Hindsight

Friday, November 21, 2008

EIGHTY-ONE FILMS BY STUDENT TEAMS UNDERWAY AT FLASHPOINT ACADEMY - THE COLLEGE IS BURSTING AT THE SEAMS WITH ACTIVITY

FLASHPOINT TEAM ATTENDS MICROSOFT PHIZZPOP COMPETITION FOR 2016

SURFACE TABLE DEMO FEATURING THREADLESS

FLASHPOINT ACADEMY COMPUTER GAME DEVELOPMENT DEPT HEAD SIMEON PEEBLER IN BAR ASSOCIATION PANEL ON GAME DESIGN PROTECTION

Featured Speakers:

Joe Linhoff:

Joe has been developing published video games for over 20 years in California, Minnesota, Colorado, and Illinois. His games include: WarGods at Midway, Big Buck Hunter at Play Mechanix, Invasion, Action Hero at Play Mechanix, Dungeon Master: Chaos Strikes Back at FTL Games, Indigo Swing at Play Mechanix, Stickers, Certificate Maker at Springboard Software, and other commercial and non-commercial games.

He specializes in writing the most fundamental code of game engines and is driven to develop an understanding, at all levels, of what makes games fun. Joe received his B.A. in Computer Science from the University of California, San Diego and his J.D. from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Joe is currently a visiting assistant professor at DePaul University in Chicago.

Michael Monahan:

Michael Monahan is an associate at Pattishall, McAuliffe, Newbury, Hilliard, and Geraldson LLP, where he specializes his practice in the area of trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. He helps clients establish, develop and protect their brand assets and has advised on registration, policing, enforcement through litigation and ADR, and the commercial development of these assets through licensing, franchising and other transactions.

Michael is particularly interested in software and information services, from video games to business software applications. He counsels software purchasers and users, developers, publishers and value-added-resellers. In addition, Michael has represented numerous media clients and other content creators and providers to navigate a broad array of legal issues, including First Amendment matters, defamation and right of publicity issues, and defending against "Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation"--known as SLAPP--actions.

Michael is experienced in the arena of protecting the intellectual property embodied in game design and has presented regarding the pros and cons of game design end user license agreements. Michael earned his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University and his J.D. from Louisiana State University.

Simeon Peebler:

Simeon Peebler is the founding Chair of the Game Development program at Flashpoint Academy, The Academy of Media Arts and Sciences, located in downtown Chicago, where he created a new professional training program for those interested in a career in game design and production. Flashpoint Academy is the recent recipient of the 2008 Chicago Innovation Awards.

He is credited on many PC CD-ROMS as a programmer, designer, and composer including titles such as Where's Waldo? Exploring Geography, Eraser: Turnabout, Warheads SE, You Don't Know Jack: The 5th Dementia, and Veggie Tales: Veggie Carnival. Through his own independent game development and publishing company, Brain Block Interactive, Simeon designed, engineered and marketed many downloadable PC games which include Logication, Super Bubbles, Bloink, Arcade Mah Jongg and Ammo Boy. Local game companies who employed or contracted Simeon include Imagination Pilots Entertainment, totalPlay, FASA Interactive, Jellyvision, and itoons. In addition to his PC work, Simeon has designed and programmed web games for Nickelodeon for such properties as Sponge Bob Square Pants, Rug Rats, and Fairly Odd Parents.

FLASHPOINT ACADEMY STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN CAR RIGGING WORKSHOP/CLASS WITH KEY GRIP CORTLAND BOYD AT ESSANAY STUDIOS

Thursday, November 20, 2008

FLASHPOINT ACADEMY HOWARD TULLMAN Interview on Finesse Cuisine Hour

Check out my Interview today about Entrepreneurs, Education and, of course, Flashpoint Academy. My part starts at about 3 minutes into the program. You can read below or just cut and paste the link below into your browser.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/sohobiztube/2008/11/20/Sohobiztube-Presents-Finesse-Cuisine-with-Jon-Wool-Chicagolands-finest

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

FLASHPOINT ACADEMY WELCOMES SINGER-SONGWRITER-COMPOSER JD SOUTHER FOR PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP AND Q&A SESSION WITH STUDENTS

In 1984, singer/songwriter JD Souther followed the chart-topping successes of "You're Only Lonely" and the James Taylor duet "Her Town Too" with HOME BY DAWN, an album that Rolling Stone declared his best, with songs that "rank right up there with his forlorn classics 'Run like a Thief' and 'Faithless Love.'"

And then, in 1985, after a brief tour in support of the album, JD Souther disappeared.

One of the principal architects of the Southern California country-rock sound, Souther famously played a key role in the formation of the Eagles and co-wrote their hits "Heartache Tonight," "Victim of Love," "New Kid In Town," and "Best of My Love," as well as writing Linda Ronstadt's classics "Faithless Love," "Simple Man, Simple Dream," and "Prisoner in Disguise."

A highly sought-after songwriter and session man, Souther also released four critically acclaimed solo albums -- "John David Souther," (1972) "Black Rose," (1976), "You're Only Lonely" (1979) and "Home By Dawn" (1984) -- and two albums as a member of The Souther Hillman Furay Band, the super group which united Souther with Poco's Richie Furay and the Byrds' Chris Hillman.

But in 1985, after countless hit records, Grammy nominations, American Music Awards, and gold and platinum albums, JD Souther decided to walk away from his solo career. According to Souther, "I wanted to be a better musician and songwriter. I wanted to just stay home, practice, read, and write."

Relocating to Nashville (after Northern California, New York, Japan, and Ireland for half a year), Souther wrote for and with artists as diverse as India.Arie, Brooks & Dunn, Jimmy Buffet, Glen Campbell, Joe Cocker, Crosby Stills & Nash, Diamond Rio, Dixie Chicks, Don Henley, Raul Malo, One Flew South, Roy Orbison, Bernadette Peters, Bonnie Raitt, George Strait, Brian Wilson, Trisha Yearwood, Warren Zevon, and most recently the newly re-formed Eagles, who chose Souther's protest song "How Long" as the debut single from their first studio album in twenty-eight years.
And now Souther returns with his first studio album in twenty-five: IF THE WORLD WAS YOU.

IF THE WORLD WAS YOU is both a bold step forward and a return to Souther's Amarillo, Texas roots, where the young multi-instrumentalist grew up listening closely to Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, and steeped in the improvisational sensibilities of John Coltrane, Thelonius Monk and Miles Davis as well as in the music of country and rock pioneers Hank Williams, Buddy Holly, and Roy Orbison, all of whose influences are evident.

Recorded live in the studio fronting a five-piece ensemble, two horns, piano, bass, and drums, Souther has crafted an inventive new musical setting for his characteristically playful and literate musings on life, love, and politics. The work of a musician at the height of his considerable powers, IF THE WORLD WAS YOU is whip-smart, adventurous, seductive, and shot through with the sublime longing that characterizes Souther's finest work. And his voice -- one of the most plaintive and soulful in rock 'n roll -- has never sounded so immediate and so powerful.

IF THE WORLD WAS YOU is the long awaited return of a master singer/songwriter as well as the birth of a new and relevant artist who's creating music that is absolutely essential and entirely his own.

Twenty-five years in the making, JD Souther's triumphant return with IF THE WORLD WAS YOU has most definitely been worth the wait.

FLASHPOINT ACADEMY WELCOMES DJ AND RE-MIX ARTIST RALPHI ROSARIO FOR FULL DAY OF AUDIO WORKSHOPS

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Flashpoint students will be working in three workshops with one of the industry’s most experienced and exciting veterans who’s worked with Madonna, Michael Bublé, Mariah Carey, Ricky Martin, Kelly Clarkson INXS, the Shamen, Jomanda, Culture Beat, Gloria Estefan, Dee-Lite, Pet Shop Boys, Pussycat Dolls, and many more.

MORE ON RALPHI www.ralphirosario.com

Many believe his status as an industry legend was achieved when Ralphi’s “You Used to Hold Me” mega hit became an overnight club classic. Add to this his production work and remixing talents and you have someone who has never stopped creating music for his many devoted fans. Besides introducing vocalist Xaviera Gold and others to the public’s ear with the classic “You used to hold me”, Ralphi has worked on countless mega artists including Donna Summer “I will go with you” (with DJ Abel as Rosabel), Cher “Different kind of love song”, Everything but the Girl “Tempermental”, The Pet Shop Boys “Break for love”, Amber “Love one another” and Jennifer Holiday “And I am telling you, I’m not going”.

Ralphi Rosario has worked and helped design his own production/remix team Rosabel, with long time friend DJ Abel. With major labels, he has credited labels such as Atlantic, Arista, Epic/Sony, Columbia, Nervous, and Strictly Rhythm. Of course, he’s worked with great Indie labels too, Peter Rauhaufers’ Star 69, and most recently Tommy Boy.

Some of Ralphi’s favorite projects have also been big dance floor hits, such as the Latin infused “Brinca” and the monster crossover “Take Me Up” with vocalist sensation and longtime friend Donna Blakely. More recently “Don’t You Want My Love” by Debbie Jacobs, (collaborating once more with DJ Abel ) and “The Power” by Rosabel Featuring Jeanie Tracey, were both heard on HBO’s Sex and the City and Showtime’s Queer as Folk.

Recently, Ralphi and DJ friend and colleague Junior Vasquez, were chosen separately by Columbia/Sony, to remix a new version of “Nights in White Satin” with vocals by one of the world’s greatest classical vocalists, Mario Frangoulis.

Fans can listen to original or compiled music on Ralphi’s three albums, “45 Miles of Nerves”, “Garden of Eden”, and the most recent “Club Cassagrande Presents Ralphi Rosario” a double CD mix compilation.

Ralphi Rosario’s career is chockfull of creativity and accomplishment. There is no question to his many devoted fans, colleagues, and friends in the music industry that he is in fact, a dance/house music legend.