President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo yesterday complied with the constitutional provision which required them to declare their assets on assumption of office.
The Code of Conduct Bureau confirmed this yesterday in Abuja when it told NEXT that both Mr Jonathan and Mr Sambo have submitted their asset forms to the bureau for internal verification. The head of press unit in the organisation, Idowu Jokpeyibo said both public officials are deemed to have declared their assets with the submission of all relevant forms to the bureau.
Officials however refused to comment on the contents of the forms submitted by the President and his deputy, insisting that the documents were secret papers. They also ignored questions about the process of verifying the information contained in the forms.
Mrs Jokpeyibo said, “Having cross-checked the official record before me following your enquiry, I can confirm to you that the Code of Conduct Bureau is in receipt of the assets forms of both the President and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I will get back in touch with you as soon as I get the particular day the forms were submitted by the public servants.”
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
IGBEKE is senator at last
With a bible in his left hand and clutching some oath papers with the right, Alphonsus Ubanese Igbeke of the All Nigeria People’s Party yesterday took the oath that confirmed him as the senator representing Anambra North senatorial district. The event, which took place at the Senate chambers, brings an end to a protracted, “tortuous and dramatic” journey to the senate.
He will now replace Joy Emordi who had spent three years in a four year tenure that started in 2007.
Until yesterday, Mrs Emordi, had tenaciously held on to the senate seat despite court rulings ousting her from the senate. She had in March been asked by an Enugu Appeal Court to leave the senate following the court’s ruling that it was Mr. Igbeke who got the majority vote at the 2007 Anambra North senatorial election.
Mrs Emordi, however, stayed back in the senate - and the senate leadership refused to admit Mr Igbeke - after she appealed to the court for an interpretation of its ruling against an earlier ruling in her favour. A month later, the court ordered the Senate to admit Mr. Igbeke “immediately,” but the leadership of the upper chambers refused to do that, citing a notice about a fresh case instituted by Mrs Emordi in the Supreme Court.
His admittance into the Senate yesterday followed the advice of Bello Adoke, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, who told the Senate that unless there was a court injunction restraining the Senate from admitting Mr. Igbeke, there was no legal grounds to refuse him the oath of office.
Not on my worst enemy
“Indubitably, my three years experience was excruciating and unpalatable, and such that I would not wish on anyone, not even my enemy.” Mr. Igbeke told reporters after his first plenary on Tuesday.
However, the Senate has made no apologies for barring Mr. Igbeke all the while and allowing Mrs Emordi to sit and contribute at Senate debates after the appeal court’s ruling in March and a second order in May. Mr. Igbeke brings the number of opposition senators in the senate to 18 - too few to make any real impact - although his allegiance to the All Nigeria People’s Party on whose platform he was elected, is now in doubt as there are indications that he will move on to another party soon.
He said his experience in the course of winning back his seat proved to him that even if he joined another party, he will have lots of followers.
“Even if I decided to join Alliance for Democracy tomorrow, even if I decided to join CDC tomorrow or whatever party as you may think, they are here, they know themselves; they know my kind of person.
“I am in politics because of my commitment to impact on the lives of the people and this is something I have started so many years back ever before I join this trade called politics and people will be ready to go with me to whatever platform I might decide to go to.” Mr. Igbeke said.
I forgive Mrs Emordi
Mr. Igbeke, in an interview with reporters, said he has forgiven Mrs Emodi and everybody else that offended him while the struggle for his seat lasted.
He said he will put the past behind him, let Mrs Emodi enjoy the allowance she had taken, and focus on his duties in the Senate while hoping that his future allowances will be catered for.
“I want to concentrate on how to focus myself and then get myself acclimatized with the system and I’ve decided to adopt what is called reflective thinking, this reflective thinking means that you look at your past learn from it and use it to forge ahead. I must tell you that I’ve forgiven those who offended me including my opponent,” Mr. Igbeke told NEXT. “I’m putting everything behind me. I’m not bothered about whatever money may have been collected, but I do know that senate is a law making body that believes in law and I know that they will be honourable enough to give me my suppose entitlement when I ask for it.”
Mr Igbeke has about one year to spend as a senator and says he will focus it on providing quality representation to his people.
“I assure the people of Anambra North of quality representation such that they have never experienced before,” he said.
Mr. Igbeke who before now cut the picture of a lone combatant fighting to be admitted into the Senate, was yesterday trailed by a mammoth crowd which came to felicitate with him over his victory.
Some Nollywood stars like Mama Gee, Mr. Ibu, Victor Osuagwu and Kanayo O Kanayo were also at the National Assembly to felicitate with the new senator.
The crowd was later treated to a party in celebration of the victory at the International Conference Centre in Abuja.
He will now replace Joy Emordi who had spent three years in a four year tenure that started in 2007.
Until yesterday, Mrs Emordi, had tenaciously held on to the senate seat despite court rulings ousting her from the senate. She had in March been asked by an Enugu Appeal Court to leave the senate following the court’s ruling that it was Mr. Igbeke who got the majority vote at the 2007 Anambra North senatorial election.
Mrs Emordi, however, stayed back in the senate - and the senate leadership refused to admit Mr Igbeke - after she appealed to the court for an interpretation of its ruling against an earlier ruling in her favour. A month later, the court ordered the Senate to admit Mr. Igbeke “immediately,” but the leadership of the upper chambers refused to do that, citing a notice about a fresh case instituted by Mrs Emordi in the Supreme Court.
His admittance into the Senate yesterday followed the advice of Bello Adoke, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, who told the Senate that unless there was a court injunction restraining the Senate from admitting Mr. Igbeke, there was no legal grounds to refuse him the oath of office.
Not on my worst enemy
“Indubitably, my three years experience was excruciating and unpalatable, and such that I would not wish on anyone, not even my enemy.” Mr. Igbeke told reporters after his first plenary on Tuesday.
However, the Senate has made no apologies for barring Mr. Igbeke all the while and allowing Mrs Emordi to sit and contribute at Senate debates after the appeal court’s ruling in March and a second order in May. Mr. Igbeke brings the number of opposition senators in the senate to 18 - too few to make any real impact - although his allegiance to the All Nigeria People’s Party on whose platform he was elected, is now in doubt as there are indications that he will move on to another party soon.
He said his experience in the course of winning back his seat proved to him that even if he joined another party, he will have lots of followers.
“Even if I decided to join Alliance for Democracy tomorrow, even if I decided to join CDC tomorrow or whatever party as you may think, they are here, they know themselves; they know my kind of person.
“I am in politics because of my commitment to impact on the lives of the people and this is something I have started so many years back ever before I join this trade called politics and people will be ready to go with me to whatever platform I might decide to go to.” Mr. Igbeke said.
I forgive Mrs Emordi
Mr. Igbeke, in an interview with reporters, said he has forgiven Mrs Emodi and everybody else that offended him while the struggle for his seat lasted.
He said he will put the past behind him, let Mrs Emodi enjoy the allowance she had taken, and focus on his duties in the Senate while hoping that his future allowances will be catered for.
“I want to concentrate on how to focus myself and then get myself acclimatized with the system and I’ve decided to adopt what is called reflective thinking, this reflective thinking means that you look at your past learn from it and use it to forge ahead. I must tell you that I’ve forgiven those who offended me including my opponent,” Mr. Igbeke told NEXT. “I’m putting everything behind me. I’m not bothered about whatever money may have been collected, but I do know that senate is a law making body that believes in law and I know that they will be honourable enough to give me my suppose entitlement when I ask for it.”
Mr Igbeke has about one year to spend as a senator and says he will focus it on providing quality representation to his people.
“I assure the people of Anambra North of quality representation such that they have never experienced before,” he said.
Mr. Igbeke who before now cut the picture of a lone combatant fighting to be admitted into the Senate, was yesterday trailed by a mammoth crowd which came to felicitate with him over his victory.
Some Nollywood stars like Mama Gee, Mr. Ibu, Victor Osuagwu and Kanayo O Kanayo were also at the National Assembly to felicitate with the new senator.
The crowd was later treated to a party in celebration of the victory at the International Conference Centre in Abuja.
Monday, May 24, 2010
USEFUL ADVERTIZING TVC'S written by BENTLEY D'TORRENT
MY ADVERTIZING TUTOR GIUDE (online)
It seems that everyone has a sure-fire formula for writing a great TV ad script. Start with action to get the viewer’s attention. Start with drama to get the viewer’s attention. Start with mystery to get the viewer’s attention. Start with loud music to get the viewer’s attention. Start with silence to get the viewer’s attention. Which is better? What works? All of it. And, none of it. The danger here is in getting stuck on a delivery method without first knowing what you need to say.
1) SPEAK YOUR CUSTOMER'S LANGUAGE.
The most important thing to consider when working on a script is whether or not what you’re presenting is appropriate to your audience and the message you’re trying to convey. If your product or service is fun and exciting, then your script should be the same. Similarly, the images on screen should be colorful and show smiling faces or scenes that make the viewer want to smile. Drama, action, mystery, blaring music, or absolute silence - by itself - will not sell your product or service. The connection you make with the viewer and the relationship that you can build between their need and how you can fulfill it is what will sell you.
2) KEEP IT SIMPLE.
Diversification may be good for business, but not for your advertising message. One of the greatest mistakes in advertising is trying to cram too much information into a single ad. You know these ads and you recognize them right away. These are the ones that talk about every service a company offers or mentions ten different products for sale. They sound rushed and cluttered, and you almost immediately tune them out. By contrast, the best, most effective ads have only one or a few, simple message(s) or idea(s) that they are trying to convey. The script for these ads are often no more than eight to twelve sentences long (for a 30 second spot). These are the ones that people remember and are the ones that measurably sell. If you have a lot to say or offer, create a campaign of commercials that presents your information in memorable segments or focuses on specific or individual products/services.
3) INCLUDE A CALL TO ACTION.
What do you want the viewer to do when the ad is over? Call someone? Go somewhere? Do something specific? Think positively? Be angry? The commercial should, from the start, be building up to the end. And, it should build to an ending that leaves the viewer wanting to call someone, go somewhere, do something, etc. etc. Pharmaceutical companies are always asking viewers to "call your doctor to find out more." You, too, should ask viewers to buy your product, visit your website, volunteer for a non-profit, or take some other type of specific action. If you don't, there's no implied expectation that the customer will choose you when they make their purchasing decision.
Once you have identified who you're talking to, what you want them to know, and what they should do once they know it, you can then address how to package the information. This is where you decide whether to employ things like drama or action; loud sounds or absolute silence, to get their attention and position the message.
GREAT SCRIPTS AREN'T WRITTEN, THEY'RE RE-WRITTEN. Agama Advertising works with its clients to create great scripts. It doesn't matter if the script is for a sales video, a TV commercial, or an ad for the web, our team understands the process and will work with you to create a script that effectively addresses your objectives.
You need to sell more. We can help you do it. Call us today to get results.
WRITE AN ADVERTISING SCRIPT
Effective advertising is the backbone of every company. Without it, their products will have trouble surviving in a market where flashy advertising and media saturation is king. Several avenues exist for companies to advertise their products, but TV, radio and Internet ads are most effective. Each of these mediums requires a script. Many writers make a living writing nothing but advertising scripts, and by following a few basic steps, you could be one of these writers. Learn how you can write effective advertising scripts that could be your key to a rewarding career in the world of advertising.
Decide which scriptwriting software you will use. Movie Magic Screenwriter is one of the biggest names in scriptwriting software and comes with templates for a variety of scripts, including a number of advertising formats. You can also use a free scriptwriting program like Celtx (see Resources). Advertising formats are standardized and any scriptwriting software will do automatic formatting as you write.
1. Step
Determine the type of advertising script you need to write. Scripts for radio commercials and TV commercials differ. A radio commercial script is two columns. The left column indicates SFX (sound effects) and ANNOUNCER and the right column will be a description of the sound effect or the words the announcer speaks. Capitalize, bold and underline sound effect descriptions.
2. Step
Write advertising scripts for visual mediums similar to radio advertising scripts. Format two columns. The left column indicates Video and the right column indicates Audio. Write all descriptions in the left column. The right column will be for sound effects and speaking parts.
3. Step
Use present tense when writing any action scenes for a visual medium. Focus on the product the advertisement is for, but keep the commercial entertaining and engaging.
4. Step
Time your script when it's finished by reading or acting it out. Most TV or radio advertisements are 30 seconds long, which translates to about a page to a page and a half of writing. This can vary depending upon how the director shoots a commercial or how a radio script is timed
CREATE A WINNING ADVERTISING SLOGAN.
I’ve been involved in the creative side of advertising for about a decade. Most of my work has been for large local and regional companies with a few national campaigns mixed in. Making TV commercials and pitching to clients is interesting work but being asked to come up with a slogan - a new branding statement - is arguably the most challenging and enjoyable project to tackle. Here's how to come up with a killer slogan that will make you the toast of the office...at least for a few days.
1. Step
You need to define where your client wants to go with this new slogan. What is their unique selling position - what are they best at? The best slogans are clever but concise, have a double meaning that gives a deeper understanding of the company and, of course, a slogan must be memorable by everyone who hears it.
2. Step2
Once you've defined the client's goals and researched their company then you must get to work. Here's the hard part. Most jobs can be tackled head on...but it takes time (and some magic) to create a slogan. The client would do it for themselves if it was easy. You can't just say "Joe's Pizza...The Best Around." It sounds generic and not all too authentic. You need to focus on their uniqueness and strengths and kick something out that connects to them but that is also simply poetic.
3. Step
Make a list of key words for this client on a legal pad and start brainstorming about a possible slogan. Make sure that everything that enters your mind makes it onto the page. You never know what form a great idea will take. Often times your early instincts are best so hold onto all this - this is your commodity.
4. Step
If this is a company-wide challenge be sure to share ideas with others. It's not just that teamwork is a good idea (it usually is) but it's possible that you might just get the spark for which you were looking. There are many great writing teams in Hollywood because writing with two brains is often better than working alone.
5. Step
Start entering your finalists onto a computer. It's as if the really good ones are graduating to the digital world. Start polishing them around too. A good trick is to take a tired cliché and make it fresh. Using the software "A Zillion Kajillion Rhymes and Clichés" is a good place to start. You supply the key words and it kicks back clichés that can be modified for your purposes. Try it.
6. Step
Now get ready to present your finalists to the key decision makers in your company. Make sure your delivery is clean and bright. You only have one shot to make a first impression - seriously. One slogan I created (which saved our agencies biggest account) was heralded by the agency owner in about 3 seconds. Weeks of work went behind it to save the account - and it did just that. These eureka moments do come - I've seen them first hand...
7. Step
When you finally decide on the main slogan (have a backup or two but that's all) then it's time to pitch it to your client. Present it simply but don't be afraid of surrounding it with some fanfare. Just make sure it deserves the fanfare or you could fall flat on your proverbial face. A good slogan is self-evident and has to stand on its own. You can prop it up a bit but that has to be right from the start - no second chances here. Good luck - Just Do It!
GETTING A JOB IN ADVERTISING
One of my favorite things to do is chatting with college students about careers in advertising. And whenever I have the opportunity to speak in a classroom--an invitation I'm always flattered by--the subject of "what advice do you have about breaking into the business," always comes up. And rightfully so.
I've had the same collection of responses for years... probably time to do a post about it. But I'm posting them up primarily because these are my thoughts. I've taken nothing out of a book. I feel these 10 things are the correct things to do. The correct things to think when you're looking to start a career in advertising. But, since I'm making blanket statements to people who will be joining a huge field, I encourage others who have been in the industry for awhile, as I have, to challenge, add or correct this collection of thinking. I want to make sure I'm representing the collective thought of our business in an accurate way.
Some entry-level career thoughts/advice:
1. WHEN YOU START OUT
Move to the largest city you feel comfortable in, work at the largest agency you can, and get on the largest account you can. When you first join an agency, no matter what department you're in, you're going to get your butt kicked. You're going to work long hours and do menial tasks. It doesn't matter if your account is a Fortune 500 company or a local retailer. So given this, choose the former. Get your feet wet on something huge. Work on Pfizer, P&G, Nestlé or Ford. You will learn a ton more and your resume will look stellar right out of the gates. There will be a time when you're older, when you may not want to work on accounts with lots of layers of approvals. And it's far easier to go from big to small than from small too big.
The other thing is, when you join a big shop right out of college, you meet a ton of people just like you: 23/24 year olds starting their careers from all parts of the country. Meeting a large collection of people when you begin allows you to build a network that will criss cross the country as people move around. This makes you better. Also, at a big shop you're pretty much guaranteed to find talented people. When there are 300 people in one building someone there has chops. Find them, hang out with them, and learn from them.
2. KEEP YOUR RESUME TO ONE PAGE.
I've worked in this business for more than 10 years, and my resume is still one page. If you're coming out of college with a two page resume, cut it down...on the career front, trust me, you're not that interesting yet..
3. INFUSE MINOR MOMENTS OF DESIGN IN YOUR RESUME.
8 out of 10 resumes I get use Times New Roman font. Try something else. Also, pick up a design bookand see what you can do to make your resume look prettier. Doing so will elevate you. But don't go too far: I once saw a resume with a huge bird on it--going too far just makes you seem kind of weird. Oh, and keep any cover letters very short and to the point.
4. A WELL-DESIGNED RESUME GETS YOU CONSIDERED, BUT YOU GET THE JOB.
When I interview for entry-level positions I look for only two things: passion for the industry and work ethic. I look for those things because no agency can teach passion and work ethic. You either have them, or you don't. And all the great industry leaders posses those two things. When you interview, make sure those traits come out. And if you don't have those traits, please, don't work in advertising--you will only become frustrated with the business and get in the way of everyone else who loves it.
5. DON'T BE LATE, DON'T BE EARLY.
Everyone knows not to be late for an interview. Another piece of advice, don't show up 15 minutes early either. Showing up early puts pressure on the one interviewing you. Trust me, they're not ready for you yet. Upon learning you're upfront and way early, the interviewer has choices to make regarding those unplanned 15 minutes: Do I leave them up there waiting? Do I stop what I'm doing and bring them back? Do I go up and say 'hi' then come back and finish what I'm doing? Truth be told; it's kind of irritating. Being way early is good in spirit, but in today's world every minute to return an email counts.
My advice: Give yourself plenty of time beforehand so you're not rushed. Show up to the building 20 minutes early and get your bearings. Then relax, walk around the block, go into a Starbucks, call someone, just kill time. Then, somewhere around seven to five minutes till, go inside to the reception area. By the time the call comes through to the one who's interviewing you it will be just a couple minutes before you're due, allowing them to hit "send" on an email, use the restroom, and casually come out to say "hi."
6. HAVE SOME FAVORITE ADS IN MIND.
In every interview I ask, "What are some pieces of communication that you like?" This isn't a trick question. I don't want to hear pieces my agency did and I'm not expecting to hear a Gold Lion winner at Cannes, I just want to hear that you like something. There's really no wrong answer. It just shows that, in your spare time, you're paying attention to the industry (see 'passion for industry' above). No matter what's on the resume, people who can't answer this question don't get a job with me. (This isn't just entry level, by the way. At the mid-level sometimes people can't answer this. It's always shocking when one can't.
7. THANK YOU.
Yes, always send a thank you, but it doesn't have to be a note card. An email is fine. In fact, an email allows you to attach a link to a great ad, or an interesting page, or something that may have come up during the interview. It allows you to keep a dialog. But note cards are always nice too. Send whatever you're most comfortable sending.
8. CHECK YOUR SENSE OF ENTITLEMENT AT THE DOOR.
Yes, you're smart, but coming out of college, you don't know how business works. You can't. It's impossible. Even if you've interned somewhere, you haven't been "in business" yet. The company will give you a shot, but it's up to you to add value and learn. The company doesn't owe you anything except to provide an environment that's robust with opportunities to learn. It's up to you to grow and make that business better however you can.
9. WATCH THE INDUSTRY TRADES.
Agencies won't make room for you. They hire when someone leaves or they win business. Filling the void of the former is pure luck or you quickly responded to a Craig's List posting. The latter is accomplished by watching Ad week or industry blogs, such as this one. If an agency wins something, float a resume in with a note of congratulations. They need to staff it.
10. KEEP TRYING, BUT DON'T BE ANNOYING.
Once you establish contact with someone at the shop, keep in touch. Forward something cool you found online every once in a while, send a note of congratulations if you read an article about them. If they don't respond, don't worry. They're busy and they'll see that you're interested. Just remember the rule of "half": If a month has gone by since you last sent a note, it will seem like only two weeks to them. Pace your timing wisely.
f you are already familiar with Google Ad words, then you know what an effective tool it is when trying to target select marketing groups for your business. Google has recently updated Ad words to include radio ads that can be broadcast by hundreds of terrestrial and satellite radio stations. By filling out a simple form that asks questions about your target audience, where you would like the ad to air and how often, if you have a script, and your call to action, which is what you expect from the listener, you will be able to reach them quickly and easily. Each time your ad is aired, you will be charged for it. You can choose in advance how many times you want it aired. When creating your radio ad, it is important to consider the following:
* Audience
* Call to action
* Interesting script that grabs people’s attention
11. TARGET YOUR AUDIENCE FOR BETTER TRAFFIC
Your audience is made up of the people who are the most interested in purchasing the goods and service you’re offering. If you have been tracking your Ad words campaigns, then you should have a good idea of where the bulk of your traffic is coming from. Target your audience based on location, their music preferences, and time of day they will most likely be listening to the radio.
12. USE CLEAR CALLS TO ACTION
Your ad must have a call to action in order to be successful. Even if the purpose of your ad is to persuade people to take advantage of an online sale, you must make this known. People are more apt to follow-through when they understand the intent of the ad
CREATE A WINNING SCRIPT WITH A PRO WRITER
IF creating a radio script seems overwhelming, Google has assembled a group of professional radio script writers who can develop a script based on what you want to include in the ad. When submitting your project, you will receive bids from various professionals. Depending on your budget and time constraints, you can choose the one that suits your needs.
Scripts will be sent to your account upon completion. All you have to do is upload them to the radio ads form provided. Actors are available to read the lines in your script. The use of actors is a free service provided by Google. Most radio stations provide this service for free as well.
TRACK YOUR RESULTS FOR MORE EFFECTIVE RESULTS
tracking when your ad aired, where it aired, and how often it airs are great tools to use when trying to find the best times to reach your audience. Use these tools to see where improvements can be made to will make your radio advertising campaign more effective.
THE FUTURE OF RADIO ADVERTISING
by making advertising on the radio less complicated, you may see an increase in the use of radio for advertising purposes. Most people listen to the radio at some point during the day, so it makes sense to target particular groups using a variety of advertising techniques including radio.
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For over 15 years, Kristof Creative has been providing businesses of all sizes with company slogan development services. Over which time, we've created numerous business slogans and advertising taglines — samples of which can be viewed on the following pages?
STRATEGIC THINKING
Behind every great company slogan is strategic and knowledgeable thinking. Thinking that can only is obtained through the professional experience of working on a broad range of advertising and marketing projects — including slogan development. The thinking we will put into action for your company slogan project.
If you're looking to create a company slogan on your own,
Don't miss this incredible slogan creation resource.
SLOGAN DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
We have created an in-depth and defined project process that has been modified and honed over the years in order to produce the best results for your business.
BENEFITS
The benefits of our slogan creation services are many. The most important of which, you will get a highly focused and creative business slogan that will help communicate the benefits of your business services and/or products.
SLOGAN SAMPLES
For your convenience, we have divided the company slogan samples into their relavent categories. Please use the links listed in the right column to view the samples.
FROM IDEAS TO SCRIPT
Let's walk through the process of creating ideas. I'd compare it to driving your car in the morning. You get a spark of imagination, but you have to let it warm up a bit. Then you take off with your ideas and a destination in mind. From then on it's coasting.
First, you have to come up with an idea. It's hard to find them because good ideas spring up when you're off guard. The idea may be for an entire story or a short part. If it's a short part of your story, you can usually expand on that idea. I recommend you carry writing material with you to keep ideas on paper because they can be easily forgotten. Once the idea is recorded, you should elaborate on it.
The first goal when writing a story is to come up with a sentence that explains the story. This is easier said than done in some cases, so if you're boggled you should map out small ideas. Separate your movie into acts and write a summary of each act. Make sure to chronologically order events so it's easy to follow when you start writing your script. Outlining your story makes the scriptwriting process easier because you are able to synchronize parts. Now that you've got a synopsis of the story, and each act is summed up, you can begin writing the script. As you write there will be times you are stumped. The best solution when you're out of ideas is to do something besides work on your script. In fact, I would get away from anything digital or written for a while, but that's my personal opinion. Keep thoughts about the script in the back of your head, and you'll be surprised how quickly ideas will start generating in your mind. Don't be afraid to modify your ideas once they're on paper because revision is a large part of writing. Let's sum up how to pass from ideas to a script. By the way, you should try your best to get critiques on scripts. They can be harsh sometimes or wrong, but it's good to get other people's views because they might point out overlooked flaws or add beneficial ideas to your script:
Step 1: Get an idea
Step 2: Record the idea
Step 3: Take your idea and try to create a synopsis of the story. If your idea is for part a small section of the story, then build a story around the small section.
Step 4: Separate the story into acts, and summarize each act so it lines up with your idea in Step 3.
Step 5: Begin writing the script using the chronologically organized acts.
Step 6: Edit the script so it flows with your main idea.
Step 7: Ask for a critique
or some people just sit down and write without a plan and organize later. People have different ways to tackle writing, and whatever works best for you is the path you should take.
EMPHASIZING DRAMATIC MOMENTS
what goes into the scenes that inspire us, make us sad, excited, or startled? For example, the devastating scene in "Lord of the Rings" when Gandalf falls in the Mines of Moria, or in "Gladiator" when Maximus fights Commodus, and yells the names of his loved ones while slashing Commodus to the ground. Many elements work in a scene to yank at our emotions. Let's look at the factors that create these memorable scenes.
1) Characters
Think about all the movies you see. How many characters die that we don't remember? In action movies lots of people are killed. We hardly notice most of them. On the other hand, whenever the main character is injured, the audience should feel their pain. You want to make your audience love your characters as if they were real people. The more lovable and real your characters, the more they'll sway the audience's emotions. We're not talking only about main characters, but their friends and loved ones. Think about the Passion of the Christ. This is a moving movie, not only because people have connections to Jesus, but the character is real. He cries like us, he loves like no other, and he feels pain. The part of this movie which moved me was when Jesus drags the cross through the streets and sees his mother. He begins to yell her name. I was moved by this scene the most because he was more human to me than at any other part of the movie. I challenge you to do the following... make a villain that the audience loves, while making them love the protagonist. It can be done... perhaps one day I will prove it to you... unless you do it first.
2) Timing
Many times characters are tested in a major climactic moment. Aside from movies, remember Super Mario Brothers 3? Mario fights the little orange guys, then turtles, then the monsters in the castles... they are small parts of Mario's entire goal, which is to squash that nasty Bowser into the hard brick ground. The final battle with bowser is exhilarating. Mario has come a long way, and it is time to take the day! Memorable moments are timed so a major shift takes place at some point during the center of the story, the best friend of a character is killed off, a girl finds out the guy who made her popular did it for money. These trying times grab our attention because they stick out from other parts of the movie.
3) Extremes
Extremes are important when it comes to human emotions. The moments of greatest impact are when everything is going well, then falls apart (or the other way around). Think of when characters are cut down and defeated, but then their friend comes to save them, or a force helps them. For example, in "Lord of the Rings" when Helms-Deep is attacked, and the battle seems impossible to win, but army reinforcements come to save the day. The contrast of a heavy defeat with a solid victory made for a memorable moment.
4) Music
Using pictures alone has the ability to sway the audience's emotions, but combining sound and pictures takes people's emotions to the extreme. If you can find (or write) a fitting song then you can conquer the audience's emotions. I can't emphasize how important music is. Think about it's strategic use in movies. Watch a horror movie without sound. I promise it won't have a solid effect.
Don't Make Me Do Stuff
ANGLES HAVE MEANING
NOTE: THIS TUTORIAL IS CREATED FOR THOSE WHO ARE BOTH THE WRITER AND DIRECTOR, IF SENDING YOUR SCRIPT TO HOLLYWOOD IT'S BEST TO LEAVE CAMERA ANGLES OUT.
Sometimes we forget that words aren't our only way of depicting the story and giving dialogue. We can make a statement using the cameras...
A significant difference exists between novels/stories and scripts. Scripts have camera angles, which add an extra dimension to your writing. While watching a movie, we don't usually pay as much attention to camera angles as we do to the content of the film. Camera angles are underused, and I've read when sending scripts to places such as Hollywood it's looked down upon to put Camera angles and effects in the script. I'm not advocating overzealous use of angles within the script, but I condone Hollywood if they look down upon screenwriters inputting camera angles because, like artwork, the frame matters too. Let's think about how
camera angles can portray messages.
Here's an example, the villain of a story is being introduced. He's a
powerful and influential figure. How can we portray this quality using angles? Well, the camera could be near the ground level looking up towards the villain, thereby portraying his power and dominance. This effect could also be reversed (camera looking down on the figure from above) in order to show the villain's weaker henchmen.
Scripts where camera angles might be found abundantly, involve mysterious characters. The angles are used to hide the character, or show their P.O.V. (point of view) The point of view technique is great for helping the audience see a character's exact position. For example, in a gunfight, using P.O.V. to look around the corner, and see troops marching makes for a great shot. A question which often arises is what's that incredibly aggravating ANGLE ON which is used often in scripts? ANGLE ON is used when we want to tell the camera to focus on a certain object or character in a large setting. For example, when there is a close up shot, you can tell the camera to focus on something else.
Other terms leaving you baffled? Have no fear, visit HERE or http://www.simplyscripts.com/WR_glossary.html
It seems that everyone has a sure-fire formula for writing a great TV ad script. Start with action to get the viewer’s attention. Start with drama to get the viewer’s attention. Start with mystery to get the viewer’s attention. Start with loud music to get the viewer’s attention. Start with silence to get the viewer’s attention. Which is better? What works? All of it. And, none of it. The danger here is in getting stuck on a delivery method without first knowing what you need to say.
1) SPEAK YOUR CUSTOMER'S LANGUAGE.
The most important thing to consider when working on a script is whether or not what you’re presenting is appropriate to your audience and the message you’re trying to convey. If your product or service is fun and exciting, then your script should be the same. Similarly, the images on screen should be colorful and show smiling faces or scenes that make the viewer want to smile. Drama, action, mystery, blaring music, or absolute silence - by itself - will not sell your product or service. The connection you make with the viewer and the relationship that you can build between their need and how you can fulfill it is what will sell you.
2) KEEP IT SIMPLE.
Diversification may be good for business, but not for your advertising message. One of the greatest mistakes in advertising is trying to cram too much information into a single ad. You know these ads and you recognize them right away. These are the ones that talk about every service a company offers or mentions ten different products for sale. They sound rushed and cluttered, and you almost immediately tune them out. By contrast, the best, most effective ads have only one or a few, simple message(s) or idea(s) that they are trying to convey. The script for these ads are often no more than eight to twelve sentences long (for a 30 second spot). These are the ones that people remember and are the ones that measurably sell. If you have a lot to say or offer, create a campaign of commercials that presents your information in memorable segments or focuses on specific or individual products/services.
3) INCLUDE A CALL TO ACTION.
What do you want the viewer to do when the ad is over? Call someone? Go somewhere? Do something specific? Think positively? Be angry? The commercial should, from the start, be building up to the end. And, it should build to an ending that leaves the viewer wanting to call someone, go somewhere, do something, etc. etc. Pharmaceutical companies are always asking viewers to "call your doctor to find out more." You, too, should ask viewers to buy your product, visit your website, volunteer for a non-profit, or take some other type of specific action. If you don't, there's no implied expectation that the customer will choose you when they make their purchasing decision.
Once you have identified who you're talking to, what you want them to know, and what they should do once they know it, you can then address how to package the information. This is where you decide whether to employ things like drama or action; loud sounds or absolute silence, to get their attention and position the message.
GREAT SCRIPTS AREN'T WRITTEN, THEY'RE RE-WRITTEN. Agama Advertising works with its clients to create great scripts. It doesn't matter if the script is for a sales video, a TV commercial, or an ad for the web, our team understands the process and will work with you to create a script that effectively addresses your objectives.
You need to sell more. We can help you do it. Call us today to get results.
WRITE AN ADVERTISING SCRIPT
Effective advertising is the backbone of every company. Without it, their products will have trouble surviving in a market where flashy advertising and media saturation is king. Several avenues exist for companies to advertise their products, but TV, radio and Internet ads are most effective. Each of these mediums requires a script. Many writers make a living writing nothing but advertising scripts, and by following a few basic steps, you could be one of these writers. Learn how you can write effective advertising scripts that could be your key to a rewarding career in the world of advertising.
Decide which scriptwriting software you will use. Movie Magic Screenwriter is one of the biggest names in scriptwriting software and comes with templates for a variety of scripts, including a number of advertising formats. You can also use a free scriptwriting program like Celtx (see Resources). Advertising formats are standardized and any scriptwriting software will do automatic formatting as you write.
1. Step
Determine the type of advertising script you need to write. Scripts for radio commercials and TV commercials differ. A radio commercial script is two columns. The left column indicates SFX (sound effects) and ANNOUNCER and the right column will be a description of the sound effect or the words the announcer speaks. Capitalize, bold and underline sound effect descriptions.
2. Step
Write advertising scripts for visual mediums similar to radio advertising scripts. Format two columns. The left column indicates Video and the right column indicates Audio. Write all descriptions in the left column. The right column will be for sound effects and speaking parts.
3. Step
Use present tense when writing any action scenes for a visual medium. Focus on the product the advertisement is for, but keep the commercial entertaining and engaging.
4. Step
Time your script when it's finished by reading or acting it out. Most TV or radio advertisements are 30 seconds long, which translates to about a page to a page and a half of writing. This can vary depending upon how the director shoots a commercial or how a radio script is timed
CREATE A WINNING ADVERTISING SLOGAN.
I’ve been involved in the creative side of advertising for about a decade. Most of my work has been for large local and regional companies with a few national campaigns mixed in. Making TV commercials and pitching to clients is interesting work but being asked to come up with a slogan - a new branding statement - is arguably the most challenging and enjoyable project to tackle. Here's how to come up with a killer slogan that will make you the toast of the office...at least for a few days.
1. Step
You need to define where your client wants to go with this new slogan. What is their unique selling position - what are they best at? The best slogans are clever but concise, have a double meaning that gives a deeper understanding of the company and, of course, a slogan must be memorable by everyone who hears it.
2. Step2
Once you've defined the client's goals and researched their company then you must get to work. Here's the hard part. Most jobs can be tackled head on...but it takes time (and some magic) to create a slogan. The client would do it for themselves if it was easy. You can't just say "Joe's Pizza...The Best Around." It sounds generic and not all too authentic. You need to focus on their uniqueness and strengths and kick something out that connects to them but that is also simply poetic.
3. Step
Make a list of key words for this client on a legal pad and start brainstorming about a possible slogan. Make sure that everything that enters your mind makes it onto the page. You never know what form a great idea will take. Often times your early instincts are best so hold onto all this - this is your commodity.
4. Step
If this is a company-wide challenge be sure to share ideas with others. It's not just that teamwork is a good idea (it usually is) but it's possible that you might just get the spark for which you were looking. There are many great writing teams in Hollywood because writing with two brains is often better than working alone.
5. Step
Start entering your finalists onto a computer. It's as if the really good ones are graduating to the digital world. Start polishing them around too. A good trick is to take a tired cliché and make it fresh. Using the software "A Zillion Kajillion Rhymes and Clichés" is a good place to start. You supply the key words and it kicks back clichés that can be modified for your purposes. Try it.
6. Step
Now get ready to present your finalists to the key decision makers in your company. Make sure your delivery is clean and bright. You only have one shot to make a first impression - seriously. One slogan I created (which saved our agencies biggest account) was heralded by the agency owner in about 3 seconds. Weeks of work went behind it to save the account - and it did just that. These eureka moments do come - I've seen them first hand...
7. Step
When you finally decide on the main slogan (have a backup or two but that's all) then it's time to pitch it to your client. Present it simply but don't be afraid of surrounding it with some fanfare. Just make sure it deserves the fanfare or you could fall flat on your proverbial face. A good slogan is self-evident and has to stand on its own. You can prop it up a bit but that has to be right from the start - no second chances here. Good luck - Just Do It!
GETTING A JOB IN ADVERTISING
One of my favorite things to do is chatting with college students about careers in advertising. And whenever I have the opportunity to speak in a classroom--an invitation I'm always flattered by--the subject of "what advice do you have about breaking into the business," always comes up. And rightfully so.
I've had the same collection of responses for years... probably time to do a post about it. But I'm posting them up primarily because these are my thoughts. I've taken nothing out of a book. I feel these 10 things are the correct things to do. The correct things to think when you're looking to start a career in advertising. But, since I'm making blanket statements to people who will be joining a huge field, I encourage others who have been in the industry for awhile, as I have, to challenge, add or correct this collection of thinking. I want to make sure I'm representing the collective thought of our business in an accurate way.
Some entry-level career thoughts/advice:
1. WHEN YOU START OUT
Move to the largest city you feel comfortable in, work at the largest agency you can, and get on the largest account you can. When you first join an agency, no matter what department you're in, you're going to get your butt kicked. You're going to work long hours and do menial tasks. It doesn't matter if your account is a Fortune 500 company or a local retailer. So given this, choose the former. Get your feet wet on something huge. Work on Pfizer, P&G, Nestlé or Ford. You will learn a ton more and your resume will look stellar right out of the gates. There will be a time when you're older, when you may not want to work on accounts with lots of layers of approvals. And it's far easier to go from big to small than from small too big.
The other thing is, when you join a big shop right out of college, you meet a ton of people just like you: 23/24 year olds starting their careers from all parts of the country. Meeting a large collection of people when you begin allows you to build a network that will criss cross the country as people move around. This makes you better. Also, at a big shop you're pretty much guaranteed to find talented people. When there are 300 people in one building someone there has chops. Find them, hang out with them, and learn from them.
2. KEEP YOUR RESUME TO ONE PAGE.
I've worked in this business for more than 10 years, and my resume is still one page. If you're coming out of college with a two page resume, cut it down...on the career front, trust me, you're not that interesting yet..
3. INFUSE MINOR MOMENTS OF DESIGN IN YOUR RESUME.
8 out of 10 resumes I get use Times New Roman font. Try something else. Also, pick up a design bookand see what you can do to make your resume look prettier. Doing so will elevate you. But don't go too far: I once saw a resume with a huge bird on it--going too far just makes you seem kind of weird. Oh, and keep any cover letters very short and to the point.
4. A WELL-DESIGNED RESUME GETS YOU CONSIDERED, BUT YOU GET THE JOB.
When I interview for entry-level positions I look for only two things: passion for the industry and work ethic. I look for those things because no agency can teach passion and work ethic. You either have them, or you don't. And all the great industry leaders posses those two things. When you interview, make sure those traits come out. And if you don't have those traits, please, don't work in advertising--you will only become frustrated with the business and get in the way of everyone else who loves it.
5. DON'T BE LATE, DON'T BE EARLY.
Everyone knows not to be late for an interview. Another piece of advice, don't show up 15 minutes early either. Showing up early puts pressure on the one interviewing you. Trust me, they're not ready for you yet. Upon learning you're upfront and way early, the interviewer has choices to make regarding those unplanned 15 minutes: Do I leave them up there waiting? Do I stop what I'm doing and bring them back? Do I go up and say 'hi' then come back and finish what I'm doing? Truth be told; it's kind of irritating. Being way early is good in spirit, but in today's world every minute to return an email counts.
My advice: Give yourself plenty of time beforehand so you're not rushed. Show up to the building 20 minutes early and get your bearings. Then relax, walk around the block, go into a Starbucks, call someone, just kill time. Then, somewhere around seven to five minutes till, go inside to the reception area. By the time the call comes through to the one who's interviewing you it will be just a couple minutes before you're due, allowing them to hit "send" on an email, use the restroom, and casually come out to say "hi."
6. HAVE SOME FAVORITE ADS IN MIND.
In every interview I ask, "What are some pieces of communication that you like?" This isn't a trick question. I don't want to hear pieces my agency did and I'm not expecting to hear a Gold Lion winner at Cannes, I just want to hear that you like something. There's really no wrong answer. It just shows that, in your spare time, you're paying attention to the industry (see 'passion for industry' above). No matter what's on the resume, people who can't answer this question don't get a job with me. (This isn't just entry level, by the way. At the mid-level sometimes people can't answer this. It's always shocking when one can't.
7. THANK YOU.
Yes, always send a thank you, but it doesn't have to be a note card. An email is fine. In fact, an email allows you to attach a link to a great ad, or an interesting page, or something that may have come up during the interview. It allows you to keep a dialog. But note cards are always nice too. Send whatever you're most comfortable sending.
8. CHECK YOUR SENSE OF ENTITLEMENT AT THE DOOR.
Yes, you're smart, but coming out of college, you don't know how business works. You can't. It's impossible. Even if you've interned somewhere, you haven't been "in business" yet. The company will give you a shot, but it's up to you to add value and learn. The company doesn't owe you anything except to provide an environment that's robust with opportunities to learn. It's up to you to grow and make that business better however you can.
9. WATCH THE INDUSTRY TRADES.
Agencies won't make room for you. They hire when someone leaves or they win business. Filling the void of the former is pure luck or you quickly responded to a Craig's List posting. The latter is accomplished by watching Ad week or industry blogs, such as this one. If an agency wins something, float a resume in with a note of congratulations. They need to staff it.
10. KEEP TRYING, BUT DON'T BE ANNOYING.
Once you establish contact with someone at the shop, keep in touch. Forward something cool you found online every once in a while, send a note of congratulations if you read an article about them. If they don't respond, don't worry. They're busy and they'll see that you're interested. Just remember the rule of "half": If a month has gone by since you last sent a note, it will seem like only two weeks to them. Pace your timing wisely.
f you are already familiar with Google Ad words, then you know what an effective tool it is when trying to target select marketing groups for your business. Google has recently updated Ad words to include radio ads that can be broadcast by hundreds of terrestrial and satellite radio stations. By filling out a simple form that asks questions about your target audience, where you would like the ad to air and how often, if you have a script, and your call to action, which is what you expect from the listener, you will be able to reach them quickly and easily. Each time your ad is aired, you will be charged for it. You can choose in advance how many times you want it aired. When creating your radio ad, it is important to consider the following:
* Audience
* Call to action
* Interesting script that grabs people’s attention
11. TARGET YOUR AUDIENCE FOR BETTER TRAFFIC
Your audience is made up of the people who are the most interested in purchasing the goods and service you’re offering. If you have been tracking your Ad words campaigns, then you should have a good idea of where the bulk of your traffic is coming from. Target your audience based on location, their music preferences, and time of day they will most likely be listening to the radio.
12. USE CLEAR CALLS TO ACTION
Your ad must have a call to action in order to be successful. Even if the purpose of your ad is to persuade people to take advantage of an online sale, you must make this known. People are more apt to follow-through when they understand the intent of the ad
CREATE A WINNING SCRIPT WITH A PRO WRITER
IF creating a radio script seems overwhelming, Google has assembled a group of professional radio script writers who can develop a script based on what you want to include in the ad. When submitting your project, you will receive bids from various professionals. Depending on your budget and time constraints, you can choose the one that suits your needs.
Scripts will be sent to your account upon completion. All you have to do is upload them to the radio ads form provided. Actors are available to read the lines in your script. The use of actors is a free service provided by Google. Most radio stations provide this service for free as well.
TRACK YOUR RESULTS FOR MORE EFFECTIVE RESULTS
tracking when your ad aired, where it aired, and how often it airs are great tools to use when trying to find the best times to reach your audience. Use these tools to see where improvements can be made to will make your radio advertising campaign more effective.
THE FUTURE OF RADIO ADVERTISING
by making advertising on the radio less complicated, you may see an increase in the use of radio for advertising purposes. Most people listen to the radio at some point during the day, so it makes sense to target particular groups using a variety of advertising techniques including radio.
Web Profits specializes in search engine optimization, online marketing & web design, helping businesses generate profits from the Internet. For a free report on 'The Secrets of Online Marketing for Offline Businesses' visit Website Marketing
For over 15 years, Kristof Creative has been providing businesses of all sizes with company slogan development services. Over which time, we've created numerous business slogans and advertising taglines — samples of which can be viewed on the following pages?
STRATEGIC THINKING
Behind every great company slogan is strategic and knowledgeable thinking. Thinking that can only is obtained through the professional experience of working on a broad range of advertising and marketing projects — including slogan development. The thinking we will put into action for your company slogan project.
If you're looking to create a company slogan on your own,
Don't miss this incredible slogan creation resource.
SLOGAN DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
We have created an in-depth and defined project process that has been modified and honed over the years in order to produce the best results for your business.
BENEFITS
The benefits of our slogan creation services are many. The most important of which, you will get a highly focused and creative business slogan that will help communicate the benefits of your business services and/or products.
SLOGAN SAMPLES
For your convenience, we have divided the company slogan samples into their relavent categories. Please use the links listed in the right column to view the samples.
FROM IDEAS TO SCRIPT
Let's walk through the process of creating ideas. I'd compare it to driving your car in the morning. You get a spark of imagination, but you have to let it warm up a bit. Then you take off with your ideas and a destination in mind. From then on it's coasting.
First, you have to come up with an idea. It's hard to find them because good ideas spring up when you're off guard. The idea may be for an entire story or a short part. If it's a short part of your story, you can usually expand on that idea. I recommend you carry writing material with you to keep ideas on paper because they can be easily forgotten. Once the idea is recorded, you should elaborate on it.
The first goal when writing a story is to come up with a sentence that explains the story. This is easier said than done in some cases, so if you're boggled you should map out small ideas. Separate your movie into acts and write a summary of each act. Make sure to chronologically order events so it's easy to follow when you start writing your script. Outlining your story makes the scriptwriting process easier because you are able to synchronize parts. Now that you've got a synopsis of the story, and each act is summed up, you can begin writing the script. As you write there will be times you are stumped. The best solution when you're out of ideas is to do something besides work on your script. In fact, I would get away from anything digital or written for a while, but that's my personal opinion. Keep thoughts about the script in the back of your head, and you'll be surprised how quickly ideas will start generating in your mind. Don't be afraid to modify your ideas once they're on paper because revision is a large part of writing. Let's sum up how to pass from ideas to a script. By the way, you should try your best to get critiques on scripts. They can be harsh sometimes or wrong, but it's good to get other people's views because they might point out overlooked flaws or add beneficial ideas to your script:
Step 1: Get an idea
Step 2: Record the idea
Step 3: Take your idea and try to create a synopsis of the story. If your idea is for part a small section of the story, then build a story around the small section.
Step 4: Separate the story into acts, and summarize each act so it lines up with your idea in Step 3.
Step 5: Begin writing the script using the chronologically organized acts.
Step 6: Edit the script so it flows with your main idea.
Step 7: Ask for a critique
or some people just sit down and write without a plan and organize later. People have different ways to tackle writing, and whatever works best for you is the path you should take.
EMPHASIZING DRAMATIC MOMENTS
what goes into the scenes that inspire us, make us sad, excited, or startled? For example, the devastating scene in "Lord of the Rings" when Gandalf falls in the Mines of Moria, or in "Gladiator" when Maximus fights Commodus, and yells the names of his loved ones while slashing Commodus to the ground. Many elements work in a scene to yank at our emotions. Let's look at the factors that create these memorable scenes.
1) Characters
Think about all the movies you see. How many characters die that we don't remember? In action movies lots of people are killed. We hardly notice most of them. On the other hand, whenever the main character is injured, the audience should feel their pain. You want to make your audience love your characters as if they were real people. The more lovable and real your characters, the more they'll sway the audience's emotions. We're not talking only about main characters, but their friends and loved ones. Think about the Passion of the Christ. This is a moving movie, not only because people have connections to Jesus, but the character is real. He cries like us, he loves like no other, and he feels pain. The part of this movie which moved me was when Jesus drags the cross through the streets and sees his mother. He begins to yell her name. I was moved by this scene the most because he was more human to me than at any other part of the movie. I challenge you to do the following... make a villain that the audience loves, while making them love the protagonist. It can be done... perhaps one day I will prove it to you... unless you do it first.
2) Timing
Many times characters are tested in a major climactic moment. Aside from movies, remember Super Mario Brothers 3? Mario fights the little orange guys, then turtles, then the monsters in the castles... they are small parts of Mario's entire goal, which is to squash that nasty Bowser into the hard brick ground. The final battle with bowser is exhilarating. Mario has come a long way, and it is time to take the day! Memorable moments are timed so a major shift takes place at some point during the center of the story, the best friend of a character is killed off, a girl finds out the guy who made her popular did it for money. These trying times grab our attention because they stick out from other parts of the movie.
3) Extremes
Extremes are important when it comes to human emotions. The moments of greatest impact are when everything is going well, then falls apart (or the other way around). Think of when characters are cut down and defeated, but then their friend comes to save them, or a force helps them. For example, in "Lord of the Rings" when Helms-Deep is attacked, and the battle seems impossible to win, but army reinforcements come to save the day. The contrast of a heavy defeat with a solid victory made for a memorable moment.
4) Music
Using pictures alone has the ability to sway the audience's emotions, but combining sound and pictures takes people's emotions to the extreme. If you can find (or write) a fitting song then you can conquer the audience's emotions. I can't emphasize how important music is. Think about it's strategic use in movies. Watch a horror movie without sound. I promise it won't have a solid effect.
Don't Make Me Do Stuff
ANGLES HAVE MEANING
NOTE: THIS TUTORIAL IS CREATED FOR THOSE WHO ARE BOTH THE WRITER AND DIRECTOR, IF SENDING YOUR SCRIPT TO HOLLYWOOD IT'S BEST TO LEAVE CAMERA ANGLES OUT.
Sometimes we forget that words aren't our only way of depicting the story and giving dialogue. We can make a statement using the cameras...
A significant difference exists between novels/stories and scripts. Scripts have camera angles, which add an extra dimension to your writing. While watching a movie, we don't usually pay as much attention to camera angles as we do to the content of the film. Camera angles are underused, and I've read when sending scripts to places such as Hollywood it's looked down upon to put Camera angles and effects in the script. I'm not advocating overzealous use of angles within the script, but I condone Hollywood if they look down upon screenwriters inputting camera angles because, like artwork, the frame matters too. Let's think about how
camera angles can portray messages.
Here's an example, the villain of a story is being introduced. He's a
powerful and influential figure. How can we portray this quality using angles? Well, the camera could be near the ground level looking up towards the villain, thereby portraying his power and dominance. This effect could also be reversed (camera looking down on the figure from above) in order to show the villain's weaker henchmen.
Scripts where camera angles might be found abundantly, involve mysterious characters. The angles are used to hide the character, or show their P.O.V. (point of view) The point of view technique is great for helping the audience see a character's exact position. For example, in a gunfight, using P.O.V. to look around the corner, and see troops marching makes for a great shot. A question which often arises is what's that incredibly aggravating ANGLE ON which is used often in scripts? ANGLE ON is used when we want to tell the camera to focus on a certain object or character in a large setting. For example, when there is a close up shot, you can tell the camera to focus on something else.
Other terms leaving you baffled? Have no fear, visit HERE or http://www.simplyscripts.com/WR_glossary.html
Friday, May 7, 2010
NIGERIA FACES POWER STRUGGLE
by Damien McElroy and Matt Brown in Nairobi
Published: 10:00PM BST 06 May 2010
The inauguration of Goodluck Jonathan as president yesterday came after the death of Umaru YarAdua, a Muslim from northern Nigeria, who was elected as leader of Africa's most populous country in 2007.
Mr Jonathan, who was vice-president, had been Nigeria's acting leader since February when Mr YarAdua was forced to seek treatment in Saudi Arabia for heart and kidney disease.
Nigeria emerged from military dictatorship in 1999 under the control of the People's Democratic Party, which divides its leadership on religious grounds.
The country of 150 million is an uneasy conglomeration of Christian and Muslim states. Hundreds have died in fighting between Christians and Muslims near the city of Jos in recent months.
As Olusegun Obasanjo, the powerful president from 1999 to 2007, was a Christian, leading Muslim politicians have said one of their own faith should be the party's leader until 2015.
Mr Jonathan has vowed to complete the rest of the existing presidential term, which expires in April 2011, but has not confirmed that he will run in the election. There is evidence that he wants to be president in his own right.
"Jonathan must be interested in contesting for the presidency, but he still has not revealed his hand and he's still pretty hesitant about signalling what his intentions are," said Mark Schroeder, an analyst at security firm STRATFOR. "Jonathan will certainly keep his hat in the ring and that will ensure he remains an influence within Nigeria's political system. Whether he has enough support (to run for president) ... that's another big question."
Mr YarAdua, 58, rose from relative obscurity as governor of impoverished Katsina state to succeed Mr Obasanjo. Mr Jonathan, who sacked Mr YarAdua's entire cabinet after taking over presidential powers, paid tribute to his predecessor. He said: "He was not just a boss, but a good friend and a brother."
Formal tributes could not disguise tensions between Mr YarAdua's supporters and Mr Jonathan.
Ibrahim Babangida, 68, Nigeria's military ruler between 1985 and 1993, and Atiku Abubakar, 63, who served as vice president from 1999 to 2007 have both said they will contest the People's Democratic Party nomination against Mr Jonathan.
Few expect the bitter in-fighting to trigger a military coup – the Army has seized power six times since Nigeria won independence from London in 1960 – but the elections loom as severe test for Africa's largest democracy.
"I think Nigeria is better placed to absorb the impact than on previous occasions. I don't think this comes as a shock to too many people in Nigeria or outside the country," said Antony Goldman, an Africa consultant. "The issue now isn't over the immediate handover but the implication it has ahead of elections. Nigeria looks ahead to next year's election with a much more open field than has been the case in the past."
The dead leader's most significant achievement was a peace deal with rebels in the oil-rich Niger Delta. Thousands of gunmen handed in weapons after an offer of amnesty last year. Although the agreement has substantially unravelled, it initially brought months of relative peace in the region.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), the main militant group, said it was saddened by his death. Its campaigns against the country's oil sector have slashed output to one million barrels a day, one-third of peak levels
"MEND considers the late president a genuine peacemaker whose initiatives, humility and respect began to bring confidence to the peace process," a spokesman said. "His death may leave a vacuum that may not be filled."
America depends on imports of Nigerian oil and the industry is the bedrock of Britain's substantial interests in the former colony. Nigeria's size and wealth means the country is a key African state for Western policy-makers. The new EU foreign service has identified the country as a priority area.
Published: 10:00PM BST 06 May 2010
The inauguration of Goodluck Jonathan as president yesterday came after the death of Umaru YarAdua, a Muslim from northern Nigeria, who was elected as leader of Africa's most populous country in 2007.
Mr Jonathan, who was vice-president, had been Nigeria's acting leader since February when Mr YarAdua was forced to seek treatment in Saudi Arabia for heart and kidney disease.
Nigeria emerged from military dictatorship in 1999 under the control of the People's Democratic Party, which divides its leadership on religious grounds.
The country of 150 million is an uneasy conglomeration of Christian and Muslim states. Hundreds have died in fighting between Christians and Muslims near the city of Jos in recent months.
As Olusegun Obasanjo, the powerful president from 1999 to 2007, was a Christian, leading Muslim politicians have said one of their own faith should be the party's leader until 2015.
Mr Jonathan has vowed to complete the rest of the existing presidential term, which expires in April 2011, but has not confirmed that he will run in the election. There is evidence that he wants to be president in his own right.
"Jonathan must be interested in contesting for the presidency, but he still has not revealed his hand and he's still pretty hesitant about signalling what his intentions are," said Mark Schroeder, an analyst at security firm STRATFOR. "Jonathan will certainly keep his hat in the ring and that will ensure he remains an influence within Nigeria's political system. Whether he has enough support (to run for president) ... that's another big question."
Mr YarAdua, 58, rose from relative obscurity as governor of impoverished Katsina state to succeed Mr Obasanjo. Mr Jonathan, who sacked Mr YarAdua's entire cabinet after taking over presidential powers, paid tribute to his predecessor. He said: "He was not just a boss, but a good friend and a brother."
Formal tributes could not disguise tensions between Mr YarAdua's supporters and Mr Jonathan.
Ibrahim Babangida, 68, Nigeria's military ruler between 1985 and 1993, and Atiku Abubakar, 63, who served as vice president from 1999 to 2007 have both said they will contest the People's Democratic Party nomination against Mr Jonathan.
Few expect the bitter in-fighting to trigger a military coup – the Army has seized power six times since Nigeria won independence from London in 1960 – but the elections loom as severe test for Africa's largest democracy.
"I think Nigeria is better placed to absorb the impact than on previous occasions. I don't think this comes as a shock to too many people in Nigeria or outside the country," said Antony Goldman, an Africa consultant. "The issue now isn't over the immediate handover but the implication it has ahead of elections. Nigeria looks ahead to next year's election with a much more open field than has been the case in the past."
The dead leader's most significant achievement was a peace deal with rebels in the oil-rich Niger Delta. Thousands of gunmen handed in weapons after an offer of amnesty last year. Although the agreement has substantially unravelled, it initially brought months of relative peace in the region.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), the main militant group, said it was saddened by his death. Its campaigns against the country's oil sector have slashed output to one million barrels a day, one-third of peak levels
"MEND considers the late president a genuine peacemaker whose initiatives, humility and respect began to bring confidence to the peace process," a spokesman said. "His death may leave a vacuum that may not be filled."
America depends on imports of Nigerian oil and the industry is the bedrock of Britain's substantial interests in the former colony. Nigeria's size and wealth means the country is a key African state for Western policy-makers. The new EU foreign service has identified the country as a priority area.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Aero continues operations on 737 aircraft
Aero Contractors, one of the oldest indigenous carriers in the country, said it will continue flight services on its 737 aircraft, pending the resolution of the differences between the airline and its financier, Oceanic Bank.
This is coming after an arbitration team led by the minister of aviation, Fidelia Njeze, in Abuja last week, urged both parties to find an amicable solution to their quarrel within one week.
“Aero and Oceanic bank have been invited back to Abuja on May 7, 2010 for the finalization of the tripartite agreement with the minister,” said an official of the carrier who prefers anonymity.
History
Last week, the airline disclosed that it may halt its operations following the historical debt of about $200 million owed to Oceanic bank. “Aero has been locked in discussions with its bankers for some months now and it has now reached a point where it is difficult for Aero to operate on these terms,” the carrier stated. “However, they (Oceanic) have been unable to agree on a resolution that will allow Aero to continue trading as a going concern.”
Meanwhile, in a swift reaction to the airline’s statements, the bank refuted allegations that it has freezed the carrier’s accounts, stressing that Aero is operating the account.
“Aero Contractors account is not frozen and they are still drawing on the account,” said Oceanic Bank’s chief executive officer, John Aboh, in a statement.
He said although the airline’s facilities with the bank expired more than four months ago the management of Aero have not accepted a fresh offer stretching the outstanding facilities for a longer tenor and at a reduced rate.
Shaf Syed, chief executive officer of Aero, however, assured passengers that the carrier will continue to operate safely and on time to her destinations, adding that it has resumed its helicopter operations, which was suspended due to the recent fracas with the Oceanic bank.
“We are doing all possible to resume our full schedule,” he said. “In conjunction with this, Aero has resumed its operations in support of the Oil and Gas with the full cooperation of CHC (Canadian Helicopter Company).”
It would be recalled that Aero Contractors commenced the online sales of reduced promotional airfares varying from N7,000 to N3,000 across all domestic routes, which it covers for one way trips.
The airline, which is notable for the introduction of online check-in of passengers, recently introduced an advanced pricing strategy and price optimisation application called Aviator, which has a capacity of making available 26 different types of fare on every flight for passengers.
NIGERIAN precidency not zoned - says obasanjo
The drum beat is sounding louder for Acting President Goodluck Jonathan to go the whole hog and run for President next year.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo raised the ante on Thursday; arguing across the Atlantic in Washington that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) never zoned the Presidency to any region.
"The President can come from any part of the country, and nothing in the Constitution says he must come from a certain part of the country," he told the Voice of America.
He reiterated that Acting President Goodluck Jonathan "says he wants to focus on moving the country forward," and "I think Nigerians should support him to do that. The decision to run or not is his to make.
"He should not be distracted from the huge task he is faced with."
Until now, what was bandied about was the agreement in the PDP, which is not in the Nigerian Constitution, that the Presidency and principal posts in the National Assembly (NASS) should rotate between the North and South.
Particularly, going by the deal, the Presidency will rotate between the North and South every eight years, on the back of the two-tenure term Obasanjo, a Southerner, served in the Villa from 1999 to 2007.
Umaru Yar'Adua, from the North, took over as President on May 27, 2007, but has since November 23, 2009 got off the stage through ill health, paving the way for Jonathan to be in charge, albeit in an acting capacity.
The crisis in the PDP is expected, Obasanjo clarified, because of the different personalities of its officials and members.
Obasanjo, who visited Washington on a private business, also credited himself with "the democratic progress" made by Nigeria since he left office.
"(Jonathan) is from a minority tribe (from the South South) and the number three citizen, the Senate President (David Mark), is from a minority tribe from the Middle Belt.
"Ordinarily these ethnic groups may not have been able to produce such senior elected officials if it were not for the democratic decisions I took," he stressed.
To him, insecurity, especially armed robbery, kidnapping, and violence are not peculiar to Nigeria.
"Other countries have their own problems, the killings in Jos is not religious or ethnic, as people want the world to believe. It is just borne out of frustration because of poverty and disagreement over land."
Obasanjo again defended picking ailing Yar'Adua to succeed him, but admitted he may not have done a thorough background check on him when he was Katsina State Governor.
"I saw Umoru through the prism of his elder brother, Shehu, who was a close friend and loyal officer. If he had lived, he would have been my Vice President because we were very close."
He said Yar'Adua has the temperament and vision to be President but that he had no idea his health could not withstand the rigors of the job.
"The job of President is very rigorous, especially in a country like Nigeria. I received assurances from at least three medical experts who said although he has had dialysis, his health was strong enough to perform his duties."
Obasanjo criticised those who said he actively sought a third term while in office.
"I never wanted a third term in office. As an officer, I gave my word on two terms. I handed over power to Shehu Shagari (in 1979), contrary to the advice of several African Heads of State, so there was no way I could have worked for a third term.
"There is still life after the Presidencypaedophile in the chamber
Baby-boomer Sani Yerima has just taken delivery of his fourth wife. As a Muslim, we cannot accuse him of bigamy. A fourth wife is just it for a Muslim who has enough harvest in his barn to cater for such indulgence. The Muslim religion allows for up to four wives.
So, in the case of Yerima, we ought to be clinking glasses in animated celebration. But there is a snag. Yerima's wife is also his daughter or even grand daughter. She's a 13-year-old Egyptian girl, a soft-spoken, pliant and innocent virgin. That's the person that appealed to Yerima most; that captured his dirty heart and captivated his depraved sense of love. Even Pharaoh with all his shortcomings would not have approved of this act of savagery.
Taking a starry-eyed 13-year-old as wife is a pastime only fit for maniacs. It is the stuff of decadent minds. But Yerima is not new to such dissolute acts. Recall he was governor of Zamfara State for eight years, from 1999 to 2007. He was the chief proponent of Sharia law. He introduced the Islamic legal code in his Zamfara State. A man of such near-manic passion to please his God ought to be a repository of morals, a beacon of rectitude and exemplar of the finest virtues of civility. Not so for Yerima.
As governor, he got the hand of Citizen Jangebi chopped off in the name of justice. Jangebi's offence was grave, very grave. He was convicted by a Sharia court for stealing a cow. Yes, a cow, which as at then was not more than N60,000 in the market. That's a grave offence, my dear. And for stealing such rare quadruped specie, Yerima got Jangebi's hand amputated. Yerima defended his action amidst a swirling tide of public outrage. Yet, while he was governor, there was rumour of billions of Naira flying out of government coffers into private pockets. It ceased to be rumour when former boss of the anti-crime agency, EFCC, Nuhu Ribadu, singled out Yerima for lampooning.
While tendering the report of the investigations carried out by the EFCC on serving governors during ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo regime, Ribadu told a bewildered National Assembly that the variant of corruption in Yerima's Zamfara was of the primitive genre. "It was a case of direct stealing", a seething Ribadu told his audience. And this is my quarrel with Yerima's moral self-glorification. A man who would crucify a fellow man for stealing N60,000 has showed up to play the role of officiating minister at the funeral when the same man cannot account for billions of Naira put under his care. Yerima's case file is still at the EFCC. I hope he hasn't forgotten that. But that's by the way.
So, Yerima now has a fourth wife. A 13-year-old virgin, an infant who has just shed her milk dentition; a babyish little angel, pure and chaste, and whose only consciousness of life and its essence is the natural order of sleeping and waking. A 13 year-old is a juvenile. Such a person in the full bloom of her frailties could easily be forgiven of multitude of offences. She scarcely knows her left from her right. She's vulnerable and always in danger of exploitation.
A 13-year-old as wife? Think about it. At 13, she ought to be in school, junior school, not in Yerima's arms. At 13, she should be under the guidance of her parents or surrogate parents who would still have to guide her through the slippery contours of life. But Yerima would not let this be. He harvested her before her prime. This is cruelty against infants, a case of man's inhumanity to man. And to think that this Yerima is a lawmaker adds vinegar to an already soured broth. Yerima is a serving senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He was elected to make laws for the good governance of the people. As a lawmaker, there ought to be acceptable minimum moral standard, an ingrained measure of sanity in the conduct of the person. Not so here! We are dealing with a Yerima whose brain has sunk into his waist line, whose blood is a mixture of chlorine and potash and whose sense of civilization is to go about siring babies through babies; a crueller case of babies making babies. Yerima is a religious zealot but I wonder if his God will tolerate, let alone accept, the conduct of a faithful especially when such conduct tends to banality and bestiality.
Yerima's action is an act of shame. It is a primitive indulgence whose end point is pain. He will only add to the number of vestico vagina fistula, VVF, victims in the North. VVF is a health condition symptomised by the leakage of urine and faeces through the vagina. It usually afflicts young girls who were forced into early pregnancy by the likes of Yerima. Such girls are usually too young to bear the pangs of child birth and its associated risks. Their tender vagina and adjunct channels are lacerated and perforated during child birth. It is from these holes that urine and faeces leak out, making the victims stink and smell. It is an unpleasant condition and victims are usually treated as outcasts. Yet, such persons are not only victims of an unpleasant health condition, they are actually victims of the sexual indiscretion of some beastly men, the likes of Yerima.
The essence of religion is to temper man and make him more responsible and responsive to his environment. Islam as a religion has produced great souls, men of unblemished moral credentials, men who would teach Yerima that there is a more excellent and nobler way to satiate our passion, not hunkering over an innocent 13-year-old. Tufiakwa to evil! Yerima should repent.
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