Seattle’s Space Needle is among the great U.S. structures. Opened in 1962, the tower stretches over 600 feet high, with an observation deck and restaurant at the top overlooking the city’s downtown and surrounding mountains. The design recalls the height of 60s space race culture, with its saucer-shaped dome and curved supports, and that retro aesthetic was the inspiration behind its new website developed by Royale.

Originally founded in Los Angeles in 2007 by Brien Holman, Jen Lucero, and Jayson Whitmore, the award-winning design studio opened a Seattle branch last year, with the Space Needle project among their first major efforts. Their redesign of the site captures the spirit of the era the Needle was built, and updates it with innovative web features. Graphics and facts glide onto the screen as you scroll up from its base to the top of the tower, and keeps going with some surprises as you climb miles into space.

“Space Needle needed a new website and we wanted to create something that was fun and that was using some newer technology,” Jayson Whitmore says. “Overall we wanted to make something that was intuitive and easy to use, and was also a little tongue-in-cheek. It’s a very simple site that was beautifully designed and has gotten a lot of recognition – the team worked really hard on it.”

Jayson is a three-time Full Sail graduate and 2009 Hall of Fame inductee, and the opening of Royale’s Seattle branch has been a proud achievement for him and the studio’s co-founders as they explore new territory. While the L.A. office has made a name for itself with motion graphics work for Apple, Nike, Toyota, and MTV, Seattle is primarily focused on the digital realm, and how to blend Royale’s style with content for different platforms.

“It had been on the back of mine and my business partners’ minds that an expansion into that world was necessary, and its been incredible,” he says. “When we opened up the shop in Seattle it had three people and now we’re up to about 25, and have been jamming out some really innovative products. We have some incredibly talented thinkers up there that influence our work down here.”

There’s a clear symbiotic relationship between the two branches, with a focus on making them feel like one studio in terms of communication and workflow, while still having their own unique culture that helps inform each other’s output. Jayson sees the Space Needle project as just the beginning of what Royale as a whole can contribute to the digital industry, and they have been experimenting with coding, game engines, and experimental data tracking, and how to use them to help brands communicate to the world in an attractive and engaging way.

“I haven’t been this excited about our industry in a really long time,” he says. “We have a lot of other projects coming up that I can’t talk about that are very exciting and innovative, so we’ve only just scratched the surface of where we’re going in the integration of media. It’s a time to expand out and dream big, and it’s up to ourselves not to hold back and make it happen. There’s no reason why we can’t help define the next phase of what the digital language will be.”

Faculty members Jason Mathis and Shaun Trout each received a national Telly Award for their work on a video created for Central Florida-based architecture firm Baker Barrios. The winning video was produced through Shaun and Jason’s company, Concrete Lion Pictures, and showcases the architectural design, landscape, and overall beauty of the Alfond Inn, a $35.5 million boutique hotel in downtown Winter Park, Florida. Both Shaun and Jason are Lab Specialists for the Full Sail Film program.

For the project, Shaun served as producer and director of photography, while Jason edited the video. “We were not alone in this endeavor,” says Jason. “Our whole team at Concrete Lion Pictures, along with our collaboration with Baker Barrios is what brought this project to life.” Jason and Shaun have worked with Baker Barrios before, including producing video for the company’s annual football season kickoff party.

“The collaboration between our teams is very organic at this point,” says Jason. He notes that the beauty of the Alfond Inn made the project an easy sell. “The hotel is like none other we have seen. The hardest part was choosing which choice moments to include in the video.”

Jason says he and Shaun are truly grateful to have their work recognized. “It’s an honor. For us as a company, we succeed when our clients succeed. It feels spectacular to have been able to show off Baker Barrios’ amazing work.”

Check out Jason and Shaun’s Telly Award winning video below.

Mobile Development Course Director Mike Celey is excited as he pulls out a small cardboard box and takes what looks like a circuit board from it. We’ve been talking about potential changes in the Mobile Development campus program to include a class on connected devices—basically anything that can connect to a phone via Bluetooth—from watches and fitness trackers to a device that alerts you when it’s time to water your houseplants.

“We’re looking to do more work with open source hardware to interface with mobile devices,” he says. The circuit board is peppered with LED lights. “I actually had a student build this connected device this month.”

Mike explains that the circuit board is actually a piece of open source hardware called an Arduino board. Designed to interact with the environment and other devices, developers can load their own code onto the board and easily tailor the device to their needs, like an electronic blank canvas. As he’s talking, Mike pulls up an app on his phone. He touches a button on the app and one of the LED lights illuminates. He removes his finger and the light goes dark. As simple as a few blinking lights are, it’s a neat trick. Mike explains that this board is actually a prototype. His student, Andrei Birsan, has developed a Bluetooth app to control an automated toy tank. On this prototype board, the lights correspond to direction and speed.

Mobile Development Course Director Mike Celey demonstrates student Andrei Birsan’s prototype.

“This is actually the project that got our department interested in doing more work with connected and wearable devices,” Mike says. “It’s something that employers are asking for more and more, to be able to develop apps that allow gadgets to interact via Bluetooth.”

Looking at the mobile development market, that makes sense. Wearable tech and connected devices are having a moment. In 2013, the developers of the Pebble smartwatch managed to raise over $10 million through Kickstarter, making it the most successful product funded up to that point and spurring big names like Samsung to develop their own smartwatches in response. Fitness trackers like the FitBit and Nike FuelBand are becoming more and more ubiquitous, and high-end products like Google Glass have stretched the imaginations of both developers and consumers. There’s a sense that we are truly living in the future, a point in history where Average Joe’s gear is indistinguishable from James Bond’s.

“I think it’s about people looking for the next big thing,” says Mike. “When smartphones came out, people suddenly had the advantage of a fully functioning computer right in their pocket, which allowed them to do a lot more things, and obtain a lot more information on the go. Now, phones have hit their critical mass. So what’s the next big thing?”

Mike, who tried out Google Glass for a while, points out that some wearable devices might carry a stigma. Compared to something like augmented reality glasses, watches are a little more normal since lots of people already wear them. “Smartwatches are a way to take the information from your phone and make it more immediate, without interfering with the way you interact with other people,” he says.

Beyond wearables, there’s a whole host of connected devices on the market intended to make life easier. It’s now possible to control your thermostat, lights, DVR, and home security system all via Bluetooth or wireless connection. New parents are using connected devices to turn their phones into video baby monitors. Android is now being used in cars to control navigation and steaming audio services. A San Diego based company recently announced Cue, a device that can check your blood for influenza or assess your hormone levels and deliver the results right to your smartphone or tablet. This is just a small sample of what’s available, and more connected devices are on the way. This is great news to mobile developers according to Mike.

“Because phones have been around for a while, it’s really hard to get discovered in the app store due to flooded market. Now people are able to take what we teach in the Mobile Development program and apply that to all these different wearables and connected devices.” As trends shift toward external devices, it gives developers more freedom to innovate apps that aren’t restricted by a phone’s hardware.

Check out this video of Mobile Development student Andrei Birsan’s Bluetooth controlled tank in action.

Singer/songwriter Andy Grammer came to campus this April to play an intimate concert at our performing arts venue Full Sail Live. Andy has released the full-length album Andy Grammer and follow-up EP Crazy Beautiful, with the singles “Keep Your Head Up” and “Fine By Me” hitting Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.

A select group of tickets were given out to the public, as well as students and staff, who were treated to a six-song acoustic set that included his latest release, “Back Home.” Andy followed his last song with a meet and greet, where he signed autographs, posed for pictures, and spoke with fans.

The concert was sponsored by local radio station Mix 105.1, who interviewed Andy before the show about his visit, performance, and new music. Students from our Show Production program were also on hand to help produce the event alongside Full Sail staff.

On August 26^th PRIDE hosted a speed networking session in the Full Sail library. The event was open to both campus and online students, who were able to join in on the action via Skype. Modeled after speed dating, participants had three minutes to network with their partners before rotating.

Creative Writing For Entertainment student Adam Kuta, who serves as president of PRIDE, said the event was born out of a desire to build connections between campus and online students. “Obviously, networking is a huge part of what’s taught here at Full Sail,” said Adam. “We’re really happy with how the event turned out, and we’d love to host more.”

Dozens of campus and online students representing a wide array of degree programs participated. Sports Marketing & Media student Dylan Schimka says he felt the event was a natural way to meet people because everyone is going in to the experience with an open mind.

“It’s a good way to get your foot in the door,” said Dylan. “You start off communicating normally, and as the conversation moves on you start to get into more industry related connections. You develop relationships.”

Dylan also recognized the social value of the event. “I just moved down here on Monday from Chicago. I’m 19 hours away from home, and this is a great way to meet new people. Everyone that I’ve talked to has been really nice and interesting.”

For more information on upcoming events, check out PRIDE on Connect.

As a teenager growing up in Jakarta, Indonesia, Jane Tahir always knew she wanted to work in the entertainment industry. She even had a plan for getting her foot in the door—as a volunteer with Java Festival Productions, one of the largest festival production companies in Asia. There was just one problem.

“I found out you had to be 18 to apply. My birthday is in January, but they needed volunteers before then. As soon as I turned 18, I emailed the volunteer coordinator apologizing for missing the deadline but explaining that I didn’t qualify for the age restrictions beforehand,” she laughs. “They allowed me to volunteer after that.”

After that first volunteer job, Jane used connections she made to land a gig as a production liaison for the Road to Incognito, a concert event celebrating the British jazz band Incognito’s Indonesian tour. Jane credits both of these early jobs as being hugely positive learning experiences. She was involved in the live music scene and amassing contacts, but as someone about to graduate from high school, the college experience was also important to her—she didn’t want to miss out on getting a degree, but she didn’t want to give up her dream of working in entertainment either.

“A friend of mine told me about Full Sail’s Entertainment Business program. I thought, ‘Why don’t I major in something that I’m interested in?’”

After applying for and receiving her student visa, Jane moved to Winter Park, FL. She graduated from the Entertainment Business bachelor’s program in 2013. Of her time in the program, Jane says, “I learned so much. It was great to be around people who loved the things that I loved.”

Now, Jane is bringing her passion for the entertainment industry to a whole new audience as a host on Dahsyat, a music and pop culture show on the Voice of America television network. According to Jane, Voice of America Indonesia covers both American and International news and topics and delivers that content to an Indonesian audience.

To get the job, she employed the same tactics that worked for her in high school. “I started to apply before I even graduated,” she says. A friend of the family who worked at Voice of America was able to put Jane in contact with the person in charge of internships. It turned out to be perfect timing—the network had just lost two production assistants and was short handed. Even though most of her prior experience was working on live events, Jane says she acclimated fairly quickly due to the sink-or-swim nature of the internship. She learned how do to everything—from operating a camera to editing. Her supervisors noticed she had a particular gift for interviewing people. Eventually, the internship let to a full time job.

Jane, who just moved to New York, sees a bright future, not only for herself, but also any graduate willing to put themselves out there. “Take every opportunity in front of you,” she advises. “You never know what something will lead to.”

Check out some of Jane’s work for Voice of America below (the videos are in Indonesian). The first is an interview with two Indonesian fashion students living in New York City. The second is a feature on the cultural diversity of the city.

Who’s ready for Spring Break?

Whether you’ve got awesome travel plans, are heading back home, or are just hanging around campus for the week, we’ve got a few suggestions for how to have a fulfilling few days away from school.

Reach out to potential employers. Career Development Advisor Tony Mardini suggests that students nearing graduation call studios or companies they’re interested in interning or working at to find out who they should send their resume to. “Have a script ready. It just needs to be a couple of sentences,” says Tony. “Something like, ‘Good morning, my name is Tony and I’m about to graduate from Full Sail. I’m calling to find out who I should send my resume to for applying for an internship.’” Tony suggests reaching out to 3-5 studios or companies – it will be motivating to know people are interested in seeing your resume.

See a movie. A few of the new releases in theaters now include Captain America: The Winter Soldier (which several Full Sail grads worked on), Transcendence, Oculus, The Grand Budapest Hotel, and Noah.

Volunteer Your Time. Helping out a nonprofit organization is an easy, rewarding way to make your resume more impressive and earn GPS points. Kari Ramirez in Full Sail’s Professional Development department suggests checking the Community Volunteer Opportunities page on Connect, which provides information on both local and national organizations in need of volunteers.

Play a game. Settle in for a gaming marathon with one of the popular recent releases like Titanfall, Dark Souls II, or Infamous: Second Son.

Revamp your social media sites. Spring Break is a good time to start making sure your social media accounts are appropriate for a professional environment, says Career Development Advisor Jess Pollak. “Make sure you’re following the up and comers in your industry and you’re interacting with them as well,” she says. Jess also suggests getting on LinkedIn and connecting with grads from your degree program who are currently working in the industry. “A lot of Full Sail grads are willing to help other grads,” she says. “It’s all about getting in touch and networking with them.”

Go to a show. If you’re staying near campus for Spring Break, artists stopping by Orlando include Manchester Orchestra (April 19, House of Blues Orlando), Cloud Nothings (April 21, The Social), and Tycho (April 25, The Beacham). If you’re elsewhere, you can see what concerts are happening in your hometown on pollstar.com.

Catch up on sleep. Don’t forget to get some rest, so you can come back from break the week after next ready to conquer all of your coursework.

Any other ideas? Tell us about them in the comments below!

On August 25 Full Sail and Career Development welcomed Maria Elavumkal, head of global recruiting for IBM Design, IBM’s internal design firm and consultancy. The presentation included an overview of the history of IBM as well as new branding initiatives the company is looking to implement as part of their mission to put the user at the center of their products.

“We have to keep up with the growing global market, and that’s why IBM Design was created,” said Maria. “It’s marketing, it’s function, it’s form. The focus is all about the client experience.”

In the future, the company will focus on consolidating their software offerings and app development. The company has built open, collaborative workspaces all over the world to house an influx of new employees. Maria said that the company is looking to hire 1,000 new designers over the next few years, and most of the new hires will come straight out of college.

“Millennials make up 36% of the U.S. workforce this year and will make up 50% of the global workforce next year,” she said. “Their expectations are much different than generations that came before. They’re looking for something that provides a flawless user experience. We’re trying to make a huge cultural shift within the company and we’re looking to hire people who are excited about it.”

You can learn more about IBM Design by visiting their website.

The decision to pursue a college degree is an investment on many levels. First, you’re investing in your passion by giving yourself time to foster it in a supportive environment. Second, you’re investing in the future by building the experience necessary to work in the field of your choosing. But what about that other investment, the one that has less to do with dreams and more to do with cold, hard cash? Paying for school can be a major financial burden, especially when you factor in supplies like textbooks and cost of living expenses like rent, groceries, and gas. According to College Board, these expenses can cost the average student up to $10,000 annually, on top of what they’re paying for tuition.

Ty Clark, a Financial Aid Advisor for Full Sail’s online programs, says it’s important for incoming students to know that they have options when it comes to supplementing standard loans. “In addition to offering a number of scholarships that both campus and online students might apply for, we encourage all of our students to take advantage of every outside opportunity for funding they can find,” he says.

Last year, financial aid topped out at around $238 billion. Federal loans make up the vast majority (46%) of aid, while an estimated 29% come from private, state, and institutionally backed grants and scholarships—that’s nearly $70 billion.

“There’s scholarship money out there,” says Ty. “Beyond what we offer here, it’s on the student to go out and find it.”

Since so many scholarships are dependent on individual factors such as income and academic merit, Ty recommends using a free, customizable search service like the one offered by Sallie Mae. Once you’ve compiled a comprehensive list of the scholarships you’re eligible for, it’s time to start applying.

“Apply as soon as you think you might attend,” says Ty. “If you don’t get a scholarship the first time around, keep applying. You may qualify to get it down the road.”

There are dozens of different types of awards, and each one will have its own application criteria. The most common types of scholarships can be broken down as follows:

Academic and Merit Scholarships

These awards are presented to students who demonstrate exceptional academic performance. The term may also be applied to funding awarded as a result of a demonstrated talent, such as artistic or musical ability. Most academic scholarships require the student to maintain a certain GPA in order to qualify or keep their scholarship. Full Sail’s Student Success and Merit scholarships are examples of academic based scholarships.

Community Service Scholarships

Usually associated with an organization, community service scholarships are awarded to students who volunteer for a specific cause or service. Some organizations, like Americorps, ask you to complete service requirements prior to applying, while others simply ask that you devote a few hours a month to service over the course of your college career. Many students find the act of giving back to be an enjoyable way to spend their time. Picking a cause that genuinely interests you increases the likelihood for a successful partnership with an organization. In addition to being a potential avenue for scholarships, community service looks great on a resume once you graduate.

Career Specific Scholarships

These types of scholarships are usually funded by schools, alumni, or companies who wish to encourage the growth of a specific field. By investing in students who demonstrate an interest or talent for a particular type of work, these individuals ensure a stronger workforce down the road. As with academic scholarships, these types of awards generally require students to maintain a good GPA, and funds can only be applied toward degree programs associated with a specific line of work. Full Sail offers scholarships to eligible campus students interested in the field of Emerging Technology.

Need-Based Scholarships

These scholarships are determined by a recipient’s individual need. Since they’re usually based on income, students applying for this type of aid should be prepared to show proof of income in the form of tax documents or pay records. Awards may be provided in the form of a lump sum, or they might be distributed incrementally by semester. Full Sail offers several need-based scholarships, including the Pathway Scholarship for campus students and the Perseverance Scholarship for online students.

Demographics-Based Scholarships

Scholarships based on demographics are wide and varied, though they typically provide aid to underserved populations.Race, gender, income, geographic location, and family history are just a few examples of information these scholarships may take into account. Many of these types of scholarships aim to support first generation college students. Others seek to diversify the workforce in certain fields. An example of a demographic-based scholarship is Full Sail’s Entertainment & Media Industry Scholarship for Women.

Finally, there’s no limit to how many scholarships you can apply for, so get to searching! For more information on any of the scholarships mentioned, contact Full Sail’s Financial Aid department, or visit them on the web.

Setting is an important element of storytelling, especially in a visual medium like film. From an apocalyptic landscape in the distant future to a swingin’ diner in the recent past, setting has the power to draw the viewer in. Setting a good scene requires major attention to detail and a keen eye for balance and composition. Meagan Skerchock graduated from the Film program in 2011. Since then, she’s worked as a Production Assistant and Set Decoration Coordinator on several films, including Lone Survivor, Jersey Boys, Oblivion, and the mini-series Bonnie & Clyde. We caught up with Meagan and asked her a few questions about life in the Set Dressing department.

Full Sail: How did you find yourself working in set decoration?

Meagan Skerchock: For me, getting into set decorating was essentially a happy accident. I started out as an art department PA on Oblivion. After a few months they decided to bring the Los Angeles team out, and I was informed that an Art PA from that team would replace me. Luckily the Lead Decorator, Ron Reiss, was looking for a PA for the Set Dressing department. The Art department coordinator was kind enough to give me a great reference, and I was moved into Set Decoration. I’ve done four productions with Ron and his crew and have worked on two others thanks to his recommendations.

FS: What type of person would be good at this job?

MS: The necessary skill set for set dressing can differ depending on the nature of the job, as well as what position you occupy within the department. For example, as a Set Decoration Coordinator I was more of an office person. I utilized programs like Excel and worked closely with the accounting department to accurately track our budget. Working as a set dresser is a much more hands-on job. It helps immensely if your are mechanically inclined, as a lot of times you’ll be doing things like hanging fixtures or pipe, loading and unloading trucks and moving furniture in or out of sets. Sometimes the decorator will allow the swing gang to “pre-dress” a set, and then he/she will come in and tweak things, essentially fine tuning the work. In this case, creativity and imagination also come into play. Overall, and I think this is true of any job in the film industry, eagerness, a willingness to learn, and personality are the most important skills you can have.

FS: You’ve worked on a few period pieces (Jersey Boys and Bonnie and Clyde) as well as a futuristic action movie (Oblivion). What are some of the challenges you face when dressing a set for a genre film?

MS: I’ve never worked as a Set Decoration Buyer, so I’ve never had the opportunity to buy for a set. However, I have helped source things and look for certain set dressing pieces. It can be challenging to find certain period items, but there are prop houses that specialize in that sort of thing. For example, a lot of our set dressing on Jersey Boys came from a prop house called History for Hire. The people that run this particular prop house have an immense knowledge of their stock, and are always extremely helpful.

As for Oblivion, a lot of the futuristic set dressing was manufactured. This is usually more expensive than renting or buying a pre-existing item. For example, the coffee pot in Jack’s home cost $8529.25. We had a few samples made and ultimately the designer chose his preference. The items that weren’t manufactured were mostly purchased from stores that sell contemporary furniture and décor.

FS: How do you source pieces for set?

MS: For large scale productions such as Jersey Boys, the buyer and decorator will usually make a package deal with a prop house. There’s a lot of haggling that goes on before reaching a dollar amount that includes all the props needed for production. For Bonnie & Clyde, we didn’t have the budget to make a deal like that with any Los Angeles area prop houses, and renting individual items can get pricey, so we purchased a lot of the items. Buying a new product and aging it is cheaper than renting something vintage.

FS: What advice would you give someone looking to break into set decorating?

MS: Being computer savvy is always a good thing, as many of the people I’ve worked with have been in the business for years and are less technologically inclined. Educating yourself about different time periods and furniture styles is always an excellent way to impress any decorator. Finally, reach out to alumni and classmates fro Full Sail—we’re always willing to help and are probably one of the best assets you could have coming straight out of college.

Check out some more of Meagan’s work below.

Seattle’s Space Needle is among the great U.S. structures. Opened in 1962, the tower stretches over 600 feet high, with an observation deck and restaurant at the top overlooking the city’s downtown and surrounding mountains. The design recalls the height of 60s space race culture, with its saucer-shaped dome and curved supports, and that retro aesthetic was the inspiration behind its new website developed by Royale.

Originally founded in Los Angeles in 2007 by Brien Holman, Jen Lucero, and Jayson Whitmore, the award-winning design studio opened a Seattle branch last year, with the Space Needle project among their first major efforts. Their redesign of the site captures the spirit of the era the Needle was built, and updates it with innovative web features. Graphics and facts glide onto the screen as you scroll up from its base to the top of the tower, and keeps going with some surprises as you climb miles into space.

“Space Needle needed a new website and we wanted to create something that was fun and that was using some newer technology,” Jayson Whitmore says. “Overall we wanted to make something that was intuitive and easy to use, and was also a little tongue-in-cheek. It’s a very simple site that was beautifully designed and has gotten a lot of recognition – the team worked really hard on it.”

Jayson is a three-time Full Sail graduate and 2009 Hall of Fame inductee, and the opening of Royale’s Seattle branch has been a proud achievement for him and the studio’s co-founders as they explore new territory. While the L.A. office has made a name for itself with motion graphics work for Apple, Nike, Toyota, and MTV, Seattle is primarily focused on the digital realm, and how to blend Royale’s style with content for different platforms.

“It had been on the back of mine and my business partners’ minds that an expansion into that world was necessary, and its been incredible,” he says. “When we opened up the shop in Seattle it had three people and now we’re up to about 25, and have been jamming out some really innovative products. We have some incredibly talented thinkers up there that influence our work down here.”

There’s a clear symbiotic relationship between the two branches, with a focus on making them feel like one studio in terms of communication and workflow, while still having their own unique culture that helps inform each other’s output. Jayson sees the Space Needle project as just the beginning of what Royale as a whole can contribute to the digital industry, and they have been experimenting with coding, game engines, and experimental data tracking, and how to use them to help brands communicate to the world in an attractive and engaging way.

“I haven’t been this excited about our industry in a really long time,” he says. “We have a lot of other projects coming up that I can’t talk about that are very exciting and innovative, so we’ve only just scratched the surface of where we’re going in the integration of media. It’s a time to expand out and dream big, and it’s up to ourselves not to hold back and make it happen. There’s no reason why we can’t help define the next phase of what the digital language will be.”

There are hundreds of professional and collegiate sports teams competing for fan attention across North America, yet only a handful of these make it into the top tier of winners each season. This highly competitive dynamic presents a unique challenge for teams that fall toward the bottom of the ranks. Struggling teams might try to increase game attendance by running special promotions or theme nights, but filling seats isn’t the same as true fan engagement. For many sports marketers the question becomes: how do you sustain a loyal fan base when a team is under performing?

“Its tough. The biggest adage out there is, ‘Winning cures all,’” says Noel Beaulieu, a Course Director in the Sports Marketing & Media program. While it’s true that losing teams do tend to lose money over time, Noel says there are a few strategies marketers can employ to rebuild interest in a flagging franchise.

“Winning and losing is beyond the control of a marketing person, so what do you do? First, you have to understand where you exist within the marketplace before you can develop an effective strategy,” says Noel. Take, for example, the University of Nebraska football team. They’re a good team, but even if they were to hit a losing streak, there isn’t much in the way of competition when you consider the market. “They’re kind of the only game in town,” says Noel.

Compare that to the Florida Launch, a professional lacrosse team coming to South Florida at the end of the year, which will have to compete with the Miami Dolphins, the Florida Marlins, and the Miami Heat for fans. In addition to going up against established pastimes like football, baseball, or basketball, the team will also be vying for entertainment dollars against other modes of recreation like concerts, the beach, and theme parks.

“In this case, maybe you spin it as the most bang for your buck,” says Noel. “If you’re a family of four looking to have the most fun possible for under a hundred dollars, then going to a lacrosse game might be the way to do that.”

Another way to develop a strategy is to go straight to the source and ask fans for feedback. Social media has made it easier than ever to evaluate why people would or would not attend an event, and reaching out to fans via a public forum has the added benefit of increasing a team’s visibility through direct dialogue. If you do decide to ask for feedback, says Noel, just be prepared to do something with the information you receive. If food is too expensive or there isn’t enough variety, for instance, then you might need to retool your approach to concessions. Blatantly ignoring feedback will only serve to further alienate an already doubtful fan base.

Noel also recommends capitalizing on the good times and looking toward the future as a way to build equity with fans. A ceremony commemorating the anniversary of a big win or recognizing a well-loved former player will go a long way toward reminding fans that the tide can turn at any moment.

“The greatest thing about starting a new season is that every team has hope in the beginning,” says Noel. “By presenting a nostalgic view of the past, what you’re really communicating to fans is the fact that you’re hopeful the glory days going to come again.”

Finally, it’s important to remember that most teams are just a small part of a larger social ecosystem. Investing back into the community can go a long way toward endearing a team to the locals, and most charitable organizations are happy to pair up for a good cause. “Working with a charity has the ability to improve a team’s image despite a losing track record. Whether or not you’re winning on the field, you can win in the community,” says Noel.

Ultimately, he says, it boils down to presentation and visibility. “It’s about finding a differentiator that’s going to help you. It’s about creating awareness as a marketer and presenting a unique value proposition to your audience.”

In the nine years since its debut, YouTube has grown to include some of the most dynamic original content on the web. What was once a community of hobbyists is now a viable career option for many of the site’s popular users. Some of YouTube’s more prolific content creators have even brought on production assistants to offset the amount of work necessary keep a channel running.

“Most YouTubers start out as a one man show,” says Dan Dobi, a 2005 Entertainment Business grad and producer of the YouTube documentary Please Subscribe. “For people who become really massive, it’s totally normal to scale production needs and start hiring staff.”

The reality of a production staff is something viewers might not initially consider when clicking the subscribe button. Much of what makes YouTube special is the relationship between stars and their audiences. Since content is delivered directly, viewers feel connected to their favorite YouTubers in a way that’s different from any other type of celebrity. While bringing on additional help is a hallmark of runaway success, Dan doesn’t see it as hindering a YouTuber’s accessibility.

“I think that hiring staff changes the value of what viewers are getting for the better,” he says. “Bringing on help allows content creators to do what they do best—create. Without help, a YouTuber can easily burn out under the stress of doing everything themselves. It’s the evolution of the business.”

As more of these types of production jobs become available, they provide opportunities for people who might share the average YouTuber’s enthusiasm for the medium.

“Work ethic is as important as background experience,” says Dan. ”Personally, when I hire people for jobs, I want them to bring the right attitude. Those best suited for this type of work are people who are willing to learn and see this as a passion more than a job.”

To avoid competing interests, that passion should extend to work behind the camera. If your goal is to work in front of the camera, you’ll be better off starting your own channel than attempting to crash someone else’s. It also helps to keep in mind the unique nature of the content.

“The skills needed to work one of these production assistant jobs is really dependent on the situation. I don’t think we can lump all YouTubers together. Essentially, these are individuals, and they all have different needs,” says Dan.

Ultimately, a willingness to embrace the work as a passion project is key when you consider that most YouTubers might not be able to offer benefits or other perks associated with more traditional jobs. However, many YouTube PA’s enjoy the challenge of working on a small team to help build something from the ground up. This, along with the excitement of working in a field that’s experiencing exponential growth, is often incentive enough for production assistants to stick around.

For those interested in pursuing this line of work, Dan suggests reaching out to content creators directly and offering to work for them on a trial basis. “If you get that far, it’s time to prove yourself. Full Sail students are trained to be on time and go the extra mile. You might be in class up to eight or 12 hours a day. Bring that restlessness to the workplace and show you’re ready to do whatever it takes.”

Online students and campus students had the chance to meet, network, and enrich their Full Sail experience last week during Campus Connection. The event was a joint effort presented by the Entertainment Business, Music Business, and Sports Marketing & Media programs. All online business students were invited to visit Full Sail’s campus in Winter Park, FL and attend two days of workshops, tours, and presentations. Special offerings included a keynote by Steve Helling of People Magazine and the opportunity to have professional headshots taken on Full Sail’s backlot.

The event was planned as a way to give online students insight into the the campus experience while facilitating interaction with campus students. Visiting students were invited to sit in on regularly scheduled classes to get a feel for campus life. Online students who weren’t able to make the trip to Florida were able to participate in the event via GoToTraining.

Daniel Smith, an Entertainment Business student in the online program, traveled from Tampa, FL to attend Campus Connection. He says the event was a great way to meet people. “It was my first time interacting with a lot of my instructors in person,” he says. “For me, this event sums up what’s great about Full Sail– that they teach to be better than successful. They teach you how to be significant in your industry.”

Check out some more photos from the event below.

In a world where organization can mean the difference between being busy and being stressed out, developers have come up with a host of mobile and desktop applications geared toward aiding productivity. The trouble is, how do you sift through the hundreds of apps out there to find ones that work for you? We asked three Course Directors from the Mobile Development bachelor’s program to share their top picks for productivity apps.

Studious

“The most important app of all “ says Victoria McNichol, “Is a calendar. It doesn’t matter which one you use, just use it.” Writing down assignments and due dates as soon as you get them shows an intent to see a project through, and can cut down on procrastination by providing a chronological overview of your to-do list.

 Studious is a task manager built specifically for student users. The app features standard calendar and to-do functions, and it also gives you the option of automatically silencing your phone when you enter the classroom. You can also organize assignments and notes by class. Studious’ interface is deliberately simple—you won’t find much room for custom configuration within the app—in an attempt to keep organization from getting too complicated.

Studious is currently only available for Android devices. You can find it for free on Google Play.

Trello

If customization is something you require, on the other hand, you might consider using Trello to organize your workflow.

“Trello is a thought and information organizer,” explains Mike Celey. “You can create boards for different topics and, on those boards, create cards with bite-sized chunks of data. You then move those cards around between different boards in order to organize your thoughts or plan the flow of a project or paper.”

Collaborative workflows are also easily integrated into Trello, making it an ideal tool to use as part of a group project. Trello is available for iOS and Android.

Pomodoro Timers

The Pomodoro Technique for time management has been around since the late 1980s, but the advent of smartphones and subsequently shorter attention spans has given it a recent boost in popularity. The concept is simple: for every 25 minutes you work, you get a five-minute break. For every four cycles, you get a longer (15-30 minute) break. These short mental respites are designed to increase stamina, enabling you to work more efficiently for longer stretches of time.

There are lots of Pomodoro timer apps out there. 30/30 is one that’s free and highly customizable, allowing you to tweak your work to rest ratio. It’s available for iOS in the App Store.

Pomodroido is a more classic take on the tomato-shaped analog kitchen timers that gave the Pomodoro Technique its name. It’s free for Android users and is available on Google Play.

Dropbox & Google Drive

“Dropbox has completely changed the way I work,” says Matt Kelland, “I keep all my work in Dropbox so I can access it at any time, from any place, and from any device. I can also share things with people whenever they need it, even if I’m out of the office.”

Dropbox allows you to store and share files via the cloud. The service doesn’t place a limit on how large shared files can be, making it ideal for collaborators who need to transfer large files back and forth. Primarily a subscription service, free accounts come with 2GB of storage space. Beyond that, $10 a month gets you 1TB of storage.

If you need more storage but can’t afford to pay monthly, Google Drive is a good alternative to Dropbox, offering non-subscribers 15 gigabytes of storage. Google also offers pay-per-month plans, with $2 getting you 100GB of storage and $10 getting you 1TB. In addition to offering more free storage and different subscription options, Google Drive’s ability to seamlessly integrate itself into many existing Google services make it an ideal option for students.

Evernote

The quintessential note-taking app, and for good reason. More than just notes, the Evernote umbrella includes a host of other apps that integrate into the original Evernote system, allowing you to clip text from the web to read later, save photos to notes, and even set reminders to track notes containing time-sensitive content.

“Evernote has apps for every mobile platform as well as your computer and the web,” says Mike. “Your data syncs across all devices so you always have your information with you, no matter which device you have on hand.”

As with Dropbox and Google Drive, Evernote’s ubiquity is a huge draw. Tons of websites and apps have Evernote compatibility built in, and since so many people already use Evernote, sharing content with peers is easy.

Cubefree

If you’ve ever sat down to study while your roommate is practicing the drums in the next room, or tried to work at the nearest coffee shop only to find it’s open mic night, then Cubefree might change your life. This location-based app gets you out of the house and finds the perfect workspace in your area. It ranks public spaces based on wi-fi reliability, number of power outlets, noise level, and parking availability, ensuring that you’re never stuck in less than ideal working conditions. The app also has a social feature that allows users to network with people working around them. It’s free for Apple devices.

Self Control

This desktop app blocks your access to digital distractions for a set amount of time. You choose what goes on the blacklist (email servers, specific websites, etc.) and set the timer. Once engaged, SelfControl will block access to your time sucks even if you restart your computer or delete the app.

“This app is essential for me in writing research papers or lessons for class,” says Mike. “It allows me to work and not be distracted by that nagging feeling of needing to check Facebook or Gizmodo every five minutes.” SelfControl is available for OS X (10.5 or above). 

Full Sail hosted the fourth annual Florida Blogger and Social Media Conference on September 20, 2014. The conference, known in the blogging community as FL Bog Con, featured speakers from across the state and a keynote by Ted Murphy, CEO of IZEA. Mayor Theresa Jacobs kicked off the event.

Full Sail’s own Jeff Sharon, a Course Director in the New Media Journalism MFA program, presented 15 easy tips for elevating the production value of video content. Media Communications student Dan Tilley was recognized by the conference for high academic achievement within his degree program. He received a $5,000 scholarship.

Check out photos from the conference on Flickr. 

For students coming to Full Sail from another country, the process of navigating language and cultural barriers while obtaining a degree might seem daunting. Full Sail’s English as a Second Language (ESL) certificate seeks to make the transition easier on incoming international students by providing an immersive learning experience prior to entering a degree program.

“If you connect with a location and you feel at home, you can learn a language much faster,” says Program Director Tereza Vieira-Reed. “So ours is a completely immersive series of courses.”

Because each student enters ESL at a different point in their journey toward language acquisition, all applicants take a language assessment. This places them in one of four levels of proficiency. Depending on which level they test into, certification takes anywhere from two to nine months.

During that time, students take a variety of field trips, all of which focus on task-oriented problem solving. One assignment has students write to their future selves, then go to the post office to mail the letter. Along the way, they must interact with post office employees and other customers, practicing their conversation skills in order to complete the task. Similar assignments may require students to go grocery shopping, or attend an event at the Full Sail Live venue.

“It’s not just about writing skills, but also public speaking and learning to not be self-conscious about your accent. You have to be able to clearly convey a message in order to be present yourself in a professional manner,” says Tereza.

Students who enroll in ESL courses receive an iPad and language learning software designed to supplement coursework. Course Directors customize digital texts for each class, and instructors use iTunes U as a digital repository for academic assets. The mobility of the tablets enables students to take their resources virtually anywhere. This unique, mobile approach to learning has earned Full Sail’s ESL certificate recognition within the academic field of English as a Second Language, says Tereza.

“Several of our instructors have been selected to present at international conferences, showing exactly how we use technology,” she says.

In addition to mobility, Tereza and her team also strive for a deep level of understanding between students and the Full Sail community. Tereza often pairs up people from different levels of study. This strategy provides support to students who need it and allows students who are further along in language acquisition to deepen their understanding through teaching others. All students also have the option to pair up with conversation partners in other departments. If a student is interested in Entertainment Business, for instance, they would be able to sit down with an instructor from that program and interview them.

“It’s a custom series of courses oriented around Full Sail and the degree programs. Every course has assignments that can be modified based on a student’s interests. So if a student likes music rather than film, we can have them develop an assignment related more to music,” explains Tereza.

ESL courses also familiarize students with Full Sail’s online learning system and message boards, so by the time they start their degree they’re already knowledgeable about those aspects of campus life. Tereza says it’s not uncommon for herself and her staff to check in with students around campus even after they’ve completed their certificate.

“We’re able to see them and ask how they’re doing,” she says. It’s this spirit of support that drives the ESL team. “Really, that’s what we do. We try to welcome students to this part of their professional journey.”

Now What? is a series dedicated to providing strategies for a successful post graduate experience. Have a suggestion for a topic you’d like to see featured here? Let us know in the comments.

Growing up is a process. As we evolve in maturity, we refine our opinions, our tastes, and our image. At some point, most of us have said or done something we wish we could take back; things that seemed irrelevant just a few years ago might make you shudder with embarrassment now. Part of undertaking a professional journey is making sure you’re putting your best self out there, something that can be tricky in the digital age. As graduation approaches, you may want to consider the content you’ve put out into the world—and how potential employers might interpret it.

“You’re putting digital information out there. As an employer, I need to know whether or not you’re going to be a good fit. I may not be able to get that just from just your resume or even an interview, but if I see the things you put online, it gives me a better idea,” says Internet Marketing Program Director Rob Croll.

Start by doing a vanity search for your name in order to see what comes up. If your name is common, you might not feature in the top results at all. Don’t assume this will deter someone who is seeking information. Most employers will deepen the search by typing in your name plus your city, or your name plus your school. Playing around with combinations of keywords will give you a thorough overview of your online presence.

Because most content is generated incrementally, it’s easy to for that controversial tweet you posted six months ago to slip your mind. As soon as you put something out there, its digital trajectory is beyond your control, and if a post does well then it’ll rank higher in search results. If something you don’t want an employer to see does come up, you can try deleting it. However, if the content has been shared, you won’t be able to erase it completely.

In this case, says Rob, your best bet is to try to bury anything undesirable in the search results. By posting a steady stream of positive, professionally oriented content, you may be able to save face.

“The one good thing about the internet is that it’s made us all super impatient,” laughs Rob. “No one ever goes to the second page of the search results. So if you can get something pushed off the first page, it’s less likely that someone will find it.”

To do this, make sure that any professional dossiers, such as LinkedIn, contain the most up-to-date relevant information. The more complete a profile is, the better it will rank. Sometimes it’s helpful to create new accounts that focus on a particular aspect of your professional life, such as a Tumblr or Pinterest account devoted solely to industry trends. This shows potential employers that you take your industry seriously, and demonstrates a knowledge base. Bear in mind things like usernames and custom URLs also contribute to your image. For the sake of simplicity, use some form of your real name when creating professional accounts.

It’s also a good idea to consider the company you keep. “I heard someone say this the other day, and found it really striking. ‘When you’re friends with someone online, you’re essentially co-branding with them.’ You can argue whether or not that’s true, but it’s interesting. Even if you don’t agree with something your friend says, to outsiders who don’t know you, your connections mean something. They tell us something about you,” says Rob.

Finally, don’t think that erasing any and all traces of yourself from the Internet will help you land a job. Employers are expecting you to have some form of online social presence. Ultimately, says Rob, the trick is to present your most authentic self in as neutral a way as possible. “Having some things out there is important. Be careful about what you’re sharing and what you say, make sure it’s factual and accurate,” he advises. “Whatever you post, be aware of the impact on your reputation.”

Full Sail faculty and students came together on October 14, 2014 to announce the winners of the United Nations Climate Change Project. The Embassies of France asked Full Sail students and grads “to create assets that raise awareness, propose solutions, and educate audiences on the topics of climate change, sustainability, and conservation issues facing our world.” 26 students submitted work in the categories of art, music, film, and marketing, and 20 faculty members supported student endeavors by providing mentorship.

Film major Dionne Ramdeen, decided to tap a few of her other talents for the cause. She submitted the original composition “Changing Our World,” which earned her first place in the music category. She also placed third in the art category with a graphic design piece titled “The Great Melt.”

“It’s been a great honor and privilege to participate,” said Dionne. “Growing up, I always wanted to work with the United Nations, so when the opportunity presented itself I thought, this is my chance to do something for an organization I’ve always admired.”

The winning assets will be showcased in a special exhibition at Full Sail. They’ll also be considered to promote panels on climate change across North America and at the 2015 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris, France.

Congratulations to the winners, and to all participants!

Film

1st Place – “Global Warning” by Dimitri Pantchev with support from Matthew McDonald

2nd Place – “How Will We Play? – PSA” by Stefanie Brown

3rd Place – “Change the Tide” by Rick Sellers

Honorable Mention – “Hand in Hand” by Julie Chau, Tim Akers, Lareece Corbitt, Emeka Francis Uwazurike, and Brian Cabral

“Climate Change: The Adirondacks” by Greg Hitchcock

Music

1st Place – “Changing Our World” by Dionne Ramdeen

Marketing

1st Place – Steven Penoske

2nd Place – Kaley DeAngelo and Iris Buckley

3rd Place – Ryan McCloskey and Leland Sams

Art

1st – “The Erosion of Us” by Shannon Gilmore

2nd Place –  “United by One” by Shannon Gilmore

3rd Place – “The Great Melt” by Dionne Ramdeen

Hand in Hand

From the short film “Hand in Hand” by Julie Chau, Tim Akers, Lareece Corbitt, Emeka Francis Uwazurike, and Brian Cabral. The piece received an honorable mention.

Global Warming

From the first place film “Global Warning” by Dimitri Pantchev and Matthew McDonald.

Change the Tide

From the third place film “Change the Tide” by Rick Sellers.

The Great Melt

“The Great Melt” by Dionne Ramdeen. The piece placed third in the Art category.

United By One

“United by One” by Shannon Gilmore. The piece placed second in the Art category.

The Erosion of Us

“The Erosion of Us” by Shannon Gilmore. The piece placed first in the Art category.

Constant stress at school or on the job can lead to burnout—a state of extreme mental and physical exhaustion. While burnout is a potential hazard in nearly every professional domain, it can be particularly prevalent side effect of working in entertainment. Long hours, lack of sleep, and working in a high-pressure industry all contribute to high levels of stress. Thankfully, there are strategies you can employ to combat burnout, both as a student and in your career. We asked two staff members and a grad to share their best tips for managing stress related fatigue.

Feed your creativity. 

Good nutrition provides sustained energy, allowing you to work for longer periods and combating mental fog. While it may be tempting to grab something quick and comforting like fast food or a candy bar, the flip side is those types of foods might contribute to a physical discomfort or a sugar crash later on. If a busy schedule dictates that your meals need to be quick and convenient, try taking one night to prepare nutritious, homemade meals for the week.

“There are tons of recipes out there that are super easy, and provide lots of leftovers that do well in the freezer or fridge,” says Jennifer Conley, a Rigging Basics Lab Specialist for the Computer Animation program.  “You can bring food with you to school, which would give you more time to enjoy those breaks you get during lecture and lab.”

Mariana Lahud, an Entertainment Business grad working for one of the largest live production companies in Mexico, agrees. “I bring my lunch to a lot of the shows I work,” she says. “How and what you eat reflects a lot on your energy, your mood and overall health, so trying your best to maintain a balanced diet is important.”

Mariana also suggests increasing your water intake and finding time to exercise. “Moving your body increases endorphins, which make you happy. It delivers oxygen to your brain which boosts energy, and it promotes better sleep.” As little as 30 minutes of exercise a day can have a huge impact on your mental and physical state.

Set aside time to shut it down.

Nobody can be on one hundred percent of the time. It’s important to remember that pushing yourself in your career doesn’t mean pushing losing track of the other things in life that fulfill you.

“You have to shut it off,” says Jeff Villanueva, a Career Development advisor and Recording Arts grad who’s engineered tracks for Beyonce, Lionel Ritchie, Rihanna, and more. “When I leave the studio, I’ll listen to talk radio or classical music on my way home to avoid listening to my rough mixes.” Jeff says that putting some mental distance between himself and his work allows him to come back to it with a fresh perspective on what needs to be done.

Of course, it can be difficult to find time to feed outside interests amid a hectic schedule. Jennifer suggests scheduling time for interests outside of work and school. “Mark it in your calendar if you have to,” she says. “Treat it like an appointment or a meeting—don’t be late and don’t skip out on it. Think of it this way: you wouldn’t miss a meeting with your boss, right? Well, you’re your own boss. So don’t miss your ‘me time’ meeting.”

Surround yourself with positive people.

A solid support system can make all the difference when it comes to fighting stress. Fostering professional relationships goes beyond networking. It’s also about building a community of people who understand the impact that working long hours in a high-pressure environment can have on a person’s overall mental and physical state, and who can offer assistance when needed.

“I try to surround myself with people who have positive attitudes and similar ethics as me,” says Mariana. “This keeps me happy, focused, and mostly out of trouble.” Focusing on relationships outside of work can also have a hugely positive impact on emotional well being.

“When you start to take your career seriously, the first thing to go is probably going to be your social life. Find time to connect with and visit friends and family,” advises Jeff. Not only will the people in your life appreciate the effort, spending time with loved ones also counts as a mental break from work related stressors.

Set boundaries.

Setting just a few professional boundaries early on can mean the difference between being a team player and allowing someone to take advantage of you and your time.

“Learn how to say ‘no’ professionally and never over promise anything,” suggests Jeff. “Do exactly what you’re paid to do and do your very best. Early on in my career, I would never say no to anyone or any job. I thought making myself indispensible would make me irreplaceable.” It doesn’t always work out that way, he says, and suggests saying no to a project every now and then as a way to maintain control over your free time.

“Remember, you are not a drone. You’re a human, and there are things in your life that you find important other than work or school,” says Jennifer. Ultimately, employers and clients should respect the fact that a healthy dose of outside interests will only serve to strengthen your professional performance.