You can review THE VIRTUAL STUDIO for discussion about IMS Publishing and our recent purchase of a printing press.
The books are, literally, pages away from being completed. I am fairly certain that there are less than ten pages that need to be completed, by adding the illustration panels. The remaining illustration panels are, in one way, the most complex to do. As it stands now, I have about eight sketches that need to be prepped for painting. As I was about to conclude the layout, I came up with another plot element that opened up another (highly viable) ancillary market. So I added two pages that appeared (just about) halfway into the collection. Of course, as you know, nothing is as simple s it first seems to be. Not only did that require more artwork, but it also required re-numbering the layout pages. Because of the graphic nature of the work (and the way I set it up), I had to go through the layout to re-number each page individually. That took a more than week to do, because the collection of seven books amounts to around 850 pages. But interestingly enough, I found pages that were missing from the layout and page numbers that were off. So basically, in Providence, it had to happen.
Well, now I am back to finishing off the illustrations and inserting the paintings, but before I get down to that, I reviewed the number of pages per book for the printing process. There are numbered pages and unnumbered pages. The unnumbered pages include the Preface, Appendix and divider pages. I placed a graphic page in between the Scenes, so as to delineate the segments as they appear in the stage show. These books are matched to the Stage Libretto, so that the reader will be able to follow the storyline, when attending the stage show, or I guess even to follow a film version of the story.
Bringing up the subject of film; we have begun working on animating some of the illustrations. The overall plan is to integrate animation into the e-Storybook. Now, of course, there is the possibility of an Animated Feature Film as well as a Live-Action Film, but before we get into doing either of those projects, the Stage Presentation needs to advance.
There are multiple types of stagings that could happen and each of them has been somewhat developed, delineated might be a better word. For instance, the Festival Theatre presentation would include both live performers and puppetry. But in terms of live performance, even at the Festival level, other factors have to be taken into account. Gathering performers is not an easy task and if we are going to do that, then we better have a production plan that will keep them employed. It’s a substantial investment to prepare a presentation in any degree and one of the factors is the training curve both for tech crew and performers.
So certain other factors need to be in place. Even the simple readings at local libraries require “technical support”, which (advisably) should include puppetry. That means both the puppets and the puppeteers need to be in place. To advance in that arena, without the enhancement (at least in some degree) of puppetry, would be missing a prime opportunity. That being said, if you are interested in the puppetry aspect of the project (from any angle) don’t hesitate to get in touch. If you know me and are local, stop into the studio (9-5). If not, use the main web portal www.imageofthemindstudios.org, you will find a contact form there. If you call, leave a detailed message I avoid answering the phone (because of solicitations) , so a message is important. I get so much spam that it interferes with communicating, especially on initial contact.
Another important aspect of this project is film. This layout has been designed with film in mind. I have been an independent filmmaker for most of my life (I won’t get into that). So this was written as a project intended to encompass theatre and film. Publishing the Illustrated Storybook was an afterthought. An afterthought that took precedence to complete as a marketing tool. I mean, that was the initial intent. In large part I intended the illustrated storybook to be story-boards for a film. But it grew into a product that can stand in its own. Yet, it doesn’t have to, because it is directly connected to film, theatre and merchandizing at many levels. All those levels are ancillary markets that need to be managed on their own, connected, yet each one individual because of the potential they each add to the overall product line. Hence the need for a management and production team to exploit the fullest potential this project has within it. This applies to both the known and “yet-to-be-discovered” ancillary markets. I have identified numerous markets elsewhere, but I want to mention the animatronic aspect of the puppetry. Those of you who understand know what this means, not only in the theme park environment, but also in the parade float promotions. We are working toward animatronics and assorted puppetry techniques.
So, that being the case, I will be seeking to license the “live action film rights” before anything else. The animated feature film is contingent upon its matching the aesthetics of the books and until the right circumstance arises, IMS could conceivably produce that film in-house. But the live action film is more complex and requires greater studio support than we currently have available, so “jobbing that out” to another studio is probably the best approach. Although, it’s not really jobbing it out, it’s licensing the rights to produce the film, contingent (of course) upon specific terms, including performance. But I will leave that up to the representatives and legal team, when the time is right. I only bring this up because the project is now postured to engage in those licensing discussions.
I have to say this; The Gnomes of New Hope will at all times remain property of Image of the Mind Studios. All markets will either be addressed by IMS or they will be addressed through licensing. The reasoning behind this is that I will be seeking to sell IMS and this is a primary asset that will go with that sale (along wth numerous other projects, which were put on hold to finish “the Gnomes”. I need to face the fact that, approaching 73, my time is limited and I need an exit plan. I want to keep IMS alive, so selling Board position will satisfy that plan. That is my next big endeavor. I’m open to discussion on the subject. I expect I will post discussion on this subject elsewhere, as I do have a blog for IMS Management and another for IMS Producing Partners. The Virtual Studio will contain links to those discussions as I produce them.
For now, the books are almost finished and I am setting up a production line. Once we have sufficient inventory and they become available for sale I will set up a “shopping cart” on the main web portal;
AG
