This is a really
bizarre feeling. Everything is in full swing. I'm
meeting actors, checking out stages, playing producer,
director, writer, editor... every hat you can imagine
- and I love that shit! But in the back of my head?
I'm a little angry. 'Cause it really shouldn't
all fall on me. I know it always does, I know I always
meet the challenge, but there was no need this time. I
had not one, but two production companies in my corner
ready to help! Unless of course by help I meant,
actually helping. Woah, why would they do that?
(sigh)
So I pay for
everything, do all the legwork, so much work that I
literally need the entire month off to complete it all
- and if it works out great? I will have to hand over
half of everything to a... production company. 'Cause
that's just how it's done.
Now to all the
positive thinkers out there, I need to reiterate - all
my actions are positive. They always are, but I'm not
gonna brainwash myself at what's happening. And the
entire point of The Journey is to show you what it's
really like. It's completely unfair.
Again, I'm still getting it done, I'm still emptying
my bank account (excuse me, home equity line) and
risking EVERYTHING to pull this off... but "4tvs
Productions" will not be rewarded. You think if
Weller/Grossman put money/legwork/time into this
production that they wouldn't be rewarded with some
sort of co-producer position? Of course they would.
4tvs Productions won't because if there's a position
there to be filled (meaning Comedy Central picks this
up), 3 Arts will swoop in
immediately...
...and I will
be overjoyed just for the opportunity! <shakes
head> This fuckin' industry...
Pre-production
stuff has been pretty intense actually. I finally
found the space I'm gonna shoot the
"backstage/dressing room" stuff at. Gonna cost me
a couple hundred - but it's a lot easier than
destroying my house and building it in my living room.
Check it out:
Lotsa space, and I
believe I will now include a scene in Spencer's
dressing room since there's a "red room". Heh,
obviously I haven't even started writing
the script. And we're shooting on the 25th. Gulp. The
problem is, each space I look at changes the script.
I can't afford to find what I originally
envisioned, I have to see what's available and
write TO it.
Up next as
producer is finding an actress (yes believe it or not,
it's not an all Adam affair) for a bit that I honestly
believe could singlehandedly sell the show. In fact if
done correctly? It could be bigger than "Let's Bomb
Iran". Thankfully, Laura Adler had someone in mind, I
just met with her - and she's on-board. WHEW. The part
she plays is a lot to ask of an actress and if
it wasn't for Laura, I don't know what the hell I
could've done. There was no way I was casting this by
myself without looking like a fucking UBER-slime ball.
I'm still hoping for yet another actor, but they've
all been falling through - and I just don't have
enough time to wait. But again, as I said, if the bit
with this girl works out the way I see it in my
noggin'? Fahgeddaboutit. Game over, show picked up. We
shoot the bit on Tuesday. I'm actually gonna try to
get it online for some viral buzz by the end of the
week.
Final part in all
this? The 4tvs set-up. Which because I need to
bring this into the HD world? Is going to cost, ready
for this? Close to $10,000. The box to seperate the
signals itself is $3300. It's unbefugginlieveable.
Now, I do believe I can take nearly everything back if
I time it all correctly - but putting that much
money on a credit card even for a week is gonna hurt
and I have to have at LEAST a week to set things
up and try it all out. And heaven forbid something
happens to this shit. JESUS. Like, I'm used to pouring
my heart and soul into my projects, but THIS much
time, effort and money for a 22 minute
pilot-presentation? It's over-the-top. I've honestly
never put THIS much into a project in my life.
I'm literally spending my nervous system to make this
happen. Absolutely EVERYTHING that is in my
control, I'm going to push to the limit...
...and if I'm
lucky, someone else will take half the credit.
<throws hands up>
