Conversation with Michael Ajakwe Founder of LA Web Series Festival

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I met Michael in 2011 at the LA Web Series Festival where Often Awesome the series took home Outstanding Documentary Series from 2010-2012. He put on a great showcase for a ton of independent web series in Los Angeles, CA. I was so impressed by all the talented creative web series that displayed true professional talent from; writing, acting, directing and producing. His vision helped our series reach a new audience and encouraged creative professionals around the world. Every time we talk he inspires me. This is going to be one I listen over and over. Here is a brief paragraph from his bio on his web site…

Michael Ajakwe jr. (creator-writer–director-producer)
Since 1993, this first-generation Nigerian-American has worked in the theatre with renowned performers like Emmy-winner Glynn Turman, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Debbie Allen, Ted Lange, Phil Morris, Robert Ri’chard, Hill Harper, Niecy Nash, Tommy Hicks, Tracee Ellis Ross, Art Evans, Gary Sturgis, James Pickens, Tatyana Ali, Marc Coppage, Estelle Harris, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Lee Garlington, Robert Pine, Shayla Rivera, Gary Anthony Williams, Ralph Carter, Deniece Williams, Charles Dutton and Oscar winner Mo’Nique. As a tv and film writer, he’s worked with Martin Lawrence, Greg Kinnear, Sherman Hemsley, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Tichina Arnold, Tisha Campbell, Charles Barkley, Marc Curry, Tracey Morgan, Tia & Tamera Mowry, Kadeem Hardisson, Kelita Smith, Brandy, Diondre Whitfield, Ali Landry, Kelly Perrine, Tim Reid, Tommy Davidson, Ernest Thomas, Richard Lawson, Jackee, Steve Harvey, Steve Trevino, Valery Ortiz, Eve, Paul Winfield, and 3-time Oscar nominee Djimon Honsou. As a live events show writer, he’s written for Anthony Anderson, Kimberly Elise, Jo Marie Payton, L.A. City Council President Eric Garcetti, ex-L.A. Police Chief Bernard Parks, NAACP National President Benjamin Todd Jealous, Jason Alexander, Ben Stiller, and the NAACP Theater Awards (’04-08). He’s also developed TV and/or film projects for Russell Simmons, Dr. Dre, Bret Ratner, Kim Fields, Reuben Cannon, Norman Howard (nephew of The Three Stooges), Beverly Todd, Vidal Sassoon, ex-NBA great Kenny “The Jet” Smith and Natalie Cole. Mike has written and directed 9 plays and produced 16 that have garnered 27 NAACP Theater Award Nominations, winning 5. He is a two-time NAACP Award-winning Playwright/Producer (Company Policy/Ted Lange’s Four Queens, No Trump!), two-time NAACP Award Nominated Director (If You Don’t Believe, Body Language), an Emmy Award-winning TV producer (E! Network’s Talk Soup), an award-winning filmmaker (Happy Anniversary, Punk!) and a trailblazing web tv creator (Ajakwetv.com’s Who…)

Thumbtack Your Profession

I got an email this morning from Thumbtack.com. Basically it is a job board to help anyone who is an independent contractor or even a business to list their services for potential clients. I just listed mine as, Multimedia Producer and Final Cut Pro Editor, on Thumbtack.

I’m back in the game as an Independent Contractor/Freelance Multimedia Producer and need any advantage to get my name out there. I will update this post if work comes through there and let you know how well it goes.

Follow Focus with Legos for DSLR Cameras

For the past year I have been shooting the majority of my work with the Canon 7D. I absolutely love the image. Here is a very clever idea how to make a follow focus with legos for any digital SLR camera.

Here is the video on how to make it.

My Birthday Wish…You Can Help Make It Happen

OK, my 36th birthday falls on May 31st, Memorial Day, most people will be off of work and have an extra day on the weekend. You can thank me by helping me celebrate my birthday by raising money for my friend Timothy LaFollette. He is battling ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). My goal is to raise $300 by June 1, 2010.

I’m not asking for much but if my readers each donate $1 we would hit the goal and then some. If I don’t hit the goal I will donate the difference to the cause.

I’ve been so blessed to work with Tim and Kaylan on Often Awesome the series. They have become great friends and I deeply care about the both of them. So anything I can do to show my support I will.

You can donate here. Thank you so much for your time and I appreciate your support.

I will pass on to Tim and Kaylan who donated what. Thank you so much.

Easily Make a Skater Dolly

Big thanks to Rob Imbs over at lovelyjunkie.com for this great how-to video.

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=10559693&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=8acfeb&fullscreen=1

Donate Something For an ALS Benefit Show

Just wanted to let everyone know that there is another benefit show for our friends Tim and Kalyan who are battling ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). All proceeds will go to help with Tim’s quality of life care. This event is planned for Tuesday, May 18, 2010 starting at 8:00pm.

Performers that night include The Numbers (Snuzz and Sam Frazier), Jews and Catholics, Come Hell or High Water, Treason and DJ Royale, Mutant League, Collector and Social Life.

Along with the great music performances, there will also be a raffle. If you have any items, gift certificates or services that you would like to donate for the raffle then you can do so by contacting Anne Meade Paden here or by contacting me. We’ll also be filming this event for a future episode of the series so please come and put all your pretty faces in front of our cameras. All this for just a $5.00 minimum donation. You can’t beat that. Come join us for an amazing night of music and friends! For directions and more info you can check the Greene Street Official Site and the Facebook event page.

Here’s the episodes which feature the previous two benefit shows:

Off to NATPE LATV Fest

I arrived in LA yesterday around 2 PM, after missing the connecting flight in Houston. Took a cab to Philippa’s house a good high school friend, where her neighbor took me to her car. Got in her car and was on my way to another old friend from Montclair. Simon Cote and his family welcomed me in their home and what a cool happy environment it is.

Simon and I grew up in the Montclair, NJ, school system and had a great time reminiscing about our youth and how we got to where we are today. His wife Jenny works in production and had a great conversation over dinner. They have a great 2 year old boy Rowan who is adorable.

I had a great restful sleep and am off today to the NATPE LATV Fest. Today is a great day to prepare for my pitch session with FX and Tiger Aspect Productions. I’ll be updating as the event goes along. If you are attending the event I hope to meet up with you and talk about some exciting ideas that the fellas from All Aces Media and myself have come up with.

Finders Fee

I am not Marshall…so I didn’t get the job. I can deal, for now. Springtime is here and that means a lot of businesses and films are ready to shoot. I have about 3 plugins/software apps to review in the next few weeks and getting crazy amounts of referral based business, which to me is the best.

I’m still looking for that one job where I can become part of a creative team that will help move the company forward and do some unique things.

So, until then I’m looking for a producer or a sales representative that will sell my services to businesses or film productions. Here is what I’m offering.

• 5% cut of my hourly rate from $20-34
• 8% cut of my hourly rate from $35-50
• 10% cut of my hourly rate above $50

Rules
If you send me any craigslist ads or links to potential jobs I’d appreciate it but that is not valid… I apply to those ads on my own all the time.

It has to be a direct email or phone call to a client ready to talk about a proposal or offer.

If you contact me from the company that wants to hire me.. normally that would void the deal but in today’s economy any edge or incentive I can get is worth it.

I have the right to turn down any offer based on speaking with the client. Sometimes I might not be the right person for the job. Or the rate is ridiculously low and not worth my time.

Services
My rates vary based on different services, locations, travel and length of employment.

• Editing
• Videography HD
• DVD Author
• Sound Recording
• ADR Recording
• Directing
• Producing
• Production Coordinator
• Assistant Cameraman
• Grip
• Production Assistant
• Training
• Marketing
• Podcasting
• Web Services

If anyone wants to participate please hit me up. This can be beneficial to everyone involved. Thanks!

New Year, New Goals

Hey everyone,

I hope the new year finds you well and prosperous.  2008 was a great year and 2009 looks to be even better.  I’ve learned so much working with so many talented people this past year I just wanted to say thanks and I look forward to working with you again.

I also am planning a big 2009.

1. Corporate Assassin– I’m focusing my free time in making this as big as I think it could be.  My goal is to make the website a destination site where people in the corporate world will go and vent and help along the story lines.  I have a phone line in which people can call and leave a message for the corporate assassin.  In that message they will tell us who is bothering them in the workplace and what that person is doing to warrant an assassination.  We will then use that message as the assassin is listening to the call to open the next episode.  So in a way we will be making the episodes based on actual complaints.  I believe this series could be something for adult swim or some other network that likes to take a chance on the bizarre.

   In the near future I’m planning to shoot an episode with Brian in LA with some very talented actors.  I’m planning to put up a plea for people with frequent flyer miles to donate 3 or 4 tickets for us to go out to LA and shoot a big episode.  I hope we can get out to LA sometime in May or June… yeah let’s get out there when it is hot.  Good focus, Andy!

   Right now this series is a passion of mine, I’ve worked in the corporate world just like many of you have.  I can honestly say the work is great but for some reason people get in the way of progress or just annoy the hell out of you.  I’m sure some of my ex co-workers have an episode about me they would love for me to shoot.  Bring it!  Everyone who has played a role in getting this series off the ground I owe you a debt of gratitude and a promise to put all my energy behind this series to make it successful.  Something else I’ve noticed about the series… it takes a lot of time and energy to put this together and I’ve been very lucky with talent, crew and locations.  But I need help, I need people to continue to look for locations, actors to sign up at our google group (sign up at the website) this is a place where you will find information about how many actors we need for the next episode and when we are shooting it.

   Also, I’m open to anyone that would like to add their flair to the series.

   • • Writers – If you want to write an episode please feel free to contact me.  The only thing I ask is keep it under 10 minutes and I might make small changes to keep with the continuity of the series.
     • Web developers – if you have any cool ideas that you feel would increase the promotion or would be a great addition to the site hit me up.
     • Musicians – I’m always looking to add some cool scores to the series, let’s work together on it.
     • Marketing – If you think of anyway to come up with some great ideas to market this series pass it on.
     • Sponsors – If you know of a company that would like to put their products in these episodes or wants to be the assassins choice of products to kill with please contact us.
2. Pilot Episode – I came up with a great idea for a TV series for The History Channel, that would be an instant sell for educational distribution.  I believe that every school system would order the series for their library or even a class.  It will be a mix of dramatization, Interviews with Historians and archival footage with voice over narration to blend the show together.  I will be working with a close friend this year on planning a pilot episode.  He is an amazing Historian and creative writer, Jarod, plan a couple of weekends so we can come up with a kick ass concept.  I know we will wow anyone who watches an episode with all the talent that is around us.
3. Cookies – Blake and I shot a commercial for a cookie company and Blake had some incredible ideas for a viral video campaign.  No one with a traditional business would ever want to touch these viral ideas.  That’s why we are going to put together some viral videos based on cookies that do not exist at the moment.  We will be doing research, that means cooking and eating many different recipes and cookies before we feel we have the right one.  But we build a buzz first and a demand before we start shipping.  With a count down for our first orders.  This will be your kind of cookie.  An alternative brand that markets to gen x and the art world.  Think of Andy Warhol on crack… yeah I believe that market is open.

I’m really excited about 2009 with All Aces Media, especially the projects that Blake and Micah are working on.

Micah’s next fun film, Beat Down Boogie looks to be bad ass and I feel will get Micah national attention for this great film.

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2616087&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1
Beat Down Boogie Practice Tape from All Aces Media on Vimeo.

Blake’s film, Shadow Ops, written by Rick Burnett, looks to be intense and a fun film that will test us once again.  Can’t wait to get rolling on this one.

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=1799939&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1
Shadow Ops Teaser Trailer from All Aces Media on Vimeo.

I hope you all have a great 2009 and if you have any advice on anything I listed please feel free to contact me, I sure can use some help.

Royalty Free Community

I just created a group over at Vimeo called the Royalty Free Community for filmmakers. My goal is to have a place where filmmakers can go and share footage that they own the rights to so other filmmakers can use it in their projects. How often have you shot some really cool footage and used 3-5 seconds of it? Here is your opportunity to share your cool looking footage with editors and filmmakers alike. The only thing that we ask is if you want to use someone’s footage is to contact the filmmaker and give credit where it is due.

That is all enjoy.