WMV: What are the stories behind your names, Deja, Canyon and Viau?
 |
| Canyon and Deja |
Deja: My dad named me kinda as a joke when I was in the womb. But then it stuck. The nurses in the Delivery room pitched a fit when he was filling out the birth certificate, saying I would be teased about Deja "view" "vu," as our name is French. VIAU and said "view"... But my dad insisted, and I am grateful, since I love my name.
Canyon: Yeah, it's funny; people forget my dad's name, but they always remember out names. Canyon "view"... My dad like started marketing us before we were born (LOL).
WMV: Did you go to the Sundance Film Festival this year, and, if so, did you win any awards?
Deja: We are currently attending Sundance [as of January 18, 2014] to promote our project, Freshman Inventors; Teaser:
http://youtu.be/Q5NpT5ZFB5E
 |
| Canyon, Mark, Deja |
Canyon: Basically it's a kids' shark tank - at least for any "NEW" "FRESHMAN INVENTOR" of any age. We help coach them how to take their product to market since we have done it before with our inventions, such as the Backpal, which is an insert to any existing backpack to help students of any age carry the heavy load of their laptops and text books.
BackPal:
http://youtu.be/1f1Dab3GFRE
WMV: What do you think of Park City in particular, and Utah in general?
Deja: We love (I mean Love) Park City and the Sundance Film Festival. The diversity of people in Park City is awesome, and so is the skiing.
Canyon: Since the 2002 Winter Olympics were held in Utah, it kinda put Utah on the map.
We conducted interviews at the Utah Film Commission Venue at Sundance, the first year (2011) that the Utah Film Commission ever had a venue at the event they co-sponsor with Sundance in over twenty years.
They found it to be filled with creative people and a great place to launch a visual project.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3475667300114.2159401.1524169979&type=3
WMV: Where do you live?
Deja: We consider ourselves GLOBAL CITIzens.
Canyon: About forty-five minutes from Park City.
WMV: Do you watch "Shark Tank"?
Deja: A little...
Canyon: We can't really stomach how adversarial it is. That is why our project is taking a higher road.
We are taking the high road, and will not be as unfriendly as "Shark Tank." A place where younger people can feel comfortable, safe and mentored by Deja and Canyon and other guest hosts...
We actually know where the bodies are buried at "Shark Tank"!
WMV: What, if anything, would you like to tell the world about the school or schools that you attend?
Deja: Our best school is the school of inventions and business that our dad has taken us through.
Canyon: It will give us better skills to cope in the world than our "TRADITIONAL SCHOOL" which is kinda boring. For example, here our some of our skills we have developed outside of traditional school:
-Inventors “patent holders”
-Featured in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ)
-Hosts at the Sundance Film Festival
-Featured by the United Inventors Association
http://www.uiausa.org
-Best of State Award Innovation winners
-Holders of multiple product distribution deals
-Experienced “Pitch Kids"
WMV: What web links would you like to share with our readers, besides the following?
Koolspoon.com
http://youtu.be/ty2wSIb0K_Q
Lifthamper
http://youtu.be/2xAc-BKmEGo
CarSeatthingy.com
http://youtu.be/dLUKVoIDBU4
http://youtu.be/9_l_8xx1h4Q
http://youtu.be/Q5NpT5ZFB5E
http://youtu.be/1f1Dab3GFRE
http://www.imagineitskins.com/images/documents/BackPal-insert%20for%20backpacks.pdf
http://youtu.be/QAYzKYH1R4Q
http://tvpitchmen.blogspot.com/2013/08/back-pal-goes-into-us-retail-with.html
http://youtu.be/ty2wSIb0K_Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwuE0_QzPsI
http://www.imagineitskins.com/images/documents/Brochure-Imagineitskins-2011.pdf
www.facebook.com/freshmaninventors
www.imagineitskins.com
Deja: You got it!
Canyon: Yes, you do!
Mark: http://j69.video2.blip.tv/14220012311221/Warrenworkman-FreshmanInventorsAtSundance256.m4v?ir=5251&sr=4901
WMV: What would you like to tell our readers about BackPal?
Deja: Inserts (adjustable) into most backpacks to help students of any age “carry” (preventing back injuries) heavy books and laptop, and organize books (don’t lose books; find the ones you need)... Compression technology... Tucks books to the back... Adjusts for more books... Hangs in locker... Economical... Light weight... We are taking pre-orders on the Freshman Inventors Facebook page (as well, inventors can submit us their ideas):
https://www.facebook.com/FreshmanInventors
A pending distribution deal with Costco and Staples...
WMV: Your father refers to you as "Freshmen." What grades in what schools are you in?
Deja: Grade Ten, age fifteen...
Canyon: Grade Seven, age twelve... FREShman IS A BROAD WORD USED TO DESCRIBE ANY new INVENTOR.
WMV: What do you think of Common Core education?
Deja: It's not really relevant.
Canyon: Again, it's boring.
WMV: If you were the President, and you could have your way, what would you do to improve education in the U.S.A.?
Deja: There is a term now being used called Hack Schooling.
We have posted the TEDX [Technology, Entertainment, Design, http://www.ted.com/tedx] talk of a thirteen-year-old talking about his experience on our website:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h11u3vtcpaY&sns=em
Canyon: This is sorta that approach we are taking to school without dad. We our seeking out unique things to learn about that are not part of the traditional school program.
WMV: Who or what inspires you?
Deja: Anyone that is creative!
Canyon: People chasing their passions! Most of the projects we work on have a high social value. Giving Back:
www.imagineitskins.com
ImagineItSkins.com
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwuE0_QzPsI
Putting bright images in hospital rooms for kids... These images (essentially a high tech sticker) are reusable and more affordable (one fifth the typical cost of a mural artist). Recent scientific studies have proven kids actually heal faster and go home quicker with brighter images in their hospital rooms. We have a National Distribution Agreement with Amerinet (A Health Care Group Purchase Organization).
WMV: What are your thoughts on taxes and regulations?
Deja: No comment.
Canyon: No comment.
WMV: How many of the inventions you've been involved with, whether as inventors or advisors, have anything to do with entertainment in general, or film and television in particular?
Deja: Again, our Freshman Inventors project will be a TV show, Youtube channel or network type show.
This show has never been done in the U.S.A. (Writers Guild Association (W.G.A.) registered – The Entertainment Industry’s form of a patent).
We were awarded the rights to use “Freshman Inventors” by the U.S. Government.
Experienced Reality Show Producer/Director (someone still associated with the real "Shark Tank" on ABC) is our advisor.
Canyon: Ditto!
WMV: What, if anything, would you like to tell our readers about your parents, siblings, and/or other friends and/or relatives?
Deja: Our single dad (hint, hint to any amazing, single women) was a former F.B.I. Agent now turned C.E.O., Inventor and Patent holder with us.... Spokesperson, Product [?], Actor - is our biggest advocate and cheerleader...
Canyon: Yeah, sometimes, as kids, we need motivation to stay on course with our inventions and projects, and our dad does it in a great way.
We have skills that most adults don't have.
WMV: What do you do just for fun, when you're not inventing or helping others market their inventions?
Deja: Modeling, acting, spokesperson for another start-up company...
Canyon: Football, snow skiing, video games... Did I say Football? [Smiles...]
WMV: Where have you traveled to?
Deja: Florida, California, Washington State, Nevada, Arizona, Idaho...
Canyon: Ditto!
WMV: What foreign languages, if any, do you speak?
Deja: Some Spanish...
Canyon: None!
WMV: How are you celebrating Valentine's Day this year?
Deja: Nothing really special...
Canyon: Ditto!
Interview by William Mortensen Vaughan
No comments:
Post a Comment