I suppose the obligatory Dear Daniel
should be slipped in here. Without you as my silent audience I can’t seem to
write these things. The Making of Letters to Daniel is back on track as
FILM-COM has accepted the premise of an idea that I make message statement with
a behind the scene view of how my One Woman Show comes together as a project
into their prestigious Marketing, Packaging and Distribution event.
The actual one woman show sneak peek
will take place at Imaginarium.
I wish I could articulate why Letters to
Daniel means so much to me. Of course there’s the obvious, it’s my life story.
I’m protective of it in some respects. In others I know being open with my life
and my emotions in this day to day journey, sometimes struggle other days jubilant,
it doesn’t just help me process my life, there are times when it helps my
audience. And it’s this which drives me to keep extending my work with this new
form of Letters.
There are 3 days until Film-Com. It’s
not just me and Pam going this year. If you’re new to the Letters to Daniel
family Pam is author Pamela Turner. Also long time half evil (333) friend of
mine and Missy’s she’s also a venerable author, screenwriter, and independent
filmmaker in her own right.
This year Missy isn’t able to go again.
For those new to the Letters clan Missy isn’t just my best friend, she’s more
like a sister to me. She was my Rock of Gibraltar during the hardest of days.
And though no one is a saint, she certainly put up with stuff I don’t think I
could have. That being said she’s also my screenwriting partner and co-director
on all the films I’ve put together. I have the vision, she makes it happen.
Sometimes it’s the other way around.
Last year I went to Film-Com and my
table was virtually empty. I’d say I’m more prepared this year than I was last
year. And the pitching format was waaaay different last year. I was praising
the system of psychiatry as having saved my life. The people directly before me
were way more skilled and had more practice in this arena. I literally went up
in front of everyone and had a panic attack.
This year it’s different.
I have someone, an industry someone
guiding me through the crowd. There will be one on one conversations and
pitches, which quite frankly, after the conventions over the last four and half
years I’m much better at than standing in front of a crowd full of executives.
Doing a fifteen minute speed pitch after being psyched out by the documentary
filmmakers going before me.
The one woman show aspect of the
documentary also has me a little psyched out. Sitting in a darkened theater
listening for the laughs in the right place, the engrossment in others is way
different than standing on a stage and letting yourself bleed out your trials
and tribulations for judgment by the crowd.
Granted this first performance will be a
for a relatively friendly crowd. FILM-COM? Sharks in the water. I have my
entourage of sorts. The ever wonderful L. Andrew Cooper, James Chakan, and
Pamela Turner. They have projects of their own for the horror crowd there. But
the main focus for me is Letters to Daniel in all its forms.
Blessed by a connection I made in the
industry to have a heads up given to the director of the whole she-bang on my
erstwhile documentary I’m sure got accepted almost on that recommendation
alone. I’m back at what was a wonderful experience last year.
Last year it was something new. About
laying groundwork for the future. Really? I went there and looked more unprepared
than anyone else there. A fish out of water.
But met people and maybe they’ll
remember me. If they’re back from last year maybe we can have a drink or a
meal.
So. Labeled. Hole punched. Stuffed.
Stacked and packed. I’m ready as I’ll ever be for this first step on The Making
of Letters to Daniel: A One Woman Show.
