Are You My Customer?

Hey All,

As you may have noticed when watching the movies I have posted on YouTube, I end them all with a copyright to Hey Miss K Productions.  But at this point, what is Hey Miss K Productions? Something I've printed on a business card.  Seems to me like it needs to be more.

So - I've been taking classes with the Small Business Administration.  I've been given an overview of the tax implications of incorporating as a sole proprietor vs. a c-corp or an s-corp (best if you don't ask me but take the class yourself) and I've learned of all the elements I need to consider to put together a business plan.

The first question is "who is your customer"?  When I think of who I want to see these movies, the answer is "everyone".  That seems a bit too broad.  Then there are the questions about what the unmet need is for this group and how your service will fill it.  If that's not enough, one must identify a market, scope out the competition and forecast sales.  Those things seem so much more straightforward if you're opening a restaurant or an eco-friendly dry cleaning business.

It's quite possibly time for me to go sit in a cabin in the woods to figure this all out or brainstorm with people or write down some options, put them in a hat, close my eyes and pick one.  

Instead of doing any of this, I've started editing safari footage!  3 hours and 15 minutes of footage has already been cut down to 35 minutes as I have realized you CAN have too many shots of elephants walking.  The best news is... there's still more cutting to be done.  You'll be thrilled to know there will undoubtedly be a 30 minute version for Tracy and I to relive the trip and a 10 (or so) minute version for everyone else who wants to see it, but only a little.

Why here's a little now!

Further Adventures in Filmmaking

Hey All,

What in the world has been going on with me lately, you ask?  Good question.

I've been sharing the story of the monkey man with as many people as I can.  I've entered the movie in a competition at an online site called Film Click.  Right now it is a featured film on the front page and I would encourage you to go there and click to watch it.  You don't have to watch it again if you've seen it, but click the link and go get a coffee - it will up the number of views and that can only be helpful.

I've also posted the movie on Current TV as well as nominate the Mazingira Monkey Project for World Challenge 08 is a global competition aimed at finding projects or small businesses from around the world that have shown enterprise and innovation at a grass roots level.  There is potential for Juma to win a lot of money and expand his business.

Both the Film Click and World Challenge competitions I was invited to participate in by people who saw the movie at the Alice Film Festival.  So, getting myself out there has proven to be a good thing!

I remind myself of that as I'm forcing myself to go to a networking meeting/thingy at the Small Business Administration tonight.  While I'm working on getting a tv show - should I do something about Hey Miss K Productions?  I copyright my movies to this name, I put it on business cards I printed out but at this moment in time... it isn't technically a business.  Or is it?  Do you see what I'm dealing with?  But I try to make forward progress.

In other filmmaking adventures, my team from the Scary Cow group has finished filming our movie, Echo's Wonder.  I'm a bit sad the photo of me was shot in the bookstore shortly after 6:30 in the morning when I'm not at my peak, but you must admit, with the headphones and crazy microphone, I do look like quite the official location sound person.  The film screens June 1st at the Victoria Theater and I would encourage anyone who is around to come check it out. The sound is going to be fantastic.

Dream, The Trailer

Hey All,

As most of you know, not only am I trying to make documentary films... I'm in one. In fact, many of you have been asking... "what's up with the documentary and when can I see it?" Well, scroll to the end of this message where I'm happy to share a short promotional trailer that's been put together!  It features everyone who is in the documentary and gives you an idea of all our stories.

I'm happy with the sections on me, though I'm begging the director to cut out the section where I say a dream looks like a cloud that you suddenly realize is a puppy. What?!? I must have been smoking rainbow flavored crack through a hollowed out unicorn horn when I said that. Honestly. When I think of what a dream looks like now, I see myself driving down a freeway... I know I'm going in the right direction but I'm not sure which lane will get me there the quickest or what exit I should take. Admittedly, not as cute to look at as puppies.

Seeing how the filmmakers have put together footage that I shot in South Africa gets me motivated to make more progress editing all the stories I have and finding a venue for them. Lately, though I've been a bit distracted from that task. Why, you ask?

Well, because I've been reading up on San Francisco history in preparation for my new part-time job as a tour guide!  And not just any tour guide, mind you, this tour will be conducted on Segway scooters!  People who live here are already suffering the consequences of my research and my need to pass on random tidbits - Lillie Coit dressed in men's clothes so she could play poker with the boys, Ghirardelli came to San Francisco in 1849 looking for gold but ended up getting back into the chocolate business when that didn't work out for him, Shanghai Kelly had 3 trapdoors in his bar to speed up the transfer of drunken sailors back to outbound ships. I love it!

So - if you're in town, or planning on coming to town, look me up and get ready for your riding tour of San Francisco.

Meanwhile, take a look at the trailer below and stay tuned for further information on when you can find this movie in a theater near you!

Thanks for sticking with me!

Miss K

DREAM - The Trailer