I know how difficult it can be to grow in a location that is seemingly slow. Byers says, “Tyrone was just a small town with nobody else in my field, so it would’ve been foolish not to capitalize on that.”

Byers continues to work towards his goal of someday working on a big film for Hollywood. He continues to make films he loves, and enters them in film festivals to gain more exposure.

When asked about his advice for young entrepreneurs, Byers says, “Don’t quit. It takes years to establish yourself, and it’s hard sometimes. If you quit, you really didn’t have a passion for what you wanted at all.”

1 Comment

Categories : Film, Uncategorized, Video Production

Zach King – The Digital Illusionist

Posted by brakmg22

· Saturday, September 17th, 2022

· 2 Comments

Zach King is a well-known media content-creator who began with Vine and then expanded to Youtube and Tiktok as his content began to take off. He is now one of the most followed influencers on the platform of Tiktok. Zach was a filmmaker whose interest in film was sparked when he was 7 years old. His love for creating videos followed him his entire life and didn’t stop when he was denied acceptance to film school at Biola University. Most people would have given up at that point and have believed that was a sign to pursue something else in life. While he did enroll at Biola as a general student, he turned instead to social media to show his videos. Originally, he had sold film editing tips under a different name than he has now, but he began to grow exponentially from there. He won $35,000 from Youtube’s Nextup Creators contest way back in 2011. Advertisements were a big part of how he made his money. King is most well known for his comedic, magical videos that he says function as a “digital sleight of hand.” It takes 25 people to accomplish his videos today, although he had to do a lot of his content by himself during the pandemic. He said that he found his success because: “We’re on the top charts right now on TikTok and our stuff is really different. Hopefully that shows others that you can be really successful, and at the top, by doing something totally left field. You don’t have to do what everyone else is doing. In fact, that’s where people are going to find their strength: By figuring out their niche and really owning it.”

I can’t help but agree with that. Following along with the trends and staying within one’s comfort zone might eventually grow a following, but they will only become a micro-influencer, just like so many others who also replicate trends. Doing something different and innovative, utilizing the unique talents that one might possess might be the ticket to success. Instead of being just one of the dime-a-dozen, standing out like Zach King did could lead to unimaginable success.

Zach King: https://zachking.store/pages/about

Insider article: https://www.insider.com/zach-king-explained-tiktok-star-vine-youtuber-2021-8

top videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KDmnwOmtQc

2 Comments

Categories : Celebrities, Comedy, Content Entrepreneurs, Design, Film

The Bridge to Success

Posted by NoahIversen

· Monday, September 27th, 2021

· 2 Comments

Social media has been building bridges to new ways of innovation and entrepreneurship ever since it began. Those who have capitalized on it when it began, however, are the ones making all the money and gaining the most fame. Felix Kjellberg, or better known to some as “Pewdiepie,” created his youtube account only one year after the website was released. It wasn’t until 2011, though, that he began to post on what would become the largest account on the platform ever (owned by one person). He began by posting quite short and relatively boring videos on his account purely for the entertainment of his friends and himself. As time went on, more people began to find his account, subscribing to it, and Felix’s fanbase grew. Less than a year later he had surpassed the 1 million subscriber mark. He began to post more and more and only a year after that was at 10 million. It was safe to say that he was on the right track.

Pewdiepie began to create merch such as shirts, chairs, headsets, and eventually his own game on the app store. He was rapidly gaining fans and in the spring of 2019, the creator finally reached an astonishing 100 million followers, which meant that 1 in 15 people who used youtube was subscribed to his account. This may not seem like much, however, almost half of the country uses this platform. He is still creating to this day and after selling many products and featuring in other videos and ads, he has accumulated roughly a cool $45,000,000 from online interactions alone. Felix will forever be remembered in the industry of videomaking and for revolutionizing the world by his assistance in bridging the gap between the real and digital worlds of entrepreneurship.

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Jacob Landis-Eigsti- Jacob LE Video Production

Posted by campagnama21

· Thursday, September 16th, 2021

· 2 Comments

Jacob Landis-Eigsti is the founder of Jacob LE Video Production which helps companies gain new marketing and video production clients. He has run his own business for 10 years now and is very successful. Jacob says he started this business because he saw many businesses struggling to tell their story and connect with others online. He wanted to use his marketing and video production skills to help other businesses.

Jacob’s business is very innovative because he uses the internet to communicate with people on how to grow their business through video. I found it unique that his goal is to teach people how to market their businesses better, instead of only trying to make his business the best. He is very selfless in this sense.

Jacob says he starts off each day by making a to-do list with three things he wants to get accomplished for the day. He also turns his phone off for 90-minute blocks in order to get tasks done without getting distracted. Techniques like these demonstrate a focused business person. He also said a success strategy of his is to always follow up with a client or business partner you’ve been talking to. This allows for closure or further conversation with peers.

Facebook, Instagram, and online video advertising are some of the things Jacob focuses on helping people with in his business. We are becoming more and more dependent on social media every day, so I think it was very innovative of Jacob to incorporate this into his business. If people are unsure how to market themselves online, it could be the downfall to their business. Jacob LE Video Production is an easy solution to help small/medium businesses with these advertising techniques.

Being a marketing major, Jacob Landis-Eigsti specifically inspires me to grow in my marketing knowledge so that I can eventually help people in the way that he does. In an interview with Carlyn Runnels he states, “Also, learn business skills first as an entrepreneur. It’s important to be good at your craft, but business skills and sales skills are incredibly important.” This inspires me to learn the basic business skills first, because this will set the foundation for being able to help people with all kinds of businesses, like Jacob does.

Below is a series of blog posts Jacob has posted on a site called Medium in order to assist with marketing, social media and video strategies.

Jacob Landis-Eigsti – Medium

Sources:

Jacob Landis-Eigsti (ideamensch.com)

Jacob Landis-Eigsti – Medium

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Categories : Advertisement, Business, Business::Entrepreneurs, Creating, Experience, Film, Male Entrepreneurs, Marketing, Social Media, Technology, Video Production

Tags : entrepreneur, Marketing, Social Media, video production

“Binge Jesus”

Posted by bidelspachcr20

· Thursday, November 5th, 2020

· 3 Comments

After experiencing some failure in the film industry, Dallas Jenkins started formulating what is now the popular TV series, The Chosen. This project seemed to form gradually, like a “slow hunch”. It was born out of a short Christmas film Jenkins directed about the birth of Jesus, which led to the idea of a multi-season Biblical TV series. The short film was noticed by VidAngel, a faith-based streaming company, who advised Jenkins to share it on social media to gauge the amount of potential interest in his TV series idea. After receiving an unbelievable amount of interest in this short film, he decided to pursue this idea.

The Chosen is undoubtedly exploring uncharted territory when it comes to faith-based and Biblical film. Not only is it the first-ever TV series about the life of Jesus, but it is more powerful and engaging than any other Biblical film I have ever seen. It contains the perfect amount of artistic imagination that helps fill in for characters and backstories not mentioned in the Bible, while remaining extremely accurate according to scripture and historical context. This allows the audience to piece together the stories included in the Gospels to see how they all fit together in Jesus’ life and ministry, and even how they connect to the Old Testament. The Chosen allows believers to experience Jesus’ character in a unique way by watching his life play out. It also allows non-believers, who may not likely open up a Bible, a way to experience Jesus though film.

Dallas Jenkins showed many entrepreneurial traits throughout the creation of The Chosen. The fact that this project was born out of past failure proves that he was unafraid to continue taking risks in new endeavors. Jenkins also utilized a crowd funding approach to financing the production of season one, and now season two. This is certainly not the most popular way to fund film production, as it slows down the production process and requires much more risk. However, it has obviously not hindered the show’s success! In fact, I would say that it has been very beneficial. The process of crowd funding required getting the word out and spreading information quickly and to large audiences, which helped The Chosen gain publicity. In addition, the fact that each season is filmed only after it is fully funded requires placing all faith in God and relying on Him to provide for and guide the production of the series. I continue to see God working through this project, and I believe it is because of Jenkin’s willingness to step out in faith and allow God to work through him, despite his failure.

If you haven’t seen The Chosen yet, go check it out! Here’s the promo:

3 Comments

Categories : Film

Corridor

Posted by WilhelmME20

· Friday, October 9th, 2020

· 2 Comments

What do you get when you give a video camera to two industrious and imaginative teenagers? Fun and innovative movies, that’s what. And that is exactly what happened for Sam Gorski and Niko Pueringer in the early 2000’s. Two Minnesota natives, Gorski and Pueringer were always fans of movies and entertainment, in particular, action movies. Their dip into the world of cinema began with Gorski’s father’s video camera. The two teens spent days and weeks creating their own elaborate stories and action scenes. As the years passed, the two’s hobby grew, and they began to produce more and more intricate shorts and videos. In their early twenties the teens made the big decision to move to L.os Angeles. A huge step forward for the pair, the move to L.A. brought with it a host of new opportunities.

Around the time of Gorski and Pueringer’s move, the site YouTube began to become a household name, with many videos achieving “viral” status and several creators climbing the ranks in viewers and subscribers. Although it was not Gorski and Pueringer’s intention to be famous YouTubers, the two were inspired by creators like Freddie Wong, to upload their own videos.

The pairs videos were an instant hit, garnering millions of views and many reaching the front page of YouTube. The two creators had found a golden opportunity and turned all their attention to growing their YouTube channel: Corridor Digital.

Over the next nine years, the two creators continued to produce more and more videos, pulling hundreds of millions of views, creating new, creating new channels, adding more and more people to their team, and eventually working with prestigious brands to produce commercials and product inspired shorts and videos.

Gorski and Pueringer truly elevated the story-driving shorts scene on YouTube, became widely recognized throughout the sight and pioneered the landscape of internet videos. Without a doubt, this pair’s exploits and achievements will shape a new generation of entertainment.

2 Comments

Categories : Film, YouTube