Toby Sturgill » Communications Director, Inside|Out Global » culture

have I got a story for you…

tobysturgill — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:00:43 +0000

This past week I’ve had the privileged of visiting my Grandparents in North Carolina as well as my Dad’s brothers and their families down in South Carolina. If there’s one thing we all have in common (other than being family) it’s that we all have stories.

Whether they’re well told in great suspense and laughter, or whether the punch line is given too soon it became apparent to me that the people in my life (well, and everyone for that matter) have some incredible stories to tell. Stories of strength, honor, laughter, humility, vacation goof ups… the list goes on and on.

My Great Granny (my dad’s Grandmother on his dad’s side) wrote in her journal every day for years. I’m talking every, single, day y’all. She documented everything from how many pints of pickles she canned in the smokehouse to processing her grief after her husband died.

My dad’s younger brother’s family now has her journals and diaries. Years and years of stories and every day encounters. And it got me thinking… what are people going to read about me when I’m gone? Will whatever legacy I leave behind be passed down to my great grandchildren? They’ll probably get some microchip from the Library of Congress that contains every blog, tweet, Facebook update (and whatever else comes along in years to come) that I’ve ever written. So there’s that I suppose. I digress.

Let me get to the point: everyone has a story to tell. And the cool thing is it’s YOURS. It’s your very own. It’s something that you can pass down from generation to generation, or write online about, or write a short story about, or make a movie about.

How are you telling your story?

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Tomorrow I leave for Arlington, VA for another Inside|Out workshop. Inside|Out workshops empower students from many different histories to tell their stories to the world through film. We have filmmakers from literally all over the world come in and teach students every aspect of the filmmaking process.

Through a week-long film workshop, students learn how to tell their story through film and showcase their 5 minute short film at a red carpet premiere at the end of the week. It’s amazing to see students “come alive” when they get in and create through film.

Inside|Out is the same workshop that took me over to New Zealand almost one year ago. It was a time that turned my world upside down. I’ll do what I can blog about my experiences this year as I go through the workshop again.

For more information about Inside|Out and how to get involved click here.

mika: the boy who knew too much

tobysturgill — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:09:43 +0000

OK, so I’m a little behind on getting this one as it released last fall, but I’ve got it, love it, and wanted to share it with you.

This is MIKA’s sophomore album following his debut album “Life in Cartoon Motion” that released in January of 2009. You can purchase “The Boy Who Knew Too Much” on iTunes here.

(From Wikipedia:) Mika has described the album’s themes as dealing with his teenage years, and “in a sense is kind of part two” of his first album. In contrast to his first album which “contained innocent fairytales” Mika pitches the new album’s songs as “gothic Tim Burton-esque fantasies.”

Fans of Queen, Elton John and Marc Martel will love this one!

Oh, and be sure to check out MIKA’s new single, “Kick Ass (We Are Young)“

awesome gamer chair

tobysturgill — Fri, 28 May 2010 20:48:11 +0000

So, it goes without saying that this is probably the coolest thing I’ve seen in a while… and I’m not even a gamer. I would be if I had one of these… and that might be bad. Haha

I think every office should have one. Think of it as adult recess!

influence = power

tobysturgill — Wed, 19 May 2010 17:22:12 +0000

Voting for inclusion on the TIME 100 list has now closed, with Mir-Hossein Mousavi having won the honor and I have to say… I’m not surprised with some of this year’s nominations. Are you?

It’s almost a given that Jeff Zucker (head of NBC Universal), Hillary Clinton, and Nancy Pelosi would make the list… they’re in positions of power and key decision makers; very influential.

But Lady Gaga, Sandra Bullock, the creators of LOST and Taylor Swift? You betcha! Anyone associated with creating popular culture deserves to be on this list just as much as President Obama. I’m not going to say that their influence is greater than, say, Steve Jobs (that’s all relative and subjective)… but they are just as influential in creating moments and memories that impact entire generations.

All week long my roommates and I have been quoting lines from last week’s SNL hosted by Betty White (also a nominee, and surprisingly very vulgar). The jokes and one-liners never seem to get old and always make their way into our vernacular. That… is influence.

My question to the ones sitting in the writer’s room at 30 Rock and The Ellen Show is “Are you aware of the influence you have?” Influence equals power and “with great power comes great responsibility.” Some are using it for good: Bill and Melinda Gates for example, while others seems to be squandering their influence: Andy Samberg’s “I’m on a boat” for example. Really?!? C’mon Andy, really…really?

So how are YOU using your influence? You’re more powerful than you might imagine and in this era of social media someone is always watching you; noting what you say and what you do. How are you using your influence? Because you have some whether you know it or not.

Click “READ MORE” to see the 2010 nominees for TIME’s most influential people:

“Sunday’s Coming” trailer

tobysturgill — Wed, 12 May 2010 15:51:06 +0000

If you’ve grown up in church like I have, or worked at a suburban mega church like I have, then you’ll appreciate this. It’s a bit tongue-and-cheek but totally spot on. Even if you’ve never been to a service like this, I think you’ll still get something out of it… if only to see Christian service planners making fun of themselves.

“Sunday’s Coming” Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.

type hype: helvetica

tobysturgill — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 16:35:51 +0000

It’s been said by more than one source that, “Helvetica is the most perfect font” and I have to admit that I kind of agree with them. All of them. Why? I’m not sure… it just works.

A friend of mine, fashion designer @signsealzip, was asking me the other day, “What’s the big deal about Helvetica… everyone’s saying it’s the perfect font.” My response was, “oh, but it is!”

There’s even a feature length movie about it!

What are your thoughts? Do you think Helvetica is the most perfect font? Is there something better? Gotham is making a big splash these days and has been hailed as “the next helvetica.” I’ll feature that next week. But really… why all the type-hype?

100% pure new zealand

tobysturgill — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 02:34:25 +0000

Those of you that know me know I went to New Zealand last September. It was a trip that changed my life.

I had wanted to go for so long that when the opportunity came along, I took it. I can’t wait to go back again and maybe stay a little longer :) When you see this video you’ll understand why I fell in love and left part of my heart there.

the new dork

tobysturgill — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 19:28:05 +0000

My, my how the tables have turned…

120 is the new 140

tobysturgill — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 16:22:55 +0000

TWITTER TIP: If you want to be retweeted, then limit your messages to 120 characters so people don’t have to reconfigure your message and abbreviate when they want to ReTweet (RT) you. It’s as simple and easy as that. Leave room.

If you REALLY want someone to RT your message, then insert a “ReTweet” link at the end. You can learn how to do that here.

heineken social media case study

tobysturgill — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 23:00:21 +0000

A look at one of the best executions of Social Media, Viral Marketing and the Social Experience (…did I just coin that?)

This is incredible. I would loved to have been a part of this one.