ALMOST done with filming the first season of NEXT, the Webseries!! What a fabulous, energizing, frustrating, fun, creative, tiring, inspiring, educational process/experience! Phew! I think it’s good that I didn’t know much about producing a series before I went in to this because, well, I’m not sure I would have done it. Don’t get me wrong…I’m thrilled I’ve done this and I think it is going to be a really good series, but there is a whole lot I don’t know about producing.
There’s getting the idea off the ground, getting a script, raising money, hiring cast and crew, organizing everything, feeding people, finding locations, working out schedules, keeping schedules on time, wardrobe, make-up, continuity, handling problems and safety just to mention a few categories. For us, most has gone smoothly, thankfully. We have an incredibly good crew and a very talented cast for which I and my co-producers Anne Hallinan and Lisa Marie Newton are forever grateful. It really is about picking the right people to work with and delegating! 
We have one more day of filming then the editing begins. We plan to have a premier showing of our first episode in November, 2014 at The Castro Theatre in San Francisco, CA. Stay tuned for more details. I can’t wait to see it!!!
For updates: www.facebook.com/nextwebseries, www.twitter.com/nextwebseries, http://kck.st/1oXA7gm
Generous: showing a readiness to give more of something than expected, to be kind. Well, I am blown away by people’s generosity regarding my kickstarter campaign for my webseries NEXT. http://kck.st/1oXA7gm Truly, I’m so appreciative of the people that have donated their hard earned cash or their much needed free time to help me achieve a goal. There have been many…close and not so close friends who have contributed.
And yet, UGH, I find myself saddened by those I thought for sure would help, but haven’t. I feel so selfish and embarrassed feeling AND writing this. The very definition of generous is giving more than expected. What right do I have to expect more from people? I believe, when one places expectations on others, it’s a sure way to be let down because these expectations are personal and subjective. Not everyone ‘works’ under the same assumptions.
One woman, with whom I’m not that friendly donated a large sum and when I thanked her she said, “friends help friends”. Wow! People are amazing! I’m always surprised by the kindness people possess. Often people give when they have little to give, but just want to help. I will remember this when I get the proverbial stick up my “#$%^@&”.
Where does this leave me? It leaves me very grateful to those that have contributed and humbled…others have important stuff happening in their lives also and everyone does what they can.
THANK YOU to everyone that has donated so far. You are greatly appreciated.
I am right in the middle of my Kickstarter campaign http://kck.st/1oXA7gm for our webseries, NEXT and it’s bringing up an uncomfortable feeling- a hurdle I have to overcome. It’s a ton of fun working on this project for many reasons: I’m doing what I love: acting, I’m working with really talented people, I’m learning a lot, and last, but not least, I’m representing women with power and talent in the entertainment and tech arena, both of which are underrepresented by women. All really good reasons!
Why then is it so difficult for me to ask people to help us reach our goal by donating $$ and/or time to our Kickstarter campaign? Marketing is way more difficult when it’s for oneself, rather than for someone else because, well, it puts something near and dear to me, in a position to possibly be rejected and I don’t want to bother people. That makes me uncomfortable and vulnerable. Amanda Palmer in The Art of Asking (Ted Talk) http://youtu.be/xMj_P_6H69g says others want to help and that we should trust enough to let people help.
I believe wholeheartedly in this webserie
s, it’s an important topic to share… so what’s my problem? I’m embarrassed to ask; I feel like I’m imposing. I know that being a part of this would be great and it’s a story which needs to be told: representing capable, talented, and real women in the workplace in an entertaining fashion and all this is good return for a donation.
At this point, we’ve reached 50% of our minimum goal, $4000, which is fabulous and I’m so grateful for all donations we’ve received so far! We have a stretch goal of $7500 which is our true goal, so I have to ask for help. The only way I’m going to get it is to ask, Right?
That’s a big hurdle for me and trust me, it’s uncomfortable, but my goal is my priority, so I shall jump! Phew.
Will you please help us create this series by donating to our kickstarter campaign (link below) and/or passing this kickstarter link on to your contacts??!! How is that? http://kck.st/1oXA7gm
Thank you in advance.
The Webseries, NEXT, that I’m producing with two other women, and acting in is about a Silicon Valley start-up created and led by women (of a “certain” age) and what happens when left to their own devices!! Lots! We, the producers and actors are filming our kickstarter video in these pictures.
I’m so excited and proud to be working on this project for many reasons, but in particular, because there are so few projects out there for women, and which are led by women, in the entertainment industry, as well as so few women in the tech start-up world. We are doing both.
In the tech world, women are ” catching up” according to Karen E. Klein in http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-02-20/women-whoruntechstartupsarecatchingup. ” Women-led private tech companies are more capital-efficient, achieve 35% higher return on investment, and, when venture-backed, bring in 12% higher revenue than male owned tech companies.” You go girl!
According to research done by http://www.thegeenadavisinstitute.org of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, females encompass 50% of the population in the U.S. , yet only 1 female per 3 males is portrayed in family films- which is the same statistic as in 1946! No progress there. Females are not represented equally behind the scenes either. In their study, only 7% were directors, 13% writers, and 20% were producers. So, only 1 female per 4.8 males!! I’m not even addressing the type of roles given to females vs. males. WOW!! Astounding to see these figures!!
We have work to do ladies…and gents! Every step counts to nudge progress forward. Geez, we aren’t living in 1946 anymore. Women are skillful and very capable, which is why I’m so fired up about this show! We would greatly appreciate any help in moving this project forward by taking that step with us!
Our kickstarter campaign is at: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/864042368/next-the-web-series
www.taylor-brock.com
I am SO dependent on my tech devices! You?
By accident, I left my house without my cell phone and I couldn’t go back for it. I would be without it for 6 hours! OYE!
I felt naked. I started thinking about all that I’ve become accustomed to using it for. What if my kids need me? How will I access my calendar? How will I call home? How will I make any of my calls with my down time? I can’t play candy crush. I can’t check my emails.
I needed to tell myself to breathe; that I will be just fine, life will go on. Of course, it did! I focused more on the moment…what and who I was with at the time. I communicated more with those around me. Hmmm, how do you like that?
What a wake-up call this was to me. Using my phone has become such a habit. When I was a kid (sp
oiler alert: informing you of my approximate age), there were no personal devices and the sun still rose every day. My parents didn’t have to contact me constantly and know where I was every second of the day; we made a lot of our own decisions and problem solved ourselves, we had paper calendars that waited to be filled in until we arrived home, we played games in person with other people, fancy that, we even got lost in our own thoughts, and we communicated in person or with a land line.
I found this table in the picture to the left, at a cafe. Everyone is to place their gadget in the labeled spot and the first one to pick up, pays for the drinks! That might take some restraint! I do love the perks of technology and how society has grown and changed, but geez, it’s really good to ‘unplug’ once in a while to realize that we all have the ability to also grow and change when left to our OWN devices.
This is why I’m so excited to create, film and act in our webseries, NEXT (new title), about a very innovative start up tech company in Silicon Valley going on a company retreat that goes terribly wrong. Hint hint!
We are proud this project is primarily run, written, acted, and directed by women – although there will be some men sprinkled throughout the production. We need more women in Silicon Valley and entertainment. Our Kickstarter Campaign is launching on July 7th, 2014 and would love your support! Stay tuned for information.
