Melynda Burdette Wintrol, Rutendo Mudzamiri, Kurt Boehm, and Lisa Carrier Baker. Photos courtesy of Adventure Theatre MTC.

GLEN ECHO, MD – Adventure Theatre MTC (ATMTC), educating and inspiring new generations of theater artists and audiences with exceptional theatrical experiences, announces its return from a strategic pause with an all new leadership staff led by Executive Director and former Education Director, Melynda Burdette Wintrol, Artistic Director, Kurt Boehm, and Lisa Carrier Baker, Academy Director. Other members of the leadership staff include Rutendo Mudzamiri as Development Director, and Amanda Bradley as Communications Director. 

Under new leadership Adventure Theatre MTC is recommitting to workplace practices that deeply align with our mission, vision, and core values of Equity, Engagement, Innovation, Growth, and Wonder. We recognize that educating and inspiring future generations begins with our internal practices and furthering our own education and growth with a focus on our most valuable resources, our people.

Says Executive Director, Melynda Burdette Wintrol, “After a long search and vetting process, we have assembled a team who fully understand the necessity of creating encouraging, supportive, and enriching spaces for all who enter our doors, whether they are employees, artists, students, or advocates. I’m excited by the collaborative spirit and incredible skill of our newly assembled team and am eager for the opportunities to connect with the surrounding communities in my new role.”

Michael J. Bobbitt, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Cultural Council and former Artistic Director of Adventure Theatre MTC, says of the new leadership, “I am thrilled to know that Adventure Theatre MTC is in the artistic hands of former colleagues and favorite Adventure Artists. I have had the pleasure of working with Lisa, Kurt, and Melynda as artists, teachers, collaborators, and friends! Additionally, they bring with them almost a combined seven decades of connections to the DC theater scene- a huge asset to the Adventure family.” 

This new leadership plans to restore the vision of Adventure as a popular destination for DC area families with shows based on literary works as a premiere training destination for musical theatre students and future professionals. 

To learn more, visit www.adventuretheatre-mtc.org. All performances will take place at Adventure Theatre MTC, 7300 MacArthur Blvd, Glen Echo, MD, 20812 in the historic Glen Echo Park.

ABOUT ADVENTURE THEATRE MTC
ATMTC cultivates new generations of artists and audiences by creating memorable theatrical productions and by providing young people the highest quality musical theater training.  ATMTC serves students at all skill levels and families from diverse communities, approximately 35,000 people annually.

ABOUT MELYNDA BURDETTE WINTROL (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR)
Melynda Burdette Wintrol is humbled to return to Adventure Theatre MTC as Executive Director having served as Director of Education prior to her departure in 2018. Melynda has been a vocalist and musical theatre performer, teaching artist, vocal coach, and arts administrator for over 20 years.  Originally from Frederick, Maryland, Melynda is a graduate of The Catholic University of America’s Benjamin T. Rome School of Music holding a Bachelor of Music in Musical Theatre. Melynda went on to earn her Master of Science in Nonprofit and Association Management. During her studies at CUA Melynda, a classically trained mezzo-soprano, was selected to represent the school in Italy and perform a private papal audience for Pope John Paul II. Melynda has studied under Cathie Porter-Borden, Dr. Janette Ogg, Maureen Codelka, and N. Thomas Pedersen. As a Teaching Artist, Melynda has worked with Adventure Theatre MTC, Drama Learning Center, Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts, Dance Unlimited/Performing Arts Factory, and Urbana Dance. Melynda has performed Off-Broadway, on tour and in regional theatres across the country. A member of three Helen Hayes nominated ensembles, Melynda has performed with the Tony award winning Signature Theatre, Studio Theatre, Olney Theatre Center, American Family Theatre, Washington Savoyards, Maryland Ensemble Theatre, Shawnee Playhouse, Prather Entertainment Group, Venus Theatre, Pallas Theatre Collective, Riverside Dinner Theatre and Toby’s Dinner Theatre.   

ABOUT KURT BOEHM (ARTISTIC DIRECTOR)
Boehm joins Adventure Theatre MTC after two decades of experience as an award-winning Director, Choreographer, Teacher, and Actor based right here in Washington, D.C. He is proud to have had a long relationship with ATMTC having worked under Michael Bobbitt, previous Artistic Director. Since 2008, you have seen his work in Productions such as Goodnight Moon, You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, Ella Enchanted, The Snowy Day, Spot’s Birthday Party, Harold and The Purple Crayon, among others. Boehm joins our team while currently serving as the Resident Casting Director & Manager of Patron Services at The Keegan Theatre in Dupont Circle. He has extensive experience as a teaching artist centering his career as an educator and looks forward to carrying the mission of ATMTC through to the next generation of theatre makers. Across the DMV, he has worked as an educator at The Catholic University of America, Montgomery College Summer Dinner Theatre, George Mason University, Toby’s Dinner Theatre, Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts, Kids In Dramatic Study, Centennial High School, Alice Deal Middle School, and ATMTC. Boehm has also Directed & Choreographed for The Keegan Theatre, Imagination Stage, The Mac-Haydn Theatre in New York, Washington Savoyards, Toby’s Dinner Theatre, and ATMTC. As a Helen Hayes nominated Actor, his work has expanded to Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, The Broad Stage in LA, ArtsEmerson in Boston, and at home in the DMV. You have seen his work on our stages at The Kennedy Center, Arena Stage, Ford’s Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Signature Theatre, Olney Theatre Center, Imagination Stage, The Keegan Theatre, Toby’s Dinner Theatre, & Monumental Theatre Company. Boehm earned his Bachelors of Music from The Catholic University of America and is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. Boehm will center his work at ATMTC around our core values of Equity, Engagement, Innovation, Growth, & Wonder.

ABOUT LISA CARRIER BAKER (ACADEMY DIRECTOR)
Lisa Carrier Baker is so happy to be joining the ATMTC team again after serving as Director of Education from 2009-2011, and Director of the Pre-Professional Program from 2003-2013. She is currently the Managing Director/Music Supervisor at Montgomery College Summer Dinner Theatre, a position she has held since 2014. Lisa was a stage director of SDT productions from 2000-2004 and has directed 10 main stage productions for Montgomery College. She is a former adjunct professor of voice at American University and Montgomery College and her students have been heard on the Broadway stages of Wicked, Bring It On, Dear Evan Hansen, and A Man of No Importance, among others. They can currently be seen in national tours, regional theatres, and are local Helen Hayes Award winners and nominees. As a performer, she has been in four national tours, and seen regionally at Ohio Light Opera, The National Opera Company, and Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma. In concert, she has been a featured performer with many symphonies in the US and Canada, including four seasons with the Indianapolis Symphony’s “Yuletide Celebration” under the baton of Jack Everly. She again joined Maestro Everly when she made her Baltimore Symphony debut in their staged concert of “Hairspray” alongside John Waters, George Wendt, and Beth Leavel. In DC she has performed at The Kennedy Center, creating the role of The Narrator in the world premiere (cast recording) and national tour of The Nightingale, American Century Theatre, Round House Theatre (Silver Spring), Washington Savoyards, Toby’s Dinner Theatre, Ganymede Arts, and ArtsCentric in Baltimore. Though theatre is her profession, Lisa’s passion is animal welfare. In 2012 she founded DC Actors for Animals (endorsed by Bernadette Peters), a 501c3 charitable organization that works with area professional theaters and artists to generate education, advocacy, and rescue for animals in need. To date, their annual adoption event, Beltway Barks, has helped over 300 animals find forever homes. Education: BM in Musical Theatre, Master of Education. Post graduate: three seasons as an Artist in Residence with the Fletcher Opera Institute at North Carolina School of the Arts (formerly National Opera Company). 

ABOUT RUTENDO MUDZAMIRI, DSL (DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR)
Rutendo Mudzamiri (DSL) has over 12 years of experience in fundraising and nonprofit management.  She has raised over $24 million in private and public funding for various nonprofits and campaigns.  Dr. Ru is an experienced advocate for leadership at all levels, with a long history of leadership roles in Zimbabwe and USA nonprofits.  Her accomplishments include creating partnerships with key constituents within corporate, foundations, public entities, and notable celebrities.  Dr. Rutendo Mudzamiri, known as Dr. Ru, has initiated and supported leadership and social impact initiatives in over 23 African countries.  She is a sought-after development leader and passionately helps organizations excel through resource mobilization, philanthropy, and partnerships.  Dr. Ru embodies Adventure Theatre’s engagement, innovation, and growth values.  Dr. Ru received her Advanced Certificate in Cultural Management from Institute for Culture Concepts in Germany and a Master of Arts in Community Arts from the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore.  She holds a Doctorate in Strategic Leadership from Regent University in Virginia Beach.  Dr. Ru has delivered classes at a Duke University Summer School Program and provided leadership coaching and development consulting services to local and international organizations. She also serves as an Adjunct Professor at a University in Washington, D.C.

ABOUT AMANDA BRADLEY (COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR)
Amanda Bradley received her bachelor’s degree at James Madison University in Media Arts & Design and has built her career as an arts & nonprofit communications specialist. Amanda was the Director of Marketing & Communications at Adventure Theatre MTC for over 11 years before spending 2 years as Marketing & Communications Director at BlackRock Center for the Arts. Amanda also has had vocal and performance training through Christina Crerar (voice), Laurie Nelson (voice), and Studio Theatre Conservatory (acting).

Knock, Knock.

Who’s there?

Little Old Lady.

Little Old Lady who?

I didn’t know you could yodel.

That’s just one of the corny jokes that Krapf bus driver Tim Streeter “Mr. Tim” tells his student bus passengers.

Mr. Tim then told me he yodels after finishing that joke, much to the delight of the kids on bus #74.

Mr. Tim owns a graphic arts company and works a side gig as a school bus driver in the Downingtown Area School District.

He greets every student by name and on the first runs of the day he announces, “GOOD MORNING, GOOD MORNING, GOOD MORNING!”

And the kids shout, “GOOD MORNING, MR. TIM,” right back at him.

This is Mr. Tim’s first year driving a big yellow bus. Early on, a couple of kids handed him some handmade art. He hung those pictures up on the ceiling of the bus, as like he did with his own children’s art on the refrigerator, years aog.

The current art gallery has expanded. Since then, dozens more drawings have been hung, with easy to remove painter’s tape.

“Everybody wants to have a piece of art on the bus,” Mr. Tim told me about the colorful Bus #74 Art Gallery. “It’s not your typical school bus.”

Most drivers decorate for the holidays, and for Halloween, Mr. Tim hung a huge spider.

With three kids to each of 24 seats, the bus could hold up to 72 students. Everybody has an assigned seat to facilitate loading. Sixty eight elementary school students and 50 high and middle schoolers ride to and from school daily.

Mr. Tim’s full daily trip is 58 miles.

Children are dropped off at Downingtown West High School and Downingtown Middle School. The older students are quiet and polite until they wake up.

“Nobody wants to say anything,” Mr. Tim said. “When they wake up, they are much more animated.”

The elementary school students are crazy loud and make the trip to Bradford Heights Elementary School.

The first afternoon pick up is at 2 p.m. and Mr. Tim’s driving day is complete at 4:45 p.m. Mr. Tim noted that he is always on time.

A layoff for the professional creative director and marketing consultant occurred during the pandemic. Businesses were cutting back. Marketing and art were the first fields to go. Now Mr. Tim works at home on his own art, between bus shifts, and on nights and weekends.

“I needed to fill the gap,” he said. “I like to help out the community and there is a desperate need for bus drivers.”

Krapf School Bus trained him during the summer and he earned his CDL license, a requirement for a bus driver.

In Chester County, Krapf employs over 600 drivers and operates 585 school buses. The company also provides transportation services in York, Dauphin and Bucks counties, and in the states of Delaware, New Jersey and New York.

“It is important that the drivers get to know their students,” Sue Kramer, Krapf Area General Manager said. “They receive regular training on student management and the importance of building a rapport with their students, as well as with students’ parents.”

Mr. Tim told me that the safety of the young riders is the #1 priority.

He makes sure the riders are sitting properly in their seats, while noting that the bus was designed for the safety of the students.

“I’m highly aware of the surroundings and things happening 200 yards ahead on the road,” he said. “I’m constantly looking at the mirrors every 10 seconds.

“I’m looking at the students, the side view mirror and the front mirrors. You’ve got to really focus on the hills and curves.”

Mr. Tim loves hearing the stories and often repeats them for his wife’s benefit. He especially enjoys the fifth graders “who will say anything” and prefer to sit in the back.

‘They will tell you anything,” he said. “The kids are great. They are funny.”

Mr. Tim often runs out of jokes and the kids often write them down for him.

He told me a favored riddle: Q: “What do you call cheese that’s not yours? A: Nacho cheese.

If only commuting to work and getting caught in traffic was as interesting. Next time I’ll have to catch a bus.

Bill Rettew is a weekly columnist and Chester County resident. If only he could get the time back he’s spent waiting for buses. The best way to contact him is at brettew@dailylocal.com

Elliot Tiber Fundraiser for the Stonewall Museum

“Friends” by Elliot Tiber

“Joan” by Elliot Tiber

Opening on 06/29/2023 with artwork by Elliot Tiber, a key figure in Woodstock and an early advocate for LGBTQ rights on the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL, UNITED STATES, May 19, 2023/EINPresswire.com/ — New River Fine Art Hosts Stonewall National Museum, Archives, and Library Fundraiser

New River Fine Art announced a fundraiser for the Stonewall National Museum, Archives, and Library to take place on June 29, 2023, the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. The fundraiser will feature an exhibition from artist Elliot Tiber, who was a key figure in Woodstock and an early advocate for LGBTQ rights.

Elliot Tiber lived a dual life – on weekdays as an openly gay man and successful interior designer in Greenwich Village. He was active in the gay community, socializing with many musicians, actors, poets, and writers, including Marlon Brando and Tennessee Williams. On weekends Tiber lived as a straight man in Bethel, NY, to help his parents at their motel. In June 1969, he participated in the Stonewall Inn uprising, where gays and lesbians, tired of being harassed and targeted by the police, fought with the NYPD for six days, which many consider to be the start of the Gay Rights Movement.

A month later, Elliot learned that an art and music festival planned for the town of Wallkill, NY, had lost its permit just thirty days prior to the event’s start. Elliot possessed a permit and helped introduce the festival producers to Max Yasgur, the owner of a 600-acre dairy farm and the Woodstock Art & Music Festival was saved!

Although Elliot held two fine art degrees and studied with some of the best abstract expressionists in America, including Rothko, Reinhardt, and Motherwell, he never became famous for his own art, largely because he kept it secluded at home. In 2016, Tiber met Frank Gromling, a successful publisher and art gallerist, who promptly signed on to become his agent.

Sadly, Tiber died three months later. “Elliot and I carved out an aggressive art marketing campaign featuring his fabulous personality and humor,” states Gromling. “His death three months later brought our plans to a screeching halt while I researched how best to keep my promise for his art. Elliot’s story needs to be told so others in the LGBTQ community can learn from the successes and failures of this iconic leader who proudly followed his heart.”

This fundraiser marks the first time Tiber’s art will be exhibited publicly. “In interesting times, art has a way of breaking through and reminding us of what is important,” said Robert Kesten, Executive Director of the Stonewall National Museum, Archives, and Library. “Here is an artist who has transcended those messages across various platforms, and we are indeed honored and privileged to be beneficiaries of this show and first public exhibition.

A portion of all sale proceeds will go to the Stonewall National Museum, Archives, and Library. For more information, high resolution images or to schedule interviews with Lisa Burgess, Frank Gromling or Robert Kesten, please contact New River Fine Art.

822 E. Las Olas Blvd. | Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

Ph. 954.524.2100 | newriverfineart.com

Gabriel Delgado
New River Fine Art
+ 19545242100
email us here
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RSVP to enjoy a special viewing of the “Postcards from Paradise” group exhibition of letter-size paintings celebrating the beauty of our surroundings and how we connect with one another. A Juror’s Choice Award and two honorable mentions will be selected by guest juror Haylee Barsky, the curator and founder of Visionary Projects in New York, NY.

Dress your artsy best and meet fellow art lovers while taking pleasure in over 100 works by more than 60 artists—in addition to a curated selection of regional artists in the gallery’s lower level space [The Down Low].

The exhibition is on view through June 24, 2023. Gallery hours are Wednesday-Saturday, 12-6PM or by appointment.

Participating Artists
Alex Hagerty, Alice Koswara, Amy Hutcheson, Amy McKay, Angela Han, Angela Myers, Anna Mathai, Annika James, Ben Benet, Cat Gutierrez, Dominique Guevara, Donna Fenstermaker, Durba Sen, Elaine Pratt, Eli The Man, Emily Cate Sabree, Ferran Torras, Fuzz E Grant, Gustavo Castillo, Heather Robinson, Jason Villegas, Jen LaVita, Jennika Bastian, Joanna Chrys, Joey Deruy, John Osgood, Jordan Holms, Joseph Kosdrosky, Julianne W. Sterling, Kim Brewer, KNZN, Krista Fay, Kuntal, Lana Köhn, Laura Paladini, Laurie Baars, Luciano Roque, Mark George, Mark Hamer, Mary Southall, Meg Moriarty, Meghan Lewis MacLeod, Meuffy, Michael Acker, Michele de la Menardiere, Mila Kirillova, Natalie Dadamio, Nathalie Lendermann, Paul Torres, Pencil Roots by Varsha, Rachel Znerold, Ron Robles, Roseanne Chao, Roxanne Brodeur Young, Sabin Filip, Sarah Farris, Sarah Grimm, Scott Sager, Shrey Purohit, Sofa, Steve Javiel, Steven Stodor, Stu Postiglione, Usha Shukla, Veronica Zavel, Victoria Veedell, Xiao He, and YouBeen Kim.

About the Guest Juror
Haylee Barsky is an independent curator and designer based in New York, NY. She is the founder and curator of Visionary Projects, an international art platform, and community established in 2018 to make contemporary art and creativity accessible and inclusive. Haylee received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History and Photography with a Master’s degree in Art Marketing from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, NY, and has worked in the creative departments for Tom Ford, Nylon Magazine, and Moda Operandi, among others.

About the Gallery
Voss Gallery is a women-owned art gallery in San Francisco’s Mission District established in 2019 by Ashley L. Voss. The gallery features a dynamic exhibition program of solo and thematically organized group shows and socially-conscious projects to benefit the greater community. New exhibitions are presented every four to five weeks and are curated with an emphasis on New Contemporary work by emerging and mid-career artists.

An undisputed classic is fast becoming this year’s most controversial artwork.

Michelangelo’s David has spurred another nudity scandal—this time in Glasgow rather than Tallahassee—following one restaurant’s attempts to feature the artwork, phallus and all, in its latest subway spot. Global, the company that oversees advertising across Glasgow’s public transit, rejected the original design. Now, the family-owned DRG restaurant group is running a censored version and footing the bill for the reprint.

DRG began conceptualizing its latest ad for Glasgow’s Barolo Italian restaurant in early January. Previous ads featured the Mona Lisa eating spaghetti and God, as depicted in The Creation of Adam (c. 1508–12), handing off a slice of pizza.

“Indeed, we saw the Florida story and genuinely, it didn’t even occur that we could have a similar situation in Glasgow,” Nadine Carmichael, DRG’s head of sales and marketing, told Artnet News. “The Florida saga was utterly mind boggling.”

The original design. Courtesy of DRG

Their original ad featured David chowing on a slice in the nude, framed by a ribbon of taupe and text reading: “It doesn’t get more Italian.”

Global, which declined to comment, first proposed that DRG amend the original printed ads by affixing stickers of the Italian flag where the good lord split David. Unfortunately, once printed, those stickers proved too small. In the end, DRG and Global compromised on an updated design where the protagonist is cropped above his waist.

Modified, approved design. Courtesy of DRG

“The composition just isn’t the same for starters,” Carmichael said, “and it seems odd to have cut out half of an iconic figure, so it slightly jars from our perspective.” Others are concerned about the sculpture’s intensifying notoriety.

“It’s a silly distraction,” remarked Martyn Reed, who oversees Nuart festival in nearby Aberdeen each year. “Not sure what’s worse: [the sculpture] being used to sell pizza, or the mock outrage being leveraged for column inches.”

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Melbourne-based artist Yuria Okamura intertwines sacred geometries with medicinal botanicals in her delicate drawings and wall works. Evoking animism and the Buddhist and Shinto beliefs she encountered during her childhood in Japan, Okamura’s renderings in pen and acrylic create sites for meditation and contemplation with symmetries, muted color palettes, and subdued, calming auras.

Often accompanying the smaller works on paper are large-scale patterns the artist draws on the walls surrounding the pieces to create immersive architectural installations. This pairing establishes “a temple-like space for enshrining nature,” she says, and together, the works emulate the quiet, reflective qualities of places of worship.

Some of Okamura’s works shown here are on view through August 20 as part of Melbourne Now at NGV Australia. Find more of her exquisite renderings on her site and Instagram.

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Poetic Drawings by Yuria Okamura Meditate on the Sacredness of Plants appeared first on Colossal.

The Gist

• Basics mastered. Prompt engineering fine-tunes text for AI models, aiding marketers in content creation.
• Utilizing AI. Effective prompt engineering allows AI models to perform various roles, with different models suited to specific tasks.
• Guiding AI. Word prioritization impacts AI interpretation. Clear, unbiased, appropriately specific prompts yield better results.

Prompt engineering is the process of fine-tuning the text prompt that a user submits to generative AI models in order for them to perform specific tasks. By using prompt engineering, marketers can more effectively leverage generative AI to improve marketing campaigns and create engaging content.

This article will look at the basics of prompt engineering, and how it can be used to obtain specific results that can be used for marketing, content production, advertising and customer experience.

How Does Prompt Engineering Work?

A prompt is the text that is entered by a user into a text box on a generative AI website or application. Prompts are used to direct the large language model to return a response that is based on the prompt. Because generative AI forms the response based on the most likely way that a sentence is completed, prompts can be simple, such as “The ocean is.” Such a prompt would return a result that completes the sentence.

Generative AI models such as ChatGPT, Bing and Bard are able to research extensive topics and provide users with a summary of web pages, documents and even their own research. To get the most from the large language models, however, users must craft the prompt they use to make requests. This is known as prompt engineering. 

There are several different types of prompt engineering, including Chain of Thought (CoT), zero-shot, one-shot and few-shot prompting.

• Zero-shot – A zero-shot prompt is a query for a machine learning model in zero-shot learning, where the model generates responses without any task-specific examples, relying solely on its prior knowledge and understanding.
• One-shot – A one-shot prompt is a query for a machine learning model in one-shot learning, where the model learns tasks based on just one example. The prompt guides the model to generate suitable responses using its understanding of the single example provided.
• Few-shot – Few-shot learning involves training a machine learning model to perform well on new tasks by using only a small number of examples or training data. In this context, a few-shot prompt is a question or input given to the model, which helps it understand the task and generate appropriate responses based on the limited examples provided.
• Chain of Thought (CoT) – The core concept of CoT is to provide a few-shot learning model with exemplars (specific examples that are used to illustrate a concept, behavior, or principle) that explicitly demonstrate the reasoning process. By doing so, the model will also reveal its reasoning when responding to prompts, which frequently results in more accurate outcomes.

Rachel Hernandez, director of brand strategy at The HOTH, a full-service digital marketing firm, told CMSWire that CoT prompting is a technique that involves breaking down a complex task into shorter, clearer tasks that are usually sequential. “Although that sounds like it’s referring to prompts and tasks, CoT is usually applied to the natural language processing (NLP) aspect. This is what helps the AI produce output that seems more conversational with a logical flow and cadence,” said Hernandez.

Hernandez explained that in the context of generative AI, “shots” are referring to how many labeled examples are available for the AI to reference when being asked to perform a task. “Zero-shot is to say that you’re asking the AI to perform a task with zero examples to compare against. One-shot provides only one labeled example and few-shot can be up to 20 examples,” said Hernandez. “It’s interesting because although having more examples can certainly produce better outputs, it also brings in additional variables that the AI wouldn’t know with one or zero shots.”

The following is an example of CoT being used to return a result that explains how it obtained the answer to the question that was asked.

Related Article: Top 5 ChatGPT Prompts for Customer Experience Professionals

Prompt Engineering Examples

For most people, prompt engineering is about crafting the prompt to obtain the most useful response from the generative AI model. One user could ask generative AI to play the role of “a guide to local plants,” and another could ask it to “create a course of action for learning Spanish.” 

For example, suppose one wanted to craft a prompt that would turn Bing into a travel guide. The following prompt, which was initially created by a software engineer who goes by the user name koksalkapucuoglu, could accomplish this goal:

I want you to play the role of a travel guide. I will tell you my location and you will suggest places to visit that are near my location. I might also provide you with the type of places I would like to visit. You will also suggest similar types of places that are near my first location. My first request is “I am in Orlando, Florida and I want to visit water parks.”

By using that prompt, Bing was able to generate the following response:

Not all generative AI models are capable of providing a detailed response for all prompts. For instance, ChatGPT was unable to effectively perform the role of travel agent and responded to the prompt with: 

I appreciate your interest in having me play the role of a travel guide. However, based on the provided web search results, I am unable to provide specific recommendations for water parks near Orlando, Florida.

This is largely because ChatGPT does not currently have the ability to search the web (unless you are a Plus user with access to the Browser plugin). Because Bard functions as a search engine chat mode, it was able to generate a respectable response:

Prompt engineering can be used to turn a generative AI model into almost any role a user chooses. Teachers might wish to use AI to create content for their classes. In that case, the following prompt, which was initially created by @devisasari, would be something like this:

I want you to play the role of an educational content creator. You will create engaging, informative, and entertaining content for textbooks, online courses, and lecture notes. My first request is “I need you to develop a lesson plan on plant proteins for middle school students.”

ChatGPT excels at these types of prompts, and generated the following detailed response:

ChatGPT continued its response with the following:

• Define plant proteins and differentiate them from animal proteins.
• Understand the importance of plant proteins in a balanced diet.
• Identify sources of plant proteins.
• Explain the role of proteins in human body functions.

Materials:

• Whiteboard or blackboard
• Markers or chalk
• Handout with examples of plant protein sources
• Interactive digital presentation on plant proteins
• Internet access
• Small food samples for a taste-testing activity (optional)
• Lesson Procedure:
• Introduction (5 minutes)
• Begin by asking students what they know about proteins and why they are important for our bodies.
• Introduce the concept of plant proteins as an alternative to animal proteins.
• Explain that plant proteins can be an essential part of a balanced diet.
• Presentation (15 minutes)

Use an interactive digital presentation to teach the following topics:

• a. What are proteins? (building blocks of life, made up of amino acids)
• b. Plant proteins vs. animal proteins (differences in amino acid profile, digestion, and environmental impact)
• c. Importance of plant proteins in a balanced diet (health benefits, sustainability, ethical considerations)
• d. Sources of plant proteins (legumes, nuts, seeds, whole grains, vegetables)
• e. Role of proteins in the human body (growth, repair, immune function, energy production)
• Group Activity: Plant Protein Taste Test (15 minutes, optional)
  • If feasible, provide small food samples rich in plant proteins (e.g., hummus, edamame, tofu, lentil soup).
  • Divide students into groups and ask them to taste the samples, discussing the flavors and textures.
  • As a class, discuss which plant protein sources they liked most and why.
• Individual Activity: Protein Power Research (15 minutes)
  • Ask students to use the internet or other resources to find one plant-based protein source not mentioned in the lesson.
  • Have students write a short paragraph about their chosen plant protein, explaining its nutritional value and possible ways to incorporate it into their diets.
• Conclusion and Assessment (10 minutes)
• Review the lesson objectives and main takeaways.
• Assess students’ understanding by asking questions about plant proteins, their sources, and their importance in a balanced diet.
• Collect the individual activity paragraphs for evaluation.
• Homework:
  • Ask students to create a plant-based meal plan for one day, incorporating at least three different plant protein sources. Encourage them to be creative and use the plant proteins they learned about during the lesson.

Prompt Engineering for Marketers

Now that we have a decent grasp of how prompt engineering works, we need to create a prompt that will enable marketers to engineer … a better prompt. By providing the AI model with specifics about how to craft a better prompt, marketers can turn generative AI into a prompt creator. This prompt was originally created by Redditor ZenMind55 and posted to the OpenAI Discord server. This version of the prompt is based on ZenMind55’s work:

I want you to become my Prompt Creator. Your goal is to help me craft the best possible prompt for my needs. The prompt will be used by you, ChatGPT. You will follow the following process: 1. Your first response will be to ask me what the prompt should be about. I will provide my answer, but we will need to improve it through continual iterations by going through the next steps. 2. Based on my input, you will generate 3 sections. a) Revised prompt (provide your rewritten prompt. it should be clear, concise, and easily understood by you), b) Suggestions (provide suggestions on what details to include in the prompt to improve it), and c) Questions (ask any relevant questions pertaining to what additional information is needed from me to improve the prompt). 3. We will continue this iterative process with me providing additional information to you and you updating the prompt in the Revised prompt section until it’s complete.

Hernandez said that according to the AI itself, the most important thing that people using ChatGPT should do is try to be as simple and clear as possible. “For example, a more distilled version of the prompt could be:”

Please help me create the best possible prompt. First, I will provide a topic, and you will ask questions to refine it. Then, you will provide a rewritten prompt, suggestions for improvement, and ask relevant questions. We will continue this iterative process until the prompt is complete.

Both of these prompts start an iterative process that enables the user to fine-tune a prompt that can be used for practically any research. ZenMind55 has published some other useful and imaginative prompts on the website ChainBrain AI. When asked about prompt engineering, ZenMind55 told CMSWire that creating prompts is about understanding the AI’s limitations and strengths. “Be concise and specific, but also leave room for the AI to generate innovative responses.” He reiterated what many users are now discovering, explaining that the ability of these models to generate prompts on their own is surprisingly good. “By engaging in a co-creative, iterative process with these models, you can hone and shape your prompt to perfection.”

By using specific prompts, ChatGPT is able to format generated content, create images that are displayed in the ChatGPT window and make ChatGPT an expert on any given topic. For instance, generative AI can generate the text copy that will be used in marketing campaigns. 

By using the Applied Expert System (AES) prompt, ChatGPT can become an expert on anything. For example, by using AES to make ChatGPT an expert on turntables and asking it to write the marketing copy for the extremely expensive ($9,295) FEICKERT Woodpecker turntable, ChatGPT produced the following content:

Introducing the FEICKERT Woodpecker turntable, the ultimate choice for audiophiles seeking unparalleled sound quality and precise performance. Crafted with the highest standards of German engineering and design, the Woodpecker offers a unique combination of beauty and functionality.

The Woodpecker is a belt-driven turntable that boasts a highly precise, electronically controlled motor. This motor ensures that the rotation speed is accurate and stable, reducing any unwanted noise and vibration. The turntable’s platter is made from a high-density composite material that offers excellent resonance characteristics, providing a clean and dynamic sound.

The Woodpecker’s tonearm is crafted from high-quality materials and features adjustable azimuth, VTA, and anti-skating, allowing for precise and effortless adjustments. The tonearm’s bearings and wiring are of the highest quality, ensuring minimal distortion and maximum fidelity.

The Woodpecker also features a modular design that allows for easy upgrades and customization. This means that you can easily tailor the turntable to your preferences and needs, ensuring that it remains a centerpiece of your listening experience for years to come.

Invest in the FEICKERT Woodpecker turntable, and experience the ultimate in sonic excellence and precision engineering.

Hernandez suggested that marketers in all realms could benefit from experimenting with prompting in different ways to see what variety of responses they can pull from the AI. For instance, they could prompt it to generate advertisements that are likely to resonate specifically with Gen X or to generate content that lists 5 features of a product. “Alternatively, you can give it an open-ended prompt asking the AI to use effective marketing tactics to create a post that sells your product and allow it to be more creative,” said Hernandez. “It might come up with something that inspires you or elevates your existing campaigns.”

Related Article: Prompt Engineering and Its Vital Role in AI-Driven Marketing

Words Should Be Prioritized

The way one prioritizes specific words within a prompt makes a huge difference when it comes to the way that generative AI interprets it — and for image creation tools, this is extremely important. Brian Brown, SVP and executive creative director at the interactive agency Razorfish, told CMSWire that the number one tip for any visual AI tool would probably be to craft your prompt in order of priority for your desired image. “‘A red headed woman in front of a blue sky’ prompt would give you a different result than ‘a blue sky behind a red headed woman’. The former prioritizes the red headed woman, and the latter prioritizes the blue sky.”

The more specific and detailed the prompt is, the more prioritization matters. “When you start layering in all kinds of details: ‘A photograph of a red headed woman wearing goggles on her head, dressed in a brown suit, standing in front of a blue sky, steampunk illustration, volumetric lighting, technicolor, visible film grain, highly detailed’ — the order really starts to matter,” said Brown. 

Brown explained that although most people don’t think of it this way, prompt engineering is actually a very forgiving scripting language. “When we prompt, we are interfacing with the LLM which is issuing a set of commands to the computer hardware and returning something in real-time.” Brown suggested that as with all scripting, we still need to know how to phrase the command to get the desired result. “This is the core of prompt engineering.”

According to Hernandez, there are other potential issues that should be considered when crafting prompts, including:

• Ambiguity: Prompts that are too vague or written with passive language can lead to misleading or irrelevant responses, which can be frustrating for users.
• Bias: Biased prompts can lead to biased responses, which can have real-world implications for decision-making and other applications. 
• Specificity: Prompts that are too general or broad can be difficult for the model to understand and result in unhelpful or irrelevant responses. On the other hand, prompts that are too specific can limit the model’s ability to generate creative or unexpected responses.

Final Thoughts on Prompt Engineering

Being able to effectively use generative AI through prompt engineering is an essential skill for marketers, advertisers and content creators. By crafting and refining prompts, AI can be directed to produce specific, tailored responses, enhancing the quality of marketing strategies and creating engaging content.

The efficiency of a prompt largely depends on its clarity, the prioritization of its elements and its iterative refinement. As AI continues to evolve, the role of prompt engineering is likely to become vital across many industries.

Skirting the sandy sea floor or floating amidst anemone fronds, the subjects of Andrey Savin’s portraits can’t help but act a little fishy. The photographer meets most of the marine species in the waters around where he lives in the Philippines, fascinated by their enigmatic habits and unique interactions. “The most interesting moments for me are when I observe relationships between living creatures of the same species or interspecies relationships,” he tells Colossal. A finalist for the 2022 Close-Up Photographer of the Year contest, he highlights each individual’s distinctive traits, from snaggleteeth to speckled scales, and their remarkable aquatic home.

Savin is currently working on a project investigating how to take high-quality video with smartphones underwater, along with a continuing focus on capturing animal behavior. You can find more on his website, Instagram, and Behance.

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Looks Fishy: Andrey Savin Greets Marine Denizens in His Vibrant Underwater Portraits appeared first on Colossal.

Traveling at nearly 18,000 miles per hour, it can take less than 8.5 minutes for a rocket to fly from Earth’s surface to space orbit. But for the payload it’s carrying, it’s a much, much longer journey.

Cargo-carrying space missions can often take years to get off the ground, and cost millions of dollars.

But one Abu Dhabi startup hopes to change that. Precious Payload wants to be the “Booking.com for rocket launches,” says Andrey Maksimov, the company’s Russian-born CEO and founder.

“Similar to looking at the search results of a booking engine, you can view all the commercially available rocket launches around the planet,” says Maksimov. He adds that the platform, which launched in 2021, enables businesses to plan and manage space missions on a single interface.

Maksimov hopes Precious Payload can simplify a complex, time-consuming process, helping entrepreneurs and researchers plan their payload launches with ease and contributing to “the expansion of humanity’s presence in space,” he says.

Streamlining space shipments

Space missions typically require large teams and costly consultation from industry experts to ensure missions meet strict specifications, says Maksimov.

Precious Payload streamlines the process by gathering data from space agencies and rocket launches across the globe. Maksimov says his team has analyzed the engineering standards and regulatory protocols between international space agencies like NASA and the European Space Agency, and created its own list of specifications that ensure launches will comply with regulations wherever they take off from.

This approach has enabled the company to cut six to 10 months off the average mission’s time-to-launch, says Maksimov, adding that his goal is to achieve launches within “one year and $1 million.”

Connecting customers around the globe to commercial and government launches, Maksimov says the company has received bookings from 30 clients across 12 countries.

In addition to satellites, Maksimov says that Precious Payload is working with a range of cargo, including manufacturing, biological, and even art and marketing payloads, such as the space selfie stick by German company DCubeD, which helps companies get photos of their satellites in space.

Filling a niche

There’s a gap in the market for this “middleman” service, says Wendy Whitman Cobb, a space policy expert and professor of strategy and security studies at the US Air Force School of Advanced Air and Space Studies.

Whitman Cobb, who is not familiar with Precious Payload, says she sees “a place for the service that they’re offering.” Across different space agencies, logistical and bureaucratic processes can vary drastically, and are often opaque and complex, she tells CNN.

Services like Precious Payload could help small businesses and researchers who are unfamiliar with space logistics, says Whitman Cobb. “We’re going to see more of a need for this in the coming years, as this technology becomes more accessible to people that could never afford to do that previously.”

The cost of sending cargo into space has decreased by more than 95% over the past four decades. While companies like Elon Musk’s SpaceX spread the cost of sending a payload into space via its “rideshare” platform, Whitman Cobb says that Precious Payload’s model, which combines all the elements of a space mission, including insurance and regulatory approval, is “a really unique thing that I haven’t seen before.”

A one-stop-shop

Maksimov established Precious Payload in the United States in 2017, raising funds from Silicon Valley investors. However, in 2020 he decided to headquarter the company in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“There was a choice: to be the small fish in a very big pond (in the US); or come back to the Middle East … and be one of the only fish in the pond,” says Maksimov.

The UAE is a relative newcomer to the space industry, establishing its government agency in 2014. However, it has already seen success in its ambitious Mars program, becoming the fifth country to reach the red planet with its 2021 probe. Last year it announced an AED 3 billion ($820 million) fund to support “ground breaking” Emirati and international companies working in the space sector, as part of its efforts to diversify its economy.

As an early mover, Maksimov says he hopes to take advantage of this appetite for expansion, adding that Abu Dhabi’s location has given his business access to multiple markets, allowing him to raise $2.1 million in funding from investors in the US, Middle East, and Europe.

The booking platform is just the first step for Maksimov. He plans to make the company a one-stop-shop for space missions by expanding to include ground services and even satellite development.

“There’s an inevitable future where millions of people work and live in space,” says Maksimov, adding: “I want to build the toolset that will enable future entrepreneurs to estimate what it will take to launch (their payload) and solve their problem right there in the board room.”