We had a really good Producer’s meeting.  George Milner brought in Wayne our special guest(Art Director/Producer).  He has done some art direction on some major feature films.  He is currently producing a movie about “Billie Holiday”.  Wayne said he would assist us in building the Trojan Horse for the DR movie. George also discussed his project “Jammin’ With Angels”. We are putting a consortium of CT filmmakers, that would support each others work.

Leslie worked diligently on preparing sponsorship packages.  These must go out next week.

The You Tube is up for next week.  Kyle is working ahead of schedule.

Brought Kyle to the airport.  While he waits for his flights he will be working on getting the new promo up on You Tube, so that people can forward others and get it out to the media.

Mike had his contact Carla from the school system in the office developing the Diamond Ruff curricullum for middle school and high schoolers.  She showed us her work yesterday.  I was very impressed w/her speed and quality of getting it done.  By next week she will be done.  Mike is very good in identifying talent to the project.  Although I am the leader in this DRP  and have the final say  I take his instincts and advice into high consideration.  He continues to be a confidant and one of the most valuable assets to this project.

Tomorrow we have a producers meeting that I am looking forward to.  We are meeting about the movie budget.

Although it was Thanksgiving. Myself, Kyle and Mike were on the “grind”. Mike and I spoke earlier in the day about a plan of attack on raising money.  Kyle finished the promotional video.  Although we were on the “grind”, we all threw down on a good Thanksgiving meal!!

We had a very good producers meeting.  We videotaped producer and workers in front of green screen for promotional DVD.  The promo will be aired on You Tube for Monday morning airing.  Leslie began compiling corporate names to launch mass mailing for support.  This mailing will be out Monday.  We have to raise monies to travel and secure larger sponsorships.

A busy day.  Kyle was in working on promotional media demo, which is really coming out well.  He should be finished today.  I have written a :30 second commercial for the project, which we will shoot today using the green screen in our studios.  On Wednesday we should hear from TV One about the Scruples Holiday special airing on their national network this Christmas.  If  so I will discuss bartering some time to air the DR commercial.  I will speak to the FOX affiliates we air the program on  Christmas Day every year. I will add the commercial to the show.  This will give us extra exposure.  After it airs on Christmas, I will send media/project  packages out to my nat’l contacts and people I am currently working with and have relationships with like Wanya from Boys II Men, NBA player Ray Allen, Gayle King, Editor of Oprah magazine(Oprah’s best friend)-who has helped on all my major projects, R & B Group Jagged Edge, Famous actor and football legend Jim Brown and his wife Monique and others.  In the beginning of the year we have to go full blown.  I’ve waited because to contact these people because they are busy and want to see something tangible.  But who knows they may already be following the project.

We got a call from Barnes and Noble in Holyoke Mall in Holyoke MA, they want me to do a cartoon workshop around my childrens book Scruples, the Legend Begins.  Barnes and Noble have been selling the book for a couple years now.  Debbie from Enchanted Destinations is our official travel and booking agent.  She was able to set up tha workshop in January and March 2009…at the same time she set up Diamond Ruff book signings on the same day. She is a dynamo and get things done w/out alot of questions. She will be very crucial to the success of the project. As myself and team are busy we need people who can report to us, lay out the situation and make their recommendation to us. Her and Michelle Harris from DC are currently setting up tour dates and sponsorship packages for next year.

Another crazy day trying to make things happen.  Mike was on the ‘grind’ contacting potential supporters.  We we were able to send out our first sponsorship package.  Meeting are being set up to pitch financial support.  A package was prepared for our first book review in Hartford Magazine.  Debbie delivered a great press release based on the headline Tim and I came up with. I will be meeting w/potential financial lead tomorrow.

As soon as I picked up Kyle fom the airport, we hit the ground running… he came in to the office and began working on the  media dvd promo.  This should be ready by Wednesday.  By Saturday we want to send our media kits out to the local and national press.

I feel this is where the main struggle begins, the test of character, as we let go of alot of security and go for it. We must have total focus and manage our time effectively.

Today we had a vending booth at an Artist Collective(performing arts organization in Hartofrd) special event.  The booth was held down by Debbie Gaudet (Enchanted Destinations), my daughter Paige, Janis and her two boys.  We sold a few copies of the Diamond Ruff book and other Young! Studios merchandise.  The main thing was we were able to tell more people about the project.

I met w/George Milner he began tightening up the screenplay.  I am impressed w/how he is doctoring up the script he’s a real pro.  I hope this good flow continues.  He said he will be done by Wednesday so then we can begin budgeting out the film.

Kyle got the You Tube up early.  He will be in Monday at 11:00am to start the “grind” for us in Hartford.  The You Tube features myself and Mike’s trip to DC and it will bring people into our film producer’s meeting.

We had a couple mtgs. w/people potentially helping out w/the project.  Kyle was sent an electronic file of raw footage for You Tube.  He will post ealy sometime tomorrow. He will be traveling east to join us for the Thanksgiving holiday.  He will be here for a week but we will be grinding on project.  His main mission will be finishing a promotional Diamond Ruff DVD that we will send to the nat’l media. 

 With “Cane” our new street rep. we picked up a local store “One Stop” in Middletown, CT to sell the book.  So we currently have 3 stores selling the book. One Stop, Young! Studios Scruples Gift and Snack Shop in Hartford, CT and the prestigious Wadworth Atheneum Book Store in Hartford, CT.

Today was a crazy day running around trying to hold down Young! Studios and Diamond Ruff Project(DRP).  I went over bills w/Janis.  Diamond Ruff is absorbing so much cost it’s hurting Young! Studios.  My focus on DRP is taking away from the bread and butter work. I have to balance everything.  It’s a scary place to be.  The DRP takes financial  resources.  We have to be creative. This crazy economy doesn’t help matters.  Sometimes I question is this the right time for a huge project like this.  I have to remind myself that I have to stay confident and continually find the need for the project.  I met w/Tim the Editor he was apologetic for the missing chapter.  We met for awhile and began coming up w/a hook to a press release.  We have to raise attention to Editors and TV producers to do a human interest story.  These stories attract attention and finances.  We came up with:

BREAKING DIAMONDS OUT OF THE RUFF

I spoke to Skip he will be meeting w/TV ONE tomorrow about the Scruples holiday special.  If he is able to get them to pick up the program this will be a major step in getting Diamond Ruff to a nat’l audience (the recognition will always go back to Diamond Ruff-human interest stories, commercial on program depending on advertising deal).

We spoke to Michelle Harris about putting a book tour together w/R &B Live and Diamond Ruff.  I thought we should also include Enchanted Destinations help in setting up and coordinating the deal.

We had producers meeting today.  George Milner was the star.  He began re-working the Diamond Ruff screenplay.  Letting me know what he thought neded to be corrected.  He also came up w/time frames and potential film technical support.