One Producer in the City

Guest Blog #69: Snow sounds great about now, right?

With all the heat we've been having I figured we all could use something cool to think about, so this week's guest blog comes from talented writer  Niko Tsakalakos who's telling us all about his awesome new solo album The First Snow. Take it away Niko! 

Hello fellow readers of Michael's blog,

Being the connector that he is, Michael has given me the opportunity to spread the word about my new debut solo album, which I am currently recording.  I am singer-songwriter and composer-lyricist working in musical theatre in New York.  I met Michael after the New York premiere of a musical I wrote with Janet Allard called Pool Boy.  

Since I can remember, I have dreamed about landing a record deal.  When I moved out to LA with my two brothers at the age of twenty, I seriously had this fantasy that we would show up on stage at one of our gigs on Sunset Boulevard and a producer would be sitting in the shadows in one of the booths wearing a bleached white button-down shirt, a black sports jacket and sunglasses.  He'd call us over, blow a puff of smoke from his mouth and say the magic words.  Having lived how hard it is to keep a band together, even when you're a band of three brothers, or especially when you're a band of brothers, having been so close to the coveted prize so many times, seduced by inflated promises, dashed by pressures of producers and managers, seedy side-shows of revelry, let alone the strains of economic survival, and having seen other bands get torn apart by their record labels, I stand here now a decade later with an odd sense of relief in the realization that I can make a record on my own terms, in my own way, without the pressures of a label.  Because the one thing I learned on this insane journey of making music is that what matters most is the people you connect yourself with. Your collaborators.   

I am ecstatic to say that I have joined forces with Brian Usifer (Associate Music Supervisor: Book of Mormon) and Sammy Merendino (Drummer/Engineer: Cindy Lopper) to co-produce my debut solo album: The First Snow.   The story, the why, the need to make this record is all here on my Pledge Music page.   Please take a moment to check out the page and short video:

http://www.pledgemusic.com/ projects/thefirstsnow

I wish I could have done a self-produced album a long ago, and saved myself a lot of heartache, perhaps still be best friends with my estranged brother, but then again.  I take that back.  You live and learn and if I hadn't taken the long and treacherous road, I probably wouldn't have written these songs I want to share.  

Niko Tsakalakos 

www.nikosongs.com

Thanks Niko! So if you guys have a little extra kicking around, be sure to help fund his project. Niko's an amazing person and an awesome talent.

Excelsior! 

P.S.- There are still seats for Finding Center open! To grab them, click HERE! 

Why I appreciate Honest Theatre.

Last week I went to see Everywhere Theatre Group's latest version of Flying Snakes in 3d and if you have read any of the things I have written about this company in the past, you know that I am a big fan of their work as well as their tenacity. 

At one point I sat down with them and found that much of the work they have been doing has parallels to the start up community. They work with very little money, they use all of their resources to the utmost, and they push hard to execute on their vision. Most recently when the piece came under criticism, they executed on another entrepreneurial move: the pivot. 

When a start up has a moment when it seems like the audience they are serving isn't interested in the product, they pivot to a new audience or a new style of execution. After they received some criticism and had some back and forth with one of their critics, they used that material to flesh out the idea of the show with thought-provoking results. I was impressed and some others were not. 

This is what I have to say regarding those that were not:

Honesty makes us uncomfortable and therefore, yields harsher criticism. The show decided to take on the very present issue of class in relation to the enjoyment and funding of theatre and very few companies have taken that risk. I was reading this post today by Seth Godin and it reminded me even more of the importance of works like this in our industry. Risk is what makes for great things and our work does not fit nicely inside of a box. The fact that this group takes the time to tackle these issues is commendable. The fact that they constantly push forward with their work despite all of the very real challenges is inspiring and at some point they will find producers as brave as they are. 

If you are a producer reading this blog, reach out to them and meet with them. Everywhere Theatre Group is a team of risk takers who challenge our industry. Meet with them and be inspired. 

Excelsior!

P.S.- The next Finding Center is coming up. Grab your tickets HERE!

Awesome Person Thursday: Sink or Swim Rep

This week's A.P.T. is Sink or Swim Rep which has taken on the ambitious task of producing two shows this summer! They are just about over their fundraising hump and need a little extra push. You can read all about from their artistic director Kristin Parker below. If you have some extra dough, give em a hand! 

Excelsior!

As most of you know 2 years ago I founded a theatre company called Sink or Swim Rep. We are currently in our third season and are in desperate need of some financial help.  Our third season begins on Thursday. We are doing An Ideal Husband and Proof in Rep all month. We are only $1000 away from paying for the rent of our theatre, but we need to do that this week in order to stay in the beautiful Connelly theatre. Please help us do this by donating what you can. To donate by credit card go tohttp://kristinparker.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=996ce5bdd1144dd0d23d263f9&id=708125d1f5&e=ed3181164a. To donate by check: Please make check payable to Fractured Atlas. Write Sink or Swim Rep in the memo  line. Mail to Sink or Swim Rep c/o Kristin Parker,  211 West 71st St., #9D, New York, NY 10023. *All donations are tax deductible   If everyone on this list gives us $1 (Seriously that's it $1 is all we need from you) We will have enough money to pay for all our lovely actors. If everyone on this list gives $5 we will have enough money to pay for our theatre, if everyone on this list gives $10 we will have made our budget for the entire season. I know you are thinking, who does she think I am? I'm a starving artist! Give me a break! Here's another way to think about it: If you take the subway and not a taxi once tomorrow you will have $10 to support us. If you skip the caramel machiato at Starbucks and make coffee at home tomorrow morning you will have $5 to give us and if you.... well we don't know anything that only costs $1 anymore so give us a dollar towards some costumes please. We know times are tough right now and people are asking you for money left and right all the time, especially in this city, but Sink or Swim Rep needs your help. You are on this list because you know how important seeing live theatre is and most likely have been at least once in your life deeply and profoundly affected by it. Right now we have two shows on our hands that absolutely have the power behind them to do just this. The amount of work, talent, dedication, and bravery that has gone into these two plays to make sure we are letting our audiences have another deep and profound moment is outstanding. Please help us make sure it does not go to waste. Please don't let us Sink. Another way to help is to forward this email onward to friends so we can reach more people with our call for help. Send it to people who love theatre, people who love art, people who think art can change the world. Anyway you get the picture. donate now   Another way to help is by coming to see the shows. To get tickets visit http://kristinparker.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=996ce5bdd1144dd0d23d263f9&id=e7b6ffba1c&e=ed3181164a  Love and Thanks, Kristin

 

 

Awesome Person Thursday: Brett Boles

Photo by: Darren Wagner

This week's A.P.T. is from Janine Pixley who is going to tell you more about the insanely talented Brett Boles. I'm currently consulting producer for his show Foreverman at NYMF and am very excited to be working with this team. To support the show, you can go HERE and take it away Janine!

What does it take to weave a true story? Does it take skill – does the person need fiery passion for birthing characters that rise from the mist of their mind to take on stunning clarity for an audience?

A Storyteller is someone who isn’t scared to take on grand ideas and bring them to reality. Time travel? Not too hard. Immortality? Bring it on. Love? This one will rock you to your core.

For his first musical with The Next Link Project, part of The New York Musical Theater Festival, Brett Boles is taking that challenge of grand story lines head on. His musical, Foreverman asks you the question from the first note “what if you could live forever?”

Now, it’s not just the story in musical theater that should hook you, it’s going to be the music that will take you beyond what words only can convey. Brett is a very skilled musician – what he brings to the party is an understanding of what I view musical theater to be – that moment when words alone are no longer enough. Brett’s capacity to write stunning show-stopping, passionate words that are lifted by orchestrations that ooze emotion is something that audiences are going to want more and more of.  For a taste of what I am talking about, listen to some of the tracks on his media section of the Foreverman webpage. 

Brett’s going to be a person to watch in the coming months and years – the run of Foreverman at theNYMF is already more than half sold out – make sure you check out what is sure to grow into a phenomenon now.

To learn more about Foreverman, visit its official website or buy tickets to the NYMF run. To learn more about Brett, visit his website. 

Thanks Janine! 

As many of the producers reading this know, putting up a show is always an expensive venture. If you want to be part of the building blocks for this amazing project, you can make a tax-deductible donation HERE. 

Hope to see you at the theatre.

Excelsior! 

 

No guest blog today, but plenty to support

This week since my guest blogger cant make it, I wanted to make you all aware of some great projects and causes that could use the support of readers like you. A few notes about support:

1. You don't always have to give money- A retweet of this post, a mention via twitter or FB of a project, or a forwarded email can be just as effective as a donation. So if you're strapped for cash, give some link love instead!

2. Connect passionate people- If you read about one of these projects and love it, take the time to think if there is anyone else who may be as passionate as you and make an introduction. You'll have a great time and be happy you did. 

3. Spread the love- The more people and projects you help, the more connections you'll make and projects you'll be connected to, so if you have time today to spread the word or donate some dough, I'm sure the people on this list will appreciate it!

 

1. Baby Lu- You heard all about them yesterday. They have an ambitious goal, but have already made significant headway. Help them get over the hump! You can read more HERE. 

2. TheaterLab is not asking for money, they're asking for signatures to stay open. I can't stress enough how inportant it is to keep the Indie Theatre spaces in the city Open! To support them, go HERE.

3. Chitown- This incredible documentary by Nick Budabin has two days left to hit the ambitious goal it has set. If you love basketball, Chicago, or helping charities, this is one to check out. You can help by going HERE. 

4. RKP Ensemble- I have mentioned before the great work of Rachel Klein and her amazing ensemble and their latest show looks like it will be possibly the most incredible one to date. You can help them realize their dream by going HERE. 

5. The Active Theatre- This company does really awesome work and their latest piece Body Language is still in need of a push. To give them that push, go HERE. 

6. Doubles Crossed- I have seen Funny Sheesh's plays before and this one looks great. They only have 43 hours to go, so if you love film noir and comedy, give them a nudge HERE. 

This is just a small portion of what is out there looking for support, but the more you start to help, the more you'll find out about and if you want to be a producer, you'll want to be in the loop on the great things that are out there. Have a great Friday and Good Luck to all of these projects!

Excelsior!

P.S.- Early bird tickets for Finding Center are now Sold Out, but you can grab one of the last four regular price seats HERE. 

Awesome Person Thursday: Baby Lu

 

This week's A.P.T. is the film Baby Lu by new up and coming film maker Emily Ray Reese. Below Emily tells about her story and how that story has translated into a film. As a new producer, she and her team need our support. Take a look at the video below and if you can pitch in, you can be awesome too!

Take it away Emily! 

"Baby Lu" is a the first feature film to be helmed by writer/directed Emily Ray Reese. Baby Lu is a queer coming of age story set in a tiny out skirt town of Taos, New Mexico. Lucinda, a thirteen year old girl, is growing up under a well intentioned but unequipped single mountain man father. When an intriguing new woman arrives in their small New Mexican town, the two of them must grapple with new emotions and the confusion of Lucinda’s burgeoning sexuality.  For the past 5 years, Emily has directed over 5 short films, a web series and commercial spots. This film would  be her largest project to date and will also qualify as her thesis project and complete her MFA at the highly acclaimed Graduate Program at NYU. NYU's thesis films have a notoriety for success and often act as the stepping stone to a successful film career. NYU's graduate film program has been considered one of the premiere schools' since it's inception.  In addition to top notch facilities, equipment, and curriculum, the program's esteemed faculty, which includes award-winning filmmakers such as John Tintori (Eight Men Out, True Love), Todd Solondz (Happiness, Storytelling), Spike Lee (Do the Right Thing, Inside Man), and Mary Harron (American Psycho, I Shot Andy Warhol) is what makes this program so successful. Every year award winning films come out the the students and alumni of the program. Last year God of Love won the student academy award and Winter's Bone won the grand jury prize at Sundance. Being a student in this program pushes them to tell unique inspiring stories and to pursue the best possible level of filmmaking. Baby Lu is nothing short of the exceptionally high standards of Tisch Grad Film.

1) How is Baby Lu a unique story?

The story of Baby Lu is inspired from my own unique upbringing in rural New Mexico. Growing up with my own mountain man father presented an array of experiences and challenges, which came to a head when I entered my teens and even more so when I realized I was gay. While it was difficult to speak with my 

father growing up, we always had a way of tacitly communicating when he’d take me fishing or hunting. These moments bonded us forever, even though we could never

openly discuss my sexuality.

New Mexico and it culture of hunting, fishing, and "living off the grid" is a unique world that has hardly been explored in cinema.  Especially in a story that places this lifestyle in conflict with a queer questioning character. This combination has developed a very unique and interesting story that must be told!

2) What excites you about writing/directing Baby Lu?

The setting and the character’s of New Mexico provide the inspiration and guide for my creative vision for this film. The cinematography as well as the performances will be directed to feel as beautiful and raw as the towns I grew up in. Striving for the authenticity of New Mexican life will make the subject matter and tone of Baby Lu come alive.

I was interviewed by Rick Romancito of the Taos News a few days ago and he asked what my goal for this film was. When thinking about it, I have always felt like an outsider between the two worlds that I live in. I always felt that I had different values then the hunting, gun loving community I grew up in yet I have always respected their way of living. Now that I am an adult and have become a part of a very liberal and queer friendly community here in Brooklyn, I still feel that I have to balance the politics of my upbringing with my current community. My goal for Baby Lu and it's story is that it can inspire some empathy that will allow us to identify similarities between both cultures. I hope that by seeing the world through Lucinda's eyes, I may be able to bring these opposing worlds together to cultivate dialogue and forgiveness. 

 

3) What are some of the challenges?

 Our biggest challenges will be casting and fundraising.  

Lucinda the main character in the story must be cast perfectly for the film to work. Not only do I need to find the perfect girl but I would love for her to be native to New Mexico, so that she can . I have already begun exploring the middle schools of Northern New Mexico to find this special kid. Lucinda's father, Zeus, also has to be perfectly cast. I'm seeking an actor who can convey a physical presence that truly represents that "mountain man spirit" but also has a quiet power  and  simultaneous vulnerability behind his expression. Once we find these two actors the rest will surely all into place!

We have chosen to run a kickstarter campaign with a hefty goal of 50k and  so far we have raised a whopping 10k! With 26 days left we are feeling optimistic. As long as we can get enough different sets of eyes on the project we can accomplish out goal and go into production in the fall. As an artist is is hard to see the creativity in fundraising and it's hard to ask for money. As we have gotten further into the process and with the help of a bunch of amazing people I have started to see  fundraising as a good challenge. It has forced me to put myself and my work out into the world. Had I never done this no matter how many movies I make, without an audience there would be not point to them other then self therapy.  

4) What's one thing you've learned that would be helpful for first-time writer/directors?

 

Collect an amazing team of collaborators! Honestly it takes a village to make a film and your movie will only be as good as those you have chosen to work with. Assemble your team according to those who's work you respect and who's company you enjoy. Once you have people on board you have to trust them to do their jobs.  

             And love your story! If you don't believe in it no one else will.

           

             To see more about Baby Lu and support our campaign please visit our kickstarter page at: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/185154191/baby-lu

-- 

Thanks Emily!

Be sure to check out the video below folks.

Exceslior!

P.S. - There is only 1 early bird seat left for Finding Center and only a handful of seats left total! 

 

Awesome Person Thursday: NeilTotton

This week's Awesome person Thursday is devoted to Neil Totton. For those of you who don't know Neil yet, he is an artist who is passionate about helping other artists. Over the years he has helped produce benefit concerts for major charities, connected numerous artists to great opportunities in music and film, and has served as a source of inspiration for dozens of people. 

I know we are all inundated with crowd funding camapaigns, but when I see campaigns that have a bigger purpose, I have to promote them. What Neil is doing with his current project is building a platform to help other artists get their performances seen not for the purpose of becoming famous, but for the purpose of giving them opportunity they might not have due to lack of finances. This first project is the launching pad for him to build his platform and I urge all of you to support it. When people are doing good things, I spread the word, so here we go. Tell your friends. 

Nuff' said.

Excelsior!

P.S.- We are at 70% capacity already for Solving for X! Only a handful of seats left! 

 

 

Awesome Person Thursday: Fractured Atlas

If you are a member of the Indie Theatre Community you have no doubt heard about this amazing organization. In the earliest stages of my producing career, they made it possible for me to secure affordable insurance, get tax deductible donations, and understand many elements of producing. I even wrote an online course for them on producing at one point. I can honestly say that I would not have produced nearly as many shows without their help and support. Many of my colleagues in the Independent Theatre world would say the same thing I'm sure. So that's why I am making them the focus of Awesome Person Thursday. 

Fractured Atlas has just been added on a new rating website called Great Non Profits where users can write reviews and testimonials about the non profits that they have worked with. I urge you if you are currently sponsored under Fractured Atlas, have taken one of their courses, or have friends who have worked with them, spread the word. You can write a review by going HERE.

Fractured Atlas has been a major source of support for so many artists. A review, a blog, or a tweet is a small thing to ask as a thank you for such noble service. I hope you'll join me in getting the word out.

Excelsior! 

Awesome Person Thursday: Mary Dimino

This week's Awesome person is the talented, funny, and social media savvy Mary Dimino. 

I had the pleasure of working with Mary on her one woman show Scared Skinny during FringeNYC and we have stayed in touch since that time. In true entrepreneurial fashion she has secured multiple runs of the show, done many stand up comedy engagements, and spoken on panels. Throughout all of this she has been gracious and giving to all those she meets and that kind of selflessness makes for an Awesome person. You can read more about her here.

I was thrilled to hear that she was nominated for a Shorty award. Check out her stuff, and if you agree with me about her awesomeness, add your vote/tweet! 

Congrats Mary! All the best wishes! 

Excelsior! 

Heard about the new solving for X? Click here to find out more! 

Awesome Person Thursday: Cynthia Hopkins

This week's awesome person comes to us by way of designer Jeff Sugg. Take it away Jeff!

I started working with Cynthia Hopkins in 1997 and as long as I've known her she has been tackling difficult decisions. As an up and coming downtown performer she chose to quit acting for other companies and start making her own shows. When she began making those shows they dealt with outlandish, complex issues: amnesia (Accidental Nostalgia ), her father's illness (The Truth: A Tragedy), and the Big Bang Theory(The Success of Failure: or The Failure of Success:or The Failure of Success). All these topics have been investigated through her uniquely personal voice and chillingly vibrant music. And she's managed to maintain a biting penchant for humor in the midst of the unbelievable mayhem….. I mean post-human earthlings evolved from pigs; that's funny.

And now comes the climate crisis. Oh boy. As one of her main collaborators (and her husband) I didn't like the idea of a didactic music-driven theater piece about global warming.

Once again, she has surprised me.

And once again, her take on the topic at hand is unique.

This Clement World is her newest work and is scheduled to premiere in the fall of 2012. After her 2011 voyage to the Arctic with the organization Cape Farewell she decided to leave the personal melodrama of her earlier works behind and make a show about larger issues. Using real interviews, fake interviews, real footage, fake ghosts, and more visitors from the future Cynthia has managed to write a show that makes you ooh, aah, and laugh…..and, yes, it's still about the climate crisis. Inventive and inspirational, This Clement World is shaping up to be a beautiful piece of theater that gets the message out there in a way people can understand and in a way that makes you want to do something about it. I've yet to see more than a couple pieces of art that really show the grandeur of the issues and the urgency for change….change we are all capable of making.

Help her finish this show!

We are in the last 3 days of a kickstarter campaign in which we are trying to raise $25,000.

We are almost there.

But with your help, we can raise even more than that.

Check out the link, spread it around, and talk about it with friends (real, virtual, and otherwise).

The kickstarter project is at:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/399836413/cynthia-hopkins-this-clement-world/

Thanks so much for your support.

Thanks Jeff! Check out the video below and the Kickstarter Page for more info folks. They are very close to their fundraising goal and you can help them get the rest of the way. Why not be a hero today?

Excelsior!