We got alot of hit in the first day announcing Fredro Starr has confirmed to join the team, and play the part of Reverend Woods.  Now is time we have to build the momentum.  This week I will begin to lay out our plan of attack and letting the public know we will shoot the movie next yr. and create a major nat’l buzz this year and sell as many books as we can.

Debbie from ED is really on the grind setting up schools I will visit in Greater Hartford and bringing kids to our book fair in May which we will be highlighting the DR book.

I met w/Sheila from CWBN re: implementing our system plan for the DR Project. We right on schedule, but I will have to stay on schedule.

I visited the Public Access station in Bloomfield, CT today. They would like to start showing the program beginning in April.

Right now I have to be careful how I committ to people on the project.  With this project things change on a daily basis. I may be able to work w/someone today and tomorrow may change that. One thing I can not do is give up any creative copyrights to Diamond Ruff.  Today I had an eager artist who wanted to contribute to the project w/an offshoot to the project. But they felt they had rights to to DR intellectual property. I understand they don’t want to be left out but I created the story, the concept. Mostly all offshoots for DR have been thought of over the last 7 years.  I’m trying to make DR work so I think daily of how to recycle/reinvenet this project. One of the reasons I’ve been able to work w/alot of successful minds/people is I have never infringed or asked for rights on their brainchild. When you do it’s the quickest way to the door and you can potentially lose hundreds of thousands of dollars in 5 minutes. Don’t get high off your own supply and act like someone needs your work that much. This make them feel uncomfortable. Your better off asking for money than rights. Stay humble work for hire it will take you a long way…until time has passed by, you prove yourself, build trust, and you’re a need to them. Besides when someone wants to share they’ll usually ask you, if that’s what they want. Or bring 5 million to the table and then ask for rights…even then the creator may tell you no.

I stayed over at Young! Studios. I was a too tired to drive home from a busy day Saturday running the Odd Jobs program and helping with a movie screening yesterday. I can deal w/the physical exhaustion but the mental is the challenge. Today I got a little nervous thinking about how difficult is will to be working w/celebrities on the movie.  Celebrities are complicated and live in two worlds.  We will have to be able to understand both and don’t get too upset w/them when we we see their crazy world. The flip side to the picture in working w/celebrities they can bring project great resources and recognition.  This will be a balancing act.

I sent Kyle the script for this weeks You Tube.  We are making progress. Paige my daughter kept calling me saying she wanted to talk–just random stuff.  This means she needs time from me.  I will have to block out special time for her this week. Her calls are a warning sign.

Today was a very important day.  Fredro Starr appeared at the prestigious Wadsworth Atheneum Museum in Hartford today.  I had the honor of introducing in front of the audience.    Based on my son Kyle’s advice I mentioned to him I was considering him to do the part of Rev. Woods in Diamond Ruff. It seems otally out of character that he could do a part like this.  But I think it works.  In the book Diamond is suspect of Rev. Woods thinking he is a con artist.  To have a actor like Fredro who has played gangster parts would be interesting.  Also I think it would be good for fredro becuase he is always being typecast in these roles.

Anyway the event was spectacular in the sense it brought people from different walks of life to see the movie “Save The Last Dance”. A movie that deals w/dance and prejudice. Fredro did a good job after the film during a Q @ A session.  He also said publically he would be doing the part of Trek Woods. I will show it in this weeks You Tube entry. I think it will be a good thing w/to connect a celebrity like Fredro to the project.

My son Kyle also mentioned we need to start putting dates out to the public about when the movie coming out. This will add a great dramatic element for the project. As discussed w/the team, we will concentrate on selling 100,000 copies of the book this year and creating a national buzz for the project. In 2010 we will shoot the movie.  This will give us time to raise money in this economy w/out so much pressure.

A  busy day.  I  made some headway w/finishing the business plan for DR films. I will send this weekend to Kostin & Ruffkess.  I have a meeting to parlay it into a solid investment plan.  A meeting is being set for  next week to discuss this.

Tonight I will going to the airport to  pick up Actor/Rapper Fredro Starr. who willbe flying in from LA.  Tomorrow(Saturday) he willbe hosting his hit 90’s movie “Save The Last Dance” at The Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, CT at 2:00.  It will be a great event to see the movie and ask questions to this entertainer who  has reach great heights of success in the entertainment industry. I invite all DR Members to attend.  While he is here I will discuss w/him his involvement in the movie.

Today was an incredible day.  Since the beginning of the DR Project I’ve been talking about incorporating systems. Today a woman Sheila sat w/the team and began the process of assisting us to bringing it to fruition. We had a full house and everyone was excited.  It will be alot of administrative work. But being organized and focus will bring us definition and results. 

I spoke to John from Kostin and Ruffkess–we are in full swing in completing the tax credit application to ultimately be able to get dollars for our development receipts.  It is a long, grueling processs. But this project is not quick fix, but a long term committment to see results.

Tonight my son Kyle and I disussed a strategic plan to bring the project to the next level. He is also getting involved in alot of different sound and film work in LA which ultimately gives him an opportunity to talk about the project on the West Coast.  One of the greatest assets we have is Kyle going to school in LA–the home of where feature films are made…he’s in the mix.

Got some important work done in the morning. The rest of the day moved fast.  Prepared for my phone conference w/Kostin and Ruffkess tomorrow.  We are getting closer to being able to access the film tax credit program in CT.  I start drafting an activity / itinerary for a summer tour.

A real busy fast day. I was able to close some work for Young! Studios. I had a conference call with Debbie/Enchanted Destinations(ED) and Triple Team Entertainment(TTE) out of the NYC/DC area. We are planning the DR Summer tour.  ED is taking the lead in the organization and TTE willbe the music and promotional force behind it.  This is really exciting…a major undertaking with alot of work. The key to pulling this off is having total focus,  organization, administrative skills and keeping it simple.

We  had another homerun day in the office and getting work done. My son Johnny helped out at the front desk. Vanessa worked on organizing the ODD Jobs Program, Janis focused on fiscal, Eric and Anthony (expanding DR TV to DC).  The comic artist are working on the DR Comic Book.

My Dad purchased a riding lawn mower and rakes forthe Odd Jobs Program. He’s a supportive force, and understands the power of giving.

Kerri of dfx ent. texted and said she was excited in the direction the DR stage play scenes were coming along.

A very good but productive day.  We were able to secure the paperwork for a small grant through the City  of Hartford to develop and expand our comic book and gift shop at Young! Studios. This will help w/DR Book sales as the DR young adult version  is sold there.

I had a meeting with Shelia of  CWBN , Inc., a training and project management company.  We are bartering a deal that I do design and  printing work for them in exchange that they help me create systems and operation procedures for Young! Studios, especially the Diamond Ruff Project. We meet this Thursday to solidify the deal.

Today was also a rough day.  One of  my son’s got in a little trouble. He is responsible, but I take most of the blame for not being able  to balance my work and be there for him the  way I should. I let him down.  This is very humbling for me because I help alot of kids, but I fell short w/my own son. Nonetheless the blame game gets you nowhere.  I have to step up my game.  I made hima committment today I will do better by him and I will.  This means I will have to say “No” more to things athat aren’t urgent for my time.  It’s funny sometimes  when you work so hard trying to help others you neglect the most important ones who need your help. Maybe the succeess of the DR Project is not just simply getting the project done, but how  to get it done and making it a hit and not losing at the same time.

Myself, Brother and a group of kids went out all day w/the ODD JOBS Program.  Wew raked two big lawns. One local and one an hour away from Hartford.  Some of these kids have never been outside of Hartford. It is really rewarding being able to give back and put some money in some of these disadvantaged youth hands.  I was listening to my ” The Secret” tapes lately.  It says one of the best ways to be abundant and your life and being happy is by giving to others.  I think this may be a great project to help alot of people especially kids.

Tonight I am sending Kyle the script fot You Tube and I’m crashing…I’m super tired!

Super

Today was a good day.  We went out w/the kids in the Odd Jobs Program for the first time today and it was very motivational and spiritual.  The outing reminded me of the Diamond Ruff project.  When myself, brother and 7 kids went out in the morning the kids were super enthusiastic about going out implementing their sells training and making a couple bucks doing odd jobs—mostly raking yards. One job was set up for the afternoon so in the meantime we had to go door to door asking if people needed our services.  We went to about 30 houses and no bites.  Actually a couple people were really rude and were getting a little frustrated. One kid even wanted to quit.  But we kept going.  Finally we went a house that we least expected, they didn’t have to many leaves gave us yes. Someone saw us doing us and it led to another job. Then more people saw us and we got more work. We even have 2 yards to do tomorrow, one in greater Hartford and the other in the eastern part of the state.

The lesson I get out of this for the Diamond Ruff Project is no matter the obstacles and rejections we get we keep pushing forward and the right people will see it and help us where we have to go.