Last year, I wrote a post called “My Year of Living Dangerously” and I called it that because I was starting the ITP (Independent Television Producer) program and journeying into the world of self-employment. The ITP program provided a bi-weekly stipend until August. But with the stipend being absent for almost four months, I realize…
The countdown is on and the campaign has begun! For the next two weeks or so, I will be living, breathing and spouting about the Hamilton Fringe and my show Mommy’s Mask. Let me apologize in advance for getting on your nerves. Advertising for your Fringe show is a delicate balance of informing and annoying…
I’ve been meaning to read The War of Art by Steven Pressfield for a few years. It has been recommended on a few Recommended Reading lists that I’ve come across. But I wasn’t sure that I wanted to buy it, so looked for it at the library. My library didn’t carry it, so I’d forget…
It looks like the main thing that we will be measured on during the initial phase of the ITP program is our business plan. At the beginning of the second week, Karen talked about the components of the business plan and we had to submit one of the components a couple of days later. Every…
2014 is going to be an interesting year. I will officially start my own business and be expected to make some money at it. The idea of being my own boss is scary and exciting. It will be a year full of hard work and long hours. I will be learning new things and trying…
A couple of days ago, I got an email from a friend. He is involved with a web series in development and included a link to a Kickstarter campaign. (Kickstarter is one of those crowdfunding sites where you get family and friends and hopefully rich strangers to contribute money to finance your projects.) I clicked…
When Felice Gorica spoke to our group about The Business of TV and Financing, I think a lot of us felt shell shocked. She gave us some great information and left out the sugar coating. It was good, but I know that a few of us started to question the viability of the projects that…
After being out of work for a year, starting a regular commute again was a shock to system. For seventeen years, I went to the GO station, got on the train and then walked a block to work from Union station. Usually a 40 to 50 minute journey door to door. Now, I take the…
Our second class was called “Drama Fundamentals” with John Burns. A better title might have been “Getting to know each other” or “Team Building”. Although we did a bunch of theatre-related exercises, the main purpose of the session was to get to know each other better. Because of the size of our class, we were…
Our first “class” is at the Latvian Centre in Toronto. People come in dribs and drabs. Additional seats need to be found as 33 of us assemble, waiting for Karen O’Donnell and Kelli Kieley to get here. Usually, the course only has 25 participants. Karen has been running this course for years and this year…
peter gruner 