It got frightening. The budget kept going up, but we were all committed to doing it right. I often thought that if I chickened out and put the lid on the film, years later I would deeply regret that decision. We had an opportunity to really do something.
So we kept going, and the rest is history. (The trials and tribulations of actually making and distributing the film have been recounted elsewhere.) In the end I spent well over the 50% I had set aside from the internal handshake with Spirit. But it was a unique opportunity - and in time the investment started to recoup financially. In other ways we’ve been repaid thousands and thousands of times over.
It’s interesting to note that more and more entrepreneurs (usually software/computer – yeah Nerds!) are doing things with their corporate earnings that they think will benefit humanity. It’s in the air these days! Bill Gates Foundation, which was huge to begin with, just got umpteen billions from Warren Buffett. I’ve heard of angel investor funds that have formed to finance films that do something to uplift humanity. Jeff Skoll, who headed up eBay, has backed a number of movies recently, including Syrianna, and An Inconvenient Truth. In his words: “I like to support causes where ‘a lot of good comes from a little bit of good,’ or, in other words, where the positive social returns vastly exceed the amount of time and money invested.”
I think this is wonderful sign of the times. Humanity, the earth, nature are calling out for people to step forward to do something. And those people are responding. For me it was a simple thing – If I can do something, and don’t, who do I think will do what needs to be done!?
And now it’s done. This release is the end of BLEEP production. It’s time for me watch the grass grow – again. Many people have asked, “Will you do another movie?” I’m not planning on it. But then again, eight years ago as I walked the streets of New York, I wasn’t planning on ever making a movie.
But then the timelines shifted… page 1 2 3
