Gnomes of New Hope, Production Approach Summary

NOTE: 1/13 The Official Updated PAS is being published in hard copy as 
a production tool intended for investors and other business partners.
That edition contains more comprehensive information
including creative material not available on the web.
This will be made available via IMS Producing Partners in the near future.

6/10 Production Approach Summary  
for the production & management of;

The Gnomes of New Hope

an

Image of the Mind Studios

theatrical/cinematic project
created & written by

Arthur Greisiger
  music composed & arranged by

Arthur Greisiger & Shawn Rose

Musical Performances

Recent Activity and Archive postings;
Current Status  / Archive 

NOTE;  1/13 - The information in these pages is for the most part accurate, although outdated and is provided only as a means of introduction to the way in which the process has proceeded.  I am updating this a bit because I have moved it back to the top of the posts.

History;

"The Gnomes of New Hope" originated from the simple fact that the name sounded good. Back in 1981, I had been working for a troupe called Middle Earth Marionettes on a project titled "Journey to Middle Earth" and had Hobbits in my mind when I began thinking about mythical creatures.

In 1990, I had just returned from California and, having resigned myself to remain in Pennsylvania, I determined that I would work out of New Hope. I became employed by The New Hope Arts Commission as their Tech Director. One day, while thinking about developing a new project, the title "The Gnomes of New Hope" came to me because the name rhymed. I imagined hiring little people to roam around the streets of New Hope, disappearing and reappearing, to promote the project. I had no idea what the project was going to be at that point. It was not long before I determined that "The Gnomes of New Hope" would be a classic marionette show in the form of a street fair. This idea blended well with the roaming little people. I can say with certainty that I was influenced by the marionette show in "The Sound of Music" and by my friend Leon Rhodes being the director of the television series "Diver Dan" (of which I own 27 episodes of out-takes).

A Marionette Show

I began sketching out the storyline and characters. At this point, I had spent many years writing a number of film & theatre scripts, so I was well versed in the process. I determined that, since I did not want to get too involved in another "Magnum Opus", I concluded that the story should be limited to the marionette show and designed for a street fair. I thought this would be good publicity for Image of the Mind Studios working out of New Hope at the time.

The New Hope Arts Commission was interested in the play, but I was too busy being their Tech Director for other shows. Thus, The Gnomes was on the back burner. So I continued to refine the characters and expand the story when I could find time to write.

Around this time, I located a company in Germany that makes superb marionettes. I was very interested in having them construct the "actors"(at @$750). However, having worked with Middle Earth Marionettes, I paid them a visit to discuss their construction of the marionettes. They have an excellent shop, in Stony Run PA, and Carl Odhner is open to building the marionettes. So with that supplier in mind, I moved forward to discuss making the character prototypes with a number of sculptors.

I determined that I would produce the marionette show at The Gerenser Theatre in New Hope, so I laid out the Production Approach Summary, Budget and negotiated for the theatre. After preparing numerous aspects of the production, close analysis of the up-front outlay, operating expenses, the risk & income potential, I concluded that further advancement on the marionette show was inadvisable under the circumstances. The margin was too narrow and the risk too high. So I did not proceed with the marionette show.

NOTE: I am certain that the full marionette show can succeed given the right circumstances. Part of that involves amortization of the set-up costs with the Ancillary Markets (those directly related to the marionette aspect of the project) and shared publicity. Integration of the marionettes into the film and television aspects of the project will allow the live show to proceed and defer a significant portion of the set-up costs. The marionette show could justifiably be viewed as publicity for the film/DVD.

Children's Theatre

In 2004, I continued to associate with the Arts Commission and I began to work with The Make Believe Players & Arthur Gerald on his original musicals for children's theatre which he and his wife had created. This got me thinking that I should add music to The Gnomes, possibly modify the script for childrens theatre and use live actors (little people?). I began to expand the script, write lyrics and record some sample music tracks with my flute.

I began to consider producing a version of the show that would serve two theatrical environments- an enclosed venue and a street fair. It was at this time that Arthur Gerald & I had partnered to set-up a scene shop on a ten acre farm in Solebury. It occurred to me that constructing a mobile stage to serve both presentation environments would be a good idea. So, I set about designing the technical aspects for this version of the show.

Claymation Film

Earlier in this process, I spent some time with Selma Burke in her sculpting studio (she told me I was officially an apprentice) and I believe that sparked my interest in Claymation. I had spoken to another sculptor, Marge Rose, about this project a few times and I met with her again to discuss building the heads & hands for the marionettes, but it was about this time that work on the music became a priority. I decided to spend some time experimenting with sculpting on my own with good results.

NOTE: We have since sculpted one of our primary characters and are proceeding with creating the molds for that as one of our Garden Gnome products. We are also advancing with the mechanics of the puppetry and the animatronics.

I was cast as Paravanchinni in "The Mousetrap" at Phillip's Mill in Solebury and found myself imagining a production the marionette show there. As often happens with creative types, we all got talking, and being a filmmaker, I began to think in terms of a Claymation film. The director of the show was also in the injection molding business and offered to help make the articulating dolls I would need for a film. So I proceeded to construct the frame that would be needed for the dolls with injection molding in mind.

With the advancements that were occurring, I was inspired to spend a good deal more time writing and the show expanded beyond a marionette show.

A Television Show

As a result of this, I began to think about producing the show as either a television series or a special. I was working on a few other shows during this time and made a number of contacts which stirred my thinking in this regard. I began conceptualizing the animation, and entered into discussions with an artist specializing in computer animation. He was studying at NYU and was going to construct the first scene in the script in Computer Generated Animation. He got a job elsewhere before that happened, but it got me thinking about what kind of animation I would really like to see done.

Being concerned about how someone else might design the look of the Gnomes, I started to look for an illustrator and began to think in terms of illustrating the script as a childrens book.

NOTE: We now have an extensive portfolio and the Illustrated Storybook is well along toward completion.

A Feature Film

My primary interest has always been to make a show of quality that has the potential to become a classic.

NOTES;

1. Therefore, if a CG Animation were to be done, it would need to be done by an organization capable of the highest quality. I prefer the three dimensional and crafted feeling that is achieved with Claymation or Marionettes. But one does not preclude the other. We have programs to advance this cause (of CG), but I feel inclined to partner with another organization more advanced than we are in this regard.
2. To do a the real marionette show on film has an appeal to it that I would like to pursue, but I also feel very inclined to present the animation in clay... both of which are difficult and complex. Ray Harryhausen... classic stuff!   But The Gnomes are perfect for that... and since I have sufficient equipment to do something of this nature, that is one of our goals.

Toy Figurenes

As mentioned, my conversations with the director, and his willingness to help me get the prototypes built, led me to construct an articulating skeleton for the prototype Claymation Gnome (the Gnomation film?). This process of building prototypes, also encouraged thinking along the lines of constructing dolls for resale as toys.

NOTE: At this time we are involved in the construction of prototype materials for Gnome dolls, figurines, a play-set of Gnomeville and a number of other products are on-the-boards.

New Hope/Solebury Production Activity

Having worked for the New Hope/Solebury School District (running their stage) and at Solebury School with the Arts Commission for a number of years, it was suggested that we should conduct a workshop in association with the library & the elementary school in Lambertville , to show kids how to build and operate marionettes. It was also suggested that this workshop might make a good program for PBS. All those suggestions are very good and remain possibilities.

Around this time, consideration of illustrating the script as a picture book came about. I think this was prompted by the fact that I was involved with a number of children's musical theatre groups including The Make Believe Players, and worked with kids in more than one school system.

I came to believe that it would be advisable to convert the marionette script into a full staged live performance, after having seen how kids reacted to the show.

In 2004 I tentatively booked the August block at The Steven Buck Theatre for the 2005 Performing Arts Festival. By the time January 2005 rolled around I was moving ahead very well with the script revisions, but I was still not thinking in terms of a full musical. I was thinking of musical interludes added to a drama.

Where's The Muse?

By March of 2005 I ran into a wall, non-theatre issues had begun to interfere with my writing and I lost my muse. By spring it was clear that the show would not be ready to go up in August and I had other producers offering me work for the season, which would not allow me to work on my own show. So I postponed the effort.

By the fall of 2005 I had begun making some notes on the script again and over the winter I made some real strides forward. The script started to take on a new dimension and I began to think of it in terms of a full musical production.

A Revitalized Inspiration...

I started to write lyrics and sing them as I went along. I started to gather samples of what I thought the music might sound like, by recording ideaswith my flute.

By the spring of 2006, I began discussing the project with Shawn Rose, a composer/musician friend. A year before, we started to collaborate on the music for another show called "I am Alpha & Omega" (which went into stasis because of my distress over the muse and because I lived in Upper Bucks County, too far away from Shawn).

With the advancements of The Gnomes of New Hope I suggested we work on that show instead of Alpha & Omega. I figured that the viability of The Gnomes warranted focusing on that project, since the other one is more...difficult. He agreed. So we set about establishing a working relationship with the objective of fully setting The Gnomes of New Hope to music.

Creating the Music

It took us quite some time to get accustomed to each others sensitivities and to develop a good working relationship & schedule, but now we're both totally committed to the process and into a very productive groove.

I set myself on a path to build the studio's audio capabilities and to upgrade the equipment. As improvements were being made to the studio, our knowledge and abilities have greatly improved as well. Shawn has joined the effort to the upgrade the resources available to us, so that now we have a very extensive array of tools available to us for music production. Our advancement with creating the music has developed a solid commitment to completely orchestrate the show. We are currently meeting regularly with very positive results.

Words & Music by Arthur Greisiger & Shawn Rose

People understand the relationship between writing partners as a Lyricist and a Composer, where one person writes the words and the other writes the music. Although that may exist in many circumstances, that is not how we work.

To clarify our methodology, it is thus: I have written the story, developed the characters, write the lyrics, sketch out the designs, and direct the action. When it comes to writing the music, I give Shawn an idea of what I think the music might be like, either from singing or playing the flute, from that: we collectively extract something of a sketch and build it piece by piece in total agreement of every note, beat, instrument, and inflection. On some pieces, Shawn has an idea of what he hears in his head and lays that down, sometimes I lay down some tracks and they all get blended and adjusted to service the script. At any given time either one of us may improvise movements on different instruments, depending on how we feel at the moment or how the direction of the piece is going.

If any part of the script, lyrics, designs, or direction needs enhancement or alterations, we discuss it and if Shawn has a contribution, that we both agree on, it is integrated into the script. In this way the Words and Music are by both of us, because we are both vested completely in the success of this project.

If you are reading this it is because Shawn agrees with what I have written.

The Synopsis of the Story-line will not be provided over the internet until the show is out of pre-production.

More later...

Links to specific projects

I think it has become necessary for me to build links to assorted projects in the header above, as you see there are some already.  So I will be attempting to purge this home page of postings that are buried deep within  and restructure  the IMS Virtual Studio so that important projects have their own blog linked above.

There is a good amount of creative and managerial material that I cannot post online because I do not want it to be copied by unknown individuals.  Thus far, I have not been able to lock the material to prevent it from being copied and my efforts to do so were negated once I posted the items.  When I discover how to do that, then I will post storyboards and script materials which I do not want copied. Until then, the material posted will only be material that I feel will advance our cause without harming our efforts by theft.

AG

The Gnomes - Production Update

1/8/13 Update

Script - Work is proceeding very nicely with completion of the Climax and Finale of the Primary Script for The Gnomes of New Hope. This will lead us into beginning the Audio Book , which I am thinking about starting, now that I've upgraded my remote digital recording capabilities with a Zoom M1. I'd like to experiment with that recorder as a tool for this audio book.

Music - I am now using the Zoom recorder, instead of a Mini-Disk, for recording my flute music at The Bryn Athyn Cathedral, where I rehearsal a few times a week. The music I record there is often applied in some way to the music we are writing for the Gnomes, maybe not directly, but I do create new rifts that sometimes have shown up in the Gnome music.

 We have been composing new music for the last few weeks (as opposed to orchestrating some of the unfinished pieces), while prior to that Shawn has been going back to do a remix of the previous work. He is separating off the percussion tracks so that we can derive a better mix using a wave file. I have been writing script and lyrics while he was doing that. My focus of attention is on merging numerous story elements into a final sequence for the conclusion of the play. This has been required because of new elements which have arisen during our music composition sessions and also as a result of the work we are doing on Illustrations.

We have 30 finished compositions and approximately another six which are in various stages of development.  I expect that the total number of songs for this show may reach as many as 45, which includes the bridges, instrumental backdrops and the prelude, interlude and postlude (which have not been composed yet).

We have a few the piano reductions completed and are discussing bringing in two other musicians to work on creating a piano/guitar arrangement of the score.  Of course our primary need is to create the piano reductions for the rehearsals. We made a few attempts to bring artists in to do the vocals on a few songs but our focus of attention had to return to the concluding numbers of the show.

Illustrations - We have a very large portfolio of Illustrations, after working consistently on them for over two years, and on and off for five years. The focus of attention is to complete the backgrounds, as we have a good number of the scenes illustrated. These backdrops will be translated into the drops for the show and because of this we are focusing on completing the backgrounds for the nineteen scenes of the show.

My approach to gathering the illustrations has been to do so in small pieces.  The characters are not integrated into the backgrounds. This allows me to compose the scene as needed and to use the illustrations for a wide array of applications. Just yesterday we started painting one of the 3 foot display panels of our Mayor of Gnomeville. I expect to do this with our major characters as part of the lobby display and other marketing efforts.

Traveling Gallery Exhibition - I have determined to build the exhibition panels as per my design and to use this to promote the show to investors and other participants. Ultimately this will also become an exhibition to the public, particularly in association with the release of the Illustrated Storybook.  I am anticipating creating nineteen cycloramas, at first using the illustrations, but then going into three dimensional models, which will eventually incorporate animatronics (controlled with our MIDI programs). I do hope to open a storefront in New Hope for this Animatronic Show. I think such a show would be very successful. Of course this will lead toward our hope to be included in a theme park environment.

Shop Facilities - I have been working on setting up shop facilities. We have a 10 thousand square foot building which I am working to set up. There is a floor plan posted below, but the difficulty right now is funding. The space require $5oK per year to maintain the basic, without staff or other overhead items. My plan is to replicate the 20x40 stage space with a green screen in one portion of building 4.  Also included in that building  will be a gallery for our product lines with a sales office and an additional 20x 40 area for our Traveling Gallery Exhibition work. That building will also contain design and construction areas for our puppetry.  In building 3, I am working on setting up metal & wood working  shops, production management offices, properties & set construction areas, along with equipment maintenance and inventory of supplies and finished product. So this is progressing, but it is under duress due to a great need to finance this operation. Adding the elements of personnel into the mix greatly increases this need.

IMS Producing Partners - the web presence that has been started for IMS Producing Partners has not been attended to in the degree that I hope to. The primary reason for this is that this information needs to be resident on an internal server with a secure portal. I am currently publishing the Production Approach Summary as a bound edition intended to provide our partners with the raw materials of our modus operandi, samples of the script & the musical score, and contract materials. I may post some of that information on IMS Producing Partners if I feel that it would be prudent.  I do expect to work toward converting Image of the Mind Studios into a larger Corporate modus operandi, and for that purpose I am seeking to build a Board of Directors comprised of Active Vested individuals. I am seeking first Active Vested Partners, Passive Vested Partners are still most welcomed, but their investment must be limited at this stage to the 250K that I am seeking as Front Money. That Front Money is intended to solidify the budget, advance some of the pre-production materials and review all the production and management contracts. Until that happens, I am not able to accept larger amounts of Passive Investment, primarily because I have put a cap on the Front Money due to the 300% return on the investment. The Front Money Agreement may be posted on IMS Producing Partners in the near future, but access to it will require a password which may be requested by serious investors.

Production Approach Summary - is available to potential industry and investment partners, to individuals who are or may become creative partners or employees. Distribution of the PAS requires a Restrictive Covenant Agreement, which will be posted on IMS Producing Partners in the near future. This agreement is required due to the extent to which the story-line and other creative materials are revealed in the PAS . I will likely set it up so that the RC Agreement is part of the password access to the IMS Producing Partners site. These elements are still being considered in the context of our internal server.

More to follow. AG

Purchasing Lithographs

Please Note: I am having a great deal of difficulty with the computer I am using for the internet work. Generally speaking it is out of date and can no longer handle the processing demands. So please bear with any errors you might see, as I don't seem to be able to correct them when working in this blog. For most other work it is fine but accessing Google, Facebook and other forums with an unknown number of cookies is causing problems with my system. I am using OSX 10.4.11 and this is no longer supported on the internet. I expect to change that as soon as I can, but basically I need a new system.

I've included a PayPal Cart Button in the post below 

for those of you wishing to purchase the

Signed & Numbered

 Limited Edition Lithographs

Traveling Gallery Exhibition

  In discussing the next step of advancing "The Gnomes of New Hope", it became clear that setting up a Gallery Exhibition was a good direction to pursue. Since I am working to set up the scene shop facility in a 10K sq ft space (see the floor plan below) it seems only right to build the exhibition and set it up there. The game plan has been for the sales office to maintain a gallery for display of our products, so the Image of the Mind Studios Traveling Galley Exhibition is being installed adjacent to those offices and will be open to the general public at some point in time.

  The Exhibition will be available to travel to other Galleries, Museums and Theaters as part of our overall presentation scheme. This exhibition will stand on its own as an attraction for visitors and will be designed to have an entrance fee.  We are working out the budget for this, but I expect that from our end of things there will be a flat fee to bring it in, set it up and come back to remove it. There will be an additional percentage cut of any profits derived. If any organization is interested in participating in this scenario, then I would advise you to contact me. 

  The exhibition will be comprised of a mixture of 2D flat artwork and 3D Cycloramas with an audio component, possibly using headphones at certain stations or a hand held devise. 

   It will essentially be a presentation of the story and be structured around the stage play, using sketches and illustrations which we will be using for the Illustrated Storybook and for the Animated film. We do anticipate that this exhibition will accompany the sales of the Illustrated Storybook, Audio CD, and/or the coloring book.

  The 3D cycloramas (in the initial presentation) will be the actual models of the stage sets which we will be using as a guide to build the stage show. With that in mind there may be a version of the exhibition that explains how the show is being prepared for Broadway and show some of the set construction/rehearsals. If that is the case, there may be different exhibitions that are available, each interchangeable with the basic set-up shown below. I am considering some design alterations so the show can be changed.

   This exhibition layout is also available for purchase to any gallery/museum which might like to have it for their own purposes. I expect that by the time the electrical elements are calculated into it that the cost will be approximately $10-12K depending on the design variations that one may want.  If you are interested in having one built for you let me know.

  I am designing the first edition of The Gnomes of New Hope Exhibition  for the benefit of our financial partners, as a means to reveal the core information of the project we are working on. 

   The application of this exhibition as a traveling show will only come into play once the final exhibition is refined enough for release to the public, however, exhibition venues will need to be in place, so I do invite inquiry in that regard. I expect that I will create a PowerPoint and/or video to convey this exhibition to potential presenters.

   The exhibition will change as the show progresses, as we hope to be doing a stop action film and those miniatures and puppets might be applicable to this exhibition as well.

   At some future point Animatronics will come into play, as we have been anticipating going in this direction with the story presentation and we have the tools to do this. Of course this is under the assumption that this show is very well suited for a theme park environment. It is possible that we may very well move to set this up in New Hope Pennsylvania, but we will most certainly need partners to achieve this.

  All of this is also in anticipation of the show being presented on Broadway at some point in time, but in the meanwhile, we are directing our resources toward other more practical and cost effective means of presenting versions of this show which can operate with the lowest possible overhead and the highest practical return.

   In addition our resources are being directed toward Product R&D, for it is very clear that there is a wide market for products that are coming out of this production.

   As you may have seen elsewhere, we are also inviting people to consider investment, although we are not making a public offering at this time. 

   We have some people who have contribute small amounts on a regular basis and this helps us to be able to move forward with development and prepare to the Illustrated Storybook for publication.  

  If you are interested in considering becoming a partner, I would suggest opening up a dialogue with me so that you can be kept informed of how that can happen, I am currently publishing our business plan and that will be made available to our existing partners to review. Release of this information is only being made to people who are familiar to us and who clearly have a genuine interest in partnering with us to make this a success.This information will be posted on the subscriber web site IMS Producing Partners when either I have more time to do that, or I assign a manager to those duties.

  As it stand now we have 35 songs finished for this show, large portfolio of illustrations, and numerous products in the works...  so we are in the home stretch.

  Do communicate with me via email if you care to.  AG

Recent thoughts

A good amount of this blog has been taken up, lately, with postings about "The Gnomes of New Hope". It is my intention create a separate blog for the Gnomes and return this blog to the issues of IMS and not any specific project.  Bear with me until that happens. As it stands now my energy is largely taken up with life in Gnomeville. If you are interested in being involved in the development of a Theme Park version of Gnomeville, let me know. AG

Sculpting The Gnomes of New Hope

I am very interested in locating a sculptor who is able to form the faces of our characters.

 I have a number of products that we will be producing and it is time to start 

creating the three dimensional characters.

 
Here's is an early sketch of Zebby, one of the main characters from

The Gnomes of New Hope         

Zach & Zebby's Grand Adventure                                   

Of course these drawings are all painted now,

 but this give you an idea of what Zebby looks like.

 We will be constructing puppets for use in concert presentations  and animatronics

and we'd like to consider preparing to produce the stop action film

possibly using full sized puppets in conjunction with our stage sets. 

We are advancing with the Illustrated Storybook 

and with releasing a series of Limited Edition Lithographs.

Details and ordering information on the LE Litho Series will be posted shortly.

That being said, we are looking to begin sculpting the faces of our characters.

I invite artists who think they may be able to do this

and who are living in the Philadelphia area

   to contact me.

I am looking for all work to take place out of my studio in Southampton.

Video Game/ Internet Adventure

I would like to consider developing a video game for The Gnomes of New Hope. If anyone specializes in this type of programming, please touch base with me. We have a good portfolio of graphics to use and we are on our way to creating an animated film. So I would like to develop this genre as a parallel project.

Images from the Illustrated Storybook

Here is an image from 

The Gnomes of New Hope: Illustrated Storybook

This image was created by 

Arthur Greisiger & Jency Latta

It is one of the Illustrations from the Storybook Edition of 

The Gnomes of New Hope

Zach & Zebby's Grand Adventure

     Zach & Zebby have been exploring in the forest when to their surprise they run into a couple of human boys. Well, these humans had never seen a Gnome before and they just had to capture one of them. So a chase ensued and Zach & Zebby ran for their lives. When Zebby turned around to make sure Zach was right behind him, he was horrified to find that they were all gone!  Had the humans captured Zach? Well Zebby wasn't going to get captured himself, so he  ran as fast as he could to tell to Constable Warren to tell him the terrible news... and so with Zebby turning everything upside down in Gnomeville, The Mayor called a meeting in The Squirrel's Nest to decide what to do. Everyone was there as the whole village was in a tizzy about the latest threat to Gnomeville.

Here for you enjoyment is a scene depicting the whole village coming to that Meeting.

We are currently using this artwork to illustrate the Libretto for the Stage Musical.

At this point, we have 32 songs composed for this Two Act Musical,

which consists of nineteen scenes.

The Original Artwork is much higher quality that that which is displayed here 

and it is our expectation that this style will be the essence of the Animated film.

The Illustrated Storybook will include a companion CD of the music

and we are in a search for the singers to portray that music.

Early versions of some of that music may be found by going to the IMS Music Studio.

I do hope you enjoy this material and remind you that we are in a search 

also for financial partners to implement these plans.

We are offering signed lithographic prints of this artwork.
The details are not worked out yet, 
but if you are interested
please contact me.

I will be posting this information on a Gallery page I am developing. 

As listed below the first release will be an eBook edition of 

"The Gnomes of New Hope:

Zach & Zebby's Grand Adventure"

AG

The Gnomes of New Hope Current Staus

Update 8/29/12

 "The Gnomes of New Hope:

 Zach & Zebby's Grand Adventure"

Recent thoughts are to make the first release of the Illustrated Storybook an eBook,  since preparations for that are virtually (no pun intended) the same as those for a hard copy edition.

Anyone purchasing the eBook will receive special offers on all other materials, an invitation to the official release party of the hard copy book and tickets to the show.

If you are interested in receiving a copy of the eBook when it is ready for release, please send me an email so I can put you name on the list for mailing





AG


Archive

 Update 7/23/12

 I am intending on transferring all the production materials for "The Gnomes of New Hope" to it's own web page. There, I hope to post our extensive illustration portfolio, once I can lock the files against copying.  I invite interested participants to review the materials at our studio location.

We have been quite focused on preparing the illustrations for the Illustrated Storybook, but have found that illustrating the Libretto is working very nicely.  We are debating whether or not to release the Libretto as a published document and may do so to industry insiders as a means to advance the production.

Libretto and Score:

We are facing the need to create the piano reductions, as the music for this show has been composed for a 24 piece orchestra (an assortment of 24 pieces, with numbers using as little as six or eight instruments and as many as the the 16 tracks available to us in our MIDI program). We have limited ourselves to an ensemble setting and a maximum of 24 instruments.  In our attempts to score the music we ran into a programming glitch that has wreaked havoc to our process. Fortunately, I discovered that the glitch (apparently) exists only in the Grand Staff function of Digital Performer. So we will be able to get around that with some additional effort. Of course this has caused as certain amount of tension about how to proceed. The net effect is that we have a few piano reductions and some earlier versions of the score, but since we have changed our method of mastering the music, the bulk of the completed 29 pieces, in fact all of the work done thus-far for the first Act will need to be scored.  I am expecting that there will be at least nine more pieces in the second act, maybe more. Some of these pieces are merely bridges between scenes that are very brief.  So the actual length of the show music is more determined by the essential songs, not the number of pieces that have been composed.

We have had a few heated discussions about the length of the show and I am firm that the story needs to be told, but I am also aware of the audience's span of attention.  Additionally, we have debated whether this show is a show for kids or adults.  My position is that it is for adults & kids and Shawn is under the opinion that it is for kids & adults.  So...

Since I am involved in conforming the Libretto so that it matches the Storybook and Audio Scripts and Shawn is focusing on the Mastering process, the scoring will have to wait. We stop occasionally from working on these aspects, to compose new music, which we do together. Since I write the lyrics, I also play the melody lines with the flute. Once this is done, Shawn takes charge and puts down the accompanying parts, while I go back to writing and designing the Illustrations.

Early in our process, for almost all of Act One, we both did the arrangements and established the instrumental relationships, but moving into the Second Act, I have found that leaving the arrangements up to Shawn is a perfectly good thing to do, since we've gotten to the point where we think alike and more often than not we both have the same notes in our heads.  So we basically check in with each other before anything gets confirmed and if we have a difference of opinion we work that out before we more on. It works quite well.

Illustrations:

The illustrations are moving ahead very nicely. We are moving into structuring the scenes, now that we have a portfolio of at least 25 characters and numerous backgrounds to use. We have been experimenting some with animation, not that we have done any film work, but we have been building character positions by using components. An example would be switching heads or appendages on a character to achieve variations in body expressions.  This has saved us a good amount of time and I am working to develop a collection of files for scenes and characters. It is becoming quite large and it is clear that I will need to upgrade my Mac to accommodate the magnitude of this becoming an animated film.

I am looking a Poser as a possible program we should be using, but it is clear that the production value that we want to achieve must be retained and we will need to animate our drawings.  I do not want a slick computer generated look to occur, or otherwise it will just end up as another one of the standard fare computer films that are now being produced.  That is unacceptable to me, I still consider this as an art form that stands on it's own merits and needs to remain stylized as we have conceived it, not what happens to be the most conveniently current fad... unless someone wants to pay big bucks to change my mind. I don't see that happening.

Studio

The 10K warehouse space I am currently in charge of restoring/maintaining, would be a most suitable space to set-up operations and although I am part owner in the building, I cannot set-up without generating the appropriate income that the property requires. This is a goal I am pursuing, but without investors willing to support the larger operations, this will not happen (easily). My intention is to convert Image of the Mind Studios into a Closely Held Corporation and I am striving to build a Board of Directors for that purpose. Those of you who have been aware of this and find interest in being involved in some way should engage me in conversation about this. As you may read in some of the other posts, my intention is to build a Theatrical Development Centre which would initially be under the purview of this IMS operation. Of course that would ultimately occur in a different location with a great deal more land and facilities, but this scene shop would service the urban environment north of Philadelphia and the Gnomes of New Hope production requirements.  Even without the advantage of capitalizing the rapid development in this direction I am prodding along in that direction, however.

The Ultimate Goal

Mounting a full stage production is the ultimate goal, but my method of getting there is to produce results in the arenas that will require less effort, expense and personnel. I am perfectly willing and desirous of associating in a Joint Venture with other organizations/individuals who are capable and dedicated to this cause. So I invite dialogue in this regard.

AG

5/12/13

The focus of attention has been building a new studio facility and restoring some of the equipment needed for advancing "The Gnomes of New Hope". We are engaged in developing the prototypes of a number of product lines and producing the illustrations for the Illustrated Storybook and the animated film.  We are nearing completion of the first volume of the instrumental music for the stage show and expect to move into recording the lyrics to this segment of the music. The CD album is in preparation for a Limited Edition Release to our Vested Partners. We are working on upgrading our film/video equipment to accommodate our work in animation/stop action film-making.  We hope to begin constructing the miniature sets for the film work and I am moving forward to construct a green screen at the stage facility.

I find that I am quite busy with all this and spending time on the internet is not the best use of my time. So although I do believe that keeping these blogs updated is a good thing, doing so on a consistent basis is not the best use of time and resources. If you want to be involved or find out more, contact me directly. I will update this from time to time, but this is not my priority at this time.  I am assembling a package which will be made available to our vested partners and we are pursuing funding to the tune of 2.5M for facilities and establishment funds.

The ancillary rights to an assortment of markets are available and will be posted on IMS Producing Partners (a subscription site).

Do contact me if you think you want to partner on any aspect of this project so we can all make a few bucks.  AG

Illustrations for The Gnomes of New Hope

This post is in preparation of me placing a few of the scenes from the storybook here for you to review. They are still in the computer at the studio, but shortly I will move them to this workstation.

In the meanwhile, if you scroll down further on the page (past the discussions below) you will find some images of Constable Warren. We now have over thirty characters, of which, many of them can become Garden Gnomes. We are working on sculpting more of these gnomes and expect that these sculptures will be used for the puppetry and for ancillary markets. I am even thinking now in terms of candy.

Keep watch, I will try to upgrade the information on this show as best as I can. We are now up to thirty-two songs and closing in on the end of Act II. Whew! What a journey! AG

Illustrations and Sculpture

Refer to the

Production Approach Summary 

Current Status 

for the most recent management and Creative update

Here are some images of the materials we are working on. 

There is quite a bit more, but I hesitate to post it on-line for obvious reasons.

 We have advanced a great deal in our graphics 

and now have at least 20 full color characters developed

as well as with many scenes from the story.

 Well, here's the full color version of Constable Warren. 
This is the look we are seeking to achieve for the animated film.

 Here is the sculpture done by Elsa Acton

(

We hope to be producing a collection of all of our characters as 

Garden Gnomes

Presented by

The Gnomeville Arts & Crafts Guild

and I expect our puppets to be based on these designs as well.

(I am looking for a distributor for these products)

I am now working on assembling a wonderful Graphic from "The Gnomes of New Hope".  Jency & I work together to develop the material and then I assemble it into the appropriate scenes to go with the script.

The one that is being worked on now is a full color version of  Scene Three - it is the meeting which has been called by The Mayor, Moss Lichen, in The Squirrel's Nest high above Constable Warren's office in the centre of Gnomeville. The graphic contains a wide selection of our characters as well as a view of the centre of Gnomeville.  I think you will be as delighted by it as we are.  We are getting ready to record the lyrics to  The Diva's Lament which is a prelude to this scene.

I will be posting the scene here as a way of wetting your appetite for the stage show and the animated film. We are preparing the first volume of the music for release and I will be including as an extra to that volume - copies of the stage script attached to the songs.

I have discovered that I can do this in iTunes.  So if you use iTunes to view artwork, I will be attaching the story as a bonus for you.  This album will be a limited release to our business partners and associates and will not be a general release to the public.  So if you would like to have a copy, then become an investor, business or creative partner.

As it stands now I am looking for (an undetermined number of) people who are able and willing to provide anywhere from $100 to $1,000 per week as an accumulating investment in "The Gnomes of New Hope".  We have a few people doing this and it seems to work quite well.  The advantages are that you can invest gradually according to your ability and derive the benefits of a Front Money investment.  Everything up to $250K is considered Front Money and is used for pre-production expenses.

 The Front Money Investment returns 300% on the back end and has other benefits. Further details of that will be provided to you on request.  This investment will be used to support the development of the facility and to employ people to do the work we need to do in order to prepare for the full production effort. The funds can be earmarked as you see fit in the context of the project and the needs which we seek to fulfill.

If you are interested in joining our effort, speak to me directly or email me- imagemindag@verizon.net.

IMS Studio Compound

Although we have had other plans for a Theatrical Development Centre Compound, we now have the opportunity to expand into a larger facility which is attached to the current offices in Southampton, Pennsylvania.

The existing offices will remain intact and expanded upon if purchase of this building becomes a factor.

Other locations nearby are also available, which are under consideration for different aspects of the Theatrical Development Centre.   Initially anticipated in a more remote rural location, it now seems viable in this suburban environment, if the cash flow can be increased sufficiently to support the facilities.

The Recycling Centre would be located nearby, as would The Alpha & Omega Society which includes The Creative Archive, Exhibition Spaces, and Adjacent Services Office Compound.

Addressing the current expansion possibilities:

The available space comprises two buildings each is 5K and both buildings are available.

Here is the anticipated layout for this facility;

Building 3 

construction & fabrication

 

Building 4

design & management

Acquisition and set-up of this space is contingent upon funding and the operation requires a cash flow of approximately $300 per day (without the factor of equipment, personnel or supply expenses). We are seeking funding to support this operation for a minimum period of one year (preferably two), based on a five day week and a 50 week year.  Budget materials and discussions on this subject will be posted on IMS Producing Partners and is available to our Vested Partners.  

We are expecting to pursue the management structure of a Closely Held Corporation for certain aspects of the operation, others  require a Joint Venture Agreement, in addition to the Licensing and Limited Partnerships. We are open to dialogue in this regard.

A Summary of IMS Producing Partners

Introduction

• This essay/outline is intended to convey the IMS Financial Approach to producing work of various types by using the internet to disseminate the necessary information.

• The information outlined here can be construed to apply to any number of projects although in this instance reference may be made to The Gnomes of New Hope, since that is the principle project which is being pursued at the time of this writing.

IMS Producing Partners - an investment website, overview

• The current philosophy is to manage the dissemination of investment information and the relative updates thereto by way of the web site IMS Producing Partners. 

• This web site is intended to provide all the relative contract, budget & management information to our partners, whether they be investors, creative/managerial, or licensing participants. 

• IMS Producing Partners is designed to encourage investment in any number of projects through progressive levels of access to information depending upon the degree of investment and/or level of membership.

• The premise is that greater levels of investment deserve a greater degree of access and benefits for that investment and as such membership in IMS Producing Partners provides not only the foundational capital for further development as a whole, but is the basis for a developing network of people who are partnering to help IMS achieve the goals outlined.

• In today's world of international engagement, there ought to be a way for interested people of sufficient means to become part of the production activity thru the use of the internet and so IMS Producing Partners is being developed as a vehicle for that to happen, to some degree via the internet,  and to disseminate the required information for that to happen by use of more traditional and direct methods of fund raising.

• All investment procured by this means (internet) shall be controlled by the terms outlined on the website.  

• In all instances, hard copy confirmation must exist prior to investment for amounts larger than one thousand dollars.  Larger investment amounts via the internet may be possible, once the contractual agreements are in place which confirms the suitability of the investor and the relationship is established.  These terms may be altered as the implementation of this web site progresses.

• Other means of procuring investment exist and will continue to be pursued.

• Access to this web site is by membership only and the cost of membership is $120 per year, on the assumption that a person who is capable and willing to become a member of the investment group will not find that unreasonable.  Such membership funds are not considered an investment and therefore would not be returned.

• Membership is contingent upon  specific terms and conditions which must be adhered to and as such will be considered a binding contract enforceable by law.

Contents

• The structure of IMS Producing Partners is being developed as it is being conceived.

• Therefore the initial membership will include access to this process and the external structure elements which are generally accepted operating procedures for a membership oriented organization.

• Aspects of this membership structure will be applicable to The Shakespeareans of Tamanend Park and The Alpha & Omega Society as well.

• The structure of IMS Producing Partners is tiered so as to allow greater degrees of information to be available to members, partners and employees.

• Licensing information and management operations for the Ancillary Markets will be provided via this web site and therefore membership is required  for all licensees as well.

• IMS Producing Partners will be developed to a certain degree on this site and then converted to an internal server where it will be further developed and maintained.

• There will be benefits offered to members which will not be available to the general public, those benefits pertain to both Individual Productions and the overall IMS Studio Operation.

• Investment opportunities will be presented on IMS Producing Partners.

• IMS Producing Partners, at a certain level will contain the IMS Operations Manual and therefore all employees of IMS must be a member of IMS Producing Partners in good standing.

• Al new partners or employees functioning in the upper level operation, including creative and management, will be derived from the membership roles of IMS Producing Partners. 

• In addition to more detailed discussions about IMS Operations & Investment in the Studio Compound, the first level of membership will provide access to Individual Production Approach Summaries, containing: Budget elements, discussions about licensing, the Front Money Agreement.

• Certain elements of the production management system will be provided to partners on request off-line and not all elements will be posted. Those items not posted will be referred to, so that members in good standing may request those elements, if they are part of the benefits of their membership level.

 

This entire operational system is currently being reviewed 
and revised for the present situation

  Therefore,  in terms of it's presentation on the web,
it is in development and may seem incomplete.

The Southampton Park Trolley

Update: 1/12

There has been extensive dialogue on this subject and I have concluded that I will coagulate the emails I have written and post them here for the benefit of your broader understanding of the concept.  Please understand that all of this is a "concept".  It is a vision of what could be... but it could only be if there is a collective communal desire for such a thing to happen.  Look for me to post a new summary in the coming weeks. AG

Archive postings

I have been promoting the idea that the Rail Line which runs through Southampton be reconstituted and operated as a Trolley Line, which primarily will service the Park Systems along the line.  This trolley would accommodate bicycles so that those who use the line can travel between the parks, as well as the communities in-between.

In my mind an antique trolley, slow moving and uniquely quaint, would be an excellent tourist attraction for Southampton and part of that plan would be to restore the train station for use as a museum.  As I understand it, The Southampton Railroad Station Society is thinking in terms of making the train station a museum which will highlight numerous aspects of the rail line history, including the train wreck of 1921.

So it is that I am going to begin to post further on the subject here. I have posted on this subject and been writing emails to this effect for some time, but not on this site.  There is an essay with a link in the right panel titled "On the Improvement of the Community" this is an older essay and may be outdated, but it is worth looking at. There is also something of a summary of my work experience, as means of justification for the perspectives presented there.

If you have thoughts on a trolley line, please do enter the dialogue on the subject. AG

"Gnomespheres"

Work is continuing on the instrumental album of the music from

"The Gnomes of New Hope"

Some of this collection can be heard by following this link;

Gnomespheres

In addition to the Music and the Stage Show

we are working on the following aspects of this project;

Gallery Exhibition of the Illustrations w/Puppetry Storytelling

Puppetry & Toy Manufacturing

 

A Concert Version of the Musical

 

Publishing Numerous Items;

Illustrated Storybook: Zach & Zebby's Grand Adventure

A Dictionary of Gnomenclature 

The History of Gnomeville (published by a random gnome)

Reproduction Artwork by Gnomen Rockpile

 

Animated, Stop Action, & Puppetry Cinema

 

Theme Park Elements w/Animatronics

 

Investment and Licensing opportunities exist 

refer to this essay on the subject.

The Gnomes of New Hope: general activities

8/30/11 UPDATE;

• We have mustered a budget and are proceeding with the illustrations for the Storybook with the goal of publishing the final product.  We expect to assemble a package of the Audio Narrative with music as a companion CD to the Illustrated Storybook- Coloring Book Edition.  Hence we will be advancing with black & white illustrations.  The coffee table book edition will follow in due course and will have the companion DVD.  These illustrations will also serve as the storyboards for the animated film, which we expect to move forward with as a classic animation. We are also working to create articulating dolls for the stop action animation film version and ultimately for retail distribution.  

The Cover to the Illustrated Storybook

• These illustrations will also serve as the sketches for the set & costume design for all of the manifestations of this project on stage or film.  In addition to proceeding with puppet construction, we are beginning to plan set construction for presentation of the show at Tamanend Park's Meadow Amphitheater (see The Shakespearean Journal for images of the stage). We are currently making the bodies to the marionettes and costuming them.  The appendages will depend upon our advancement with sculpting and casting the figurines.  We have intention to move forward with that as we finalize certain illustrations, particularly the characters.  

• With that in mind, we will be creating an array of collectible characters of The Gnomes of New Hope.  We are starting with Constable Warren, who can be seen on this web page.  I will take pending orders for the figurines, should anyone desire to have the first production lot.  The Limited Edition Collection will be signed and numbered and likely made of porcelain.  Final pricing on the finished product is not yet determined, but I expect that it will be under fifty dollars for the signed editions, depending on the detail work involved.   

• There will also be an unlimited edition produced from resin.  The puppets/marionettes will also be produced as a limited edition, but that edition will not be released until after the show has been successfully filmed as planned.  The first 35 numbers in all editions are reserved for our front money investors. We have not yet located a publishing distributor.  All production management, manufacturing and inventory will reside with IMS. Purchase orders for production runs of any prototype item must be for acquisition of the entire production run required to bring the unit price into a marketable range.  

• Therefore, we seek relationships with wholesale distributors.  IMS reserves the right to distribute to retail in any region if necessary or desirable to support the exhibition of either the stage show or the film. Exclusive distribution of product is available to the organization who provides 25% of the production budget for the stage and the film, under the standard terms of the investment agreements and can show evidence of worldwide saturation.  All Distribution Contracts extend for a period of two years and are contingent upon performance. Other terms apply. Inquire directly.

  Post Archive

• 8/26/11 UPDATE - We submitted the first song from the show to The John Lennon Songwriting Competition.  We discovered that one of the flute voices in the piece was accidently left as a Pan Flute instead of the Soporano Flute which it is supposed to be, so I will be trying to rectify that. We are quite pleased that we started to release the music. Our plan is to produce the Audio book of the show and we are actively moving forward to publish the Illustrated Storybook as a coloring book with the companion CD of the music and story narrative.

• I have decided to build a puppetry bridge at The Meadow Amphitheatre in Tamanend Park and we are also moving to build the puppet show for presentation in the Park and at other outdoor venues. The interesting point about this approach is that the stage in the park will very nicely serve as a model for little theatre and the size of the sets will fit well into a few theatres I have in mind, in particular- Phillips Mill in Solebury.

• We are also beginning to film the events in the park and I anticipate posting those events on my YouTube Channel.  I expect that we may film The Gnomes in the Park as a preliminary to a more refined shoot at Phillips Mill.

8/5/11  UPDATE;

• Today I am thinking that the associations I need to foster, are the ones which are centered around the internet in terms of communication.  Other methods are less efficient and have proven to falter to a greater degree.  If you are interested in the subject of Gnomes and the mass-media elements I am discussing on these pages, then I would invite you to open a dialogue on the subject with me.  Clearly, I am pursuing all avenues opened to me for this project, but I would prefer to encourage use of the internet and the IMS Virtual Studio for the advancement of this project and all other management functions. I expect to spend more time on the IMS Producing Partners pages.

Further discussions;

• We are nearing completion of the music for the first half of the show.  

• The first half of the show contains approximately 18 songs that are both lyrical and instrumental.  

• We will be producing The Music Album in a two disc set- Act One & Act Two and I am moving forward to design the liner notes and the cover for that.

• Our game plan is to post one song as a sample and possibly make some of it available for purchase.

• We are striving to have the instrumental versions played by  a professional orchestra and we are talking to a few people about this.

• I am continuing to seek representation for this show and have not yet confirmed an agreement.

• We have the text for The Illustrated Storybook laid out and are proceeding with creating the artwork for that edition. 

• We will be moving forward to begin recording the lyrics to the music in the expectation that this will serve as the sound-track for the animated film version and the puppet show.

• We are proceeding with construction of the puppets and exploring some animatronics which may be applied to both the puppet/marionette shows and to the Gnomeville Theme Park aspect of this project.

• I expect that I may start a new blog that is dedicated to The Gnomes of New Hope.

PRESS RELEASE, "Nunc Licet"

8/30/11 UPDATE:

• We will begin working on Nunc Licet again soon, with the anticipation that we will do another reading in Pendelton Hall sometime in the fall after The Autumn Leaves Performance Festival in Tamanend Park is over.  If you worked on the reading before and want to do so again, please let me know.  If you have read the script (which is posted on this web site) and would like to be included, please let me know.  We do intend to proceed as best as we can with the goal of a full production.  All the  information posted on this blog still applies, just change the dates. AG

PRESS RELEASE;

Subject: Nunc Licet: a stage play about Emanuel Swedenborg

All are invited, participants or observers, to attend the "Official Workshop" to develop and prepare a script-in-hand reading of

"Nunc Licet" at the 2011 World Assembly of the New Church  (link)

It will begin on this Wednesday, May 25th and take place from 7:00 to 9:00 PM on the campus of Bryn Athyn College in Pendleton Hall.  Entrance to Pendleton Hall can be gained from the North Parking Lot behind the Brickman Centre.

A sponsorship program has been developed for those who would like to help financially, as we try to bring this play up to a full production at MPAC (and ultimately a feature film version) and there is advertising available in the program that will be handed out at the Assembly.

We will be videotaping the Workshop and reading, for which we need two camera operators and other technicians.

Stop by the Workshop to gain the necessary details or check the web site www.imagemindag.blogspot.com.

A very special thank you to those who have already been helping. Your participation is more valuable than you can imagine. AG

Please feel free to forward this notice as you see fit.

Arthur Greisiger
Artistic Director / Proprietor;
Image of the Mind Studios

Founder / Administrating Director;
The Alpha & Omega Society

Founder / Executive Producer / Artistic Director;
The Shakespeareans of Tamanend Park

"Nunc Licet" Sponsorship program

I am looking for folks who want to contribute to the cost of presenting "Nunc Licet" at the Assembly.

Funding is being sought to assist in: * the publication of 120 copies of the script  *costs of renting the performance space  *supplies required to make the presentation  *costs involved in advancing the production  *operating expenses incurred during the scriptwriting & production management time-frame.

I need to raise a few thousand dollars for this purpose. I don't have the specific budget, simply because whatever I can muster will be a great help and ultimately a full production of this show will be many thousands of dollars anyway.

There will be a program booklet with advertising and various degrees of sponsorship.  Publication will be done in-house.

Advertising and sponsorship will be published in all editions of the Playbill for each presentation of the play produced by Image of the Mind Studios and productions by other companies will be required to make reference in their playbills to those who have helped make this possible.

For this presentation at the Assembly we will be publishing 100 copies of the playbill.  If the show moves up to the next level (meaning a production at MPAC) then advertisers will be included in that playbill as well.

If you'd like to be a sponsor or purchase advertising in the program booklet, talk to me directly, send me an email (imagemindag@verizon.net)  or call me if you have my number.

I have the sponsorship program designed and the details available in hard copy, which I can provide to you, but I need to convert that layout for presentation here on the web.  It is much the same as the program for The Shakespearean Journal and the Cinema Under the Stars program, so you might review those web pages.

It would be a help if you purchased a copy of the script in advance (to be picked up at the reading).

If you care to donate via PayPaL please do so here;

If you do make a contribution in any amount, send me an email to confirm that you have done so and assure that I list you as a sponsor.  I thank you in advance for you help to making this happen.

Look for me to post the Playbill advertising specifications here within a few days, if possible. AG

NUNC LICET Handout Card

For those of you who are helping with this effort;

These images can be printed on front and back an 8 x 11 letter size

to create hand out cards.

Sorry about the misspelling of Pendleton Hall, too late to change it now. 
I saved the image to a test file and  printed this out from Preview on a Mac and it works pretty good.
If you want a copy of this email me and I'll send it as a n attachment.

The Workshop and Progress Reports are below the Character Listing.
I'm trying to post there weekly.

AG