Web is future of entertainment

Multi Screen Media's digital video entertainment brand Sony Liv is launching "#LoveBytes", a show exclusively for the digital platform on Monday.

Kushal shared that it is the first time that he is doing something on the web, and he is excited about it.

“It is really exciting, and I see it as the future of entertainment on all levels, even for the 'saas and bahus'... they will be watching cooking shows and entertainment shows at midnight if they want to (on the internet),” Kushal told IANS over phone.

The beauty of this platform, as Kushal believes, is that people can have access to the show anytime and anywhere.

“You are not dominated by a television set and you don't have to reach home early to catch your favourite program anymore. You can watch it repeatedly if you want,” he said.

Pointing out another advantage of the platform, the actor shared one does not have to "wait for an entire week for a feedback. The moment it releases, there are people commenting what they are feeling about it".

The first season of "#LoveBytes" will go on for 26 episodes.

“Our show is episodic, but once the episodes are over, you can easily sit for an hour and watch all of the 26 episodes together in one go," Kushal said, and added that the content is identifiable.

The 33-year-old especially pointed out that viewers will not see characters who will wake up in the morning with cakes of make-up in place on their face.

With lots on his platter, Kushal is also gearing up for the release of his Indo-French film “Love is Everywhere” in November. He is also planning to run in a marathon this year, and to make a video documentary on his training process.

Strong Leader in Media/Entertainment

What are the talent requirements for next-generation leaders who will shape the future of the media, entertainment, and communications industry?

This was the topic of a keynote and panel conversation at WICT Southern California Leadership Luncheon at Fogo De Chao in Beverly Hills. The Dean of USC's Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism, Ernest Wilson III, spoke about a significant problem in the entertainment industry- a one-trillion dollar global talent gap. He said that we can't find enough good talent with necessary competencies. He also mentioned that these "soft skills" are the most critical to learn and the entertainment industry is mainly unaware of this problem or how to fix it. He encouraged the audience to dedicate more time to resolving this issue.
USC completed research that explores the talent requirements needed for media and entertainment jobs in the 21st century. The University created a white paper in which they present unique strategic communication competencies in a new area that they coined the "third space."

These critical competencies have been identified as: adaptability, flexibility, comfort with ambiguity, curiosity, creativity, willingness to experiment, cultural competency, empathy, effective listening, collaboration, 360 degree thinking and pattern recognition.

From reading their white paper, and having been a VP of a movie studio, and a speaker on the WICT luncheon panel, I created my own top five talents that I believe are necessary to be a strong values-based leader:


1. MENTORSHIP: Find a strong and inspiring mentor, role model, or coach that can help you develop authentic leadership skills as there are no rule books. Look for someone who has embodied wisdom so they walk their talk. Offer mentorship to your employees if you are in a leadership position.

2. INNOVATION: Innovate or become irrelevant. Continuously learn and work on cultivating creativity and solutions that work. Look into the future and see the big picture of an extremely inter-connected world. Create stories and technology that helps humanity evolve and thrive.

3. COMPASSION: Establish respect and rapport quickly with colleagues and employees so collaboration is easy and fun. Be transparent and authentic when you share with collaborative partners so trust can be developed and be willing to see their perspectives with an open heart and mind.

4. EXPERIMENTATION: Be willing to test things out and take smart risks so you become the change-agent in your company. This may require you to develop a new training program for your leaders. As with all good experiments, you want to set specific goals and measure the results.

5. SYNERGY: Work/life balance is crucial for employee well-being, happiness and productivity. Finding ways to reduce stress and encourage well-rounded employees who have hobbies and interests outside of work is necessary. Create synergistic systems and remind all teams that they are part of a whole organism that needs to function together for ultimate efficiency.

I believe that we all have the "third space" skills inside and we just need coaching, education, and encouragement to live into our highest potential.

The good news is that there are different places where you can learn and receive training to embody these skills. Here are a few of my favorite places:

1. USM: A 10-month certificate program in Spiritual Psychology that teaches over twenty different communication competencies that help you be your best in business and life.

2. Synergy TV: A curated online video channel that showcases empowering role models, life and career coaches, solution-driven films, and inspirational thought-leaders who mirror a better world.

3. TrueSpark: A non-profit that pairs educational curriculum with inspirational movies to teach youth aged 11 - 18 about 24 different positive character traits.

4. Equine Rockstar: An equine coaching program that works with corporate and entrepreneur groups at a ranch in Malibu partnering with horses in team building and goal-setting exercises to improve leadership and communications skills.

5. USC: USC is starting an Institute for Diversity & Empowerment to provide education and help link talent strategy with corporate strategy, as well as train students on how to be great mentees as part of their Third Space initiative.

6. WICT: Women in Telecommunications offers mentorship programs to women in entertainment and media. Through various events, they are preparing, encouraging and rewarding women to step into their inner power and become leaders.

I encourage you to start the conversation in your organization about what your employees and colleagues need and how they can best be served. These skills are important to our collective future, not just in entertainment but as a society. The investment your company makes in coaching, training and educational programs will differentiate you in the industry. As one of the luncheon panelists mentioned, our careers are more like walking a labyrinth rather than climbing a ladder. Growth can happen at any turn, so enjoy the journey!

Spice Girls hint at 20th anniversary reunion tour

Are they or aren't they? Though officially remaining coy, members of the Spice Girls are hinting at a potential reunion tour next year, timed to the 20th anniversary of their first hit, Wannabe.

Fans worldwide buzzed after a report in The Sun newspaper said that four of the five original bandmembers – all but Victoria Beckham – have planned to reunite for an international tour, with an official announcement to come later in the year.

On Friday, Emma Bunton, nicknamed Baby Spice, initially seemed to splash cold water on that notion.

"Nothing's happening, at the moment," she noted on her Heart FM radio show. "If anything happens and it's concrete, and we decide on something, I will let you know."


That said, she and fellow singer Melanie Chisolm (Sporty Spice) teased fans online with an exchange of tweets hinting the opposite.

The Elvis Presley inspired stage musical

When my editor caught the run dates for Theatre at the Center's new production of "All Shook Up," the Elvis Presley inspired stage musical, she drew my attention to the closing show date — Aug. 16.

As she pointed out, it's the same fateful date of the anniversary of Presley's death at age 42 in 1977.

Even for those who are not a fan of The King, there's no denying his lasting impact and impression on others.

Actor David Sajewich gives Elvis his due, and then some, starring as the lead for this polished run of "All Shook Up," which is the perfect example of summer stage musical fun.

It runs just slightly more than two hours, including one intermission and Sajewich is cast as the Elvis-tribute lead character "Chad," a musical rebel with likeable qualities who manages to cast a spell over an entire small town.

All of the greatest hits from the Presley music library are showcased, woven with nostalgic rock n' roll highlights, romance and silly mix-ups with Theatre at the Center Artistic Director Bill Pullinsi and Jeff Award-winning choreographer Danny Herman co-directing. The musical features the book by Tony Award-winning Joe DiPietro.

What makes this musical so charming is it doesn't attempt to be serious or life-changing. Instead, it embraces an almost cartoon quality to entertain and leave audiences smiling.

Set in the summer of 1955 in a conservative Midwestern town, "All Shook Up" is described as the modern musical take on William Shakespeare's romantic comedy, "Twelfth Night." It follows the story of Natalie, played by talented, eye-twinkling Callie Johnson, who is a small town girl with big dreams for a life of adventure.

The answer to her prayers comes in the form of black leather jacket adorned musical Adonis, Chad, the role captured so ideally by Sajewich with his comic timing, velvety voice and bravado.

Mayor Matilda Hyde believes Chad's musical free-spirit ways are a corrupt influence on the youth of today and actress Iris Lieberman captures all of the kooky qualities of madam mayor and adds an element of eccentric excitement to her character.

The production highlights 24 classic Elvis hits in the musical comedy, including "Heartbreak Hotel," "Burning Love," "Jailhouse Rock," "Blue Suede Shoes," "It's Now or Never," "Don’t Be Cruel," "Hound Dog," "Can't Help Falling In Love" and "Fools Rush In."

Other fun moments come courtesy of Matthias Austin as Natalie's age-defying father Jim;Justin Brill for a very funny turn as sidekick Dennis; Sharriese Hamilton who sparkles as Lorraine; Allison Sill brings her own clever spin to straight-laced museum curator Miss Sandra; and Bethany Thomas belts out her every tune with fire and passion as cafe owner Sylvia.Patrick Tierney is fun as the mayor's son Dean, and Steve Silver claims his own moment near the conclusion as Sheriff Earl. The ensemble includes Annelise Baker, Julie Baird, Caitlin Borek, Johnson Brock, Brian Duncan, Reneisha Jenkins, Kayla Kennedy, Eric Lewis, John Marshall and Henry McGinniss.

Jeff Award-winning scenic designers Jackie Penrod and Richard Penrod creative an inventive landscape with lighting and projection design from Guy Rhodes added to the talents of sound designer Barry Funderburg and dazzling costume designs from Brenda Winstead with wig designer Kevin Barthel.

A movable feast:Louis food trucks

Five years after the food-truck boom in St. Louis began in earnest, new trucks keep arriving. There’s always, it seems, another niche to fill.
Smoothies?
JuiceMasters serves them from a truck.
Not just coffee, but fancy pour-over coffee?
The Grove coffee shop Rise serves it from a truck.
Nutrition-focused food from the Cardinals team chef?
Revel Kitchen serves it from a truck.
Kevin Baker and Eddie Bohn spotted a market for hot Italian beef sandwiches and other fare from Bohn’s native Chicago, so the duo launched 22 August, one of the newest additions to the St. Louis food-truck fleet.
(The truck’s name references Bohn’s mother’s birthday. “She passed away a couple years ago and left him a little money,” Baker said. “Just enough to get a food truck up and running.”)
The crowded food-truck field didn’t dissuade them. At 22 August’s three main stops — the established city food-truck haunts at Citygarden downtown, the Wells Fargo campus in midtown and the Barnes-Jewish campus in the Central West End — Baker reports that the truck has already gained a set of regular customers.
St. Louis’ proximity to Chicago “has gotten us a lot of attention,” Baker said. “We’ll show up, and there will be five or six other trucks, and we’ll get a little concerned, but we’re doing all right.”
When Go! Magazine cataloged St. Louis’ food trucks in December 2013, we counted 45 mobile vendors. This summer, we counted 60, give or take. (A couple of trucks have announced, but not begun, their operations.)
What’s more, of 2013’s roster, only five trucks have ceased operations or taken an extended hiatus. A sixth, Burger Ink, shut down in favor of a brick-and-mortar restaurant, the Tattooed Dog, in Wentzville.
Several other trucks have added, or are about to add, brick-and-mortar restaurants, includingGuerrilla Street Food, Lulu’s Local Eatery and Taco Truck STL.
My Big Fat Greek Truck opened its restaurant, the Little Greek Corner, just last week in Fenton. Owner Danny Botonis said the restaurant will help address one major issue that will always concern St. Louis food trucks.

“I always wanted to have a restaurant,” co-owner Danny Botonis said. “We happened to start with the food truck four years ago. (The truck) is great, but it’s seasonal.”