This is more along on the subject of business rather than creative advancement or activity. So I am posting it here on this blog.
One of the aspects of the Gnomes is the film-making which has been a subject of interest. As it is the Christmas season, we are able to see the stop action films which are currently being shown. It has always been an interest of mine to produce a stop action film of The Gnomes of New Hope. It is interesting to see the methods used back in the late 60's and 70's when these other films were made. I made one stop action (16mm) film when I was in college and I've always had it in mind to do another one... and to do it right this time. I have been engaged in constructing puppets for the Gnomes, but my puppets are designed for the stage, little theatre really, and they are about three feet tall, rather than the smaller puppets which were used in these films. Of course the smaller puppets used for stop action are more appropriate when considering the sets which need to be constructed if the entire piece were to be produced using the techniques employed with those films. The sets alone would take up considerable space in the studio if the puppets remained three feet tall. I was considering using a Green screen with the artwork we have used in the Illustrated Storybook, but I have to say the idea of building the illustrations into three dimensional sets is appealing. I would like to avoid the appearance that we took the short way out by throwing our puppets up against two dimensional drawings. But of course building the sets is costly.
As I have said in other postings, I am seeking a guarantee of 100 thousand units (of the e-Storybook titled "Gnomes in a Gnutshell) in sales before I release the story to the public. What that means is that we need to have sufficient market saturation to encourage the process to continue rapidly and not fizzle out. Part of my reasoning in this is that I want to have sufficient funds available to continue developing other markets and to enter into production with the theatrical and/or cinema activities.
This is all assuming that I need to implement production from the resources which are gathered by sales and to do so without incurring to much debt. Well, at this point I have to admit that I am tired of the work which is required for all of this. That is not to say that I will not continue as required to implement the overall game plan, but it is to say that I am open to other opportunities to see this advance without the energy to do so being extracted from me, but rather being infused in me.
So with that thought in mind, I would like to say that I am seeking opportunities that will allow the cinematic aspects of this to advance. Right now I am engaged in the publishing aspects of the project and as I investigate the industry, I realize that I could easily be drawn into business activity that pulls me further and further away from the theatrical and cinematic aspect, which I most of all want to be engaged in.
I've also come to the realization that we need to have hard-copy product available simultaneous to the release of the e-Storybook, which of course involves a great deal of inventory and distribution costs as well. So with that in mind, I am looking for another publishing house to pick up on the hard-copy. And I must mention that the puppetry is expected to provide support for all book distribution and the point of sales. So some sort of puppet show/storytelling will accompany the book signings.
I am setting up a manufacturing operation, which will allow us to meet demand for (e-book) product, but certainly I can state that this is both out of necessity and for the security of the product. My thinking is that nobody else will be doing this for me, or if they will, I can't assume they are waiting around the next corner. I have done that in the past to my detriment. But I also believe that I need to do what I can to avert theft of the product.
So as it stands now I am moving forward with IMS Publishing as the organization under which this product (as a book) will be produced. Of couse IMS Publishing will also be the organization producing the score and lead sheets, as well as other products which fall into the arena of publishing. For now we are focusing on the e-Storybook and if no other publisher steps up to the plate we will move into the hard-copy arena. There are already a few hard-copy layouts which are almost complete enough to publish. These include the "Three Volume Illustrated Storybook in a coffee table edition, The Gnome-sized collection in Twenty Volumes" and a selection of proposed coloring and comic books. These volumes are all designed to accompany the stage and film versions and in most cases provide expanded views of the story, characters and history of Gnomanity.
All that being said, I am pursuing investigation into distribution of these products. I am finding that I am wishing I didn't need to do that, but alas, one must do what one must do.
The e-Storybook is almost ready for distribution. I am finishing up the technical elements of the product design & packaging and the production line to implement that. But the one thing that needs to be done before the product can be released is to finish illustrating Volume three. There have been discussions in this regard within the last week, but the issue for me is securing greater funds for facilities, as I have committed myself to a greater degree and that effect my ability to sit down and direct the activities of illustrating and inserting those illustrations into the layout. So I have not come to a conclusion in that regard.
The other very urgent issue is bringing myself up to date with numerous suppliers of goods and services. I think I have pushed this as far as I possibly can and this is not working in our favor any longer. Not because of direct perturbation on their end, but rather than a very uncomfortable and distracting imposition on my end. Being out of balance in this way is adversely effecting my own productivity and disturbing my mind. The fact of the matter is that I have gone WAY out on a limb with this and even though the demands are profoundly real and unrelenting, in terms of pre-production (ie: preparation of materials, etc), I am seriously concerned about asking anyone else to do the same, especially if it becomes against one's will. So in essence, I need to bring myself up-to-date on numerous fronts ASAP. In this way we can refresh our goals and our approach to how we will succeed at those goals.
We are certianly at the brink of moving into a new level of this project and I feel like we cannot justifiably do that without starting fresh by concluding the pre-production stage of things. A certain amount of development can remain within production and it is possible to define that activity under the aegis of the development office, but the bulk of the project needs to move out of pre-production and into production. To do this will require partners who can introduce an influx of capital. I have to say that I am not interested in Venture Capitalist money. I am only interested in industry partners who can bring more than just money to the table.
Bringing more to the table, to me, means expertise in any number of arenas which are required for our advancement. One area in particular is distribution and certainly marketing as well. We can handle a certain level of production, but of course, as I said, I am admittedly weary with the work at hand, so that means I am open to other options for production, in all arenas really.
But I do have a few critereas which I must adhere to.
Firstly, this is to be produced exclusively in this country and produce work for Americans first and foremost. Certainly if another activity, such as theatre were to take place in say, London, then that would provide work for those folks over there, but management, including manufacturing, in all instances will remain withing America. Using publishing as an example (and this applies to other ancillary markets, such as toys), I do not want the products to be produced overseas. I know this is a tall order and will make the product more expensive, but it is very important because I feel as though it is incumbent upon us to create work for our own people, meaning Americans.
Secondly, in all instances this is an Image of the Mind Studios production, which of course can be presented by someone else, but the name Image of the Mind Studios is to be attached to all aspects of this project, including ancillary markets forever and foremost, although not exclusively. Certainly if another organization is involved and investing their resources into the project then they share the credit for producing results. But the core material, even if it sold outright, is to be forever attributed to Image of the Mind Studios as top billing.
I expect to be spending some more time in the future working on IMS Producing Partners, so some of this dialogue is drawn from that thinking and will be reiterated there. As I have said before, I am looking for representation, although my philosophy is that if someone is engaged in that business then it is they who need to propose something to me. I have had some experience with this in the past and I have come to the conclusion that if this has value, the person I am looking for to represent our interests needs to show enough initiative to prove their worth. My position, in that regard is that representation is for the purpose of making me money, not costing me money or time begging someone to represent the obviously phenomenal potential in this project. If someone cannot see the opportunity in front of them, then they are not the one to do the job.
Well those are my thoughts on this for today.
AG
Merry Christmas
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