The Burnt Orange Land of the Livin'...

It's of no small coincidence that the Texas/OU game is this weekend...and this weekend a key person for leading this film is reading the script.   Both have me a bit nerved and holdin' my breath for a good outcome, a win, the best result for 'our team'.  I'm crossing my fingers for an enthusiastic Yes! on both fronts.

A few entries down I wrote an entry about polo in Texas: Texas, That Polo State of Mine.  (click to read).  So, I won't repeat it here.  Polo goes with ranching and ranching goes with Texas (Longhorns!) and Argentina.  What I'm yambering about in this entry is the essence of the place-location-stage on which this film is set, in which the drama unfolds, upon which these characters are but beings, are but people, are but men and women, mere players with their exits and their entrances.

To me, Of Kings & Cowboys carries (must carry) in its soul the fire that is the Texas spirit...truly the spirit of any ranching culture, including the pampas of Argentina.  I grew up in West Texas, just atop the Caprock, in the land of the Llano Estacado, or 'staked plains' as the Spanish Conquistador Francisco Coronado named it in the mid 1500's, on his search for Cibola and the Seven Cities of Gold.  (By the way, that story is the basis of CIBOLA, a film we are currently developing.) 

Just off the Caprock (above) is the rugged ranch-land home to such famous (and huge) ranches as the Pitchfork Ranch and the 6666.  These are the 'locations' of my heritage.  My family has land there back to the mid 1800's....I have relatives who fought in the Texas Revolution....and my folks still live on that land today.  So, why am I saying this?  Just that the soul of Of Kings & Cowboys is not polo.  (Yeah, I know, but it really isn't.)  It's about love and the bond of people with each other, horses and land.  (Hopefully that's evident in the script.)

For those of you who've read the script, you know that a good portion of it centers around a Texas ranch and a familial estancia in Argentina.  I have a strong vision for the raw beauty of those places for the film, and will take inspiration from fellow Texan, Terrence Malik, in setting and filming them.  (Click for cool Malick Montage.)  (Don't worry, Of Kings & Cowboys won't be 3 hours long!)  But equally important are the characters-actors-horses.  They, of course, comprise the key essence of this film...the human-horse interactions set loose on the natural stage of ranch-land across the American hemispheres.

You may say, "I thought this is a polo / romance movie?"  Yeah.  It is.  But the film we are making is much more than that.  Must be more than that.   And yes, it's a very international film, but not because of the polo, or the American/Argentinean love story....it is because the overall man-woman-family-land-horses-love-loss-redemption is about as universal as it gets.  Ride on!  (or, get the Eagle, hook up the Canoe, and go!)

Stopping By For A Quick Entry

Another big week.  Initiating discussions with a leading actor, and putting my feelers out for an aggressive DGA-minded rep (55% Eric, 45% Ari).  On that point, I used to be repp'd by William Morris Agency on both coasts as any Google search will show....but went my own way (yeah, let's call it that) when I found myself relegated to being a bit of a 'number'.  That was back 9 years ago, and those two agents are no longer there, and WMA went thru a management overhaul since then, so...I'll give good ol' WMA the benefit of the doubt.  But, in any case, just thinking a rep (mgr/agent) might be good for me and the film at this time.  We'll see.  Oh, also there may be a new Associate Producer coming on board in coming days.  We'll see.  Ride on!

More Press, This Time With Variety

We were happy to see coverage today in Daily Variety, the Hollywood biz trade magazine.  Click below to go to the online posting of the article.  More good press coming.  Ride on!

Abu Dhabi Ponies Up For Polo Film

15 Lessons from Hollywood

In the past several months I have returned to 'film school' of sorts, prepping myself, honing some things.  And in that process I read alot, watch alot, with the best educator being watching films.  Films of all sorts.  All eras.   I like Lumet's maxim of a movie a day minimum.  In that spirit, I came across the following and thought I'd share them with you.  Here are some of the key 'lessons' Hollywood has to teach us:

1. It does not matter if you are heavily outnumbered in a fight involving martial arts: your enemies will wait patiently to attack you one by one, dancing around in a threatening manner until you have knocked out their predecessors.

2. Honest and hard-working policemen are traditionally gunned down three days before their retirement.

3. All beds have special L-shaped sheets that reach the armpit level of a woman, but only the waist level of the man lying beside her.

4. At least one of a pair of identical twins is born evil.

5. Most laptop computers are powerful enough to override the communications system of any invading alien society.

6. All grocery bags contain at least one stick of French bread.

7. Rather than wasting bullets, megalomaniacs prefer to kill their arch enemies using complicated machinery involving fuses, pulley systems, deadly gasses, lasers, and man-eating sharks, which will allow their captives at least a half-hour to escape.

8. You're very likely to survive any battle in any war unless you make the mistake of showing someone a picture of your sweetheart back home.

9. A man will show no pain while taking the most ferocious beating, but will wince when a woman tries to clean his wounds.

10. If a large pane of glass is visible, someone will be thrown through it before long.

11. If staying in a haunted house, women should investigate any strange noises in their most revealing underwear.

12. Even when driving down a perfectly straight road, it is necessary to turn the steering wheel vigorously from left to right every few moments.

13. All bombs are fitted with electronic timing devices with large red readouts so you know exactly when they're going to go off, but luckily you'll always blindly choose to cut the right wire.

14. A detective can only solve a case once he has been suspended from duty.

15. Police departments give their officers personality tests to make sure they are deliberately assigned a partner who is their total opposite.

I bet you can think of some others!  Please share them by clicking on Post a Comment below.  Write on!  Right on!  Ride on!

So You Wanna Know How We're Doing This...

Glad you asked.  Presently, we're looking at a budget ranging from $30M to $38M for Of Kings & Cowboys, depending on 'above the line' (read actors).  (Yes director and writer is 'above the line', but I'll do it for free if need be.)  So, you ask, how will we finance this film?  I thought I'd take a moment to discuss it some.  First, you ask how I know what I'm talking about.  After all, I am just the writer/director.  Yeah?  In my off hours I am a 'recovering attorney' who used to focus on corporate and securities laws, most specifically in the field of venture capital and investment banking.  I would much rather be on a movie set any day, but yeah, it comes in handy.

So, how?  Ok, for you readers already familiar with film finance, let me say we’re working on a heavy dollop of local soft money and co-prod, a bit of distributor-backed pre-sales, with the bulk from split-equity vehicles and convertibles.  For the other readers, I’ll try to be brief:

Soft money. It’s a mainstay of the Indie film industry to shoot in one country, do post in another, and access further benefits in a third. Throughout the last five years we’ve seen a rush of federal, provincial, state and local governments raising their hands to offer a new or enhanced program to attract film production to their area. Over 75 countries, provinces, states or local agencies offer some kind of entitlement for production in their homeland, with those reliably shaving off 12.5% to 20% of the budget.  We'll shoot the majority of Of Kings & Cowboys in Argentina (and plan to shoot Russian Warmblood in Eastern Europe) taking full advantage of the many tax and budget benefits there, along with some ‘soft money’ equity from our co-prod partner there. (We’re still in the hunt for them…ideas?)

Pre-sales and Distributors.  Really outside the scope of this entry.  But yes, we’re on it.  It’s like financing an offshore drilling rig using commodity-backed mezzanine paper floated off the derivative markets through the Hang Seng’s “service entrance”.   (If you know what I'm talking about, polo is a calm sport to you, yes?)  Anyway, just saying that it takes experts, and we have them.  And it takes of course a great film with great actors. Check and soon-check.

Equity.  As one commentator put it, “without equity, even the most creative Indie producer will be left holding unexposed film.”  Indeed, equity is king, and a flood of new cash is flowing into Indie film production.  Primarily from private equity, venture capital, and of those mainly from the traditional European investment centers and ever-more-commonly from Dubai and Abu Dhabi.  These individuals are daring, but not foolish.  They feel the sudden shifts of economic winds, yet still require higher rates of return within a tolerance of risk.  And they are fleeing the unstable ‘traditional’ markets.  (In droves.  Today was biggest one day drop on Wall Street in history…jiminy.)

So where to invest?  Wall Street?  Are you kidding?  Private hedge funds?  No way.  REITs have come and gone.  Now energy is probably one of the safest, but traditional energy plays are overpriced, and new energy routes are long-roads to hopetown.  Bonds are problematic, and rates are flat.  Ughhh, says the investor.  Meanwhile, with the tightening in the market for Indie films, supply and demand have stabilized, which in turn has lead to a stabilization in film prices.  Moreover, films are “sexy”.  Having made money in other areas, investors look for something “fun”, with the potential for huge returns.  You have the funds, life is short, so, have a fun experience with it, while making a nice return.  Sounds good.

Good times or bad, people want to go see a movie, to rent a DVD, to escape, to be transported.  It has always been the case.  In the middle of famines and plagues, the traveling players made a living. In the middle of extreme poverty, Shakespeare was never more popular.  The arts, particularly the performing arts, and even more specifically the acting arts, are the mainstay of our society.  Always have been.  Always will be.  Thus to invest in films is a smart play for a rapidly growing many. So why is it considered so risky?  Well, not because of the nature of the investment itself.  It’s because of the plethora of choices.  If there were only ten race horses running this year, betting on them would be up there with investing in gold.  But the key is picking the right horse.  Yes?  How is that done?  Look at the genres that consistently make money.  And that doesn’t mean ones that are just cheap to make, like horror. (Horror is less expensive mainly because it requires little imagination. Thus it seems every new filmmaker has gallons of red-died-syrup at the ready.)  A cheap film is not a good investment any more than a cheap race horse is.  It is just the easiest way to get in the race.

The key is to find a genre, or better a subject matter or theme that has broad commerical appeal (consistently attracts audiences), is not prone to excessive budgets, and is not crowded.  As I explained in a blog entry a few down, the horse-themed film is just such a thing.  It consistently earns at least its production budget, and most often a healthy profit.  And it's not usually dependent on computer graphics and other very expensive wizardry.  It is, quite simply, a consistent filly, always in the money, though not necessarily always at the lead.  Ok, sorry for completely wearing out the analogy.  But…one more….if you can find a stable of those consistent horses…there is the play.  And with BlueRun, that is what we are providing: starting off with three horse-themed films, all slightly different, yet all full-on commercial dramas with heavy international appeal.

Ok… back to watching the markets dive.  If you want to talk about putting some money into BlueRun, shoot me an email.  I’ll have a PPM sent to you, and we can talk about it.  Ride on.

Great Design before Certain Action

I recently read something the famous playwright, screenwriter and director David Mamet wrote which I find so true, and inspiring:  "Good luck is the happy residue of great design".    My days (nights!) in theater, mixed with having tried a couple of cases, mixed with a plethora of public speaking and national television appearances, have made me a rehearsal/preparation aficionado, but also a junkie for the immediacy and adrenaline rush of 'action', of 'doing'.

Some thrive on thinking about, discussing, mulling, musing on how things should be, will be, ought to be...perpetually procrastinating.  They will argue (self-assuage) that it's just sensible preparation, caution before the act.  True, sure.  Great preparation (design) is essential.  But it's only as good as it leads to something.  There must be a date certain for opening night, when the curtain comes up, when the camera will roll.  Otherwise, it is maddening to people like me.  Hollywood is famous, infamous, for the young scared suits who can not make a decision...but would rather wait till the very last minute before jumping on.  My answer:  grow a pair, then let's saddle up and GO!  (Said with affection, I assure you.)

I am very anxious to get a Production Date set for this film.  That's probably the most important thing to do in the pre-production time period for a film, a play, a book, anything.  Set the date.  Know what you're up against.  During the years of writing my novel, Fortunate Son, and the various screenplays including Of Kings & Cowboys, I joined several writing groups...but I left them all.  Don't take me wrong, I really enjoy and much prefer the company of creative people, especially writers and actors.  But writer groups will drive you bonkers if you're pragmatic by nature as I am.  Why?  Because the themes of all of them (that I have been to) start with the pre-question:  "How do I...."  How do I finish this chapter?  How do I find an agent?  How do I find my voice?  etc.  Inside, as I sit there, I have this voice wanting to say (sometimes yell):  "By getting the hell out of here and going home and writing!  Doing!  Calling!  Pushing!"  No one likes a bully or a smart ass, so I keep  my mouth shut.  And besides, it isn't like I think I have all the answers.  But keeping on asking those questions is just a safe-harbor from having to actually set sail.  To commit to the wind and waves and GO!

Geez.  I think I am sounding like an ass in this blog entry.  If you know me, you know that is not my intent.  But I do think that we must act, we must plan, design, and then, after doing it and doing it well...we must act.  Then the good luck will come.  Then the happy accidents.   There is no good luck in the planning stages. No one says, "I was so lucky!  I accidentally planned to do the scene in a sepia tone!"  Luck happens when the wheels are in motion, and only then.  That said, there are many months of preparation needed for this film, and I want to give it all the time it needs....though always heading for a date certain.  The spring and summer polo seasons will be on us, and I hope we are ready to take advantage of them.  Once we get the pledged pre-prod funds in hand, then we will set a date and push GO!

Finally, for the many many who have contacted me, from around the world, asking if you can be part of this film....I really appreciate you contacting me and hope you will again.  But if you really want to be part of this, show me!  (Thus I chose a horse in MOTION for our BlueRun logo (above right)...not only because of the significance of the motion picture itself)  I am a sucker for self-motivated people who stick their necks out to get what they want.  What will you do?  When will you do it?  Fair enough?  Give me some idea of what word ending in 'ing' you will bring to the game.  Cool?  Riding on!

Luffing Sails, Time to Row

There is a sailing term that comes to mind tonight, as I sit down to write this, the 63rd entry (wow, 63, already?)...the sailing term is: being 'in irons'.

I can see your head cocking to one side like my black lab does, saying, "Huh?  Why the sailing lingo Davo?  OKC is about horses, right?"  Sure, but sailing lessons apply to all of life, and second, this film is about much more than horses....but yeah, there's not one sail in it....maybe I should change that.   Besides, I love sailing, though these days I get the chance to do so about as often as I get to play polo....and that ain't enough.

Where was I rambling?  Ah yes, 'in irons'.  First, for the non-sailors: the moment a sailboat feels like it's going fastest is not when it is running before the wind, with the wind filling your sails from behind.  No, it's when it's nearly leaning over, running almost toward the wind, or 'close-hauling', about 45 degrees off from directly into to wind.  The wind and water spray in your face, the strain on the sails, and you'd swear you were maxing out the speed.  But it's an illusion.  A nice strong back wind is fastest any day.  (Yes, except for a double-masted Schooner-sort...don't write me, I know.)

Point is that though it's dynamic and stirs the blood to be zipping close to the wind, it is not ideal.  And more than that, moving that direction requires you to tack occasionally, to 'come about', turning actually directly into the wind and around to face the other 45 degree angle against the wind.  You have to have the right momentum, good timing, an eye for the waves and your competitors/enemies, and most importantly you need to be able to trust your fellow crew as you commit and turn.  If you fail to come through all the way, you will stall...bad deal.  Facing into the wind is called the "dead zone" or the "no go zone" for obvious reasons.  When that happens, the sails go limp and luffing...and that brings us to the Phrase for the Day:  being 'in irons'.  I suppose because it can feel like prison, locked, dead, and without forward movement there is no way to steer the boat.  There you sit, most likely drifting backwards, 'dead in the water', with the pirate vessel closing in (or the man-o-war if you're lucky enough to be the pirate).  Yikes.

Ok...application time.  Pursuing this passion, this film, this massive thing reminds me of sailing in high wind, in a regatta with an upwind finish line.  We must move that direction, like it or not.  That means we must close-haul the sails, we must turn into the wind with each tack (turn) and push through, keeping the momentum, not letting ourselves stall lest we find ourselves 'in irons.'  Understand?  This is not unique to film financing.  It is true with all forms of investment dealings.  (Remember I was an M&A attorney for almost 15 years.)  Damn exciting, yeah, but risky, and not for the faint of heart.

This past week we were really moving fast in a figurative close-haul, and thought for sure we had the momentum with us for the turn, but no...promises were not kept, and in that critical moment we stalled...a lull set in....the sails started flagging and then stopped.  This event is usually received with a mix of panic and anger.  But if you've done it enough, you do one simple thing:  you pull out the oars and row.

How often does the fear of failing, the panic of helplessness or being 'let down' by others lead us to a state of paralysis...where we stare up the mast, wiggle the rudder back and forth like that is going to help, and then start alternately cursing then begging the wind?  Been there?  I bet...if you are a risk taker in life that is.  If you are pursuing what you must do (see entry below).  But the wind could give a crap.  You are out there.  Just get out your damn oars and row yourself back around till you can catch some air and get moving again...steerage will return...all will be fine.

Ok, who am I, Deepak Chopra?   Most of you are probably asking, "What happened? I thought a few blogs ago he was saying that financing was in...yada yada....now all this cryptic sailing analogies?"  Well, I really won't say more.  It was a bit of a head-scratcher, a pisser, but ...today I pulled out the oars and got us turning.  No problem.  No sweat.  Deep breath, David.  In.  Out.  Yeah, ok.

There is some good news, besides that I'm fairly handy with oars:  we have a story on us in Variety this week, The Polo Magazine is about to put a glossy article on us to print, and we should soon be announcing a new relationship with the World Polo Tour and Pololine.com.  So, stay tuned. 

And if you want, grab an oar.  Please do.  But, if you do, if you commit to join our motley crew, then you better be there when we come-about, through the wind.  I've led enough groups, directed enough, to know I'm an easy captain, but I have no tolerance for people inexplicably not doing what they say they will.  If you wanna be part of this film, from the money people to the apprentice gaffers (both or whom are equally important),  you gotta do what you say you will, or give us a heads up if you can't.

We're about something bigger than just another film here....can you see that yet?  We're doing something unique and exciting and many people are now on board, risking and dreaming and fighting for this film.  We are all counting on each other, especially in this ship's most vulnerable moments of transition.  Ok, I said my peace.  Now, row (ride) on!

To Direct or Not to Dir... No Question About It

Why am I directing this film?  I have to. Ok, not a good enough answer?  Here it goes again...but hear it with a Cheshire Cat grin this time:  "I have to and I will."  No?  Ok.  Then you'll have to endure the artsy-fartsy answer below.  Don't say I didn't warn you.

When I was but a wee-lad, no more than eight, two things happened which set me on this path, and both were gifts from my father:  he sat me down to watch Lawrence of Arabia, and he gave me my first camera, a 1970 35mm Leica M4.   I would go on to see LoA many times since, on all sorts of screens, big and small.  And my love of 'painting with light' was born.  My favorite subjects were not the usual, but weird points of view...ok, I was a bit of a introverted odd loner kid writing stories, staging the events with toys and figures in the flower beds, and then laying on the concrete porch to photograph them up close.  I didn't have access to a Super 8 of my own, but let's just say I was the kid that always knew how to fix the film projector in class. 

Then came theater...my first run was as Raggedy Andy.  I was ten.  And my star-turning role with my red curls and Ann by my side was on the local television:  The Sunshine Sally Show!  (Odd how the family cameras weren't clicking during those moments!)  Community and high school theater followed.  Yes I wore the Thespian Society beanie during induction week.  Then college, a cauldron of Shakespeare, Shaw and a fascination with the language of Sam Shepard (right)...then off to Austin for acting classes during law school (what's the diff?) and directing began.  A series of stage directing that is, mixed with writing (my first script was an early, not so good version of Of Kings & Cowboys), and always the camera.  Always.  Even did some gallery showings in Dallas.  Then a novel "Fortunate Son", more scripts, a move to LA, the William Morris Agency...yada yada....pulp for another entry.

Then one day I woke up and I was 44.  Geez.  I formed BlueRun, gathered producer friends and never looked back.  (Well...guess I am looking back right here...not really sure what that saying means.)  Anyway, I come to directing honestly, and not a day late, or early.  And so, I have to.  And I will.

And maybe I should see about Sam Shepard.  Wonder what he wants to do after "Kicking a Dead Horse" at the Abbey in NY.  Anyone? Ride on.

Fait Accompli...Finali?

I am now even more optimistic about that investment (see entry below)...and thus am pretty sure we've finally found our pre-production financing.  And though I say 'finally', it is really ahead of schedule.  More details coming.

If, and I repeat, IF, the commitment is real and funded, then we will rush into the breech and complete the short film/promo, and get it out there, fine tune the comprehensive budget with our kickass team, shore up the major distributors tracking the film, nail our scouting, design the production design team, dive into storyboarding (I already have many of the more complex setups sketched...but need the PD team engaged), and start casting.

Perhaps you can sense my reticence to call it a done deal.  So, why post it on the blog, David?  Well, because the investor has flat out committed to the producers that he'll indeed be funding us, subject to meeting me directly.  Most people would not doubt it at that point.  But it is the film biz.  A lot of people talk out their arses.  Cross your fingers, hooves, for us that that is not the case in this instance.  Ride on.

A Personal Entry...aka Another Day in Paradise

...except, I miss my kids and my wife, Michelle (left). She keeps things going there in Texas, holds down the fort, keeps our boy Jack (4) (left) from running with scissors while I'm away. Both of us have been fantasizing of moving back to the LA area (where we met). Wish I could in many ways, but my stunning daughters (previous marriage) are all in Dallas, and I just can't fathom being away from them for very long. So I'll continue the f'n commute. (Though I'd sure not miss all the religious lemmings and right-wingers back in my TX area....ugghhh). Then again, if you've lived in Southern CA then you understand there's a lot to love and hate about LA...though really nothing to hate about Santa Barbara (where I am)....what a paradise....love the people, weather, everything. I'm rambling again.

Anyway, many of you probably weren't aware I was even married, and honestly in the past year neither did I, nor Michelle. Long bloody convoluted story. (Bet you've been there too, in one way or another...yeah?) And being married to an eclectic, frenetic, double-moody artist-sort like me takes a toll on most women. So, God bless her. (Though she's a bit of a freak, French Canadian nut job herself!) An older couple we admire recently said it was the 'sticking power' that made the difference when things are tough. So I'm sticking. Maybe she will too. Guess all my girlfriends (don't despair) will have to get in line for her permission from now on. Ha! (Besides, look at the guns on her...she can kick my ass and yours!)

Things are going well here in sunny SB, the American Riviera. A lot of work on BlueRun, administrative stuff. My founding partners, Jim and Mark (see various entries below) are excellent companions on this journey...though sometimes they can be a bit 'California', if you know what I mean. Gotta love 'em. I look forward to this second half of my life, to see where this winding road will take me.

Ok, can you tell I am being a bit introspective this evening? Blah, blah, blah. Yeah, I know. If you've been following this blog for long, you've seen me be not sure of how personal I am supposed to be. But frankly, I don't care. Warts and all, this is me. Tough luck. And this is my travels and travails on this crazy path to making my first feature film.

Glad to have ya with me. Ride on. (And thank you Michelle...4AS)

Jumping the Cul-de-Saq in Lucchese Boots

I am very pleased to report that I 'believe' we've found our next stage development partner (financial and otherwise).  Wheeuw!  I sure hope so.  And even better, he seems like a gentleman, level-headed and a great lover of both polo and film, and has a very personal appreciation for our central romantic theme/events.  He'll remain nameless till the deal is done.  (No he isn't John Muse, though the title of this entry might lead you to that conclusion....read on.)  Suffice it to say that I am highly optimistic.   So, this is a head's-up, I guess.  Once Phase 2 funding is in, then we'll be out of the development financing cul-de-saq, and close the door on further small investors.  That will be it.  So, as I said in an entry below:  if you want to get in under the wire, now's the time.  If you want to participate in this stunning film and promote the sport of polo, contact me this week.

Also this weekend, we have another small investor which did get in 'right in the nick of time.'  Christina de Limur (left) joins our merry band of development investors.  I am very grateful to her, and enjoyed getting to know her more here in Santa Barbara.  Thank you Christina, and welcome!  (And yes, she is yet another who came to this film via Polo Contacts Worldwide.  If you aren't a member, you should join.  It is free and a great group of people from around the globe.)

Now, about Santa Barbara:  Pacific Coast Open is in full swing.  Great games today, with the semi-finalist being Audi, Piocho Ranch, Grants Farm and Zacara.  Had great visit with Dale Smicklas (a consultant on the film, one of the 'good guys', see early blog entry), and had the pleasure of meeting his daughter Tiana, as well as Mike Azzaro, Marc and Melissa Ganzi, Javier Astrada, Carlos Gracida and John Muse (right, on left, with Prince Harry at recent charity game).  That's a good day by any polo standards.  (Oh, and laughed my butt off on Friday night as Steve Crowder allowed himself to play the puppet on a ventriloquist's lap at the PCO ball.  Can't wait to see the pics from that.)

Click for the Lucchese siteSpeaking of John Muse, sure seems a fit made in polo and cowboy heaven:  Lucchese and Of Kings & Cowboys.  Hard to imagine there not being some teamwork there in the future.  Ride on.

Train's Leaving...Next Stop, Santa Barbara...

...then up to San Francisco....and on.  The Bombardier Pacific Coast Open is in full semi-final-swing, and I look forward to watching it unfold.  Tomorrow night is the Bombardier PCO Ball, and so I'll be back in black tie, snuffling through the gift bag and calling for another mojito.  If you are in the SB/LA/SF area, and want to talk film/horses/polo/wine/women/song....then come find me.  email/text/call   There's bound t'be some trouble we can get into.

Oh, and for those of you keeping score from home, I was in Houston on Wednesday meeting with John Goodman (left)...owner of the International Polo Club Palm Beach, the Houston Polo Club, the high-gloss magazine Cowboys & Indians, and I think Polo magazine too.  4 hour drive - 30 min meeting - 4 hour drive home.  I think well worth it.  We'll see.  Nice guy.  Very professional.  With one wink we could be in full swing.  But even if he decides to wait, I was glad to meet him. 

Now, come on John, let's go make an amazing movie!  If you know John, then please put in a good word for us, will ya?  Thanks mate.  I'd be mighty obliged.  (don't worry, it's a Texas thang.)  Ride on.

The Art of the Horse Film --- Excellent Business

There is an old saying that cautions, "If you want to end up with a million bucks from the horse business, then start out with five million."  Perhaps true.  But of course its veracity remains unknown due to the variables and uncountable statistics across the globe.  Some do quite well, though they are often the exceptions.

But there is one area of the 'horse business' (clearly I am stretching the meaning) where the statistics tell another story.  In fact in this 'horse business' there is a much better story.  Take a look at these stats from IMDBPro (right).  There are others, certainly, like Black Stallion and Black Beauty, but neither of these reported their stats.  (But would anyone want to bet these two films weren't also profitable!?)

(Important point:  I use the word "profit" to indicate their profit over their production budget.  I don't know their P&A costs, so it is likely that one or more of them, Hidalgo specifically, were not profitable considering the distribution costs.  But, nevertheless, there is no other subject matter, that I am familiar with, that has such success in being consistently profitable over its production budget.)

Thus I am confident that the first three films of BlueRun Productions  (all horse-centered):    Of Kings & Cowboys, Fast Women Beautiful Horses, and Russian Warmblood, will all be profitable successes.  Especially when one considers how our producers can strangle a budget.

(For you sceptics, contact me directly at dmbluerun@gmail.com and let's discuss your thoughts on this.  That is, unless you are just a nay-sayer for the sake of being negative....then no thanks.  But a good healthy debate?  Bring it on.)

Speaking of next films, this blog is for the promo of Of Kings & Cowboys, but here's some of the artwork for the other two.  Ride on.

 

Getting Argentina Right

As anyone who has been following this knows, it is important to me to get the polo 'right' in the film.  Yes, we stretch certain realities to aid in the storytelling, but I am pretty confident the polo itself is dead on.  Now,  that said, we will have some of the top pros in the sport helping in pre-production and on the set in the polo sequences.  In fact many of them will do the actual stunt-polo riding.

Perhaps even more important to me is getting Argentina right.  There are few things more cinematically irritating to this Texas-boy than Hollywood's version of us Texans.  And so I approach the Argentine family and polo culture with respect.  That said, our Argentine characters are just as flawed in spots as the Americans and Brits in the film.  In other  words, though I am not putting a gloss on the Argies, I want it to be accurate. 

I am pleased to say that the script  (so far) has received as warm of reviews in AR as from anywhere else, and that is very gratifying.  Nevertheless we will be co-producing with an Argentine production company, casting many from Argentina, and filming a lot there.  Hopefully in all that any cultural missteps in the script can be worked out.

We are in negotiations currently with an AR Prod. Co. which will spearhead that for us, as well as do other marketing, etc.  More on that later, as it emerges.

If you are familiar with Argentina and its polo and family culture, and might want to be involved, please feel free to write.

Guess that's it for today.  That's what was on my mind.  Ride on.

Of Kings & Cowboys...The Movie in the Making

Is Of Kings & Cowboys the real deal?  After years of many wanna-be polo scripts and others with the best of intentions, finally has come Of Kings & Cowboys.  But is this film 'the one'?  I know this question is being asked by many (most?) in the polo community. 

Simple answer:  Yes.  This film is on course.  There are four stages to financing this film.  We have completed Phase 1, and with that have moved out of development and into pre-production.  We are on track to film in 2009 and for the film to be released mid-2010.  But along that path, we still need investors.  So, here we are, seeking our Phase 2 backers.

Though many (literally hundreds) have written pledging their support, almost everyone will wait when it comes to actual investment.  Then when they think the water is safer, they will try to get in, but the door will be closed.  Just the way it is.  Once we raise the Phase 2 funding, this process will change, and it will become a closed group and from there on it will be closed to the public.  Then if you want to be in the film, or to help artistically, or play polo in the film, etc., you will need to come through the normal channels: the producers, etc.

But NOW you have an opportunity to get into this film directly.  Help us with the Phase 2 financing and you'll be in the room when the doors close.   So it is you courageous souls who love films and love this sport who I am addressing in this blog entry.  I need your help.  (Yes, this a pic of me 'squinting' at you!)

We have most every element working in our favor:

• Great action/romance script (or so I have been told by just about everyone who reads it);
• Widespread appeal, in and out of the polo community;
• Worldwide interest from players and club owners;
• Phase 1 financing received thanks to four people from three countries who, though none are particularly wealthy, each joined in to launch this film (they and the Phase 2 investors will be on that stage come Oscar night);
• A powerful short/pre-trailer shot and in the can (to be shown worldwide);
• Growing interest among film studios/distributors, and foreign sales agents; and
• Direct conversations with major stars have begun.

So, David, you ask, what do you need?  Great question.  In the next few weeks we need to recieve our Phase 2 Pre-Production funding totalling $200,000.  We have made this journey this far, and we have one last river to cross.  On the other side we continue pre-production, commence building production teams, start casting, pick shooting locations and dates, start negotiating with sponsors, and most importantly narrowing down our options for distributor and private financing.

So, back to the question, is Of Kings & Cowboys 'the one'?  Will this be the first polo film in history?  Yes.  Simple as that.  This is the one.  Time to jump on board.  The tricky part is that many of you are 'turned off' by a financial need.  The age-old Catch-22 is that to be successful we need investors yet to get investors we need to be successful.  But we have been and are successful, so it is time for you to step up and help us.  No more excuses.

You can come in for amounts ranging from $2,000 to $200,000.  Contact me and let's talk about the investment level that will work for you, and the earnings (money and personal) you will receive.  I will get you the professionally-prepared investor package for your review.

Time to Cowboy Up.  Join us.  We'll find room for you!

Thank you...and ride on.

David  

dmbluerun@gmail.com