No Is Not an Option!

This is another message from Sherri James the producer of the film of our book Far From the Tree...

Many of you know from the previous blog that Jessica and I have begun fundraising for Far From the Tree. Prior to starting what I call the "no-is-not-an-option" fundraising cycle, we invested 4 1/2 months of our time into developing an organized production plan that will ultimately deliver a product that is technically superior, dramatically compelling and financially profitable. A curious by-product of the "no-is-not-an-option" fundraising cycle is that it makes one incredibly self-reflective.

This self-reflection has caused us to unearth the fundamental motives behind our desire to turn Far From the Tree into a movie. After all, when no is not an option, you need some strong fuel to keep going after you get the obligatory no's that inevitably come with any fundraising process. Some of what I discovered was pretty basic. I want to create good entertainment. I need to continue fulfilling my dream of being a movie producer through making my third feature film. And, I enjoy doing work that feels like play.

But one of the drivers I uncovered was that I care deeply about the way Black/African American women are represented in cinema. These images travel all over the world as statements about who we are. And, I feel compelled to take some responsibility for which images get pushed out through cinema.

Now, don't worry…I'm not going to get on another soapbox. But, I do want to share with you why Far From the Tree is such an important story for me. As a child, I went to the movies a lot and my favorite films were E.T., Star Wars and Big. The fantasy in those stories was captivating and I remember wishing I could live out some of the things that were being shown to me on screen. But, no matter how much I loved those movies, it never made sense to me that not even one of the characters in these really fun worlds looked like me.

Of course, at ages 7, 8 and 9, I had no way to articulate the intricacies of race, discrimination and prejudice. I just knew that something wasn't right.

I didn't revisit this feeling until I was out of film school. Today, one of my favorite movies is Stepmom, which starred Susan Sarandon and Julia Roberts. I saw this film shortly after graduating from film school. What struck me most about Stepmom was that, except for the cancer storyline, that movie could have been my story. And, I began to wonder, "Why couldn't a story like that succeed with African American women in those roles?" The thinking in the industry is that stories like that with African American characters won't find an audience. But, clearly those stories happen in our world because it had happened to me. So, why wasn't I seeing those stories show up in our storytelling? That bothered me. And, you know when something bothers you, that's the universe's way of calling on you to do something about it.

Cut to ten years later. I now have the talent, resources and expertise to take responsibility and deal with the things that bother me. Far From the Tree has given me the opportunity to positively contribute to the images of Black/African American womanhood. We love the Frazier women – they are real and highly relatable. We know these women. They are our mothers, our daughters, our sisters, our friends.

For me, this story must be told. No is not an option.

SJ

We Can See Clearly Now

There is a point in any project we’ve done, where we look at it, or read it and we can sense—That’s it! All of the tinkering, tossing, turning, sweating and re-imagining have led us to the place where whatever dream we had when we started with a blank computer screen, is suddenly visible, tangible, real. That doesn’t mean we’re finished, and can kick back and congratulate ourselves on another completed caper. Usually, there is still a long march ‘til the end, but we can at least see where we’re headed and we know we’re going in the right direction.

We had that moment this week with the script for Tryin’ to Sleep in the Bed You Made—The Movie. Our screenwriter, Desha Dauchan, has been working diligently to get the screenplay to a reasonable length (because this cannot be a movie marathon), while keeping the heart and soul of Pat, Gayle, Marcus and Ramsey. This is a Kilimanjaro-sized task. To play up one scene, you have to remove another. To strengthen one character’s dialogue you have to gyp another. It was a constant struggle to find the balance, make the most with the least, make every second count. A page a minute—the whole movie opening to closing credits has to be under two hours. From a 400 page book! Aargh!

But this week, when we sat down to read the latest draft, we could both feel it. We could see Regina King as Gayle, in that maid’s uniform, cleaning up Pat’s hotel room, or looking up and seeing Ramsey for the first time, standing beside her car after her ‘marry me or else’ showdown with Marcus. It gave us both shivers. There are several actors we have been talking about for the major parts, and we could hear them saying the lines, imagine how they would be with each other as Pat and Marcus in the basement, sharing that kiss, or as Ramsey sweating to convince Bessie he’ll come up with the money. There is still tweaking ahead of us, but we’re there, ready to proceed to the next steps, and all four of us who make up 4 Colored Girls Productions (that includes our partners, Tyrha Lindsey and Tracey Kemble) are very excited.

So, while we’re getting the script copied, bound and ready to go, let us know who you see in the parts of Pat, Marcus and Ramsey. We have our choices in mind and have made phone calls to let them know the screenplay is coming (that just gave us a shiver, too), but we’d like to hear who you imagined when you read the book. Maybe we can reach out to them too.

Questions, Questions, Questions

We are so often asked--"How are the movies coming?" And while these blogs are from from Sherri and Jessica who are producing Far From the Tree, the process and progress is pretty much identical to what's going on with the production for Tryin' to Sleep in the Bed You Made. We want to keep in informed and involved--after all they're your movies and we want you to understand that all of this takes time, effort, dedication and a positive attitude! So please give them a read--and your encouragement!

Thanks,
V&D
Questions, Questions, Questions
http://blog.myspace.com/farfromthetreemovie
This week Jessica and I worked on our pitch for investors. Before we sell the movie to you – the fans of Far From the Tree – we must sell the viability of the movie to prospective investors. Tons of questions must be answered and each presentation must be specifically tailored for the person to whom we're pitching. Whatever we say in our pitch, it must all add up to us proving that Far From the Tree makes good business sense.

Some of the questions we must consider include: How much creative information should we include? How do we make the case for this film and prove that it's a worthwhile investment? Should we focus exclusively on the film's profitability? What other movies like ours have been made in the past? Where is the audience for Far From the Tree? How much money can this film generate? How do we know that the fans of Far From the Tree will show up when the film gets to the theaters?

How we present the information is as important as what we present. For example, what pieces of information will be most important to this investor? Can this person write the check or must he/she take our pitch back to the person who can write the check? How does this person process information? Are they a numbers person or are they someone whose heart and mind comprehends better through pictures? And, how many pictures should we include? Will the images we've chosen appeal to this investor? Have we said too much? Are we overloading this person with data? How much information is too much information?

As we endeavor to find an investor for this picture, we don't know the outcome of this process. Will we find the investor who will get the vision we have for this film? Will he/she be ready and willing to write the check when we're ready for him/her to write the check? How long will it take for us to find the money for this film? What hoops will we need to jump through in order to secure this investment? What if we get some of the money but not all of the money? The list of questions can go on ad infinitum. There's little glamour in this process at this point.

Truthfully, none of these questions can be answered until the movie is in the theaters. That's the real proof. Still, Jessica and I must make the case for Far From the Tree convincingly enough that an investor sees what we see – that a movie with three African American women in the lead roles will not only be a good film but it will make money, too. Every element of our presentation has been crafted to sell this point of view.

Will we be successful? Of course we will. And, you, the fans, will be the first to know. You can expect a big fat e-mail in your inbox that shouts, "WE GOT THE MONEY!!!!!" If nothing else, the satisfaction of sending out that blog keeps us going.

Over the past few weeks, your words of encouragement, your overwhelmingly positive response to this blog and your trust in our ability to give you a movie you can be proud of have given us a boost each time we hear back from you. Keep letting us know what you want to see in this film. As much as we love this book and what it says to us, it's also something we're creating in love for you, the fans of the book.

Please tell a friend about this blog. We want as many people as possible to know that this movie is being developed. And, we can only do that through the help of fans of the book like you. Encourage someone to read Far From the Tree and then subscribe to this blog. And, when our film hits the theaters in 2009 and debuts at number one, we can all feel like we've created something great. http://blog.myspace.com/farfromthetreemovie

On the Road Again

We are off to Atlanta for the 2008 National Book Club Conference. We expect to have a ball—as we have in the past and it will be our first opportunity to read from our new book, What Doesn’t Kill You—which will be released in January. We’ll let you know how HOTlanta went when we get back—we’re not exactly sure of our return date. It’s one of the luxuries of a road trip (yep—we’re hitting the highway again—the tunes are packed, we’re warming up to sing)—you can change your departure day or time just because you want to, without a penalty. Being in the car also gives us lots of time to think and talk about the book we’re working on for 2010. AND this time we remembered the tape recorder!

In the meantime, we’re re-posting another of Sherri James’s blogs. Unless you’ve never read our blog before, you know that two of our books are being made into films—Tryin’ to Sleep in the Bed You Made and Far From the Tree. We’ve been talking/writing about this for the past two years and one of the things we keep getting asked is “where’s the movie?” like we just take the idea, add water and voila! it’s on the screen at your local multi-plex. NOT! Even in Hollywood, with major studio involvement, it can take years and years to get a movie to the screen. So part of what we are doing by writing about what’s going on—is to keep you informed, let you know how things are progressing (or regressing—hopefully not) as we continue on this journey with our friends and partners on these two productions because as we said from the beginning—these are YOUR movies and we intend to keep you in the loop. Besides—your encouragement keeps us all on task! So help us help them.

While we’re gone read, drop Sherri & Jessica a note and we’ll see ya when we get back!

V&D

So Much Fun, It Feels Like Play
By Sherri James http://blog.myspace.com/farfromthetreemovie email: fftt2009@yahoo.com

Nothing gets under my skin more than producer credits being handed out to writers, directors, actors, talent managers and the like without any or only some of the real work of a producer being done. True producing demands a charismatic leader who can find the money, attach the talent, shepherd the script writing process until the lump of coal becomes a diamond, work with the Director to make what she sees in her head real, manage the technicians that then execute that vision, collaborate with the Director and Editor to turn the resulting footage into a movie worth watching, negotiate with the distributor so that the film is properly positioned in the marketplace, and join forces with the marketers to help the film find its audience. Few "producers" actually handle ALL the responsibilities that come with the title. Most tackle one or two areas – i.e. attaching talent, securing financing, etc. – and think their job is done. And, while those two pieces are very, very important, they only represent a portion of the work required from a true producer.

The role of a true producer begins with the germ of an idea – i.e. a book, a newspaper article, a short story, a funny one-liner – and it doesn't end until there are bodies in seats at local theaters, enjoying the picture she helped bring forward. Her effectiveness lies in her ability to successfully manage all the moving parts required to make a movie – writers, actors, electricians, production designers, sound designers, composers, stuntmen, marketing execs, distributors, exhibitors, lawyers and more – for the sole purpose of enabling the Director to accomplish her creative vision.

It isn't easy but when it's done right, good producing looks effortless. Perhaps that's why many people want to call themselves producer. It's sexy to be the leader. Unlike sculpting or painting or even writing, producing requires a veritable army of artisans to deliver a finished product. And, who doesn't want to be the general at the head of this corps, marshaling this team of technicians that will produce a product that can possibly take in millions upon millions of dollars at the box office.

Putting all these pieces together well enough to be profitable is truly an art form – an unusual one but an art form nonetheless. I cannot imagine a more fulfilling discipline than producing. The process is very labor intensive but when it's successful, it creates a personal high that nothing else can match. For me, it's so much fun, it feels like play.

As a producer, I get to engage with artists in a very real way and, at the same time, I get to talk shop with businessmen about the profit potential of my projects. For someone whose instincts are both artistic and business-oriented, producing is very satisfying work. Whereas the pure artist feels boxed in by the need for her art to be profitable and the pure businesswoman feels weighed down by the need to consider the creative demands of a project, I get turned on by the challenge of balancing art and commerce.

Becoming a true producer requires one to become a student of both the worlds of filmmaking and finance. Learning to produce well takes time. It's not a gig that you master with one, two or even three projects. With every movie you uncover more and better ways to deliver a film. You learn what works in the marketplace and what doesn't; you develop an instinct about what makes a good movie and what's merely a cute idea. When it's all said and done, the mark of a true producer can be found in how much she has stretched as both an artist AND a businesswoman with each new movie she brings to the marketplace.

http://blog.myspace.com/farfromthetreemovie email: fftt2009@yahoo.com

Too Old To Dream?

This is a post from Sherri James--the producer of Far From the Tree. Her take on following our dreams and passions--in spite of those who think they should have an expiration date is one we can all take to heart-and head!! Are we ever too old for hopes and dreams about the future? Isn't that what will keep us young??
V&D

Too Old To Dream
Sherri James
http://blog.myspace.com/farfromthetreemovie

When I started this blog, I set the intention of bringing you with me through the process of getting a film produced. Ultimately, I want you to care about this movie the way that I do. And, I want that caring to add up to you being at the theater during the FIRST WEEKEND of the movie's release.

So, with that intention in mind, it's important that I be frank about the good, the bad and the downright ugg-a-lee. And, today......I encountered the ugg-a-lee. Over lunch, a well-meaning person told me I was "too old" to really have my dreams come true and that I should "get used to living the life of a struggling artist." And, this was a person that I was TREATING TO LUNCH because I wanted to get their advice on the film. The question I'd put to them was "how do I get past this point where I have great projects but I'm having difficulty getting them funded or paid attention to?

"Simple question. Right? Well, that opened a can of worms that ended with me feeling like "damn." Am I wrong to believe that Far From the Tree is a movie that Black women want to see? Am I crazy to push through all the naysayers to get the movie made? Am I a visionary or just delusional? Uggghhhhh!!!! Self doubt is motha!

As I sat through the lunch that I WAS PAYING FOR, I could feel my spirit getting smaller and smaller. I've already gotten a couple of no's about this project. But that's par for the course. Everything is not for everybody. Still, I persist because I believe that I'll find that investor who "gets it" and is willing to take that leap with Jessica and me to create a picture that affirms the beauty and complexity of Black women's lives. Again, I ask you, am I a visionary or just delusional? Uggghhhh...what I wouldn't give for a healthy dose of ego right now...

"Too Old" - Can you believe he said that to me? And, I should point out that this person is someone I've looked up to for a while and who's always been in my corner, encouraging me when I was ready to throw in the towel. And, now he tells me that I'm "too old" and I can't "start over." Did I mention I was PAYING FOR THIS LUNCH!!!!!
For complete article, please go to http://blog.myspace.com/farfromthetreemovie