Okay, it’s official. After dealing with far too many pre-production wicked witches and winged monkeys here in L.A., I blurted out in a moment of frustration – “Man, at this rate, it would be cheaper to fly our cast back to the Midwest and shoot there…”
Silence followed, then realization.
It most certainly would be cheaper and we’d get far more bang for our buck. Subsequently, production has been rescheduled for early June in Michigan. I can’t believe how much more smoothly (and fun!) things have been going ever since. Dorothy said it best, “There’s no place like home.”
Meanwhile, things on the West Coast aren’t too shabby either. I’ve been in non-stop meetings the past few weeks with glorious results. If all goes as planned, expect us back in the Midwest very soon to be shooting our next feature – YAY! More details soon, but suffice to say we’ve found the right home for our next project and I’m already totally digging our new family members.
I know I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating. To make a successful film, things really need to feel right. One really must “do it for love” – not out of desperation and not because one feels she has no other alternative. I really don’t get people who “suffer for their art.” Struggle sure, but if you’re actually suffering, why do it? Chances are you’re just going to make the people with whom you work suffer, and eventually the poor audience who has to watch this belabored endeavor suffer, too. Why not spare us all and nip that painful endeavor in the bud?
Your team members must be doing it for love as well. I don’t know when the gears shifted, but it seems I’ve been the woo-ee more than the woo-er of late. As a result, I’ve had so many pretty shiny objects dangled in my face, people promising me the world, trying to seduce me with all manner of sexy propositions.
Sometimes it’s tempting at first, and last year that very well might have worked on me. This year, I know better. The best advice I can offer anybody trying to make deals in this town is this: Figure out what’s in it for the other person and proceed accordingly. If the other guy’s agenda happens to complement one’s own, then it could work. But if something seems too good to be true – chances are, it is.
Beyond that, make sure you’re working with people you like, respect and feel you can trust. I’m so excited to have found team members who are as passionate about our project as I am. This is too fun. Like the best playground ever. We have so many opportunities to explore as we assemble the rest of our team. And the collaboration process is already off to a great beginning (with both the short and the feature, in fact.)
But enough of this coffee break rant. There’s work to be done. We’re pretty crazed, now in pre-prod for both the short AND the feature, gearing up for 6 new upcoming fests and travel adventures, and still a few other surprises with which we’re not quite ready to go public. We look forward to sharing more news soon. Thanks for tuning in!