Theatre Art Appreciation Final Project – Creative Presentation by Diane Letulier

For my final project, I chose the play entitled “A Dog’s Life” by Diane Grant. I think I would produce this play to be performed in a small community theatre.This play is about a company of a playhouse in New York, so in light of that I think it would be best in a small theatre so that the audience feels they too are part of the play. I would have a small theatre in the round, or an audience configuration in a small theatre where the players or actors go out into the audience during the play. This would be essential, since the story is about a theatre company and is set mostly on stage in the theatre. Much of the dialogue is while the cast members are rehearsing and communicating with the director of the theatre. Below are my images of theatre ideas for this play.

In each of the above images of theatre audience areas, they are small and intimate, and the audience would feel part of the play, especially if it was performed with the cast members going out into the audience area.

Here are the actors I would cast in the play:

Hildy : Stage Manager – played by Meg Ryan

Meg would be perfect as Hildy, she is a vivacious and bubbly actor, and has the sarcasm the role needs as Hildy has spunk! .

Margo – Business Manager and George’s love interest  – Played by Sandra Bullock :

Sandra would be excellent as Margo, as I picture her being able to create Margo’s character perfectly. I immediately pictured Margo as a brunette.Margo bickers with George alot and has a strong presence.

Mimi – Arnie’s daughter, spoiled and entitled – played by : Emma Roberts

Emma did a fantastic job as a bratty very powerful witch in American Horror Story last season.

She would be remarkable as Mimi who is spoiled, bratty and has substance abuse issues.

Pookie : The Musician – Played by America Ferrara

I think America would be great as Pookie. Pookie doesn’t have a very big part in the play,but American seems like she would be a good artsy type for the role.

Rowena – The new girl – Played by Gwyneth Paltrow

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Gwyneth is who I have envisioned to play Rowena, as Rowena is very graceful talented and kind. I imagine Gwyneth being able to pull of that type of role as she usually does play these types of characters.

 

 

 

George Mercer – Theatre Director – played by Alec Baldwin

Alec did great as the wacky diretor manager in the film Rock of Ages. He would do very well as George.I think he has the ability to play this quirky sarcastic funny character wonderfully. Brian Boffin – The artist – Played by Rupert Everett

Rupert would be superb as Brian Boffin the stuffy British stage actor. Rupert is British and so versatile with his acting that he would be perfect for this part. Arnie – The investor – Played by : Stellan Skarsgard

Stellan was wonderful in Mama Mia, the film and played a very funny role as a father. I envision him with this part as I imagine him doting over his daughter and flaunting his wealth and wisdom in this role.

Tom – The Playright – Played by Mark Fauerstein

Mark would be great as Tom the playright.  He has the nice guy studious look, and I love other roles he has played as a character actor in movies. He was in one of my favorite films, Practical Magic.

Billy – The Method Actor – Played by Zac Ephron

Zac has that handsome young sharp look and he would be a perfect person to play Billy, the starry eyed playright. Zac has been in some very versatile roles, comedy as well as drama.

Yevgeni Platov – The Landlord – Played by Rade Serbedzija

Rade has been in several films, and being of Russian decent. He has a great accent. I loved the move The Saint that he co starred in. I love his acting skills and think he would be great for the role of the cranky foreign landlord.

 

Scrapbook 4 – Web Graphics

I chose Meagan Fisher’s website/blog page:http://owltastic.com/…

This site confrmed my belief that graphics and grabbing the viewer’s eye is very important. I think graphics should be used to attract attention to the viewer in a certain manner. The viewer should want to click through each page hungry for more and more appealing fonts images and colors.

I found this website to be pretty dull and find that there should have been mores use of color, more eye catching font and alot more graphics. I feel that space was wasted with me having to scroll down to numerous posts that could’ve been consolidated more into fewer pages.

I found the colors to be literally and virtually pale, and would have brighten them up with more vivid shades. I can barely read the font in some of the post as it is too pale. The links such as “Site News” also once clicked through have very pale fonts as well.

Scrapbook 4 – Web Graphics

Scrapbook 4 – Web Graphics

I chose Meagan Fisher’s website/blog page:http://owltastic.com/…

This site confrmed my belief that graphics and grabbing the viewer’s eye is very important. I think graphics should be used to attract attention to the viewer in a certain manner. The viewer should want to click through each page hungry for more and more appealing fonts images and colors.

I found this website to be pretty dull and find that there should have been mores use of color, more eye catching font and alot more graphics. I feel that space was wasted with me having to scroll down to numerous posts that could’ve been consolidated more into fewer pages.

I found the colors to be literally and virtually pale, and would have brighten them up with more vivid shades. I can barely read the font in some of the post as it is too pale. The links such as “Site News” also once clicked through have very pale fonts as well.

Project 1 Part 3 Media Redesign

For my Redesign site, I chose http://www.mileycyrus.com/
This orginal site is such a disaster, I didnt know where to begin. had trouble with the software I chose for my site map so I’m sorry in advance!
I think less chaos on her original site would be better, and therefore I aligned the links more symetrically along the left. I chose less images to decrease the confused mess on the front page.

Scrapbook 1

 

 

http://www.facebook.com – I check my friends posts and business page messages daily here.

 

http://www.gmail.com – I check my email here daily and correspond with my clients here,

 

 

 

http://www.mammothmountain.com – I love the snow condition listed here and the live web cams of the mountain.

 

 

http://www.myvcccd.edu – I check my financial aid and course content here.

 

 

http://www.verizonwireless.com – I pay my cell phone bill here and turn off my kids texting when they misbehave:)

Scrapbook 1

My five favorite sites include the following:

 

http://www.verizonwireless.com

I use this site daily to monitor my children’s text and data usage, and to turn off texting if they are misbehaving.

 

 

 

https://my.vcccd.edu/cp/home/displaylogin

I use this site daily to check my course content and homework assignments.

http://www.gmail.com

I use this site to check my email several times per day.

http://www.facebook.com

I check my facebook daily for message and posts and also check my business page.

http://www.mammothmountain.com

I love this site to check the snow conditions and love the live web cam of the different lodges and mountain sites!

 

I Just love this link! Very Informative Regarding Bookkeeping Errors!!

Common problems people have in bookkeeping

QuickBooks Download Tools for Credit Cards and Banking Downloads

Happy Friday!

I find this information extremely useful so I though I would re-post it:)

Have you ever gotten so frustrated with the download methods available to you with using QuickBooks?

Quicken products have been programmed  for very simple and easy use with downloading credit cards and bank accounts for some time now.

However QuickBooks downloads have been a bit of a challenge for most people. When you download from most banks and credit cards in IIF format, once you are back in QuickBooks, you have to click on each item one at a time to enter it into your QuickBooks registers which wastes precious time.  With that method there is no button to click “accept all” for them to import all at once…

NOT ANYMORE!!

I have found the most wonderful tools that have saved me countless hours of time re-entering client’s data into Quickbooks. A company called Big Red Consulting, has a multitude of tools for downloading and copying transactions for QuickBooks.

My most favorite is the QIF to IIF convertor. You can download data, seamlessly into QuickBooks this way and it just flows right into your QuickBooks banking or credit card registers so smoothly,  like butter!!

Another great tool is the Transaction Copier, which can copy entire general ledgers or invoices, etc from one QuickBooks for to another.

Each tool runs about $59, and is a fabulous investment that will pay for itself many times over!

www.bigredconsulting.com

Have a great weekend everyone!!

Diane Letulier

The QuickBooks Guru

www.gotquickbooks.com

Accounting Tips 101

Whatever the industry your business falls under, its sole purpose is to earn maximum profits. The question is what are those actions you can implement to earn profits and have highest returns? Simple, either by increasing revenue or by reducing costs! Increasing revenue demands a lot of brilliant strategies put into practice, whereas cutting costs will require a much little effort on your part. Here are some simple tips that can be extremely useful in cutting costs.

Cost cutting approach for small or newly setup businesses: Being a small business, your goal should be to stretch your dollars as much as you can, so you could embrace all the activities within those financial limits. You have to stop your money from flowing outside the door as much as possible. The following actions may to help you avoid overspending:

� Spend your money only on items that you need most, avoid expenses on unnecessary items.

� You may have many expenses, but know when to spend and when to save.

� Always try to get things at the most economical rates. Bargain before settling on a certain price. Sometimes, getting things in bulk can be a good way of lowering costs.

� Prefer using fax and email to disburse important information, this will save you from costs of paper.

� Monitor the correct usage of office supplies, such as electricity, telephone, stationery etc. this may save you the extra buck too!

Outsourcing accounting tasks

Outsourced accounting services can be a great help for businesses. They are not only cost-effective but also makes businesses gain more accountability and transparency and better manage their overall labor resources. With the latest accounting software in use, accounting tasks can now be easily and safely outsourced by any company. It has been noted that the savings companies make and the costs they reduce through outsourcing are extremely amazing.

Increase accountant efficiency:

Another thing you can do to lower your accounting costs is by organizing and properly arranging all the data that needs to be handled by the accountant. Many companies pay accountants on hourly basis-so the less the fuss, the less will be the hours, and ultimately lesser will be the costs. You can manage the data on the computer in form of tables, spreadsheets, charts etc.

Hire professionals:

Many would suggest you to hire temporary bookkeepers and accountants because it will not cost you much. The fact on the other hand is totally opposite! It’s always better to let professionals handle your numbers. Firstly, it will avoid you from wrong calculations and secondly, it will save you from many legal penalties which in case of latter might cost you too expensive.

CREATING THE PERFECT PITCH WHEN NETWORKING

I found this on Ning and it inspired me so much, thanks to all the fabulous social networking advice, but this stood out among the rest…

Selling Ice to the Eskimos- from Women Entrepreneur
These 4 steps will help you craft a perfect product pitch so you’ll stand out among the crowd.
By: Pattie Simone | 05/07/2009

You’ve come up with the most amazing product or service. Now what? In order to be successful, you have to understand a few things about selling, so you can connect with and engage eager buyers. Insiders’ tip: It’s not about convincing anyone of anything.

When you consider the clatter–e-mail blasts, regular e-mail, radio, internet radio, direct mail, newspaper ads, networking, small business workshops and events, trade shows, billboards, mobile ads and social networking spaces, niche-market teleseminars, webinars and TV–it’s a wonder any of us makes a sale. The good news is that people are selling their wares, rising above the clatter through a combination of tools and initiatives. And while the major brands have robust budgets to play with, there are some tried and true (and thrifty) things every entrepreneur can do to achieve a healthy bottom line.

Selling Ice Everywhere
This is not rocket science, really. Whether you are running an online business or a local pizzeria, selling is about doing four things better than your competitors:

Tangibly communicating your value/benefits
Spreading the word in a bunch of smart connection portals
Making it personal
Avoiding one-night stands

Let’s start at the top. Because of the internet, iPods and new cell phone technology–all featuring swift search and delivery mechanisms–it’s more important than ever to perfect your pitch, or your prospects might end up doing business elsewhere. With the abundance of research and communication portals–not to mention the advertising spaces already listed–we are so distracted that we’re becoming an ADD society, says Laura Allen, co-founder of 15secondPitch.com, a New York City coaching and sales training business. According to Allen, the situation is complicated by the fact that most people end up pitching the wrong things, due to nerves, vagueness or non-specific info.

Not to worry! Allen has developed a four-step formula to create the perfect swift pitch, which can be easily implemented in a variety of direct networking spaces. A side perk: Strong, clear communications can serve you well in diverse promotional spaces. Tweak each point to suit the portal you’re using, and you’ll see better returns, whether you are crafting an ad, tweeting, blogging, cold calling or sending out direct mail.

Laura Allen’s Perfect Pitch Tool Kit
Step 1: Be clear about you, stating your name and your business name when you start your pitch.

Step 2: State what you do. Be specific so folks can easily understand your unique area of expertise, i.e., financial planner, business marketing professional, interior decorator, organizer, Realtor, etc. Remember to avoid one important pitfall, what Allen calls “the kitchen sink pitch.”

“You’re lucky if people can remember one [business or title], let alone three things, so do not lump together a bunch of disparate titles or services in the same pitch.” Allen’s advice: Go with whatever you believe in at the moment, but be especially strategic about what you pick. While you may hawk vitamins or skin-care products in addition to being a Realtor, Allen advises that you pick the one thing that will make you the most money.

Step 3: State in two sentences (or less) why you are the best at what you do. This is arguably the most challenging step, because the shorter the message, the more carefully you have to choose your words for the best effect. This is where lots of folks fall flat, and winging it often produces disastrous results. While perfect pitches sometimes outline benefits, Allen says it’s not always the best approach. That’s because benefits can be too specific to the person on the receiving end. Allen prefers the pitch that’s all about you, rather than what you can do for the person in front of you. To provide maximum impact, Allen says, the pitch should reflect the unique voice of the speaker–taking into consideration tone, pace, vocabulary and personality.

Beware: You can craft something that looks good on paper but is too wordy or, worse, trips up your tongue. That’s why Allen has clients practice their pitches out loud, so they can discover and fix pitch glitches.

Step 4: The call to action. This is what it’s all about, Allen says, and should answer the question, “What happens next?” A good call to action can include plans to meet for coffee to continue your conversation, set up a date to chat via phone, or schedule a follow-up meeting at your office.

All these elements should be decided beforehand, Allen says, so she encourages clients to have the perfect pitch ready before they make a cold call or go to a networking event. In light of so many people having highly specialized expertise or dabbling in diverse services, Allen also offers a Pitch for Every Niche coaching component because, as she says, it’s good to be prepared for “on-the-fly” situations.

Two Samples of the Perfect Pitch
Here are two examples of terrific pitches that Allen developed for a small business owner in the gourmet food business and for a photographer:

“Hello, my name is ______and I’m the founder of Bel Biscotto. For 10 years I searched for the perfect biscotti and when I couldn’t find it, I decided to make my own. I’m looking for cafes and stores that will appreciate our exceptional product. To arrange for a free sample of our Coco Hazelnut biscotti, please give me a call. You can also learn more by visiting: http://www.belbiscotti.com.”

“Hello, my name is _______ and I am a freelance photographer specializing in high-end fashion. I photograph clothing, cosmetics and jewelry. I have over 15 years of experience, and my clients include Versace and Kenneth Cole. Please give me a call to set up an appointment to see my book. You can also see samples of my work at http://www._______.com.”

These are rockin’ pitches because they’re personal, they’re authentic and they resonate on an emotional level.

With a perfect pitch in hand, you can sell like mad. So once you’ve got your pitches polished, make sure you’re testing and getting the word out through a bunch of online and traditional portals, including your website, e-mail, e-newsletters, blogs, face-to-face networking spaces and targeted direct mail, as well as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. Understand that your end consumer is driving the conversation, and these savvy buyers respond to meaningful info with a human story attached. In this super-connected, viral age, you can reap great rewards by avoiding a “one night stand,” quick-sale mentality like the plague.

The new sales giants will capitalize on compelling communications and ongoing conversations, because that approach will help produce raving fans you crave (which in turn will help you propel sales).

As president of Write-Communications.com and Marketing-Advantage.net, and founder of WomenCentric.net, Pattie Simone empowers execs and entrepreneurs around the country, sharing her sales and marketing savvy and communications expertise as a mentor, speaker and writer.