Random Thoughts

I've been thinking lately about what direction I would like to take at work. I have several business ventures underway and each could be a full-time deal. I'm working with Team Everest to provide online discount stores to anyone who wants to own their own business. My group is targeted real estate agents with our discount furniture, electronics, appliances and travel. But we have thousands of other products in the store as well. So, the possibilities are virtually limitless.

I've been working with Bookwise as well -- as an independent bookseller. However this past week the compensation plan has changed and now I am concerned that it won't be a viable option for lower income individuals who want to earn extra money. It may take too long for revenues to make it worth the effort. We have a few ideas which would resolve this issue, and want to meet with the founders to see if they are willing to adjust things.

I have several consulting contracts and have hesitated taking on any new clients simply because my time is so limited. But I'm thinking if I can simplify things a little bit, I can have time to help more small businesses get exposure online.

But lately, I've been thinking about writing again. I have several screenplays in process as well as a few books in the works. I love to write and I love the process of being creative. It is very difficult to do both internet marketing/business consulting and writing -- to switch from one mindset to another. I know some people who can do it, but it seems I become so focused it is not something which comes easily for me.

I do have a few offers to become involved in casting for films and television -- and I would love to do that as well. I'm not sure I want to relocate right now, but that is another option.

So, the question is -- do I continue doing what I do well (internet marketing, training and consulting), build my online businesses, or switch directions completely? I don't know. But I'm feeling a little unsettled, which is always a good sign that change is coming.

I talked to one of my business partners the other day about staying open to new opportunities. Sometimes we become so focused on our own business, we forget to find out what others are doing and potential joint-ventures. It's so important to keep ourselves open to new ideas, so not only can we learn, but perhaps we can make course corrections which will bring greater success and happiness.

It's going to be fun to see what direction life takes me. I hope I can remember to just enjoy the journey. :-)

New Audience-Owned Motion Picture Studio

KIETH MERRILL ANNOUNCES FIRST-EVER AUDIENCE-OWNED MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STUDIO

Park City, Utah -- On Friday, November 17th, 2006, Kieth Merrill announced the world's first, audience-owned, motion picture studio -- Audience Alliance Motion Picture Studio (AAMPS), to a packed room of nearly one hundred people, including AAMPS Advisory Board member, Sheri Dew; AAMPS CEO, Peter Rancie, from Australia; and mega-manager of countless Hollywood entertainers and AAMPS Advisory Board member, Ken Kragen.

With headquarters in Hong Kong, Australia and the United States, Merrill's announcement was presented to members of the community and such notables as Park City Mayor Dana Williams and well-known businesswoman, Joan Blodgett. Blodgett wrote out a check to become the first studio member, "Because I have been a fan of Kieth Merrill's movies for a long, long time and have never been disappointed by any of his projects."

The studio is value-based and will be making movies, "Everyone wants to see," says Rancie. "For about the price of a movie ticket per month," people become members of this new studio. Members then receive their first script. The studio's first movie, Christmas Jars, is scheduled to be released in 2007. Members are invited to read the script, give their input, view the shooting of this film on location via website
portal, and be able to visit the set if possible. In the end, members receive a DVD of their studio's movie. Two movies will be made the first year, four the next year, six the next year, all the way up to thirty-nine movies being made by the year 2012. Members can submit screenplays, communicate with the studio, and receive discount movie theater tickets. Group fund-raising is also available with $5.00 from each sign-up going towards that group's specific charitable cause.

Says Sheri Dew, President of Deseret Book, "They have developed a way for movie-goers like you to participate directly in the selection and production of "feel good again" movies -- movies that have great stories, plenty of heart, and the values and virtues you'd like to reinforce with your children and grandchildren."

Adds Hollywood manager Ken Kragen, who is half Jewish and half Protestant, "The idea of Audience Alliance and its Academy is simple but overwhelming in its power and implications. The audience is the most important part of the movie industry but until now has been the least considered. That is about to change."

And what does Kieth Merrill have to say about all this? "Of all the movies I've ever made and the significant projects I've done, Audience Alliance is the most important because it goes so far beyond the impact of a single film or the influence of a single
moviemaker."

For more information about Audience Alliance Motion Picture Studio, visit www.audiencealliance.com.

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Making a Difference

Educator Leo Buscaglia said, "Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."

Don't underestimate what you CAN do! Each of us can do something, and the something you do may be more important than you'll ever know.

Email Marketing

We are going to test out the Aweber email marketing web service. It will be the first time I've tried an email campaign -- so I'll let you know how it goes. If you know of any other services similar to Aweber -- please let me know your experiences.

Email Marketing Help Wanted

Hi all -- we're looking for some email marketing assistance. If you have done successful email marketing campaigns, creating the text/images for emails, and done results studies -- we may be interested in hiring you. Please contact me and let me know of your interest.

Social Networking

Hitwise has announced that 1 in every 20 internet hits (in the United States) goes to social networking websites. That is amazing! This doubles the number of hits from just a year ago. I know that social networking is becoming the advertising marketplace because other traditional and online sources are becoming less effective. I'm interested to see where the social networking takes the internet marketing industry. With the growth I expect it to become a much more prevalent venue for advertising dollars.

Kieth Merrill Starts New Motion Picture Studio

I thought this was interesting -- I met Kieth on the set of The Testaments and have been impressed by his work. I hope his new venture finds great success!

ACADEMY AWARD WINNER TO EMPOWER AUDIENCE IN BOLD MOVE TO CREATE NEW MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STUDIO

Salt Lake City, UT – "If you love anticipation, Act III begins on November 17th, 2006," says Academy Award winner, Kieth Merrill, who is also Utah’s most popular filmmaker (Legacy and The Testaments).

Winner of one Academy Award and nominated for two, Merrill is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Director’s Guild of America. As writer, director and producer of such powerful and diverse films as:

· Windwalker – reviewed as one of 1981’s five best films
· The Great American Cowboy – won an Oscar award
· Amazon – one of only three IMAX films ever nominated for an Academy Award
· Grand Canyon – the most successful IMAX film in the history of the world, as well as one of the top ten independent films of a all time

Merrill is now ready to launch Act III of his incredible film career.

With Clean Flicks having shut its doors and Utah filmmakers recently declaring the cinema sky might be falling, film audiences continue to feel ignored in their desire to experience high quality movies without having to compromise their values. Meanwhile, six hundred movies are still produced each year with Utah housing some of the largest audiences ever (Larry H. Miller’s Jordan Commons Megaplex 17 led the nation on the opening weekend of "Pirates" with 27,745 tickets sold). Yet, local movie goers continue to ask the yet-to-be-answered question, where is Hollywood headed? Enter Kieth Merrill.

Lights.
Camera.
Action.

As Merrill states, based on firsthand experience, "“The motion picture audience is the most important part of the motion picture industry. Through its purchasing power, the audience holds the ultimate power over the movie industry. Yet, we the audience, by an overwhelming majority feel Hollywood does not reflect our values. The juxtaposition of these two facts has brought me to a significant conclusion. They have brought me to the turning point that leads into Act III. They have become the twin towers of a bold new idea that will empower the audience, return virtues and values to motion pictures, and create an alternative source of wonderful feel-good-again major motion pictures." With a powerful team of worldwide financial, marketing, communication, design, computer programming and creative experts, Merrill is ready to step into the studio and onto the set.

Kieth Merrill has kept quiet about his feelings regarding the local film industry … until now. Because of his enthusiastic belief that he does have the answer to the questions movie goers keep asking, Merrill has agreed to be available for any and all interviews. Feel free to contact Bettyanne Bruin, 801-759-2498 or bruinpr@yahoo.com to set up your interview with Merrill, either via in-studio, telephone or e-mail as he launches a movie studio project that will take Hollywood to its greatest heights ever.

New Bookwise Website

Hi all -- I've launched my new Bookwise Website. It's just the first draft so please be gentle. :-) But I'd love feedback on it. Take a look and let me know what you think. Thanks! Bookwise Website

New Microsoft Windows Internet Explorer 7

Well, I've installed the new Internet Explorer 7 on my computer and at this point I'm not crazy about it. Perhaps it is the adjustment stage which bothers me -- trying to find what I want. Perhaps it's that all of my daily links disappeared and it took me some time getting them back. Or maybe it's the fact that the online fonts look fuzzy now. I'm not sure, but I don't like the new feel yet. It may just take some time to get accustomed and perhaps with the new features I'll end up loving it. But I don't have the time to figure out the new stuff. I'd love to hear if any of you have used Internet Explorer 7 and what your thoughts are.

MarketingSherpa Acquired by MarketingExperiments.com

Two of my favorite online marketing resources are now going to merge -- MarketingSherpa has been acquired by MarketingExperiments.Com. Marketing Experiments is a research company that does marketing experiments and shares their results online. It is a really great resource if you want to learn from other's successes and failures. MarketingSherpa is one of the best marketing resources available -- providing huge amounts of marketing research, case-studies and statistics. You can sign up for their free newsletters and get a ton of great information.