2011 MTV Movie Awards: The set design

I confess...I didn't really watch the 2011 MTV Movie Awards. I watched the first 30 minutes and ended up doing something else. I will admit that I was highly intrigued by the set design for this year's awards. It was like a sprawling fantasy forest in the mind of a very very creative (or mad) person. With lush greenery, sparkling lights, and oversized props, this year's set design definitely took the award for creativity.

The set design for the movie awards was inspired by fantasy in film, specifically the fantasy behind The Lord of The Rings movies. MTV production designer Leroy Bennett turned the Gibson Amphitheater in Universal City, California into a fantastical representation of his mind with oversized hanging jewels, caves, butterflies, and a plethora of LED lights.
Executive Producer, Mark Burnett states,

"With The Twilight Saga: Eclipse and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 leading the nominee pack, the feel of this show also reflects those fantastical worlds that are ruled by wizards, werewolves and vampires. I think there's been a lot of movies in the last few years that are very fantasy-driven, and Tim Burton has also been a major inspiration for the stage design." -Source

When I saw the stage for the first time, my immediate reaction was "Whoa! That's clever." I'm always intrigued with a stage or set design that tampers with my mind and calls to my inner child. This set design definitely did that. I hope the creative people behind the annual MTV Movie Awards continues to take the set design in a more creative avenue versus the contemporary and modern path they've been on for so long. With so many movies to gain inspiration from, there are endless possibilities if they would simply open their minds.

Check out the behind the scenes video with Josh Horowitz of MTV News and tell me what you think.

Tags: Movie Trailers, Movies Blog

The Unemployed Entrepreneur

SOA Inspiration: The Man with the Golden Voice gets a Golden ticket

It's been 72 hours now since Ted Williams was just a peddler on the street. Unlike other peddlers, who have signs that say "Hungry. Homeless. Help." His sign stood out from all the others, "I have the God given talent of voice..." After a videographer/ reporter from the Columbus Dispatch interviewed him...the rest as they say is history.

I am glad that a story such as this was able to get through the negative clutter we usually see in the media. It is such an inspiring and heart felt story, you can't help but to root for the best for him and hope for the best for yourself.




It's only the beginning of the year and already miracles are happening. Will your's be next? Great things are happening to good people every day, all you have to do is be present when your opportunity shows up.

Thank you Mr. Williams for inspiring us and giving us something to believe in again.

The Unemployed [but Empowered and Inspired] Entrepreneur

**Update: Ted Williams has been offered the following opportunities:Spokesperson for Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, Announcer for the Cleveland Cavaliers who also offered to pay his living expenses, NFL Films, Ohio Credit Union League, ESPN, MTV is discussing a reality series, a voice over gig in Hawaii, a therapist to help him battle his demons and a new start at life**

What will 2011 bring?

As the new year quickly approaches (T-minus 12 hours as of this post), more and more people are trying to decide what their New Year's resolutions are going to be and are making predictions on what they think is going to happen. But as I sit back and watch them make these predictions for themselves, others, and the world, I have to sit and think to myself what that means.

A prediction implies something that you think is going to happen. You may not be sure if it will, but there is something that is telling you that there is a likely chance that it could happen. And the funny thing is, even though we make predictions about things to have yet happened, there is a little voice inside of us that raises doubt so that if it doesn't happen we were right either way.

The Law of Attraction tells us what we put out into the universe manifests itself to us. So even though you predict good things to happen, your negative thoughts about them will cause them to not happen. So yes, you will be right either way.

This year instead of making a resolution or prediction. I've decided I'm going to put into action my premonitions. In short, a premonition is a vision of the future, a forewarning for events to come.

The definitions give it an almost negative tone, however, you can be forewarned about an event that is positive. And thus, that is how I chose to take it.

I've had visions for what will happen personally, professionally, and realistically in 2011 and with that warning I'm going to do my best to ensure that they are all met.

Realistic Premonitions for 2011

• With the influx of new entrepreneurs and new self-made millionaires both the job market and economy is going to rise higher than it was this year


• Sarah Palin will rise up like she never has before to prepare for the 2012 elections (not particularly happy about that)


• Facebook will become a publicly shared company.

Professional Premonitions for 2011

• People will again see the value in hiring an event planner, coordinator, manager


• The influence of fashion on the event industry will become more prevalent, ie color schemes, moods, production, presentation, etc.


• Preston Bailey's online school of event design will be offered as a course at either SCAD or NYU (preferably SCAD)

Personal Premonitions for 2011

• My relationship with my boyfriance will go to the next level


• SOA Event Concepts will further continue to progress.


• I will challenge myself more intellectually, professionally, spiritually, and personally

Will all these things take place (especially the realistic ones)? NO. But do I expect for at the least the personal ones to happen? Absolutely! I plan on going into the new year KNOWING that this time next year all my goals will be accomplished and the new ones will begin to take shape.

What will 2011 bring? What are your realistic, professional, and personal premonitions

The Unemployed [but Empowered] Entrepreneur