01.01.07

A Brand New Year

Posted in Business, I-Man Cast Film Update, Scripts/Screenwriting, Website Updates at 8:25 pm by Amanda Rogers

Welcome to 2007!  I can’t believe it’s already here.  Now where did 2006 go?  I swear I just saw it around somewhere.

The beginning of the new year is a good time for me to take a few moments and talk about the status of the project and to take a look at what’s coming up in the future.

The LLCing is coming along slowly but surely.  I had hoped to have it done by now, but sometimes these things take longer than planned.  But it will get done.

Some of you have asked if we have a script yet, and the answer to that is no.  However, since the script development phase can be a long process, I’ve already begun talking to writers.  We’re considering several options in our search for a writer, from hiring a professional screenwriter, to an up-and-coming hopeful, to a talented student, to basically just putting the word out and seeing what we get.  Nothing has been decided yet.  It’s a complicated decision because, depending on which way we decide to go, contracts, union requirements, release forms, rights, funding, options, etc. may or may not have a play in our decision.  But, whichever way we decide to go, my first concern will be to get a top notch story.  It’s been said that you can make a good film from a good script.  You can make a great film from a good script.  You can even make a bad film from a good script.  But no one can make a good film from a bad script.  A quality script is absolutely vital.  That’s where it all starts.

The dismantling of The Invisible Man Online has been put off for a while due to time constraints, but I hope to start in a month or so and spread it out over the course of several months or more.  I really hate the thought of losing everything there, so I’ve decided to save as much as I can (without violating copyrights) and bring it over to this website.  The SciFi.com website has tons of stuff for fans and they even feature productions that are not theirs, so I figured, why can’t I?  So expect a new section for fan stuff in the near future.  I’ll make an announcement when it’s online. 

I look forward to a productive 2007 as we move closer to our goal of getting our film made.  Thank you for all your support.  It’s been heartwarming to get messages from you expressing your excitement and enthusiasm at the thought of seeing our cast together again. 

May good things happen for you in 2007!

11.29.06

A Little Knowledge…

Posted in Business, I-Man Cast Film Update at 6:19 pm by Amanda Rogers

It is said that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.  That might be true when it causes one to think that they are more of an expert than they really are or to overestimate their abilities.  On the other hand, sometimes a little knowledge is just what you need.

I’m currently working on getting Shoom Zone Productions set up as an LLC (Limited Liability Company).  This is the first time I’ve set up this particular form of business.  Since I need to educate myself about it, I started asking my CPA questions about LLCs.  Did he answer them?  Nope.  Instead, he got up and walked over to his bookshelf and pulled out a Nolo book on LLCs.  He showed it to me and said that he could answer my questions, but it would cost me a fortune for him to teach me the basics, which I can easily learn on my own by reading the book.

Hmm…a $45 book or his hourly rate?  It wasn’t a hard decision to make.

So, lately, yours truly has had her nose stuck in a book about LLCs.  It’s not going to make me an expert.  I have my CPA and lawyer for that.  But once I’ve read the book, I’ll be able to talk to them from a more knowledgable position.  No wasting their time and my money teaching me the basics.  We’ll be able to skip over that part and go straight to the specific issues that will effect the business directly. 

Already I’ve got a few questions to ask them and as I read more the list grows.  But they’re questions I wouldn’t have thought of asking if I hadn’t read the book…at least not right away.

Sometimes a little knowledge can be a good thing.