5 Netflix Shows for Writers to Binge-Watch

5 Netflix Shows for Writers to Binge-Watch Netflix and chill takes on an entirely new meaning when youre a writer looking for inspiration. With the plethora of shows and topics available for a small fee per month, its now easier than ever for writers to find storytelling inspiration while also achieving down time in the form of media consumption and relaxing to a great series.With this in mind, here are the top shows on Netflix that you simply shouldnt miss if youre a writer. From expert dialogue, to storytelling genius, to character arcs that would even impress Tolstoy, here are five Netflix shows you absolutely must see to perfect your craft.Russian DollRussian Doll, starring Natasha Lyonne.Imagine being a single woman on the night of your 36th birthday but reliving the same night again and again- all in an attempt to make sense of the extraordinarily cynical mess that your life has become. From fatally funny to mournfully sad, Russian Doll takes on a life of its own after the first few episodes of the protagonist returning to the same night in this eight-part Netflix series aimed at exploring mid-life crisis at its finest.This review from NPRs Linda Holmes sums the show up best:A woman whose curly red hair spills past her shoulders stands in front of a bathroom mirror as a party rages outside. She looks at her reflection. People bang on the door to get in. She turns and leaves, through a door with a handgun for a handle, out of the bathroom where the areas of the walls and door glow with blotches of chilly blue light. As she leaves, two women push their way past her into the bathroom, and she moves into the room where the party is. Friends swarm around her. A woman cooking in the kitchen offers her a joint laced with cocaine. Something is wrong. She is a quick-witted New York game designer who seems to smoke in part for the smoking itself, but also in part so she can gesture, in quick little jabs, with her cigarette. And she cant figure out quite whats going on. What was I just doing? she asks her fr iend.Linda Holmes, NPRThe fact that Natasha Lyonne, one of the stars of Netflixs original, Orange is the New Black, leads the cast doesnt hurt the intense effect of the show. The actress is brilliant at playing a lost 30-something party girl coming to terms with her life decisions and future choices. All in all, the show is an amazing dive into deep character study and unique storytelling, and would be a welcome addition to any writers exploration into what makes us human after all. Particularly those of us who think too much.The Walking DeadThe Walking Dead, starring Andrew Lincoln and Norman ReedusDont watch The Walking Dead for the gore. In fact, dont watch the show because of zombies or apocalyptic fiction at all. Simply watch it for the character study in a Lord of the Flies-esque exploration of how society collapses under the pressure of survival of the fittest.Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times Television Critic, says of the first season:In an early scene we see the emotional t oll the killings can take and in several instances, Grimes and others pay homage to the former humanity of their predators. But still, zombies are clearly not human. Or rather they are the nightmare version of humanity, the fear that our friends and family are not to be trusted because they are capable of turning on us at any time.That same anxiety is played out among the survivors- the suspicion that what civility we have is merely a habit, that any shift in the order of things will reveal the hidden bullies and tyrants, the murderers and rapists and thieves. The Walking Dead, like any good horror tale, still believes in the importance of monsters, perfectly balancing the struggle of basic human decency with those palsied four-in-the-morning moments when we are convinced that everyone around us is trying to eat us alive.Mary McNamara, Los Angeles TimesBlack MirrorBlack Mirror, starring Bryce Dallas Howard and Hannah John-KamenTechno-paranoia, dystopia, suspense- Black Mirrors antho logy-like approach to all were uneasy about in our world is a guaranteed way to turn your mind upside down and inside out. From the darkness inherent in social media to the lives we try to keep hidden despite big brother, Black Mirror explores the darker side of technology and human nature when the two of them combine to create a real sense of madness.In reflecting our decidedly freakish and dark 21st Century existence back to us, Black Mirror, created by Charlie Brooker and executive produced by Brooker and Annabel Jones, is a show that is guaranteed to get any writers mind whirling with possibilities- from dystopia to cyberpunk and all the realms of possibilities in between.Emily Nussbaum, reviewer for The New Yorker writes:Anyone who has skimmed Guy Debords Wikipedia page or watched the American Music Awards could condemn our culture as a masquerade, a spectacle of virtuality. But whats refreshing about Black Mirror is that Brooker goes deeper than that, aiming past the obvious t argets- the know-nothings and narcissists of the Internet. Instead, his villains are the bad-faith cynics, like the reality-TV judge, in one episode, who murmurs, with cagey calculation, Authenticity is in woefully short supply. In Black Mirror, the danger is not complacency, or, at least, not that alone: its letting your outrage turn into contempt, a pose of transgression that is, in the end, more deadly than any desperation to be loved.Emily Nussbaum, The New YorkerMeanwhile, Michelle Orange, writer for Vogue, suggests Black Mirror might be the Twilight Zone of the Digital Age, and writes:Black Mirror [is] pretty tough to watch. Whats caught in its dark reflection might look a lot like you. There are high-handed moments and a schematic quality basic to its project, but overall the show is earnestly and intelligently, imaginatively engaged with its times, which makes it- ironically, given the central indictment of spectatorship- hard to look away. The stories set archetypal human d ilemmas- death, identity, fidelity- within an entirely new context, which is exactly how we are living them. What they reveal of human nature is not new but newly captured. In the future of Black Mirror, technology has set us, which is to say we have set ourselves, a perfect trap.Michelle Orange, VogueThe KillingThe Killing, starring Joel Kinnaman And Mireille Enos.While admittedly, the audience and critic reviews tend to swoon downward as the series progresses, The Killing starts off with a bang thats hard to beat when it comes to police procedural and crime drama action.Critic Troy Patterson from Slate Magazine, who compares The Killing to the infamous Twin Peaks, writes: The prologue practically functions as a schematic diagram of all the police procedurals- with their virtuous investigators and their quasi-necrophiliac tone- that The Killing seems to deconstruct and reassemble on a higher plain.David Bianculli, as heard on NPRs Fresh Air program, again equates The Killing to Twi n Peaks and suggests that it, along with some of the worlds best-known recent crime series, have come from Scandinavian countries, including Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. He also notes:The Killing is intentionally slow, and doesnt provide any of the usual staples of the genre as high-octane relief. No gun battles, no car chases- just cops doing their duty, politicians looking for ways to spin things to their advantage and parents facing their worst fears. Theres one scene, in which the parents are called in to identify the body of their daughter, where their individual reactions are nonverbal, unconnected and emotionally scalding. The husband and wife dont even hold or look at each other. In that awful moment, theyre hit by their own individual grief. Its astoundingly good acting- but, like so much of The Killing, its tough to watch.But it deserves to be seen- and the persistence of these detectives is a little reminiscent of Columbo, where their unassuming, unorthodox approach ends up unearthing certain hidden clues- and, at the same time, getting us to root for them strongly along the way.David Bianculli, NPRs Fresh AirBianculli continues to note that The Killing is AMCs most depressing series yet- and this is from a network that has given us apocalyptic zombies and a terminally ill crystal meth manufacturer.Stranger ThingsStranger Things, starring Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, and Millie Bobby Brown.There cant be a list of binge-worthy Netflix shows for writers without adding my personal favorite, Stranger Things.With the first season set in 1983 in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, Stranger Things is a nostalgic trip back to childhood in the 80s, with storytelling that is as taut as it is perfectly executed. Although the cast is large, it becomes hard to pick a favorite, as each character becomes as dearly beloved as ones childhood playmates.Any adult who grew up riding bicycles with friends, exploring the woods, and trembling at night t o spooky stories told beneath blankets will feel a genuine connection with the kids. Any parent who has ever felt helpless as their child experiences trauma will feel instant empathy for the adult characters in the show.Its really difficult to describe Stranger Things to someone who hasnt seen it. There are genuine horror elements inspired by Stephen Kings literary universe, combined with nail-biting chapter installments that make it difficult to NOT binge-watch the show. Combined with a perfectly matched soundtrack and stellar acting, Stranger Things should be on any writers radar- particularly for a lesson on how to craft a story that achieves sympathetic characters, while appealing to the emotions and primal fears of an audience. As reviewer Wenlei Ma notes, Dont just watch it for the nostalgia or the genuine creeps, watch it because its compelling storytelling.

Word Choice All vs. All Of

Word Choice All vs. All Of Word Choice: All vs. All Of For such a short word, â€Å"all† can be complicated. It certainly has many uses! Here, though, we’re looking at one thing in particular: when to use â€Å"all of† rather than â€Å"all† by itself. Make sure you can avoid errors when using these terms by checking out our guide below. When to Use â€Å"All Of† The sense of â€Å"all† that applies here is its use as a determiner (or a predeterminer when it comes before another determiner). This means using â€Å"all† to indicate how much of something we’re discussing. For example, â€Å"all students† means â€Å"every single student,† not just some of them. As a rule of thumb, we use â€Å"all of† when â€Å"all† is a determiner and the next word in the sentence is a pronoun. When this is a personal pronoun (e.g., me, you, us, them) or a relative pronoun (e.g., whom, which), we need to â€Å"of† to make the sentence grammatical. For example: All of you were late to class. âÅ"“ All you were late to class. âÅ"â€" These are my students, all of whom were late. âÅ"“ These are my students, all whom were late. âÅ"â€" With demonstrative pronouns (e.g., this, these, those), the â€Å"of† is optional: All of these students were late. âÅ"“ All these students were late. âÅ"“ We can also include â€Å"of† before a noun phrase that begins with a determiner, such as the definite article (i.e., the) or a possessive pronoun (e.g., my, his, her, your, our, their). For instance: All of the students overslept. âÅ"“ All the students overslept. âÅ"“ Some style guides recommend leaving out â€Å"of† when it is optional. This will make a sentence more concise, but it is ultimately up to you. When to Use â€Å"All† By Itself So when do we need to use â€Å"all† by itself? As mentioned, you can do this when the next word is a pronoun or determiner. But there are situations when adding the â€Å"of† is not an option. These are: When â€Å"all† comes before a noun referring to an entire class of things. When â€Å"all† is used before an uncountable noun without a determiner (i.e., a noun with no plural form without a word like â€Å"the† or â€Å"my† in front). In the case of an plural noun that refers to an entire class, we would write: All cats are lazy. âÅ"“ All of cats are lazy. âÅ"â€" Here, we use â€Å"all† without â€Å"of† because â€Å"cats† refers to every possible feline, not a specific group of cats. And we would do the same if â€Å"all† came before an uncountable noun: All water is wet. âÅ"“ All of water is wet. âÅ"â€" In both cases, the â€Å"of† is not just unnecessary; it is grammatically incorrect. â€Å"All† as a Pronoun We mentioned above that â€Å"all† is always followed by â€Å"of† when the next word is a personal or relative pronoun. This only applies when â€Å"all† is a determiner. You will also see â€Å"all† used as a pronoun meaning â€Å"everyone,† â€Å"everything,† or â€Å"the only thing.† And when â€Å"all† is a pronoun, it can be combined with other pronouns without using â€Å"of†: This letter is for all whom it may concern. âÅ"“ All you need is love. âÅ"“ These sentences are both fine as â€Å"all† is used as a pronoun, not a determiner. Summary: All or All Of? When deciding whether to write â€Å"all† or â€Å"all of,† keep the following in mind: Use all of when the next word is a personal or relative pronoun. You can use either all or all of when the next word in the sentence is either a demonstrative pronoun or a noun phrase that begins with a determiner. Use all by itself when the next word in the sentence is a plural noun that refers to an entire class of things or an uncountable noun. And don’t forget to have your writing proofread! We will check your writing for errors, and we can even offer feedback on grammar and other issues.

MARKETING PLAN FOR SKAGEN DESIGN Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

MARKETING PLAN FOR SKAGEN DESIGN - Essay Example Entry Modes for International Marketing 9 Export-based Entry Mode 11 Contractual Entry Modes 11 Foreign Direct Investment 12 Joint Venture as appropriate mode for Skagen Design to enter China 13 Why Joint Venture for Skagen Design? 13 Marketing Objectives of Skagen Design 14 Product Mix 16 Price mix 16 Place mix 16 Promotion Mix 17 STP strategy of Skagen Design 17 Segmentation strategy of Skagen Design 17 Targeting Strategy of Skagen Design 18 Positioning Strategy of Skagen Design 18 Conclusion 18 References 19 Introduction 3 Skagen Design: Company Overview 3 Analysis of Internal and External Environments 5 SWOT analysis 5 Strengths and Opportunities 6 Weaknesses and Threats 6 Market Choice for Skagen Design 7 China and Business opportunities 7 Entry Modes for International Marketing 9 Export-based Entry Mode 11 Contractual Entry Modes 11 Foreign Direct Investment 12 Joint Venture as appropriate mode for Skagen Design to enter China 13 Why Joint Venture for Skagen Design? 13 Marketing Objectives of Skagen Design 14 Product Mix 16 Price mix 16 Place mix 16 Promotion Mix 17 STP strategy of Skagen Design 17 Segmentation strategy of Skagen Design 17 Targeting Strategy of Skagen Design 18 Positioning Strategy of Skagen Design 18 Conclusion 18 References 19 Introduction In today’s competitive business environment, marketers are required to develop certain strategies to help them achieve sustainable competitive advantage. Out of various marketing strategies, going global is one of the most effective strategies as it not only widens the market potential but also help the firm seize more marketing opportunities. A marketer is one who designs and creates benefit or utility that deliver the want or need-satisfying power to the customers (Boone and Kurtz, 2009, p. 5). In a global marketing perspective, marketers are to identify its customers, research in to their requirements and develop products or services accordingly so as to market them globally. This piece of research paper presents an international marketing plan for Skagen Design to help the management team in deciding about the best appropriate entry mode to launch its business in China. The report presents a detailed marketing audit of Skagen Design and investigates marketing objectives an d better marketing strategies for the company in relation to its international marketing plan to China. Skagen Design: Company Overview Skagen design, started as a small business upstart in 1989 in Denmark, has now emerged to be a successful multinational company designing, making and marketing stylish Danish designed watches, sun glasses, jewels and related accessories (Zacks Equity Research, 2012). It’s co-founders Henrik and Charlotte Jorst came to USA to start their own business in 1989 by developing the idea of a business opportunity from the Danish lifestyle and philosophy and started their business by marketing well designed watches and other accessories (Skagen, 2012). This illuminates an example of how effectively a business dream can be converted to reality by exploring newer business opportunities and marketing newer ideas. As Crane (2009, p. 3) noted, a successful entrepreneur starts thinking creatively from finding a hidden marketing opportunity and develops his marketing by identifying customers’ specific requirements and by developing products accordingly. Henrik and Charlotte Jorst developed the business idea based on the marketing potential for supreme quality watches made in Danish spirit, elegant design, skillful craftsmanship, perfect technology and so on. With its mission to create a Skagen Global Community ingrained with a commitment to design impressive and unique products and to offer high valued customer services, the company has long been able to generate a positive zeal among its customers. As of very recent report, Fossil Inc is proposing to purchase Skagen Design for a total value of $236 million including 150,000 shares in Fossil Inc (Zacks Equity Research, 2012). Skagen Design ltd is manufacturing and marketing watches, sun glasses and jewels for both men and women offering its products and services through third party retailers as well as online stores. Apart from administrative offices and manufacturing plants sit uated in Nevada, it operates stores in Tokyo, Nagoya, Japan, Taiwan and markets it products to various countries such as Singapore, Malaysia,