Category Archives: screenwriting

I can’t begin to describe how exhausting a fundraising campaign is. Perhaps you can imagine running a marathon for six weeks straight, because that’s what it felt like. Our Indiegogo campaign ended on Monday night at 11:59 PM. I was in bed by 8:30.

While we didn’t quite make our goal, we did gain incredible momentum. Most of that was from the enthusiasm of our supporters. We got contributions from across the United States, from New York to Hawaii, and found ourselves international with backers from Australia, Finland and Denmark.

But now the real work begins. Plan B is fully in action. We are about to go out to our dream cast, have the script out to investors and have every intension of the camera rolling on Black Coffee by the end of February. And that is closer than you think. As the film’s producer, I sweat it out each day, hoping that we got enough done. And, no matter what was accomplished, there’s still a list longer than my art of more to get done. And I love it!

Be sure to follow us on Twitter @BlackCoffeeFilm, Facebook and Google+ (+BlackCoffeeMovie) so you can get up-to-the-minute news. Because we are going to be moving at the speed of light to get this done. And we won’t rest until we cross the red carpet.

It’s sad to hear of Nora Ephron’s passing. It feels like the end of an era, when so many eras in film are ending. Who will be the one to pick up the torch she left behind and run forward making films with strong female voices that men are still drawn to watch (even if they pretend to go somewhat begrudgingly)? Is Hollywood even interested in making Ephron-esque films? I mean, where’s the sequel/prequel/franchise and the videogame?

What I think I loved most about Nora Ephron is that she said what was on her mind. She delivered her words so well, there was no need to mince them. She was always honest, and I always appreciated that.

I would have loved to have met her, if only to say, Thank you.

“Most directors, I discovered, need to be convinced that the screenplay they’re going to direct has something to do with them, and this is a tricky thing if you write screenplays where women have parts that are equal to or greater than the male part. . . You look at a list of directors and it’s all boys; it certainly was when I started as a screenwriter. So I thought, I’m just going to become a director and that’ll make it easier.” – Nora Ephron

Thank you, Nora, for making it a little easier.

Here’s to all the Independent Filmmakers out there who won’t give up.  Who stick to their guns, who honor their visions and believe in what they are doing, no matter what the cost.

Here’s to us.  Here’s to going after the dream. Going after it with such fervor it’s actually storyboarded, each scene broken down and budget perfected.

Here’s to those who support us and finance us.  Those who give their talents for free, because we can only give so much sweat and blood equity.  We couldn’t do it without you.  Thanks.

Here’s to those who are ready to queue up and buy tickets and champion our movies, even though they haven’t even read the script.  We want nothing more than to please you, move you, or at least make you think, “What the hell does that mean?”

Here’s to the community that supports Independent Film.  Those who want to hear that unique voice and see that avant-garde vision.  Those who want something more for their ticket price.  We are grateful to you.

Here’s to a New Year where we all can succeed in bringing our dreams, our visions and our voices to the screens. Here’s to all of us. Happy New Year!