American Advertising Federation (AAF)

AAF, the American Advertising Federation, is the oldest national advertising trade association, that represents every different avenue of the advertising industry, and they act as the “Unifying Voice for Advertising.” AAF’s membership is composed of about 100 blue chip corporate members, including the nations leading advertisers. They stretch their memberships all the way from the corporate ladder all the way down to education, where which they have college chapters. Having over 200 college chapters so far, which include over 6,500 student members. AAF operates and hosts the Advertising Hall of Fame, the ADDY Awards, and many more, some just involving school chapters, and some for everyone. With a membership you receive valuable information for future clients and others that is doing that same thing in the industry, which you can use for your entrepreneurial needs. The mission statement for AAF is “The American Advertising Federation protects and promotes the well-being of advertising. We accomplish this through a unique, nationally coordinated grassroots network of advertisers, agencies, media companies, local advertising clubs and college chapters.”

AAF does way too much not to enjoy their services. They educate members on the latest trends in technology, creativity and marketing. They promote diversity in advertising by encouraging the recruitment of people of diverse cultures. Providing programs to assist local association volunteer leadership. They also protect and promote advertising at all levels of government through grassroots activities.

As I begin to establish NuProdigy Media and myself into the industry more, I will be obtaining a membership with AAF, its very beneficial so why not. Their corporate membership is what I will be pushing for which it includes corporate member networking events, sponsorship opportunities, and recruitment opportunities of the nation's top advertising and marketing students. As a community in the advertising industry need to be more attached to each other in a sense, and this is a good step one.

Do Something About It!

There has been many times where we sat and thank of these amazing ideas, but then never did anything about it. Many times where we knew there was a problem, and either procrastinated about the solution or never even thought twice about fixing it. Times where we wanted to fix something but was to lazy for the first steps so you waited for someone else to do it, then joined in.

Well that wasn’t the case when it came to Ron Finley, and his hometown South Central LA. During Ron’s TED talk (TED: Ideas Worth Spreading) he began explaining how its all low income and how the obesity rate is 5 times higher than any city in the surrounding areas. He goes on telling us how the main food option is fast food, like most low income city’s, and how he notices that Dialysis Centers started popping up like Starbucks. Yet still how the system doesn’t help with providing more healthy food, they focus on getting more money flow with the fast food companies.

Ron Finley made a change to the negativity he seen with the system. He says, “Food is the problem, and food is the solution.” He came to the solution of planting a food forest right in front of his house. The food forest was on city ground but he just had to maintain it and he would be fine. Ron went on to create a organization called LA Green Grounds which helped plant more and more gardens around the city. Running into a couple problems with the city because they figured it would hurt their side of things tried to come down on him with citations, but he fought them with petitions with more than 900 people following him, and of course succeeded.

He is now still covering more grounds with gardens and making a difference in his city. You should watch his TED Talk called Ron Finley:A Guerilla Gardener in South Central LA. He has inspired many to get up and do something about issues that we see going on right in front of us. This can be used in any situation personal lives, political, and even business. Lately I’ve been really thinking of some easy ways to get my business off the ground, and sometimes the answer is not always what you want it to be; but in business we have to do what’s best for the company.

My main thing that I like to do as a filmmaker would be to produce commercials. Trying to get a paying client right off the bat maybe a little harder than what you think. So what I’ve done was focus on photography. Orlando is filled with tourist so if I can do photography for them at these attractions and then sell them their photography to them online; I could make tons of profit. Right now its still in process of getting off the ground, an idea. Now I have to actually do it. Make it happen, like Ron was telling us all.

Limited Liability Company or Incorporated

Many people always say that they want their own business, have an idea, or just want to be some kind of entrepreneur. Many don’t know what type of business they want; some have never even had the thought that there are different types of businesses. Many of people have to really sit down and figure out what they want for the future of their company. Starting NuProdigy Media, Inc. we sat and thought about the different things that we wanted for the company, including what type of projects, our main focuses, and what aspect of the film industry we wanted to focus on, it took a lot but we figured it out. The main two types of businesses are called Limited Liability Company (LLC), and Incorporation (Inc.); it’s just what fits you best in your company or organization.

            The Corporation (Inc.) is an artificial legal entity, which while made op of a number of natural persons or other legal entities, has a separate legal identity from them. Also as a legal entity the corporation receives legal rights and duties. There are five legal rights that always exist for a corporation. First is the ability to sue and be sued (this gives the corporation access to the courts). Secondly, a corporation has the right to a common treasury (this gives the right to hold assets separate from the assets of its members). The right to hire agents (this gives the corporation the right to hire employees). Also has the right to a common seal (this gives the corporation the right to sign contracts). Finally as a corporation, you have the right to make by-laws (this gives the corporation the right to govern its internal affairs). As you can see so far a corporation is like its own person does its own thing like an individual, also having its own social security number called an FED-ID number.

            There are two types of for-profit corporations: a C. Corporation and a Subchapter S. Corporation. There are some features that both corporations have in common.

The corporation is owned by shareholders and managed by a board of directors & managers. Members can be both a shareholder and a director or manager. Directors and managers can cause the business to authorize the business to create contracts, authorize loans, settle lawsuits, hire & fire and so on. All shareholders enjoy limited liability status. Filing documents with the state government creates the corporation. The corporation conveys ownership interests by issuing shares. “By-laws” will be created to dictate how the corporation will govern it.

            There are really only two major differences between the S. Corporation and C. Corporation. The C. Corp can have an unlimited number of shareholders and the S Corp is limited to 75. And the C. Corp is subject to a double taxation.  The corporation is taxed, and then the individual shareholders are taxed.

            The Limited Liability Company (LLC) has become most small film production companies’ business entity of choice.  In that respect, it is similar to a corporation, and is often a more flexible form of ownership, especially suitable for smaller companies with a limited number of owners. Unlike a regular corporation, however, a limited liability company with one member may be treated as a disregarded entity, so the member is often singled-out as a person performing the actions of the LLC. A limited liability company with multiple members is typically treated as a partnership for tax purposes, thereby avoiding double taxation.

            There are some great advantages to selecting a LLC, some of them include: Its members own The LLC. No requirement of an annual general meeting for shareholders. No loss of power to a board of directors. Typically there is much less administrative paperwork and record keeping. The members enjoy the limited liability status. Only a state filing is required to form a LLC. In addition to cash contributions, members may also agree to contribute talent and services to the LLC, such as writing, directing, editing, etc.

Of course with advantages there are some disadvantages. Many states, including - Alabama, California, Kentucky, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas, levy a franchise tax or capital values tax on LLCs. A franchise tax is a tax charged by some US states to corporations formed in those states based on the number of shares they issue or, in some cases, the amount of their assets. It may be more difficult to raise capital for an LLC, as investors may be more comfortable investing funds in the better-understood corporate form.

            Now understanding a little more about the Corporation and the Limited Liability Company. It will now be a little easier to chose where you want to go as a company, the ins and outs, and the advantages and disadvantages. Choses wisely and remember there is no problem with being wrong; you can always convert back to one another later on. If you need further help, you can choose the path I chose and contact LegalZoom. They can help you with getting paperwork finalized and making sure that your legal at all times with the IRS. So get started know that you know what everything is get everything out of your head and on paperwork. 

Becoming an Entrepreneur

Starting a new company can really be a challenge to many, but with the right guidance and early practices you can become very successful within your business especially being an entrepreneur. While having everything to do on your own as an individual or a group, there is always that doubt of failure or just the simple fact that you wont have all your I’s dotted and your T’s crossed. Many feel that they are all alone and if they don’t know a piece of information that they have already failed themselves; but always keep in mind to use resources, they are there, many are free, so why not take advantage.

            NuProdigy Media, Inc., has been a work in progress for years. During the time of Red Ti Productions, we really started to pick up a clientele basis and make a name for ourselves. Mainly doing everything on my own until production time came along. Even then sometimes still being alone on some big projects, needing help but couldn’t afford it. Many times I just wanted to bypass the business side of things and jump right into getting projects done. While I was so young and still in high school a lot of things that I needed to do I couldn’t because of my age. Needing to get my business license, finalizing my LLC (limited liability company), getting my state issued EIN (employer identification number), and also my Tax ID number in order to be a legalized LLC. Since my age was an issue I ran the company as Sole Proprietorship. A sole proprietor is someone who owns an unincorporated business by himself or herself. Going as a sole proprietor was easier, but still had its ups and downs that I couldn’t change. During this process there was lots of back and forth on what I should do, but keeping in touch with people that had been through the process kept me positive and made sure I knew every step that I made.

Identity: YourPassport to Success

Getting into a business in any industry has its ups and downs. Many times in the beginning they’re seems to be way too many downs then there are ups. Focusing on the negative will always bring you down and keep you down as much as you let yourself go. I recently sat in on a presentation of Stedman Graham, and which he just happened to be talking about one of his latest book, Identity: YourPassport to Success, and which he focused on leadership. He said a phrase that kind of stuck out to me, but was very true. “Your Life is based on how you think… If you change the way you think, you will ultimately change the way you live.” – Stedman Graham. You always have to remember that thinking negative will always occur negative results. Always keep good spirits and self-esteem high, no one will motivate you, as you will do yourself. Stay positive, network with your competitors, and become a wholesome business, know the insides and outs.

Change For The Better

Companies change things about them all the time, whether its something as small as changing management or as big as changing company colors and logo. Many times when companies change things, the general public assumes that there was something wrong with the old way; they sometimes look at change like a bad thing.

Being a high school student with a pleasing talent of a videographer. Halfway throughout my freshman year through high school I was asked by family and friends to film certain events, mainly weddings and parties, and every once in a while a commercial. So immediately I spoke to my closest friends, which also are in the same field, and my media instructor to get advise on if I should take on the work. My media instructor threw in the fact that I should start my own business and take on the projects and I could use his equipment. So having to rush to get the basic things in place because those events weren’t going to wait on me. I had created a name, management, logo, and mission statement, and contracts ready about a month later. Began those projects and continued with new clientele mainly from word of mouth throughout the city.

Now that I am in the position to really give some hard focusing time and bring new knowledge to the table I am changing mainly the entire company around. My company name up until 2013 was Red Ti Productions, and now it has been changed to NuProdigy Media. Red Ti Productions as hard as I tried to think and ask others, I couldn’t find a meaning for it. Other things that I chose to change were the logo, mission statement, demographic, and add lots more like an actual marketing strategy instead of the basic spamming on Facebook. Including a business plan, which is like the bible to any business. A business plan includes all information about a business, like a playbook to a football team, it had the financial plan, five to ten year projections, founder information and background, and much more.

Making changes to Red Ti Productions will not only carry on the legacy and talent behind Red Ti Productions, but those changes will also bring new things like talent, film projects, marketing, and different styles of filmmaking. Change doesn’t always mean harm; stay up to date with NuProdigy Media, Inc. Our blog will have the latest information about new projects, crew, and general information about our industry in film.