April 26, 2024: Projects Percolating!

Boy, you don’t realize how hard it is to get a project off the ground until you try getting a project off the ground.  It’s a lot of hard work, seemingly endless waiting, and plenty of disappointment.  There are even times when you get close, very close, so close that you make the mistake of actually believing something is going to go – at which point it all dissolves away.  But, after a while, you become habituated to the constant setbacks.

Having said all that, I honestly feel I’m close on several projects – one of which, I just have a feeling, will be going to camera sooner than later.

First up is that action-adventure series I’m pitching as National Treasure meets Castle meets White Collar.  We’ve attached a star and a director, are negotiating a deal with a new partner, and are looking to take it out in the coming months.  It’s a solid package, but it’s not without its challenges.

Second is that cozy mystery series.  We have a buyer that loved the pitch and is reading the script now.  My producing partner’s feeling on this is that they may want to turn the pilot into a movie, ideally the first of many in a series as part of a Mystery Wheel in the vein of the NBC Columbo/McCloud/MacMillan and Wife days.  I await their response.

Third is another action-heavy thriller that has garnered some interest as a possible international series (that may, if all the pieces fall into place, see me re-teaming with my old friend and fellow writer-producer Alexander Rumelin).

Fourth is that high concept low-budget horror-comedy that I initially planned to produce myself.  But it’s pretty clear at this point that aint happening so I had my agent send it out.  So far, it went to four places.  Two got back to me immediately with interest.  This one is a no-brainer and as much as I’ll be happy to see it onscreen, I have no doubt it will make someone else a lot of money.

Fifth, there’s two other horror features I’ve had in my back pocket.  As I solidify relations with these horror houses, I’ll send them their way as well and see how it goes.

Sixth, there’s the various comic book projects.  To be honest, another crapshoot.

Finally, on more of a general note, I ended up meeting writer-producer Simon Barry (Warrior Nun, Continuum) the other day.  My plan was to be in and out in an hour as I’m not a fan of the industry meet-and-greets, but we ended up hanging out for a little over three hours, discussing the industry and comparing war stories and very similar approaches to our craft.  A very talented genuinely good guy (and you know I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it).

As my buddy director-producer J.B. Sugar is fond of saying: “Onwards!”

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