universal positive – Page 27 – Unique insights and actionable ideas from The Darnell Works Agency’s daily quest for greatness.

Among many people I’m thankful for, my big brother Scott

March 22, 2024November 23, 2009 by Roger Darnell

We’re taking off to go spend some quality time with our families in the St. Louis and Milwaukee areas over the days ahead, and I thought I’d make a quick nod to one of the people I’m most thankful for, my big brother, Scott Darnell. Scott and his partner David Gotter established a company in 2003 named Further OPTIONS, as a developer of innovative mobility systems for wheelchair-bound individuals. After debuting its first product at the 2006 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, the company’s Patent-pending DMS-4 was unveiled at the 2009 National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association Annual Conference, where it was honored by NMEDA and the Adaptive Driving Alliance with their 2009 New Technology Award for Innovation in Engineering and Technology for the physically challenged.

Lessons on professionalism, persistence and “Endurance” from artist Theresa Ortolani

April 3, 2024November 18, 2009 by Roger Darnell

Two years ago, I attended a publishing workshop hosted by Kiki Bauer, senior designer for powerHouse Books, at the powerHouse Arena in Brooklyn. Six of us attended, each eager to discuss our very specific idea for a brilliantly conceived, beautiful and riveting coffee-table book like those famously published by powerHouse. Theresa, Lori, Brad, Debra, John-Michael and I all presented our pet projects to Kiki on that day, and I’ll bet the rest of our classmates are as proud as I am to see that Theresa has persevered in seeing hers through, and getting it into print: “Endurance” published by powerHouse Books, is now available for purchase. In fact, the official launch party is happening at powerHouse Arena on Thurs., Dec. 3. More information on Theresa Ortolani, “Endurance” and this very cool upcoming event follow below.

Joining iParticipate.org in honoring Veterans today and tomorrow…

April 3, 2024November 11, 2009 by Roger Darnell

In my humble opinion, iParticipate.org has been doing an outstanding job of promoting its very important mission and inciting us all to consider volunteering to support members of the military who have done so much for us all through their military commitments. The above public service announcement (PSA) was released back in September, and I wanted to share it, and also include its transcript.

Brought to you by deep love and appreciation for local libraries

April 3, 2024November 6, 2009 by Roger Darnell

Growing up in Illinois, Tennessee, and Florida, I am extremely indebted to many local libraries and librarians who helped encourage me to learn and grow as an individual. This week’s posting is short and sweet, inviting you to visit the American Library Association’s great ilovelibraries.org site where you can learn a lot about local libraries … Read moreBrought to you by deep love and appreciation for local libraries

Heroes of heroes: Damion Clayton

April 3, 2024October 22, 2009 by Roger Darnell

My formal studies into the amazing artform of the music video began in 1981, when MTV first appeared. I was 15. Soon, I’d watched so many that I was dreaming them… and since then, hearing great music has always triggered MTV-inspired cinematic visions. Today, my studies continue, and I consider myself very lucky to have crossed paths with many masters in this field, each of whom is a hero to a director who has made something I’ve seen on television and loved, for one reason or another. Damion Clayton, editor at Rock Paper Scissors, is one of those heroes.

Proven social media marketing strategies, tactics and breakthrough ideas for the ad and film industries

April 3, 2024October 1, 2009 by Roger Darnell

This week I had the pleasure of attending a webinar entitled, “Tweet this! Using Twitter and Social Media to Promote your Project and Yourself,” which was organized and moderated for StudioDaily.com by Film & Video Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Bryant Frazer, and featured Mike Monello, co-founder and executive creative director at Campfire Media and co-producer of “The Blair Witch Project,” Erik Proulx, freelance creative director, copywriter, employment activist, social entrepreneur at Please Feed the Animals, and director of the short documentary film, “Lemonade,” Ian Schafer, CEO of Deep Focus, and Paul Klinke and Tobin Nageotte, co-founders of thirtysevenclick, and producers of the independent comedic short “Moustachette.”

We Are Plus relaunches, drives positive brand movement worldwide

April 3, 2024September 24, 2009 by Roger Darnell

Since first launching Plus et Plus in New York City in 2002, company founder Jeremy Hollister, co-creative director Judy Wellfare and their colleagues have built a reputation as a go-to company for fashion brands seeking to create sexy, marketing-savvy visual content for high-profile promotional uses ranging from live and in-store events to online, offline and traditional broadcast marketing campaigns. Recently relaunched as We Are Plus, over the past several months the company has delivered innovative projects for AMC, Shu Uemura Cosmetics, and Kidrobot, among many others.

Editors from “Stand Up to Cancer” broadcast earn Creative Arts Primetime Emmy

April 3, 2024September 17, 2009 by Roger Darnell

Last September, “Stand Up to Cancer” (https://standuptocancer.org) was broadcast live and commercial-free simultaneously on ABC, CBS and NBC, and was seen in over 170 countries. During the broadcast, which was produced by Laura Ziskin Productions and Seligman Entertainment, and hosted by Halle Berry, Jessica Alba, Sheryl Crow, Charles Barkley and Melissa Etheridge, the event raised more than $100 million in an unprecedented effort to end cancer’s reign as a leading cause of death. Meanwhile, last Sat., Sept. 12, 2009,

Kevin McMahon: Thanks for the Documentary

April 3, 2024September 9, 2009 by Roger Darnell

At some point over the past several weeks, my eyes were opened to the global water crisis, but I see now that I’m only beginning to get the full picture. Last week, I posted an entry on Irena Salina’s “FLOW,” and last night, my wife and I had another chance to see that amazing film thanks to it being repeated on the Sundance Channel. This morning, we found it there again and watched more of it with our 8-year-old daughter. After these viewings, I realized that there was a second powerful film I had recently seen (thanks again to Sundance Channel) on this subject: filmmaker Kevin McMahon’s “WATERLIFE.”

Irena Salina: Thanks for the Documentary

April 3, 2024September 4, 2009 by Roger Darnell

Filmmaker Irena Salina has created an amazingly powerful documentary film entitled “FLOW: For the Love of Water,” which debuted at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and has since won the International Jury Prize at the Mumbai International Film Festival, as well as Best Documentary honors at both the Vail International Film Festival and the United Nations Association Film Festival. Within the past several weeks, I saw the film on the Sundance Channel, and I want to encourage as many people as possible to see it. If interested, you can order the film on DVD by visiting this link.