Are You Ready to Stage a Media Coup?

Date: Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Place: virgin earth’s Aoyama Earth Studio near Gaienmae Station on the Ginza Line.

That media coup thing? You can do it, you know. The radio and TV broadcast paradigm is being knocked aside by Internet radio, YouTube, and an array of other outlets just waiting for people with the right creative stuff. And if you’re in business, the opportunities to advertise and market what you’ve got are without limit.

Richard Kipnis of virgin earth, inc. says there are lots of creative videos on the Web now where the product—say the Lexus car—is the star of the show. He’ll talk about the changes and lowered barriers to entry for homegrown video content and anyone with a flair for filmmaking in any genre. Even better, Richard will give us a rare backstage tour of our special venue for the night—his satellite-connected TV sound stage in Minami-Aoyama.

And for a stellar talent on the other side of the mike and lens, we know we couldn’t do any better than freelance broadcaster Peter Barakan. Peter will chronicle what he’s picked up during three decades in the music, radio and TV industries, including what it takes to do a virtual show via the Interwebs.

If you’ve got questions on how to take your words and images live, these are the guys to ask!

About Richard: The master eye, executive producer and CEO of Japan’s oldest, most respected foreign-run TV and film production company—virgin earth, inc.—Richard Kipnis has had a lens trained on the TV production world in Japan since 1977. As videotape editor for ABC News Tokyo and editor/producer at NBC’s Tokyo bureau and then director of network operations in Asia for Reuters Financial Television, he filmed some of the biggest news stories in recent history, including the Tiananmen Square uprising in Beijing, an assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II in Manila and the Kobe earthquake. At virgin earth, he and his expert crew have filmed artists like Coldplay, Yo Yo Ma and Beyonce, shows like The Next Iron Chef America and The Amazing Race in 2005, 2007, and 2009, and produced documentaries on Hiroshima for National Geo and the Lucy Blackman murder case for Discovery Channel, amongst many others.

About Peter: Peter Barakan left London on a whim to work for a music publisher in Japan back in 1974. He segued into radio in 1980, and three decades later he’s still on the air spinning tracks on his “Barakan Morning” InterFM (76.1) music show and via the Internet. Although radio remains his main media squeeze, Peter also appears on-screen as the host of NHK’s Weekend Japanology and as the co-host of CBS Document, the Japanese version of 60 Minutes. A self-described ‘music-nut,’ Peter has also written several books, including a beginner’s guide to soul music, and an album guide covering black music from Africa to the Americas.

We’re looking forward to seeing you on September 14, and hope you’ll be inspired to imagine lots more possibilities for your creative talents when this evening is over.

Feel free to give us a call if you have trouble finding the venue: 090-2451-069

The Media Tectonics Team

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Date: Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Time: 6:30 p.m. – dinner and networking (catered by To the Moon & Back); 7 p.m. – seminar begins
Location: virgin earth’s Aoyama Earth Studio, Gaienmae Station, Ginza Line
Cost: 3,500 yen (prepaid, by September 9); 4,500 yen at the door

Be sure to take advantage of the prepayment discount, and let us know you’re coming so we can be kind to the environment with an accurate food order!

RSVP by sending an email here, and transferring funds to:

Resona Bank
Shibuya Branch: 473
Account Type: Futsu
Account Number: 1804222
Account Name: 4M Associates

Or pay via Paypal:

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Community News & Updates

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Freelancing in Tokyo Networking Night

Yes, it’s hot and many of you are on holiday, but for those who have decided to tough out the summer, please join us on Thursday, August 19, from 7:30-10:30pm at the Kimono Wine Bar (3 min. from Nogizaka Station) for our monthly Freelancing in Tokyo networking night.

This is a great chance to meet new people, exchange meishi, and expand your contacts. You don’t have to be a freelancer to join us. For 2,000 yen there will be fun, food and drinks.

RSVPs ARE NECESSARY, so please email lauren@kimonowinebar.com at your earliest convenience. Thank you and I hope to see you soon!

David Chester