The Digital Paradigm Shift: A Tidal Force in Arts and Entertainment

The human being is an inherent story teller. From drawing on cave walls to sharing fireside tales and singing the bard’s histories through village squares, we have striven to pass on our experiences and the truths beyond their facts for as long as we could communicate one to another. Today, in this tradition, those compelled to tell, draw, paint, film, or sing the human tale have found new hope in the digital age.

In or about 1440 Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press. His goal was simple: to spread the gospels of the Holy Roman Empire throughout Europe. By 1500, more than 20 million volumes were said to have been published and distributed throughout the Continent.

This invention did much more, though. It brought the written word into the lives of millions previously unable to read, and ushered in a new way for storytellers to spread their work. It created a new industry, in printing and distributing the written word. The invention had one draw back, however, it was limited in it’s ownership, and writers and story tellers were rarely the owners, so publishers with access to the technology controlled exactly what was produced and marketed to the masses.

Visual art began as early as human beings could gather in small tribes, and arguably before they formed villages or communities on any large scale. By the middle ages, however, like the written word, art was oft paid for and limited to the aristocracy. Art patrons commissioned work, attended to artists and more often than not, enjoyed the art that was created as a perk of their investments. A similar history of music runs parallel to that of art. Once created at the fire side, by the time people gathered into cities under the rule of some aristocrat or another, great musicians, like artists were few and their work was distributed to only those with means.

The modern filmmaking can be traced to the 1890’s. Revolutionary in it’s early day, creators flocked to be a part of the new story telling medium. Equipment costs, filming locations and distribution, though, took a hold in the early 20th century and again removed the art from the artist and firmly embedded it in the hands of the business interests most able to afford the production and distribution of the art.

None of this is bad. Under the guidance of those with a vested interest in the arts and entertainment industry, the arts flourished, making its way into the hearts and minds of nearly every human being on planet Earth.

The invention of the television in the late 1920’s and its mainstreaming in the 1960’s, brought storytellers and artists into people’s living rooms. As before, however, the cost of doing so with such a new technology was high, and exactly what was produced and broadcasted depended on those industry professionals at the top of their fields and not always the artists who were creating the content.

It’s been 30 years since the mainstreaming of the internet. Beginning with such home services like AOL, and later ISPs, the internet, created in the 1960’s for scientists and engineers, the shift toward the masses has made the nebulous internet a commercial boom, and has had one seemingly open ended side effect, as well. It has given the arts and entertainment community a cost effective and accessible way to share, distribute and even create their various art forms.

The advent of "print-on-demand" publishing has put an accessible printing press within arms reach of writers. Music platforms such as Soundcloud™ and Reverb have put recording and editing tools at the fingertips of musicians. Youtube™, Vimeo™ and a host of others has given independent filmmakers access to distribution for movie and film projects.  All of these and so many more have had another welcomed effect. Each of these platforms, as well as the growing social media community platforms like Facebook™, GooglePlus™, Twitter™ and countless others from Instagram™ to Reddit™, give content creators and artists access to global audiences in a way never before imaginable.

As a journalist and a creator, while Amazon™ has become the world's largest retail distributor, and the number of Facebook users has toppled the 1 billion mark, it is impossible to dismiss or ignore this shift in the arts and entertainment paradigm.

Today, there are more than 50 million internet based content creators worldwide. Authors, artists, Filmmakers, special effects designers, artisans and creators of all kinds are flocking to the internet to share their hard work with an audience that seems hungry for greater and greater quantities of artistic media content, with no signs of their appetites slowing in the foreseeable future.

It doesn’t matter what one’s tastes are. It doesn’t matter if a creator is experienced, at the top or bottom of their profession, or if a type of art or literary genre is too obscure or fringe. There is an audience for nearly every kind of creative output.

No longer do existing matrixes for distribution and competition speak to the creative desires of the masses. The advent of “binge watching” TV shows and movies via streaming services such as Netflix™, Hulu™, Amazon™ and others, or via production company or personal “Apps,” has meant that one time competitors for attention can share the light on center stage. E-readers mean that writers aren’t competing for that $20 dollar bill for a hardcover book, but instead, 20 can share it through online e-book services. Artists no longer have to compete for limited gallery wall space to be discovered, but can post via social media or websites and be seen by a mass audience.

Of course, these shifts are not without drawbacks. To be seen in the growing seas of creative content on the internet, an artist or creator must learn new skills. These skills are those that were traditionally only known by insider industry professionals, and are essential to success. Production skills like layout and design, film and photo editing, copy and content editing for authors, and the daunting skills of marketing managers to help attract and grow audiences, must be acquired. As it has shifted the way art is made and distributed, so to the Internet has also become a kind of online school for arts and entertainment creators. One can find DYI videos on almost any subject to assist in acquiring the skills to succeed, or even target audiences with one’s work.

In the new millennium, the edges and boundaries of success have been pushed back and away from creative minds in ways never before possible. Today, it is most reasonable to tell a child to work hard and become any thing they desire to be, and it is becoming more possible than ever before in human history.

In the 21st century, it IS possible. Anything is possible. If you desire a creative career, outlet, hobby or a legacy captured in the increasingly digital record, don’t just dream, but do!

Create, Aspire and Inspire!

Hangin With Web Show at Collective Con 2017

Collective Con 2017

Collective Con returns on March 24th-26th, 2017 at the Morocco Shrine Auditorium in Jacksonville, Florida.

Meet some of your favorite stars! Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven on Stranger Things), Noah Schnapp (Will Byerson Stranger Things, voice of Charlie Brown in The Peanuts Movie) , Graham McTavish (Dwalin in The Hobbit Trilogy), Jessica Lucas (Tabitha Galavan in Gotham), Margot Kidder (Lois Lane in Superman: The Movie) and the last minute addition of Chris Kirkpatrick (*NSYNC and Chip Skylark on The Fairly OddParents) will all be in attendance.

You can also meet famous voice actors such as Johnny Yong Bosch, Kari Wahlgren, and more. A few of the amazing and world renown artists present will be Mitsuhiro Arita, Clay and Seth Mann, plus popular cosplayers Jenifer Ann, Danielle DeNicola, Haiden Hazard, Tayrex Cosplay and MANY others!

Let's not forget about The Real Elite Four challenge going on the entire weekend and the Pokémon Sun & Moon tournament they will be hosting. Do you have what it takes? Start training your teams now!

Vendors, Artists, Prop Exhibits, Panels, Video Game Tournaments, Table Top Tournaments, Cosplay Contests, Music, Official After Party and more! You are not going to want to miss out on this weekend of fun.

We are very excited to announce that Friday, March 24th, will be our official Anime Day!

There will be Anime Panels with Guests, Fan Panels, Fan Events, Anime Film showings, and more! Aniplex USA is sponsoring this event with prizes. These will be announced Soon.
Hotels are now available and going fast! At only $104/night, it's a really great deal, so reserve your room today!
https://www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/CollectiveCon

To view the current guest list and purchase tickets for the March 24-26, Collective Con, please visit:

www.collectivecon.com

Plan on attending? RSVP on our event page.
https://www.facebook.com/events/306073256411832/

DRAGON AWARDS WILL RECOGNIZE THE BEST IN IMAGINATIVE FICTION IN BOOKS, GAMES, COMICS AND FILMED ENTERTAINMENT

ATLANTA – August 16, 2016 – The inaugural Dragon Awards will be presented on Sunday, September 4th the Hyatt Regency Hotel, as part of Dragon Con, the internationally known pop culture, fantasy, sci-fi, and gaming convention.

These awards, introduced as part of Dragon Con’s 30th-anniversary celebration, recognize the best in imaginative fiction, books, games, comics and filmed entertainment as selected by the fans, who both nominate their favorite works and vote for the winners.

Voting at http://awards.dragoncon.org/ is open to anyone who registers. There is no cost or attendance requirement. Registering to vote ends this Sunday, August 28th at midnight. Voting for this year will end Wednesday, August 31st. Open nominations for the 2017 awards will begin in October of 2016.

Thousands of fans have already registered and voted. The finalists are chosen from nominations that are open to everyone who watches, reads or otherwise enjoys the imagination and excitement found in all types of Science Fiction and Fantasy.

“These awards are our way of recognizing the best writers, artists, directors and game designers who breathe life into the things we love,” says Pat Henry, president of Dragon Con, Inc.

“The first tall tales were told around fires in camps and caves,” Henry said. “Fire was perhaps the original invention that began man’s climb to civilization. The Flame has always been a symbol of imagination and progress and so each Dragon Award contains a unique, sculpted flame.”

The Dragon Awards fifteen categories are designed to recognize the authors, writers, and creators behind the very best in genre fiction. Like the hundreds of events at Dragon Con, the Dragon Awards reflect the diversity of interests shared by those who enjoy science fiction.

Finalists for each category can be found on the Dragon Awards websitehttp://awards.dragoncon.org/. The 2016 categories are:

Best science fiction novel
Best fantasy novel (including paranormal)
Best young adult / middle-grade novel
Best military science fiction or fantasy novel
Best alternate history novel
Best apocalyptic novel
Best horror novel
Best comic book
Best graphic novel
Best episode in a continuing science fiction or fantasy series, TV or internet
Best science fiction or fantasy movie
Best science fiction or fantasy PC / console game
Best science fiction or fantasy mobile game
Best science fiction or fantasy board game
Best science fiction or fantasy miniatures / collectible card / role-playing game

Further details are available on the awards website http://awards.dragoncon.org. Please direct all inquiries to dcawards@dragoncon.org or mail them to Dragon Awards, PO Box 16459, Atlanta, GA 30321-0459 USA

Hangin With VERONICA BARRIGA -- L.A. Style!

Show Hostess and L.A. great Veronics Barriga is joining Author and journalist G.W. Pomichter on "Hangin' With"!  Veronica is set to interview Authors, Film Makers, Musicians and other Creators all across America's West Coast to find out about their recent projects, their lives and what makes them tic.  Each Webisode: Veronica Barriga and G.W. Pomichter is talking great books, films, songs, good buys and artistic how's and why's.

Meet new and up-and-coming artist or learn more about old favorites here!



Find us on the web:  http://www.hanginwithshow.com

Twitter: @HanginWithShow (http://www.twitter.com/HanginWithShow)

Facebook: Facebook.com/HanginWith

GooglePlus: https://plus.google.com/b/10389579973...



VeronicaB on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNW6E4joVz4CRhzXtownbcQ



You can help us reach out t more great creators by donating to the show:  http://www.patreon.com/HanginWithShow



Help us support these amazing and talented artists!  Check out our partners:



WordFire Press: http://wordfirepress.com/

Some'N Unique Magazine: http://www.someuniquemag.com/

Authors for Authors: http://www.authorsforauthors.com/

Books, Chocolate & Wine: http://www.bookschocolateandwine.com

Florida Book News: http://www.floridabooknews.com/

Indie BookFest: http://indiebookconvention.com/

Southern Yankee Blogging:  http://bamayankeeblogger.blogspot.com/

Arcane Pacific Entertainment: http://arcanepacific.com/

              OR on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCswU...



Get your very own "Hangin With ..." T-Shirts, Coffee Mugs, or Ball Caps at:

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Melbourne Author’s new Web-Series is Set to Interview Celebs at Comic Con 2016

Melbourne, FL — From January 15 until January 17, 2016, the new hit web talk series, "Hangin' With ...", featuring show host, journalist and author G.W. Pomichter is slated to be interviewing artists, authors, comic producers, celebrities, filmmakers and creators of all kinds at one of the regional South East’s largest and most prestigious convention events: Magic City Comic Con in Miami.

“Hangin’ With …” is a YouTube based interview show, that was started in Melbourne, Florida by local author and former journalist Garrett (G.W.) Pomichter. The show features professional coverage of artists from throughout the creative community to discuss new books, films, comics, and visual arts. The show focuses heavily on the personal journeys of artists in attaining their goals, the things that motivate them to create, and the pitfalls they face in an evolving market place.

“We started this show as a way to promote independent and other artists who are often lost in a morass of popular culture,” said show founder and host Garrett Pomichter. “We wanted to show a side of those vital creators that it is often difficult to see. We wanted to show the side that succeeds: the personal side of providing the pillars of pop-culture.”

Since it’s creation, “Hangin With …” has interviewed and featured more than 30 local authors as well as creators from around the state and even the nation in more than 45 webisodes, now available on YouTube, including a 30 minute special interview of renowned science fiction author, Alan Dean Foster, who most recently penned the highly anticipated novelization of the record breaking blockbuster hit film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Magic City Comic Con will take place January 15-17, 2016 in Miami, FL at the Miami Airport Convention Center. Join us for 3 days of fun featuring celebrity guests, comic book creators, voice actors, industry guests, cos-players, artists, writers, panels, Q&A’s, films & shorts, costume & cosplay contests, vendors, parties, anime, workshops and video gaming. Pomichter and his crew from “Hangin’ With …” have been invited and accepted to cover the con by publisher Wordfire Press, who represent some of the sci-fi genre’s biggest authors and creators, including Kevin J. Anderson, Peter J. Wacks, Frank Herbert (and Brian Herbert).

“Being accepted at Magic City (Comic Con) is a real treat and a milestone for the show,” Pomichter said. “It means that our message and our guests are resonating throughout popular culture. That is exactly what we have striven to achieve, and we will work to earn such acknowledgements.”

For information, contact G.W. Pomichter and Hangin’ With, at gwpomichter@gmail.com OR by phone (321) 622-4945, (On YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/GarrettPomichter and on the web at: http://hanginwithshow.wix.com/hanginwith

"Hangin With" web series and the Florida Book News: Meet the Authors Book Fair sponsored by Authors fo...

Hangin With host G.W. Pomichter and his team were honored to spend the weekend with a great collection of writers, authors, artists and creators at the 8th annual Eau Gallie Arts Festival and Meet the Authors event at the Eau Gallie Civic Center in Melbourne, Florida.

We interviewed more than 30 authors, artists and creators, and had the privilege of making many new friend including our newest bloggers and web partners, Florida Book News.

As always our interviews will be web-cast from our YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/user/GarrettPomichter and as an iOS Podcast, but look for many of them with our great new friends below!

So log on and tune in to Hangin With..., and in the mean time head on over to Florida Book News and see what they're cooking up next!

Florida Book News: Meet the Authors Book Fair sponsored by Authors fo...:   We had a great day at t he Meet the Authors Book Fair.  If you didn't make it down on Saturday, be sure t o stop by Sunday, 11/ 21.......

Hollywood Heavy Hitters Join Indie Film

From MoviePilot Article (http://moviepilot.com/posts/3626471)

Arcane Pacific Entertainment is a small independent film company based in the world’s movie making capital, Los Angeles, California. But this company is growing fast as it takes on one of Hollywood’s most enduring legends.

On a fateful night in 1932, the famed Hollywood sign overlooking Las Angeles became a place where the lofty dreams of a rising starlet were dashed upon the mountain side. After achieving success on Broadway, actress Peg Entwistle came to L.A. — to Hollywood to be a star, but before her ascension began, she climbed the fabled sign and leapt to her death.

The subject of many discussions, articles and campfire stories through the years since, the story of Entwistle’s life and death has yet to be captured on film. James Pomichter, a film maker at Arcane Pacific Entertainment is set to change that in his upcoming short titled “Hollywood Girl.”


MORE: http://moviepilot.com/posts/3626471

Web Show Aims to Use the Internet to Share Indie Artists

MELBOURNE, FL—In August 2015 indie author and journalist G.W. Pomichter of Melbourne launched a new web based interview show aimed at sharing up-and-coming independent artists with the public.

The YouTube based show, titled "Hangin With" is formatted as an informal talk show features Pomichter interviewing a variety of authors, artists and filmmakers in a wide range of settings from his living room studio to conventions and conference centers throughout the state.

“For me this was an opportunity to use my experience to help other independent artists to get the word our about the projects they’ve worked so hard to

produce,” Pomichter said. “It started as a way to stand out, and became a real affirmation that the best way a person can help themselves is to help others.”

Pomichter said he started the show when he attended the Independent BookFest in Orlando in August as a way to distinguish himself in a large group of other authors.

“Like everyone, I had a desire to stand out in my market,” he said. “But, after talking with a few authors about their work and the shared difficulties each had getting their message to consumers, I knew we had something more.”

After interviewing authors that weekend, Pomichter said he spoke with his family about ways to create a regular program to help his peers.

Since then, Pomichter has interviewed more than 40 artists including fellow authors and filmmakers as well as costume creators and even a chocolatier, at venues such as the Speculative Fiction South East Conference in Orlando and Necronomicon in Tampa, and he has set his sights on many more.

“The past decade, weather as a product of the economy or technology or any number of factors has really been a new renaissance of creativity and entrepreneurship,” Pomichter said. “But, there is a need to give these creators a voice in a global emerging market. I want to be a part of that. I want to use the skills I’ve been blessed to learn through experience to help create a new age of imagination and innovation.”

Hangin With ™ is regularly produced and episodes can be found at YouTube.com/user/GarrettPomichter and are available in the iTunes store as podcasts.

Inquiries can be sent to gwpomichter@gmail.com

Authors and Artists Featured on the Show Include:

	WATCHED	Hangin With Author DL McCleary by G.W. Pomichter			9:52
		WATCHED	IBF 2015 Hang W JD Hart and Sharon Hamilton Pt 3 by G.W. Pomichter			6:58
		WATCHED	IBF 2015 Hang W JD Hall and Sharon Hamilton Pt 2 by G.W. Pomichter			8:20
		WATCHED	IBF 2015 Hang W JD Hart and Sharon Hamilton Pt 1 by G.W. Pomichter			3:51
		WATCHED	IBF 2015 Hang W Blogger Vincent FA Golphin by G.W. Pomichter			8:36
		WATCHED	IBF 2015 Hang W Author Naomi Bellina by G.W. Pomichter			7:50
		WATCHED	IBF 2015 Hang W Author Kelly Abell by G.W. Pomichter			7:35
		WATCHED	IBF 2015 Hang W Author Al M Scott by G.W. Pomichter			8:42
		WATCHED	IBF 2015 Hang W Author MCV Egan by G.W. Pomichter			8:40
		WATCHED	IBF 2015 Hang W Author Rene Folsom by G.W. Pomichter			8:20
		WATCHED	IBF2015 Hang W Author Juli Valenti by G.W. Pomichter			7:43
		WATCHED	IBF 2015 Hang W Authors: Carrie Wells by G.W. Pomichter			8:23
		WATCHED	IBF 2015 Hang W AJ Spencer and GW Pomichter by G.W. Pomichter			4:49
		WATCHED	Hangin With Authors Promo (Coming LIVE Aug. 22, 4:00p.m.) Every Saturday 4 p.m. by G.W. Pomichter			4:02
		WATCHED	Hangin With Author Toi Thomas by G.W. Pomichter			18:13
		WATCHED	Hangin With Author Carol Ann Didier by G.W. Pomichter			32:07
		WATCHED	Hangin With Authors Tom Lucas and Melissa Gibbo by G.W. Pomichter			16:18
		WATCHED	Hangin With ... (Indie Film Makers) of Flashback Movie by G.W. Pomichter			9:31
		WATCHED	Hangin With Authors Chance Glenn Jr. and Elizabeth Schechter by G.W. Pomichter			17:26
		WATCHED	Hangin With Authors Elizabeth Raven and Dr. Tof Eklund by G.W. Pomichter			17:16
		WATCHED	Hangin With Authors E.J. Stevens and Kristen Durfee by G.W. Pomichter			14:25
		WATCHED	Hangin With writers KL Nappier and Elle E. Ire by G.W. Pomichter			19:12
		WATCHED	Hangin With ... Rubey Shea and Han Solo by G.W. Pomichter			16:59
		WATCHED	Hangin With Authors Gwen Mayo and T. Allen Diaz by G.W. Pomichter			22:11
		WATCHED	Hangin With writer Jose Iriarte and chocolatier Kathryn Neel by G.W. Pomichter			24:22
		WATCHED	Hangin With authors Nathan VanCoops and E Rose Sabin by G.W. Pomichter			29:05
		WATCHED	Hangin With author Lucienne Diver and Film maker Tony Finkelstein by G.W. Pomichter			27:15
		WATCHED	Hangin With Authors Glenda Finkelstein and William Hatfield by G.W. Pomichter			28:09
		WATCHED	Hangin With Author Robbie Cox by G.W. Pomichter

On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX3I20-SoTVxeEtGpKB6niyfKwNhE5env

Find out more about show host and creator G.W. Pomichter at: gwpomichter.wix.com/gw-pomichter