Last week’s Special Report on Production Companies contained a survey of production house executives regarding sales representation. Here’s a tongue-in-cheek response from Effie Samios to the questions posed:
Q. Why did you choose the type of representation, whether in-house or independent, that you have now?
A. Desperation.
Q. Which type of sales representation is best suited to a production company: an independent firm for each region of the country, a single company that covers the entire U.S., in-house sales or a combination of any of the above?
A. Interplanetary representation is the best representation. A good production company should never take for granted where its next job is coming from. We want to be sure that the first images those aliens see are Jeff Gorman’s Staples spots. The exception, of course, is Uranus. Uranus should always get its own rep.
Q. Is the type of representation a production company chooses dependent on the number of directors represented by that company?
A. In our case, the type of rep is very important, but we don’t mean independent or in-house. We mean passive-homicidal. JGF has a reputation that precedes it. Therefore, we require an absolute loon to rep for us. When we think of what type of person would make a good JGF rep, we think of television evangelists, WWF managers or members of the Reagan Administration. We want someone who doesn’t understand the word "no," along with the words "holiday," "morals" or "restraining order."
Q. What are the benefits of in-house representation?
A. The benefit is you see exactly how much time they spend trying to get the best quality boards for your directors.
Q. Are there any drawbacks?
A. The drawback is you see exactly how much time they spend trying to get the best quality boards for your directors.
Q. What are the benefits and drawbacks of independent reps?
A. The benefit is that you don’t have all the added payroll expenses that come with a staff employee. The drawback is that you don’t get that little rush of power that accompanies watching someone clear out their desk.
Q. As we enter the new millennium, which type of sales team do you believe will be prevalent?
A. Robotic and digital—as we all will be.
Microsoft Report Says Efforts By Russia, Iran and China To Sway U.S. Voters May Escalate
Foreign adversaries have shown continued determination to influence the U.S. election โ- and there are signs their activity will intensify as Election Day nears, Microsoft said in a report Wednesday.
Russian operatives are doubling down on fake videos to smear Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign, while Chinese-linked social media campaigns are maligning down-ballot Republicans who are critical of China, the company's threat intelligence arm said Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Iranian actors who allegedly sent emails aimed at intimidating U.S. voters in 2020 have been surveying election-related websites and major media outlets, raising concerns they could be preparing for another scheme this year, the tech giant said.
The report serves as a warning โ building on others from U.S. intelligence officials โ that as the nation enters this critical final stretch and begins counting ballots, the worst influence efforts may be yet to come. U.S. officials say they remain confident that election infrastructure is secure enough to withstand any attacks from American adversaries. Still, in a tight election, foreign efforts to influence voters are raising concern.
Microsoft noted that some of the disinformation campaigns it tracks received little authentic engagement from U.S. audiences, but others have been amplified by unwitting Americans, exposing thousands to foreign propaganda in the final weeks of voting.
Russia, China and Iran have all rejected claims that they are seeking to meddle with the U.S. election.
"The presidential elections are the United States' domestic affairs. China has no intention and will not interfere in the US election," the Chinese Embassy said in a statement.
"Having already unequivocally and... Read More