"It's showtime folks."

"time" will go back before the cameras later this month to begin the final push to complete production. This film was the longest and most extensive shoot Asylum or I have ever attempted. To say it was an eye opening experience would be a joke. This process has proven to be very difficult, demanding and draining to say the least. A 20 minute short seemed to be a good idea about 6 months ago when I came up with the idea and wrote the screenplay. A 2 person script that focused on a small story between a man and a woman. Simple. WRONG!

That was before I decided to expand the script, use over 20 locations, film it in real time with the changing of the seasons, battle a brutal winter, run with a skeleton crew, edit along the way and reshoot what I didn't like and oh, by the way...mount the musicals "The Fantasticks," and "And The World Goes Round," write the newest chapter of the "Hooray for Hollywood" series and present it, cast out and go into rehearsal for "Harvey," do two commercials and cram in Christmas! It has been an interesting 6 months.

And with all of the above, it is easily the best I have felt about myself in a long...long time. Diving into and swimming in the deep end of creativity does open your eyes. True, you panic a little about the whole drowning part, but boy you're alive! It was good to get away from the "making a buck" theatre that I have been a constant part of for the past 13 years. Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining, I am and have been very fortunate to earn a living in this business for the vast majority of my adult life. Not many people can say that. And along the way there have been magnificent productions , highly creative people, some spectacular shows and more than a few moments that I will cherish for the rest of my life. It has been a hell of a ride. But...somewhere along the way I lost what first brought me into this business in the first place. That overwhelming need to create! Remember when it was all about the birth of an idea, the telling of a story and that beautiful long passionate kiss of inspiration that drove you? At one time that was air and water to me! Then I started earning a living...then a better living and finally a pretty damn good living at this whole creativity thing. I got away from what should always be the driving force in this process. The story and the way you tell it. The creation of something new, fresh and vibrant that demanded to be told. I had no idea just how much I missed that until I started to film "time" and right around the time we went into rehearsal for, "The Fantasticks." Those two events brought it all back and I tell you right now, I'm here to stay this time!

I am very excited to get back and finish the film. I've been trying to get back to it for a month! We have about 70% in the can and we should be able to wrap this puppy up within a month...unless I do something stupid like rewrite it again. But even that's okay. It's the process and rewrites: in film, theatre or life should be a constant. Let the story evolve. Film and video production have now taken the front seat at Asylum and that is what I always wanted. I have some great corporate clients, a slate full of commercials and virtual tours that will pay the bills and a very understanding wife! I also got back my creative vision that makes me a lot better for these people. They deserve 20/20 at all times. That side is being taken care of.

Now, for the other side. If "The Fantasticks" taught me anything it was its time to get back to the basics! Get back to what really drives not only me but creatives, audiences and people in general. It's the story. It is time to leave "corporate theatre" behind and worry more about what needs to be told and not how much money can it make. The two do marry at times. "Chicago" was the perfect marriage of creativity and profit and "The Fantasticks" had a nice little relationship there also. "Cuckoos Nest," "Proof," "12 Angry Men" and "Laughter on the 23rd Floor" all managed to be profitable without whoring out! They were great shows. Now its time to tell the stories that deserve to be told.

So here we go again. Yet another evolution. More changes are on the way...But that's how this whole thing is suppose to work isn't it? If we all wanted a life that was 9-5 and based on the dollars we sure as hell would not have picked this one.

It's showtime folks.