An Evening With Kevin Smith ... blog

Last night, writer/director/my-personal-hero, Kevin Smith was set to have a book signing at The Grove's Barnes and Noble. He had been shilling it on his twitter account for a while and I happily counted down the days, in hopes of getting a copy of his new book signed and to be able to personally tell him what he has meant to me.

It's such a strange phenomenon that a stranger can loom so large in your life, but in all honesty, Kevin Smith has for me.

And I planned to tell him so.

Until I got to Barnes and Noble for the signing of course.

The friendly fine book purveyor told me in no uncertain terms that Kevin Smith's assistant said their won't be a signing at all, you can trade in your book for a signed copy and it would just be a straight Q&A.

If you've never seen or attended one of Smith's Q & A's they are amazing to behold. Hilarious stories and antidotes about his life, scattered with his trials and tribulations in the entertainment industry. Check them out, there's even one on Netflix (Too Fat for Forty) so you've literally got no excuses.

Last night was the third such event I've been to and as great as they are, I had my heart set on telling this famous stranger how much he had inspired the course my life had taken.

So, like Kevin himself, I took to Twitter to express my feelings.

I sat and stewed, listening to the other fans telling their own stories, laughing and gossiping like twelve-year-old school girls about the latest goings on of the man himself.

Then it was announced that he was coming early to start signing so that he could devote a much longer period to the Q & A. I grumpily acknowledged that it was a very cool gesture, but I'd be lying if I said I  was still more than just a tad disappointed.

Right around 7pm, the blur of orange and blue swooped around the corner and everything changed; in my mind, just the sight of the man of the hour, wiped away all the bad feelings I had harbored about tonights change in plans. I didn't need a personally signed book, this was going to be fun.

I smiled as he happily greeted the fans and posed for media pictures with the book.

He told the crowd that tonight was his and Jennifer Schwalbach's anniversary of the first time they fucked, so this was a special night for him too. He was all smiles ... until he pulled his phone out.

And then he mentioned two Twitter posts...

Kevin read aloud the first twitter post, speaking of "no personal signings" and that all "he wanted was a hug." He searched the room, called the man "a squeaky wheel" and said he would indeed get his hug.

Then he proceeded to read my tweet. I held up my hand and owned it as he finished reading it to the crowd. He acknowledged me with a smile and said something to the tune that he would get to me.

If my interaction with Kevin would have ended there, I would have been a pretty happy guy.

The questions started to flow in as he went over his fan's questions, some really good ones, some repeats from prior Q&A's and everyone was laughing and feeling good, when it suddenly dawned on me: Everyone that knows me, knows what Kevin Smith is to me. They know that the path I'm on has been directly influenced from him. Why don't I just tell him? Who gives a shit if it's in front of a hundred or so other Smith-philes.

So I bided my time, waiting for the opportunity to strike. It came in the form of a fan that literally had 6 questions. Each time Kevin answered, in his awesome drawn out way and each time the fan had a rebuttal. I knew that my comment would be a nice change of pace.

Up went the hand and Kevin pointed to me.

I said I've just got a comment if that's cool, to which he offered up the mic, but I didn't want to make an even bigger scene. I pushed forward.

I told Kevin Smith that I started writing in 2003, because of him. He showed me that a guy like me from the middle of nowhere could write his thoughts, feelings, jokes, and interests and have the chance of telling stories that people can relate to and connect with.

He nodded, even seemed as if he geniunely appreciated it. I continued on.

I told Kevin that because of him, I too, had given independent film a try, even if it had been a massive failure, he gave me the target to shoot for, using my ambition as ammunition to take on such a monumental task, because where I'm from, people just don't do such things. You settle down, you work at Publix, you have a family then you follow in your family's footsteps, kinda just waiting for the next big event in life.

He gave me the courage to strike out and follow my dreams because, hey if he can do it, why the fuck can't I?

His smile grew bigger as I told him this, his eyes beginning to twinkle like a much younger & higher Santa.

I pushed on, telling him that I am here now because of him, not just at this Barnes and Noble, but in Los Angeles, California, following my dreams with my best friend and writing partner, beating the preverbal streets, writing and dreaming, going after it with all we have.

He spoke earlier of a fire to tell stories, to feel like you have to tell this story or die, and that is me, us, The Make Believe Picture Company, personified.

I thanked him for the opportunity to be on his S'Modcast's the first week they were up and running last May. He smiled and asked who we were and seemed to genuinely remember it, recalling it like one of my own friends would.

I finished with another overall "so ... thanks." feeling great; knowing that I had gotten to personally tell him what he meant to me, as personal as speaking over a crowd of people can be.

I was happy to get it off my chest. As a celebrity and filmmaker he probably hears this everyday, so it wasn't new to him, but he acted as if it were. He treated that moment as if it meant as much to him as it did to me. I will be forever grateful for that.

And then he invited me up for a hug.

You better believe it was the quickest I had ever jumped to hug a sweaty man in my life.

He whispered a "thank you" & "good luck" to me, and I whispered can I get a picture to which he happily obliged.

This was just a small thing to him but such a huge moment to me. Cementing that I did the right thing coming out here. The struggles, the being away from my family to establish myself, the fight to live here and try to pursue my dreams. Ringo said, "it don't come easy" and that ain't the half of it.

Sadly, that photo op. opened the floodgates to where everyone began to ask for pictures, and never once did he say no, inviting people up and letting them get a little bit of him to take home.

I walked out with Eric as a line of at least 40 people began to form for pictures after the show. There's no doubt in my mind they all left with the moment they were hoping for too.

I was going to be a life-long fan to begin with.

I've followed Kevin through thick and (not so) thin. Maybe not always agreeing or totally convinced that he was doing the right things or making the best decisions but firmly standing by my man.

Last night, I became a bigger fan of Kevin Smith the writer, director and best selling author. But I also became so much more appreciative of the man himself. He is exactly as he sells himself to be and that's an amazing thing in a town littered with fakes, phonies and pretenders.

I've been on this path for a long time, trying to make lightning strike, and following in the footsteps of Kevin Smith, Tarantino, Rodriguez; all self-made filmmakers and visionaries, all guys who did/do it their way. I'm happy to say that now more than ever.

They say you shouldn't meet your heroes. You'll come away disappointed. In this case it was the exact opposite. Thanks Kevin.

There has been a palpable shift in our fortunes over the last two weeks, thanks to a lot of hard work and a never-say-die attitude, we have started seeing the ground moving above the seeds Eric and I have been planting for the last 3 years.

We're ready to take that fire, these stories, and this drive and start making some real headway. It's coming  guys.

Thanks for being here with us as it's happening.

@MakeBelieveKyle

A Year in Movies

2012

In my mind I think it's still around 1998, maturity level only, and it's crazy to think it's 2012 (much less that 1998 was 14 years ago, but I digress.)

I'll bypass all that world ending talk and run on about something I actually care about which is movies.

I love them. I write them. And subsequently, I watch a ton of them. 

With that said, I'm going to keep track of every movie I watch this year. Every single one. There are gonna be some I'm probably ashamed of watching, perhaps even owning, but I'm putting it out there regardless.

Hopefully it'll stimulate a nice conversation about film, either the ones I've watched, the ones I'm gonna watch or possibly you can recommend some. It'll also show that I watch way too many movies, but for posterity's sake, we'll just call it research instead of entertainment.

So let's do this: The list is below, I'll keep it updated and you guys supply the talking.

And ... go!

1. Back To The Future

2. The Big Sleep

3. Dragnet (1987)

4. When Harry Met Sally

5. The Invention of Lying *

6. Happy Gilmore

7. Raiders of The Lost Ark

8. Foo Fighters: Back and Forth

9. The Longest Yard (2005)

10. The Odd Couple

11. The Apartment

12. Mister Roberts

13. American Beauty

14. Shaun of The Dead

15. Hot Fuzz

16. Billy Madison 

17. Scott Pilgrim vs The World

18. Man on The Moon (1999)

19. Moneyball

20. Catch Me If You Can
21. Double Indemnity
22. We Need To Talk About Kevin *
23. Red State
24. Back To The Future II
25. Die Hard
26. 50/50 *


February:


27. Big Miracle *
28. I Love You Phillip Morris *
29. The African Queen
30. Biloxi Blues
31. The Bodyguard
32. Scott Pilgrim vs The World
33. I Am Legend
34. Warrior


March:


35. The Days Of Wine And Roses *
36. OSS 117: Le Caire, nid d'espions *
37. That Thing You Do!
38. The Blues Brothers
39. Sweet Home Alabama
40. The Help *
41. I Am Bruce Lee *
42. Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom
43. The Descendants *
44. Masters of The Universe
45. The Assassination of Jesse James by The Coward Robert Ford
46. Midnight In Paris *
47. The Smurfs *
48. Clerks II
49. My Week With Marilyn *
50. Night Of The Hunter
51. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2011) *
52. The Muppets *
53. Key Largo
54. Ocean's Eleven (2001)
55. Drive *


April:


56. The Captains *
57. J. Edgar *
58. Arsenic and Old Lace
59. The Town
60. The Social Network
61. Ferris Bueller's Day Off
62. Dick Tracy
63. Zombieland
64. Sleepless In Seattle
65. Terminator 2: Judgement Day
66. Silence of the Lambs
67. Dawn of The Dead (2004)
68. Bad Boys
69. The Karate Kid
70. Forrest Gump
71. Mrs. Doubtfire

MAY:

72. Pulp Fiction
73. Hannibal
74. Star Wars
75. The Departed
76. High Fidelity *
77. Signs
78. The Hunger Games *
79. The Sixth Sense
80. Sister Act
81. Three Kings *
82. Transformers
83. Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey *
84. Steel Magnolias
85. Memento
86. The Truman Show
87. Due Date
88. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
89. Fight Club

June:

90. When Harry Met Sally (2)
91. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
92. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
93. True Grit (2010)
94. Rango *
95. Girl Interrupted *
96. The Conspirator *
97. Star Trek (2009)
98. Lady & The Tramp
99. The Iron Giant
100. Chinatown
101. The Two Jakes *

July:

102. 21 Jump Street *
103. A Face in the Crowd
104. Independence Day
105. Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian *
106. The Bourne Identity
107. Super 8
108. Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
109. Batman (1989)
110. The Exorcist
111. Batman Begins
112. The Dark Knight
113. The Dark Knight Rises *
114. The Shawshank Redemption
115. Missing * (1982)
116. 30 Minutes or Less
117. Captain America: The First Avenger *
118. My Cousin Vinny

August:

119. Rocky
120. Dogma
121. Office Space
122. Lethal Weapon
123. ...

Happy New Year!

Putting the wraps on another year full of ups and downs (thankfully many more ups) and I just wanted to quickly tell you guys & dolls (and invisibles) that I hope you have a Happy New Year!

Make Believe has big plans this coming year and I know that 2012 will be amazing; full of following, pursing, catching and accomplishing our goals and dreams. That's not saying it'll be easy, it's just saying that we are determined to do anything we have to do to get where we are meant to be.

Even kill.

Okay, perhaps there is a small list of morally objective things we won't do, but we aren't talking about that.

I'm personally re-energized, reinvigorated, possibly reanimated and definitely re-ready to get this going. It took a lot to get me to this place, physically (Los Angeles) and mentally, but I am excited to start facing these hurdles one by one.

I've got everything I need here, an amazing group of family & friends, and we've got a full slate of projects to work on. In essence things have never been better and it feels like it's all coming together at just the right time.

I hope that your New Year is everything you guys want it to be and I wish you the best in making it happen.

Now go get it, and don't let the fact that the world is ending December 21st 2012 stop you from making this the best year ever.

@MakeBelieveKyle

I'mma be, what I set out to be, without a doubt, undoubtedly 

Thanksblogging

So, I'm sitting outside of L.A. on a cold and rainy day.

I'm here to continue going after a dream I started chasing years ago. Before I knew I was actually chasing anything. Before a failed independent film back in Florida that brought me a relationship that I would come to love, then hate, then cherish above almost all. Before I ever knew I wanted to tell stories the rest of my life.

I guess I'm gonna catch you guys (all 6 of you) up on how I got to California and what I'm thankful for.

Day 1:

I left two days after my daughter's 9th birthday in August. I had three days to get from Polk County, Florida to Los Angeles. That was 2,529 miles in 72 hours.

Daunting? Absolutely.

Impossible? Nah. Just a Sunday drive ... and Monday ... and Tuesday.

Why only three days to cross the bottom of the United States? Promising job interviews to start my/our new life off right. I mean, I'm here to write but until that pays the bills, something has to.

After years of trying to get to California, years of talking about following dreams, a few false starts and blown chances and after a handful of heartbreaking & tearful goodbyes, we were on our way.

We.

Not my girls and I: I was heading out on my own to get things set up for us. It was only for a month. I'd arrive a few days before my birthday in August and the girls would follow me out in early September.

But I digress. We. Me, one half of The Make Believe Picture Company, and Fluffy.

Screw The Rules.

Madison lent me her favorite puppy to make the trip with me, so I wouldn't be lonely. So I decided if I was gonna have company, he was going to be a participant in this trip. 

Not only was he the little stuffed dog that reminded me of what I was leaving for a month (and why it was so important to keep going no matter what), but he was my partner in crime, a reason to document where I was going and where I had been.

Day 1 was to go from Central Florida to Louisiana. Not a bad beginning leg, especially since I was gonna have a quick pit stop with one of my best friends in Alabama. 

Fluffy and I roared down the back roads to the interstate in FL, sappy tunes blaring for about the first hour: oh, how we wore out The Scientist, Times Like These & Breathe Me (damn you Six Feet Under.)

Such as segregation.

Luckily throughout the trip, I had Amanda and Eric and a few others to talk to and the first day seemed to roll by pretty quickly and without issue. I was a little behind where I wanted to be and more tired than I had expected when I got to my friend Holly's driveway, but I had made it to Mobile.

Fluffy & Friends, only on the Double U Bee.

An hours worth of good talk, spaghetti and ribbing of horrible TV shows and Fluffy and I were off. 

We left heading into a beautiful sunset. It was breathtaking and it really kind of clued me in that I was seeing some truly amazing things. It made me feel a little better about my first real night away from my girls if that makes sense.

Mobile. Day 1. Also, who knew they had a tunnel?

But, dear readers, as you can figure out, the sun may have set on day one, but I still had two states to go to be on track. 

I made it into Mississippi before I totally lost the sun for the night. I was getting sleepier by the hour and was kicking my ass for not leaving a day sooner so I could've crashed with my friend.

All smiles, but he still couldn't spell it right on the first try.

Alas, I did NOT make it into the land of bayous and Swamp People. I called it a night in Diamondhead, MS and figured I would make up my lost time tomorrow.

DAY 2:

Plan was to go from the western end of MS to El Paso Texas.

We actually went: Diamondhead, MS to Fort Stockton, Texas: 889 miles.

MS to LA flew by and things were good, I was rested and renewed for the longest day of the trip. 

Fluffy did NOT get to attack the pelican.

And honestly, LA to Texas went by faster than I thought. I saw some amazing looking scenery going from the flat lands of Florida and Alabama (it was dark, Mississippi just looked black) ... (racist) to the swamps and bayous of Louisiana. 

Luckily a Cajun saved Fluffy before his untimely demise.

Texas was a different story. I was happy to get into it. I looked forward to crossing it. Eric had made this drive in 2009, so I knew that it wasn't all fun and games. I was warned that Texas was boring, to say the least. Regardless, I knew it was a state I was gonna have to blow through and because of their 80mph speed limit, that was exactly what I planned to do.

Use the Schwartz, Lone Star!

Shit really is bigger in Texas. And dumber.

I absolutely loathed Texas. From east to west, top to bottom. I hated it. I don't know if it was being in the car alone, sorry Fluffy, or if it was the fact that I had a thousand miles to go, but it was complete torture.

Nothing but smiles from Fluffy. Bastard.

Somewhere in Texas. Or Hell. Can't be sure.

San Antonio.

San Antonio was the one bright spot in Texas for me. I got off the interstate and circled the Alamo a few times before heading back into the wild frontier. 

Day 2: Outside San Antonio

The landscape was starting to change, get mountainous as the sun went down and I was happy to see that. What I didn't realize is that, although I had been through tons of mountains as a kid, I had never driven them and at night. 

It was brutal doing so. I was trying to stay up around 80mph but it was no use as the last half of Texas is up and down and apparently the deer there are hunted so hard that the safest place for them is literally ON the highway. 

So many close calls with these idiotic beasts. I'm totally with Louis CK. At one point I wanted to place Fluffy on a dead one at a rest stop. Better sense and Amanda got through to me. 

I was angry, tired, scared of demolishing my car on one of these creatures. And I still had six hours to go to get to El Paso. 

Spoiler Alert. I didn't get there. It was the closest I think I'd ever come to experiencing cabin fever. I was breaking.

Unfortunately. there seems to be only about 4 towns in between those two cities. I stopped around 2am half way between San Antonio and El Paso and it wasn't pretty.

Screw Texas. It is now North Mexico to me. I'll X out a star on the flag if need be. I will indeed Mess with Texas. 

Anyway, my hotel room was fine enough on the outside, but on the inside one bed was sticky, I was too tired to complain and I just went to the other, and as I found out in the morning, I was sleeping with a tiny scorpion/alien thing. 

Documented proof.

A little bit of bitching about sticky beds, that I didn't cause, and a deadly bedtime beast to the Senorita at the La Quinta in BFE, Texas and I got my money back as Day 3 was beginning.

Day 3:

Fort Stockton, Texas to Los Angeles: 1,052 miles.

Last day, it had to be, I had an important job interview tomorrow at 9am. No dicking around, I HAD to be in LA at the end of the day. 

Also, I woke up in some sort of awesome desert/mountain area. It looked like something out of Red Dead Redemption and almost all of John Wayne's movies. 

As much as I hated Texas, I have to say I had somewhat of a spiritual experience listening to Mumford and Sons album while driving up, around and through these giant desert rocks. 

North Mexican Mountains.

Like good Americans, Fluffy and I ran all the Indians off and took their stuff.

Mexico is scary. 

Four hours of that and I was done with North Mexico forever. 

Enchantment is a stretch but whatevs.

I'd like to say I enjoyed New Mexico but honestly I just enjoyed getting through it. It was just "eh" I was excited to be close to my destination and to be done with Texas. I couldn't believe I was only hours away from Los Angeles and my best friend. 

A few hours more and we were into Arizona. The excitement was building. 

This asshole's never-ending enthusiasm wasn't always infectious. 

I really liked Arizona. More mountains. It stormed in the desert, both wind-storms (awesome) and thunderstorms and there were beautiful spots that I so look forward to visiting properly someday. 

Windstorm. This was the middle of the day.

We busted ass and made it to Phoenix as the sun was going down on Day 3. 

Another phenomenal sunset. Outside Phoenix.

California Love was locked and loaded as we crossed over the Colorado River and then into California. 

Fluffy and I intelligently conversed about how I had been in the game ten years making rap tunes, ever since honey's was wearing Sassoon as we barreled up mountains, into valleys and finally into Los Angeles. 

It was close to 2am as I pulled onto Hollywood Blvd and saw my friend, at his home, for the first time ever. 

It was a moment, in a trip that was full of moments, that I'll never forget. 

It was an end of one journey and the very beginning of another. 

Day 106:

I thought, like many people I assume, that I would come out and L.A. would welcome me with open arms and thank me for blessing it with my genius. It hasn't. It's a fight. It's a struggle and you see that everyday in the people that this city, these industries, have chewed up and spit out.

It's a totally different world. 

My girls didn't make it out in only a month. In fact, as I'm writing this, they still aren't here. That will change soon but not soon enough. 

That job interview I rushed out for didn't work out, nor did the other twenty I went on from August to the end of September. 

I was told time and time again that I had what it took to be at their respective companies and that people loved me (such a good fit) ... (That's what she said), but there was always somebody that edged me out. It was a pretty tough pill to swallow. 

Until October where I found an amazing place to work. They cared for me, wanted me there and are genuinely good people. Everyday is a good day. 

And now I'm just slowly logging time, waiting until Eric and I can make that big break happen and waiting on my girls to get here.  

Both are coming soon. That's a fact. 

Creatively, I don't think things have ever been better. Eric and I are in the midst of working on and developing lots of promising things for you guys and for the first time ever, I know that you'll get to see them. Maybe not as soon as I'd like but it'll happen. 

I've also seen things and had experiences that have been life changing. Bittersweet but very important to me. I can't wait to share them with the girls as well. 

Personally though, I had many more downs than ups in the first two months here. Lots of rejection, disappointment. I missed big moments in time, birthdays, anniversaries and time that I will never get to make up with my daughter. 

There were nights were I was convinced I was gonna pack up and do the entire trip you just read in reverse. I was ready to give in. I was ready to go back to the known and the less-scary world I had grown up in. 

But I didn't. 

I didn't give in because I couldn't. I couldn't look my daughter in the eyes and tell her sometimes it's okay to give up, to not do what you think you can do. That's not a conversation that is in me. 

And this brings me to my last point. This is the reason I wrote this blog this week to begin with.

Since it's Thanksgiving, I'd like to do some giving thanks of my own. 

I'm thankful to have Madison in my life. She's the best thing that ever happened to me and the reason I want to be everything that I can be. Every night that I laid there thinking I was gonna take my ass back to Florida, I envisioned telling her why. And I couldn't. She will grow up in a place and with parents that will tell her and show her that anything is possible if you just keep trying. 

I'm thankful for my wife, Amanda. Through thick and thin, great times and bad, she's been the one constant in my life. She's backed me and believed in me when no one else would, she chose to share her life with somebody who didn't want to settle for less and that's not an easy thing. There have been hard times, especially these last 4 months but we've always made it through and been better for it. Everything I do is for them. 

I'm thankful to my best friend Eric and his fiancee Lauren. They took me in, gave me the opportunity to be here in the first place and honestly they were the first people who believed in me that didn't have to. They believe that I can accomplish what I think I can and they help every step of the way. I couldn't have done what I've done here and accomplished what I plan to accomplish in life without them. 

And I'm thankful to all the friends and family that have offered encouragement, checked in on me, and that have helped shape me and pushed me to be what I want to be. 

I hope everyone has a fantastic Thanksgiving. Safe and happy, celebrating with friends and family. 

Be sure to let the people that are important to you know how important they are. That you are thankful that they are in your life. 

Thanks for reading guys and dolls and now that we're caught up I'll try to stay on top of this better. 

Kyle

Fluffy and The City of Angels

Blog Hard

Hey guys, Kyle here.

So yeah, I hope everyone had a magical July 4th ... and summer ... and labor day ... and yeah, it's been a while.

So many big and amazing things have happened since then and I promise, I'm gonna blog you guys so hard.

Lot of catching up to do and I will do so ... with pictures!

And soon. ;-)

So imaginary readers ... all 6 followers ... be prepared.

@MakeBelieveKyle

Blog on The Fourth of July

Quick & Easy (also the title of my first "adult" film.)

Just wanted to tell everyone to have a happy 4th of July! Stay safe!

I'll throw up a real blog sometime this week.

Kyle

Hope Blogs Eternal

I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope. 


What a really cool week it's been here at Make Believe. 


Seriously.


We've had a good amount of momentum since Kevin Smith featured us on his Smodcast (you can check that out right here) and it's just been getting better and better. 


We had gotten a really favorable review of the last script, Heartbreak Anonymous, from a guy who we both really respect a few weeks back. It was such an unbelievable high to have someone who has navigated the turbulent waters and made a name for himself in show business to actually LIKE what you're doing!


All these "firsts" are happening to us and although we both are pushing to really get started, it's cool to take a little time and enjoy these kind of things. First's never happen again. 


So, while still riding a euphoric wave and continuing to push forward as hard as possible, we get more good news: Just a few days ago, Heartbreak Anonymous, garnered our second thumbs up, this time by a well respected producer in the business. 


Like all parents, you have all the hope in the world our kid can go out and do great things. You do what you can for it, prepare it for all the harsh realities of the world and send it off to make its way at some point. This is essentially the stage we are at with Heartbreak Anonymous.


We've written, re-written, deconstructed it, put it back together (Daft Punk style) and rinsed and repeated many, MANY times. 


Getting the reviews we're getting is basically the screenwriters version of your kid coming home with an award from school (and not Citizenship, who the fuck didn't get that thing at some point, right?) It's somebody who knows the good from the bad after being in the industry, and telling you that you're on the right track, that what you're doing is as good as you hoped it to be.


It's an amazing feeling.


Eric & I have put HUNDREDS of hours into this project. So to have someone appreciate what you've done, what you're going for, feels really good. Validated in a way. There's still MILES to go to get where we are going, but I'm glad we've taken the turns we have and that we are heading in the right direction.


And as HUGE as that news is, it's not all. Even more firsts are happening. So many good things, so much momentum, so much to be hopeful about. 


I KNOW in the upcoming months, we'll be able to turn a lot of these hopes into concrete realities and I HOPE that you guys will be along with us, our co-pilots, in changing Hollywood one story at a time.


And while we're at it, let's hope that story that begins changing Hollywood is Heartbreak Anonymous.


Thanks for being here (real & invizzies) I'll check in with you soon.


Kyle

Make B-Log...

Howdy y'all! That is Hello you all for all you invisible people residing in California. I was also saying that wearing my jorts in case you were curious. And since you are all invisible, can I just start calling you my invizzies?

Anyway, just wanted swing by and drop the quick skinny on what Kyle and I are doing right now.  We just started a massive marketing campaign into the depths of Hollywood. 

One step closer to our goal of becoming as elite as Richard Dean Anderson. Who is that you ask? That would be the one and only MacGyver ladies and gentlemen. And like him we will be using a lot of ingenuity and aluminum foil to get what we want. 

Our campaign is to start a buzz for the company, as well as get our most polished product, Heartbreak Anonymous, more recognition. 

We have eeked out hundreds of hours to get to the point we are at today.  I'm proud to have been by Kyle's side every step of the way. We are getting closer and closer to another milestone. Hopefully that will happen soon, and when it does all of you invizzies will be the first to know.

A Blog Days Night

Hey guys & dolls!

Thought I'd quickly check in with youse. Hope all is well on all of your respective ends.

It's been a productive couple of weeks at The Make Believe Picture Company; touching up some scripts, researching for a new one we're gearing up on and looking at apartments half a world away for the big move.

Exciting times to say the least. There's a lot of momentum on our side and we're continuing to plug away. Just keep working. You can't go wrong with it and before you know it, you're exactly where you need to be.

I do want to talk about something just a bit off our beaten path for a minute though. As you guys know, we write, develop and produce stories that we are going to put up on the silver screen someday (someday soon-ish, cross those fingers imaginary readers.)

Eric & I are filmmakers at heart and to me, there's nothing more inspiring than seeing a good film.

Something you can lose yourself in and apply your own personal feelings and memories to while still enjoying the hell out of the tale being spun.

To me, the epitome of that, is Super 8.

I just got back from watching it, and while I'm FAR from being a summer blockbuster popcorn movie fan, I gotta say I absolutely loved it. You can see the heart and soul put into it. Very 80's Spielberg.

I won't go into the particulars but I just love being inspired by a movie. That's what it's all about, it's why you tell stories, it's why you write, it's why you try to get into this crazy ass business in the first place. It's what makes it all worth it.

I thought it was great. If it doesn't make you to pick up a camera and start shooting a flick (or find an alien) then I don't know what will. It just makes me want to push that much harder to share our stories with you guys.

Good stuff. Check it out if you get the chance. It's mint.

@MakeBelieveKyle