SHE LOVES ME NOT #10 (in the hands of angels)

 My business plan has gone out to the three potential investors I've had in mind all along.  I'd say "now it's just a waiting game," but somehow that doesn't ring true.  It doesn't feel right.  I'm sensing the necessity to move on, to move forward - as if these first three tries are only the beginning.  I'm sensing this might take awhile.  This has always been the point where things come to a halt.  All this momentum, and then comes the quicksand of trying to obtain the financing.  I've done all I can - I think - in terms of developing the plan - all I can do now is to keep trying to get it into the hands of individuals or groups who are willing and able to finance the project.  It's the information age, and I sought more information regarding where one might possibly go to get money for an independent film.  I learned about people who call themselves "angel investors."  The term is self-explanatory.  Where else are you going to get money at this point aside from an angel?  These are people with an interesting mix of  money, faith, philanthropy, and gambling spirit who are able to afford a high-risk venture - people who will be (fingers crossed) willing to take a chance on my claim that I will deliver.  So that has become my present mission.  There are lots of sites on the internet that represent groups of angel investors as well as individuals.  So now it's just a matter of narrowing it down to the legitimate ones (no big shock, but there are some unscrupulous, "fallen" angels out there) and then presenting my project.  

SHE LOVES ME #9 (buona fortuna)

 O.K., so I'm not used to good fortune when it comes to reaching out to people outside my sphere of influence, but this time it works!  I get a response from the first Casting Director I contact, who has a boat-load of indie credits, and has worked with lots of "name" actors, and she wants to read the script!  She gets back to me with a lot of helpful advice, information, and suggestions, and I end up re-writing the script (shortening it significantly,) re-calculating, re-budgeting, re-scheduling, etc. which takes me several weeks, but I'm happy with the results.  The script is tighter - everything is tighter and seems a lot more do-able.  She recommends I shoot four weeks in August (of this year!) - and with the shortened schedule, I see where it's feasible.  But I'm still missing one piece of the plan - I wanted to attach an actor to the project before I approach my potential investors.  That was the primary reason for my contacting a Casting Director.  But this particular one that I have been happily communicating with requires a signed contract and partial payment before she can go to work!  Another Catch 22!  I need a Casting Director to get an actor attached in order to obtain financing, but I need the financing in order to pay the Casting Director!  O.K. I have to come up with yet another plan B.  I ask the CD if I can attach her name to the project instead of an actor - which I think will have the same appeal if not more.  I'm hoping that my potential investors will see the wisdom and logic in the fact that with the financing in place, I will be able to employ the services of a world-class CD with access to lots of "name" actors.  I will definitely get an actor attached!  But I can't move ahead with this plan B - use the CD's name - without her permission.  I send another email and nervously await a response.  A few days pass, and I compose a follow-up email.  I sign onto to Yahoo mail, about to send the follow-up, and there is her response!  In the affirmative!  So now I'm waiting for my attorney to finish up a couple of legal documents for the investors, and then I'm going for it!

SHE LOVES ME NOT #8 (casting directors)

My attorney has made a few phone calls to talent agents and has been subjected to less-than-polite behavior.  Rude people in Hollywood!  What a shock!  Of course I'm sure the big agencies out there are inundated with phone calls from every wanna-be filmmaker around the globe, and that has to be a drain on anyone's good manners, but my magnanimous attitude isn't going to get the film made.  Weeks keep rolling by without much progress.  I'm pretty sure this year's window of opportunity has already been shattered in terms of shooting this spring or summer, but since I will be most accommodating when it comes to actors' availability, I will not rule out the possibility of shooting in early winter.  I would need to avoid the fall - due to the changing of the leaves causing continuity problems - but after the leaves fall, I'd be willing to shoot.  So sitting at my computer, gazing out the window, tapping my fingertips on the desktop with a combination of frustration and mild desperation, I try to come up with a plan to move things along.  I don't know if the direct approach is going to work out - that is - having my attorney directly contact the big talent agencies.  Maybe I should try the Casting Director approach - something I've been considering all along (I already have money in the budget for a CD.)  I Google "Casting Directors," and of course there is a shit-load of info about CD's.  I start reading articles and forums and become convinced that a CD could be the answer.  CD's have all the right connections.  Agencies are much more receptive to CD's.  CD's can make it happen.  Why didn't I go with a CD to begin with?  Oh, wait a minute.  I don't have any money yet.  I can't pay them to find talent, but I need talent to get the financing!  Catch 22!  What the hell!  All I need is a letter of intent!  Is that something they can do without getting paid?  In exchange for a promise to employ them as the CD if I get the financing?  Do they work that way?  Am I being totally naive?  Only one way to find out.  I'll try contacting one CD to see what kind of response I get.  I start making a list of CD's that might be interested in my project - based on similar films and budgets.  I choose one, and then I compose an email with all of the pertinent info, and I click "send."  Stay tuned for further developments!  

SHE LOVES ME #7 (talent scout)

 O.K. the new year and the new push is under way.  I met with my attorney yesterday and he is going to begin calling actors' agents on my behalf.  I thought having my attorney make the phone calls would indicate a certain seriousness and professionalism on my part, and then if the actors' reps or the actors themselves want to talk to me, then of course I'll take it from there.  This is a critical step in the process - a letter of intent from any of the actors on my list will definitely boost the appeal for potential investors.  I recently re-upped my streaming service on NetFlix in order to watch some of the comps on my business plan and to check out some of the actors on my list.  I watched a couple of great films with Maria Bello, Charlize Theron, and a few other actors whom I would consider to be top choices for the leading role of Kim Claypoole.  At times I let my imagination get the best of me - I imagine what it would be like to actually work with some of the fine actors I have in mind.  These are highly rated actors who have worked with some of the greatest names in the business, and sometimes I wonder what they'll think of working with me, and working in this area on a very low budget film.  Although it's a bit intimidating, it's also very exciting, and I know if given the opportunity, I'll rise to the occasion!  Another interesting development is the fact that I recently downloaded the new Final Cut Pro X editing software.  I am so impressed with this technology - it's extremely sophisticated, yet very user-friendly.  I bought it specifically for use on an upcoming job that will require multicam editing, so I've been working with it in preparation.  It accepts just about every recording format out there including RED Raw - which is the format we'll be using for SHE LOVES ME, so now I'm considering doing at least a rough cut of the edit myself - if not something closer to a finished cut - but that's all yet to be determined.  So - I've sort of temporarily handed the reins over to my attorney, and I have high hopes that he'll be calling me in the very near future with news of a letter of intent on the way!