The Production Meeting

Always, before submitting anything to an organisation or company, a good brain storming is needed.

I would love to say that this would take place in a funky diner with burgers, fries and a shake while the kids play double dutch and dance around the juke box. Of course, the reality is far more prosaic. Cups of tea, lots of paper and spider diagrams.

I am a huge fan of spider diagrams. While most people jerk off on charts, I see things through loops. I don't know how or why, it is just how my brain works. I blame being left handed for the fact that I see things this way, more in spaces, morerandom than through flowing charts and mediums which make me switch off. It is also a lot less logical to think this way, bu in the end, everything fits together

Spreadsheets - pah...and now, time to do my spreadsheets!

Pre 2: Cast...

Meeting with the cst is important too. Well, a good director loves their cast. A bad one treats them like crap. Guess what type of director I am...

So later on today I will be meeting with half of the cast of CWP and I am organising another meet-up later on this week for the other half...

The Big Office

Today was another step in the direction of Corporate Wet Paint. Now, I make no illusions to this as El Director. I want to become corporate for one very big reason - I want the world to see the creation of Jay and Kay. Also the money is there...

Since Cannes, things have become far more serious in the film making world. Today was one of those days. It is not everyday that you get to meet up with the European Product Manager of a major Camera Firm. Yep, this guy deals with all of Europe, the EU, the world's richest trading block when it comes to big chunky professional cameras. And I had a breakfast one-to-one with him.

I did not blag, pretend or cover-up during this meeting. After all, I am a potential customer, so I told him what I thought of his equipment (they are damn good), what I am looking for as a film maker (his target market), and what I would like to see his company do and how they could appeal to me (stop being too technical).

I also told him of his competitors and told him what they are doing right (marketing) and wrong (technical). Essentially his company produces the best products, but has not engaged the film maker and so has to compete ferociously with its rivals.

We also touched upon how we could work together. 'Wow' puts it into context. I do admire his company and when I upgrade my camera, odds are that I will buy his equipment. I am already a happy customer and I know his products will work. I have used other camera and I have not been able to achieve the same results, usually as they are flimsy pieces of kit. And yes, I would love to get my hands on a piece of his equipment. He did not have to sell me his camera, if I had the cash, I would buy his stuff tomorrow.

Overall, a very interesting meeting. The future is open to many possibilities and today could have been a possibility. But for now, it is time for me to get back to that opera!