Influencers

The big rise of independent cinema occurred right in the 80s era. The 90s was when things shifted, and there were uncertain transitions happening. The studio still dominated every conversation about movies and the future of the film industry, but it was towards the end of that decade that the rise of independent films occurred. Noah Cowan, executive director of NSF Film, formerly San Francisco Film Society, puts on the San Francisco International Film Festival which is one of the longest running film festivals in America. Noah says they play a gate keeping role, particularly to changes that are happening in the marketplace. Among the things that concern NSF Film is how independent films have a truly independent voice, particularly these days. They want to know more about what is going on in the creative imagination of women and people of color and try to make sure that those stories are heard and get to be seen by as many people as possible to have a more global view of what’s going on.

The big rise of independent cinema occurred right in the 80s era. The 90s was when things shifted, and there were uncertain transitions happening. The studio still dominated every conversation about movies and the future of the film industry, but it was towards the end of that decade that the rise of independent films occurred. […]

From Apollo 13 to Avatar, Hugo, The Jungle Book, and the iconic Titanic, Rob Legato has worked on some of the biggest and most memorable movies of all time either as visual effects supervisor, second unit director, and second unit director of photography. He has been nominated for numerous awards, including the coveted Academy Awards of which he won three. Rob talks about how he started out in the business and how he developed his methodologies, working with Martin Scorsese and James Cameron, and what it takes to not only make a name in the business but to continue to create stunning visual artistry successfully. Rob says in this day and age, with all the technological advances, there are no limits and you can create movies from a laptop and even your mobile phone. You just need to do it over and over and over again because you only really get good at something by practicing.

From Apollo 13 to Avatar, Hugo, The Jungle Book, and the iconic Titanic, Rob Legato has worked on some of the biggest and most memorable movies of all time either as visual effects supervisor, second unit director, and second unit director of photography. He has been nominated for numerous awards, including the coveted Academy Awards […]

A new species of bird was discovered in Hawaii in 1978, only to get extinct ten years ago. Year after year, the list of endangered animal species is getting longer, and that is why Director of Conservation Genetics at the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research Oliver Ryder is working hard on the endangered species rehabilitation project, or what is simply called the frozen zoo. Oliver and his team collect cells from critically endangered and extinct species to propagate and freeze and to eventually be able to repopulate these animals into certain environments or ecosystems. Oliver admits it’s a lofty goal and there’s a lot of science that lies between what they’re doing and that possibility, but one thing is clear. The most important thing we can do in our time is bank more of this material, foster the development of more frozen zoos, and expand the effort. For this to work, Oliver says we need to have a network of frozen zoos across the globe in regions that are rich in biological diversity and expand the science of how to grow cells.

A new species of bird was discovered in Hawaii in 1978, only to get extinct ten years ago. Year after year, the list of endangered animal species is getting longer, and that is why Director of Conservation Genetics at the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research Oliver Ryder is working hard on the endangered […]

Almost everybody is a gamer under a certain age in some respect. Elements of gaming are now part of our everyday life and it is now a pervasive as part of our culture. Mike Sepso, Co-Founder of Major League Gaming and Senior Vice President at Activision Blizzard, says our concept of what gaming is has to widen a great deal because the whole gaming space is going to get much bigger and people will have different areas of play where they like to game. The technology that’s now being developed like VR and AR, like more powerful mobile platforms, create more pallets for great developers to think of new ideas and execute them. Mike adds that a lot of technology that’s developed in the gaming space becomes very applicable to other more mundane things or more interesting things in different industries. It’s a hotbed for innovation in the technology space, military industry and defense industry.

Almost everybody is a gamer under a certain age in some respect. Elements of gaming are now part of our everyday life and it is now a pervasive as part of our culture. Mike Sepso, Co-Founder of Major League Gaming and Senior Vice President at Activision Blizzard, says our concept of what gaming is has […]

Helen Maroulis is the 2016 Olympic Champion in Women’s Wrestling. Not only that, she’s the first woman in US history to win a gold medal. Helen has been wrestling for nineteen years and says it’s such a cool experience and everyone has been supportive. She adds when we love what we do, we will put in the work for it and don’t count the cost as much. Helen trains with a Russian coach in what he would call the beach Mother Nature’s gym throwing rocks on the beach, running in the sand, doing pull-ups on the trees, and wrestling on the beach every day. She shares what helped her focus on the gold has been a note she wrote herself which says, “Helen, anytime you want to mess up, ask yourself is it worth a gold medal and what does a gold metal taste like?”

Helen Maroulis is the 2016 Olympic Champion in Women's Wrestling. Not only that, she’s the first woman in US history to win a gold medal. Helen has been wrestling for nineteen years and says it’s such a cool experience and everyone has been supportive. She adds when we love what we do, we will put […]

They say our blood is the red river of life. Many of us may not know it but our blood vessel is a 60,000-mile system of channels that deliver oxygen and nutrients to every cell in our body. It’s connected to our immune system, our healthy gut bacteria, how our DNA behaves, and even our body’s ability to regenerate. Dr. Will Li heads the non-profit organization, The Angiogenesis Foundation, in the exploration of conquering diseases by looking at common denominators. He believes that the practice of medicine is all about putting together the pieces of a puzzle of someone’s health or sickness and trying to figure out what’s going on, and angiogenesis or blood vessel growth is a very important factor of that.

They say our blood is the red river of life. Many of us may not know it but our blood vessel is a 60,000-mile system of channels that deliver oxygen and nutrients to every cell in our body. It’s connected to our immune system, our healthy gut bacteria, how our DNA behaves, and even our […]

Reese Jones’ incredible mind has always been concerned about inventing and applying technology to solve problems. He is one of the Associate Founders of Singularity University which defines problems as something that positively affects a billion people within a ten-year timeframe. The main feature of Singularity University is that it allows the material that is taught to be changed in real time and the curriculum to be changed daily to stay current with the times. The experience and the things that are covered are much more current, relevant, up to date, and changing with the way it is in the real world. Reese believes that problems at a global scale that uses technologies that gets better have an impact on society and earth.

Reese Jones’ incredible mind has always been concerned about inventing and applying technology to solve problems. He is one of the Associate Founders of Singularity University which defines problems as something that positively affects a billion people within a ten-year timeframe. The main feature of Singularity University is that it allows the material that is […]

Being Deputy Editor of Newsweek, Ross Schneiderman constantly feels the pressure and responsibility of putting out real news. Other than working in Newsweek, Ross also worked as a journalist in Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and ESPN Magazine. He’s had a longstanding career in journalism and has covered everything from doping in baseball to spies to poker. With the virulence of fake news in this digital time and age, Ross stresses the secret for staying on top of the business is keeping the public informed with authentic and real news. He shares the highs and lows of running a top news magazine, and the approaches a successful journalist takes to make his interviewee open up.

Being Deputy Editor of Newsweek, Ross Schneiderman constantly feels the pressure and responsibility of putting out real news. Other than working in Newsweek, Ross also worked as a journalist in Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and ESPN Magazine. He’s had a longstanding career in journalism and has covered everything from doping in baseball […]

Being a social media influencer is more than just getting in front of a camera and doing fun videos. It’s a combination of things, like knowing your demographic and creating a piece, telling a story that keeps people captivated, and the proper execution in terms of lighting the scene, working the camera, and editing the videos. Logan Paul is one of the biggest social media influencers in the world today. He reveals that getting to where he’s at is not all fun and games but hours and hours of hard work with sometimes no breaks in between. He shares how he broke out of the Ohio bubble.

Being a social media influencer is more than just getting in front of a camera and doing fun videos. It’s a combination of things, like knowing your demographic and creating a piece, telling a story that keeps people captivated, and the proper execution in terms of lighting the scene, working the camera, and editing the […]

Mike Koenigs has cracked the code to publishing success, public speaking and producing your own products. In the process he created hundreds of best sellers, discover is proven method.

Mike Koenigs has cracked the code to publishing success, public speaking and producing your own products. In the process he created hundreds of best sellers, discover is proven method.

Dr. Dean Ornish has dedicated his life to improving our health and wellness. With years of research, publications, and health programs, he has discovered several clear rules on how to stay healthy.

Dr. Dean Ornish has dedicated his life to improving our health and wellness. With years of research, publications, and health programs, he has discovered several clear rules on how to stay healthy.

Entertainment is a harrowing industry full of ups and downs, but how does someone go from Law to being on one of the most respected shows in comedy. Hear the incredible story of The Daily Show’s Ronnie Chieng.

Entertainment is a harrowing industry full of ups and downs, but how does someone go from Law to being on one of the most respected shows in comedy. Hear the incredible story of The Daily Show's Ronnie Chieng.

Zak Penn is the mind behind some of the most popular screen plays of the past decade and a half, from creating the story of Marvel’s Avengers to shaping the X-Men cinematic universe. Now he tackles one of the most ambitious films of our time, Ready Player One.

Zak Penn is the mind behind some of the most popular screen plays of the past decade and a half, from creating the story of Marvel's Avengers to shaping the X-Men cinematic universe. Now he tackles one of the most ambitious films of our time, Ready Player One.

Dr. Patch Adams may have solved many of the critical problems in the medical industry, but if people don’t notice, these insights may be lost and countless will go without care.

Dr. Patch Adams may have solved many of the critical problems in the medical industry, but if people don't notice, these insights may be lost and countless will go without care.

Kevin Kelly is one of the great tech thinkers of our time. He was the founding executive editor of Wired and the author of the hit book The Inevitable. Whatever the future holds, he may be able to tell us.

Kevin Kelly is one of the great tech thinkers of our time. He was the founding executive editor of Wired and the author of the hit book The Inevitable. Whatever the future holds, he may be able to tell us.

Mike Farah is at the helm of one of the most important companies in comedy. Some of the most famous comedians in the world have graced their content, but in a world where the playing field is changing constantly how do you continue to grow your company?

Mike Farah is at the helm of one of the most important companies in comedy. Some of the most famous comedians in the world have graced their content, but in a world where the playing field is changing constantly how do you continue to grow your company?

Rita Soronen and her team at the Dave Thomas Foundation, have dedicated thier lives to helping orphans find safe and loving families. The impact of thier research and work, have helped countless families come together.

Rita Soronen and her team at the Dave Thomas Foundation, have dedicated thier lives to helping orphans find safe and loving families. The impact of thier research and work, have helped countless families come together.

During improvisation or spontaneous creativity, the brain enters a state of being completely intertwined with the activity, be it painting landscapes, playing jazz or freestyle rapping. This is called the Flow state, a unique pattern of how the brain works that cognitive neuroscientist and professor of psychiatry Dr. Heather Berlin has been studying. In this state, creativity is flowing through a person and so a sense of self, time and place is lost to them until they become aware of the activity. Learn Dr. Berlin’s definition of creativity and how meditation helps in achieving the Flow state.

During improvisation or spontaneous creativity, the brain enters a state of being completely intertwined with the activity, be it painting landscapes, playing jazz or freestyle rapping. This is called the Flow state, a unique pattern of how the brain works that cognitive neuroscientist and professor of psychiatry Dr. Heather Berlin has been studying. In this […]

Katie Ford left the helm of Ford Models, one of the global premire modeling agencies, to presue something that would have a profound impact to countless people world wide, the end of human trafficking.

Katie Ford left the helm of Ford Models, one of the global premire modeling agencies, to presue something that would have a profound impact to countless people world wide, the end of human trafficking.

Robert Picardo has played many iconic characters over the years from his time in theater to his role as the ship’s doctor in Star Trek Voyager. But what may be most exciting is what lies ahead.

Robert Picardo has played many iconic characters over the years from his time in theater to his role as the ship's doctor in Star Trek Voyager. But what may be most exciting is what lies ahead.

Everyone says they want to be a travel writer, exploring the world seeking out new cultures and running a nomadic business but Matt Kepnes is one of the few people who have actually been able to do it. Discover his approach to living life on the road, and how you can see more of the world for less.

Everyone says they want to be a travel writer, exploring the world seeking out new cultures and running a nomadic business but Matt Kepnes is one of the few people who have actually been able to do it. Discover his approach to living life on the road, and how you can see more of the […]

Konstantin and his colleague accomplished something that only a handful of people in the history of man have done. They reshaped our solar system. Using advanced math and predictive modeling, they discovered planet 9. A yet unseen member of our solar system.

Konstantin and his colleague accomplished something that only a handful of people in the history of man have done. They reshaped our solar system. Using advanced math and predictive modeling, they discovered planet 9. A yet unseen member of our solar system.

Years ago, while Dr. Bassem Youssef was waiting in Egypt for his US work visa, he posted a video to YouTube imitating the comedic satire of John Stewart. This video launched an unexpected career as the most famous comedian and television personality in the middle east, at least until the government began a war to take him down.

Years ago, while Dr. Bassem Youssef was waiting in Egypt for his US work visa, he posted a video to YouTube imitating the comedic satire of John Stewart. This video launched an unexpected career as the most famous comedian and television personality in the middle east, at least until the government began a war to […]

Seanne Winslow is a master of bringing people together around a common goal, so it should be no surprise that not only did she produce The International Block Buster, The Lego Movie, but she created one of the most extraordinary communities of AAA creatives Hollywood has ever seen.

Seanne Winslow is a master of bringing people together around a common goal, so it should be no surprise that not only did she produce The International Block Buster, The Lego Movie, but she created one of the most extraordinary communities of AAA creatives Hollywood has ever seen.

Roy Wood Jr. is a nationally recognized comedian and correspondent on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. But his entire career was created for a single outrageous gamble, hear the wild stories and incredible journey of this master of laughs.

Roy Wood Jr. is a nationally recognized comedian and correspondent on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. But his entire career was created for a single outrageous gamble, hear the wild stories and incredible journey of this master of laughs.

Welcome to Influencers! Eric Schurenberg has made a career of telling the stories of the greatest Entrepreneurs and companies in the world. What he has learned could change the direction of your business.