THE MEMOIRS OF SUMMER RAY

It’s been a while since my last blog. But that doesn’t mean I have slacked on the project. I have been memorizing a full page pitch to test out in class next week. I am truly 100% confident in the project. I am hoping my voice doesn’t give out before I get done. But this is why practicing is so important. Anyone I pitch this project too, the general rule is that I will only get one shot to make a good impression. I will only have a few seconds for someone to make a yes or no decision. After years of studying under Carole Dean of From the Heart Productions www.fromtheheartproductions.com and the many people who work along side her, I am absolutely ready to pitch this project. But this confidence was also due to getting my script professionally analyzed by Largo A.I. https://fromtheheartproductions.com/largo-ai-artificial-intelligence-film-analysis/. “Largo.ai is optimal for Feature Films, and can provide crucial information for Documentaries and Series as well.” The one thing about numbers is that they are concrete and stable. Four plus four will always be eight. It doesn’t matter how many people try to add, subtract and multiply in different ways, four plus four will remain eight. Investors deal with numbers and when they can see the potential revenue, this makes for a more concrete and more stable pitch. I love feeling like my project is finally on solid ground. But it took a very long time for that to happen. It felt for years very unsettled. But that is because the project just wasn’t ready. We don’t take cakes or cupcakes out of the oven before they are fully cooked, or else they would turn to mush!

Not the best analogy. But it still is the same concept. I didn’t want my project to turn to mush – “something soft and spongy or shapeless.” Shapeless is what stands out to me. It is defined as, “without a clear or definite shape or structure.” Filmmakers know there must be a beginning, middle and ending. One cannot make a film without a clear and definite structure of the screenplay, or at the very least Act I, Act II and Act III! In the case of a series such as ours, there is an ending – somewhere and sometime in the future. But there is an ending. There is also room for prequels and sequels. But I will not start any of those until the first series is completed. Audience engagement is far too important! We don’t want to anger them by constantly bouncing around from one series to the next, without even finishing the first one. The audience gets emotionally attached. I believe it does a huge injustice to try and force an audience to switch gears, to watch a prequel or sequel before the ending of the original. That is just my opinion, but I have read a lot of the same comments on social media. So, I will not allow it! I plan to be involved with writing the episodes to the original series. I am working on having five finished before we even start production of the pilot. Because as soon as we wrap up filming the pilot, we will need to start moving into pre-production of the episodes. The director and producer may want an entire season finished. So, I am making sure I have my work done as it is needed.

We are in a very good place with the project. Thank God! I am happy I have blogged the journey for the last several years. To date, this one is blog #453. Once the pilot is distributed, it will be exciting to go back and read over them again and put them in a devotional book. My goal is to help other Indie filmmakers in their journeys as well. But truly, I thank you for being a part of our Summer Ray world. We are so happy you are here!

Till next time,

Reference: www.dictionary.com