Hello,
You
might not have heard my name, but youve probably seen or heard
of some of my work. And if you havent seen my work, youve
seen work by my students as many of them are now working professionals
in the entertainment industry. They include people like Boo Jang
(Asian film star), Dan Angel (Producer at Universal Studios),
Lou Horvitz (Director of the Oscar Telecast), Maria Giese
(writer/director), and Will Gotay (Stand and Deliver).
Since I teach both directing and producing
and work as both a director and producer my students can be found
all over the world: from the United States to Jamaica, from England
to Israel and countries in between.
They work behind the camera in all phases
of the industry (and even a couple who are in front of the camera)
and many of them are enterprising producers working at studios or
independently throughout the world. Writing the book THE
INDIE PRODUCER'S HANDBOOK, Creative Producing from A to Z
was my labor of love. I would always take a student with me on every
one of my projects and new experiences would prompt new ideas that
I would bring back to the classroom. My students kept telling me
to write a book since there is no substitution for the practical
experience. SoI kept that idea in mind and began writing it one
summer when I was teaching in Kingston, Jamaica and here you have
it. With this site I will continue to relay experiences both past
and present that may help you. Maybe
they live in the back of your mind in some unconscious crevice and
they will be useful to you when you need them.
Recently I was
working on a project that collapsed for a variety of reasons that
I will go into in a future journal page. (It will be reborn very
soon!) But as fate would have it, another project popped upand
now I am working on a video tribute to Lew Wasserman, retired
head honcho of Universal Studios and respected philanthropist
here inSouthern California. He is being honored for his generosity
in supporting the future lives of many people throughout the world
through his association with UCLA at a formal fund raising event
for a new building at the Jules Stein Eye Institute. Curiously
enough Lew Wasserman was my boss at one time at Universal. It
is a pleasure for me to give back to one so unselfish. (And again
my students are working with me on this project.) So I look forward
to a rewarding experience between us on this site. I am sure our
relationship will be one that we will share
for a long time. At least I hope so.
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