Friday, May 28, 2010

SOCIAL MEDIA PROS SHOULD ADOPT 'LOVE BOAT' STRATEGY



Richard Knafelc, Wyle Stateman and Eric Schwartzman
at EPPS workshop on Social Media at ICG Union Local
600 in Hollywood, CA (MAYO PR image)

Entertainment Publicists Professional Society members learned the New Media is "Not new" and Social Media is all about the "Experience" and how you feel about it

By George S. Mc Quade III
West Coast Editor

"Exclusives," "content is king," and "new media" are ideas that need to be junked in today's PR world, according to panelists at a May 20 Entertainment Publicists Professional Society workshop held in Hollywood.
Eric Schwartzman, who advises the military and non-profits on online activity, told the audience to become more sophisticated about platforms and figure out how to incorporate social media sites into their own websites.
Eric Schwartzman, Social Media Expert
He believes the idea that a copyright owner is in full control of the content is not valid any more.

"If content is truly king, how did Steve Jobs corner the record industry without owning a single copyright?" asked Schwartzman. 

The Apple chief just "made it easier to get music through iTunes than anybody else. Compelling content is critical, but it has to be easy to get," he said.
PR people who thrive in the social media world think less like Hollywood PR legend Warren Cowan, who died in 2008, and more like "Julie," the cruise director of "The Love Boat," according to Schwartzman, who says the key to success is to help a community communicate with members.

Schwartzman was once director of promotions at Rogers & Cowan.

Social media is a world of experience. PR people "shoving information at targeted reporters/bloggers doesn't work anymore," said Dror Mohar, creative director atFuzeit.com, an online media company.
Panelist Contacts

Exclusives are things of the past and unless media assets like videos, audio and images are tagged and cataloged, they have little value.

"We know everything, the information is out there," said Mohar.  "It's easy to get access and to make the same pitch that anyone else does. It's even easier to get that context and resurface it. But it's how it feels and how it feels on so many levels – not how it feels to just your customer or client, but how it feels to you."

"Get relevant on Google or you won't found" said James Hipkin of Red 8 Studios. "The consumer is taking more and more control on how they want to receive information, and when they want to receive it. And that's a key fundamental shift. It's no longer about shouting at consumers. It's now about having the consumer listen to what you say based on when and how they want it."

Don't Forget TV, Radio

Panelists agreed that TV, radio and newspapers continue to pack a punch.

Richard Knafelc
"There's some content that works better down different pipes," said PR Newswire's Richard Knafelc. "New Media is like an awkward teenager. He makes a lot of noise, but doesn't do much. It doesn't matter what service or distribution you use, but it comes down to content. We can throw everything under the sun out there for our clients, but if the content is crap in and crap out, it doesn't matter how you get it out there.
"That's something I've come across quite a bit. We try to educate our clients that just because there's a new toy out there to play with, it doesn't mean it's going to cost you more than if you distribute it traditionally going wide," Knafelc said.

"Social media has not changed the way we gather news," said Doug Faigin, president of City News Service, a wire service. "Because of the economic difficulty the region is undergoing, whenever we have a rare opening, we get far more resumes and the quality of journalists applying for jobs at CNS are rated higher."

The problem that Faigin has with online activity is fact checking: "How do you know it's credible, just because it's out there is it right? The old media have credibility regardless how controversial the piece may be. Nevertheless, it's a starting point, and not some blogger out their spouting off his or her ideas that may or may not be based on fact."

Consider various mixes of media, but distribute content in a private label fashion, said Wylie Stateman, CEO of Fuzeit.com.
"You should be able to analyze who receives it, how they use it, and if they shared it," said Statemen. "But the most important thing is to develop compelling content. It's important to understand not only the need for content, but the production of content."

James Hipkin
james [at] red8studios.com

Richard Knafelc
Richard.knafelc [at]prnewswire.com

Dror Mohar
dmohar [at] fuzeit.com

Erick Schwartzman
ericbennettschwartzman [at] gmail.com


MAYO PR - "We don't guarantee media, we just get it!"

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Kate Gosselin on the cover of People Magazine - again, yes, she deserves it, too

Hollywood, CA - I heard on EXTRA TV tonight (Wednesday) that Reality TV Mom Kate Gosselin was paid $500K to dance on ABC's Dancing with the Stars, and it is easy to believe, because one, she deserves it, despite the negative publicity in the left wing press, and two, she danced her heart out right up until the judges cut her loose.

I had the pleasure of meeting Kate and her dance partner  Tony Dovoloni on the red carpet April 13, 2010 after a historical night and performance of our client Nuttin' But Stringz became the first instrumental and urban rock violinists to play on Dancing with the Stars.

She was very busy with back-to-back TV interviews on how she did on DWTS, however she took the time to talk to me and our clients Tourie Escobar and Damine Escobar, Nuttin' But Stringz. She also took a moment and posed with us for a photo.  It was the second time we worked on a campaign
Kate Gosselin poses on red carpet of DWTS

involving TV's top reality show, which averages 20-25 million viewers. The first time was when Louis Van Amstel (picture below) offered dancing lessons at the MAMMOJAM 2010 to raise funds for breast cancer research in Hollywood.

No wonder ABC producer's were sad the day after Kate Gosselin was cut from the show. She was one of the biggest drawing cards, and in fact ABC executives admitted it was the highest ratings they ever received. No wonder they invited her back in the finale.

Even more interesting was the fact that TMZ interviewed Nuttin' But Stringz about what it was like to be on ABC's Dancing with the Stars and they ask them about the cast of dancers? Tourie Escobar said, "Kate Gosselin, without a doubt, she's a good woman, a good dancer, good mom and I would like a date with her." Of course TMZ's Harvey Levin shook his head in disbelief, and said, "No way, now you've lost me." But then the TMZ crew asked the platinum selling brothers duo who was the most sexy dancer of all? Again they both said, "Kate Gosseling, Tourie said, "Kate is Pino," and Levin asked the TMZ crew, "What's Pinot?" A fine wine, they replied.

I agree. Yea, Kate Gosselin has been on the cover of People Magazine, but when you've been a reporter as long as I have and now as a publicist understand how hard it is to get story in People Magazine let alone on the cover you totally understand why. She's the talk of the town, and was the
highlight of my visit to the studio lot of ABC's Dancing with the Stars, even though the live and recording of the show last more than four hours, whew, it was all worth.

Kate Gosselin, you go girl! Thanks for the great conversation and experience on Dancing with the Stars. I would do your publicity for free, that's how much fun we had!
Nuttin' But Stringz on Red Carpet







( L-R) Damien Escobar, Niecy Nash, Tourie Escobar and 
Louis Van Amstel, ABC Dancing with the Stars
(MAYO PR Photo)









Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Publicists Learn that “New Media is not new” and “Social Media is the user experience” at EPPS Workshop in Hollywood, CA

"And if content truly was the king, how did Steve Jobs corner the record industry without owning a single copyright? He made it easier to get music through iTunes," Social Media Consultant Eric Schwartzman

By George S. Mc Quade III
West Coast Bureau Chief
O’Dwyer Publications, NY
www.odwyepr.com


“Everything is merging, and it’s about the experience, it’s not about shoving it down your throat, that doesn’t work any more and new media is not new,” Creative Director Dror Mohar, Fuzeit.com told Entertainment Publicists Professional Society (EPPS) crowd at a media workshop Thursday (May 20, 2010) on “A discussion on new terminology and how to overcome the fear of this new media” It was sponsored by the International Cinematographers Union Local 600.
“Everything is merging, and it’s about the experience, it’s not about shoving it down your throat, that doesn’t work any more and new media is not new,” Creative Director Dror Mohar, Fuzeit.com told Entertainment Publicists Professional Society (EPPS) crowd at a media workshop Thursday (May 20, 2010) on “A discussion on new terminology and how to overcome the fear of this new media” It was sponsored by the International Cinematographers Union Local 600.

“If you’re not relevant on Google, you won’t found,” said James Hipkin, Red 8 Studios, a leading global interactive and broadcast design agency with offices in Los Angeles, Toronto and Shanghai. “The consumer is taking more and more control on how they want to receive information, and when they want to receive it.  And that’s a key fundamental shift.  It’s no longer about shouting at consumers. It’s now about having the consumer listen to what you say based on when and how they want it.”

Publicists learned that “exclusives” are a thing of the past, and unless media assets like videos, audio and images are tagged and cataloged, they have no value.   

“You need to start thinking more sophisticated about platforms,” said Eric, Schwartzman, Online specialists and author of a new book coming out on social media. “How are you going to post your social media on your own site when you do control the data? There used to be a clique that said, ‘content is king. And the idea was if you owned a copyright, you were ultimately in control of the marketplace, because you could withhold access to it if you’d like to. But we know that’s not possible anymore. And if content truly was the king, how did Steve Jobs corner the record industry without owning a single copyright? He made it easier to get music through iTunes than anyone else could provide. Although compelling content is critical, it’s got to be easy to get.”  
Scwartzman says “New Media” is not new anymore. “What you should be thinking about is Social Media, and you have to think less like Warren Cowen (prominent American film industry publicist –Rogers & Cowan, who died May 14, 2008), may he rest in peace, and more like ‘Julie’ the cruise director of the ‘Love Boat’, because you’re making a community helping others communicate amongst themselves.” 
Social Media Expert Erick Schwartzman talks about the use of key words like President Obama used in his speech recently:


“We all know everything, the information is out there,” said Mohar, fuseit.com. “It’s easy to get access to make the same (media) pitch that any one else does. It’s even easier to get that context, and resurface it, but it’s how it feels, and how it feels on so many levels, not how it feels to just your customer, your consumer, your client, but how it feels to you.”“Social media has not changed the way we gather news,” said President Doug Faigin, of City News Service (CNS) , the largest metro wires service in the country serving southern California, which 90 percent of the media subscribe to. “Because of the economic difficulty the region is undergoing, whenever we have a rare opening, we get far more resumes and the quality of journalists applying for jobs at CNS are rated higher.”



The difficulty Faigin sees with new media is fact checking. “How do you know it’s credible, just because it’s out there is it right? The old media has the credibility of some expertise regardless how controversial the piece (story) may be suspect. Never the less, it’s a starting point, and not some blogger out their spouting off his or her ideas that may or may not be based on fact.”
Panelists also warn to not overlook traditional media, TV, radio and newspaper. “We still have AM and FM radio,” said Account Manger Richard Knafelc, PR Newswire.” “There’s some content that works better down different pipes. The definition of New Media is like an awkward teenager. He makes a lot of noise, but doesn’t do much.

It doesn’t matter what service or distribution you use, but it comes down to content. We can throw everything under the sun out there for our clients, but if the content is crap in and crap out, it doesn’t matter how you get it out there. That’s something I’ve come across quite a bit. We try to educate our clients that just because there’s a new toy out there to play with, it doesn’t mean it’s going to cost you more than if you distribute it traditionally going wide.”


“You should think about all mixes of media, but distributing it in a private label fashion,” said Wylie Stateman, co-founder and CEO of fuzeit.com. “You’re not sending out your important information through YouTube, Twitter or whatever. We think there’s a future in multimedia, if you have control in delivery of it.  You should be able to analyze who receive it, how they use it, and if they shared it. But the most important thing is to develop compelling content.”
Fuszeit.com, which produces 10 percent of the multimedia film market Online has earned six Oscars over last 15 years. Stateman has been personally nominated for five Academy awards and several British Academy awards. 
“I need a publicist, because no one really knows who I am,” said Stateman. “It’s important to understand not only the need for content, but the production of content. What we have done at fuzeit.com is develop tools to allow people to express themselves with video, with audio, with images and texts.”
To reach the panelists all prefer email:
James Hipkin: james@red8studios.com
Dror Mohar: dmohar@fuzeit.com
Wylie Stateman: wstateman@fuzeit.com


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Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Should movie, music or TV Companies Allow Their Employees to Tweet?

 I was recently interviewed by Box Office Magazine regarding reports of Paramount's social media buzz about upcoming films and the tweet account they set up. It begs the question: Should studios allow their talent to tweet,or talk to fans in real time on Facebook or whatever forums to expand awareness of the movie, or do you feel its too risky?

Here's the Box Office Magazine article Online: 

 http://www.boxofficemagazine.com/articles/2010-05-paramount-learns-about-the-dangers-of-social-networking

My personal experience shows that if you take a calculated risk it can pay off in huge dividends of massive free publicity, especially if you end up in Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Entertainment Tonight, The Wrap; or EW.com. For independent movie producers with lower budgets, and musicians or independent music labels it's great publicity. 

What has been your experience, good, bad or ugly? I write for www.odwyerpr.com, NY and maintain scores of industry blogs. If you want to be quoted, please send your 
comments to George@mayocommunications.com and if you have a headshot or logo pls include it, too. Thanks. Geo. 

"We don't guarantee media, we just get it!" ™ Follow us on Twitter:/MAYOPR


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Monday, May 17, 2010

"Smart Grid" Tech Conference to Feature PERI Software Solutions Inc.


 PERI Software to participate in a 21st Century “Smart Grid Technology Conference and Expo” in San Diego
***
"Smart Grid technology  transforms the way utilities can deliver power to customers, it is the wave of the future,” said President and CEO Sarav Periasamy, PERI Software Solutions Inc


Newark, NJ/San Diego, CA PERI Software Solutions Inc., a smart grid technology leader, plans to exhibit and participate in the 2010 Smart Grid Technology Conference & Expo, hosted by San Diego Gas & Electric, June 2nd & 3rd, San Diego, CA. The event touts to be a powerful utility led tech conference that will outline ways to step up smart grid technologies. PERI will be amongst a dozen exhibitors and plans to display its latest smart grid technology.
             
“We need to educate and engage consumers in the transformation of smart grid technologies,” said President and CEO Sarav Periasamy. PERI Software Solutions, Inc. “Research shows that 60 percent of the electricity generated in this country is lost to inefficiencies, and the fact that smart grid technology is green and does not cost more, customers will feel good about saving energy and the environment.” 
PERI offers a solution that consists of smart electric meters that are capable of collecting fine grained household electrical usage data and transmitting it over secure communications protocols like mobile phones using general packet radio service (GPRS) or WIFI Mesh.

 “The data collected is integrated into a smart grid enterprise information system,” explained Periasamy. “The application supports data collection, analytics, system planning, engineering, operations, energy management, asset management, and value-added customer services. Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Smart Meter and Demand Response form the core enabling technologies for the smart grid.
            Beyond automated meter reading for billing purposes, the smart meters grid serves as information gateways to customers. It offers improved revenue management and proactive customer communications about energy efficiency. Through dynamic rate price programs and Home Area Network applications and devices the smart grid also enables customers to manager the user of energy in their home in near real time.
            PERI's most recent move was opening its Los Angeles office earlier this year, which Periasamy has described as a way to step into the region's technology services market. PERI has developed 14 products and scored with customers such as Toyota and Blue Cross Blue Shield. Its hardware products have flourished in India in the desktop PC and wireless devices markets. On the intelligent hardware/embedded software front, PERI has developed iSystem, a product that integrates voice, video and data into one communication system.

           Periasamy recently told IndUS Business Journal’s (http://tiny.cc/ww3kc) writer Martin Desmarais, "My goal as CEO of the company is to make sure we grow in all phases so that one (technology) supports the other. Basically, it is complementary phases. We are one of the only small diversity solutions providers in the smart grid area and since we started early we should have some advantage,” he said.

            “California is really one of the first states to move hard on the smart grid technology for utilities and many other states are watching California to see how things develop before following suit,” noted Periasamy. He also sees a massive market for smart grids in developing countries, like India, that are struggling with their utility infrastructure. The efficiency and speed of the smart grid system helps in reducing the waste or misusage of power. PERI has been developing its own smart grid technology for the last two years.

            In a 3,000 meter pilot program for a utility company, PERI provided solutions for using outdoor wireless mesh and GPRS for implementing smart grid solutions. PERI had to overcome the challenges of deploying wide-area wireless broadband IP networks on a large scale, making wide-area broadband coverage possible. PERI provided a solution that is scalable, reliable, performance bound and secured that the customer needed. The backend application is an enterprise-wide geographic information system (GIS) supported by a business intelligence application.

            The two-day smart grid technology conference will also feature industry leaders from Austin Energy, TVA, Google, Seattle City Light, Southern California Edison, Better Place, Sempra, EPRI, and Verizon Wireless to name a few. 

             
PERI Software Solutions Inc. is one of the nation’s fastest growing Asian-owned, global business solutions company based in Newark, NJ with offices in San Jose, Los Angeles and Chennai, India. Founded in 1999, PERI is a global business solutions company, which has grown to more than 700 plus employees and delivers high value-cost effective technology based business solutions. The technology product and services company has earned more than $50 million in revenue since being started in 1999.  The company has four main product lines: software, hardware, intelligent hardware/embedded software and software services.  For more info visit: www.PERIsoftware.com.
            For more about the smart grid tech conference and agenda visit:

[Editors: For images and advanced media interviews with PERI, please call: Aida Mayo or
George McQuade at 818-340-5300 or 818-618-9229 or email Publicity@MayoCommunications.com.
]



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Asian owned PERI Software to attend 12th Annual Supplier Diversity Making a Difference in the New Green Economy

Kansas, MO. - PERI Software plans to attend the "Supplier Diversity-Making a Difference in the New Green Economy" event, May 17-19, 2010, Westin Crowne Center, Kansas City, Missouri. The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) and host company Kansas City Power & Light is hosting the annual Diversity Conference Tuesday through Thursday, in Kansas City, MO.

EEI and its members aim to establish long-term relationships with diverse suppliers who provide products and services that help our industry succeed in a highly competitive environment. Our member companies build close alliances with diverse suppliers, knowing that a business practice today will impact business development tomorrow. "Purchasing goods and services through diverse suppliers just makes good business sense."

" We are one of the fastest Asian-owned global business solutions company in our industry and I look forward to attending the annual event," said Pres. & CEO Sarav Periasamy, PERI Software Solutions, a business solutions company based in Newark, NJ with offices in San Jose, Los Angeles and Chennai, India.

Last month, PERI earned five business awards.

1. Top 500 Diversity Owned Businesses in the US
2. Top 100 Subcontinent Asian American Businesses in the US
3. Top 500 Privately - Held Businesses in the US
4. Top 100 Diversity Owned Businesses in NJ
5. Top 100 Privately - Held Businesses in NJ

The company has four main product lines: software, hardware, intelligent hardware/embedded software and software services. Through these lines, PERI focuses on a number of areas including: advanced metering infrastructure, business intelligence, enterprise data warehousing, geographic information systems, identity management, portal and content management, SAP, supervisory control and data acquisition and security services.

PERI Software Solutions Inc. was founded in 1999, PERI is a global business solutions company, which has grown to more than 700 plus employees and delivers high value-cost effective technology based business solutions. The technology product and services company has earned more than $50 million in revenue since being started in 1999. The company has four main product lines: software, hardware, intelligent hardware/embedded software and software services.

For more info visit: www.PERIsoftware.com. On June 2-3, PERI will be discussing Smart Grid Technology at the conference in San Diego, CA.

For more about the smart grid tech conference and agenda visit:
http://www.smartgridupdate.com/smartgridtechnology/programme.shtml

[Editors: For images and advanced media interviews with PERI, please call: Aida Mayo or
George McQuade at 818-340-5300 or 818-618-9229 or email Publicity@MayoCommunications.com.]


MAYO PR - "We don't guarantee media, we just get it!"

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

CEO & President of PERI featured in IndUS Business Journal - May issue

PERI has developed 14 products
and scored with customers such
as Toyota and Blue Cross Blue Shield


 
Sarav Periasamy, founder and CEO of PERI Software Solutions, based in Newark, NJ has been profiled in the the May issue of IndUS Business Journal. 


PERI recently received five business awards at a national minority business conference in Washington DC. For more on the Article visit
IndUS Business Journal website (more


Sarav Periasamy, CEO and Founder, established PERI Software in 1999 with the goal of making it one of the world's leading technology companies. To achieve this PERI, which is based in Newark, NJ has strategically concentrated on the next-generation technology initiatives. It includes an emphasis on long-term growth opportunities and continuous customer focus. The result has been increased financial performance and enhanced profitability, along with greater value for customers and a stronger competitive position in global IT markets. 

Periasamy’s leadership, based on modern business perspectives, continuously drives forward the success of the company. His professional experience in R&D of next generation technologies, products and services he has transformed PERI from a business based solutions on IT staffing to a multi faceted global technology centric enterprise.
Under Periasamy’s leadership PERI has developed a synergistic portfolio of business units/profit centers across multiple industry verticals with worldwide revenue of more than $50M to date. Through new businesses acquisitions, strategic alliances and partnerships, as well as organic growth Periasamy has created strategies, structure and a culture of productivity to establish PERI as a leading global technology company. PERI has been awarded as one of the U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce’s fastest-growing Asian-Indian American businesses and was also recognized recently with five awards as one of the top 100 diversity businesses in the U.S. at the 10th Annual Multicultural Business Conference.
Periasamy management style includes a no nonsense approach with tough and fair business decision making and little tolerance for bureaucracy and archaic business ways. The senior management team is given free reign within the parameters of PERI’s ethic of embracing change. They also work on striving for constant improvement in establishing PERI as the world's leading technology company.
A major strategic factor in PERI’s success has been the intensive “Boot Camp” style training that all the company’s new technology employees go through, including those people, who have a graduate degree in the IT field. Periasamy has taken PERI’s extensive technology training expertise and established a PERI University in
Chennai, India to train engineers in computer science, electrical engineering and other technology disciplines. PERI University’s curriculum has been approved by state authorities. The new campus is nearly completed, the faculty is being hired and the first group of students will begin enrollment in 2010. Additionally, Periasamy plans to bring PERI University to the U.S. to train technology workers here over the next two years.

Prior to starting PERI, he held a variety of positions, from architect to senior consultant, in the IT divisions of several leading global financial services firms including Prudential, Citibank and JP Morgan Chase. Periasamy received his bachelor's degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from University of Madras and then went on to receive his M.S. in Computer Science at New Jersey Institute of Technology
For media interviews contact MAYO Communications  at Publicity@mayocommunications.com or
call 818-340-5300 or 818-618-9229.

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LAEDC Sees Clear Uptick in Int’l Trade Activity



Front page story on LA Daily News (click on image to read it)
LAEDC report forecasts two-way trade to grow by nine percent in 2010 with separate report showing striking economic and personal ties with China
                                ***
Los Angeles — Southern California’s key international trade industry will see improving activity during 2010 and 2011 after two dismal years in 2008 and 2009, according to theInternational Trade Trends & Impactsreport released today by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC).

The total value of two-way trade through the Los Angeles Customs District should increase by 9.0 percent to $308.5 billion, while the number of containers moved at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach will grow by 10.2 percent in 2010.

“The global economic downturn was a huge problem in 2009, as the economies of four of the Los Angeles Customs District’s top five trading partners dropped into recession,” said LAEDC Chief Economist Nancy Sidhu, Ph.D.  “However, all five economies have now returned to growth mode, which bodes well for international trade activity in 2010.”

Trade growth at the ports was helped by a number of new projects to meet environmental mandates and expand capacity.  At the port of Los Angeles, work is moving on both the Transpacific Terminal and the China Shipping Terminal.  At Long Beach, construction at Pier G continues, and the completion of the environmental impact report (EIR) for the Middle Harbor project cleared the way for construction to begin there as well, which has the potential to create additional jobs .  The steady increase of export volumes helped by the early recovery in the Asian economies will also contribute to the growth in international trade activity.


“All of these projects have a two-part impact,” said Sidhu.  “Jobs are being created today—when they are desperately needed—and capacity will be increased for the future when trade activity revives.”  “Capacity at the local ports has been a concern in the past, but expansion plans are moving again,” said LAEDC Founding Economist Jack Kyser.


For more on the 2010 International Trade Report and the studies visit:
http://tinyurl.com/2fqtorl



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Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Angel Entertainment Foundation Reaches Out To Help Abused Children and Entertainment Pros Heal: Breaking the Cycle of Abuse



Angel Foundation helps youth through the art of film making.


I look forward to meeting everyone and to a great event in Beverly Hills,” said President Michelle Lovetro, CEO at Soaring High Productions and Film Investments
Los Angeles, May 112010 – Angel Entertainment Foundation, a non profit organization that encourages self-expression through all aspects of film, video and music production is kicking off a fundraisingOperation Launch Party”this Wednesday, May 12, 2010, 6:30 p.m.,Aqua Lounge, 424 Beverly Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA, 91210.
“I look forward to meeting everyone on the red carpet and to a great event in Beverly Hills,” said President Michelle Lovetro, CEO at Soaring High Productions and Film Investments. “Just a few months after our last event Angel Entertainment Foundation has made big strides towards the ‘Launch Party’.”
The celebrity event will spotlight Carmina Salcido, Sonoma, CA, who 20 years ago survived her father's murderous rampage that left seven family member dead and was featured on ABC’s 20/20 program. She talks about her life since then in her new book 'Not Lost Forever', of which she will autograph at the event.
Guests invited and expected on the red carpet Wednesday’s event include:  the cast of “Gravity”, Jon Harrison Taylor, son of R&B legend Johnny Taylor, Chloe Jordache, who just released her CD. Other up and coming artist are included in line up. Also expected: Brooke Rose, Angie Gega, Emma Winkler,Angels In America are coming to perform. Corey Leland plans to sing some of his songs for children and C. Kenneth Lee, and the Kitikat Band.


Angel Entertainment Foundation is a non profit organization that encourages self-expression through all aspects of film, video and music production.

“We use these expressive disciplines as a way to heal the soul and provide a positive environment for struggling youth to communicate their feelings,” explained Lovetro . “This is done in a supervised environment, and we do have counselors on staff.”
Lovetro works in conjunction with Soaring High Entertainment Co-Op, so they can provide professional instruction utilizing people that have had years of experience in the industry. They also provide labs in acting, script writing, direction, set design, musical scoring, basically anything to do with production.



Angeles Entertainment Foundation  Goals:

1. Give the youth a sense of identity. Often with abuse kids lose their self esteem, turn to outside negative influences to cope. Through the performing arts they gain it back and feel they have value. Expression through creativity has been proven to be a positive form of therapy.

2. Give the youth a safe place where they can interact and build social skills.

3. To use the performing arts to teach valuable life skills, give them the opportunity to enjoy the feeling of success, the courage and motivation to reach for their dreams.


Angeles Entertainment Foundation has also partnered with Safe Passages and A&G Entertainment Productions.

Angeles Entertainment Foundation  has also partnered with Safe Passages and A&G Entertainment Productions.


Angel Entertainment Foundation has put together a proven, experienced and diverse team of seasoned practitioners. The Angel team is spearheaded by long-time therapist Dr. Kandis Blakely.

"We are a compassionate, passionate foundation ready to help damaged children and it is our goal to build awareness and grow year by year as a motivator of other foundations and non profits, not to just meet the children’s enrichment needs but also their mental and emotional needs,” she said.

"Most importantly today's economy, non profits are struggling to stay in operation and I feel a collaborative effort will keep us all strong so the work may continue,” said Lovetro. “It is my goal at this time to have an all day concert inviting other non profits to participate in creating awareness to programs available to children who want enrichment as well as healing.”



Angel Entertainment Foundation is an organization devoted to teaching abused and troubled youth from the age of 10 to 18 the art of film making, video and music production. “ For more information on Angel Entertainment Foundation, please contact Michelle at 805 218 4716 or visit: 


[Editors: For media interviews, images or more about the event contact Aida Mayo or George Mc Quade, MAYO Communications, 818-340-5300 or email: Publicity@MayoCommunications.com. MAYO is a proud sponsor of
“Operation Launch Party”


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