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Send us a textWe dive into the often-overlooked world of specification engineers and their critical role in ensuring successful low voltage infrastructure projects. Roy Chamberlain from Leviton Network Solutions shares insights on how these behind-the-scenes experts help project managers, estimators, and technicians navigate complex specifications and standards.• Specification engineers serve as the glue between manufacturers, contractors, designers, and end-users• They help interpret specifications, fill in gaps, and ensure all components work together seamlessly• Many specifications contain outdated standards due to template reuse—spec engineers help keep everything current• Manufacturers offer solution-based approaches rather than just individual products• Future-proofing isn't necessarily more expensive—it just requires different thinking• Technicians can directly contact spec engineers for troubleshooting and on-site challenges• Working with established manufacturers provides access to expertise that online retailers can't match• Spec engineers stay current with evolving standards through regular training and industry participationCheck out Leviton's website or connect with Roy Chamberlain on LinkedIn to learn more about how specification engineers can help with your next project.Support the showKnowledge is power! Make sure to stop by the webpage to buy me a cup of coffee or support the show at https://linktr.ee/letstalkcabling . Also if you would like to be a guest on the show or have a topic for discussion send me an email at chuck@letstalkcabling.com Chuck Bowser RCDD TECH#CBRCDD #RCDD
Today in Lighting is brought to you by Halco Lighting, where they strive to be your 1st choice as a lighting technology partner! Learn more. Highlights today include: Signify Names CFO Željko Kosanović as Interim CEO Amid Leadership Transition, Signify Reports Solid Q1 2025 Earnings, LytePod with David Seok: Breaking Bias, Building Belonging, The LightFair 2025 Mobile App Is Now Live, Leviton's Certolux® Launches New Patient Room Lighting Solution.
In this episode of Drive Thru HR, hosts Robin Schooling and Michael VanDervort welcome Mark Fogel, who describes himself as the last HR Jedi. We explore the challenges and opportunities for late career professionals in HR and discuss the importance of continuous learning, networking, and adapting to the changing workplace landscape. Mark shares insights on how to navigate ageism, the gig economy, and the need for agility in organizations as he encourages listeners to define their value proposition and leverage their networks to find new opportunities. Mark is a Director and national practice consultant for Clifton Larson Allen's Talent Management consulting practice and a former CHRO for Leviton, Marcum, and Success Academy Charter Schools. He is a Senior Adjunct Professor of distinction at Adelphi University's Business School leading HR classes for MBA and Undergrad students in Staffing, Selection, Compensation and Global disciplines. You can catch Mark leading a session at SHRM Talent (Nashville, March 24 – 26, 2025) or connect with him on LinkedIn.
Send us a textWhether you're a seasoned grappler or just getting started, this episode has something for you! Today we talk with Kyle Leviton, part owner of Carry Fire Jiu Jitsu. If you are in the market for a new gi or jiujitsu apparel, you might want to check them out! Link is below! https://carryfire.com/
Today in Lighting is brought to you by iGuzzini, LIGHT THAT MOVES, the global leader transforming architectural lighting with Italian design excellence and cutting-edge innovation. Discover more. Highlights today include: Leviton's Michael Lehman Recognized by the Green Building Initiative as a 2024 Green Globes Fellow, Cree LED and Daktronics Enter Licensing Agreement for LED Display Technology, Get A Grip on Lighting: Christopher Knowlton Discusses LightFair, Design Engineer with PureEdge Lighting, Espen Technology Taps Isaac Jaten As RSM-Mountain States.
Today in Lighting is brought to you by ams OSRAM and their full color spectrum LEDs for precise tuning and ultimate customizability. Highlights today include: Adam Heller appointed Leviton's Director of Commercial Lighting Agent Sales, Gordon Brothers Auction of Lights Fantastic and Saylite Assets, Revolutionizing Museum Lighting Controls, Why U.S. Lighting Controls Lag: Insights from Shoshanna Segal on the Lighting Controls Podcast, Get A Grip on Lighting: Sports Lighting in Play, Visa Lighting® Launches First Ever Commercial Globes with RGBW & Downlight.
Mike Connaughton discusses AI's impact on data centers. We explore the challenges and opportunities AI brings, including increased power, cooling, and connectivity needs.Mike has 30+ years of experience with fiber optic cabling and is responsible for strategic data center account support and alliances at Leviton. He has received the Aegis Excellence Award from the U.S. Navy for his work on the Fiber Optic Cable Steering Committee and was a key member of the committee that developed the SMPTE 311M standard for a hybrid fiber optic HD camera cable. He has participated in standardization activities for TIA, ICEA, ANSI and IEEE.Thank you for listening and please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review our show on your favorite app.To get a hold of us here at Keepin' The Lights On, please email: podcast@graybar.comTo reach Mike Connaughton on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-connaughton-1933301/MyWay Restaurant: https://mywaytavern.com/holly-springsYouTube Version of Episode: https://youtu.be/pfvbHXLkcPo Webinar: https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/4572085/E5E0687AB8C312C7678515EFE944B3A1?partnerref=rss-eventsAI WebinarOPT-X Global Fiber SystemsData Center Page Corporate Video Leviton Spine Leaf Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rprH74BWJW0Story on Power Consumption: https://www.datacenterfrontier.com/energy/article/55019791/doe-study-ai-boom-breeds-localized-energy-constraints-but-grid-can-meet-long-term-demand
Join us for this insightful episode of WISEUP as we sit down with Todd Harple, Senior Director of Product Management at Leviton! If you're familiar with Leviton, you know they've been a leader in infrastructure solutions for decades. In this episode, we delve into Leviton's wide-ranging impact across industries, from residential smart devices to the robust networks that power data centers and smart buildings. Todd shares his extensive industry experience, shedding light on the latest market trends, including the growing importance of intelligent building systems, data centers, and the renewed push in finance and logistics. We explore how Leviton supports these sectors with cutting-edge structured cabling solutions, fault-managed power technologies, and sustainable building practices designed to optimize performance and energy efficiency. Discover how connectivity drives modern infrastructure—whether in hospitals, financial institutions, or your smart home—and why a resilient network is the backbone of our digital world. We also discuss the evolving standards in structured cabling, new technologies extending the reach of copper cabling, and how Leviton is paving the way for the future of connectivity. Tune in to hear about Todd's predictions for what's on the horizon in cabling technology, the blending of commercial and residential network solutions, and why getting people back into the office is reshaping today's smart buildings. Don't miss this engaging conversation packed with insights on the future of infrastructure and connectivity!
Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Joel Leviton of December FriendDecember Friend was born out of the pandemic when Joel Leviton reached out to friends Jeff Victor (Minneapolis-musician extraordinaire) and John Wlaysewski (of Brooklyn-based band Late Cambrian) asking if they wanted to collaborate on a new project. Thankfully, they said yes. All songs were recorded remotely in home studios in Minneapolis and Brooklyn and with that December Friend came together. Leviton says, “For me – it's all about the song. A song should give something to the listener, an observation, an inspiration, a feeling, a memory, a reflection. http://www.makingascene.org
“I'm profoundly motivated this Labor Day,” Jon Shelton tells A Public Affair host Douglas Haynes. Shelton, Vice-President for Higher Education of the American Federation of Teachers-Wisconsin, joins the program to […] The post Labor Organizing in Higher Ed with Jon Shelton and Daniel Leviton appeared first on WORT-FM 89.9.
A conversation with Bill Grande , Vice President: Codes, Standards and Compliance at electrical device manufacturer Leviton.
Prepare to unravel the mysteries of Modular Plug Terminated Links with the expertise of Dan Underbrink RCDD from Leviton, an industry veteran who's seen it all. Discover the surprising ways MPTLs can streamline your network infrastructure, particularly for devices that don't require regular unplugging. Dan guides us through the intricate world of cabling, sharing his wealth of knowledge on when to utilize MPTLs over traditional structured systems, and why your office desktop setup demands the solidity of jacks and patch cords.In our enlightening discussion, we navigate the nuances of testing these innovative links, contrasting the common modular end connectors with the more sophisticated plugs featuring integrated circuit boards. Tune in to learn the secrets of high-speed data cabling, the importance of precision tools, and the expert techniques necessary to keep your network humming and compliant with warranty standards. This episode is packed with telecom industry insights and practical advice, ensuring you're equipped with the know-how to face the evolving challenges in cabling with confidence.Support the showKnowledge is power! Make sure to stop by the webpage to buy me a cup of coffee or support the show at https://linktr.ee/letstalkcabling . Also if you would like to be a guest on the show or have a topic for discussion send me an email at chuck@letstalkcabling.com Chuck Bowser RCDD TECH#CBRCDD #RCDD
Highlights today include: The IALD Conference, Join the BOL Team Webinar, Sean Gaydos, President and Chief Sales Officer for USAI. Bob Brown, VP of Sales, LSI Industries Reports Fiscal 2024 First Quarter Results and Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend, Wesco International Reports Third Quarter 2023 Results, Lightspec LLC Becomes Crestron Representative for Upstate New York, Leviton and Architectural Lighting Sales Inc. Join Forces in Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia Markets, Lightapalooza 2024 Registration Now Open!
Highlights today include: Digital Filament to Close at Year End, Signify, Leviton, McWong, Lightly Among Winers of DOE's L-Prize Prototype Phase, Technical Guide on Zhaga-D4i Control Devices Published, Sonepar Enters into an Agreement to Acquire Sunrise Electric Supply, NECA '23 Delivers in Philly.
Hear Bill and Gloria's interview with Rob Spargis, Business Development Manager for Leviton during the RE+ Conference this week in Las Vegas. Leviton is a leading manufacturer of products that encompass electrical, lighting, data networks, and energy management. Leviton has a rich history spanning over 115 years developing thoughtful solutions that streamline processes, elevate safety standards, increase efficiency, and enhance productivity.Rob does an excellent job of explaining Leviton's new Smart Home Automation system. Thanks Rob, for the fun and informative interview! For more information please visit: leviton.comSupport the show
Myofascial Release/Carniosacral Therapist Margot J. Leviton--joins the show to break down the benefits of fascia release and craniosacral work. She also talks about how the gift of dancing and watching others dance became the antidote to her tough times in life and led her to her healing tour. Margot has been working in the healing space for over 18 years and her clients range from dancers, athletes, stunt performers, circus performers, and others. Stay Connected: @vancouverhealer @jasminknox_
Imagine unraveling the world of cable installation and design, picking up handy tips and industry insights along the way. How about understanding the intricacies of RCDD certification—should you specialize or aim for a broad skill set? In our lively discussion, we shed light on this and more,Ever wondered about the role of plywood in telecom rooms? Or the specifics of running OFNR inside of interduct? Journey with us as we navigate through these topics and more, including best practices for installation and the significance of codes and standards. We also delve into the difference between a MUTOA and a consolidation point, explaining when to use each, and how to identify cable failures. And of course, we can't forget the all-important topic of cable pulling lubricant. Get ready to decipher Category 6A and Cat 7 cables, as we contrast American National Standards with the International Organization Standardization. We also dive into the technicalities—tools for Category 6A rated 110 block, the difference between a regular five-banger and the Leviton model, and how pair spacing impacts installation. Discover why Cat 7 cable is a rarity in the US and learn about the importance of a backup system. We wrap things up with a look at the use of armored fiber and its potential applications, along with some crucial tips on text giving to Mission 5. It's a discussion you won't want to miss!Support the showKnowledge is power! Make sure to stop by the webpage to buy me a cup of coffee or support the show at https://linktr.ee/letstalkcabling . Also if you would like to be a guest on the show or have a topic for discussion send me an email at chuck@letstalkcabling.com Chuck Bowser RCDD TECH#CBRCDD #RCDD
This is the final episode of The Internet of Things Podcast, and to send us off after eight years, we don't discuss the big news of the day such as Arm's planned IPO, a new display option from Brilliant, or new gear from Leviton. Instead we share our reasons for stepping back from the show, … Continue reading Episode 437: Goodbye and good luck The post Episode 437: Goodbye and good luck appeared first on IoT Podcast - Internet of Things.
This week take a deep dive into the SAG and WGA strike. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: Telly starts shipping its free ad-supported 55-inch TVs Half of internet users switch off broadcast TV Get ready for light-based Wi-Fi, because it's now an official standard Leviton jumps on the Matter bandwagon Other: CLZ movie database What does the WGA and SAG strike mean and how will it affect TV and Movie Production This marks the first time since 1960 that both unions are on strike simultaneously. Here is a list of the issues; We're Fighting for the Survival of Our Profession What striking members are not allowed to do: No acting or singing or stunts. No interviews to promote movies or shows. No piloting on-camera aircraft No puppeteering No performance capture or motion capture work. No re-recording dialogue, voice acting, narration and stunt coordination No promoting new projects—including tours, personal appearances, and attendance at premieres and screenings No Interviews, as well as podcast appearances and promotion on social media. No awards campaigning, such as appearances at “for your consideration events,” Actors cannot appear at any conventions, fan expos or festivals Members must also “instruct their agent and/or other representatives to discontinue conducting negotiations on their behalf with the studios
This week we spoke to Leviton about their Decora Edge switches and outlet. You can subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Check out our home improvement videos on our YouTube channel Fix It Home Improvement. Download our e-books, Home Improvement Solutions : What Every Homeowner Should Know on Amazon. Email us at fixitpodcast@gmail.com. Follow us on Twitter @fixitpodcast. Follow us on Instagram, Fix It Home Improvement.
We review the Aqara F2 Presence Sensor, the only HomeKit occupancy sensor, and discuss Leviton switch updates. We also explore Matter's glitches on HomeKit devices and the addition of Wiz smart lights to Apple Home via Matter.Send us your HomeKit questions and recommendations with the hashtag homekitinsider. Tweet and follow our hosts at:@andrew_osu on Twitter@stephenrobles on TwitterStephen on MastodonEmail us hereSponsored by:HelloFresh: America's #1 Meal Kit! Use the promo code homekit16 for up to 16 FREE meals plus FREE shipping when you visit: hellofresh.com/homekit16HomeKit Insider YouTube ChannelSubscribe to the HomeKit Insider YouTube Channel and watch our episodes every week! Click here to subscribe.Links from the showLutron Companion Wall DimmerWiZ smart lights now support Apple Home via MatterAqara FP2 presence sensor review: The only HomeKit occupancy sensorAqara G4 Video Doorbell review: performance, specs, costSubscribe and listen to our AppleInsider Daily podcast for the latest Apple news Monday through Friday. You can find it on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.Those interested in sponsoring the show can reach out to us at: andrew@appleinsider.com
Highlights today include: Acuity Brands 2Q Revenue of $943.6M Misses by $14.86M, Electrical Trends: Why Reps? We Asked Manufacturers, Inventronics Finally Acquires OSRAM Digital Systems in Europe and Asia, Leviton's Captain Code Program, American Lighting Expands its 12VAC Line, A New Architecture Expo, Powered by AIA, Specification Sales Representative – PLP SoCal.
Home: On - a DIY home automation podcast from The Digital Media Zone
Amazon makes an infuriating money grab for Ring app features you've been using for years, Sonos is expected to use a product launch as an opportunity to raise prices again, and Leviton will be rolling matter support out to 2nd generation Decora Smart products with a firmware update. Finally, several quarters in now, what's Insteon Technologies up to? Co-founder Richard Sudek joins us to share the latest on Insteon products and services, talk about some new products, and give us a glimpse at what's in their sights for the future. Cue Richard Gunther's standard Insteon disclaimer. The post Home: On #155 – Restarting Insteon with Richard Sudek from Insteon Technologies appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.
This week we interview the BICSI 2023 Cable Skills Challenge winner. He won it not once but twice, putting him in a very exclusive club! Thomas "TJ" Pate is a INSTC, INSTF, TECH and a shining star. We discuss his experience what what you can expect if you decide to challenge the best!Support the show
On this weeks HomeTech: A new Hubitat Hub is on the way, HDAnywhere announces a new remote, Amazon announces more integrations, Matter comes to Leviton, Smart water tech is here, a folding robot, and project updates from the team.
Eve updates several devices to Matter, Airversa announces a HomeKit humidifier, Andrew gets a first look at the Dexcom G7 glucose monitor, and we review the Leviton Scene Controller and Lutron Diva smart dimmer.Send us your HomeKit questions and recommendations with the hashtag homekitinsider. Tweet and follow our hosts at @andrew_osu and @stephenrobles or email us here. Find us in your favorite podcast player by searching for "HomeKit Insider" and support the show by leaving a 5-Star rating and comment in Apple Podcasts.Sponsored by:Zocdoc: Go to zocdoc.com/hki and download the app to sign-up for FREE. Find doctors and specialists that take your insurance and even book appointments online!Kolide: Send your employees automated Slack messages with security and privacy recommendations! Get a FREE Kolide Gift Bundle after trial activation when you visit: kolide.com/homekitHomeKit Insider YouTube ChannelSubscribe to the HomeKit Insider YouTube Channel and watch our episodes every week! Click here to subscribe.Links from the showJustWatch - The Streaming GuideEve rolling out Matter firmware update for some HomeKit productsGetting started with Matter | evehome.comKasa Apple HomeKit Smart Dimmer Airversa to Launch Thread-Enabled HumidifierLevel Lock+ | LevelFirst look: New Dexcom G7 glucose monitorLeviton Scene Controller SwitchLutron Diva Smart DimmerLutron Claro Smart SwitchButton of the Month - The VergeSubscribe and listen to our AppleInsider Daily podcast for the latest Apple news Monday through Friday. You can find it on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.Those interested in sponsoring the show can reach out to us at: andrew@appleinsider.com
Randy discusses Leviton's new WavePort™ Technology, International Dark-Sky Association announces 2022 IDA Award Recipients, MIT Morningside Academy for Design develops community around design, and PureEdge Lighting launches TruCurve.
Randy discusses the LIT Lighting Design Awards, Leviton announces goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030, StrongLED is pulling out of the US market, Johnson & Johnson launch new contact lens that filter blue-violet light, Acuity changes reps in the Georgia market, Current chooses The MH Companies as their rep in four western states, and WILD NYC and LHRC will hold the event Light Equity: Status and Room for Change.
We don't really expect smart home talk at Apple's iPhone event, but there was a brief mention of HomeKit this year. We discuss it along with some accessibility implications of the new AirPods Pro. Also, Eve made waves at this year's IFA show in Germany showing off Matter and announcing some new additions to their lineup. Leviton released a new HomeKit-enabled fan speed controller. IKEA also looks to be gearing up to join the Thread and Matter conversation with a new hub. What is a hub, you ask? Why should you care? We end our episode with a discussion on smart home hubs.
In Episode 77 of “The Trusted Advisor,” the RSPA's Jim Roddy talks software developer growth strategies and go-to-market plans with ISV executives Jason Richelson, the Co-Founder and CEO of Bookkeep, and Ben Leviton, the Co-Founder and Director of Business Development at Acadia Point of Sale. Richelson and Leviton discuss the changing retail IT channel, their most successful sales strategies, and which partnerships will play a role in their future go-to-market plans. “The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is an award-winning content series designed specifically for retail IT resellers and software developers. Our goal is to educate you on the topics of leadership, management, hiring, sales, and other small business best practices. For more insights, visit the RSPA blog at www.GoRSPA.org. The RSPA is North America's largest community of VARs, software developers, vendors, and distributors in the retail, restaurant, grocery, and cannabis verticals. The mission of the RSPA is to accelerate the success of its members in the retail technology ecosystem by providing knowledge and connections. The organization offers education, hotlines for legal, security, sales, and business advice, industry advocacy, and discounts on other services to assist members with becoming and remaining successful. RSPA is most well-known for its signature events, RetailNOW and Inspire, which provide face-to-face learning and networking opportunities. Learn more by visiting www.GoRSPA.org.
Special guest Jennifer Tuohy from The Verge joins us to discuss Leviton's new HomeKit fan speed controller, the SmartMi P2 air purifier, SwitchBot door lock with keypad, Chamberlain pulls the plug on its HomeKit bridge, plus what HomeKit devices we may see launched this Fall.Send us your HomeKit questions and recommendations with the hashtag homekitinsider. Tweet and follow our hosts at @andrew_osu, @jp2e and @stephenrobles or email us here. Find us in your favorite podcast player by searching for "HomeKit Insider" and support the show by leaving a 5-Star rating and comment in Apple Podcasts.HomeKit Insider YouTube ChannelSubscribe to the HomeKit Insider YouTube Channel and watch our episodes every week! Click here to subscribe.Links from the showLeviton Decora 2nd Gen Fan Speed ControllerSmartMi Air Purifier 2 reviewSwitchBot Lock with Keypad Chamberlain pulls the plug on its HomeKit smart home bridgeSubscribe and listen to our AppleInsider Daily podcast for the latest Apple news Monday through Friday. You can find it on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.Those interested in sponsoring the show can reach out to us at: andrew@appleinsider.com
In an era of fake news and 'alternative facts', the issue of truth and how it is presented to the world has never been more timely. But on a personal level, things are less clear cut. We all tell white lies and withhold info in the name of manners and politeness from time to time and some of the hardest truths can feel very difficult to tell. Micheal Leviton is a writer and musician from Brooklyn whose book, To Be Honest: A Memoir, tells his own story of growing up in a family who, according to Michael, never lied. His upbringing meant that by the age of 29 he could only recall having lied three times in his life. The challenges of being brutally honest on a daily basis have been the basis of much soul searching for the author and also serve as the foundation of a few entertaining tales in his book. He joins Intelligence Squared producer Catharine Hughes to talk about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week on the show, will streaming break sports bars? Leviton joins Home Assistant, Wemo's new smart Dimmer, Google Nest gets an upgrade, finally, Canadian internet is getting faster, Seth talks about travel routers, Gavin updates us on his rack, and TJ automates his car. All of this and the pick of the week!
Alex runs us through his new and improved off-site backup setup, and Chris is trying out some Shelly devices.
On this week's show: Google breaks some things making Matter matter, we say goodbye to Smart Dry, Alarm.com gets some new solar monitoring services, Switchbot makes a keypad, Hue makes a new keypad, Leviton makes a better one, and sweet, innocent Gavin learns about something new from Reddit comments. All of this, the pick of the week, and more!
Home: On - a DIY home automation podcast from The Digital Media Zone
IKEA has a new smart home hub in the wings with yet another name we'll all be trying to pronounce, Amazon ditches its old Cloud Cam but makes good on customers' investments, and Insteon is back and under new management. Greg Rhoades from Leviton joins Richard on this episode to discuss all this plus his company's recent push into the smart home with its latest generation of Decora Smart products. The post Home: On #150 – Decora Smart with Greg Rhoades from Leviton appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.
Aqara updates their D100 lock with HomeKey, Sonos officially launches Ray soundbar, update on 3-way HomeKit dimmers, and guest Shane Whatley shares some of his unique HomeKit products and automations. Send us your HomeKit questions and recommendations with the hashtag homekitinsider. Tweet and follow our hosts at @andrew_osu and @stephenrobles or email us here. Find us in your favorite podcast player by searching for "HomeKit Insider" and support the show by leaving a 5-Star rating and comment in Apple Podcasts. Sponsored by: Zocdoc: Go to zocdoc.com/hki and download the app to sign-up for FREE. Find doctors and specialists that take your insurance and even book appointments online! Nebia by Moen:
This week we take a look at Sony's 2022 TVs and Projectors with availability and pricing information. We also read your emails and take a looks at the week's news. News: Sonos may roll out its own voice assistant next month Leviton launches HomeKit-enabled Decora Smart No-Neutral Switch, Dimmer, and Bridge aimed at older homes Are Sluggish Smart TV Shipments Really Behind the Growth Problems for Netflix and Other Streamers? Just Look at This Chart Google Nest cameras now work with Amazon Alexa devices Dish, Sling TV Report Increased Sub Loses Other: Sinclair and Bally Announce Their Direct-to-Consumer Streaming Platform is Coming in June Fans struggling to watch Mavs, Stars and Rangers games on Bally Sports may soon have a solution Same-day theatrical and streaming releases are dead, says theater owners CEO - FlatpanelsHD Netflix Dolby Atmos problems with new Apple TV 4k 2021 new gen Apple tv 4k Dolby Atmos Problems | MartinLogan Audio Owners Forum Some Apple TV Users Complain of Dolby Atmos Audio Issues - MacRumors Dolby Atmos stuttering on newest gen Apple TV MyQ With Alexa – Here's How! (Step-By-Step Instructions) Sony 2022 TVs — QD-OLED, Mini LED, Master Series And More The Sony 2022 TV lineup features an updated XR processor, promising Sony's Bravia XR TVs to ramp up image processing power across 4K OLED TVs, a QD-OLED TV and the brand's first Mini LED TV. Full article here… Sony Debuts Three New Native 4K HDR Laser Home Cinema Projectors Sony Electronics has revealed three new Native 4K HDR Home Cinema laser projectors, featuring what the company calls the world's smallest Native 4K SXRD 0.61-inch panel (3840 x 2160), enabling a compact chassis design. New wide dynamic range optics in combination with Triluminous Pro algorithm deliver an unmatched 4K HDR experience on the large screen. Powered by Sony's “X1 Ultimate for projector,” the picture processor based on technology used for its BRAVIA TV series and optimized for projectors, this processor enables unique features like Dynamic HDR Enhancer and Object-based Super Resolution to create expanded dynamic range and extreme clarity, heightening the viewing experience. The new models are: The VPL-XW7000ES is Sony's new Native 4K HDR laser model in the range, with 3200 lumen and Live Color Enhancer that provides vivid images even in bright home living spaces. This model also features a new 70mm diameter Advanced Crisp Focused (ACF) lens with aspherical front element and floating focus group that delivers high clarity. The VPL-XW7000ES has a suggested retail price of $27,999.99 and is available to order summer 2022 at Sony Electronics, Amazon, Best Buy, and other authorized dealers. The VPL-XW6000ES offers a bold, crisp entertainment experience with 2500 lumen of brightness, generated by a long-lasting laser light source, for vibrant images even on a large screen. Available in either black or white, this model also features an all-new 0.61-inch SXRD panel for high brightness, inky blacks, vibrant colors, rich tones and textures, clear cinematic motion, and image smoothness. Utilizing Flagship-level X1 Ultimate for projector brings the best of Sony's BRAVIA TV video processing for projection, resulting in high dynamic range imagery with texture, color, contrast, and realism. The VPL-XW6000ES has a suggested retail price of $11,999.99 and is available to order summer 2022 at Sony Electronics, Amazon, Best Buy, and other authorized dealers. The VPL-XW5000ES addition to Sony's Home Cinema lineup is a 2000 lumen laser model that delivers high contrast and object-based HDR remastering for real-time picture processing. On the XW series, over a billion colors are brought to life by Triluminos Pro, which features the ability to display 95 percent of DCI-P3 Color Gamut. The VPL-XW5000ES has a suggested retail price of $5,999.99 and is available to order summer 2022 at Sony Electronics, Amazon, Best Buy, and other authorized dealers.
Onvis releasing an updated contact sensor with Thread and new 5-button HomeKit controller, Arlo indoor camera gains HomeKit support, Leviton launches no-neutral wire solutions, Sonos releasing entry-level sound bar and its own voice assistant, plus a new report shows Alexa uses voice data for advertising. Send us your HomeKit questions and recommendations with the hashtag homekitinsider. Tweet and follow our hosts at @andrew_osu and @stephenrobles or email us here. Find us in your favorite podcast player by searching for "HomeKit Insider" and support the show by leaving a 5-Star rating and comment in Apple Podcasts. Sponsored by: Hunter Douglas: Take advantage of the Season of Style rebate savings event at: hunterdouglas.com/homekit HomeKit Insider YouTube Channel Subscribe to the HomeKit Insider YouTube Channel and watch our episodes every week! Click here to subscribe. Links from the show Onvis Set to Release New Thread-Enabled Devices Nanoleaf Remote Arlo Essentials Indoor Camera Gets HomeKit Integration Leviton announces HomeKit-enabled Decora home lighting solutions for older homes Report shows that Amazon uses data from Alexa smart speakers to serve targeted ads - The Verge Exclusive: Sonos' next soundbar will be called the Sonos Ray - The Verge Sonos releasing its own privacy-focused voice assistant in June Fibaro Flood, Water & Temperature Sensor Subscribe and listen to our AppleInsider Daily podcast for the latest Apple news Monday through Friday. You can find it on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, or anywhere you listen to podcasts. Those interested in sponsoring the show can reach out to us at: andrew@appleinsider.com
This week on HomeTech: New kit from both Wyze and Aqara "wow" the DIY market, Leviton launches retrofit-friendly lighting control, Amazon adds new features to both FireTV and Alex but is also spying on you, Gavin wants a New LG 55-inch TV, and a slick pick of the week.
Randy discusses the submission deadline for the NLB Tesla Awards, deadline to update SSL products to V5.1 is today, the April issue of designing lighting (dl) is coming out soon, ELS Expo is back, and check out the Perspectives from LEDucation 2022 series by Leviton.
“The Woman Who Wrote Dumbo” was the winner of best feature screenplay at the LA Feedback Film Festival. Conversation with writer Jodi Leviton on the process making the film, followed by a best scene reading of the screenplay. Logline: After being diagnosed with an eating disorder, struggling screenwriter Avery researches the life of Helen Aberson and is sent on a journey of personal and professional development. CAST LIST: Narrator: Val Cole Avery: Hannah Ehman Caleb: Steve Rizzo Jamie/Jake: Geoff May Gail/Waitress: Kyana Teresa Screenplay Reading also showing on the WILDsound TV app next month. You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it's only $3.99 per month. Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod/ https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod
Randy discusses the IES Research Symposium, WIL publishes nominees for its 2022 awards program, Reggiani USA files Chapter 7, Leviton has a career opportunity, and Synapse Wireless releases industry-leading rebate finder.
Health and wellness are top of mind for every designer and specifier, but what role can lighting and controls play in supporting occupant wellbeing? In this episode produced in partnership with Leviton, experts from the company's various brands share their insights into the ways in which lighting design can help improve health outcomes in healthcare facilities, the role UV lighting technology plays in disinfection and the myriad of solutions available to designers today. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/iandsdesign/support
Season 1, titled “The Drift That Follows Will Be Gradual,” threads together a reporter's cherished past—1980s, Los Angeles—and his mentally ill millennial son's determination to claim his own season in the sun. Jeffrey Leviton is a fading romantic, twice divorced, with visions of literary grandeur. Beginning in the 1980s, a golden age of magazine journalism and a period of unmatched freedom in Los Angeles, and continuing through the convulsions of the 2010s, Leviton grows through a harrowing crucible of circumstances—romantic chaos, alcoholic recovery, homelessness, and cultural transition—all while attempting to anchor his son Philip's precarious security. Part father-son drama, part roman a clef of a changing LA, the eight linked stories—bittersweet, sometimes funny, deliciously messy—stumble toward redemption through themes both So Cal and global: the ache of cultural drift, the alienation of the awkward and the uncelebrated in the 21st Century, and the timelessness of young dreams.Debuts February 2022.CREDITS:Host Alan Rifkin's novels, essays and short stories of Los Angeles have been published widely. Find out more about him at www.alanrifkin.com.Intro music is from the song "Slow," performed by Sally Dworsky. Written by Sally Dworsky and Chris Hickey. Available on iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music and all other streaming platforms. Podcast art by Ryan Longnecker.Special thanks to Ben Rifkin, Sarah Fleming, Chip Rice, John Gould, Gary Commins, Sheila Finch, and Brandon Cook.Representation: Chip Rice c.rice@wordlink.us
Michael and Phil talk about different ways to break into Hollywood and most of it isn't what you'd think. Learn how Michael broke in, how Phil broke in, and the right way to think about accessing Hollywood.Show NotesOnline Screenwriting Course - https://michaeljamin.com/courseFree Screenwriting Lesson - https://michaeljamin.com/freeWarner Brother's Writer's Workshop - https://televisionworkshop.warnerbros.com/writers-workshop/Marc Maron - http://www.wtfpod.com/Rhett & Link - https://mythical.com/Joe Rogan - https://www.joerogan.com/Sarah Cooper's Netflix Show - https://www.netflix.com/title/81314070Sarah Cooper's CBS Pilot - https://deadline.com/2021/04/amy-york-rubin-to-direct-sarah-cooper-cindy-chupack-cbs-comedy-pilot-1234726403/Blaire Erskine - https://www.instagram.com/blaire.erskine/?hl=enTwirlyGirl - https://www.twirlygirlshop.com/Michael (00:00):Even though that experience wasn't great for me, I would still recommend the Warner Brothers Writing Program to people because it's, it's an in so great. You know, for us, it worked out well. We, we didn't have to make a third of our salary and we got to be on a great show, but for, for somebody else, it's still a better opportunity than none at all.Michael (00:25):All right. Welcome everyone today. We're talking about different paths to break into Hollywood, cuz you all wanna break into Hollywood, right? Yeah. That's the goal. That's the goal. So there's just so many different ways. Like people say, well, how do I get in? And there's, there's really no, obviously there's no one way. It's not like becoming a doctor where you go to Med School and that's what you, you know, eventually you become a, I guess you become a Resident, then you an Intern. And then, you know, you, you, you work your way as, as a, become a, a Physician or a Surgeon or whatever. There's no one way. And, uh, which is good, but it's a little it's must be a little frustrating too for people.Phil (01:00):Yeah. And I would say that this is, you know, if I go back to like 2000, I've known I wanted to be a writer since I was like 12 years old. Um, but when I go back and think about when I first started seriously studying screenwriting, that was, uh, I was trying to learn how to write a screenplay. I was learning formatting. I was using my software and using like, figuring out to do all that stuff. But the majority of my time was how do I get an agent? How do I break into Hollywood? What do I need to do to work in television or film?Michael (01:28):Yeah. And, and even like, thinking about like, let's see, like, let's see. When I, when I, I wanted to be a TV writer when I watched Cheers and I thought back then, this is how little I knew I was in high school. Well maybe if I start out as a grip, I can work my way up to writer. Like it doesn't even work thatPhil (01:42):Way. You knew what a grip was. At leastMichael (01:44):I didn't, I, I just saw that name. I didn't know what a grip did, but obviously, and it's not even, that's not even working your way up. Like people that's their job and they're happy. They don't wanna be writers that they wanna be grips. That's what they, that's what they want. So it's not like working your way up. It's not like grips below writer. It's like, that's, that's crazy. Um, but, and so, and then some people think, well, I just have to get an agent and an agent will get me work. It's like, no, the agent doesn't wanna have to work for you. The agent wants, basically wants you to do the work yourself and take 10%. That's every agent they want to, you know, they don't wanna have to hustle. They want someone who already is hustling and they can just make money from and like, well, that doesn't sound right. Well, but if you were an agent you'd want the same thing, you don't like, we all, no one wants to work hard. They want, they want something to come easy. So the agent's the same thing. The agent wants to have someone who's just on the cusp of breaking in. So there's a number of ways that people talk about. And I think one way we can talk about, uh, I think a lot of people put a lot of time and energy into our, our screenplay contests.Phil (02:42):Yeah. Screenplay contests, film fell, festival screenplay, contests, and, um, pitch fests are kind of the big three things that I see a lot of people in your group, as well as, you know, other writers I know, and things that were recommended ways to break in. Mm-hmm, we're doing these types of things and you know, I'm sure we're probably gonna get a lot of flack for this, from the people in these industries. If we haven't already at this point with some of the podcast content we've put out. Um, but it does not seem from a professional perspective that these are venues and avenues to get into the industry.Michael (03:13):Yeah. I don't want, I, I talked about, we talked about this a couple days, a couple episodes ago, so I don't want to hit on it too much, but yeah. I mean, it seems, I'll just real fast. Say like if you were, there are these festivals or pitch fest where like they'll take unknowns and let you pitch to Hollywood insiders. So just think about it from the other way around. If you were Hollywood insider and you wanted to make a, have a project put up, you had money to make a movie or a TV show, like why would you go out to a, an unknown, you just put a call out to a Hollywood agent. Hey, I want to get a show off the ground. Uh, send me some writers. Like you wouldn't go, you know, you wouldn't go to a pitch fest, you'd take, you want a professional. Why would you want an in an amateur, someone hasn't done it before.Phil (03:53):Now this is something I'm thinking about that I've not thought about in a while. But one of the best classes I had in film school was actually taught by my buddy rich. He was, he became my friend after. Um, but he had a class that was like the business of film and television. And he would bring in industry professionals who were working in New Mexico at the time or visiting because they were shooting a show in New Mexico. He would bring them in and we'd spend an hour and he would interview them for us. And I thought it was probably one of the most valuable things because you're hearing these people talk about what they look for. And at the end, he would give us an opportunity to pitch. If that person was a producer, if that person was a director and there were a couple times I'd pitch something and afterwards, those people would come up to me and give me their cards and say, I would love to read your script. Right, right. Now, nothing came of them. And five, six years down the road, I understand why I just wasn't ready. The script wasn't good enough to produce. Although the idea was good and enough, good enough to get them interested. The execution wasn't there.Michael (04:54):Yeah. It's all about the execution.Phil (04:55):Yeah. Yeah. So, so I definitely have seen that happen at some lower film as well, where you sit down and you sit with these industry professionals. And I think there's a lot of value in meeting those people, but it's typically those people are independent producers and independent directors and they're out trying to get their stuff made just as much as you are.Michael (05:17):They're hustling as much as you are. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. So they're not gonna, they're not in a position to set you up. Right. Right, right. Then there are other programs that like, let's say like Warner Brothers has like, or Warner Brothers Writing Program, like that's different. Uh, and Disney has like, like fellowships and stuff like that. And those are definitely worth pursuing. And those could be a great entry wayPhil (05:37):To, and you won you and, uh, your writing partner won the Warner Brothers.Michael (05:39):No, we didn't win. We, we got into, we were accepted to the Warner Brothers Writing Program.Phil (05:44):I call that a win person.Michael (05:47):But this is how it was. And this was many, many years ago and things have changed. But basically what you did back then was, uh, you get accepted, which is, which is hard. It's hard to get accepted. And then you have to pay Warner brothers. I think we paid maybe $400 each or something. I'm sure it's a lot more now. And we paid Warner brothers for the right to be accepted to this class to sign. And, and if you were to the top graduate of this class, uh, you would, they would try to place you on one of their shows. And back then Warner Brothers had a ton of sitcoms. Like they had a, they had, they just had like the Friday night block, they had so many shows that it was like, the odds were not terrible. Like they would try to place you on one of their shows. But if you, if they did, because you were graduate of the class, you would be earning the contracts that you'd earn like a third of Writer's Guild minimum. It was something like something really terrible like that. And so here only in Hollywood, do you pay to have a contract to sign a contract that gives you a third of what everyone else is getting paid and, and you're paying for this terrible contract. Like, that's crazy.Phil (06:48):That's fascinating. But I think that speaks to the competitiveness of this industry. Yeah. Because everyone thinks they have a good story idea. Everyone thinks they're a writer and it's so competitive you're literally paying people for opportunities to work for less money. It's insane.Michael (07:03):Yeah. And then we, didn't what happened was that class, you know, there, I remain friends with several people from that, from that, that, that core group of people that were maybe with 30 or 40 of us and only a handful of went on to actually be, become professional writers, everyone else kind of flamed out at one point or the other, uh, cause it is hard to break in. But, um, you know, we were, I, I do remain friends, but they, they chose a golden child. There was a golden child who's chosen pretty early the executives of the program. They, I think they decided that's the golden one. That's the one who will get work. And everyone else is like, well, but, but that, and, and so pretty early on, it was my partner and I could tell that, um, that we were not gonna be the golden people.Michael (07:45):And so we were not chosen when we graduated the class, they didn't try staffing us. It just so happened that our script, uh, man, our, that we had a script that was read, um, by the, by Steve Levitan who was at that time created brand new show called Just Shoot Me. And he read our script because our, his assistant read it and liked it and passed it on to him. And so he hired us. He goes, Hey, yeah, we wanna hire, I wanna hire you, uh, to be on, Just Shoot Me. And then we had to go back to, so we tell the people at Warner Brothers. Yeah. So, you know, our contracts is up and they're like, wait, well, not so fast. Now that, that Steve, Leviton's interested in you let's see if, let's see if we can get you on one of our you know, crappy TV shows and pay you a third. And then, so we basically had to bribe our way out that contract because, uh, you know, suddenly, suddenly they were interested in us, but only because someone else was interested in us, but before, before that they were not interested.Phil (08:37):Yeah, this is like the, the guy girl situation where the girls overlooked until someone else is interested. All of a sudden my eyes are open and I realized I never realized what was right before me this entire time. Except in this case, it's motivated by dollars.Michael (08:49):Yeah. Right. And so we got out of that, that, that was that made, that was history for us, like, okay, great. Now we're gonna Just Shoot Me now. We're basically set us off on our career path. But so that, but even still, like, you know, even though that experience wasn't great for me, I would still recommend the Warner Brothers Writing Program to people because it's, it's an in so great. You know, for us, it worked out well. We, we didn't have to make a third of our salary and we've got to be on a great show, but for it, for somebody else, it's still a better opportunity than nonePhil (09:17):At all. I don't see that any different than, you know, I talked about the writers Guild foundation and the golden ticket that they have. Where you get invited to every single event, guaranteed seats. You just RSVP to say, you're gonna be there. They have your name on a seat. You show up front row and you have extra opportunity to interact and network with these people. And I met some amazing people. There was a guy from Canada who was down here, they were shooting the pilot of his show. I sat next to him at an event, talked to him. He asked for my script, he read my script. He sent me notes that were very helpful. That's that's nice. So, so I don't see any difference it's again, it's an investment in yourself. You're just is taking that opportunity. And, and I want to point out here too, because you know, there are a lot of people in your social media and I see the kind of mindset.Phil (10:05):"Well, I don't have any money." "I work as a PA barely get by, etc. etc," look ultimately it's about making sacrifices and sacrifice. You know, the way we define sacrifice from a theological perspective is "to make holy", like you're taking something to make what and you're to make holy holy I'm giving up something because I find this other thing more valuable. It is more sacred that's interest to me. Okay. So if you take the approach. Yeah. So if you're taking the approach of my writing career is sacred to me because it is really why I am here on this planet is to be a writer, then stop drinking Starbucks for a month. Yeah. Seven bucks a day, times 30 days. It's a lot of money, right. Even if it's only once a day, once a week, you're going, yeah. That stuff adds up. There are ways to win in the margins, as we say, in the, in the accounting world. Yeah. Like you can win in the margins and, and save up and you can get a license to Final Draft and learn how to do that. So you can be a Writer's Assistant. You can afford these Golden Ticket opportunities. The, that I think is just you approach. It is you have war chest there's funds there. And it is to be invested to help me pursue my reason for being on the planet. Right.Michael (11:16):Yeah. Yeah. And that, and, and so I've worked with so many inspiring people who couldn't get a break, so they made their own break and that's how they got into Hollywood. And I, I'm gonna list them because they're all incredibly successful people. The first one was Marc Maron, who he had a show IFC and my partner, Sivert and I, we, we ran that show for four years. And Marc is an interesting guy, cuz he was a, he was a comedian and he worked for a while in, in radio. And then I think he got, I dunno if he got fired or he left radio or whatever. But, um, he was basically cold. He couldn't book rooms, he was cold. And so, but he's a creative type and he had a create. And so this is back then, he, there was a thing called podcasting.Michael (12:01):No one knew what podcasts were and it was just a forum for him to talk into a microphone. And God knows if anyone was gonna listen, but he was gonna put on his little show and, and uh, interview people. And he's really, you know, he's good at interviewing. And uh, and that was it. But no one knew how he was gonna monetize, but he just did it because he, you know, he was putting, putting himself out there and eventually that podcast and his is one of the, one of the most successful podcasts out there. It's always in like the top five on apple. Yeah.Phil (12:29):He interviewed Barack Obama.Michael (12:30):Yeah. In his garage, in his garage President, The PresidentPhil (12:34):Garage, The President of the United States came here and went to someone's garage to be on a podcast.Michael (12:39):Yeah. And because that podcast blew up, uh, Marc his, that reignited his comedy career and it got him a chance to get a, a TV show on IFC. That was the one we ran called Maron. And because that show kind of did really well, it got him on Glow. And then because of Glow, he gots all these other opportunities. Yeah. But it's not because he was begging Hollywood, let me in, he's like, screw it. I'm doing, I'm making something worthwhile and I will build an audience that way.Phil (13:06):Well, it summed up as he provided so much value people couldn't ignore it.Michael (13:10):Yeah. Right. And he did right. He just created on his owning, but he made it is creation good. The same, another example, um, were Rhett & Link. So re link where these two guys, we ran their show, which you worked on, uh, uh, they had a show on YouTube Red and it was a sitcom, but they're not com they're not TV writers. So they needed to have, uh, they created this show, but they needed to showrunners to actually write the episodes and kind of do all that work. And so they hired me, my partner to run their show, but who I who's written link. These are just two guys out in, I think from North Carolina, they just like, they were just two, no ones who started a YouTube channel. Um, and that was it. They did. And it, this is before YouTube was really a big thing.Michael (13:51):They just started putting up these shows and they, and they, these their, so they have good chemistry and they just kind of do wacky things. They would sit in a giant vat of oatmeal and do kind of like kind of all little mini contests with each other. And they had good chemistry and that show kind of blew up and became so big on YouTube that YouTube said to them, Hey, you guys are amazing. Uh, we'll give you your own TV show. And, but it wasn't like they weren't be, they didn't be YouTube. They just did their own thing. And Hollywood came to them and there's so many instances of Hollywood instead of people begging, you know, please Hollywood, let me in. They create something so amazing that Hollywood comes to them.Phil (14:30):Yeah. I think you could look at Joe Rogan. I think you could look at most of these people. I mean, you can split it off and it goes back to what we talked about in another podcast about "nicheing down: and finding your niche and owning that. Like, that's really how you break through these things. Those guys were, are advertisers, marketers. Yeah. And they, they leveraged that medium to make fake commercials. They do free commercials for businesses and they're so wild that's how they broke through on YouTube early on.Michael (14:55):Yeah. Because they were doing, no one was paying 'em to do this. No. Right. They just did it on their own. There's a woman over who I discovered at the beginning of the pandemic named Sarah Cooper. And I, I found her on, I think Twitter, but she was probably on all the platforms. And she would just, basically, she was a struggling actor, comedic actor who could not get arrested. She couldn't get anything, any kind of work. And so she'd says, screw it. And so she would basically take these speeches that Trump would make and kind of lip sync it. But wasn't, she was doing more than lip sync and she was adding, uh, her own personal touches and making it funny and doing things in the background and her funny facial expressions really plus it. So it wasn't just like standard, uh, lip syncing. She really, she put a lot of craft into it and because these things were so good, it was like, she was... You know, everyone had a noticer you, you could not watch this and think, wow. Like it was amazing her skill and her talent that she brought to it. And because of that, she, she became so big that Hollywood came her and gave her a Netflix special. And then they gave her, I think it was a show on CBS, a pilot that I didn't think I got to air, but she got all these opportunities, uh, because she just was like, screw it. I'm gonna be the master of my own domain here. I'm gonna, I'm gonna do it myself. Yeah.Phil (16:06):Yeah. It's seizing the opportunity. The old saying, "fortune favors the bold."Michael (16:10):Yeah. Creating an opportunity. And there's so many people like that. Another woman, Blaire Erskine, I think, I think that's how I pronounce her name. And I discovered her on, uh, on, uh, she would make these kind of funny, uh, videos on Twitter and they, but they were so good that that got discovered. Eventually. I think she's now a, uh, a writer on Kimel like, that's how she broke in. And she was not anyone she's like, screw it. I'm gonna do it myself. But it was good. Content was good.Michael (16:37):Hi guys, Michael Jamen here. I wanted to take a break from talking and talk just a little bit more. I think a lot of you guys are getting bad advice on the internet. I know this because I'm getting tagged. One guy tagged me with this. He said, "I heard from a script reader in the industry." And I was like, wait, what?Michael (16:56):Hold on, stop. My head blew up. I blacked out. And when I finally came to, I was like, listen, dude, there are no script readers in the industry by definition. These are people on the outside of the industry. They work part-time. They give their right arm to be in the industry. And instead they're giving you advice on what to do and you're for this. I mean, that just made me nuts, man. These people are unqualified to give my dog advice. And by the way, her script is, is coming along quite nicely. And oh, and I'm not done. Another thing when I work with TV writers who are new on, on writing staffs, a lot of these guys flame out after 13 episodes. So they get this big break. They finally get in and then they flame out because they don't know what is expected of them on the job. And that's sad because you know, it's not gonna happen again. So to fight all this, to flush all this bad stuff outta your head, I post daily tips on social media. You can find me on Instagram and TikTok and Facebook @MichaelJaminWriter. If you don't have time, two minutes a day to devote towards improving your craft guys, it's not gonna happen. Let's just be honest. So go find me, make it happen. All right. Now, back to my previous rant.Phil (18:02):So let's say that you're a writer and you're not like an on camera talent. You don't necessarily care to put yourself out there. That way. There might be some trepidation, you know, for me, I have, um, uh, an agent and I get auditions all the time and I have to self tape and I get just tremendous anxiety every time I have to be in front of the camera. Yeah. You know, it's just something I'm working through. And I, and I do it and I force myself to do those things because it's something I want to do. Um, but let's say I'm not, let's say that. I'm just, you know, someone who wants to rise up through a traditional route and let's say I'm a PA, right. What kinds of things do you think make a PA stand out to forge that path or create their own path?Michael (18:41):You know, we... we've talked... you're I think an excellent example of this, because you always say yes. When someone has a question or a problem. Yes, I will fix it. I will take care of it. No, relax, it's done already. It's already done relax. And so there are a number of instances I can think of you where, especially when it comes to tech, when it comes to something computer-related, because you would know so much about that. If a writer is having a problem with their comp, like you will show up, I I'll fix that for you. I will take care of, and you'll, I maybe you'll, you'll expand on, on that a little bit more, but, um, it's offering, what else do you offer? So even if it's not writing stuff, you offer these other skills that you have and you offer them freely. And because of that, you endear, you endear yourself to people and people wanna help you in exchange for that.Phil (19:23):Yeah. And I, and I think that it's an important note here, too, that when I do that, it is sincere that I just want to help. I am not doing it. It with any expectation that something is gonna come from it, right. It is that I understand that the best way for me to stick around is to be so valuable that I am invaluable. I, I, right. I, they want me around because I solve so many headaches for them.Michael (19:46):And you weren't charge you weren't you weren't saying, Hey, this is outside of my pay grade. I should get paid extra for this. You're like, no, I will gladly do it.Phil (19:53):Yeah. Yeah. Because, you know, I view it this way. Like, I'm not a member of a union. There are no union rules dictating what I can and can't do. And so I have opportunity now to over serve people.Michael (20:05):Let me, let me jump in here, Phil, cuz a lot of people don't know how you and I met. So we we've known each other probably since maybe 2010 or so.Phil (20:14):10, 10. Yeah, probably 10 or 11 somewhere there.Michael (20:15):So you were a stranger to me and my wife has a business, an online, uh, she sells, she, she manufactures girls dresses called TwirlyGirl. And so she at the time needed to build a website. She found a company that was gonna build a website. It was kind of a custom made site. It was, we found this place that over pro almost and underdelivered and uh, and Phil was working there. And uh, maybe I don't wanna tell a story wrong, but this is how I remember it is Cynthia, my wife was really kind of distraught was like, well, we paid all this money and you're not giving us what we want. And, and you got at some point, I don't know how you got on the phone.Phil (20:49):You were, I can tell you how so I was in sales at that company at the time. And I kind of saw the writing on the wall that they were gonna downsize my department and I didn't want to be there. What I wanted to do was work with the guy who was teaching all the things I was selling and he ran the other department or the account management department. So I went in and applied for a position there. I got hired and they transitioned me to account management. And your account, your wife's account was the first account I was handed. And they were like, we're giving you this account, do whatever you need to, to make this person happy because the sales rep oversold them to like, to a, a far extent promised way too much. Right. And so that's how I got on the phone with Cynthia.Michael (21:32):And then from what I remember, we were pretty and you're like, listen, I can't, uh, and this, you were overpromised and underdelivered. I'm gonna fix this as best as I can on my own, on my own dime. That's how I remember it. I will do whatever it takes. And because I just feel bad. I wanna make this right for you.Phil (21:51):Yeah. It, it ultimately ended up being some nights and weekends. And you know, I remember one experience where I got a call from your wife and she was in tears because she had accidentally deleted like a fat chunk of your website. Right. And I was actually up at Sundance where I was volunteering, cuz that's how I was in the industry at the time. Right. I just needed to be involved somehow. And I come down off the mountain and I've got this voicemail from Cynthia and I call her back and she's literally in tears cuz she thinks she has just deleted half of her website. Yeah, I remember that. And I was, and I was like, I was like, I promise you, like, we're gonna figure this out. I don't know what we can do, but let me see what we can do. And so, because I took the same approach, at work too where I would go in to the engineering department and I would say, what do you need from me as a sales rep to make your job easier? And then as an account manager, what do you, what do you need me to get you so that you can be as efficient as possible? I called one of the engineers on a weekend and I said, "Hey look, this client has made this mistake. Do we have any old versions?" And he was so ingratiated to me that he got in on his time on a Saturday night at like 10 o'clock at night, found the old version of the site and restored over the weekend.Michael (23:01):For her. Right. And so, and that, and you were a hero and you fixed it right away because of, and so because of that, now my wife felt indebted to you because you had done this great thing, you know, and you made her stop crying in this.Phil (23:13):At the same point, that to be clear to everybody listening, I have no idea who Cynthia is. Right. I have never talked to Michael at this point. Right. I just know here's someone who was sold a bill of goods that they, we couldn't honor. And I needed to do anything I could to feel ethically okay about this.Michael (23:29):Right. And so Cynthia says over the next couple weeks or whatever, she's talking with you and you somehow the conversation turns to what you want. You wanna become a TV or a screenwriter.Phil (23:39):It was actually, she's like, Hey my, my husband, Michael's gonna get on while he waits, um, for his next show to start. And I was like, oh, show. She's like, oh yeah, he's gonna be running Marc Maron's new show. Right. And I was like, okay. And that's when things kind of clicked. And so we ended the call and I Googled her name and an IMDB page shows up and I was like, oh, she was tree flower on angry beavers, which I watched. And she was on Admiral monsters and you was on friends. And then I Googled you. And I was like, oh my gosh, he is a writer. And then that's, that's how I approached it was on the next call. Right?Michael (24:13):Because you, we owed you so much. Cynthia's like, no, oh my husband, he's happy to help you be more than happy to talk to you about TV and screenwriting and all that stuff. And because of that, because of what you had done, you're attitude, which was, let me give, give, give, now we feel indebted to you and we wanna help you back. And that's how you and I, Mel met. And that's how you ultimately broke into the business. Cause I, I wound up getting you, uh, jobs on two of the shows that I was on. Yep. Right? Yep. Yep. And that's how you got it. And it wasn't because you asked for you didn't beg me, you didn't ask me for anything you gave first and I returned. Yeah.Phil (24:47):And, and you know, I'm, I, I am grateful for that. Again, none of that comes from a place of you owe me because I did. Right. Right. Look what I've done for you. It's simply what can I do? And to that same point on that first show where I was a, a PA I was day playing as I've talked about on other episodes. And they ultimately brought me in to be the office PA and I did the same thing. I said, what skill sets do I have to serve the people above me? Like how can I go in this extra time? And I approach it from this perspective, again, like I'm not in a union, there's no one dictating what I can and can't do. And so ultimately I look at it as I have sold 12 hours of my day to these people. Like, I have sold my time. They own me for 12 hours. So what can I do in the next 12 hours to be so productive that they want to keep me around? And I still get my bosses from that first job from Rhett & Link. They call me five years later and they offer me things. Right. Hey, and it's like, Hey, my buddy asked me if I know someone who wants to have this job, no experience to, they're willing to train. I thought of you immediately. Right, right. That kind of stuff. Yeah.Michael (25:52):Doors open that way. Right.Phil (25:53):Yeah. And so, you know, as I thought a lot about this, and we talked about this in your, in your private group, in your course, um, recently, but there's some questions that I think of, and I would encourage anyone in this situation to go through. So what can I do to serve this person? Like whoever it is, like, whether it's, you know, Carrie Clifford, who's a writer on her on Tacoma, FD. Like she loves tuna. She absolutely loves tuna, but she's also very picky about her tuna. And so I literally kept a whiteboard list of her favorite tuna places. So whenever I'd go around to get lunch, if it was her day to decide, I would remind her which place she liked her tuna from. Right, right. Right.Michael (26:28):Little things. Right.Phil (26:29):Yeah. Like one of the writers, like these very specific smoked, um, pistachios from Whole Foods. So I would go outta my way to pick those up for him so that he had something he liked in the room. Yeah. And it's not, it's not kissing butt, but it's not sucking up it's again, how can I serve this person? Right. Yeah. Because.Michael (26:47):Yeah. Yeah. And that comes, that comes and, and that exactly that comes, it helps it's it's in your own best interest to, to do stuff like that. Right. But people don't think of it like that. They just don't.Phil (26:57):They think of it as it seems like a lot of people think of it as how I being taken advantage of,Michael (27:02):Or they think advantage of me, or it's also like, what can you do for me? I, I, I need you to help me, help me break into Hollywood, help me, help me, help me instead of the other way around, which is, let me help you.Phil (27:13):Yeah. And so, to, to answer that question, the next thing I would ask myself is what are my unique skill sets, right? What, what are my hobbies, passions, and, and what do I have? That's valuable to my chain of command, like thinking up the chain of command, whether it's, you know, I'm the writer's PA and I report to the script coordinator, how can I make the script coordinator's job easier? Mm-hmm how can I do this? And, and I think this mindset a really good way to think about this. I had the opportunity to speak at, uh, a business college a couple years ago. And I sat in, in the class, they just said, I did a presentation for some friends of mine, about a business that I was managing at the time. And the professor said, the best thing you can ask in an interview is how can I relieve a burden, this, a burden off of your shoulder?Phil (27:59):What burdens can I relieve from your shoulders? Right. And it seemed a very formal way to think about it. But if you approach everyone above you with that mindset, like, what burdens do you have? Like, how can I help carry some of the weight here? They will gladly give that to you. Yeah. Because it's, and it catches people off guard too, because it's not likely. And so here's just an example of that. So for a wrap gift for season three of Tacoma, um, we got the idea of doing a yearbook. Well, I happened to be on the yearbook staff for two years in my high school. Like, and that I graduated in 2004. Right, so this was 2002, three and four that I was on the staff. I don't remember technically how to use InDesign. I played a little bit with it since, but it came up and I was volunt-told I had to do this.Phil (28:44):And someone was like phone it in, just get a template offline. And there was a very low expectation of this, but what I said is if I'm gonna do this, just let me do it. Right. So I literally, we set up a photo booth. I brought my camera, I took photos of everyone on the staff. We had COVID there monitoring to make sure we were safe. I went through, I photo edited every single one of those. I built the design and the layout inside of InDesign. And I worked with, um, Cindy, our, our 2nd AD, who was taking photos of everyone, all season. And we built an actual hardbound yearbook that we gave to every member of the staff. Right. And it was something that, you know, the people who were in charge of building these gifts, like the production supervisor, the, you, the, the UPM the, uh, Production Office Coordinator, they were grateful that I went the extra mile because it took something and leveled it up. Yeah. Right. But furthermore, and I think this is another key aspect. I went and did extra work to find a place where I could go and save them money, which enabled them to give these really cool heated jackets to everybody. Right. If figure out one of those. Right. I did get one of those. We had the ability to upgrade that, to like a jacket with a heater in it, because I was able to save like three grand on the printing cost by doing this extra stuff.Michael (29:58):Right. Right. I didn't know that.Phil (29:59):Just little, little, little things that, you know, that you've, you know, acquired throughout life. They go a long way. Like I was listening to another podcast and there was another writer who said, she went in into an interview and she had done her research on IMDB. And she's like, oh, I didn't know you wrote on this show. I really liked that. And the writer's like, well, I actually didn't write on that. That's a mistake on my IMDB and writer was embarrassed. And then afterwards, she went and using her knowledge of IMDB pro fixed their listings, and then emailed them and say, Hey, I just wanna apologize for my mistake. I just wanna let you know, I took care of it for you. Right. And she got hired on that show because she was willing to go that extra mile. Yeah. And she solved a problem for her boss that wasn't even her boss yet. Yeah.Michael (30:42):Yeah. Isn't that great. Yeah. Yeah. People don't think like, most people don't think that way, but if you can get into that mindset, like doors will open.Phil (30:50):Yeah. And, and like another example, it's like little things. Like one of the Whowrunners came to me and said, Hey, I need to get 13 binders, three, three ring binders, one for every episode. And they're like, and I don't like the D ring, give me a, a full ring. I wrote down my notes. And then I went out and got them. And I, I didn't know what color he wanted. And so I came back and I said, uh, what color do you want? And he said, um, I think, I think he actually wanted a big binder at this time for just, uh, the notes. Um, later I, I got, I got a lot of binders. He really likes binders and highlighters. Yeah. But bold me, like I got these two binders and I was like, I didn't know which color he would want. I got three, I got two black and one white.Phil (31:30):And he came out and said, which color do you want? He said, uh, I don't know, black. And I had it ready. I pulled it out. And I already had all the separators, had everything ready and I gave it to him. And I remember he walked into the kitchen where you were, and I overheard him saying, "man, that guy is really good. Like he got it." And then you sang my praises to him. Yeah. But it like a little thing just, which is a stark difference in the previous PA who told him he couldn't have sushi whenMichael (31:53):He wanted it. Yeah. Yeah. It's just do it with a smile and do just yeah. And all these doors open. Exactly. And so, yeah, I think it's a wonderful, that's not just a lesson for, or Hollywood. It's just a lesson for life, I think. Right.Phil (32:06):Yeah. And then to your point, which you talked to a lot of people about, it's like be nice to everyone because everyone knows everybody is a small town. Yeah. These things get around.Michael (32:15):Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Cool. All right.Phil (32:19):So, well, any other thoughts about like path to break into Hollywood? I know you've got a lot of content or social media. You talk about like mail room, which, you know, people accuse of being like an eighties strategy, like yeah. But still works. I know friends, who've grown through the mail room to become agents. Yeah.Michael (32:33):And so like, so I, right. So I post, I try to post, I think I do so far daily posts on Instagram @MichaelJaminWriter. And I post about Hollywood, had a break into Hollywood. And so I did one post about, you know, working in a mail room and an agency and how that's a great way to break in. And then I got all these like trolls, I don't know if their trolls or just jerks or whatever. There's like, man, you know, you ever hear a email dude? I was like, well, how do parcels come? When do parcels come through email? Or do they get delivered somewhere? You know? So just jerks, just trying to like, I, I don't know, like, okay, with that attitude, with that attitude, you're never gonna get anywhere in life.Phil (33:09):Well, you've already, you've given up. Yeah. Right. If you're always looking at the negative you've you've given up on, you're not gonna make it. Yeah. Cause you've already decided you are right.Michael (33:18):You've already. Exactly. And it's, it's, self-fulfilling prophecy. There's one woman. I, I had to post and she posted about how Hollywood is an awful place. And uh, people were, she was a PA I, I mentioned it was this post about how to get a job as a PA. And she's like, uh, yeah, P I was a PA don't listen, this guy, I was a PA and people were mean to me. And they were obnoxious and rude and like, listen, I don't know what show she was on. Maybe they were, uh, maybe they were mean and rude to her. Okay. So go get a job at Starbucks. That's a job. That's easier to get. You'll make the same amount of money. And I guarantee you, people will be mean and rude to you. The customers will be mean and rude to you either way it's gonna happen.Michael (33:53):So why don't you do it in the area that you want advance in, in Hollywood? Like, what is your problem? Like, okay. People are mean that's life, man. So what do you wanna get your goal? And someone else had another comment and she was, you know, wow. All that. I think it was a woman, all that just to be for all that work and hard effort, just to be a PA, he was like, no, it's not to become a PA it's to become a writer or a producer or a director like PA this is just a temporary job. Yeah. It's all this work for this temporary stepping stone.Phil (34:21):Yeah. You know, I had a really good conversation because I've been a PA for six years or so now at this point, and I'm 30 gonna be 36 this year. And I have a wife and kids and, you know, it's, it, it's a grind and it can feel a little heavy.Michael (34:34):But in fairness, you you've had opportunities to do other production work, but you just don't want it cuz you want to stay in the screenwriting path.Phil (34:41):Correct. I have turned down post-production coordinator jobs. I've, I've done, I've done some other stuff. I was a post PA on a, on a film, like I've done other things. Right. But ultimately the, the niche I've carved for myself is writer. Cuz that's what I want to do. Right. And if other doors open beyond that, after producing directing and great, but right now my purpose plan is to be a writer. Right. Right. So, um, I lost my train of thought.Michael (35:09):Because I Interrupted you. But the point is that we were talking about how it's just, it's just a stepping stone and you've been doing PA for a while, but it's not because you have to it's cuz you want right. So,Phil (35:16):So I remember now, so I kind of bro, I kind of privately one night, we're shooting super late. Um, it's uh, Friday, we're going into a "Fraturday", which means you're shooting into Saturday morning. So your Friday, Saturday blend. Um, and I was like talking to one of my bosses about, you know, yeah man, I'd really love to get that next step. I just don't know how to approach it. And they said, well, what you have to understand is that people see hard work and they see loyalty and they see effort and they reward that and she said, it's important to know that. Yeah. You're not asking for things, but there will be a time when you get an ask. And when that ask comes, make sure you ask for it. You have to put yourself out there. Yeah. But in general you get the ask because you're not asking.Phil (35:55):And I was like, oh, like, and, and it may not seem like it, but people reward hard workers because, and, and I think the word she said is we recognize what we have with you. And I was like, oh, that's a very kind compliment. But I think it goes back to this mindset of how can I cert and I'm by far not the only person, the production secretary on our show and the other office PA the exact same attitude to the point that our boss on our last day, when we wrapped and we were closing up the stages, she said, I would be happy to work with you any other time on any other show, if you, any of you need jobs, please let me know. Yeah. That's great. Cause, cause we all had that attitude. Yeah. And it made it easier because we were all serving each other too. Yeah. Yeah, it does. So good. We talked a lot. We got a lot of stuff in this. This was an informative episode. I thinkPhil (36:56):This has been an episode of Screenwriters Need to Hear This with Michael Jamin and Phil Hudson. If you'd like to support this podcast, please consider subscribing leaving a review, and sharing this podcast with someone who needs to hear today's subject. If you're looking to support yourself, I encourage you to consider investing in Michael's screenwriting course at MichaelJamin.com/course. I've known Michael for over a decade. And in the past seven years, I've begged him to put something together. During the global COVID-19 pandemic. Michael had time. And I have to say, I wish I'd had this course 10 years ago. As someone who has personally invested in most online courses, earned a bachelor's degree, and actively studied screenwriting for over a decade, this course has been more valuable to me than most of the effort I've put in because it focuses on something no one else teaches: story. In his course, Michael pulls back the curtain and shows you exactly what the pros do in a writer's room and that knowledge has made all the difference for me. And I know it will for you too. You can find more information at MichaelJamin.com/course for free daily screenwriting tips. Follow Michael on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @MichaelJaminWriter. You can follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @PhilAHudson. This episode was produced by Phil Hudson and edited by Dallas Crane. Until next time, keep writing.
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I am so honored to have Eric Leviton on the podcast today. With charm, humor and heart, he shares insightful ways to navigate the rough waters that can come with being an actor or creative person. Eric is an accomplished and well-loved performer who has been on stages his whole life.He shares meaningful stories as well as practical takeaways. I think you will absolutely love his depth as well as his levity. His warm heart will also keep you safe in his presence. I am so incredibly honored to have him on the podcast. *****ERIC LEVITON – Original Broadway cast of Kinky Boots. Eric has toured in such shows as Chicago (Amos Hart), The Full Monty (Dave Bukatinsky), Seussical, the Musical (Horton) starring Cathy Rigby, and Damn Yankees (Sohovik) starring Jerry Lewis also on The West End. Television credits include roles on “FBI: Most Wanted,” “Sneaky Pete,” “Boardwalk Empire,” “Blue Bloods,” “Law & Order,” “Desperate Housewives,” "Scrubs," "Diagnosis Murder," "Beverly Hills 90210," and Disney's "Annie," as well as a recurring role as The Heckler on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien." Eric is also the co-creator of the award-winning two-man show, “A Little Traveling Music,” the host/creator of the YouTube series, “Eric Leviton: Whiskey Aficionado,” as well as the host/creator of the podcast HOW WE TALK ABOUT SEX, which is on iTunes and Spotify.Ways to connect with Eric Leviton (he/him):Twitter: @LevitonEricHow We Talk About Sex PodcastLinks mentioned in this episode:Audition Psych 101 by Michael KostroffWays to connect with Sas (she/her):Instagram: @lori_saseSign up for her newsletter or find out about coaching: https://www.lorisase.com
Ariel and Patrick discuss the importance of industry etiquette and how not to behave before being joined by Under the Stairs Entertainment's very own Sandra Leviton, who shares details of her career journey, how screenplays catch her attention, and scary experiences she's had with screenwriters who don't respect boundaries. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/screamwriterspodcast/support