It's All B.S. Until The Check Clears

Let me pull back the curtain a minute for a shot of inspiration, a dose of reality, and sort of a year-end summary as this is what I do behind the scenes.

If you want to write or direct a film or television show — then write or direct a film or television show. Take a camera, a cell even is fine, purchase an editing program and get to work. Or write scripts, show bibles, books...

Do it. No excuses.

We all have lives outside of our work. Responsibilities, whether for children, aging parents, or meeting the bills.

Or...whatever else.

So what.

"Do or do not. There is no try." Sometimes little green pop-culture icons really do dispense the most relevant wisdom.

Regardless, if John Grisham can practice law and write The Firm part-time... You get the idea. He very simply did what he wanted — er, "needed" — to do, while meeting his other obligations.

Creators “need” to create. Can we agree on that much?

Here’s where my television development company, Council Tree Productions, is at now from practicing this same philosophy: By regularly acquiring independent content (based on self-published or independently-published books, bringing back older intellectual property and so on — translated as “projects most companies will not look at”), we have several consummated deals, most of which we’re waiting on to be announced. One is with a large cable network. Another is with a legacy production company. Another is with a "diginet” affiliate of a major Top-3 network that premieres next year. Another is with a notable TV development group. Still another is a “first-look,” and others are pending.

Generally, announcements are withheld until an airdate or until the network deems it timely. With most of these deals, there’s still PLENTY OF WORK to be done prior to air — if they air at all.

Here’s where Council Tree is not: The Chronicles of Ara series, based on my fantasy novels with Steve Hillard with Ovation has gone into turnaround. M Night Shayamalan’s Tales from the Crypt for TNT, of which I was an executive producer, is shelved indefinitely. A past project with FOX Studios did not move forward.

But I move forward. Constantly. No choice. No work, no pay. We will have a presence at NATPE in January to network and sell TV content at the largest of all U.S. television trade shows. It doesn’t end; there’s always more to do.

Maybe, I can even get Assassin and Son going, based on my buddy Shad Gaspard’s comic book with Mark Copani. Sometimes projects take years and this one is well worth the effort.

Onward ...

CT projects will be pitched in mid-January at NATPE and here in Los Angeles. And even regarding some deals mentioned above, they’re not all with networks yet and so we go on.

Reality, which you will not get much of in the media industry: Not everything is as it appears. A “deal,” especially, does not mean by definition that a given show is funded and frequently means there are more steps to go. But in those “legitimate” instances, it’s a positive start.

And THAT’S my long-winded way of saying, “Move forward. You can do this too, if you really want it. But manage your expectations and do the damn work, if you truly want to succeed.”

That’s what’s up. On this page, many of you have a dream to create movies, comic books, and television. If I can do this, so can you. BUT... be realistic. Juggle. Never take the first “no” for an answer in these creative businesses — as perhaps opposed to interpersonal relationships (consider that a caution) — or few will respect you.

Finally, ALWAYS proceed with caution when those in influence “sweet talk” you.

Because remember, regardless of your talent ... it’s ALL bullshit until the check clears.