Unless you've been living under a rock, or possibly leaving that rock to go on vacation under the rock next door, I'm sure you have seen articles, posts, trends, and shares on both Ben and Jerry's new ice cream flavor "Schweddy Balls", and Nike's new Air Mag shoe that is a retro-future style accessory from the "Back to the Future II" movie.  In film it is always good to know how to market yourself appropriately, and these are two of the best examples of viral marketing that I've seen in recent times- Including the quickest trend "spread" with possibly the largest coverage. Nike Air Mag is being sold in limited quantities for a good cause , namely Michael J. Foxes foundation for Parkinson's. I commend the foundation's efforts to reach this epic awareness scale. I commend both products for proving twice within the span of a week that life does in fact imitate art - all the time- more often than we might be aware of.

  I can remember a short time ago when I saw a very modest  Youtube video with a young lady that fashioned a prototype of the "Back to the Future II" self lacing Air Mag shoe. It was handed back and forth between many of us in our geeky little film community, but our imaginations continue to run wild on the possibilities of this being an actual for sale product. This smart woman won some funding to complete another prototype (clip seen below), but the ones that Nike ended up using apparently dropped the automatic laces. Bummer sort of, but it goes for a good cause and her idea lives on.

  It came to reality.  And whether the online community had time to differentiate it from a hoax or not it spread like wildfire on Facebook, Google Plus, Buzz, and the like.  This was quite a phenomenon as I was just seeing it for the first time and logging in and seeing multiple posts in the activity feed passing along the news of this truly unique product that catered to our imaginations inspired by "Back to the Future II" from our nostalgic memories.  Then comes "Schweddy Balls". SNL (Saturday Night Live) aired a sketch that lampooned NPR and through that idea in art form came reality. My guess is that Ben and Jerry's decided the potential, had a good sense of humor, and decided to go with it.

The news of this new ice cream flavor spread faster than possibly any other food product in preparation for release, that I've ever seen in my entire life.  These posts proliferated faster than news of the recent East Coast Hurricane and Earthquake combined.  One can only imagine the power behind such a simple low cost idea as viral marketing in these uncertain times.  People talk.  People talk about things that amuse them.  People post.  Ideas get around.  At times I get some grief for sticking with the name Uddershiet Films, but in actuality I've probably gotten recognition and product identification from the sheer simple fact the name is fun to say or try to say than anything I've ever tried - 19 years still strong. Is this a sign I should stick with it?  The lesson here is it doesn't take very much money to virally market an idea as long as it's fun and people are intrigued.  Though I may not be able to afford the "Back to the Future II" Air Mag shoes, I will tell you I would almost give up my life savings for one of those Hoverboards.  So what are your feelings on viral marketing? What compels you to post or re-post an idea? Humor , Nostalgia? In this case a little bit of both? In most cases at least in my mind- I believe it's something I think someone would want to know/see and several people are thinking the same thing (then it just spider-webs outward exponentially), then I guess maybe we just got to the heart of viral marketing.

Thanks again,
TJPARSONS

In an article from popular gaming Magazine GAME INFORMER , a reader and avid David Lynch fan writes in response to a poll in August issue concerning the best Television shows that would make the coolest video games:

"Twin peaks would make an amazing video game. Sure, We've already got Alan Wake and Deadly Premonition, but those are only inspired by Twin Peaks. How about an old-school point-and-click adventure game where you play as Special Agent Dale Cooper while trying to figure out who killed Laura Palmer? that would be a day-one purchase for me! - Lilikka Philandros"

After watching everything from Lynch's Blue Velvet and Inland Empire to Dumbland, Rabbits, visiting his truly unique website DavidLynch.com, paired with his dabbling in very entertaining Youtube weather reports and cameos as the bartender on the Cleaveland Show, It is entirely possible that the gaming world is ready for a David Lynch directed adventure. Being a fan myself, I can honestly say I would be right beside this GI reader in line- waiting to get my hands on a game of this potentially unparalleled uniqueness.


Thanks for swinging by,
TJPARSONS

A Personal Touch On Autism- Autism Awareness Month 2011:
A courageous mother copes with son's Autism gracefully while spreading awareness for National Autism Month and helping many others with similar children.

      In general, my son, Ethan was diagnosed with ASD(Autism spectrum disorder), also he was said to have pervasive development disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS).

* "All children with ASD demonstrate deficits in
1) social interaction,
2) verbal and nonverbal communication, and
3) repetitive behaviors or interests.

In addition, they will often have unusual responses to sensory experiences, such as certain sounds or the way objects look. Each of these symptoms runs the gamut from mild to severe. They will present in each individual child differently. For instance, a child may have little trouble learning to read but exhibit extremely poor social interaction. Each child will display communication, social, and behavioral patterns that are individual but fit into the overall diagnosis of ASD."

  At 7 years old Ethan is considered nonverbal / limited verbal. I don't focus on what end of the spectrum he is on because in the scheme of things it is not important. Ethan remembers EVERYTHING. He is loving and very funny, likes to be tickled & hugged, he is smart, can do anything on the computer, his fine motor skills (writing) are not so good but he can cut and paste letters to spell words and he can type certain words he wants to get things he wants, he needs motivators to get him to do the things he needs to learn. In his mind "why should i do it if it is not what i want to do" just like most kids.

He collects DVD's & VHS's to organize and watch even if he already has them. He is a visual learner, and like me - he loves to sing & listen to ALL music. Some sounds bother him, some lights bother him, tight clothes are a no no, he does not like my attention to go to anyone else but him, he uses picture schedules so he knows what comes next in his day. He is still not potty trained even though I have been trying with him since he was 3, and have tried every thing I can think of. I think we are getting close though. Getting to know someone on the spectrum is a good way to understand more about autism and definitely helps you be more aware of how if may affect you directly. It may have touched you or someone you love already and you just may have not known it. Now is the time to learn a little bit more.

Thanks for reading! ~Catherine



A Wonderful site that is run by parents whose child is on the spectrum is www.thepuzzlingpiece.com. They are giving an iPAD to anyone who completes the "iPAD Challenge". Anyone who sells 60 fundraiser puzzle piece necklaces or key chains @ $20 each will be shipped an iPAD! In addition to helping a family with an Autistic child receives a tool that may be one of the only ways for them to communicate, you are also donating money to a few organizations that research and help families dealing with Autism through thepuzzlingpeice.com.

Catherine and Ethan are taking part in that challenge and they could use some help to meet their goal. I, TJParsons want to help them in their goal, and through it try to help some other families and spread awareness for something that has had staggering increases in just a few short years and now can no longer be ignored. We cannot afford at this time not to wonder what is being done about something that afflicts roughly  ** 1 in 110 children; and what's even scarier is those numbers are from a few years ago - and critical cases have only been becoming more prevalent. So at those numbers if you think it doesn't effect you now, it will - and sooner than you would probably expect.

"Studies are already indicating the iPad and the iPod Touch as good tools for autistic children. Because of the iPad and iPod Touch, some autistic children have been able, for the very first time, to communicate their feelings and thoughts to adults. Other autistic children have been able to learn the life skills that have escaped them for a long time."

  To help Catherine and Ethan reach their goal and give some help to Autistism research and schools go to www.thepuzzlingpiece.com, CLICK PRODUCTS, scroll down to PURPLE GLASS NECKLACE or ALLOY KEY CHAIN. Select one and for challenger's name type "CATHERINE REC". So the credit goes towards her goal. It is really that simple. The people that run this site and promotion have a real personal connection with Autism as well. So every purchase not only goes towards helping a family receive a tool for communication with their child and teaching / learning, it puts money towards organizations who support and work for a better understanding of the alarming mystery of Austism. If you know someone who is interested in joining the challenge to receive help for their loved ones, family members or friends send them the link to www.thepuzzlingpiece.com, and tell them to click FUNDRAISING to get started.

Also A Wonderful Site to Connect you With Someone On The Autism spectrum looking for support or otherwise:
http://www.weareautism.org/ - A Social Network for those on the spectrum and their families & friends!

*  Taken from "What Are the Autism Spectrum Disorders?" By The National Institute of Mental Health
**  Taken from The Center for Disease Control 2006 statistics of Children with Autism

I've been wrong about many things in my life. I was certainly wrong - thinking this would be the "it" gift of Christmas 2010 - two months later, after seeing stacks of these things before Christmas and dreams of consumer accessible neuroscience combined with a space-aged Mattel toy that would end up at college parties, and reverse engineered for other purposes in amateur laboratories - I haven't seen one anywhere (only online).

THE MINDFLEX GAME - The internet demonstrations and YouTube videos are amazing. Even in the most basic of functionality as far as neuroscience toys are concerned this devices begs to be used in some sort of Beer Pong of the Future. I foresaw drunk people sitting around in a circle taking shots bringing themselves to the brink of an aneurysm controlling and contorting a ping-pong ball through an interchangeable maze of varying difficulty with a mind reading device firmly placed on head - it gave me hope for a feasible William Gibson-esque future.

This is the type of toy had I asked for as a kid, my parents would have shut me down temporarily then picked one up second hand knowing fool well that I would have disassembled , rearranged, and tried to plug myself into a remote control car or something even worse like a microwave or TRS-80. Yeah, I was one of those type of kids - and that curiosity still peeks its head above clouds of my adulthood sometimes in a Walter Bishop meets Doc Brown type of way. I look forward for this technology to bleed into market so I can see all of amazing hacks that are possible - my mind drools. See what you can do with it : I open the challenge post your hacks and links to articles on your hacks with MINDFLEX here.

Then there is this: for those that have more advanced tastes in mind. This company makes me think of the movie "Strange Days."

Just saying: food for thought - Imagine what devices like this could do to help understand Autism or just help propel research in general. I know I have thought of two hopeful experiments and I didn't even really think that hard. Part of the problem with understanding Autism is getting a handle on understanding ways they emote and interpretation of Emoting to them. I'm sure you see where I'm going with this. Imagine what just one of these devices could do in the hands of some motivated capable people.

The same technology pops up in several different shapes and sizes like the one below. But one fact remains. The tech is here, improving over time and getting more and more accessible. This means practicality and quality are put to the test. I am hopeful for the future. But, perhaps if a computer was allowed to read my mind in an free-flowing input output fashion, the end result would most likely be similar to the Microsoft blue screen of death.

This is TJPARSONS sayin' go get yer science on!

On a separate subject- anybody else notice that internet commercials are pretty darn "water cooler". -Internet commercials are getting just as entertaining and creative if not more than the network ones. They have less confines and rules, and more interactivity potential.

Starting back on some low level editing lately for some clients its really been way way too long- but I'm liking things picking up again where I left off. It takes a lot of patience,not just the process of editing itself, its because its not like riding a bike, as programs constantly update, evolve, and take on new features and discard old ones.  I've had to reteach myself quite a few things, and learn some new things. I'm starting with small projects and working my way back up again. I've found a lot of material (bursting at the seams), both new and old that I have been adding to the site and other projects  with a relentless nature. So stay tuned this is going to be a good year.

Needless to say, I guess, I've been burning the candle at both ends. But it seems to be starting to pay off lately. I have had some good feedback from people saying they have found some good information on making films and small film and video projects. It helps to see that the information I provide is in fact useful in some manner to someone. Its a big part of why I'm here and why I continue to do what I do. I look forward to growing this site to its full potential and helping artists to connect with one another, finding the resources and help that they need along the way.

A big Thank you to Matt Chellini and his amazing and ever evolving miracle-ware. Getrospect, I couldn't have done it without you.

Lately I find myself reading a lot of reviews on movies by the "average audience", actually mainly those with time to post comments on existing features and online videos. I must say with respect to the video creators you deal with a lot of callus, unfeeling, disrespectful, and unforgiving comments. It is very rare to see a positive comment on a TV show or YouTube video nowadays.  I belive that anonymity is a factor, as well the ease society has for putting things down harshly to make themselves feel better in these unhappy times rather than offering words of appreciation or encouragement.  I enjoy watching media in its various forms, and understand the time and effort it takes to make even the simplest of cartoons, television shows and amateur youtube-esque videos. And as I read comments to better understand modern audiences to use as a virtual barometer, I can't help to notice that between the comments that just argue and demean other posters, everyone is a critic and many times a overly harsh one. Harsh enough in fact to deter dreams and self worth of the individuals that are basically just trying to entertain and have fun while doing it. In the back of my mind I feel that we are on a crossroads of  an evolution in communication where people can express their ideas so freely  that they give little thought to the effects and impact that the expression may have. I realize that with the advent of a twittering and comment heavy society that we must endure the pain of a brief period of growth with technology to see what comes after - like technological etiquette and unspoken understandings. On this subject I was talking (yes, not texting or Im'ing) actually having a conversation the old fashion way with another human being- a friend as it were, about this very subject and he relayed to me a quote that may offer inspiration to those who still want to entertain and have fun while doing it:
 

“Pay no attention to what the critics say; no statue has ever been put up to a critic.”
                                                                                 -Jean Sibelius

Taken out of context or not, I hope this inspires some of you that are beat down today with this increasingly comment heavy online viewing audience. And maybe with great gratitude after watching some fine entertainment you produce,  I may be fortunate enough to erect a statue in your honor (figuratively of course)

Thank you for your time and interest,
TJPARSONS