giving thanks

Realize I didn't say here how grateful I am to all the folks who contributed in myriad ways to the Kickstarter campaign for "Crossing the River". We raised over $15,000!!! Amazing to me. Friends from my childhood, from high school, college, Los Angeles, NYC, acting class, mama friends, family, friends of family.. the list truly goes on. Also my incredible producers brought on friends and family to donate as well. A few people who were new to us also donated. Perhaps they read about the campaign through all the amazingly supportive people who were posting about it non-stop on Facebook and Twitter, emailing about it, articles and interviews about us in Her Film and Queens Mamas, posts on blogs such as loveisntenough and beehivehairdresser.. friends were literally checking the stats on the site as much as I was, and doing the countdown with me. I don't know if I've ever experienced such a phenomenon before. People donated generously (and believe me, I know, for some $10 is a very generous donation), increased their donations, supported me and the project in more ways than I can say. We reached our goal. *Wow* Thank you.

It is January now. 2 months away from the shoot. Trying to determine (this week) whether we will shoot in SC (need another $15K) or NY (more likely), reaching out to DP's, refining the script, and millions of other details I need not bore you with.

Miranda started school today. Only for 2 hours, and it will only be twice a week. When I picked her up, she had a big smile in her face as she showed me her project (coloring mittens). When I asked her if she had a good time, her huge grin said it all.

It is not a huge amount of free time to work, but it is a start. And as I've explained before, I make it work in other ways.

She told me she wanted to be in my next movie, and say "aaaaaaah"! Sweet. Gotta write that into something soon.

Oh, and by the way, she turned 4 last week!!!!!!! I truly cannot believe it.

Love, thanks, blessings.

Emilie

(photo above by Hunter Desportes)

the right thing

Miranda got a little book about angels for a stocking gift.  One of them was the Angel of Wisdom, who "always knows the right thing to do".  I need that angel at times.  The Kickstarter push was awkward at times, reaching out to friends and family for help.  It still felt right though, as I fully believe in the project.  Doing the votey shmotey thing feels perhaps not right though.  There are other things throughout the days and weeks that don't feel right.  Sometimes it is a nagging feeling that I'm not quite sure of, other times it's quite obvious what I am uncomfortable with.  I think there is an inner intuition that knows when one is doing the right thing by oneself, by others, by a higher power.  This includes doing the right thing by a project.  I am going to keep working creatively on the script until it feels right.  There are many business things to do, and they will definitely get done, but one must not forget the intuitive part of the process, as that is what everything else springs from.  I am also fully committed to Miranda THRIVING on a daily basis.  Am doing a lot of reading on early childhood and am so inspired.  Vacation is good.  Time to think, look at the stars, reconnect.

kickstarter

I feel I have to at least put a link to my Kickstarter campaign: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/emiliemcdonald/crossing-the-river for my short film about a modern-day hate crime, and also about understanding and tolerance.

It is been an exceptionally challenging balance of filmmaker and mama these past few weeks.

Hangin' in and I think Miranda is still learning new things each day and getting mucho love.

7 more days, over $7K to raise! I have always been an optimist.. it's a long shot but I am hopeful!!!

Miranda at 3 years 11 months

My daughter is growing up right before my eyes. In the last few weeks, she's started using a Southern accent out of nowhere at a specific moment that made me laugh; she's seemed to have literally gotten taller and lankier; she is speaking very specifically and clearly with very thought-out sentences (for example: "Do you want to know another thing that I'm thankful for? I'm thankful for my friend named Laura.") It is both beautiful and heartbreaking.. Her youth vanishing before my eyes. I know I am being dramatic. I think it is a gentle reminder to TRULY appreciate each and every moment with her because it is so precious. And nothing matters more.

sunday

A lovely crisp autumn day. My husband and daughter went to see children's short films and have lunch; I stayed home and worked on my prospectus for my short film "Crossing the River". It was a much-needed work time; but... I missed them and felt wistful for missing out on family time when my husband works so many hours during the week. However, we did have many other lovely moments this week, albeit many of them with just Miranda and I: a visit to Stone Barns Farm near Tarrytown; a trip to Dumbo for Jane's Carousel and Brooklyn Ice Cream Parlor; "Elmo in Grouchland" at BAM with a surprise visit from Kevin Clash and the real Elmo (favorite moment: Miranda got on the mike and said "Hi Elmo"; Elmo responded with "I love you."); a friend's 4th birthday party at the local park; and much more.. I also managed to work on film stuff every day.. excited to have a few more peeps attached to the short film.. about to launch kickstarter campaign in about a week (!!!).. Time to go.. daughter finally home and she's alternately kissing both of my arms and showing me what Elmo's face looked like yesterday. Good evening!

a girl can dream..

fundraising season

It's been almost a month since my last post. I have been wanting to share this blog, but haven't felt ready.. I believe the time is arriving soon though..

Am gearing up for a kickstarter campaign in the coming weeks. Very involved! It is a good practice for me to gather up all my contacts, resources, ideas, and it is helping me to plan out the shoot well in advance of the March filming date. Of course, there are still many details to finalize, but the kickstarter deadline is helping me to get my ducks in a row.

I continue to feel that Miranda comes first. Her needs must be taken care of on several levels. Then I can put time and energy into making films and building a career as a filmmaker. And I am finding time to do this every day. But Miranda is the pinnacle of the mountaintop. What a joy.