A good and productive day.  Kyle and I began seting up for a video shoot for the DR video, starring him and Natasha.  I met w/David Pudlin and Phil Scholonberger who are helping us find a jet to shoot one of the scenes. It’s funny how these guys can pick up the phone and make things happen in minutes that would take regular folks month and maybe years. These are the folks we have to keep close to.  Alot of people admire these people or even hate on because of their influence. But when I see these people I see and respect, sacricifice, and grind that got them into these positions.

We are having a poetry fundraiser (Mystic Theater)tonight that is helping to bring in fund for the project, about 25 people showed up and supported the event. Most of the credit belongs to Poet Chi Dove who put it together.

A busy day trying to put together a DR fundraiser at the end of August w/James Lewis of Woobear productions. Kyle finished a first draft of the flyer. Tomorrow we have a poetry fundraiser called Majestic Longe at Young! Studios. It should be alot of fun.

Alix finished the storyboards for the new “Ruff Cutt” opening. She is now designing final scenes for the opening. It’s looking good.

I met w/Vanessa today and the sales program is shaping up.  Hopefully by next week we will be underway.

A long day. We shot the DR Live Show. Before the show started whatever could go wrong did. We didn’t have a live feed for a world-wide broadcast, an intern decided to leave the show, we didn’t have internet access in the studio room we were taping, etc. But we moved forward despite it all and it came together the best it could. With all that I think it was the best show. There are definately some things we will have to fix, so that we aren’t doing things on the fly. To go to the next level this method of operation can’t happen any more. Denise took the events of the day the hardest. Alot of people probably don’t understand her disappointment and reaction to things when they aren’t right. I do. She is a perfectionist and seeks quality in all she does. I think she truly understands where I want to go w/this project…to the top. To do this we must be a world-class act. Everything must be flawless.  I may be and she may be difficult to the staff around us, but to make it is difficult. Not everyone is built for this journey right now–not to say they can’t in the future.   I have notice in this struggle alot of people but you also lose alot of people…it comes with the territory. As leaders and people who do have hearts losing people is the hardest thing, but we have to remind ourselves of the greater good we will help the masses of people. When you put yourself in a position to do great things it comes w/a price of not being judged unfairly, being misunderstood, being lied on, being accused of destroying careers, etc. Striving for greatness creates alot of personal “Ruff Cutt” characters around you(see the show or visit mr. ruff cutt on you tube to understand this character). As time goes on I get better at identifying the “Ruff Cutts” I should stay away from because it’s negative energy. They are those alwayscomplaining about people doing good things and these “Ruff Cutts” either don’t have a pot to piss in or they don’t have much going on. All I can say is we have to keep our head our up, be positive and keep moving in the direction of greatness. In time the truth will be seen in the fruit we bear. We also have to re-examine ourselves when we get resistance from people when we are trying to go to the next level. The key is doing a truthful assessment of ourselves, which means not getting high off our own supply–to have clear vision of a situation.  Kind of having a Michael Jackson mind-set. Michael is the only person I know who has ever slowed down the speed of the internet when he passed.  Certainly today was not only a tribute to Michael Jackson, but  a rlesson for us and a reminder of  what he might had  to endure on a daily basis to achieve excellence. It’s not easy…but Michael Jackson is probably one of the greatest entertainers to ever live–because he kept it moving no matter what. He will live a thousands of years after his physical death. Let’s learn from Mike.

A good day in the office we got alot done. Denise has prepared a really good DR Live TV Show with a Michael Jackson Tribute theme. I think it will be the best episode yet. It airs tomorrow from5:00p.m-6p.m. on Hartford Public Access TV and on thwe world-wide web on accesstv.org.

Kyle and I appeared on 90.7 FM tonight on the James Lewis Show that is broadcast in Western MA and CT. We spoke about the DR project and broke the “Are you sleeping Diamond Ruff” song. We received several calls and hits on the social networks w/positive reviews. This will be a great promotion song for the project.

Denise and team are pretty much done with pre-production for the DR Live TV program. We will have a special program featuring Michael Jackson. The show airs this Wednesday, July 29th from 5:00p.m. – 6:00p.m. on Hartford Public Access TV and live on the internet at ACCESSTV.ORG.  It’s filled with alot of material featuring ordinary people doing great things. Please try to check us out and hit us up on the different social platforms when we come on.

We contacted the City of Hartford to start the process of being able to sell DR items on the streets of Hartford and at special events.  We have set a financial goal that we have to meet. To sell this DR book and make this movie in this economy we have to be creative and find resources in unconventional places. We have to find $2.00 as well as $2,000,000.00. We’ll get there if we’re focused.

I worked on the Scruples Bounce Back screenplay and shot the DR You Tube Entry # 55 w/Kyle. Tonight myself, Kyle, his girlfriend Alyssa ,and Paige went to The Vibz , (Organic Soul Music Poetry Showcase)–where Kyle performed his song “The Day After”.  The audience  really liked his performance–in the end Kyle plugged the DR Project and Young! Studios.

I was able to get some personal matters in the morning. In the afternoon through the night I worked on some contract work for YS.  I put together the DR You Tube script for Kyle. Also I began working on an effective sales plan for the DR project.

Myself, Kyle and Denise visited Sonalysts, a film, production house. We were taken on tour by the President of the company and staff. I was super impressed w/their facilities. They have recently aquired the contract to shoot the hit TV show “Deal or No Deal”. We went on the actual set before they begin shooting the next week. We discussed  the DR projects and another meeting will happen the week after next. I’m excited about the possible opportunities. We must constantly align ourselves with company’s like this if we want to go to the next level. Today was a good day.

11: 59 a.m. – When it rains it pours, a day ago Kyle’s laptop died–which has some major DR files. Some were backed up others were not…then Last night our main sound recording computer was breaking down. We had to get another one. Whatever can go wrong will. But you do what you can and keep it moving. Right now our equipment is everything. Also another lesson… back everything, especially intellectual property up on a hard drive and also send it to a cyber storage. We do these things regularly but sometimes when you are moving fast to survive you forget or get distracted.

 Kyle and I are still in the studio trying to get work done. We’ll be here for a couple more hours. One of those nights where you have to burn the midnight oil. On this level of the struggle there is no escape from these long 18 hour days. We worked hard today w/a couple deadlines on us. Denise was on the grind getting the team to complete the pre-production of DR Live TV. We also prepared for a big a.m. meeting tomorrow w/a major TV and film production company. We will be bringing them all our projects hoping we can partner on some things. Kyle is completing (mixing down) a promotional song for the DR project I wrote. Natasha  Ramos sings and Kyle raps on the song. It’s real inspirational and different…I like it. It could be a very interesting video.

Kyle also finished the first draft of the Scruples “Bounce Back” movie poster, which looks real hot.  Things are super hard right now, but when you see these creative projects come to life during these tough times, it makes the struggle a little easier.

Yesterday we found a couple stolen items from the studios.  I have noticed from the years the more successful you come the theft comes with the territory. people come to take because they don’t have and don’t want you to have. So as we do this struggle and we began to aquire material things it’s important to not get too emotionally attached…while you’re grindin’ on trying to obtain positive stuff other people are grindin’ to take your stuff. They’ll get some of it because your focus is on other bigger things. Sometimes thieves come in different forms it could be a child, an adult, a senior, the government,family, a consultant, etc.  Anyway as we do this journey I’ll stay positive despite my shortcomings and others.

The team worked hard today trying to finish up the pre-production work for the next Diamond Ruff Live show. I feel like I’m making some system headway because this pre-production work is happening w/out me.  We have a good summer team–much is comprised of college students–many who go to school out of state. Denise and I will have to train other students to take their place and work w/the others leaving through technolgy.