Archive for May 14th, 2008

Mission Viejo, CA – June 14, 2005 – Bob Meyer, a former major league pitcher in the 1960s who signed four-consecutive major league contracts with the New York Yankees, is now the most visible spokesman for the worldwide commercial barter industry.

Meyer is the publisher of BarterNews, which he founded 25 years ago. The magazine reports on the many ways barter can be used to leverage one’s business, as well as up-to-date information on the happenings within the commercial barter industry.

“Barter is an underutilized and under appreciated business tool that virtually every business owner should be using, whether on a direct or indirect basis,” Meyer emphasized. “Globally, it is a $600 billion-a-year way of doing business that enables companies of every size to secure needed products and services. Barter is a proven business tool used by firms for marketing, financing, and purchasing efforts.

“Given today’s competitive marketplace, under capitalization by most startups, and the typical use of high-interest credit cards, anytime one’s product or service can be exchanged for a needed business expense it should be embraced,” he enthused. “And, it is easier than ever with some 800 trade companies, worldwide.”

BarterNews magazine reports on three areas of barterthe commercial trade exchange industry (business barter clubs), corporate barter (large multimillion dollar transactions), and countertrade (transactions between countries). Its readership is international in scope, encompassing six continents.

The magazine has an extensive web site with comprehensive information on the subject, a free weekly e-newsletter, “The Tuesday Report,” and hundreds of articles and contacts. For more information go to www.barternews.com.

About Bob Meyer: A former major league baseball player, Meyer signed the first of four consecutive major league contracts with the New York Yankees at age 21. After an 11-year professional baseball career he launched an import business, selling science-oriented products to schools throughout the U.S. and Canada. After numerous, profitable barter experiences Meyer sold his business and founded BarterNews in 1980. In addition to the magazine, he has authored a 532-page barter program for the business community and publishes a monthly newsletter for trade exchanges.

Acknowledgements for his contributions to the commercial barter industry are considerable. Most notable was his induction into the International Reciprocal Trade Association’s “Barter-Hall-of-Fame” in its charter year, September 1997. He was also the recipient of the first-ever “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the National Association of Trade Exchanges in September 2004.

Contact: Bob Meyer, phone (949) 831-0607 or e-mail to bmeyer@barternews.com.

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From our deconstruction of hundreds of Hollywood blockbusters and sitcoms….

The Hero’s Journey is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the Hollywood movies we have deconstructed are based on this template.

Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters.

The Hero’s Journey:

a) Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.

b) Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.

c) Interpreted metaphorically, laterally and symbolically, allows an infinite number of varied stories to be created.

and more…

EXAMPLE: Desperate Housewives Episode 02.04 My Heart belongs to Daddy – Hero’s Journey [basic deconstruction]

FADE IN

A story [opening catch and resolution]: the inmates make the lawyer apologise to Gabrielle.

Credits

B story: Lynette feels she’s missing out on her son’s growing up.

C story: Susan and Mike decide they don’t have to be naked anymore.

Call to Adventure

A story: Gabrielle wants to get laid.

D story: George wants to kiss Brie.

B story: Lynette tries to take her son to get some doughnuts.

Belly of the Whale

D story: Brie wants Andrew to get to know George at dinner.

C story: Edie sends out an email that Zach is Mike’s son.

Trials and Transformation

A story: the lawyer is attracted to Gabrielle.

B story: Lynette told that her son is suffering emotional trauma.

Atonement with the Father

D story: Andrew and George at dinner.

A story: the lawyer hits on Gabrielle.

C story: Susan sees Zach in the park.

Apotheosis

C story: Susan persuaded to bring Zach back home.

B story: Tom advises Lynette to start hugging.

Refusal

B story: Parker refuses a hug.

D story: Brie tells George she has to stop seeing him.

Freedom to Live / Set up Continuation:

A story: Gabrielle gets a conjugal visit.

C story: Susan sends Zach to Utah.

B story: Lynette throws Mrs Mulberry / the umbrella away.

D story: George gives Brie a kiss and Andrew attacks him.

FADE OUT:

D story: Andrew sent away.

A story: Carlos touches the baby.

C story: Mike finds a flyer.

B story: Lynette feels guilty for killing Parker’s imaginary friend.

Learn more

The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and other story structure templates can be found at http://www.clickok.co.uk/

You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.

Kal Bishop, MBA

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You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author’s name and site URL are retained.

Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. His specialities include Knowledge Management and Creativity and Innovation Management. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached at http://www.clickok.co.uk/

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