Fun day at the office. I got plenty of congratulatory grief from friends and colleagues about the cover shot of today’s Hollywood Reporter. To summarize some of the brightest:

• I have a lot of work to do on my vertical
• I’m no Derek Zoolander
• I look like I’m just waking up from a nap
• I ruined the “Y” in “Hollywood”
• The dentist called and wants his “Open Wide” back
• Toyota called, they want their commercial back
• I’m not dunking anytime soon (more…)

The current market volatility presents an interesting canvas on which to examine the value of certainty in digital entertainment and how that translates to the myth of the expert.

At a recent panel discussion, Paradigm’s Joel Wright mentioned that one of the major hindrances in establishing a sustainable model for digital distribution is the absence of predictability. This isn’t the case with traditional media. With movies, you have bankable stars and franchises. A Will Smith summer movie will open to $50MM. Any installment in the Saw franchise will open to $30MM. A TV show that airs at 8:30pm on NBC on Thursday can count on a lead in audience. Experts pick winners and place bets based on historical precedent.

But digital doesn’t have those precedents. There is no predictability. There are no experts. (more…)

Heard a familiar parable today and thought it applies nicely to the conundrum of web-video and digital disruption:

Two campers are relaxing around the fire, intoxicated from a long meal and lots of beer. All of a sudden, a young, hungry, bear appears. The two campers look at each other. It’s clear that they’re about to become bear food. The first camper starts to lace up his shoes. The second camper says: “what are you doing? You can’t outrun the bear!” to which the first camper responds: “No. But I can outrun you.” (more…)

The difficulty lies not in the new ideas, but in escaping from the old ones. - John Maynard Keynes

Anyone who fights for the future, lives in it today. - Ayn Rand

Do we have a vision for the digital future? Are we working towards a common goal? Who is leading us and are they doing so with the best interests of the many over the few? Is there such thing as failure in this vision? (more…)