Justin "Mr. Fascinate" Shaifer

Are you a CALIFORNIA VOTER? Governor Newsom has proposed a 58% cut to arts program funding in the 24-25 May revise of California budget. While Newsom shared that “core services are protected,” his proposal includes decimating 100% of the funding for implementing SB 1116, the Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund ($12.5 million) and 38% ($10 million) of the state arts agency or California Arts Council’s $26 million in grants to arts nonprofits. California’s artists, tradition bearers, cultural organizations and creative businesses have long carried the weight of the state’s preeminence as a cultural producer and creative economy on their shoulders alone, without adequate sustained public investment. Access to arts, culture and creative expression is a core service that delivers a multitude of public impacts. These opportunities weave the social fabric of our communities, empower individuals, engage youth, vivify places, bond groups, bridge differences and transform lives, building community health while driving over 8% of the state’s economy, supporting 847,688 jobs and generating 7.3% of state tax revenue. @CAArtsAdvocates with coalition partners @ActorsEquity and @TheatreproducersofSoCal will work alongside creative industry leaders and statewide advocates to urge the Governor and Legislature to recognize the drastic nature of these cuts and the destabilizing threats they pose to the livelihoods of the creative workforce and to the promise of core California values. TAKE ACTION TODAY! Read the full press release: https://lnkd.in/eWTj6kjR PLEASE send a Letter to your California Reps: https://lnkd.in/esS8BJvD Please and Thank You! #ArtsWorkIsRealWork #CAisCreative #InvestCAArts #fundCAArts #CreativeEconomy #CAC #OpposeArtsCuts

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Super excited for the 19th edition of Digital Media Wire's LA Games Conference at #UCLA on May 6! This is one of my favorite events and I have my hands in it this year as conference co-chair. This year's theme is #LawAndFinanceSummit, which covers a lot of great timely topics for all of us working in executive management roles and/or as dealmakers, advisors and counsel for companies focused on the intersection of #games, #entertainment and #interactivemedia. Here's a preview of some of the amazing dealmakers, execs and investors speaking. Feel free to reach out to me if you are interested in attending. KEYNOTE CONVERSATION Peter Y. Levin, Managing Director, Griffin Gaming Partners Interviewed by David Bloom, Senior Contributor, Forbes PANELISTS & PRESENTERS Jasper Brand, Partner, BITKRAFT Ventures Nathaniel Bach, Partner, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips Jeff Chaiken, Head of Corporate Development & Strategy, Skybound Elizabeth Cohen, General Counsel, Crunchyroll Derek Douglas, Head of Video Games Group, CAA Sam Englebardt, General Partner, Galaxy Interactive Kaare Eriksen, Media Analyst & Information Editor, Variety Maureen Fan, CEO & Co-Founder, Baobab Studios Sarah Guerrero, Privacy Counsel, Games, NetEase Games Laura Harrison, Vice President & Investment Banker, Entertainment and Industries Group, J.P. Morgan David Higley, Partner, Perella Weinberg Partners Cooper Jackson, Senior Vice President, Business Affairs & Development, EA Frances Jensen, Counsel Interactive Entertainment, FKKS Sam Lam, Senior Legal Counsel, Skybound Dara Leung, Managing Director, The Raine Group Holly Liu, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, PKO Investments Jordan Marks, VP, Business & Legal Affairs, Annapurna Interactive Rich McDerby, Partner, Manatt Phelps & Phillips Michael Metzger, Managing Partner, Drake Star Partners Dan Nabel, Senior Director, Associate General Counsel, Riot Games Rob Ricca, SVP, Corporate Development, Scopely Andrew Sheppard, Managing Director, Transcend Fund Ned Sherman, Chief Business Affairs & Legal Officer, Skybound Alexandra Takei, Director, Ruckus Games Joseph Tou, Managing Director-US, Sony Ventures Vivienne Zhao, Director, Interactive Media & Technologies, Lazard Frères & Co. The agenda includes presentations, panels and keynotes on: >Current Trends & Research Presentations in Games, Interactive Media and Technology >Dealmaking and M&A in The Games Market >The Legal Implications of Generative AI in Gaming >Financing Alternatives in Today’s Games Market >Cross-Media Licensing & Financing: The Future of Entertainment Franchises >Venture Capital & Investment in The Games Market >Transmedia Storytelling: Entertainment Across Mediums #legal #finance #gamesindustry #investment #venturecapital #artificialintelligence #corporatestrategy Tinzar Than Sherman Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz GOAL Ventures International Game Developers Association (IGDA®) For agenda and registration:

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Kendrick Lamar and Drake are leading a new trend in entertainment: deepfake technology. Lamar's The Heart Part 5 music video used deepfake video techniques while Drake's diss song used deepfake audio techniques. While some may find these technologies scary, Black culture continues to push the boundaries of what's possible in entertainment. It's just another example of how Black creatives always find a way to push technology to the next level without even trying. This is the value proposition for diversity in the workplace. People from different backgrounds can offer fresh perspectives and spur innovation. As tech and AI trends continue to evolve, it's important to remember that they'll only take your job if you refuse to embrace them. Keep an open mind and be willing to learn new skills to stay ahead of the game. Let's continue to push the boundaries and see where these new technologies can take us.

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We have some exciting news about locking down our well-known (read: “marketable”) and masterful director coming down the pike on our #SanDiego Comic-Con International documentary in conjunction with EP David Permut (RUSTIN, FACE/OFF) and producer Oscar Boyson (Greta Gerwig’s MISTRESS AMERICA and FRANCES HA, as well as all of the Safdie Bros.’ films). This development brings us right to the brink of final steps toward needful substantial financing and streaming/studio deals and, ultimately, production. For those who have been following along, this has been a lonnnnnnng process, starting with my SiriusXM / Stitcher podcast series COMIC-CON BEGINS (now available FREE on all audio platforms) during Covid, the follow-up book SEE YOU AT SAN DIEGO (Fantagraphics Books, 2022) and now … the next inevitable step: the film! It’s more than Comic-Con. It’s more than #comics and #sciencefiction and #fantasy. More than #videogames and #manga / #anime and #movies and #cartoons. It’s more than just the story of #popculture, but also about how the #geeks inherited the Earth and made everything you know and love in the realm of #StarWars, #StarTrek, #HarryPotter, classic movie monsters and #Godzilla and #KingKong and #LordOfTheRings and #ChroniclesOfNarnia and #TheMuppets … and all of the rest of it take over mainstream culture itself, going from being the fringe to the most major aspects of our day-to-day lives. Our doc is, in the end, the story of how a small group of weirdos and artists and science nerds in their early teens came together in the late 60s and early 70s Southern California to create their own #fandom conference where they could celebrate the things they loved, their creator heroes and each other each year … never knowing it would one day become the BIGGEST POP CULTURE GATHERING ON THE PLANET (clocked twice by Guinness World Records!). And, now … with our director nearly onboard … we’re that much closer to the final frontier or boldly going where now fanboy or fangirl has gone before: The full and true story of Comic-Con onscreen told by those who made it all happen. Soon …

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Day by day we are building something we believe in unconditionally. 📯 Knowledge becomes actions, actions lead to realization. When you ask no more questions Why you make it, this is truly your role in life. #Sacramento #Theatron #filmdevelopment

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Henson = puppetry magic! Drew (in the orange hat) is puppeteering full facial performance and lip sync in real time while Misty (on the mocap stage) performs the body. Our proprietary software + virtual camera + #unreal game engine brings it all together so that we can perform & shoot CG as if it were live action. Thanks #ves for coming and checking out our #virtualproduction puppetry.

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Just finished "Measure What Matters: Succeeding with Objectives and Key Results (OKRs)" by Measure What Matters, John Doerr, and Ryan Panchadsaram! Check it out: https://lnkd.in/eigRzG_d #objectivesandkeyresults.

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Check out this article!

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Fascinating to watch how film programs are going to integrate AI into their curriculum. Schools like USC, Loyola and Chapman leaning into teaching this is a big move. While it is of the utmost importance that creatives are protected (and this is a massive concern for the creative community!), it's also important to acknowledge that AI is an inevitable part of our future. By educating university students on AI, we can empower them to seamlessly incorporate it into their creative workflows, enhancing their innovation and artistry. https://lnkd.in/e6EzJgRu

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Check out Dusty Deen's SKETCHBOOK, VOL. 2, that won Best Experimental Film at the Albuquerque Film Festival. I love representing this guy! Here's Dusty's description: This is the second in the series of sketchbooks. This one was filled between 2020-2022 and features doodles, hand made animations, public sound recordings, collage, and everything else in my brain. Every page contains the phrase “Oh shit!”

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Setting up a scene in a manga is both an art and a science. In our original shonen manga, Adamanto, we’re proud to have the incredible talent of artist Oscar Jimenez, whose masterful use of exterior and interior shots, diverse perspectives, and close-ups brings the story to life. Oscar's meticulous attention to detail is evident in every panel. His exterior shots set the stage with highly-detailed landscapes that pull readers into the world of Adamanto. Whether it's the towering cliffs of Mount Fuji or the expansive Tang compound, these scenes are crafted to immerse and captivate. Moving inside, Oscar’s interior shots are equally impressive. The intricacies of ancient temples and the coziness of our characters' hideouts are rendered with precision, adding depth and realism to the narrative. His use of lighting and shadows within these spaces further enhances the mood, whether it’s a moment of tense anticipation or a quiet respite. Perspective is another tool Oscar wields with expertise. From bird's-eye views that show the vastness of a battlefield to low-angle shots that emphasize a character’s power, these dynamic angles keep readers engaged and convey the energy of each scene. Finally, Oscar’s close-ups are where the emotional core of Adamanto truly shines. By homing in on a character's expression or a significant object, these shots allow readers to connect deeply with the story's pivotal moments. The subtle nuances in a character’s eyes or the details of a treasured artifact speak volumes and add layers of meaning. In Adamanto, every scene is a testament to Oscar Jimenez’s artistic prowess. His ability to blend exterior and interior environments with varied perspectives and poignant close-ups not only embellishes the mood but also enriches the storytelling, making Adamanto a truly unforgettable experience for our readers. #MangaArt #ShonenManga #Adamanto #OscarJimenez #Artistry #Storytelling #MangaScenes #Illustration #Comics #GraphicNovels

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Learning in every step! A friend is helping me to put together some good bites from the previous episodes, where Hispanic creators share career and life experiences. In this short the streamer Megalia talks about what she gets from her audience. The podcast aims to reach the young bicultural students and professionals pursuing to make it in this crazy business. Take a look, subscribe, like, and share it. Help us to get known! https://lnkd.in/ggeb4C6g https://lnkd.in/gEQp-uke

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🎬✨ Lights, camera, action! Follow my son's filmmaking journey from screen (His first film was 0007 GOLDEN DIAPER) to ARound the REEL podcast! 🎥🌟 Click like to support his dream! #Filmmaking #AroundtheREELPodcast 🎬🌟 #podcast

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What happens when you remove the classism from Hollywood and connect the artists directly with the filmakers? That's what we set out to do one year ago when we launched LOOR.TV officially. Since then we've grown a community of passionate early adopters, we have a backlog of artists waiting to serve them content, and we've funded 55+ titles available to stream, from movies, TV shows and documentaries. We've done this all despite the naysayers. We haven't died, although many people predicted we wouldn't last this long, and we continue to expand our content library, slowly and patiently building up a disruptor. We've stayed true to our values and refused to compromise for an investor check. We've been ghosted, and laughed at. But we never gave up. Jason Farley and I always ask ourselves if our army is still to big? It's no fun winning with a nuke. We don't have the resources of most steaming platforms or film studios but we've proven we don't need them. We don't get invited to fancy parties or red carpet events. And that's what makes us so dangerous. We're already cash flow positive before our one year anniversary. The technology and content is paying for itself despite the fact that you have to cast to the TV to watch anything and there are no apps in an app store! It shouldn't be possible. 😂 But it is. The next phase is investing in our team and expanding ease of access to more subscribers. Everything now goes towards growth and monetization. Welcome to year two.

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Let the Video Games begin! . . . . . #advertising #videogames #animation #marketing #voiceacting #voiceovers #commercials #gaming #characteranimation #voiceoverauditions #animationproduction #animationstudio

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There is a way to listen to music so it touches the very core of you as a human being. I was so fortunate to discover this almost 30 years ago through the teachings of the Spanish conductor Jordi Mora. With these five newly made conversations with him, I invite you to a very special journey into this fascinating and deeply moving world of music. His unique teachings creates connections to our life experiences as a human being. I recently I met up with him in Barcelona to once again delve into the fascinating world of phenomenology of music, as this approach is called. The result are these 5 podcast episodes. I hope you will feel inspired after listening to it!  Episode 3: The irreplaceable nature of live music in capturing the true essence of the Here and Now.Musical example will come in Ep 4  SummaryWe explore the dynamic nature of music, consciousness, and human experience. usic is a continuously evolving entity, shaped by sound relationships and human consciousness. We discuss the importance of embracing the present moment in music, cautioning against becoming detached through technology reliance. The conversation also delves into the role of tempo, harmony, and live performances in creating meaningful musical experiences.  The discussion delves into the intricate relationships between sounds, the importance of human consciousness in perceiving music, and the role of harmony in creating meaningful musical experiences. As the conversation progresses, we touch upon the significance of embracing the present moment in music, allowing for spontaneity, rebirth, and unique experiences with each performance. Furthermore, we explore the role of tempo in music and the importance of finding the right balance in pacing to fully grasp the relationships within a piece. Jordi Mora highlight the dangers of becoming detached from the present moment through dependence on recordings, urging listeners to engage fully with music in its live form to truly appreciate its depth and authenticity. The conversation also touches on the challenges faced by symphony orchestras in attracting audiences, especially among younger generations, and the need to reconnect with the profound experiences that live music. JORDI MORA, conductor  Born in Barcelona, he begins his musical studies at the city's Music Conservatory. He graduates at the Höchschule für Musik in Würzburg as an oboist, and graduates in Musicology and Philosophy at the University of Munich with the thesis "Organisation of the vertical functions in the instrumentation of the symphonic work by Beethoven". He studies orchestra conducting and phenomenology of music primarily with Sergiu Celibidache, and he has attended masterclasses and conducting courses at the University of Mainz, the Münchner Philarmoniker in Munich, and other courses in Trier, London, Stuttgart, and Paris. He has been principal conductor of the National Orchestra of Greece and of the Orquestra Simfònica del Vallès. He regul

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