If I won the lottery

What would you do if you won the lottery?  What if money were no object?  Within this seemingly superficial question are answers that are closest to a person's heart: one's deepest values, inner dreams and desires.

For me, here are my thoughts in answer to that question.

I would continue to do exactly what I'm doing.

I would continue to spend time with my daughter and make films.

However, I would be able to make exactly the films I wanted to make without having to wait around.  There would still be no way around the process of writing.  But knowing that once the writing was complete and the crewing up was done that the film would be made would be a freeing feeling.  We could shoot films in other locations and spend months there in research, rehearsal, and pre-production.  I could hire a lovely person to help watch Miranda while on set.  There are many things as far as the quality of the filmmaking that could be helped.

But as I said, the basic process would be the same.  Write a good script.  Keep working at it.  Then get people excited about helping to tell that story.

Other things to do with the lottery money?

Help my Mom and other family members, donate to worthwhile charities close to my heart, own a place to live for my own family (preferably one in the country and another lovely place in Greenwich Village or Brooklyn), and take our whole extended family on a tropical vacation (a dream for a very long time).

I am probably forgetting some things, but to me those are the most important.

Truly, I have everything I need.  A loving husband, an incredibly special daughter, an amazing family, true and dear friends, a roof over my head and food to eat.  And the ability to write and create films.

Oregon, 1970's

New Year

New year.  Getting over a 10 day cold.  Tired.  Looking forward to being excited again.  Getting there. I want to be able to be completely honest here but yet am aware anyone can look at this blog.  Still..... here goes.  I have been working for over a year on "Crossing the River".  It would be incredibly exciting to have a festival announcement soon.  As of yet, that is not the case.  Many many people have worked on the film, donated to the film, been a champion of the film.  I would say that thousands of hours have been put in with an eye towards the film's ultimate success.  I would love to be able to say that the film will be seen by many many people, will be discussed, thought about, that people's eyes will be opened to the fact that cross burnings still exist, that people are rallying around prevention of cross burnings and around other anti-racism efforts as a direct result of having seen the film.

As I come out of my sickness, I am looking towards this new year.  There is still much work to be done on CTR, screenings to be organized, people to be contacted, festivals yet to enter.  At the same time, I am thinking about my next project.  There are several ideas kicking around, both completed feature scripts, and mere ideas........  I am a person who usually knows what she is doing next.  It is an interesting place to be to not be completely sure.  I will keep you posted.

Wishing everyone a beautiful 2013.  Wishing clarity, peace, clear communication, a sense of your own self-worth, a feeling of meaning and connection to all humanity, and of course much love, health, joy and creativity.  Abundance in all things to the point where it is absolutely necessary to share it.

Love,
Emilie

p.s. My new website: http://www.emiliemcdonald.com
p.p.s. Miranda just turned 5!!!!!!!!!!