The Responsibility of an Artist

Artists have a unique responsibility in society as they have the ability to inspire, challenge, and shape cultural norms through their work.

One responsibility of an artist is to create work that is true to their own vision and perspective. This means being true to oneself and not succumbing to external pressures to conform or create work that is popular or profitable, but not authentic.

Another responsibility of an artist is to push boundaries and challenge societal norms through their work. This can include tackling difficult and controversial subject matter and pushing the boundaries of traditional art forms and mediums.

Artists also have a responsibility to use their platform and influence to raise awareness about important social and political issues. They can use their art as a form of activism and raise awareness about issues such as poverty, inequality, and social justice.

Additionally, artists have a responsibility to give back to their communities and to support other artists. This can include mentoring young artists, participating in community art projects, and supporting small independent galleries and art spaces.

In summary, artists have a unique responsibility to be true to their own vision, to challenge societal norms, and to use their platform to raise awareness about important issues to give back to their communities and support other artists.  

Listen to Charles Andrew Payne talk about the responsibility of an artist and more!

LINK:  https://youtu.be/78G63QhJ_mA

History of Filmmaking

Filmmaking is the process of creating motion pictures, which involves capturing moving images on film or digitally. The art of filmmaking has evolved significantly since its inception, and today it is a multi-billion dollar industry that encompasses a wide range of genres and formats.

The history of filmmaking can be traced back to the late 19th century when the first motion pictures were created using a series of still photographs. The earliest motion pictures were created using a device called the "zoetrope," which used a series of still images placed around a spinning cylinder to create the illusion of movement.

In 1895, the first true motion picture was created by the Lumiere brothers in France. Their film, called "Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat Station," was a simple 50-second long film that depicted a train arriving at a railway station. This film was shown in public for the first time at the Grand Cafe in Paris, and it was an instant sensation.

The early years of filmmaking were marked by a number of technological innovations that helped to shape the industry. In the early 1900s, motion pictures were shot on film using hand-cranked cameras, and they were shown in nickelodeons, which were small, storefront movie theaters.

As the motion picture industry grew in the 1920s, Hollywood emerged as the center of the film world. Hollywood studios, such as Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros., began producing a wide range of films, including comedies, dramas, and action films.

In the 1930s and 1940s, the introduction of sound to motion pictures revolutionized the industry. With the advent of "talkies," filmmakers were able to tell more complex and nuanced stories, and the use of sound in films became an integral part of the filmmaking process.

Over the years, the art of filmmaking has continued to evolve. The introduction of color film in the 1950s and the development of special effects in the 1960s and 1970s opened up new possibilities for filmmakers. In the 1980s and 1990s, the emergence of digital technology transformed the way films were made and distributed.

Today, the film industry is a global enterprise, with films being made in countries all around the world. Filmmaking has come a long way since its humble beginnings in the late 19th century, and it continues to be a constantly evolving art form. 

Business Drowning? This episode is the life preserver to save it!

 We've become so accustomed to seeing business gurus shouting how you can be as great as they are if you just behave how they do.  Nothing wrong with it. It's a style but it's so refreshing to listen to a road-tested professional with tremendous statistics discuss workable strategies to improve your business without yelling, YOU GOTTA GRIND BITCH!!!, once.  Well, we got that and then some when Rafferty Pendery visited the Counterparts Show Tuesday, September 6th 2022.  www.counterpartsshow.com  

The following is borrowed from his websites.  https://www.raffertypendery.com/  https://www.studio98.com/

"He started his first company at the age of 11 and has not lost his love of business since.

Rafferty has worked on projects with NASA and the Canadian Space Agency and co-authored research papers on using online technology to create public awareness and participation in analog research projects. This has earned him a spot as one of the youngest members of the prestigious Explorers Club.

He founded an online marketing firm 10 years ago which has serviced a wide range of businesses ranging from small and mid-sized companies to Fortune 500’s. Through acquisitions and the creation of new ventures, he now owns a group of 6 companies with staff and clients all over the world.

His companies have done work for brands such as Time Warner, Ashley Furniture, Super Shuttle, Red Bull, Hilton, Humana, Double Tree, Mizuno, HP, and many more.

He is an international speaker who has helped thousands of businesses around the world with organization, expansion strategies, social media, and online PR and marketing."

As you can see, he's a powerhouse in building strategies to help any business worldwide.  In the next few days, we'll be sharing some golden nuggets he gave us that I know will help anyone who wants to improve their reach in their current business or just maybe start that business you've been dreaming about for years.  There is really no better time to start a business than today!

Thank you to everyone that watched the episode!  Watch the show LIVE every Tuesday at 7pm Central 8PM EST where we Spotlight Conversation with Creative Minds.  Visit www.counterpartsshow.com  

Born and Raised in The Bronx! Counterparts Show

 Yo!!!  You from Da Bronx!!??  Nice!  Welcome!  Our first episode on The Bronx from our show Counterparts was a ton of fun but we felt we barely scratched the surface.  What did you expect, we had a lifetime of memories and experiences to cover.  We will be doing a part 2 for sure.  

In the episode, we covered the building I grew up in called Chester Hall.  The address was 1058 Southern Blvd.  A beautiful pre-war building that was considered luxury living back in the 30s.  During my time living there, it was a well-kept and clean build.  Unfortunately, the years and the landlords were not kind to it and it fell under deep dispare. I am happy to report, that Chester Hall is getting a facelift and hopefully full renovation.  One of my bucket list items is to visit the building and enter the apartments I lived in.  410, 304, and 503.  

Maybe take some pictures and pay honor to the space where my creative energy was developed.  In part 2 of our Bronx series, we will cover more of the history of the boro and talk about how my grandparents kept me out of trouble.  Maybe I'll tell the story a few breakdancing stories.  Stay tuned!  

The company that built 1058 Southern Blvd or Chester Hall as I remember calling it, was called A-Re-Co (American Real Estate Company) and the neighborhood had quite a few of these buildings that were all built between 1908 - 1912. Apparently, A-Re-Co bought the last farmland. The neighborhood was known as Areco for decades. These were all built about the exact time the subway lines reached Hunts Point.

I like sharing this picture cause it was taken during the time when I was living in that building behind the train. 1058 Southern Blvd in The South Bronx!! If you lived around here during the 80s let me know! (right)


To contact us or see some of our shows, Visit our page: www.counterpartsshow.com

Hang Tight Earthlings! It will be Glorious!

 When you're afraid that someone will ruin your plans of deceiving a civilization, you must shut them down at all costs. And if they don't go away, then you must scream, threaten, cheat, and lie to make sure they can never again participate in preventing their destructive plans and their criminal activities. Especially their money flows.

But these poor souls don't realize that the criminal wants to get caught and will continue to make mistakes and say stupid things in that direction. They can't help to get tongue-tied or let a little truth slip out when they're speaking. We laugh at it but it's really a sad thing to witness. Someone who can't confront those they are lying to will stumble as so much video footage has proven. Of course, these criminals control how this info gets distributed to millions, so it gets manipulated. Many are still under a veil of lies, but many more, and I mean MANY MORE, have removed this veil to take a closer look and now know that something is wrong. It doesn't take long to see something isn't right. For me, the viewpoint shift happened in 2018 and it took about 2 days of reading and listening to someone and then seeing things for myself. Seeing it was huge and in just 2 days, I realized I had been duped for most of my life. I can only pray and hope that more people will take the time to lift that veil slightly and see what's there. Just give it chance to see the information.

The next 18 months will be glorious but very scary to many who haven't lifted the veil and those that don't even believe there is a veil will become very dangerous and destructive people. Stay away from them and protect your family and friends. God bless you all. JHS

www.counterpartsshow.com 

   

 April 29th 2020 and December 8th 2021. What a difference studying and spending all those hours on webinars and workshops trying to figure this out. Sometimes having to clear almost every word in an article just to know what the hell they're talking about. Trying to explain to friends and family why I was doing this and sometimes I was trying to explain it to myself. But here we are and I'm truly grateful.

Thank you to anyone that watched the early shows where I had a weak signal, choppy audio and all you saw was a blurry Puerto Rican with a goatee that changed colors!
The guests were always great and I know the value was there and it's the main reason I kept going. Now I've done hundreds of hours on interviews, Live streams, plus being a guest other hosts podcasts, and more. The future looks great and I thank you all for the support on this journey. we're just getting started. Love, JHS

Empathy is a Powerful Tool

Empathy is not sympathy. Giving someone sympathy devalues them and makes them feel worse. Empathy is understanding a person's situation and helping. In business, empathy is lacking and has been for a long time. It's destroying companies and alienating consumers and employees. Its time for a change and I feel a change coming. Whether you're into social media or not you must admit that it's forced some businesses into uncomfortable areas by making them have to be accountable for, not just the product they sell, but also their employees from the top to the bottom. It's a new day and I feel the change. I choose to try to stay ahead of the game and implement empathy as part of my strategy. Social media moves fast and all I can do is try to keep up. I'm behind many but more importantly, I realize I'm ahead of many as well and that's what's exciting. For me, this moment and 2019 will be a year to rediscover my purpose, nurture my family and move at a faster pace as an artist. It's going to be fun and I look forward to taking this journey with all of you. Thank you for reading and your support. ❤ JHS

Kick-Ass Successful Actions

The core of my upcoming book are these 10 actions for success that I wrote in 2013.  I was coming out of two of the roughest years of my life and I thought to myself, what are the basic components I use in my life that I've always followed that bring me happiness?  Then I tried to find out, what are the components of my life that when I violate them, my survival goes down and it brings me misery?   After asking myself these 2 questions, I started coming up different items which eventually ended up being this list.  I'm sure more can be added but these work just fine for me and I feel they cover every important aspect of life.  Of course, I'm not perfect.  I try to follow these!  I don't always succeed but having them has made a big difference in my life and has brought me comfort.  I would like to share them here with you now.

My 10 Successful Actions.

1. If you're unhappy with your current situation, change it. Something can be done about it.

2. Don't hate anyone for being successful even if the work isn't your cup of tea.

3. Surround yourself with people that will motivate and inspire you and always motivate and inspire others. Those that don't find value in what you're doing don't matter so don't pay any attention to them. They will go away eventually when they realize they can't win.

4. Don't be afraid to promote your work and do it often. If you believe in what you're doing, that will communicate to others. Remember, this is Show Business so showing your business is part of the game. Can you name that famous person that never promoted anything? Me neither.

5. If you're having problems or feel stuck, ask someone you trust for some
help or advice. But never ask someone to give you work because you have a
relationship with them. And always make yourself available to help
someone.

6. Take time every day to do some personal enhancement. It can be a new
course, read a book on your art or life, a seminar. Learn something new
every day.

7. Find a solid platform for life that works for you and that you're willing to die
for. It can be a religion, a faith, belief or a philosophy of life that gives you
tools to improve your conditions and help you reach your goals.

8. Be true and honest with your partner. Get them on your side and helping you
achieve your success. At the same time help reach their goals too. You
should never have to convince a partner or anyone to help you succeed.

9. Use your time wisely. We have 168 hours in one week. After we sleep, eat
and commute we are left with anywhere between 50 and 70 hours. With
that time you need to spend time with family and work on your goals. It's
plenty of time. If you're working more hours or you feel it's not enough
time, then please refer back to # 1 on this list.

10.Take care of yourself. Eat foods that will give you energy and take good
quality supplements if needed. You need to be able to control the body at
will and make it do things. Sometimes you might be tired and want to veg
out as some say but the only goal a vegetable has is to be cut up in a salad
then devoured. Don't be devoured! Move!

Chasing Butterflies with Someone Else's Net.

How many epiphanies can one man have before finally getting comfortable with not giving a shit about epiphanies?  Well, apparently a lot!  I for one have had more AH HA moments than I can count but it's always lead me to the next AH HA moment.  But I guess that's part of living a life of purpose and always having to readjust your big boy pants and keep moving.  Purpose!  I'm not really sure how someone goes through life without purpose but believe me, it happens.  I know this to be a fact because it seems to keep happening to me!  I'm not saying I don't have a purpose but I seem to get sidetracked by someone else's purpose and when I've finally had enough, I get the AH HA moment which has become quite famous in my home.  I run around the house yelling, "AH HA!!  I GOT IT!!" My wife just looks at me now and says, "You said that before and I always agree with you so why don't you just keep doing that!"

Well, last week I had another one!  Ok Ok!!  I'm sorry but this time it's different!  I swear!  This time I'm remembering it clearly and documenting it here in this blog so the world can read it and call me out on it next time I try to bring to fruition someone else's dreams.  Now don't get me wrong, I want to help others find their way but not at the expense of my happiness or the risk of losing opportunities.  Those lost opportunities are also people I could've helped and didn't because I was chasing butterflies with someone else's net.

This is my advice.  Wake up in the morning and think about the one thing you would want to do that day.  Now don't get cute and say sleep or coffee.  Really think about it and find out what's the one thing that you would love to do more than anything else.  When you find what it is, write it down on a piece of paper and stare at it.  Really look at it.  What will you feel?  Are you in pain by it or happy because it's what you're getting ready to spend your day doing?  It's at this moment when you will either make the biggest decision in your life or just put it aside and make excuses because you have bills to pay.  The hard fact is that most people won't even write it down.  The thought alone is painful enough.  All I can say is that you're heading towards a life of pain and struggle if you don't at least take a look at it.  You don't have to radically change your life (although it might be a good idea) but you can start making a plan to move towards your goal and passion.  Save the piece of paper and work on it.  Find people who do what you want to do and ask them for help.  You'd be surprised how many are willing to help.  I know I would be flattered if I were asked to help someone find a life living and working in their passion.  I hope the best for all of you.  JHS

Two IMPORTANT Items to apply on your Journey...

If you’re about to venture on an exciting trip, like the one I’m currently on, but you’re terrified, well, join the club! But also remember that it’s not you that’s afraid. It’s the idea that others will know you're afraid and might try to discourage you. This sometimes comes as a playful dig to you by someone that loves you but it still creates the same effect. It creates doubt which leads to fear. Just know that the fear is exterior to you as a spiritual being so that means it’s not part of you. Someone else created that fear and you accepted it as your own. It’s created somewhere else. If you eat some nasty fast food and get a stomach ache then that’s you because you allowed it to enter your body. You have control to NOT let fear enter your body or your mind in this case. Here are two simple tools that I follow every single day. The first thing that I apply is that I’m organized with my daily goals and I keep moving forward no matter what enters my space or like Dory sings in Finding Nemo, Just keep swimming Just keep swimming. If you’re moving forward at all times then someone who's trying to prevent you from succeeding will just have to either move over or you can run them over and they’ll become roadkill and then you can look in your rearview mirror and giggle. Yes, I intended that to be rather cruel and dramatic because it is and you shouldn’t put up with anyone trying to prevent your happiness. Family members and close friends tend to be the biggest culprits in this area. Look for it, stay organize and keep moving! The second thing I apply is to stay focus on your daily goals. You should have at least one item that you want to accomplish every single day towards a goal. That’s right. 7 days a week 365 days a year. It can be as simple as emailing someone with an idea or just studying a book, article or film for an hour. It’s not impossible to do and once you start you’ll be amazed at how much time you have to spend with your true friends and supportive family.  This is not always easy but necessary if you want to have the kind of life that YOU control. Your job as a living breathing spiritual being is to find solutions to problems and not make excuses. You will always have problems but how you confront them will judge how well you do in life. People who make excuses for a living never reach their full potential of ability or happiness and that is tragic. A person’s happiness can be measured by how far they can see into the future and then reach for it. Just standing idle staring at it will not get you there. So move!  Thank you for your time.  JHS
www.johnhenrysoto.com

The Admiration of it All...

To find happiness, you must admire living.  That means all of it.  The bad and the worst not to mention the so messed up that you want to kick kittens.  (Don't kick kittens)  It's so easy to walk around and love life when things are great.  Admiration of the struggle can feel just as good as loving everything because your lover is loving you lovely.  The present moment is where people fall behind.  They forget that life is based on a series of moments back to back to back and so on.  It never stops.  Not even after you're dead.  A dead corpse is decaying one moment to the next and who knows how long that process goes on a molecular level.  So the key is to always be in this moment and that moment that's about to arrive.  If you're walking into your office, then walk into it as if it's the first time.  Admire that moment.  This is not easy and most of you will roll your eyes when you read this but just admire that you read this, admire the moment and admire your sarcastic rolling eyes.  Because that moment existed whether you were aware of it or not. It happened.  And you know what, I admired the moment you rolled your eyes.  Thank you.  JHS
The photo is a mold of my hand holding my wife's hand.  
www.johnhenrysoto.com 

I'm Walking here!!! I'm F#$%ing walking here!!!

The moment when you have to explain to someone what you're working on and how it will lead to money is the single most depressing moment to me.  Not because I don't have a clear view of what I'm striving for but because the person asking, 9 out of 10 times are so blind to who I am and what I stand for that it's depressing.  Especially, family and close friends.  Well, here's the punchline.  It doesn't matter.  The bottom line is that if your work is so amazing, then it will speak for itself.  The only time you need to explain yourself is when you're not creating content that's clear enough or creating the impact and earning you a living.  But why explain anything anyway?  Fuck them!  Some will never get it!  It's all the person's viewpoint and the ability to perceive what's happening in the environment and not everyone has this ability.  One person's viewpoint might linger in an endless stream of not knowing and unfortunately, there's no saving them but the other guy might fully duplicate and perceive the intention simply by walking into your space.  No words needed.  It's not even fair to go into an explanation for some because they might hurt their cerebrum and who knows what kind of damage you can do. 

But, this journey is confusing for those that are not on it and that's totally fine.  Keep trucking and if someone asks you to explain why you're doing this or what are you doing, just yell, "I'm Walking Here!!  I'm F#$%ing Walking Here!!"  then just walk away.  It will make a great story for them and you'll save valuable time to use to grow your business. JHS 

www.johnhenrysoto.com