Thoughts on Theatrical Production

 Currently producing 
The Gnomes of New Hope: Zach & Zebby's Grand Adventure
through

    From the time I began writing The Gnomes of New Hope, the intention was to produce as much as possible through Image of the Mind Studios. The writing process, which is really a development process, incorporates numerous aspects, which are known as The Ancillary Markets. In large part, these markets are revealed as the development process advances. Some of those ideas are within the realm of possibility, in terms of creating or fabricating the prototype materials,  others are not practical to develop, due to the amount of resources that are required. It's not so much that resources are not available, rather, the existing resources need to be assigned to where they will be the most effective.

   So it is that, numerous prototype materials are in various stages of completion. It has become essential that the published products be completed to the degree that they can be placed into the consumer marketplace. This has to take priority over all other production, because those products develop the audience for the show. However, in the meanwhile, a focus of attention is (and has been) to refine and develop the available work space into the tool it needs to be to, implement production at assorted "Regional Theatre" levels.

   Having served as a Technical Director on many productions, including serving in that capacity for The New Hope Arts Commission for nine years, as well as two years in the New Hope/Solebury School District, and also in other schools from time to time. I  spend years doing freelance set, lighting, production work and acting with well over 350 productions under my belt (before I stopped counting), I am well aware of what it takes to do the job.

   What I didn't count on is how extensive this Illustrated Storybook would come to be and how complex a proper layout for the publishing would become. The real dilemma comes when one realizes that the cost of publishing and distributing the material absolutely disallows mistakes in the text, artwork and the layout. For any, even the smallest, error will stand out and degrade the public's perception of the product, thus impairing your markets across-the-board. I have endured the fine-toothed-comb of refinement and the utter distress of loosing your work to failing computers, many times.

    It seems as though I am actually nearing the end of this overwhelmingly taxing mission to complete the publishing of a Seven Book Companion Edition to the Stage Musical.  You can read about my foibles in various posts herein. I suggest you use the blog archive to the left to locate other posts. Admittedly, we are still faced with a great deal of work to complete the artwork, but the publishing layout refinements, corrections to the material and the final redesign of the layout is nearing completion. However, the work is sufficiently completed that I can publish the Industry Review Package, which comprises all of the material necessary to pitch the project to Producing Partners and Investors.

    Even so, the Musical Score still needs to be addressed, as the scoring is incomplete, even though the songs are written, with only somewhere around ten numbers needing to be arranged. Time signature and Key signature need to be added, as well as Divisi and individual sheet music in parts for the Orchestra need to be refined and in some cases created. A lot of work, to be sure.

   Once the Three Volume Set of the Industry Review is published, assorted registrations will take place, and then the material can be pitched and I can focus on the music, all the while continuing to refine the Image of the Mind Studios production space at 1325 Industrial Boulevard in Southampton, Pennsylvania.  

   You may read herein about some of the other activities that are in need of attention, particularly animation and puppetry, but more on that later as we progress into those arenas.

  So, in the face of all this, be it known that I will be seeking hands-on Producing Partners and ultimately I will be looking to develop at least one Board of Directors to implement The Elder Gnomes Joint Venture which is part of the Business Plan. Another Part involves IMS Management, Inc., and yet still another involves The Gnomes of New Hope Productions. These are the primary Production Management components of this project, but they also stand as a prototype for other productions. 

   I have to say that ultimately I will be selling Image of the Mind Studios, as I am approaching that time in life where that will need to take place, sad as it sounds to say. With that in mind, I will be developing a game plan for that as well.

   So there you have it. I welcome legitimate investors and Producing Partners in this endeavor. 

Just send me an email; image.of.the.mind.studios@gmail.com to talk about matters.

AG