MOVERS AND SHAKERS: Noam Dromi, Screenwriter for Dolphin Tale, Media and Technology Executive and Digital Media Strategist Sponsored by Liz Barbatelli's The Laundry at Linens Limited and E. Braun & Co. in Beverly Hills
Noam Dromi
Whom You Know Highly Recommended Dolphin Tale which celebrates making everything possible, and we love it when we find people like Liz Barbatelli who are committed to being outstanding global citizens in a world where all creatures flourish in outstanding environments. Liz owns two companies that are committed to being environmentally sound and living your best life. Whom You Know has Highly Recommended The Laundry at Linens Limited, one of Liz Barbatelli's companies:
In addition, her company offers the The Laundry’s Finest Laundry Powder which is the perfect detergent to add to your green equation. The concentrated detergent formula is more effective than plant extract formulas and contains no synthetic chemicals and polluting additives. It is free from optical brightening or bleach alternative additives and protects your clothes against fading and discoloration. It is eco-friendly with its pH balanced, biodegradable and organic formula. Recycled materials make up the sturdy, refillable canister good for 40 high efficiency loads of laundry or 20 loads in a conventional machine. The canister comes with a handy dispensing scooper and can be easily refilled with pre-measured plastic refill bags, thereby reducing landfill waste. As a result, today the company is recognized as the foremost fine linen laundry service in the country and its commitment to being environmentally friendly and being biodegradable make the world a better place for dolphins and people alike! www.linenlaundry.com
For generations, E. Braun & Co. in Beverly Hills, Liz Barbatelli's second venture, has been the unrivalled source of the world’s most luxurious linens for the table, bed and bath.Just like Winter the dolphin is fitted for her customized tail in the movie, you can customize your entire home with E. Braun & Co. in Beverly Hills making for a comfortable fit of use and lifestyle! In this generation, the legend is renewed, as E. Braun & Co. emerges as the classic American linen house with the 21st century perspective. Whom You Know highly encourages that you consult E. Braun & Co. in Beverly Hills for your linen needs where Liz and her team of experts cater to your bespoke vision. Today, E. Braun & Co. assembles the finest collections of traditional and contemporary linens, staffed with experts ready to guide you in selecting the linens that will give you the greatest satisfaction and enjoyment for years to come.
Noam Dromi is a media & technology executive specializing in cross platform communications programs for corporations, brands & entertainment companies. He currently serves as digital media strategist for Alcon Entertainment (The Blind Side, Book of Eli, Dolphin Tale) and SVP, Interactive Marketing and Social Media for New Medici where he consults for a range of clients in Los Angeles, Chicago, Nashville, Florida and New York. He was recently the COO of TempleHome, an architecture & design company developing an interactive media platform for the home improvement industry. He previously served as the Executive Producer & Sr. VP of New Media for CMP, a film and television advertising agency where he was responsible for overseeing digital media strategy on behalf of the firm's clients as well as developing & producing original programming.
Prior to CMP, he served as SVP of Business Development and Brand Strategy for Cocojambo, where he oversaw the firm’s business development efforts to identify, license & develop branded entertainment properties.
From 2001-2003, Mr. Dromi served as the Senior Vice President of Content Development for Mandalay Branded Entertainment (MBE), the marketing and brand consultancy founded by former Sony Pictures Chairman/CEO Peter Guber. Noam & his team developed cross platform media programs for clients including Health South Corporation, Miller Brewing Company, Yahoo & Nokia. He had previously been the head of Mandalay's new media division, Mandalay E-Media, leading the company's efforts in strategic consulting for a wide range of corporate & entertainment clients.
Prior to his tenure with the Mandalay Entertainment Group, Dromi was Director of Development for Strangis/McCullough Productions, a television production company based in LA. Dromi began his Hollywood career at the age of 15 as a production assistant on low budget Hollywood films. In addition to his new media and marketing professional responsibilities he's the co-founder of the production company NoCo Media Group & has produced the films A Place to Live & Mad Skills. He co-hosts the award winning podcast MIPtalk - Conversations with the World's Most Interesting People (www.miptalk.com). He co-wrote the Warner Bros/Alcon Entertainment film Dolphin Tale starring Morgan Freeman, Harry Connick Jr & Ashley Judd which comes out in theaters on September 23, 2011. Dromi was born in Manhattan at Mt. Sinai Hospital. We are so pleased to present Noam Dromi as our latest Mover and Shaker, especially since he is the screenwriter for Dolphin Tale, which we love, love, LOVE!
Peachy Deegan interviewed Noam Dromi for Whom You Know.
Peachy Deegan: How do you enjoy being a digital media strategist?
Noam Dromi: We're in a really exciting time in the media business. I feel very fortunate to be working with companies who are forward thinking when it comes to reaching audiences across the new and emerging media platforms.
How would you define digital media strategist for those that are not familiar with that term? Essentially it's my job to help companies navigate all the different ways they can reach their audience (VOD, Broadband, Mobile, etc) and help make recommendations on the best way to get their product, service or brand out into the marketplace through these channels.
What should most people understand about digital media that most do not understand?
People take a one size fits all strategy to how they extend their brand through digital channels. In the same way that print and broadcast (traditional) media have their own tools and rules, they same thing applies to digital.
What are examples of successful digital media and what makes them successful?
When digital media "crosses over" and becomes part of a bigger conversation both online and offline that's a mark of success. Examples range from Justin Bieber (who got his start on YouTube) to shows like S*&t My Dad Says (which, although canceled after 1 season by CBS began as a Twitter feed) to business like Netflix (at least until their recent missteps).
What types of clients have been have enthused you the most to work with (like Sawyer lights up when he meets Winter and sees her!) and what did you like about each?
I'm most excited by clients who like to take risks and think about how to exploit their brands in new and interesting ways. In addition to my film and entertainment clients, that can range from a DNA Home Testing Kit Company to a company that sells virus protection for your computer.
Whom You Know has highly recommended Dolphin Tale. How did you become involved in being the screenwriter?
Richard Ingber (who is one of the film's producers) and I came across the story of Winter the dolphin in 2006. We immediately felt it could make a great movie and wrote a treatment that we brought to Alcon Entertainment. I worked with the head of development on the project and then they brought in Karen Janszen who wrote a beautiful story. When director Charles Martin Smith came in he did additional writing.
What did you learn from writing Dolphin Tale, what were its challenges and what was most rewarding about the project?
I'm incredibly privileged to be a part of this project and have learned the important of patience and humility. Throughout this 5 year journey there were a few times where it looked like the project would not see the light off day and I'm so glad it did and that audiences seem to be responding to it. The team at Alcon are incredible and it has been great to work with them on this film.
What are the steps in getting a movie like Dolphin Tale from paper to the silver screen for our readers who have not worked in the movies?
As I mentioned, when we say Winter's original story we knew it had the potential to be a film but the story needed to be expanded so that it could appeal to a broad audience. Richard and I talked about how to make it a family film with a strong emotional core that dealt with themes of friendship, loyalty, and overcoming adversity. We then had to reach out to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium where the real Winter lives to secure the rights to the story. Once we got into the development process it was a question of creating the world with characters who could best help to tell the story and that's where Karen Janszen came in.
What other screenwriting will you be doing and if you don't have anything up your sleeve at the moment, what would you like to do?
I'm working on a project called Hitsville with Intuition Media that will hopefully shot in Spain next year. We're out to directors at the moment. I've also got a few other projects with my producing partner Carolyn Coal in film and TV.
You are co-host and executive producer for a show about interesting people-how do you define interesting in this context?
My co-host Brad Rowe and I pride ourselves on being intellectually curious about life. When we decided to launch the podcast we sought out guests who you would not generally see on mainstream media so we could talk to them about their passions and what they do to change the world.
What or who has had the most influence on your pursuit of excellence?
I've had some amazing mentors who believed in me and game me a shot early in my career. These include Greg Strangis and Bob McCullough, Peter Guber, Scott Mednick, Richard Ingber and others. I also thank my parents for instilling a strong work ethic and sense of humility in pursuit of my passions.
What are you proudest of and why?
I take great pride and personal satisfaction out of the fact that I can pursue projects that seek to elevate the human experience and contribute to making the world a better place. I also love that I do the kind of work that's always evolving and never gets boring.
What would you like to do professionally that you have not yet had the opportunity to do?
Some of my answers sound like cliches but I'd love to write a book, direct a small film, start an arts related non-profit and find ways to use storytelling to get people to think about things in new ways.
What honors and awards have you received in your profession?
So far, the honor is just getting to work on things I enjoy. Maybe awards will come at some point but I don't really worry to much about it.
What is your favorite place to be in Manhattan?
I was born in Manhattan and try to get back whenever I can. I have a great affinity for Union Square, Chelsea and the surrounding areas.
What is your favorite shop in Manhattan?
Don't have a particular favorite. Every time I get to the city I try to stop in at Virayoga in SoHo where my friend Elena Brower teaches.
What is your favorite drink?
Vodka (Ketel One or Grey Goose) and soda.
What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you at a cocktail party?
Someone came up to me and started a conversation. It quickly became apparent that they thought I was someone else. I just let them keep on thinking that and had a whole discussion without revealing that I wasn't who they thought I was.
What is your favorite restaurant in Manhattan?
Cafe Habana on Prince Street.
What is your favorite Manhattan book?
I'm a big history buff so I'd have to say Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898 by Edwin G. Burrows.
If you could have anything in Manhattan named after you what would it be and why?
I was born in Mount Sinai Hospital so maybe a pediatric wing or something there.
What has been your best Manhattan athletic experience?
Cheering on a friend as they ran the NY City Marathon. Haven't done it myself yet but hope to someday.
What is your favorite thing to do in Manhattan that you can do nowhere else?
It's New York. There's nothing like it. Everything is a unique experience since you're doing it in one of the greatest cities in the world.
What has been your best Manhattan art or music experience?
Seeing De La Guarda at the Daryl Roth Theater in Union Square. That show is amazing.
What do you personally do or what have you done to give back to the world?
I'm very involved in a few charities including the Chrysalis Foundation which offers job training and job placement services to LA's homeless population.
What do you think is most underrated and overrated here?
Usually the thing that conventional wisdom says is the "it" thing is overrated. I like making new discoveries in out of the way places for food, music, culture, etc. Once it becomes mainstream it's not as fun.
Other than Movers and Shakers of course, what is your favorite Whom You Know column and what do you like about it?
Movietime in Manhattan because that is where you reviewed Dolphin Tale!
Have you drank The Peachy Deegan yet and if not, why not?
This is the first I've heard of it but look forward to checking it out.
What else should Whom You Know readers know about you?
I'm a partner in a social media agency called New Medici. You can learn more about us at www.newmedici.com
How would you like to be contacted by Whom You Know readers?
Folks can reach me online at MIPtalk.com.
