With the sudden rise in American and World history, the pervading feeling that something is very wrong with what has happened to Our Country, the heavy debates that wage and the extreme points of view are becoming ever more divided.  Information, mis-information, propaganda, opinion and in between all the lines lies the Truth.

This is what Kreative Key Productions is after in viewing the movement on the ground around the largest political city of them all, Washington D.C.   What happens when the people wake up to the corruption raiding terror on our government?  What happens when people come together to end corruption?  What is defined as corruption?  We study this, from a Libertarian perspective, as both writers and producers are Libertarian in thought and action, with minor exceptions, here and there.

Husband and Wife team, Anthony and Kristin Pavelski are co-writing & co-producing this new documentary done in their own back yard.  Virginia, Maryland and The White House set the stage for “The Liberty Movement,” a new documentary by Kreative Key Productions.  In production now.  Follow our production blog if you are interested in the latest information.

If you are involved in the movement and would like to be featured, please contact Kristin@kreativekey.com

My Reason…

I remember where I was and what I was doing very clearly on 9/11. It was my day-off from working retail and I slept in. I got up, made myself some coffee and logged on to check my email. Before I got there, news was splashing about the first plane hitting. I ran out to the living room and said to turn on the news. We watch in terror as the bodies plummeted, the fire raged… then, the second plane hit. It was utter chaos.

I cried and prayed for the souls trapped in that horror. I prayed for their safety, their safe return to their loved ones and cried many more tears. I watched the sad people roam the soot covered streets, covered in ash, wandering, wandering… no expression. It was too painful for words. It was too real.

It’s been almost ten years. I have been through so much since then, we all have as a country, and I feel that we are not yet healed. We have not yet even begun to heal. Trust between Americans has gone down, leading to isolation, fear, isms and several ugly faces of the past rear their head again. I am afraid if we do not come together soon, we will be forever divided.

I want to stand with others who feel the same and pray to whoever or whatever calls to your individual faith or being. With how much we ignore, I don’t want to ignore this… I have no chosen faith other than my own. I believe that this is part of my path. I am not the same person I was 10 years ago. This tragedy was the beginning of a long journey that has still kept me searching for my meaning and our meaning as humanity, together. I hope that I am not alone on my journey to find our soul.

THE IPHONE 4 TRAGEDY

The world has come to and end because without Apple we have no future.  The Prius loving, I-phone zombies have seen that their parent and messiah  ”Steve Jobs” has clay feet.  As I was riding along on the highway I looked over to see a young girl driving her Prius and struggling to get reception on her IPhone.  Slowly, a look of sadness and panic came over her face.  She didn’t throw down the phone in disgust, but put it down gently. Was that the exact time when that poor disillusioned hybrid driver saw the light? Was it the straw that broke the camel’s back?  Was it the precise moment of true enlightenment or just temporary sanity we will never know.

So, the question we must ask ourselves is why Apple and its league of “Geniuses” did not notice the low signal strength sooner?   I have a simple answer ……They don’t call people!!! During all the commuting and traveling I have done I’ve seen thousands of IPhones in use, but not once and I mean not once, have I seen anyone use it as a phone.  The IPhone is not a productivity tool it is quite the opposite, it is a distraction tool.  Show me someone with an I-Phone and I’ll show you a mindless time waster.  I own my own business and if I see a prospective employee waiting for an interview while playing  with an I-phone, I have found they have almost zero chance of being a good at anything. Show me someone with a blackberry and I’ll show you someone who has  at least has a chance of getting something done.

Now the disillusioned IPhone sheep want to pursue  a class action lawsuit. Here’s a suggestion, turn the phone in and get your money back.  No! No! No! They say….how will we continue to display our trendy, uber-genius,  group-think, super powers? The IPhone defines who they are without the IPhone the hapless appleaphiles (new word) are mire shells, walking zombies without an identity,  being forced to interact directly with other humans without their super genius interface. Lets not forget some of these ding dongs waited in lined for days to get their hands on” the precious”.

Freelancing yourself out instead of working for a company is a whole ‘nother ball game.  It’s more like wrestling an eel while juggling balls.  You want opportunity to shine, but at the same time, need to be paid to do so.  So, artists of all types get bamboozled to do work, (especially if you are a young, vibrant woman) with the compensation of a promise.

I have been told everything…  Promised a studio, promised a cut of product sales, enticed with the chance to produce my own show, trade for a cut of the total profit, after I do all the work… and what happens when you want them to sign a contract?  Backwatering.  What happens when you release your work without a watermark?  Thievery.

I have freelanced, now, for eleven years.  And in those years I have learned some valuable lessons of how to spot a slick, smooth-talking con-man before they drain your time and money on their projects!  Yes, these life lessons have come at a large expense; mostly my sanity, but also have been insightful on the things you must do when you are in business for yourself.

#1 – Contracts in the freelance world rarely fly.  Invoices speak volumes.  If you are a freelance artist and approached by someone who wants you to do work, many times, they do not know what is involved.  They think that just because you enjoy what you do, that the work really isn’t “work,” but really a recreational outlet where you happen to be crafting something for them.  When people are afraid to enter into any legal contract, it may indicate they have no real interest in paying you for your work, but it may just indicate a general fear of being legally entangled for something as simple as a logo design.  The creative fields of graphic design and illustration are mostly viewed as this ambiguous thing where the artist can spend all of her time trying to convey exactly what they want, all the while being promised a payment in the future once the artwork is “perfect.”

What I suggest is to Invoice your time.  Almost all word processing programs have an invoice template.  I suggest using this often. Invoices are what most businesses and people are familiar with.  If a plumber comes out and does work, you get an invoice.  Creative contracts, on the other hand, frighten average citizens who have images of lawyer fees dancing in their head if things do not go right.  Invoices are clean and simple.

#2 – Watermark everything!  When you are dealing with a client that does not wish to enter a contract, but has specified that they will pay you for their work, then keep them to it.  When working with a client sans contract, I have found that bidding per job is usually a hard estimate.  I track my hours and any work that I do, goes out digitally with a watermark in a low resolution.  This makes it apparent to the client that you are doing work and changes can be made to the work and the final full-resolution artwork without the watermark is only released upon payment.  Be sure NOT to give them any copies of the artwork without a watermark or allow them to photograph your images, if you happen to meet in person.  Watermarking is essential to the freelance artist.  It may end business relationships early, but if they are true professionals, they will work with you again.

I had one client that wanted me to design a logo for his new clothing line.  He was terribly paranoid and had me sign a non-disclosure privacy contract, as to not disclose what he was working on to anyone else.  I signed it, and when I gave him my contract for design, he wanted to take it to his lawyer.  He eventually signed it and sent me doodles, websites, long-winded phone messages of what he wants it to look like all the while not paying the $150 retainer fee that was stipulated in the contract.  As with all projects that I undertake, I got excited about it and expressed my enthusiasm for the opportunity.   (that was mistake #2)  We had several meetings, I produced several sketches, built several graphic files, all the while wondering when he was going to cut me a check.  I didn’t worry about it because he DID sign a contract.  But after a month and a half went by and he was still demanding changes and meetings to discuss the several drafts of his top-secret logo and idea, I had to insist that he make a payment before we continue, for I spent way more time than I originally figured I would spend consulting, as the guy kept changing his mind every week.  That ultimatum for payment immediately ended the relationship.  He was looking for one thing and one thing only, an artist to do his work for free.

#3 – Don’t be too enthusiastic.  This has to be the hardest lesson I have had to learn.  Many con-men get their way by emotionally stimulating a young artist with dreams of grandeur.  They believe that they are giving you this golden opportunity to help them get their latest dream off the ground!  And if only you could help them bring it to life!  What magic we could make together!  What places we could go!  Save it.  It all ends with me wondering  ”how many of these assholes do I have to get through to get one good paying client?”  after I’ve pulled out all my hair and have tons of design files that end up going no where.

But, if you follow these things, you can get paid for your work.  You have to know the law of averages in the market, 1 out of 10 will be worth your time.  Sometimes, it may be stacked against you and you go through 20 or 30 before you find 2 decent jobs.  How do you stay in business?  You have to, must, get better at dismissing the bullshit deals.  College can’t teach you how to heal a broken nose.  Only time and pain can do that.

In fact, the college mirage where opportunity just lies on the other side of graduation often ends in tears.  When you think the World will hand you a sack-load of cash and an opportunity to shine right out the gate.. and you end up with a BFA and a job at Books-A-Million… BFD… somehow you feel jipped.  Way to go!  Now, work retail, you college grad, you!

I have been pulled down several paths of “opportunity” as of late and had to pull back and reevaluate what exactly is it that I want from my company, from my life.  How do I want to spend my time?

This is a hard question for any entrepreneur or artist, especially when you get to the point I’m at, where you are competent enough to spread your own wings and fly, and have enough equipment to do so.  So, do I continue to chase rabbits down their holes or do I map out a plan to dig my own rabbit hole?

You would think the choice would be so obvious that this blog seems pointless…  But hear me out.  In choosing to “Freelance for yourself,” you are indeed, picking the path of knowing you will not be paid, because you are working for yourself.  You have to organize to get this moving.  You are responsible for keeping it moving.  You are to blame if it goes no where, not a stupid client.

Sometimes there might be that proverbial “knock at the door.”  If you decide to focus on your goals and projects, do you ignore the door and keep the master plan going?  Would I regret missing that knock later?  Or would I more regret missing the call of my own opportunity?

It looks like I have to take a giant leap of faith in myself.  I think I’m ready…  for now.

Writer and Director, Adrienne Nadeau

If you’ve been following Kreative Key Productions, you know that we’ve been pulling back the curtain to reveal some stereotypes in America with our video postings of  the acclaimed performance piece, “Stereotypes in America,” written and directed by Adrienne Nadeau.  During it’s run at the Studio@620, located in the heart of downtown, St. Petersburg, Florida, this project was a powerful and daring look at the things no one talks about, the everyday, run-of-the-mill, good old fashioned, sex, race, faith, bigotry and fears of everyday Americans told through monologues.  The personable conversations of the actors to the audience made you connect with that feeling behind the words.  It was introspective, memorable and current.  Kreative Key Productions was there to capture one of the last performances of their run in 2008.  We have been proud to support the efforts of this talented young woman and wanted to catch up with Adrienne and get her inside perspective on her popular performance piece, “Stereotypes in America” and how it came to be.

KK – What inspired you to write “Stereotypes In America?”

AN – I’m blessed to have a very diverse group of friends that frequently talk about society’s perception of them, their place in the world, their struggles with identity and stereotypes. After a while, I had so many of their stories floating around in my head, I felt like I needed to do something with all the voices. I was also inspired by “Fires In The Mirror” by Anna Deavere Smith and “The Essential Bogosian” by Eric Bogosian — both collections are so beautifully written and the characters exhibit such vulnerability. Even though the opinions might be backwards or contradictory, you feel such empathy for all of the characters. I started looking around online, reading articles and blogs and the play started to take shape. Originally it was hundreds of pages and characters that were combating society’s perception of them.  Then I started to create themes (appearance, race, religion, sexuality) and the voices started to resonate. After a semester of work, I had a collection.

KK – What was the public response to the show?

KK – I agree.  Having an outlet, even if it’s for your eyes only, can help get your thoughts and feelings strait.  I know you have made a big impact in several young people’s lives with those efforts.  What is your background and training?

I was nerve-wracked and slightly frazzled by the time my photo session came, as Paul was leaving town and I had the option of trying to squeeze it in before his flight.  I did and before I knew it, my shoot was quickly approaching.

It was the first time being a “model” for photography and, even though I have tons of experience being behind the lens, being in front of it is quite a different feeling.  I also was a bit psyched out from having watched America’s Next Top Model marathon the week before.  So, there I was, trying to hold tension in my face and keep good posture, holding my breath, and being all freakazoid, when I was really an over-tired, stressed out Mom who needed a nap, a drink and a hot bath and maybe a facial.

I was so disappointed with how unprepared I felt for the part of “model.”  I screwed with my hair for five hours before the shoot, while throwing clothes around and generally acting irritable.   I put my make-up on and could not get rid of the dark circles because I had rings around my eyes from not enough sleep and being dehydrated.  That happens…  My husband thought I was being a little crazy about the whole deal, which I was, in retrospect.  If I ever get the chance to model again, I will definitely give myself a good 3 days of prep time to get myself in order, and remember to DRINK WATER!

So, with all that being said, I was so very happy (and shocked) to have such great head shots!  Paul did a great job and had a cool lighting set up that was operational by remote control.  He also had lots of space and it was a very comfortable shooting environment.  For how nervous I was, it certainly was unwarranted.  But, then again, I tend to over-think everything, as is my compulsive, perfectionist nature.

We only did one of the outfits I brought, but I got pictures with my camera and  love those a lot!!   Here are a few of the favorite ones.  If you like these, please let Paul know.  He’s a local Northern Virginian photographer, who you can usually find attending the latest air show.  He also snaps photos for theater companies and may be coerced into shooting a wedding once in a while, but would like to focus more on the “things no one notices.”  I enjoy his “painting with light” portfolio a great deal.  My thanks to Paul Gernhardt, a great photographer and such a kind and courteous man.

I also got the chance to meet Mr. Roper and interview him and his wife Barbara about the work they were involved in with the town of Winter Garden. Through his life-long career of growing oranges, Mr. Bert Roper eventually switched his growing methods to be organic. He explains his changes, inventions and revelations he’s gone through to survive and thrive in the difficult business of orange cultivation and this strange reality called life. This project was unique, challenging and I was very proud to be able to complete this documentary on Mr. Bert Roper.

I loved being able to organize the video into understandable sections and partner it with relevant graphics, video and pictures. I also wrote the main voiced-over script and put in the music that carries the piece from beginning to end. While I was not the show creator or the original director of the main footage, I still was the one to put all the pieces together at the end to make it comprehensive.

The entire project was edited using AVID and the show’s graphics were designed in Adobe Photoshop. It took me two and a half weeks of physical editing to complete the documentary once I had everything gathered and logged. It was a large project to complete on my own; and I have to admit, the scope of it was overwhelming and a bit scary. But after I finished it, I knew that this is why I got into the video industry; for the challenge and (this time) the accomplishment. This proved that I could, indeed, complete an entire documentary on my own.

I hope more opportunities like this come my way. This was one of my favorite projects I have ever completed, due to the complexity and history of the video. My thanks go out to Mr. Johnny Langley, the boss that assigned me the challenge and pushed me to do it, to Mr. Rod Lance Morton, for working with me to get this completed and conceptualizing the show, to Mr. Greg Trent for his knowledge and library of citrus industry video, to the ladies of the Winter Garden History Museum for their mountains of photos, help and kindness, and to Mr. Bert Roper, for being the inspirational center-point and reason that this documentary was created. I am smarter and wiser for knowing him and also creating this video. Thank you, all.

The three PSA’s I have in this reel are very different in terms of casting, design and information. The first PSA was a 60 second spot advertising the Bright House Networks Bright Kids Book-a-thon for A Gift For Teaching. This was a project near and dear to my heart, as I was the first producer of this annual live telethon and was responsible for filling up four hours of live performances, hosts, set and the general flow of the live Book-a-thon event from beginning to end.

For the Book-a-thon PSA, I put out a call for child actors to come in and read a script that I wrote in front of the green screen. I made it like a news cast and was planning to key out the green and only use one child for the entire spot. But, due to having a bad lighting on the green, I could not get a good key, so I ended up creating graphics that incorporated the bright green color background. I also cut in most of the children that auditioned as they all did a fabulous job and I had a hard time picking one child as the spokes-model.

The second PSA was for Rap Against Violence, a cause Bright House Networks sponsored. I got to work with the winners and finalists from last year to act in the 30 second spot along with using footage from the recording session from the last album.

The final PSA was done in conjunction with the Clerk of Court for Orange County and was a project that was passed off to me at the eleventh hour. I received the footage of Lydia Gardner and had very little time to create comprehensive graphics and cut together a short version of the long, complicated instructions for passport updates.

I knew by the time I was in Second Grade, that I wanted to be an artist. I didn’t know what that meant back then, all I knew was that I had to be able to draw. So, from then on, I kept sketching. Mostly birds at first, and then I would work on cartoons. One of the first things I remember drawing was a cartoon bumble bee surrounded by music notes and flying through instruments, called “Bumble Boogie.” I was exposed to lots of cartoons when I was little and they had a heavy influence on the inspiration to draw. I marveled at the Disney and Warner Brother’s animations. I also had a set of encyclopedias that I would look up different birds in. I also was a Saturday morning fan of Bob Ross and his “happy trees.”

These early passions lead to some of the first original art pieces that I worked on. One of them was a cartoon character called “Bad Bird” done in the 17th Street Surf Shop style from the late 80′s. It had pointy, black sunglasses and a toothy, evil grin. I used this in a marketing and product project in the 7th grade. I don’t have a copy of it, but painted the “Bad Bird” image on t-shirts with t-shirt paint. It didn’t turn out so good as the t-shirts were cheap and thin, so after a wash, the paint ended up in a ball of stiff, dried, wrinkled mess. After that debacle, I should have taken it as a sign to stop creating art and move on to something more practical. But, being the stubborn girl I am, I just kept moving forward to the next big failure of my young life.

We are also looking into creating color theory sets for placemats, coffee mugs, belt buckles, calendars and bookmarks. Please let us know your favorites!  We love feedback.

Color Theory and Pattern