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Monday, October 29, 2018

The brat in the back seat: Are we there yet?


We have all have either been or been in a car with an annoying kid in the backseat, who chanted “are we there yet?” for the entire trip. By the end of the trip, the rest of the people in the car are looking for large pieces of duct tape. The constant nagging and focusing on the destination took the fun out of the trip for everyone. 

But how many of us, when it comes to our goals and dreams, are the same bratty kid?  We are so intent on the achieving it that we put on blinders.  We may be more focused and disciplined, yet in the process, we limit our options.  In the military, they call it target blindness. Pilots become so fixated on the target that they can't see the obstacles and fly right into them.  However, it's not just the fun of the journey, but other opportunities and solutions that we can no longer see.  By taking a broader and wider perspective we open our mind to more constructive alternatives that could actually be more beneficial in achieving our goals.

I have been returning to the film and television industries as a writer and producer.  I have been away for a long time, so I've had to make new contacts.  As the Executive Producer finding the resources as well as the cast and crew are major parts of the job, especially when it comes to funding.  Along this journey back, I've met some amazing people.  I was also able to update my skills.  Yet at the end of the day, the funding or lack thereof would determine if the day was successful.  Even though I had made some amazing contacts, including with those in the industry that I greatly admire and who are well respected, how I graded the day depended on that one criterion.  I was the annoying the kid in the back seat. 

So how did I change it? Simple. I took a step back and looked at the whole picture. When I did I started to see my own pattern of behavior, but I also started to see how the individual pieces were fitting together to create a mosaic of talents and resources. In doing so, it took the pressure of me to do it all myself, which reduced my stress and gave me a fresh perspective. I was able to see the open doors that I previously overlooked.  Amazing things have been happening since. I'm enjoying this leg of the journey.  We aren't quite there yet, but soon we will be and then the next leg of amazing adventure will begin.










Saturday, October 27, 2018

Sometimes shit happens



Something shit happens that is totally beyond our control.   However, it is within our power to create a positive or negative situation, depending on how we react.   My kitchen faucet suddenly decided to fail. I had replaced it less than six months early.  Anyone who has changed them out knows it's not it's not complicated, but working around and under the sink is awkward.  It can be more than a little frustrating.  I buy the new one, but I can't find the right tool that would have made it a little easier.  So I make do.  After three hours of bumping elbows, scraping knuckles, and a lot of swearing,  it's installed, but the connection to the sprayer leaks.  The harder I try, the more frustrated I become.  Since it only leaks when the water is in use, I take a break. A couple of hours later, I try again.  But instead of making it better, it's worse.  But giving up is no longer an option.  I take everything apart and start over.  Instead, of attaching the sprayer I use the plug.  It would have been nice to have the sprayer, but not having it wasn't a big deal.  It was simply easier.    After a little work, the second time worked. The faucet worked!

So I am cleaning up the mess and the broom breaks. Here I'm standing in the middle of my kitchen with a broom handle in my hand and the bristle part laying on the floor.  If it had a tongue it would have been sticking out at me.  It would have been easy to have a tantrum—to rage against the unfairness.  It would have been justified after what happened to the sink.  But all I could think was—oh crap!  Deal with it at that moment would have just been pointless because it would have just added to the frustration and stress level.  I set it aside and finished cleaning up the best I could.   The next day I kept coming back to it.  The handle and bristles were perfect except for the fact that they were no longer connected.  The tape didn't work.  There are some things that even duck tape can't fix.  The second try was more successful.  I drilled three holes through the plastic casing of the bristles into the handle and used wood screws to reattach the handle. The concept worked.  The practical application had a few flaws.  The sweeping loosened the screws.   Plan C was a modification of plan B.  I drilled two more holes.  This time all the way through both. Instead of screws, I used bolts with nuts.  The combination kept the handle from moving and thus prevent it from working its way loose.  The finished product looks a little strange, but it is sturdier than before.

The moral to this adventure is how we react determines the outcome of a challenge.  At each step, I had a choice.  I could get mad and give up or I could step back and seek alternative solutions.  By refusing to give up, I proved that when we step back and keep a clear head, we can find alternative solutions that actually improve a situation.   We just have to choose to be open to not only thinking outside the box but also ripping it apart to makes something completely new. 




Imprisoned in her family's home, the spirit of a murdered child waits for her parents to free her. But they have reincarnated as has her killer. Randi must bring them back together so that they can forgive themselves and make amends. If she succeeds, they will all heal and she will be freed to also reincarnate. If she fails, their need for revenge will damn them all.





Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Veterans can't go back and make a brand new start, but they can start from now and create a brand new end.



Originally, Horses and Heroes was to be an episode in our series about horses, Spirit of a Nation. However, when I started doing the research, I quickly learned that there were many diverse veterans' stories to be told and a greater need for them to be shared than what one episode could contain. I decided to set Spirit of the Nation aside and develop it at a later date.



Horses and Heroes is a Reality TV series, which combines the highly effective Peer Support Therapy with Equine Therapy. Unlike most in the genre, it will focus on healing and positive growth rather than endorsing bad behavior. Each season will bring together veterans from WWII to the current conflicts. They will be sharing their challenges and supporting each other as they find new solutions to their physical and emotional challenges. They know the talk because they have walked the walk. They see the dodges and will be able to call each other on them. Sparks may fly. Tempers may flare, especially when they force each other to face their ghosts. But there will also be laughter and fun as they rebuild the comradery, which kept them safe and strong. The snarkiness and practical jokes between the branches don't simply end. There is always room for just one more. When it airs, it will reach into the homes of the veterans, who need to hear that they are not alone, and give them information as well as permission they need to also heal. They will help each other find their way back to the world. Veterans can’t go back and make a brand new start, but they can start from now and make a brand new end.



Additionally, veterans will be hired for jobs both in front of and behind the cameras. There are already many veterans in the industry. They will be given priority for the jobs. But we will also be doing the necessary training that veterans will need for new careers.


Sunday, October 14, 2018

My New Chapter




Many people rush to evaluate their performance at the end of the chapters of their lives. However, that is where the testing takes place. The evaluations or the grading needs to take place at the beginning of the new chapter. Rushing to judgment distorts the results with false positives or negatives. There needs to be time and space to gain perspective. The new chapters begin by setting the stage for what comes next. What is the new challenge? Once the agenda has been set, you have to format the plan of attack so to speak. What worked or didn't work last time. What lessons were learn? Which weren't? Those that weren't why what needs to be done differently and how does it apply to the challenges of the new chapter.
I've started the new chapter. The last couple of weeks I have been evaluating--sorting through the data, lessons, and results. Most of the challenges of the last chapter have been met; a few are being carried forward but in a new context. I've learned a great deal about leadership along the way, what to do, but more importantly what not to do.
Leadership is a balancing act.
Flexibility and schedule. Those that strictly adhere to the agenda miss opportunities. Sometimes you need to pivot to take the scenic route to get to your destination. It might be longer in distance, but shorter in time. Plus, you never know what bonus points you will earn along the way.
Compassion and discipline. A leader who bullies to get the job done isn't truly a leader but merely a bully with power. Sometimes you have to reshuffle to find the good fit. Sometimes you have to put in the extra effort. Sometimes the best you can do for everyone do is bless and let go. Those who put profits over people find that they lack the good of both. Treat your workers like people and everyone wins.
Teams need balance, which means every member has to be grounded and centered. Trade school and a targeted education are great for teaching the skills, but they fail to create a grounded and centered person that are necessary for success. The arts, math, sciences, and other required subjects of a college or university are necessary because they create multi-fascet people. Diverse knowledge and training uplifts and adds dimension a person. Life experience is also a necessary element to a well-rounded individual, especially for leaders Those who haven't had to fight to survive by living paycheck to paycheck don't have the empathy to be a strong leader.
You can't teach what you don't know.. Good leaders have a working knowledge of every aspect of the job, but they hired the right people to do it and get out of the way.
Stress kills productivity and profitability. Stress happens because unexpected shit happens. How you react to it determines the end result. Running around screaming and pointing fingers only makes the situation more difficult. Identify the challenge, the solution, fix it, and only then do you look for reasons it happened, which will lead to preventative measures. Laying blame at the beginning terminates the creative solution process.
A little gratitude goes a long way.
My new chapter has begun.

                                                            Website





Imprisoned in her family's home, the spirit of a murdered child waits for her parents to free her. But they have reincarnated as has her killer. Randi must bring them back together, so that they can forgive themselves and make amends. If she succeeds, they will all heal and she will be freed to also reincarnate. If she fails, their need for revenge will damn them all.


Horses and Heroes is a Reality TV series, which combines the highly effective Peer Support Therapy with Equine Therapy. Unlike most in the genre, it will focus on healing and positive growth rather than endorsing bad behavior. Each season will bring together veterans from WWII to the current conflicts. They will be sharing their challenges and supporting each other as they find new solutions to their physical and emotional challenges. They know the talk because they have walked the walk. They see the dodges and will be able to call each other on them. Sparks may fly. Tempers may flare, especially when they force each other to face their ghosts. But there will also be laughter and fun as they rebuild the comradery, which kept them safe and strong. The snarkiness and practical jokes between the branches don't simply end. There is always room for just one more. This interaction will help them rebuild that sense of brother and sisterhood they depended on while serving, which will help them reclaim their civilian lives. When it airs, it will reach into the homes of the veterans, who need to hear that they are not alone, and give them information as well as permission they need to also heal. They will help each other find their way back to the world. Veterans can’t go back and make a brand new start, but they can start from now and make a brand new end.



With the tagline, “When a mother eats her own, no one is safe,” Eye of Ra compares to The Exorcist and Amityville Horror.

Katherine was born with the power to control the elements. Her whistle called the winds. Her tears refreshed the earth. She was able to see into the realms where fools and angels fear to tread. Her daughter, Sandra, was born with gifts that were complementary—or they should have been. Sandra had the ability to nurture and heal. Her gifts gave her the ability to see and heal others' pain. She could foresee their destinies and give them the courage to embrace their futures Yet, it was not enough. Sandra wanted more direct control over the world and the realms beyond. When her daughters' developed the gifts she craved, Sandra's envy turned to hatred. When a voice from the dark void reached out and asked, “What would you do to have their power. Sandra replied, “Whatever it takes.”

Kidnapped as a child, Rikki is forced to defend her life from her envious mother, who is more than willing to kill to steal her spiritual gifts. When Rikki escapes, Sandra turns her attention to others, who are more vulnerable. Can Rikki find the strength and courage to once again face her mother and stop her or will Sandra use Rikki's guilt to weaken her to the point that she is unable to save herself or anyone else?






A scripted television series, Operation Home Base combines the best of MASH, The Waltons, and NCIS to create a family of man drama about forgiveness and second chances.

A medic in the U.S Army, Martin Flying Crow returned from Vietnam a wounded soul, who was haunted by the ghosts and the guilt of his own actions. He quickly learned that there were more like him than the nation wanted to acknowledge. Unable to heal his own wounds, Flying Crow vowed to help other veterans find the peace he never expected to find for himself. Through a series of coincidences, several others joined his crusade and expanded it. Through their combined efforts, Operation Home Bases legally becomes a non-profit organization that moves out of Martin's garage and into an old shop. When Pat Bogley asks them to learn the truth of his son's disappearance while on a routine patrol in Afghanistan, their inquiries led them dangerously close to exposing a truth that many powerful people at home and abroad would do whatever it takes to keep hidden. When slander and threats do not deter Operation Home Base, Valhalla is created to offer unlimited financial and logistical support. Valhalla's generous offer will either be the carrot to divert the investigation or the stick to destroy Operation Home Base from the inside out.

The second-year slate would include the second seasons of both televisions series, plus the following features.

Riding Fences: Western

When his mother dies while Tom is away at college, his grief turns to rage and he turns his back on his father and brother. He only returns decades later when he is given the opportunity for revenge. By the time he learns the truth, it may be already too late to undo the damage his has done to their family's heritage ranch.

Swamp Rats: Drama Thriller

They rode together. They fought together. They played together. They were the Swamp Rats until a lie ripped them apart. When the doctor gave him the long face, Willie realizes that he has little time to prevent the truth from going to the grave with him. In an attempt to make it right, he tricks the Swamp Rats into riding together again. Willie hopes there is enough of their old friendship left to save two old friends and a daughter that one of them never knew he had.