Well, as you can see from recent postings, I've been concentrating on the functionality of the e-Storybook. There are issues of DRM and file size, which have frustrated me, even as I have been advancing toward completion.
Today I had an epiphany. Rather than concerning myself with the Retail aspect of the e-Storybook, I now believe that integrating the e-Storybook with the Libretto and the Score as an overall production tool is the best approach.
In order for the e-Storybook to be ready for public release, there is a significant amount of artwork that needs to be finished, anyway. Although relatively speaking; there is much less than has already been done.
So, in this context, I will be shifting the e-Storybook into a reference document for the stage and film productions. This seems most appropriate, since the timing of the release of all product lines needs to be intricately linked. My intention is for Licensing and Options to pay for the support of facilities and the production costs (of both the published products and further advancement the media products).
I do intend on putting a printing press in the studio, since that seems to me to be advisable for on-demand printing and control over the design elements. This will also allow us to maintain (at least) minimual capabilities to meet demand, while retaining control over inventory and distribution. For the most part, that will keep billing and such idiosyncracies down to a minimum, and also simplify contracts in terms of outside vendors.
Of course, for the right price & terms, I would be willing to sell the publishing rights, but nonetheless I am putting a press in the shop, since there are another five stories attached to The Gnomes of New Hope as The Gnomic Tales, in addition to at least a half a dozen other scripts/projects which would avail themselves of that capability, not to mention other publishing product lines, which exist in the files of Image of the Mind Studios.
So the composite of the Industry Review Package will be more specifically oriented toward funding the overall project without the presumption that income from retail will be directed towards production.
It is true that the e-Storybook is designed to support the other products at a foundational level and I have designed the book products (both digital and hard copy) to be fully refined for the marketplace, but there is an issue with file size of the digital product. It is heavily laden with artwork and that increases the file size, even after compression. So until I can figure out how to surmount that problem, for the sake of efficiency and expediency, I need to focus the energy to the most productive use of resources.
I am pleased with this (somewhat) new perspective, so long as it produces the desired results. Even if it does not produce the immediate result of funding operations, it is required to bring to production activities the most efficient tools for advancement.
That all folks! AG
