Party Planning & The Look of Love

Spent the entire day working with my Team on the Premiere Party plan for Saturday night. We're expecting 500 + for the Big Bash after our 2 sold out Saturday shows. Earlier in the day its an exclusive invitation-only reception for investors. Saturday is going to be epic...

Tomorrow I gotta get my tan together and walk Siesta Key Beach. My last day of solitude before the madness and fun of the Sarasota Film Festival takes over my Life for those 10 days. But in spite of the wonderful record-setting performance of the film at the festival that anyone would be right to gloat about, all I'm thinking about is looking deep into the eyes of Danielle, Jay & Kimber when the lights first come up after the end of the first screening. I've been encouraging them all along and telling them for months that what we accomplished on screen is going to move people emotionally...and all along they've looked at me with a longing to believe me...but not willing to do so for fear of the possible disappointment. Linda knew all along I could pull it off because she knows me so well and saw my dedication and that of my closest BN Teammates...but it's my stars I'm going to look for first in that huge crowd Saturday night. I'm just dying to see the expressions of 'Dez', 'Noah' & 'Candy' when the movie ends and the audience responds.

First off I'll be scanning the theatre for Danielle. I just wanna see her incredible smile and her face light up as only a young performer just starting out can when she realizes that the initial roar of approval is all for her in her first starring role. Danielle is a force to be reckoned with and I just can't wait to film her in the prequel and sequel to Beautiful Noise later this year. The dimension she'll bring to the role she created will be off the hook as she now has a real bead on what 'Dez' is all about and what my Storytelling themes for the Trilogy are all about. She gets it like nobody else and her coming on board to help me cast and select songs for the next 2 soundtracks will be invaluable. She is a stunningly beautiful and talented actress/singer who is going to become a superstar the moment she comes to grips with her talent and decides to unleash it completely and confidently. When she decides on something she goes all out and I'm grateful she believes in me as a writer and director and as a friend. I hope to cast her in a variety of challenging roles in the years to come and will always revel in the fact that I was there when she got her start...

I also wanna see Jay's expression when he realizes that after a 20 year career at the top as the worlds' #1 Neil Diamond performer - he now has a 2nd Act as a screen actor that will take his career into new directions. I'm not certain why or how the stars lined up for the both of us working together on this difficult indie film...but we locked in quickly that first week on the set knowing we had the potential of capturing lightning in a bottle. Jay didn't play 'Neil Diamond' in the movie, tempting as it must have been. It took him 3 days to lock into his character, but the moment he did the film changed. Playing off Danielle's beautifully convincing performance, Jay captured the essence of the bitter has-been rock icon from the 60's and played it to the hilt. And when it came time for him to sing...well, just close your eyes folks and listen to what sounds like all-new Neil Diamond hit songs. What a lethal combo of talent for a director like me to work with. I'm looking forward to helping guide Jay's movie and music career from here on in. The guy is a powerful piece of Talent, whose best days as a performer are ahead of him.

And then I wanna see Kimber's face, which might be the one that beams the most as she finally gets her due as the prolific songwriter she is. Kimber is living the life of her character...working the club scene relentlessly and trying so damn hard to break out and break through. Her incredible songs form the backbone of Beautiful Noise musically...and there's no way she'll be overlooked after this film plays around the world. We had a difficult time at first communicating for reasons that revolved around my own fears of how much to push her as an actress and how much to lay back and just let her do what she does best...perform her own songs on a stage. But she threw herself into her role even though she had never acted before a day in her life. You'd never know it after you see her work in Beautiful Noise. This raging beauty gave Jay all he could handle in their crucial scenes and she won him and the rest of us over that first day on the set with her dedication, professionalism and sheer determination to succeed. Kimber wants this movie to be the breakout vehicle for her...and I'm committed to doing everything in my power to expose this powerful songwriter and budding actress to a worldwide audience.

In the end I did what every Director I've ever read about does at one point or another...I looked deep into their eyes to find their spark and motivation and simply fell in love with my Stars. I have come to know them as well as my closest lifelong friends and I would do anything for them. I trust them and believe in their talent and in them personally. They are truly great Spirits who care about people and in their craft. I've learned a lot from them...and I think I've taught the three of them that sheer willpower and determination and total belief in oneself can make miracles happen. The miracle that is Beautiful Noise is about to be screened and judged by the masses. Either way it goes, with the critics' comments and box office reports still out there somewhere in the future, I know that the condition of my life and career has been immeasurably improved simply by having the privilege to work with Danielle, Jay & Kimber.

ST