My interests include forward thinkers, producing film, and self growth. I am a positive person that enjoys building a team with like-minded individuals. If you are looking to network, my work ethic is second to none. Please contact me at georgeohan@gmail.com -
"Positive vibes and Energy to everyone!!!!" - George Ohan
My name is George Ohan and I am currently producing a "Feature Documentary" about the Armenian church here in Southern California. (www.facebook.com/ArmenianChurchFilm) I would like to send an email to people in the Armenian community and give them this information. It would be great to read feedback about their position on some of the topics we are bringing up. This film is designed to bring up important topics like:
1. Determine why the faith, membership, and attendance practices of Armenians change so dramatically from 1st to 3rd generation for the Armenian Church?
2. Measure the success or failure of the ministry of the Armenian church in America.
3. Provide a groundwork of eveidence for any future study on the need for adjusting the method of ministry of the Armenian church.
4. Does the Armenian church belong at the root of the Armenian culture?
We have already filmed at seven different locations from the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church in Southern California. At this point we would like to get feedback from the community and add depth to the story behind this interesting project. Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.
My father was from Syria and my mother was from Lebanon and they decided on moving to the jungle of the United States of America in 1981; Los Angeles. Years later we had moved 4 hours north to Madera, CA. I was 16 years old and it was my junior year of high school. This was the first time that I had realized there was life after graduation. As I started to pay attention to what was going on around me I noticed a bunch of students getting ready for college. My parents had never told me about college; how would they know what it was like to get into an American college? After all, they were Armenian immigrants. One thing was certain my family LOVED the United States and felt very American.
I drove to the Marine Corps recruiting office in Fresno, CA and ran into two interesting characters. One man was Sergeant Vernon and the other one was Gunnery Sergeant Gorsky. Now, mind you..... I was interested in the Marine Corps because I had heard about 1,000 helicopter pilot stories from my friend's dad; Captain Terry Lewis. He had encouraged me and motivated me about the American military. When I walked into the USMC recruiting station I heard,"Ahhhh shit!" Then they started laughing quietly. I walked further into the recruiting station and I heard,"Wassup my man, Ahahahaha..... Ya man, right here." Sergeant Vernon was pointing at the weight scale while Gunnery Sergeant Gorsky chimed in with,"You're probably gonna be too fat, but I'll get down your basic info anyways." He asked many random questions, like my address, phone number, and medical history......but he never asked me my name.
These comments had not bothered me in the least bit. I was just surprised that the Marines weren't super human like I had been taught. This was my first time having any interaction with Marines, besides from the neighborhood heroes. I immediately started to assess my situation and decided that this is not the type of people I want to be around. Sergeant Vernon spoke as if he was an announcer with a drum roll from Gunnery Sergeant Gorsky,"Twoooooo Hundreeeeeeeed and Thirt Teeeeeeee Fiiiiivvveee pounds!!!!" I put my shoes back on and without uttering a word I slowly walked out of their office and looked toward the other recruiting stations. It was 9:00pm and the other stations were already shut down for the evening so I went to Taco Bell and stuffed my fat face before going home.
While I was at home the remarks of the recruiters started to bother me. I knew I was fat. I knew I needed help. I knew I wasn't ready to be a Marine, that's why I was there........and my fu*kin name is George Ohan sir. At 11:15pm I heard a knock at my door at home and when I answered it Sergeant Vernon stood there with a packet of paperwork in his hands ready to be filled out. I did not invite him in because I was confused of his arrival. He told us that the USMC had opened up a few slots with weight waivers, blah, blah, blah. He started getting very aggressive and rude. A few minutes later my father asked him to leave and Sergeant Vernon said in a very stern voice,"Sir you need to understand that this is America and this is how the system is. He needs to come with me to Sacramento tonight." Sergeant Vernon would rather have me go to the Military Entrance Processing Station and fail the height and weight requirements than to disqualify me as an applicant. Needless to say, my father was not happy and kicked him out of our home.
The next day I went to the Army recruiting station and came across a Soldier by the name of Staff Sergeant Shenefelt. I'm not going to say he was the best guy or Soldier in the world, but I can say that he took the time to help me. I walked into the recruiting station and before he asked me any questions about weight, medical, or law violations he asked about my interests and educational goals. He KNEW I was fat, just like I did. He also knew to look past that for a moment. By the time the meeting was done we had put together a workout plan and assessed that I had to lose 65 pounds to qualify for the Army. I showed up the next afternoon after school and he took me for a run that nearly killed me. It was just what I needed.
I lost the weight. I joined the Army. All I needed was some motivation from a LEADER outside of my family or close circle of friends. If you are a person in a power position it is imperative to always be the LEADER. It took a 10 minute conversation for an Army recruiter to recognize my potential and he gave me a shot. I strived in the military to be named as "Top Soldier" on many occasions and went on to earn numerous awards and commendations while serving active duty in the U.S. Army. I had also reached the rank of Staff Sergeant (P) promotable before deciding to become a civilian again.
The point I'd like to make is that I did not let the actions of a couple of people that were not representing the Marine Corps the way they should've been determine my future path. My reactions to their less than honorable behavior is what set the tone to my future success. I KNEW I was fat, that's why I went to the Marines......for help. If someone comes to you and expresses a need, it's probably true and worth further investigation. This can apply for any situation. Sometimes people just want to talk. Someone may suffer from PTSD, low self-esteem, depression, etc... If they're reaching out to you please be a friend, be a mentor, be a leader.......just be there.
Sergeant Vernon and Gunnery Sergeant Gorsky, You were right. My weight prevented me from wearing the same uniform as you. No hard feelings though. I served this country honorably for eight years active duty as an Army Soldier and I feel very privileged for having an opportunity to do that. Currently I help ALL military branches find work in the Film & Television field through an organization called Vets on Set. I am also the alumni president for veterans at Los Angeles Film School. Oh ya, I also belong to a group called Veterans in Film & Television located in Hollywood, CA..... not bad for a FAT boy huh?
Thank you for taking a moment to read some of my thoughts.
I often meet with two (or more) clients who wish to work together to produce a film, a video or some other audio-visual project. Sometimes one person will be designated a project’s producer while the other person may serve as the director. One of the parties often has written or controls the rights in and to the project’s script. Occasionally the two clients are both designated as producers with a script who either have a director in mind or are seeking a director. These parties either have little or no money raised to date. It is, at this time, when the parties’ business relationship is beginning and the stakes are relatively low (i.e., the bulk of a project’s financing still needs to be raised and a small sum of money may have been spent to date) that the parties should enter into some sort of a Joint Venture Agreement.
A “Joint Venture Agreement” is just another way of referring to a partnership agreement usually formed just for one project. This agreement specifies the parties’ rights and obligations pertaining to the project. It is a sort of business relationship “pre-nuptial agreement” in which the parties understand what is expected of them and what happens if a problem should occur between or amongst the parties. (A Joint Venture Agreement can be between two parties or among three or more parties.) If the Joint Venture Agreement addresses key issues comprehensively, the parties often can sign it, place it in a drawer and only look at it when the need arises.
The joint venture often is a preliminary step prior to forming a production entity such as a limited liability company or a corporation once a project’s funding begins to fall into place. Its term can be for a few months or years with six months to two years serving as the norm. If one of the parties wrote or otherwise controls the right in a project’s script, that party’s contribution to the joint venture would include the “optioning” of the script by the venture with the venture having the right to acquire the script’s rights before the end of the venture’s term. If the venture’s term should end and the venture (or a subsequently formed production entity) has not acquired such rights, the option would be deemed to have lapsed and the script’s rights would remain with the party that wrote or otherwise controls the script’s rights without any encumbrances. However, if the venture or one of the parties to the venture spent any development or otherwise related monies concerning the script or the project, the party who owns the rights to the script would be free to work with other persons or entities to produce the project once the venture’s term has ended, subject to that party either repaying or having a third party repay the other joint venture party any of that party’s share of the Venture’s direct, verifiable “out-of-pocket” expenses. The joint venture parties sometimes will permit such expenses to be excused without any right to repayment to a party. This point is a matter of negotiation between or among the parties.
There should be a provision in the Joint Venture Agreement which states what is expected of the parties. A party’s contribution to a venture can include the project’s script (or any underlying rights to a script), funding, development, production, marketing or distribution resources or skills or the promise to use best efforts by each party to secure such financing, to locate such resources or to render such services.
One of the most important provisions in a Joint Venture Agreement is the one that addresses how the parties make decisions regarding the venture. The parties can separate the types of decisions made on behalf of a venture into purely creative and business (i.e., economic) decisions. Although creative and business decisions often overlap, creative decisions can be separated into two categories: those creative decisions which require the additional allocation and expenditure of funds and those creative decisions which do not affect (i.e., increase) a project’s budget.
If none of the parties is to be a project’s director, the selection of a director may require the parties’ unanimous approval (although this decision and other decisions may be subject to the approval of a project’s financier in certain cases). If one of the parties shall be designated as the project’s director or a third party is to be engaged as the director, the parties would attempt initially to reach some sort of consensus; however, there should be some mechanism to address those times when consensus cannot be reached by the parties. The parties have several options regardless of the nature of such decisions. First, the parties can agree that a decision must be unanimous or a decision is not made. This method of decision-making works well concerning such issues as the selection of cast, crew and director, but it can result in a deadlock by the parties if they are unable to agree. Second, the parties could agree to choose a third party approved by the parties whose decision would govern. This option can be avoided if there is an odd number of parties in a joint venture but issues may arise if the parties have difficulty deciding who should be designated as the third party “tie-breaker.” Third, a party or parties can agree to defer to a party whose decision shall govern since that party may have expertise in a certain area or that party has secured financing or distribution for a project and this type of decision-making may be a condition to forming the venture and to producing the project.
Regarding expenditures made on behalf of the venture, the agreement can state that expenditures which are at a certain monetary level or greater require the (usually written) approval of the venture’s parties. This provision can be problematic if one of the parties may be unavailable or inaccessible during the venture’s term or the production of the project. The parties can select a third party as an alternative signatory for the purpose of paying for expenditures of a certain amount or higher or the agreement can provide a grace period in which the unavailable party must get in contact with the venture’s other party or parties or his, her or their right to approve such expenses would be deemed waived. Still, if a party accesses monies to pay for an unauthorized expenditure, the agreement would acknowledge that such party would be personally responsible for repaying such expense. But in this age of e-mail, faxes and overnight delivery, this situation is becoming less and less of an issue.
In the area of compensation, the Joint Venture Agreement may state the specific figures reflecting how much money would be paid to a party for certain services, or the parties may agree to equal compensation, whether such compensation is upfront, deferred or contingent in nature (i.e., “on the backend”). One of the troublesome issues regarding compensation in which the parties have to address in a Joint Venture Agreement is how to address the scenario when one of the parties leaves the project whether voluntarily or otherwise. There should be a pro rating of a departing party’s compensation that is tied to when the party departs the project. If a party departs from the project at an early stage, that party should receive less compensation that if the party would leave at a later stage of the project. This point is a highly contested issue.
The parties address a similar issue concerning the allocation of the parties’ credits regarding the project. A party’s credit should be subject to that party’s substantial or full compliance of the Venture’s terms and the rendering of services as designated in the Joint Venture Agreement. This credit provision should state how the credits should read and appear on all positive copies of the project and in its promotional and advertising materials. The parties also can deal with this issue by stating in the Joint Venture Agreement that a party’s credit shall appear whenever another party’s or parties’ credit(s) shall appear. Once again, this can be a highly negotiated provision.
A joint venture can be terminated for reasons other than the expiration of its term (which usually can be extended by the parties’ unanimous consent) such as by operation of law which may occur when the venture has not complied with certain laws which may result in the venture’s dissolution or when the venture may be compelled to seek bankruptcy protection.
If a joint venture’s parties are from different locations, there should be a provision that acknowledges which country’s or state’s laws should govern disputes by the parties. Other common provisions in a Joint Venture Agreement address such issues as how monies should be allocated by the venture in terms of repaying any loans, repaying any investments made by the parties in the Venture or to third parties, that each party is free to pursue other business opportunities which are unrelated to the venture without having to ask if the other parties wish to participate in such new business opportunities and that a party’s offers assurances that the party has the rights (or, at least, the right to acquire) the rights in a project’s property which may include its underlying rights.
It is a part of human nature to avoid dealing with difficult issues regarding any relationship, whether the relationship is personal or business in nature. Still the Joint Venture Agreement serves as a means of clarifying many misunderstandings at an early stage and decreasing the chances of growing animosity among the parties later in the heat of developing, producing or distributing a project. The parties who wish to work together ultimately should realize that if they can weather the storm of dealing with the issues addressed in a Joint Venture Agreement, they probably have just as good as or a better chance of dealing effectively with the often difficult issues which arise when the parties are in the production and distribution trenches together.
Please read the short summary that my director wrote to help promote his short film. If you are a new director/writer/producer this is something you can do very easily as well. Get your projects made, then get your projects seen.
My name is Reginald Pippin and I am the director and writer of this short film, Meeting Miss Washington State. I was raised in Mississippi. I served in the United States Army from 2001 to 2010 as 92Y (Unit Supply Specialist). I was stationed in Fort Bliss, TX (2002-2004, 2008-2010) and Fort Irwin, CA (2004-2007). I am also an OIF (Operation Iraqi War) Veteran having served in Iraq during 2005-2006. After getting out of the Army in 2010, I made the decision to follow my dreams which is to make movies and started going to the Los Angeles Film School which I am currently attending.
The short film Meeting Miss Washington State is a silent romance comedy about a shy and reserved art student who has a crush on beautiful landlord ,but is afraid to tell her. Meeting Miss Washington State is also about breaking out of habits which may keep him or her from achieving dreams. This film will not only be an enjoyable experience, it will also help and boost the careers of the actors and the students who are entering the film industry.
I am fortunate to receive lighting, camera, and sound equipment from the Los Angeles Film School, but there is a more that goes into making any film. I am asking $800 to help towards the making of this film. The $800 dollars will go to the following: Food (Three Days) Location Permits Gas (Four Days) Insurance (Workers Comp) Marketing Film Festival Fees
This is summary #2 by Ms. Paquita Hughes another director that I am producing a film with. She is a very talented director that you might be able to learn from. If you are trying to self fund your own projects please feel free to use the model below as a template.
::Who are you and why are you making this film?
I'm Paquita Hughes, an aspiring filmmaker attending an intense filmmaking program at the New York Film Academy, Universal Studios. Yes, Universal Studios. I served in the US Navy as an Air Traffic Controller for over 7 years and after fulfilling my contract, I set out to follow my dreams of becoming a successful Filmmaker. I'm about to graduate, but not before completing my One Year Thesis Film project. This film will be my inauguraul film inducting me into the industry when I accept my diploma as a bonafide Filmmaker (Producer/Director)! If you want to see my work as a Director, check out my demo reel and my website. I think you'll dig what you see.
::Why do you need $$?
Well, I need your help to become a bonafide filmmaker and receive a diploma. I need money to secure payments for the proper permits, locations, cast and crew to make my film. I will also need to feed the hardworking individuals when they show up on my set to help me create movie magic. I've estimated the amount that I am pledging and could only hope that I receive enough donations to get the ball rolling on my film. I need this to GRADUATE! No donation is too big or too small. If you can't donate, just spread the word to others you may know that would be interested in supporting this project.
::What is it about?
Kara runs away from home after a huge argument with her Aunt about a college acceptance letter. She bumps into another young woman, Vicky, who joins her on her walk to the train station. Kara spots her Aunt’s car driving around the neighborhood causing her and Vicky to retreat to a more discreet location. Kara learns that Vicky is an aspiring songwriter when she shows her a songbook. Kara's Aunt suddenly arrives to make amends but recognizes the book so she confesses the truth of Kara’s mother’s death which also eerily reveals that Vicky was the spirit of her estranged deceased mother.
::What will it look like?
This short film (intended for festival circuit) will be shot in HD Color & B/W on a Canon 7D. It's a drama with mysterious undertones and a supernatural twist.
::Why should I care about this film?
I was taught, in life, you can choose your friends, but you can’t choose your family so, with that being said, we all have felt unappreciated and hurt by our loved ones. My film celebrates the idea of discovering yourself on your journey to following your dreams no matter the stigma your family or environment has thrusts upon you. If you're not following your dreams, what ARE you following?
::Why are you telling this story?
My mother and I have had a strained relationship reaching back as far as I can remember. She is also sadly in denial about how over protective she was creating the sheltered lifestyle my brothers and I had to endure. I wanted to tell a liberating story about how I wanted to run away to California and just leave her and my awful life in Mississippi in the dust never looking back. Obviously, I chose a different route of liberation so this is the “what if” version with a supernatural twist.
::What's in it for me?
If you find it in your heart to support my film and donate, I have some pretty awesome perks that I will fufill no later than August 2012! These perks range from a Thank You! from yours truly to an Executive Producer credit on the film and a ticket to the premeir at Warner Bros. Studios in June 2012. Until my next campaign, California Dreaming::Post Production (smaller budget)... Sincerely yours,
This is for anyone that would like some reference sites to write a commercial treatment.Many new directors assume that the production company or producer is responsible for this.This is not the case in the commercial world. Directors must be prepared to write treatments, have treatments written, have their ideas borrowed, etc.The more you do, the more experience you gain.It doesn’t take any budget to write 100 treatments.I suggest having a bunch of them written up and practice pitching them too.Remember rehersals?? In the INDIE world it is up to us to book our own work. I look forward to working with fresh new talent and I’d like to pass along helpful information along the way.The idea is that the people around me are being mentored to the top as well.These links below might not be the best examples of a treatment, and it might not make you into the next “Michael Bay”????It might not; but it’s a good start for you to start investigating how to perfect your craft even further.There are many awesome books out there on the subject.Remember, as artists and creators in the entertainment industry we are always up against the BEST.That’s what we strive to be. The BEST!I hope this was helpful.
For Burbank you will need: 