I wish you could have been at my intervention yesterday.
I thought it was just going to be another weekly meeting with my business partners to update me on where they’re at raising funds for the “Blue Like Jazz” movie. Those meetings typically run something like this:
ME: So… where are we at?
THEM: We’re really close.
But this meeting was different. There was something in the office air that day. It smelled like a trap.
ME: So… (sniffing the air, eyes darting around the room for clues)… where are we at?
THEM: You need to blog more.
I sprang for the door. Too late – it had been locked from the outside. I briefly considered doing a Jason Bourne through the window, but it was really cold outside and I was underdressed.
So I plopped back down in my chair, exhaled through my nose, then suggested (with possibly a hint of sarcasm) that IF THEY WOULD CONSIDER PERFORMING THEIR NUMBER ONE FUNCTION AND GET THIS MOVIE FUNDED, PERHAPS I’D HAVE SOMETHING TO BLOG ABOUT!!!
Like any good Interventionists, they deftly turned the tables on me. Out came an impressive array of charts, pie graphs and metrics showing how every time I post a new blog, our website traffic spikes, the project’s profile gets raised, we garner more contacts, our streets become safer, and America’s Promise is renewed for generations to come.
I attempted the Humility Defense: I’m not an expert on anything, so why should anybody care about my opinions? They countered with another round of pie graphs proving that I was, in fact, the Most Interesting Man In America. Then they read aloud a personal note from Pope Benedict XVI with words to the effect that “for Steve Taylor to deprive the public of his insights would be considered a Mortal Sin.”
ME: Can I see that note?
THEM: No.
I told them The Pope wasn’t the boss of me. Then I stuck out my tongue and threatened to start being uninteresting just to prove a point. They said they didn’t care as long as it increased traffic.
I felt naked and cornered. I started to cry – deep, heaving sobs like I’d been taught in my Sanford Meisner Acting Technique workshops.
ME: I can’t…(sob)…breathe…(sob)…in the blogosphere.
THEM: Here’s a tissue. Take the box.
to be continued…
Create a cause on facebook… we can all donate!
I have to agree with ‘them’ on this issue. I love reading your blogs.
However, I think you should tell them it would be more helpful for us if they’d flesh out the “Lend a Hand” section of this website. It’s incredibly difficult to send money to help with the movie if we don’t know where to send it!
So the blue jay on my shoulder whistling while I walked to work this morning on what felt like very safe, sunny streets were not a coincidence… I knew it!!!
Steve. Regular blogging is not easy. Well…good, useful, read-worthy blogging isn’t. Especially for people who can write…really write (like yourself). You want the writing too be good. And these Brentwood fatcats in Jack Taylor suits with their obvioiusly-retro skinny ties just want your writing to, well…be. I suggest that you set a really random word count goal for yourself. Like, I don’t know…150 words. (Pithy! Leave us wanting more!) And write ONLY about movies. The cinema. Films that you like (and why, or why not). Write about things you aspire to do as a director and screenwriter. Write about great acting performances or Gordon Willis cinematography…editing, whatever. But ONLY a certain number of words and ONLY about film. It might actually be fun. Something you can look forward to. You know, 150 words isn’t much. This post for instance. It’s 150 words exactly!
steve, as your friend (we would be if we met) they are right. blog away, i know it’s hard and time consuming, it seems like no one reads mine…..www.alldogsdontgotoheaven.blogspot.com. but I am not trying to fund a movie that will be really good. if it has just a fraction of the impact that the book has had it has the potential to change lives. also, the website needs work…..i go often to buy something in support of the effort but nothing. I am not an expert on fund raising, but getting the word out seems logical.
I have come to this blog now there is onw! I’m here! I will see the movie!
wow, you and brant hansen from way-fm’s “mornings with brant” must have some of the same guys running the show. they told him the same thing yesterday.
in other news, i found this blog post to be entertaining and awesome
I think you got it in ya. You just have to start with a word or two and see where it takes you. Here’s an opportunity to make a record (not, like, music record…) of what is probably a fascinating experience of trying to get a movie funded. I suspect there’s more going on than you think. You’re just used to the unusual entertainment industry life. And, I suspect there are days when you have tremendous fear that it will never happen. Write about it!!!!
Make Ben write sometimes, too. Or maybe let one of your blog followers ask a question about what’s going on with the film process and you answer it as a blog post! Or maybe make up a super interesting question from a “fan”… Hee hee… The possibilities are endless!!
Being uninteresting just to prove a point, in it self, is interesting. No matter how you dice it, your stuck being interesting.
Since i personally ghost-wrote that letter on behalf of his holiness, i can confirm that withholding your opinions from the general public is most distressing to all good people everywhere. Cause not your brothers and sisters to stumble – blog thyself!
BTW, +1 to Heather’s comment about fleshing out the part about how i can be an associate producer. I’m seriously looking forward to my moment of glory and can’t wait to send you $10 by Paypal.
Well the word is out. I knew about the movie through a christian site called the Daily Audio Bible (shout out!: I love that family of people). I’m an innate optimist , and it is clear that there is a community that is aware of this project, and are willing to volunteer as needed. I planning to pursue my MBA one day,but for now don’t know the real world logistics as your partners are presenting. But some days you have to wait patiently, and others you have to drive forward (hit and run if you have to! lol jk).
BTW: do you check the “drop a line” section of this website. I sent at least 3 or 4 (don’t judge me).
Keep blogging it’s awesome to see. But remember this is your baby! (the project that is).
Keep at it! (venting allowed)
Alisa
I hate typos (i’m intelligent I swear lol). ::smile::