Failures

After singing my rendition of Janis Joplin's "Piece O' My Heart" at our wrap party for The Whole Truth, several people asked, "Is there anything you CAN'T do?!"

Inferring "do *well*" because my performance was pretty much the crowd pleaser.

I joked, "Yes. Rugs and windows."

But the sad truth is, as my personal assistant Aaron (a very successful person - he played professional soccer until a head injury sent him on to other professions) and I commiserated, there have been many failures in my past.

Not that I believe in the overall concepts of success or failure. Putting too much importance on either can be debilitating. Enjoying life as it comes and is created by me, no matter the challenges handed me, is pretty much my philosophy.

But in these cases?

I think "failure" is appropriate.

Like there was the time I knit muffler scarves for friends and family as Christmas gifts. OK, I did not do enough research on the materials one should use to knit specific items. I chose a bright synthetic yarn that stretched and stretched over time.

My parents came to use their "muffler scarves" as nap blankets. Seriously. They grew so large they covered themselves with them when they stretched out on the sofa to take a nap.

My brother's .. he's more than six feet tall .. well, it grew to the point it touched the floor on either side hung around his neck. I'm not sure whatever became of it though I think wrapping water pipes during a cold streak would be useful.

The last time I saw it, he folded the "scarf" four times which made it so thick he could not wear it driving a car (even walking presented its own problems). I also had the sneaking suspicion he kept it hidden in a closet unless I visited. I figured this out when I saw the .. cobwebs.

Then there was the infamous year I made candles for everyone. Maybe that should be "candles." No, that's a bit harsh because they did burn. Mercifully.

What went awry was the coloring. I started out with the pure white wax, and I forget exactly what I used to infect- I mean affect them with bright hues, but none looked like the standard brightly hued candle you can buy at any store. Somehow I infused them quite accidentally with a sort of icky brownish-bluish-greenish-purpley pigmentation. I tried "fixing" them, adding this and that, but whatever I did only made it worse.

With "it's the thought that counts" sentiment, I wrapped them (people wince at my wrapping - not a reflection on the dreaded gift inside, but wondering how on earth someone who appears to be normally coordinated can make wrapping paper look like a refugee from a fire sale) and gave them to the people I love.

I figured, as long as they keep them away from food they couldn't do much damage - or perhaps if someone is on a diet it just might help them lose their appetite. And they could also brighten a little corner here and there. The basement, garage, outhouse ..

I have had to face my failure(s) in the fields of craftiness. Not crafty, me.

But that's in keeping with being a director. Directors are basically useless when it comes to *doing* anything. Why do you think all those crafty artists are there to help us put the film together?

We're very good at *saying* things, however. "Um, yes, let's make it blue." "No, that won't work." "It needs to be larger but not as large as, say, Simon Cowell's ego."

As long as I don't have to knit or melt wax? So far, so good.

Happy New Year.

May 2009 be your best year ever - enjoy and love every minute of it, doing things at which you excel and those things at which you aren't swell.

See you next year!

Joyeux Noel!

What a terrific Christmas.

Despite a forced delay to visit my family because flights were cancelled from snow and ice deluged Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and the entire region besieged with an unexpected snow storm, leaving many of us home bound? (A state of emergency has been declared by governor Christine Gregoire)

I'm celebrating one of my most enjoyable and memorable holidays ever.

First and foremost, everyone - pets and humans - in my world are healthy; my house is lit up for the holidays with a beautiful, glistening Christmas tree hosting 900 lights; fireplace logs flicker warming flames; sweet scents of the season simmer on the stove; holiday music plays, the three pups and kitty are as affectionate and playful as ever.

Because I'm "stranded" and not with my family, many invitations and good wishes have been sent my way; the roads make it treacherously impossible to socialize, however ... AND ... I promised my producers and editor that I would have my page 1 rewrite of The Lonely Goatherd completed by midnight Christmas Eve. Sure enough, I sent it out last night about 11:30pm. A "page 1" rewrite means that the script is rewritten from .. page 1.

The script's tone, characters, comedy and drama have not overwhelmingly changed, but the structure and overall writing is significantly changed and improved. It's much tighter, stronger, clearer, and I think funnier. So I've been working around the clock to meet my self-imposed deadline.

Mind you, we start filming March 30, so it's not the final version that we'll actually shoot, but it is ready for actors to read who want to consider auditioning or meeting with us when we work with LA Casting Directors Russell Boast and Rick Pagano next month. Producer Larry Estes and I will go to Los Angeles for at least a couple days to see everyone we ask to see and actors who ask to see us.

I *love* auditioning because it is an embarrassment of riches - to see and meet with actors who are so talented, gifted and skilled; actors who bring their own special adaptation of the characters - and especially those who bring their heart and soul to the table.

I appreciate interacting with everyone who has obviously worked hard prepping for our session because they want the role. I respond to all they do that is great and give notes (suggestions) when they're close or perhaps to see if another subtext would nail another character. I especially love people who make it clear they are more interested in an excellent performance than assuaging their ego.

As I recall there was only one person I would consider a "pill," but that was at least an entertaining experience.

I *hate* auditioning because I want to hire everyone who is pill-free. It's painful to tell someone who is clearly a special, insightful and great actor they have not been cast. But I always remember people who impress me, and the last time Larry and I were casting in LA for The Whole Truth, some very well known actors met with us even though there were no roles for which they qualified. They just wanted to meet us, let us know what they're up to and listen to what we're doing. As well as sharing our wishes, dreams and goals. Those meetings were memorable.

That being said, with this rewrite of The Lonely Goatherd finished, I'm free to celebrate! I actually have "free time" to do all the other things I love to do!

Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah!

The Whole Truth is screened!

I'll just say this: it was incredibly successful.

The response was so positive .. and of course we can actually *hear* people laugh, which is the biggest payoff for a comedy.

How difficult it is to sit through a drama you've filmed as the audience sits there tight-lipped - so you never know if they like it until they leave (or you read about it in tomorrow's newspaper).

Stephen Meyers, our editor supreme, and I locked the film today, cutting bits and scenes here and there to make it tighter, a better paced story and staying true to the characters.

I lost two of my favorite scenes. Ow. It hurt to make those decisions. But it has to be done for the sake of a better film. They were fine scenes but the created a small lull in the otherwise fast-paced story. One was just plain downright gorgeous. The other touching.

We'll include them as extras when we create the DVD.

Some of the comments:

"Elisabeth Röhm is phenomenal. She carries the story from the first frame of the film to the last."

"Eric Roberts was unbelievable. I had no idea he could be so f**king funny!"

"I loved Sean Patrick Flanery. He gave the film a real warmth."

"The film is hilarious - and the characters are still believable."

"Loved the music. It was perfect - in the parts where there was music." (The rest of the music is on its way from composer, who will finish scoring the locked film.)

"The film was actually logical. I liked that. Lots of comedies leave logic behind."

"The actors all felt like they were having a great time - like they were having so much fun performing their roles." ('tis true! We all had a wonderful time and want to work together again!)

There were many comments on the excellent acting - straight across the board, from beginning to end - not a weak link in the group.

The most wonderful comments revolved around how entertaining the whole film is - and how it felt like they were seeing a "real movie" - the first they've seen in a long, long time. Our budget may have been limited, but our imaginations and resourcefulness were not. It has the look of a film with a much greater budget - thanks to the whole cast and crew.

Folks left feeling like they were genuinely entertained by a film that didn't take shortcuts or "write down" to its audience or stupid-up the script to get a cheap laugh, even though there are many "over the top" moments.

Producer and hyper critic Larry Estes was in the audience and was *heard* laughing! Executive producer Gary Allen Tucci laughed all the way through the feature. That was *good* news!

Other things viewers loved:

The wardrobe! Rebecca Luke is the general of our clothing batallion in our "aesthetic army!"

The look of the film! Rachel Thomson is our production designer; Ted Barnes the gaffer (lights!)Paul Mailman the DP (camera!), and Greg Smith our grip (action! Moving and coordinating all the electrical cords and stuff).

We can only hope the audience we invite to the January screening feels the same with all the cuts and improvements we've made. We'll also have an elementary sound mix, the proper opening, color correction and special effects included. After that, we have one more go at the edit, proper sound mixing and the film is ready for you to see!

Whew.

Now back to work on pre-production for our next feature, The Lonely Goatherd!

The post production process is going *well!*

I can't say any more than that ...

It's rewarding and exciting.

When I am able to tell you all the things going on behind the scenes, even in retrospective, I shall. Until then, I'll just let you know how it's going overall.

And that is .. very well!