by Kate McCallum

It wasn’t always the case that Hollywood, the media capital of the world, could be expected to embrace a day-long symposium on the power of arts and media to transform. When I broke into the industry in 1985, power was held by the major studios and four broadcast and cable outlets with a fifth emerging on the horizon. Most of the time, transformation only mattered in terms of ratings and dollars and cents.

But the industry has begun to show signs of shifting beyond its obsession with tinsel and stardom. Signs of that shift have become apparent – the upcoming launch of Oprah’s new network, for example, and the number of communities and groups that have been forming in Los Angeles and in cyberspace.

One of them is c3: Center for Conscious Creativity, which I co-founded several years ago and which gives me a vantage point from which to report on the many new initiatives that are changing the landscape of media and its life-affirming potential.

A brief history: While working at Universal Studios and pursuing a Masters in Consciousness Studies, I met and then teamed up with Philip Horvath, another student and Universal employee, and together we started c3. The mission was to create a space/community dedicated to research and education addressing consciousness, creativity, media and the arts. We set out to bring consciousness experts, futurists, and educators together with artists and media makers to inspire deeper meaning in the arts and media. That was the vision.

For five years the vision evolved as we hosted and produced numerous screenings, concerts, workshops and classes – and created an organizational culture of openness and understanding. In 2009 we launched a social networking platform and became an official partner of the LA Opera by participating in the first citywide arts festival – RING FEST LA 2010.

In November of 2009 c3 brought advisory board member and futurist Jerome Glenn from Washington, DC, to speak about the future of arts and media from a global perspective. Jerome is co-founder and president of The Millennium Project, a global think tank that accumulates research through collective intelligence that addresses 15 global challenges and solutions. Its findings are published annually in the State of the Future report. At the event he spoke about his desire to create a Global Arts and Media Node, a topic we had been discussing for some time. This Node would assist the Millennium Project by aggregating future trends in the arts and media, disseminating the information found in the State of the Future report, and brainstorm emerging global art forms, much like the work of the 16th Century Florentine Camerata Society that led to the invention of the art form called…opera! In January 2010 Jerome and the Millennium Project officially invited c3 to chair the Global Arts and Media Node, and this past June the c3: VisionLAB produced the first “State of the Arts” symposium. It was a tremendous success!

Over the past several years, a number of organizations have been sprung up in LA and elsewhere that are dedicated to inspiring consciousness and social activism through media and entertainment. Among them are:

* Architects of a New Dawn

* Creative Visions Foundations

* Elevate Films

* GATE: Global Alliance for Transformational Entertainment

* The Hollywood Hill

* META: Media Entertainment Technology and Art

* PGA: Producers Guild of America’s Green Initiative

* United Nations Creative Community Outreach Initiative

* Images & Voices of Hope

There is a very encouraging trend in the land of tinsel and stardom. Let us hope that it portends a new era in media and entertainment at a local, national, and global level. Our collective mission is to utilize these incredibly powerful tools and collectives as “weapons of mass instruction.” Media and art have the potential to assist in the transformation and the evolution of both the individual and society, and we as creators are eager to join the ranks of the many others dedicated to that mission.

A past blog featured the beautiful mandala artwork of artist Paul Heussenstamm whose current exhibit is hanging at Agape.

This past weekend I visited Redding, California and met another wonderful mandala artist, Robert Luckin. Robert has created over 10,000 mandala images and selected works are featured on his website slide show set to orchestral music. His work is reminiscent of fine art stained glass windows and each is a beautiful journey into visual symmetry and harmony.

Like so many other disciplines, the old paradigm music industry is dying and the empowered artist is now in control of their destiny. This is both exciting and requires an understanding of the new game. That is exactly what fifty year career veteran and accomplished educator, John Hartmann offers through his brilliant online Holodigm Music Academy that provides artists or anyone in or aspiring to be in the music industry with a new paradigm music education and, beyond that, an opportunity to be part of the future of music. If that’s you, I strongly suggest you visit the Holodigm site and view John’s introductory Academy videos. If you know any musicians who are starting or developing their careers, you will do them a great service by introducing them to Holodigm.

John Hartmann began his professional career in the famous mailroom of the William Morris Agency. He later served as the Morris office liaison to Colonel Tom Parker the legendary manager of Elvis Presley the king of rock n’ roll.

A veteran music agent, personal manager and record executive, John has provided career direction for such luminaries as Chad & Jeremy, Sonny & Cher, Buffalo Springfield, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Canned Heat, Eagles, Peter, Paul & Mary, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Jackson Browne, America, Poco, and many others.

Hartmann is a result oriented operational leader with more than fifty years experience in the entertainment industry. His proven expertise in creating and executing career strategies is evidenced by the quantity and quality of great artists he has been honored to serve.

Hartmann lectures at UCLA and in the School of Film & Television at Loyola Marymount University, where the students voted him outstanding professor of the year for 2007, 2008 and again in 2009.

At Holodigm Music Academy John has put together a team of professionals who can help aspiring songwriters, musicians, producers and those in any other aspect of the music business. John knows the ins and outs of this new world as well or better than anyone and if you or anyone you know are or want to be part of the music business, you may want to consider taking the online classes and applying for membership. You can learn more about John and Holodigm at www.holodigmmusic.com

This exact course is offered at a major Southern California University for $2500 but tuition at Holodigm Music Academy is under fifty dollars making it what must be the best value in new music education. As a student, you’ll receive direct access to John Hartmann as your personal career coach, 15 lectures on the Holodigm System, The Career Direction and Coaching Forum, Songworks, Songwriting and Crafting System, Qualify for Membership in Holodigm Music Society, Free guest Lectures by Industry Veterans and Professional Forms and Contract Templates.

The Holodigm Music Seminars

THE HOLODIGM SEMINARS – This course of study is composed of a series of actual classroom lectures, on video, that reveal the history and future of concert music and the recording arts. They include an expansion on the free lectures already presented and more than twelve hours of additional instruction.

Upon completion of this course you will be qualified to apply for membership in the Holodigm Music Society. If accepted by the extant membership, you will join a new generation of creative artists and entrepreneurs united in a global support mechanism.

John Hartmann will personally guide you through The Holodigm System of visual and verbal technologies and provide you with a map of showbiz to follow for the rest of your professional life. You will learn how to play the game, build your career and compete for success in the music renaissance.

How To Build a Career in Music

Hartmann’s Laws – 100 Rules of Showbiz-This lecture presents brief video descriptions of 100 rules that govern the thinking processes that best serve the daily activities of artists and executives seeking to develop and advance carriers in the entertainment industry.

The Creative Process-Learn how to succeed by developing the discipline and creative thinking skills to define the possibilities and take constructive action to achieve your goals. (This lecture is an extended classroom version of the material covered in the free introductory lesson

The Holodigm-Learn how to use the map of showbiz to visualize your overview of the music industry and create a mental matrix for the pursuit of your career strategies. (This lecture is an extended classroom version of the material covered in the free introductory lesson.

The Music Publisher-Learn how the art and craft of songwriting is the cornerstone of music publishing and forms the foundation of all activities in the music industry. (This lecture is an extended classroom version of the material covered in the free introductory lesson.

The Artist-Learn how artists create, develop and exploit a body of music for the purpose of designing and developing careers in the music industry.

The Manager-Learn how the symmetry of the artist-manager relationship forms the core activity for conducting careers in The Music Renaissance.

The Agent-Learn how the booking-agent connects artists and managers to the live performance arena and how they supervise the financial systems and protocols of the performing arts.

The Promoter-Learn how concert promoters produce the contemporary, global concert business and provide a stable platform for the building and maintenance of the careers of musical artists.

The Record Produce-Learn how the advent of digital production techniques has shifted the paradigm and lowered the threshold to entry into the world of recorded music.

The Accountant-Learn how Certified Public Accountants manage and control the economics of recording artists and personal appearance attractions.

The Lawyer-Learn how entertainment attorneys create and maintain the array of contracts that define the equity and distribution of profits in the music business.

The Publicist-Learn how public relations experts manipulate media relations for the promotion and marketing of personal appearances and recorded music.

The Crew-Learn how Road Managers design and assemble the players, technicians and logistics of theatrical productions and touring companies.

Video, Film & Television-Learn how music videos communicate the image and style of performing artists and how music is marketed to film and television producers.

The Internet-Learn how the Internet is carving a new business model for the marketing and distribution of recorded music and the development of touring artists.

For a great example of John’s teaching skills and the class curriculum, check out his powerful introductory lectures. And, if you want the essence of the new music paradigm, watch Segment 5: The Music Renaissance in which John describes the Holodigm Process. Even if you decide this class is not for you, these lectures will provide a deep grounding in the history and future of music that is well worth watching.

From one of my favorite daily news feeds, Daily Good, comes this great story which is part of Yahoo’s series, Second Act that looks at people’s life shifts. This article gives a whole new meaning to downsizing. This story has been viewed millions of times and certainly fits many people’s desire to live a simple life.

Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated. –Confucius

Good News of the Day:
Jay Shafer lives in an 8-by-12 foot house. He built it from scratch. With no prior carpentry knowledge or experience. “I’m sure there are people out there who think I’m crazy for living so small, but living in this little house has allowed me to totally reinvent my life,” he says. With a desire to “escape the rat race,” the former grocery-store clerk’s intentions were simple: focus on the things he really wanted to do, and not on working for money. Now, he runs a company that builds small homes for others. “I never thought I’d be an entrepreneur in anything, but it’s my passion to design small houses,” he smiles. “It’s been really liberating.” [ more ]

Want to connect with Jay and explore building your own small home? Click here to visit his website and get started.