Interview With Writer/Director PATRICK PIERRE

Filmmaker Name: Patrick Pierre
Upcoming Film: Visions of Yvette
Film Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/pages/Visions-of-Yvette/130476360330657 
Contact Information: pierrefilmsllc@gmail.com

Today, Anwar's Reflections sat down with writer and director Patrick Pierre at the Hummingbird Restaurant in Trenton, New Jersey. He has a new film coming out in June called Visions Of Yvette. In the interview, Pierre discusses his passion for film making. His new film, Visions of Yvette, chronicles the life of a young woman who is ambitious and career minded.  The film takes you step by step into the series of unfortunate circumstances that can challenge anyone into making poor decisions. The premier is scheduled for sometime in June, Anwar's Reflections will be sure to keep up to date on the specifics as the premier approaches. Below you will find a written transcription of Anwar's Reflections exclusive interview with Film-maker Patrick Pierre:

AGS: Can you tell our audience what it is that you do?

Well, basically I'm a writer and a director. I write all of my screenplays and direct all my films.

AGS: What is your background? How long you been interested in film making?

This is actually my second feature film. I have done nine films overall. I've done seven short films. I've been writing since I was 12 years old. I have a background in acting. I went to Mercer County College. I didn't attend a traditional film school like others.I decided to do a lot of hands on stuff to get more knowledge and experience. I also did some interning, this was a great learning experience. Lastly, I definitely read a lot of books also to develop my knowledge and skills.

AGS: What motivated you to become a filmmaker?

I grew up in Haiti. I moved to the United States when I was 8 years old. so before that I would always check out these movies, then I remember one day I saw Return of the Jedi in theaters, once I saw that, I knew that was it. That's when I knew that's what I wanted to do in life. It was just the magic of the screen that appealed to me and inspired to make films.

AGS: Where did you get the name for your first feature film, City Is Mine?

Its funny you should ask, the original title of the movie was called East, North, West, and South. We wanted to name it this because we wanted to capture this clash between the different sections of the city. But we thought that title was too long and didn't really express what the movie was all about. However, we changed that to the City Is Mine because it included all the sections of the city.

AGS: In your own words, what makes you unique as a filmmaker?

I believe a lot of people focus on just the technical side of film-making and there's nothing wrong with that, you need the technical side, but I believe the writing must be tight in a film to go forward with the project. My emphasis is on the storyline. I think that makes me unique, my emphasis on the writing and the storyline.

AGS: Did you face any challenges in becoming a filmmaker? If so, how did you overcome those challenges?

There were a lot of challenges. Just a few offhand, first, there was the issue with money. I'm basically funding these projects myself, out of pocket. I have a full time job. And the scheduling was challenging as well because many people that were in the film had full time jobs, so working around that was a hurdle. Thankfully, I was able to overcome these hurdles by saving up, I saved up enough to buy the equipment and had enough to provide transportation and food for the cast and for the crew.

AGS: How do you promote or advertise what you do?

 Blogging, Facebook, word of mouth, Twitter, and YouTube.

AGS: Do you utilize internet marketing? If so, how effective do you find this type of marketing?

Yes we do think internet marketing is effective, the new film we have has a Facebok page (http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/pages/Visions-of-Yvette/130476360330657). I'm also on Twitter posting updates about the film.

AGS: As an entrepreneur or filmmaker yourself, what advice, if any would you give an upcoming entrepreneur that wants to be successful as well?

Work your butt off and just don't get discouraged. Set a goal for yourself and achieve it. Don't let setbacks stop you. Plus, you need to have a passion for what you do, it can't be simply about money, you have to love what you do in order to be successful.

  
AGS: Can Anwar's Reflections get another interview in the near future?

Yes you can.

AGS is an acronym for the author and founder of Anwar's Reflections, Anwar G. Salandy

Lighting The Way One Customer At A Time: ANA CANDLES

Company Name: Ana Design Corporation
Company Founder: Frank Weeden
Company Websites: www.AnaDesignCorp.com (Wholesale) and www.Fivestripes.com (Retail)
Contact Information: sales@AnaDesignCorp.com

Anwar's Reflections sat down with the owner and operator of Ana Candles, Frank Weeden. During the interview, Weeden discusses his passion for candles and much more. He proudly manufactures the original Striped Candle. All of his products are made with premium quality paraffin wax and are engineered to have long burn times and be virtually smokeless and drip-free. Ana Candles are exclusively made in Trenton, New Jersey. He takes pride in color combination when it comes to his candles. Please see a video of Ana Candles products above and a copy of Anwar's Reflections exclusive interview with Ana Candles founder Frank Weeden below:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/anwarsreflections/2011/02/23/interview-with-ana-candles-owner-frank-weeden

AGS: Can you tell us a little about what Ana Candles is all about?

We manufacture a striped candle. Our candles have either three stripes or six stripes. We have been in business for 16 years now. We are sold in very high end home decor shops, museums. We're used by a lot of designers. We're in magazines such as Country & Living. Its a well-known product in the candle business.

AGS: What is your background? Is this your first time owning and operating your own business?

I have a background in Fine Arts. This is my third business. Initially I worked in a foundry. I fell in love with Trenton. I started off with a restoration business in Trenton. However, I wasn't making any money so I moved on. Unfortunately, the market went sour so I closed that. After closing that business, then, I had the idea while driving on the NJ turnpike to create a candle business.

AGS: What motivated you to start Ana Candles?

I thought the candle idea was unique or novel, I'm an entrepreneurial person so I thought this idea had a good chance of becoming a viable business so I decided to run with it.

AGS: Where did you come up with the name Ana Candles?

The name comes from an aunt I have in Paris. Her name is Anna. However, in the beginning, we wanted Ana to stand for All New Americans.

AGS: In your own words, what makes Ana Candles unique or stand out?

We have a very well-respected product, there are a lot of copies out there. But, many of these companies do not offer the great selection of color we do. Ana Candles is known for color combination.

AGS: Did you face any challenges in launching Ana Candles? If so, how did you overcome those challenges?

Start-up money is always a challenge. In addition, making good decisions with your partners is challenging. In the process of operating our business we made a lot of mistakes and lost valuable money. But we learned from those mistakes and kept going. Here we are 16 years later. Knowing how to treat your customers and deal with them was also a challenge. The recessionary times we are living in challenged us as well. Candles are not a necessary product. Non-essential products are usually the first thing many people do away with when times are tough. We lost a considerable amount of our customers during this economic downturn but we are still here.There was a challenge when we decided to diversify and expand our products.

AGS: How do you promote or advertise Ana Candles?

We advertise mainly at trade shows. We also have a strong Internet presence.

AGS: Do you utilize internet marketing? If so, how effective do you find this method of advertising?

The Internet is constantly evolving. Our direct sales have gone up while our wholesale revenue has gone down. We have a strong Internet presence. We utilize Facebook, Twitter, and blogs to promote what we do.

AGS: As an entrepreneur, what advice, if any, would you give another person that wants to be successful as well?

The devil is in the details. What I mean by this is that you have to deal with the day to day things of running a business. Many people think that running a business is mostly about being creative, however the reality is that this creative side of business only accounts for maybe 15-20% of what you do, the rest of the time is dedicated to research and development, financing, and the day to day matters of running a business. If you pay attention to these details and are dedicated to your business, the chances of you succeeding go up tremendously.

AGS: Can Anwar's Reflections have another interview with you in the near future?

Yes, you certainly can.

AGS is a acronym for the author and founder of Anwar's Reflections, Anwar G. Salandy.

An Evening With Former NJ Governor Thomas H. Kean At Rider University

Professor Ben Dworkin with Governor Tom Kean

LAWRENCEVILLE--Tonight, Anwar's Reflections attended Rider University's event, The State of Politics Today, where former New Jersey Governor Tom Kean gave a speech followed by a question and answer session in the University's Mercer Room. The event was sponsored by the Rebovich Institute of Politics. During the former governor's speech, Kean gave an overview of how politics has evolved or changed over time. He noted how historical and economical changes have changed people's perception of politics. He argued that in the beginning politics was seen as one of the most noble professions, now unfortunately it is seen differently. He argued that events like the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. and John Kennedy have led to great disillusionment and cynicism on the part of the populace. He said that people have gone from being optimistic about politics to becoming pessimistic and cynical because the two political parties we have now, no longer know each other. Politics in his estimation has become hyper-partisan. Kean argued that this sort of "social scene" has led to a new brand of politics that makes it all too easy to demonize one's opponent and thereby not listen to them. During his speech, he called for a different brand of politics that resembled his era, where people have the courage to listen to each other while at the same time respectfully voice their disagreements. The event was attended by a variety of people in the community that were willing to chime in and give their thoughts.

One of the audience members, Sue, a nurse from Lawrence Township, said that the governor's speech was "enlightening". She went on to say that she came to the presentation in response to the current state of politics. She stated that, "In the current political climate, I've noticed that there aren't enough women in politics, I'm a real advocate for that. There's a real need for more women in politics. I think events like these expose the public to a variety of angles and attitudes that are informative".

Another audience member, Blake, a Rider University student, said that he enjoyed the presentation because Governor Kean "stuck to the issues and was very well-spoken". The student went on to say that this event was important because "he [Governor Kean] makes it very apparent to the listener how politics has changed over time compared to the politics he's he's used to when he was younger. I think this speech has made us take a second look at how politics has changed over the years compared to what he's used to"

Another Rider student,Clyde, said that he enjoyed the presentation because Governor Kean "gave direct answers that may fix a lot of the issues affecting people now if they just listen to what he has to say".


According to Tom Little, a student at the College of New Jersey (TCNJ), the presentation was "enjoyable" Little went on to say, "He [Governor Kean] talked about a whole lot of things from national policy to state politics. I really enjoyed all the questions and answers today, I really learned a lot about history and it just makes you more appreciative of having a governor that is willing to come down and give you his opinions on current issues facing New Jersey and the country in general" The TCNJ senior went on to say that he thinks thats "the Governor makes a point when he says that regardless of the challenges we face and the partisan nature of politics today we all have to work together in order to solve our problems, Clearly, he's a big believer in that, he has a track record to prove that, you have to stay in the center, you got to work together to fix problems in this country. I think his talk today is relevant given that he's right, you don't have a lot of people in the center today, and we need that moderate or centrist position to solve a lot of our problems".


According to Professor Ben Dworkin, chairperson of the Rebovich Institute of Politics, this sort of event is relevant because "we invite the public and encourage them to participate in the dialogue". He went on to say that he thinks this event is important because "if we are going to solve problems, we first must understand what the problem are. My objective here as director is to try to raise the level of political discourse in New Jersey and you can do that if everyone starts from a certain grounding of what's going on, of what the issues are. So many people say I'm uncomfortable with my property taxes, I'm uncomfortable with the quality of life in whatever city or municipality in which I live and aren't sure why. Why is that way? How did we get here? What are the ideas out there? They want to see a change and want to see how. We try to educate folks. We try to bring individuals like the governor to talk about these matters. I think this sort of event elevates what politics can be, what are the opportunities out there to talk about these matters in a reasonable way? So much of our political discussion is down in the gutter, the name-calling, the hyper-partisanship, if we can raise it a little bit, and have a more erudite and smarter discussion, that's what a university should stand for and I think we set a standard for that here at Rider. When we do this, I think we have a better chance of moving forward

Anwar's Reflections will be sure to keep you up to date on any future developments.

Booker T. Washington and W.E.B Du Bois: A Conversation At MCCC

TRENTON--Last night Anwar's Reflections attended Mercer County Community College's (MCCC) Black History event, an interactive conversation between two intellectuals, Professor of African American History, Eric Watson and MCCC Vice President of Academics, Dr. Guy Generals. The dialogue was moderated by Professor of Communications Alvyn Haywood. The purpose of the discussion was to explain and explore the major differences and similarities in thought between scholar W.E.B. Dubois and educator Booker T. Washington.  The event was held in Kerney Hall located at MCCC's James Kerney Campus in Downtown Trenton. The audience consisted primarily of students, but faculty members and others from the local community were also in attendance. As a matter of fact, one audience member, Diane Joseph, a MCCC student that is currently taking African American History, is quoted saying that she attended the event because her professor was one of the speakers and wanted to hear his perspectives on the matter at hand. She said, this type of event is important because it "brings us all together to learn about an important part of Black history".

Another MCCC student, Musso Richardson said, "I think events like this are good for the younger generation because there's a lot they don't know about our Black history, having these kinds of debates will give them a chance to learn a little bit more than they learned in high school. You know a lot of students are taught that Blacks were only slaves, but these sorts of events show them that there are great things Black people did besides being slaves".

Another audience member, Judith Smith Parrot, a teacher of adult education at MCCC, said that she brought her students with her to expose them "to a part of African American history, especially the opposing views of W.E.B Du Bois and Booker T. Washington. I think these events are very important not simply for African Americans but for everybody". 

Manager of the bursar's office at MCCC, Lutia Brown Joseph, said that this type of event is important "because its about time we educate the youth because they have lost their knowledge of their ancestors. Right now we have Pan-Africa in this society. A lot of our students fail to realize that there's a little bit of Africa in all of us irregardless of what your ancestry is. Talking about these great men and women that have gone before us and have paved the way for our type of education, I think it is important to bring this type of forum to the general public, everyone was invited, students and the general public".

Dr. Guy Generals, VP of Academics, said I think events like this "expose students to ideas and hopefully provocative thoughts that might encourage them to pursue their studies in a more serious manner. I think seeing folks like myself and Eric and Professor Haywood in a casual setting talking about serious ideas is important to instill in them the concept that education is pervasive. It doesn't end or begin in a classroom, you can be social about it, you can be friendly about it, it's something you have to be prepared to talk about it, but its something that can be done in the classroom as much as it can be done outside of the classroom".

Professor of African American History Eric Watson was quoted saying that the event "cultivates a intellectual climate on our own campus, we want our students to be engaged both inside and outside the classroom. This sort of event provides a relaxed environment where students can challenge one another and challenge the faculty members. We like to reinforce the notion that learning doesn't just take place just between the two and half hours that they have African American history. I also think that its important for students to be exposed to our vice president of our college and gives them an opportunity to see that he is an African American male who is interested in issues that impact them. I think that's very rare in colleges today where an administrator engages with a faculty member like this in a public setting, I think its a good thing".

Professor Watson went on to say that he and the College intend to have more events like this. He said, "as our community begins to expands here at Mercer County Community College, we want to do something thematic around different months for different groups. I would like for us to focus more attention on gay/lesbian issues on campus , Latinos, Asians. We really want to make it an inclusive environment for all of our students".

Anwar's Reflections will be sure to keep you up to date on any upcoming events at MCCC.

Audience Feedback For The Play, 1960-BLACK

LAWRENCEVILLE- Last night Anwar's Reflections attended 1960: BLACK, a play held at Rider University in the Yvonne Theater. Overall, the show was a success. Many people in attendance said they enjoyed the play and thought the play was very much needed. As a matter of fact, one audience member, small business owner Leon Alexander, said the play "reminded him of the times that [he] went through in the 70's  because [he] grew up in Alabama". He went on to say, the play is "very important because young people need to see what went on back in the day, just to take a map and let the youth know what we went through, to see the struggle we went through to get where we are today".

Another audience member, blogger and Rider University alumnus Camille Alexander of Paproxi.Com, said this is her second time attending the play.  She said the play is "awesome" and that this play is so important because it "showed us a missing link in the past. It showed us history from the perspective of the student and I think that is very much needed today".

Another Rider University graduate, Thai Jones, said she came out to the play for the second time around to support her friend and mentor, playwright Rashad Walker. Jones said the play is important because "the art of the griot is being lost and there aren't that many great playwrights that are focusing on this sort of history".

One audience member, Eugene of Trenton, said he "loved the concept of the whole 1960's Civil Rights Movement. He [Rashad Walker] touches on all the facts of the aspiring civil rights leaders of the past. He [Rashad Walker] also touches on the effects the movement had on other Blacks during the movement.  I'm just feeling how he touches every aspect and every point that took place during that time".

At the end of the show, playwright Rashad Walker, said he plans on "taking the show on the road and having more showings of 1960: BLACK". Anwar's Reflections will be sure to keep you up to date on any future shows.

Interview With DJ IRON MIKE

DJ Name: DJ Iron Mike

DJ Contact Information: 609.529.2004

DJ Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/DJIronMikeNJ 

DJ Email Address: djironmike81@aol.com

Mic check, mic check one two one two, is this thing on??? If you don’t already know who DJ Iron Mike is, you better ask somebody. For 14 years now, DJ Iron Mike has been serving the community by performing at parties, weddings, receptions, etc. From rhythym & blues (R&B) to hip hop, DJ Iron Mike relishes the opportunity to liven up a party. Today, DJ Iron Mike was gracious enough to sit down with Anwar's Reflections. During the interview, DJ Iron Mike discussed his passion for DJ'ing, the artists that have influenced him, and much more. Having been a DJ for 14 years now, DJ Iron Mike has turned his passion into a profession. He has performed at a variety of venues, the latest being Brewsters in East Windsor, New Jersey (529 US Highway 130). From watching him perform on the one's and two's, it is plain to see that DJ Iron Mike puts an emphasis on song selection to make sure everyone is having a good time. Trust me, he is sure to have your head bobbing and your party jumping. He does weddings, birthday parties, clubs, bars, company events, and sweet 16 birthday occasions just to name a few. Below you will find a copy of Anwar's Reflections exclusive interview with none other than DJ Iron Mike:

Interview with well-known DJ Iron Mike 2/18/2011 - anwarsreflections | Internet Radio | Blog Talk Radio

If You Can't Do It, Simply Visit Can Do Errands

 
Company Name: Can Do Errands
Company Owner: Rachel Redding
Company Address: 6 N. Stockton Street, Trenton, NJ
Company Phone Number: 609-503-5583
Company Website: http://www.candoerrands.com/
Company Email Address: rachel@candoerrands.com
Facebook Page: http://ko-kr.facebook.com/pages/Can-Do-Errands-Internet-Cafe-Computer-Services/155386644500675

Pictured at Can Do Errands Ribbon Cutting are Taneshia Laird of TDA, Howard and Terrian Redding, Rachel Redding, and Mayor of Trenton Tony Mack.

If you're one of those people (like myself) that can't seem to get everything done in a day, then Trenton's very own, 'Can Do Errands', has got you covered. Owner and operator, Rachel Redding, has a shop located in the heart of Downtown Trenton (6 N. Stockton Street, Trenton). At her shop, they offer everything from PC repair to errand running. Whether you're in the mood for playing an online video game or grabbing a snack while checking your email, Can Do Errands, has what you need.

For a complete list of their services, please visit: http://www.candoerrands.com/services. Can Do Errands takes great pride in making your life easier by running those errands that you just sometimes can't get to (e.g dry cleaning pick-up, copying, faxing, scanning, you name it). Let's go out and support the positive things Can Do Errands is doing in the community. For access to Anwar's Reflections exclusive interview with Can Do Errands owner, Rachel Redding, please play the audio recording below:


Interview With Rachel Redding Owner of Can Do Errands 2/10/2011 - anwarsreflections | Internet Radio | Blog Talk Radio

Interview With Spoken Word Artist Raul 'POLO' Cortes

Artist Name: Raul ‘POLO’ Cortes

Artist Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/EastTrentonPoet

Artist Contact Information: poloetfinest@yahoo.com

Nowadays, you can find POLO every other Friday at Ghandi's Poetry Spot (Cafe International, 241 E. Front St., Trenton, NJ) and every Wednesday at Rider University's Brownwater open mic sessions (2083 Lawrencevilleville Rd., Lawrenceville, NJ).

Today, Anwar's Reflections was fortunate enough to sit down with Spoken Word Artist, rapper, and community activist Raul "Polo" Cortes. Thankfully, Polo has taken his unique talents on the road and has been a regular at Ghandi's Poetry Spot (GPS) and a host at Rider University's weekly Brownwater open mic sessions. His work truly symbolizes the 'change many of us want to see in the world' as the great civil rights activist Mahatma Ghandi used to say. Indeed, I know I am not alone in saying that Polo has had the courage to light a candle in a very dark world. Believe you, me, his wordplay is sure to not only entertain, but also inspire. Trust me, you don't want to miss Polo's captivating words, please see the YouTube video above and click on the link below to listen to the audio recording of Anwar's Reflections exclusive interview with Polo:

Interview With Spoken Word Artist Polo 2/7/2011 - anwarsreflections | Internet Radio | Blog Talk Radio

Raul 'POLO' Cortes gracing the microphone at Trenton's one and only Ghandi's Poetry Spot (Cafe International, 241 E. Front Street, Trenton, NJ)

AMEFIKA'S: Food For The Soul

Company Name: AMEFIKA'S Restaurant
Company Address: 642 Stuyvesant Avenue, Trenton, NJ
Company Phone Number: (609) 394-7979
Company Hours: 11 am to 11 pm Tuesday-Sunday
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amefikas-Restaurant/143012509074131

Today, I was fortunate enough to sit down with the owner and operator of Trenton's well-known Amefika's Restaurant located on Stuvesant Avenue, Amefika Sababu. AMEFIKA'S, a staple here in the city of Trenton, has been servicing the community for over thirty five years now. One customer, S.F., gave an online review of the restaurant that truly summarizes the great things AMEFIKA'S  has been doing here in the city of Trenton. He said, "I would like to give Amefikas Restaurant a 5 star rating not only because the food is great but the customer service is great as well. I really would like to thank the owners for staying around for as long as they have and also thank you for serving us in the neighborhood and surrounding area the same great quality food you did when you first opened. More restaurants can learn from your establishment that no matter how long they've been open, never forget what kept 'em there and in business, peace."

Indeed, AMEFIKA'S offers everything from chicken to beef, you name it, they have it. From the moment you speak to the owner, Amefika, you can tell he truly puts his heart into what he does. At AMEFIKA'S, they take pride in offering first-rate customer service to go along with quality food at reasonable prices. Trust me, you don't want to miss AMEFIKA'S for lunch or dinner. Below you will find copy of Anwar's Reflections exclusive interview with Amefika Sababu.

AGS: Please tell our audience a little more about AMEFIKAS?

Well, its a fast food restaurant. We have a menu that offers quite a variety. Our menu carries everything from sandwiches to casseroles. We have dinners and snacks. We use whole wheat rolls for all of our sandwiches. Some of our sandwiches are named after members of my family. For instance, we have a fish sandwich called the Truth. The reason we call this sandwich the Truth is because as kids my father would always cook for us. After he finished cooking, he  would look at the expression on our faces and say 'that aint nothin' but the Truth'. We also have a fish sandwich called the Comeback, once you have one we guarantee you'll be back for another. We also have a sandwich called the Standback, named  after my grandmother, Mother Standback. We try to sell this food at reasonable prices with quality. We offer good service. We make it a point to give back to the community. We have a 20% discount for senior citizens everyday. You can go on and visit our Facebook page. Every week we post a quote to our page, if you come in and tell us what the quote is and who said it, we give you 10% off your order.

AGS: What is your background? Is this your first time owning and operating your own business?

I've been in business for 35 years now. Prior to owning my own business, I worked under chef Winbagget at Westminister College. However, while I was there I had a bad experience. I got fired. After this occurred, I was inspired to start this business. Along with being fired, I was also motivated by Malcolm [X]. As a younger man,  I went to see a movie on Malcolm X and black nationalism. In the movie, he was saying that you should control things in your community, from politics to business and education. I wanted to contribute to my community in this way.

AGS: What motivated you to start your own business?

As stated earlier, after having that unfortunate event at Westminister College, I decided to start my own business. In addition, I was influenced by Malcolm X and black nationalism.

AGS: How did you come up with the name Amefikas?

Well, its a Swahili name, it was given to me by my wife. My wife and I changed our name legally because we are African peoples in America. My name literally means "the child has arrived".

AGS: What makes Amefikas unique?

Well, we don't sell any pork products. We offer good food at affordable prices. We take pride in offering quality customer service. 

AGS: Did you face any challenges in launching your business? If so, how did you overcome those challenges?

Of course. When I got fired from Westminster College, I went to the bank and applied for a loan. A couple of days later, I received a letter in the mail saying that I was denied the loan because I did not have equity. They said I lacked equity. I did not understand this. I followed up on this, they said 'well let me reconsider'. They did, and then the next day they approved me for the loan. That was the first hurdle. The next obstacle we faced basically amounted to human beings being creatures of habit and not understanding why we did not serve pork. Not everyone was on board with us not selling pork, initially. But we overcame that as well. In the beginning it was also a challenge to come home with only $85 after working from 11 am to 11 pm. But with the support of my wife and family, I made it through thankfully. The great news is that by hanging in there we were able to increase our daily revenue greatly.

AGS:  How do you advertise or promote your business?

Our business promotes itself through word of mouth. However, we have a jar where customers can write their name and number on a slip of paper where they have a chance of winning an Amefikas t-shirt.

AGS: Have you taken advantage of internet marketing? If so, how effective do you think internet marketing is?

We have a Facebook page. I hope that it works but a majority of my customers come from word of mouth. In the near future, I want to have my daughter take over the business, she might be able to really take advantage of internet marketing.

AGS: What advice would you give an up and coming entrepreneur that wants to be successful as well?

Keep your credit good. Establish good credit. Another thing to remember: if you don't want to serve the people, this is not for you. Open up your ears and listen to your customers. Keep an open mind. Always try to do better, if you don't know, talk to someone that does.

AGS: Will you give us another in the near future just to check on your progress?

That sounds good.

AGS is an acronym for the author and founder of Anwar's Reflections, Anwar G. Salandy.

Tyrone Chrome Miller: POSSIBLY America's Worst Cook

Entertainer Name: Tyrone Chrome Miller

Entertainer Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/TYRONECHROMEMILLER

Entertainer Contact Information: chrome3001@yahoo.com

To catch Tyrone in action, simply tune into the Food Network Sunday nights at 9 pm EST/ 8 central time.

Today, I sat down with rap artist, comedian, and reality show star Tyrone Chrome Miller. Miller, a native son from the Mercer County area, has truly created his own lane. From interviewing him and viewing his work, I have to say that Miller is serious and has a passion for entertainment, something sorely needed right now. From his background in rap music  to his well-known work in reality television, Miller has surely developed a name for himself. He has worked with Trentonian writer Jeff Edelstein and is affiliated with the Food Network's show, America's Worst Cooks. He continues to perform and showcase his unique talent at various venues. You can catch him every Sunday on the Food Network on Amerca's Worst Cooks. Trust me, you don't want to miss Mr. Miller in action, he is hysterical. Below you will find a copy of Anwar's Reflections exclusive interview with Tyrone Chrome Miller:

AGS: First off, can you tell our listeners out there a little bit about what you do?

I'm a entertainer who has rapped, acted, been on over 15 TV shows, won a reality show, worked in the music buisness, created my own cable access show..

AGS: What is your background? How long have you been in entertainment?

I have a background in rap music. I started rapping in 2001...and that started me on the journey I'm on now..

AGS: What motivated you to start working in entertainment? 

I was always a class clown...and a free spirit so it made sense....my best freind the sensation (Luc) told me I should because I'm a star..

AGS: Where did the name come from, is Chrome your real middle name? 

Luc gave me the name he said I always was shining...

AGS: In your own words, what makes Tyrone Chrome Miller stand out as an entertainer?

What makes me stand out is my realness. I am who I am, faults and all. I can laugh at anything, including myself. I am very genuine...

AGS: Did you face any challenges when starting your career? If so, how did you overcome those challenges?

The only challenges I had was learning how to take rejection and failure...I lost rapping on 106 and Park and took all types of ridicule but I would not let that define me or my career.


AGS: How do you advertise or promote what you do? 

Most times I am on a national network and they promote it I don't have to promote, but if its local I do it solely thru social networking (i.e. Myspace, Facebook, Twitter) 

AGS: Have you taken advantage of internet marketing at all? If so, how effective do you think this advertising method is? If not, how interested are you in learning more about internet marketing?

I think internet marketing is the most cost effective way to promote.. all my events in the Trenton area were promoted solely thru internet marketing...

AGS: Being that you're an entrepreneur yourself, what advice, if any, would you give an up and coming entrepreneur that wants to succeed as well?

The best advice I could give is have a plan and stick to it....be consistent and keep your word. Also outworking the competition works most times.

AGS: Will you give us another interview one from now so we can follow upon your progress?

Absolutely I would love too. I support you and everything your doing bro...keep up the good work and keep fighting the good fight....

AGS: Thank you very much for your time. 

AGS is an acronym for the author and founder of Anwar's Reflections, Anwar G. Salandy.

Striving For A Better Tomorrow: The Trenton N.E.W.S

Company Name:  The Trenton N.E.W.S. (North East West South)
Management Staff: Antonio Lane, Thomas Heads, Cherise South
Company Address: PO Box 2431, Trenton, NJ
Company Website: http://trentonnewsonline.net/
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/thecity.trentonnews?sk=friends
Company Phone Number: (609) 498-7024

If you're one of those people out there that believe that the news has nothing to say but negativity, the Trenton N.E.W.S. has got a surprise for you. The management team at the Trenton N.E.W.S. (President Antonio Lane, CEO Thomas Heads, and VP of Marketing Cherise South) takes great pride in offering the community positive stories with a unique, one of a kind perspective. Their motto is to 'strive for a better tomorrow'. The Trenton N.E.W.S. is an advertising magazine that is distributed monthly at various locations (for a list of locations please visit http://trentonnewsonline.net/paperlocations). The paper comes out the 15th of every month and is free to the public. From talking to their staff and perusing their magazine, it is clear to see that servicing the community sits at the center of their vision. I invite you all to pick up a copy and be richly rewarded by its uplifting content and eye-catching graphics design. The management staff at The Trenton News were kind enough to sit down with me to discuss what their business is all about. Below you will find a copy of Anwar's Reflections exclusive interview with the Trenton N.E.W.S:

AGS: Please tell our audience a little more about the Trenton N.E.W.S?

We are an advertising newspaper. We used to say local, but we decided to branch out. We are an advertising newspaper for minority businesses and large corporations as well. We highlight positive news in the city. We cover big news. We're trying to reach the scholars in the high schools along with other people that made it out of Trenton, individuals like that. We're trying to put Trenton back on the map in a positive way.

AGS: What is your background?

CEO Thomas Heads: I'm a digital designer, in the past I have worked with Comcast Cable.To make a long story short, initially, I was working with Cream Magazine. I would like to say rest in peace to Darren Morris, the late owner of Cream Magazine. He [Darren] had a vision to inspire local businesses through his newspaper. Initially, I didn't know who he was until he took my picture one day at a party my wife and I were at. Sad to say the Cream Magazine folded after Darren passed away. Since they folded, I saw and felt there was a void in the city that needed to be filled. I never got a chance to work with him, but his wife, Fatima, invited me to help out with the graphic design for Cream. After working with Fatima, I decided to launch my own newspaper.

AGS: What motivated you to start your own business?

Initially I was scared to move the vision forward because I saw what Cream Magazine went through when they were trying to get their paper got off the ground. Antonio [President of Trenton NEWS] motivated me to get this off the ground. Antonio saw that the people in the area still had a desire for a paper because Cream Magazine was no longer around. So we decided to create Trenton N.E.W.S together.

AGS: How did you come up with the name Trenton N.E.W.S?

We had a few other names; we chose this one because it was so catchy. Another partner of mine, he's a photographer. we were at a recording studio where a rap artist by the name of Cyph Bay mention the acronym NEWS North East West South. He didn't copyright the name and didn't mind if we used it, so we were able to use it. Pretty much the name comes from a rap artist named Cyph Bay. So we thank him for the inspiration.

What makes the Trenton N.E.W.S unique?

I think it’s our graphics and the positive nature of our magazine. With the Trenton N.E.W.S, you won't hear someone got stabbed or murdered. As Antonio said, the graphics are unique, we are getting a lot of positive recognition from our clients that our graphics stand out and catch people's eye. We take pride in offering a quality product to the public.

AGS: Did you face any challenges in launching your business? If so, how did you overcome those challenges?

One of the biggest challenges was being away from home, away from our families. Some days we would sit there until 5 in the morning. The late night sessions were a challenge as well. When we first started out we had five overnight (late night) sessions, now we're down to two. We hopefully want to cut those late night sessions down to once a month. Initially, I thought running a paper would be scary. So overcoming that fear was a big challenge as well, but we overcame it and are doing well now.

AGS:  How do you advertise or promote your business?

 Most of our advertising comes through word of mouth, social networking, and Facebook. We also attend networking event to get The Trenton N.E.W.S on the map. We are a member of the African American Chamber of Commerce. We want to acknowledge John Harmon who is with the African American Chamber of Commerce for all his help.

AGS: Have you taken advantage of internet marketing? If so, how effective do you think internet marketing is?

Yes, we have. We have a Facebook page that promotes what we do. I think internet marketing is absolutely effective. Without social networks like Facebook, the Trenton N.E.W.S. .would not have gone as far as it has. We have a Facebook page with over 2 thousand friends.

AGS: What advice would you give an up and coming entrepreneur that wants to be successful as well?

VP of Marketing, Cherise South: If you're launching a business with your friends, I think it’s important to get things in writing.

CEO Thomas Heads: Secondly, you heart has to be in it. If your heart is not in it, you’re going to call it quits at the first sight of trouble. I think you also have to network and advertise to be successful as an entrepreneur. 

President Antonio Lane: Go hard, push it, and don't get discouraged. As an entrepreneur, you're going to make mistakes and get rejections, but don't get discouraged by that. Keep going.

AGS: Will you give us another in the near future just to check on your progress:
http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5513331799260171986
Yes you can.

AGS: Thank you very much for your time.

AGS is an acronym for the author and founder of Anwar's Reflections, Anwar G. Salandy