issue 101 | 9.2.19

Hello! Today marks the last day of summer. It’s blue skies and sunshine here in Laguna Beach. I’m going to miss this place. This is my last week home in LA/OC before moving back to NYC. More on that next week. I’m about to head to the beach to go surf, swim, and play. Speaking of, this week…

issue 70 | 1.28.19

Hello! I spent the weekend on Waiheke Island for a wedding, by far one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited. A couple of lengthy thoughts about topics in tech and media — this is a follow up to my 2019 predictions. 1) I don’t know when the OTT craze will end (anotha one!), but I’ve…

issue 40 | 6.18.18

Hello! Two things top of mind. 1) I wish there was a successful scripted show currently on-air that manufactures real talent and celebrity. I like the meta-ness of The Monkees, Seinfeld, and Flight of the Conchords where the main acts can perform in real life on tour. This idea has been…

issue 67 | 12.24.18

Hello! Or should I say, how’s it? I just touched down in Durban (Ballito to be more exact — climate is like Hawaii). I literally just saw wild monkeys and freaked out. S’cute. Any who, I like to think that I was in-the-mix for a VC gig at BoxGroup (Tisch $) last month. I was very into the opp…

issue 59 | 10.29.18

Hello! So it’s been a minute since I’ve gone a salty rant, and I feel the need to vent. Plus, I always get emails afterward so it makes this newsletter a bit more fun and conversational for me. Okay, I’m frustrated with people who shower others with praise for coming up with “new” content…

issue 114 | 12.2.19

Hello! I read too many words without action, and sometimes, I write them too. Hoover said these are the assassins of idealism. Guilty as charged. These grandiose proclamations, predictions, ideals, miscalls — whatever you want to call them — grind my gears as they’re often not put to the test…

issue 55 | 10.1.18

Hello! I had an adventurous weekend out east with friends — the key to enjoying NYC is to get out of it every so often. I met a couple of brilliant designers and architects one evening, and we talked about how all sorts art-forms can be integrated into commercial and residential real estate…

issue 113 | 11.25.19

Hello! Woah, to be compensated for something you put work into is truly gratifying. Not that I haven’t before, but this time, it’s different. I got my first money sub. It’s a total stranger, and frankly, I don’t know where you came from as I don’t really market this thing. Thank you — you…

issue 89 | 6.10.19

Hello! I settled on a name for what I’m calling my newco and went to lock down the domain and socials. I didn’t get the exact one I desired, but snatched up everything around it. After my experience, I figured this has to be one of the earliest headaches for young companies. So I asked around…

issue 26 | 3.12.18

Hello! A friend asked me last week what I would do if I were to start a ‘temee’ company in the era of Disney and Netflix domination. This really stuck with me. My gut reaction was to go with my creative instincts, so I declared that I’d produce several story universes, but I backtracked on that…

issue 102 | 9.9.19

Hello! Today marks my last day in CA. It’s time to go back to the fight pit: NYC. It’s been a productive summer at home in Laguna, which allowed me to charge to LA for my bi-weekly strike missions. A special shoutout to all my friends that let me live on their couches and off their expense…

issue 68 | 1.14.19

Hello! I’ve been in South Africa for a month and I must say that this experience has been immensely enriching, inspiring, and invigorating. I feel liberated with a newfound sense of self-ownership. I’m very happy. Optimistic. Okay, let’s kick things off with some trends that I think we’ll see…

issue 45 | 7.23.18

Hello from Mexico! I’m here on a surf trip for my dad’s 56th bday — the guy is a weapon. Seriously. He’s smart, fit, attractive, and best of all, perpetually happy. These virtues can’t be bought. I admire him greatly. I’m with him, my younger brother, and a great childhood friend. We’re staying…

issue 85 | 5.13.19

Hello! I generally find tech and vc Twitter distasteful*. It’s a very self congratulatory bunch, yet I’m addicted to the pandering of these execs and investors who tend to sound off more as armchair critics and wannabe philosophers than anything else. But lo and behold, I jumped into the mix on…

issue 99 | 8.19.19

Hello! If we spoke this summer, you’ve probably heard me talk about game design systems for content. This is what I’m calling my broad thesis around interactive media, which I’ve redubbed to make it sound more flowery and sophisticated, and to encompass the range of applications that this…

issue 104 | 9.23.19

Hello! Last week of this road trip and I’m writing from the beautiful north coast of Michigan. Reflecting on my summer in LA, and I’d say that backend buyouts by streamers were near top of the list of discussion, paired with agency owned or affiliated financiers / studios and the writer’s…

issue 100 | 8.26.19

Hello! Oh wow, this is the 100th issue. Pretty cool. That marks roughly two years of blasting this out every week. I was hoping to have a fresh redesign for this anniversary, but I haven’t gotten to it yet. Oh well, that’s on me. Moving on. Last week I wrote about game design systems and I…

issue 18 | 1.15.18

Happy MLK day everyone! Keeping the note somewhat light today and jotting down technologies and ideas that I’m excited for in 2018. Over the next few months I’ll be writing more in-depth pieces on how I envision these topics growing in the current temee landscape. Lidar assets get incorporated…

issue 28 | 3.26.18

Hello! Ever since Drake played Fortnight with Ninja, I’ve been thinking a lot more about esports. I’m not an avid gamer, but I could take your money in a game of OG Super Mario Kart. I dabble with FPSs from time-to-time and appreciate the mission-oriented stories in free-roam RPGs. (I use…

issue 108 | 10.21.19

Hello! Here’s the stitch up. I’ve been hinting at a newsletter facelift for quite some time and things are moving. The “update” should take effect in three weeks on 11/11 — Issue 111. Cute. Why? NYC is expensive and this isn’t putting food on the table. It also takes me 20 mins to do each…

issue 111 | 11.11.19

Hello! How do you like the facelift? Feel free to reply direct. Still hammering out the kinks — Apple might have hyperlinked that to the band — strange.

I’m having issues with Stripe. Sooo many emails and calls with their customer service, and with third-parties…

issue 84 | 5.6.19

Hello! It’s 2019, let’s pivot to audio. Hollywood is actively figuring out the key deal points for podcasts — it’s come up in every conversation the last two weeks. There are no precedents, so just have fun with it. Aim to retain your derivative rights because that’s usually the end goal. Flip it…

issue 112 | 11.18.19

Hello! So this migration from Mailchimp to Medium + Substack is going to be an iterative process. I was familiarizing myself with the bells and whistles of this site and realized last issue was made public, and this one’ll be too. I wanted to give you advance warning in one fell swoop that…

issue 20 | 1.29.18

I’m back in NYC and got some much needed r&r this weekend. This Sundance will be known as the one where Dan Friedkin opened up his checkbook by virtue of 30West and Neon. A slightly obvious observation is that most “indie” studios are now keeping their pipes filled by developing and producing…

issue 88 | 6.3.19

Hello! Keeping it light this week — here’s some industry gossip. Host-read ads for digital content (pods, YT vids) are gaining popularity. This concept does goes back to the dawn of radio and tv. Imagine’s Impact, a writing accelerator / independent fellowship, is supposedly raising outside…

issue 98 | 8.12.19

Hello! Keeping it light this week, again. I’m in Mexico soaking up the sun. I’ve been thinking a lot about new engagement metrics for media (hint: interactive). Stay tuned. Crystalizing my thoughts over ceviche and cerveza. Thank you all for reading — it really does mean a lot to me. And if we…

issue 49 | 8.20.18

Hello! Let’s quickly talk about billboards. There’s been a flurry of out-of-home (“OOH”) advertising deals over the past few years, most notably with Netflix buying LA-based Regency Outdoor for $300m, and my basic belief is that the reasoning for this activity is rooted in presence. Digital…

issue 90 | 6.17.19

Hello! I’ve been thinking a lot about sapience and sentience, nature versus nurture, and generally, the human condition. Psychology. I’m inspired by movies like Chappie, Transcendence, Ex Machina, The Matrix (my fave), and most recently, the Black Mirror* episode with Miley. I’m thinking of the…

issue 78 | 3.25.19

Hello! Or should I say, konichiwa. I’m in Tokyo gearing up for Sakura season — cherry blossoms! It’s nice being back in a big city. If you feel inclined, please reply with any must-dos. Loving it here. Okay, top line return on marketing investments (ROMI) is on my mind given a few things I’ve…

issue 91 | 6.24.19

Hello! I really enjoy hanging with friends while queuing up music videos on the telly. It provides for a fun, conversational atmosphere. Vibey. I think music videos, surf/skate films, and commercials (to an extent) are great discovery tools for creatives, while many of my pretentious film/tv…

issue 9 | 11.6.17

By popular demand, I’m going to open each newsletter with a quick note on what I’m thinking about in relation to the industry. Let’s begin: Netflix’s obsession with branding their original commissioned, and licensed, titles really grinds my gears. Seriously, why do they feel the need to watermark…

issue 95 | 7.22.19

Hello! As mentioned last week, these next few preambles will be relatively short and personal as I’m working on some time intensive assignments. Here’s what has been kicking around the old noodle. 1) Account and password management. Last week Google pinged me saying an IP address in Russia was…

issue 82 | 4.22.19

Hello! I just wrapped a trip of a lifetime. It’s going to be a major source of inspiration for me for years to come. So many wonderful memories. Post-vacation blues are settling in. To state the obvious, it’s important to experience different cultures. To get out of your bubble — the comfort…

issue 105 | 9.30.19

Hello! I’m back from early retirement. It’s a relief knowing I’ll be in one place (NYC) for at least the next year. Feel free to hit me up if you’re here and want to grab a coffee or something. Stacking up the calendar now. Okay. This is abstract, but I’ve been dwelling too much on reputation…

issue 64 | 12.3.18

Hello! So I have a problem. I’m pretty bad at self-promotion and cross-pollination, especially when it comes to this newsletter and its preamble, and it’s not like I’m too humble to market it. I have no shame. There’s just a tasteful way of going about it. The thing is, I know it and know what…

issue 24 | 2.26.18

Hello. Our democracy is under siege. Media manipulation is one of the biggest problems in today’s world, and social networks are at fault. They’ve become agents of propaganda, weaponized by those opposed to certain political ideologies. There are nation-states that wish to divide democratic…

issue 48 | 8.13.18

Hello! I had another successful weekend getting away from NYC. I was on a retreat upstate at the Garrison Institute with the great folks of New Inc. Everyone in attendance was some sort of artist, entrepreneur, hacker, professor, curator, scientist, or business person… and the conversations…

issue 62 | 11.19.18

Hello! I’m writing from the road, where I’ll be the next six months. I’m in CA now, then I go to South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, SE Asia, and Japan. I plan on spending about a month in each place. I’m beyond stoked. I left my job at Cinetic (on very good terms) to travel the world and…

issue 92 | 7.1.19

Hello! First off, I’ve been thinking a lot about categorizing, or indexing, much of the content on the web in a socially networked fashion. I want to be able to subscribe to people’s media diets, their Pocket. That’s pretty much what I do with this thing. I miss the days when I could explore…

issue 47 | 8.6.18

Hello! It should come as no surprise that I love the great outdoors. The last few weekends I’ve spent either surfing in Mexico or adventuring in upstate New York. These experiences seriously improve my psyche and morale — they make me a much happier individual. I realize that being able to escape…

issue 109 | 10.28.19

Hello! A warm welcome to the new faces. Redesign coming in two weeks. Any and all feedback appreciated. Yes, I’ll increase the size of the font. There are a lot of links today so I’ll keep this one short. Some people have asked me about the “debate” around Marvel movie vs cinema. I simply…

issue 54 | 9.24.18

Hello! First off, I just need to say that I had a very inspiring weekend. I went to an MC Escher exhibit (think, Inception) and the Space and Science Festival on the Intrepid. I also watched The Terminator (the OG) and October Sky. So, my brain was buzzing with ideas. On the Intrepid, I was…

issue 73 | 2.18.19

Hello! I’ve been thinking about tangible media and the interplay of the online and offline worlds. Convergence culture. Last week I was fortunate to get a private tour of Weta Workshop, the special effects and prop company that has seemingly worked on every sci-fi blockbuster since Lord of the…

issue 19 | 1.22.18

Hello from Sundance! I’m working out of the Cinetic lodge today as I’ve fallen quite ill. It seriously blows. I wanted to write a lengthier post about blockchain/crypto for this week’s letter, but time has escaped me with film festival mania. On the bright side, only one person has brought up…

issue 51 | 9.3.18

Hello! Hope all of you based in America are enjoying the day off. Three things. 1) We’re entering film festival season. Venice and Telluride are happening now, and Toronto is next week. Movie reviews from the trades have been flooding my dummy email account. I wish they were all more succinct. I…

issue 10 | 11.13.17

Content creation from legacy media formats to new ones has been, and remains to be, a devolutionary act. The idea of a filmmaker or a showrunner embracing and iterating upon modern, shorter forms of content has yet to take in the market. I’m unsure why that is, but think it’s due to the notion…

issue 56 | 10.8.18

Hello! Late last year, I tweeted “autonomous vehicles are going to be miniature planetariums.” With that prediction, I’ve been observing what people do on their commutes when I take the subway, which isn’t that often because I bike everywhere. The subway isn’t the optimal location to conduct…

issue 103 | 9.17.19

Hello! A day late and a dollar short in hitting send here. I’m in Yellowstone. It’s stunning. Wifi and cell service at our national parks is pretty much non-existent, which is good all things considered. Two quick observations. There are cases of small business owners tipping gamers and other…

issue 44 | 7.16.18

Hello! A couple of things top of mind. 1) The World Cup final. What a game. Croatia lost due to their timidness and few, dire mistakes. The French won because they’re so fast, and masters at quickly converting. I can’t wait to watch Mbappe mature. Hard to believe he’s just a teenager…

issue 32 | 4.23.18

Hello! Well the results from last week’s Sunday issue were pitiful, so we’re back to the Monday email. A couple of you wrote saying you enjoyed my love of SNL — thanks for that. Tribeca Film Festival is upon us so I’m going to keep this short. I haven’t seen any films (outside of the ones we’re…

issue 107 | 10.14.19

Hello! This one’s pretty light and personal today. If we’ve talked the last couple of months, then you might know this, but I figured I’d start spreading the word a bit more. I’m keeping myself busy with an array of projects and engagements that span stories and startups (interactive media)…

issue 86 | 5.20.19

Hello! I’ve been back for exactly one month, and I finally feel like I have some semblance of a routine again. I’ve taken a hard look at how I budget my time as I’m now personally accountable for my productivity — one throat to choke. I need to find an app that helps me stay on track. Many…

issue 37 | 5.29.18

Hello! No column this week because I was enjoying the long weekend surfing, biking, and eating with my family at home in Laguna. I’m in LA this week for work. My schedule is stacked, but holler at me if we haven’t met and you want to try to get together. See you next week.

issue 22 | 2.12.18

Hello! Last week I got some flak for writing about my disdain for most commercials and that industry at large, so this one I want to present some solutions to help agencies deconstruct the brand narrative to tell a decent story. In its simplest form, stories can be boiled down to two things…

issue 13 | 12.4.17

How do you predict success for the seed of an idea? This is probably my favorite topic of debate with my film and startup friends. I believe we rely on intuition (taste) and historical data to invest time and/or money into founders/filmmakers, but what’s the basis of the decision? What’s art…

issue 66 | 12.17.18

Hello! South Africa is magical. I love it here. Alright, social media. Consistency is key when it comes to posts. Too much is overkill. Too little — are you even alive? A feed acts as a television network and it’s programmed by individuals, content hubs. The way people interact with social…

issue 21 | 2.5.18

Hello! Super Bowl activities interfered with my Sunday writing time for temee.co, so let’s talk about that. To me, the Super Bowl is this once a year phenomena where people actually care about commercials. Incredible. How systemically broken is an industry where people want to seek out your…

issue 110 | 11.4.19

Hello! A few observations. 1) The racket of digital video metrics: Media companies, particularly sports-focused ones, will front-load their video on social with an interesting clip to juice their “view” count. Smart. Something tangential has been happening on YouTube for a few years now, where…

issue 87 | 5.28.19

Hello! Jumping right into it. I think the dawn of the studio-owned SVOD age is going to kill most of Hollywood’s ancillary revenue lines, and will severely hurt the theatrical business (exception: spectacle films). My one party trick is knowing where studios have their pay-tv outputs so I can…

issue 106 | 10.7.19

Hello! I watched Joker on Friday. It’s certainly a film that necessitates a productive conversation afterward, and if a piece of art does that — it’s a winner in my eyes. People tend to be surprised by this, but I never read critic reviews before watching a movie. I don’t care to be influenced…

issue 58 | 10.22.18

Hello! Okay, bear with me here while my sci-fi imagination gets the best of me, but I’ve been thinking a lot about civilization, colonization, and modern urbanization, in totally new territories. (Because I like the undefined and unexplored.) Space seems to be on everyone’s mind when asked…

issue 31 | 4.15.18

Hello! I’m trying something new today — testing how this performs on a lazy Sunday afternoon instead of scheduling it for Monday around LA lunch. Hopefully it gains a bit more traction, and if not, we’re back to normal programmed hours. (I’m always open to feedback, so feel free to reply to…

issue 71 | 2.4.19

Hello! I’m in the South Island of New Zealand and in a constant state of overwhelm — this place is too beautiful. Jurassic. I’m happy I’m doing this now rather than when I have gray hair. Most of the people I’m meeting on the road are honeymooners or retirees. I feel very lucky. Ok, the Gimlet +…

issue 72 | 2.11.19

Hello! The South Island was unreal — we just arrived in Wellington. It’s like Williamsburg, but on the beautiful ocean (not the toxic East River). So, I love it. In Queenstown, I was enjoying good conversation and better company at a wine bar when the owner rushed to the door to deny service to…

issue 81 | 4.15.19

Hello! I’m in Bali. This is the last leg of my journey. A vacation from the vacation. Bittersweet. I’m returning stateside later this week, and will be based in and around LA/SF for the summer. Big things planned. Keeping this preamble short to savor my last few moments in paradise. As always…

issue 63 | 11.26.18

Hello from early retirement. I quickly want to say thank you, to each and every one of you, for being a subscriber. All the congratulatory emails last week made me feel special, and better yet were the people who wanted to jump on a call to put our brains together on some projects. That was…

issue 36 | 5.21.18

Hello! I’ve been thinking about the allocation (and hopeful expansion) of our leisure time, household entertainment budgets, and the basic reasons for cord-cutting. I haven’t come up with anything ground breaking, but think that bespoke utility plans are more attractive than bundled telco…

issue 29 | 4.2.18

Hello! So, I’ve been thinking a lot about city planning, and I’m no urbanist. Ever since I visited Florence last November I’ve taken a real interest in the mapping of local environments to improve society. To propagate, I think we’re going to enter into an architectural renaissance to accommodate…

issue 16 | 12.25.17

Merry Christmas from New Zealand! This place is as mystical as I could’ve imagined. If you ever have the chance to visit, take it. Okay, so with 30+ hours of travel time to get here, complemented by no phone/laptop use (courtesy of the airline), I spent too much time devouring movies. Loads of…

issue 75 | 3.4.19

Hello! Or should I say, g’day. I’m in Australia for the month, road tripping up the east coast from Melbs to the Goldie. I welcome any hot tips of must-dos along the way — you can reply direct to this email. The kids here prefer to skate and bike rather than scooter, which I appreciate. Not a fan…

issue 50 | 8.27.18

Hello! Keeping this super light-touch and stream of consciousness because it’s the last official week of summer and most people are checked out. I saw 2001: A Space Odyssey in IMAX 70mm on Friday night. It was cosmically biblical. Kubrick is my favorite director of all time. Christopher Nolan…

issue 17 | 1.7.18

What’s up 2018?! I didn’t send out the newsletter last Monday as there were about five headlines to report, and, well, it was Near Years morning. It’s my last day OOO — I’m currently in Kauai scrubbing lime into my reef cuts from a good wipeout (I surf), and hoping that my flight delays aren’t…

issue 83 | 4.29.19

Hello! It’s good to be back. I’m busier than ever, hence the late delivery. Sorry. Let’s briefly talk about what’s popular in media. No, not Avenger’s Endgame. It did okay this weekend*. Not GoT. I guess some people watched that too**. I’m thinking about the world’s most valuable media network…

issue 14 | 12.11.17

Hello from NYC where we had our first snow on Saturday! The weather, the pine-tree lined bodegas, and Google’s cutesy holiday search banner lead me to a random unimportant observation: the love for producing new holiday films seems to have dwindled, but the tech companies are taking their…

issue 57 | 10.15.18

Hello! Last week my parents were in town for my bday. I was over the moon to be living in the moment with them. Great times were had all around. One thing I’ve been thinking about is how all content investments are classified at-source, from Apple ordering TV shows, to the Dunkirk 360…

issue 93 | 7.8.19

Hello! We’re so lucky to have experienced this transition, this epoch, that marks the last 20 years in media. The advent and adoption of the web acted as the catalyst that changed everything. The paradigm has surely been subverted, but it mirrors history. There’s a semblance of cyclicality to it…

issue 94 | 7.15.19

Hello! Plenty of announcements I found relevant last week, so it’s a longer one. The next couple of preambles are going to be shorter than usual as I have a few projects that need more of my undivided attention, so I might focus on a couple of slight observations coupled with maybe a swirling…

issue 80 | 4.8.19

Hello! I’m currently in Osaka. This city is wild with juxtapositions. Tranquil temples then street market mayhem. Sensory overload at both ends of the spectrum. I’ve had a couple of conversations now using Google Translate and emojis. It’s like Pictionary with real-life consequences. Good fun…

issue 25 | 3.5.18

Hello! Keeping it light today as the Oscars ate up my writing time last night. I’m elated that Jordan Peele won for best original screenplay. In my mind, that’s the most prestigious prize of the night because story is everything. Fun fact, Jordan pitched Get Out as a black man’s nightmare, and it…

issue 30 | 4.9.18

Hello! I finally feel it. There’s a shift in professional attitude (in Hollywood) around digital. I define digital as vloggers, podcasters, livestreamers, VR/AR creators, and pro-gamers. This word has been frowned upon since its emergence in the industry, and the people who work in digital might…

issue 41 | 6.25.18

First and foremost. There is a humanitarian crisis at the Mexican-American border. Please take action by either donating your time, voice, and/or money to the cause. I said it in issue 24, and I will say it again. I’m with the kids. I’m so fed up with this administration. To those fighting the…

issue 60 | 11.5.18

Hello! This is a bit premature because my thoughts aren’t fully-formed, but I’ve been thinking about the different use cases, workflows, supply chains, and business models for 3D assets and graphics. My first angle of attack is to begin with 3D’s media and entertainment applications because…

issue 77 | 3.18.19

Hello! First, let me say that koalas are the cutest things ever. They’re just as you imagine. Adorable. Okay, so I had to delete the beginning of this week’s preamble because it was a tirade against certain influencers. But we must realize that posting daily content that leads to a real…

issue 35 | 5.14.18

Hello! Keeping this short and sweet today. I just want to give a quick shoutout to my mom. She’s been my day one sub (literally). Love ya Mom. Remember friends, everyday is Mother’s Day. Ciao!

Tech

issue 61 | 11.12.18

Hello! Next week I have very exciting news to share. I had a jam packed weekend, which sadly left me no time to write a lengthy preamble. In the meantime, here are a few silly Shark Tank ideas that could be fun to research: sleek collapsible helmets that could fit into your pocket to serve the…

issue 97 | 8.5.19

Hello! Lots of links today, so keeping the preamble light. Here are a couple zany conversation starters I got last week. 1) In the event full-automation hits the workforce (like Wall E), where would you park your money? Me: travel transportation, hospitality leisure, and media. Thanks to good ol’…

issue 65 | 12.10.18

Hello from South Africa! It is beautiful here, quite similar to CA actually. I’ve been in transit the last ~36 hours and to say my brain’s fried would be a bit of an understatement. To keep it real with you all, this newsletter might slightly thin out over the coming months compared to the…

issue 69 | 1.21.19

Hello! Happy MLK day to those stateside. Keeping this one short because I just touched down in New Zealand and am a bit brain dead due to the long flight. Let me know if you have any must-dos for me here. One quick story, I met an engineer in South Africa and asked him where he watched film/tv…