Updating the Team

The KickStarter campaign has officially concluded with all the pledges finally collected by their system. We beat the odds -- it isn't unusual for 5 to 10% of pledges to error out and not fund. Our rate? 100% funded as of this morning.

Now begins the process of waiting for the funds to transfer (7 to 10 days) but there's no risk there and so the crew breathed a sigh of relief :) Now it all feels real to us!

That being the case, we thought it was time for a nice big update... but not here. We have the new blog set up with the new name ;) Though the links at the blog aren't active yet, that's all part of the update! From now on, tune in to all the best news at:

http://www.ourepicheroes.blogspot.com

An Epic Victory

Heroes -- cast, crew and supporters of the show -- please take a moment to smile and recognize the incredible thing you have all done. The campaign is successful. Not just the goal of $3000 but the stretch goal of $3333 that will cover all the fees that the system takes for processing.

This means that all of Season 1 will post and the premiere of Episodes 6 through 12 will happen at the Dragonfly Theater in Port Orchard.

Then Season 2 will begin to roll into existence. The new, nonprofit "Epic Heroes" will have a board of director that includes some of the parents of the cast and decisions will be made together as a team.

All of your hard work and support of each other has made this moment possible. All of us stepped outside our comfort zone and reached deeper into our courage and dedication than ever before.

Congratulations, Heroes. You have made the impossible possible in the most epic of ways.

Thank you all for taking this journey with me.

Let the adventures continue :)

Jennifer DiMarco
Proud to Be Your Director

Less Than 50 Hours, Only $102 to Go!

With less than 50 hours until our final campaign ends, we only need $102 more to make our $3000 plus fees goal of $3333! This is an incredible moment for all the team and our supporters! The final push! Share what you're doing to help make the final $102 on Facebook and inspire others to do the same. See how every $1 or $5 donation really added up?! Go Heroes! http://kck.st/O8X2Q6

Thank You + A Huge Sale

I'd like to take a moment to thank the pledgers who have pushed us closer to to $3300 (or $3333 as a contributor pointed out -- yikes!) so that the KickStarter fees will be covered. It means a lot to me that so many of you have helped us in this way. If we don't reach $3333 by 7:50pm on August 10, Brianne and I will pay the fees and the rest of Season 1 will post. The fact that pledgers have continued to help us is a personal support to me and Brianne and we feel so loved and appreciated because of it.

Thank you for not giving up and pushing our goal past the minimum so the fees won't be an issue.

In the spirit of working hard right up to and even beyond the final deadline, Brianne, Faith, Maxwell and I have placed a ton of stuff up for sale. All the funds will be donated immediately to either the campaign or (if items sell after August 10) Season 2. We know you're not done giving to this show and neither are we, friends. That KickStarter URL again is http://kck.st/O8X2Q6

Wooden Phoenix Box from India
http://www.ebay.com/itm/290756595170

Princess House Crystal Wagon
http://www.ebay.com/itm/290756596110

Crystal Lot: Geode, Quartz, Ball and Stand
http://www.ebay.com/itm/290756601500

Girls Size 10/12 Dance Leotards
http://www.ebay.com/itm/290756603962

Games 'n' Music DS Cartridge (Play ROMs on Your DS)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/290756610885

Vanguard Tripod
https://post.craigslist.org/manage/3188625879

Office Machines & Furniture
http://seattle.craigslist.org/kit/fuo/3188603742.html
Includes:

Duplo DB-250 perfect binder with extra hot melt glue pellets and table (weighs more than 300 pounds, please plan accordingly)
$1500

Two six-drawer metal file cabinets
$60 each or $50 for both

Two-drawer locking metal file cabinet
$25

Foster banker's portfolio file cabinet
$30

HP Color LaserJet 8550 DN with duplexer installed and extra fuser kit
$300

HP LaserJet 8100 DN (duplexer-ready but none currently installed)
$100

Multi 2020 Hydraulic Electric Paper Cutter (weighs more than 300 pounds, please plan accordingly)
$300

Heavy duty rolling cart
$30

Two storage cabinets
$20 each or $30 for both

Two Ikea computer desks
$25 each or $40 for both

Dear Cast

Dear Kiddos and Teens Alike,

I have never lost faith in you. I have always kept hope. We are less than $50 away from our goal and we still have seven days to go. Do you know what this means?

It means that 41 different people believe in you, too.

What you're doing by working together, supporting each other and crafting this show is nothing short of a testament to what your generation can do and what all people can do who truly believe in a project.

You all know that we need $3000 to continue. And you know that the KickStarter process will take 10% of whatever we make here. But please understand that whether or not we make a penny over $3000, Brianne and I will pay the difference with joy and with the honor of being able to continue to work with you all.

Spending time creating these adventures with you makes me smile every morning and drives me forward even through the hardest days.

Thank you for everything you do.

Your friend,
Jennifer

Hero Rebecca Strikes!

Long-time amazon princess... err, I mean, HERO... Rebecca has struck again. During the Second Epic Yard Sale, Rebecca snuck in upped her pledge. We're so close, team :) Keep the faith! Stay hopeful.

Hero Colette: Tonight We Howl For You!

In honor of Black Wolf Paranormal, and their pledge from Colette, the staff of "Epic Heroes" howls tonight! Hhhhooooowwwwwllllll! We know that Colette and her good fellows at BWP will hear our thank you howl and smile :) Thank you, Colette and friends. Your support is our hope.

Hero Launa Upped Her Pledge!

Like a ninja in the night, Hero Launa has upped her pledge again. Just $95 more before 11:55pm tonight and she'll be singing the song of chocolates!

The Meaning of Life? CHOCOLATE!

Hero Carrie won the first batch of gourmet chocolates but it isn't too late to claim the noms for your own!

Pledge $100 (or up your pledge $100) or more before Tuesday, July 31, at 11:55PM and automatically send your mailing address to ghostsniffers@gmail.com to claim your FOUR gourmet, gluten-free handmade chocolates!! CHOCOLATE! Flavors are: White Chocolate Coconut; Dark Chocolate Chai; Milk Chocolate Cherry, and White Chocolate Lime.

Chocolates will be mailed USPS Priority mail to arrive to you safe and tasty :)

Pledge now and get those noms! http://kck.st/O8X2Q6

Hero Imp Strikes Again!

Ryan Gronberg just upped his pledge -- tooth fairy money perhaps?! Go, Imp, go!! Thank you, Ryan ;)

Sneaky Hero Rebecca

Longtime supporter Rebecca snuck in today and upped her pledge! We're now at $2503... just $497 away from our goal!! Thank you, Rebecca!

Hero Kristie and the Epic Yard Sale

Our pledges soared sky high today when Kristie upped her pledge, adding the funds from the epic yard sale (part one!). Thank you, Kristie -- and everyone who participated in the sale :)

Hero Steve -- Kristie's Grandpa!

Thanks to Kristie's Grandpa Steve for upping his pledge and bringing us all that much closer to our ultimate goal! Season 1's completion is about to happen, team!! Thank you, Steve!

Welcome Andy! A Hero and a Inventor!

Andy is an inventor. He's created an awesome machine that allows regular people, right at home, to make custom plastic molds for making cool ice creations, chocolate creations and more. I discovered Andy on KickStarter when I browsing around, admiring other campaigns and pledging when I was moved by someone's creativity. I think Andy's campaign will succeed and, because of my pledge, we'll receive one of Andy's wonderful machines. I will use the machine to create the unique treasures that the team find during their adventures -- ice music notes, chocolate creatures and more.

In his campaign video Andy says that he'd love to know what people make with his machine and so I sent him a message about the show. And guess what? Andy pledged! He also shared our campaign with his friends :)

Let's all welcome Andy -- an inventor and a hero!

Jennifer

Welcome, Hero Donna!

Today, with just eleven days to go, a brand new hero has joined our team. Everyone cheer and welcome Hero Donna whose pledge today has pushed us well into the final stretch -- we're now at $2135! We just have to reach $3000 and we'll have the entirety of Season 1 paid for. The final five episodes that no one has seen will get edited and scored and be posted for all. Look how hard work can pay off, everyone! Look the support and love that surrounds our little show.

You. Have. Made. A. Difference.

And Donna? You have made a difference for us. Thank you.

Hero Launa Strikes Again :)

Notification just came through that Hero Launa upped her pledge again. There's just no stopping these epic supporters. See, kiddos?! You affect everyone!!

Drum Roll, Please!

Brianne and I have mailed 114 press packages and letters to businesses. We've purchased an ad on Facebook that explains the campaign and how to save the show. We've emailed or messaged 370 ghost hunting groups, children's groups, niche groups and more.

But you know what the most rewarding part was?

Making cake pops to sell at Bridget, Kristie and Ryan's Epic Yard Sale.

Okay... actually... Brianne made the cake pops... but I ate one... maybe two ;)

The final tally of funds for the team sitting on Bridget's lawn, talking, laughing, playing games and reading while we talked up the show to everyone who stopped by and made change for the buyers? $325 for two days.

$325 for getting to know each other more.

$325 for sharing spaghetti, pizza and ice cream.

$325 for emptying out crowded rooms, garages and closets.

The entire epic team thanks Bridget for the great idea and hosting it all; Jackie for supplying so many great items and pricing and re-pricing over and over again; Ryan, Kristie, Faith and Maxwell for melting in the sun; Cris for bringing Charlie who made everyone laugh; Brianne for making the cake pops and plugging her computer into the extension cord so she could keep working while being with everyone; all the strangers who followed the signs and loved our cause... and, I guess, thanks to me, Jennifer :) For... buying and eating two cake pops ;)

Epic Yard Sale Does Epically!

Bridget and her team of heroes have a special report! Two days. Epic yard sale. Homemade cookies and cake pops for sale. Clothes, tools, books and more all under $5. How did it go...? With less than thirty minutes to go, Bridget has announced: $325 raised to save the show! That's right. With extra plates. Clothes no one wears. Vases. Used books. Just the standard stuff. Bridget and her team raised more than $300. She didn't rely on anyone else. She did it all with her family. What was her recipe for success? Ten big, bright green signs that stated: Fundraiser! Save This Kids Show! Yard Sale Today!! She didn't pay for ads or do online listings. Just arrows pointing the way. A nice portion of the money was raised selling Bridget's snicker doodle cookies and Brianne's cake pops. And much socializing was done by all :) And guess what? We were so pleased with the result, the DiMarco's and the Gronberg's are doing it again on Weds and Thurs at Capt. Snakes' house!! Go for it, Epic Team! Host a yard sale! We still have time to Save the Show!!

Hero Carrie Wins the Chocolates!!

Hero Carrie, mama of cast members Lila and Emerson, just pledged the full $100 (upping her existing pledge) and secured four gourmet truffle chocolates for her and her epic heroes :) We are now officially over $2000 with ten days to go! Carrie, thank you!! Send me your mailing address and your chocolates will be shipped out by Priority mail!

Hero Katie and Launa!

Thank you, Heroes Katie and Launa for upping your pledges and pushing us ever closer to the exciting $2000 milestone. That means everyone will get access to the e-comic and the video of Spark, Imp, Maximilian and Forge singing and rapping "Wish Maker." Yay!

Can We Raise $100 Today?!

We're just $100 away from the $2000! Can we raise it today? It's a new challenge! If we can raise $100 in pledges before 11:55pm tonight, we will post a video of Spark, Imp, Maximilian, Forge and Kraken singing and rapping the "Wish Maker" song! ALSO, if ONE person steps in and pledges the entire $100, that supporter will receive FOUR gourmet, gluten-free handmade chocolate truffles!! CHOCOLATE! Flavors are: White Chocolate Coconut; Dark Chocolate Chai; Milk Chocolate Cherry, and White Chocolate Lime. Ready? Set... Go!!

Hero Marie Strikes Again!

Hero Marie Best, mom of cast member Sarah Best, just upped her pledge to save the show. Thank you, Marie!

Epic Yard Sale Update

Jackie, Bridget, Kristie, Ryan, Brianne, Cris, Maxwell, Faith and Jennifer are here at the epic yard sale! Are you local to Port Orchard?! Local to Kitsap?! Roll your change and get over here!! Every penny goes right to the Save the Show campaign and there's cool stuff to buy! Plus cookies and monster cake pops -- all fresh made! 10814 Little Tree Place 10am to 6pm Saturday and Sunday Come support the epic efforts to save the show!!

Hero Rebecca!

Little heroes! Rebecca has raised her pledge. Why? Because she believes in your message and your incredibly effort. Don't lose hope, heroes!

Help Spread the News!

Share the news! Print this great new flyer and hand it out to businesses and coworkers. Simple. Sweet. Straightforward. Print in color or black and white. Print on white or colored paper. Anything works great!

http://www.ghostsniffers.com/downloads/epicflyer.pdf

Go, epic heroes, go!

Kitsap Sun Article and A Name Change!

Hello, Team! This blog may come as a shock to some of you but it has been under consideration for several months now. We have decided to change the name of the show.

I know. You love being called Sniffers and "Ghost Sniffers" has a ring to it, but the title of the show is confusing a lot of folks and we want people to understand immediately what we're about.

What's the new name? I bet most of you can already guess ;)

"Epic Little Heroes"

Because every single one of you are just that -- epic heroes. And... most of you are little ;) For those of you who aren't (you tall epic heroes you!)... well... you're still kiddos and so I get to call you little with love in my heart :)

It looks like the last thing we do under the name of "Ghost Sniffers" is celebrate a wonderful article written by Angela Dice that will be published this weekend in The Kitsap Sun. Angela emailed me today and let me know that she got all the information for her story when she came out and met with us all last month and she's pleased to announce that the article will be in the Kitsap Sun very, very soon!

So, my heroes... let's celebrate the article and celebrate coming together under a new name that perfectly epitomizes who we are and what we do.

As Maximilian says in Episode 6:

"I'm epic!"

Because you know what? You all are.

Jennifer Lopez & Justin Bieber Sing & Rap?!

A few days ago, I jokingly threw out there: If we meet the half way point before Monday, how about Maxwell and I sing and rap the new "Ghost Sniffers" theme song?!

I will never joke on the "Ghost Sniffers" Facebook page again! :D

Maxwell and I are neither singers nor rappers... but we would do anything for the sniff! And so, without further stalling... Jennifer Lopez and Justin Bieber sing and rap to save the show!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d34XF-aWbVY

Oh wait... or is that Jennifer *DiMarco* and *Maxwell DiMarco*?! Oh, whatever!

Hero Joannie and Hero Greg!

Dr. DeRosa fights hard for all kiddos whose disabilities have turned into super abilities. She works with the kids, their parents and their schools to make sure they're understood and protected. And, in "Ghost Sniffers," Dr. DeRosa is played by Joannie DiMarco -- the real life baby sister of Captain Snakes! How cool is that? Today Joannie pledged to the campaign and we think she's just as awesome as the good doctor :)

But Captain Snakes -- still reeling from her needle-free knee -- didn't stop there! She also asked her baby brother, Greg DiMarco, to pledge! And guess what? He did! Greg has two kiddos of his own and I bet they love watching their second cousins (Maxwell and Faith) be super heroes :) Thank you, Greg!

Argh, Captain Snakes! You've done enough! Take a nap and we'll steer the ship for you for a while *big hug*

Hero Launa Strikes Again :)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched Episode 6 (closely and many times) don't read this blog!

Launa's character, Fey, is eaten by the Monster Bunny in Episode 6 but that doesn't stop this long-time supporter of "Ghost Sniffers" to keep upping her bid to save the sniff! The long time supporters, like Launa, aren't actually looking at the $3000 goal, you know. They're thinking beyond that. They're thinking big! They're writing personal letters to newspapers and celebrities and companies. They're saying: Why only fund Season 1 when can speed right into Season 2 at $5500?!

This is how much these grown ups believe in you. All of you. Because you touch hearts and change lives.

Hero Barb! Just $35 Away!

Hero Barb just put the icing on our Wednesday cake and we're now ONLY $35 AWAY from an unbelievable $1800! Isn't that incredible?! Maxwell and I are going over to the office now to sing and rap and make complete fools of ourselves... for the sniff!

Thank you, Barb, for supporting us and believing in "Ghost Sniffers."

Yard Sale to Save the Sniff

Have stuff to sell? Love to find cool treasures at yard sales? Want to save the sniff, too?! Join us at Bridget's Save the Sniff Sale! Both Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 6pm at 10814 Little Tree Place SW in Port Orchard (98367), Bridget Gronberg (famous mom of Sirius Spark and co-star of the Season 1 KickStarter trailer) is hosting a cash-only yard sale with every penny in proceeds going to save the sniff. Bring stuff to sell for the sniff or discover and buy cool treasures -- either way, you're helping the team. Join us!

Hero Smoggy and Kathleen!

Some people know him as William. But we sniffers know him as Major Smoggy, the masked super soldier from Episode 3 who hires Forge to track a monster. William, and his joyful, generous wife, Kathleen, hiked in to the location with us with the temp dropping deeper into the dangerously cold zone with every step. But guess what? Smoggy and Kathleen brought hand warmers. Not one. Not two. Like twelve for the whole cast and crew. We may have been cold...but our hands were super warm! Today, Smoggy and Kathleen joined the team by mail and Brianne will be upping her pledge in their name. Don't give up, sniffers! This is the final fundraiser... We can do it!

Hero Rebecca!

The Sniffer Team knows Rebecca :) She has donated to almost every episode and she's not giving up on the sniff now, in our final, last, ultimate campaign :) A cool thing about Rebecca is that she met the DiMarco family through their publishing company but has followed every endeavor they've tackled with an equal love of the arts.

Rebecca is not only a supporter of "Ghost Sniffers" but is also a First Look Producer on the powerful family film, "Deus for Daniel," which is the story of a single mom struggling with her twin sons, one of which is autistic.

Thank you, Rebecca, for supporting the arts in so many ways! Team Sniffer says: Hooray!

Hero Xyra!

It should come as no surprise that our first backer today is none other than "Ghost Sniffers" own warrior princess Xrya (not to be confused with Kyra Boatwright-Frost who plays her, oh no!). Thank you, Xrya for believing in your team enough to put your gold coins towards the sniffer cause :)

Rewards for the Team!

As promised, for reaching our half way point, Maxwell and Jennifer will perform the new, original sung and rapped series theme song, "Wish Maker," in a live video. The link will be sent only to pledgers of the campaign right through KickStarter :) Expect that this week!

But there's more! Here are the AWESOME rewards for the KickStarter supporters at the future tiers:

$2000 -- A free copy of the "Ghost Sniffers" e-comic, "Finding Cupcake," which can be read on any PC, Mac, iPad, or Kindle, will be sent to everyone who pledges or ups their pledge between now and when we reach $2000.

$2500 -- We finally secured a GREAT printer for the "Ghost Sniffers" role-playing game trading cards! The character of your choice will be made into a card (and the card sent to you) if you pledge or up your pledge between $2000 and $2500.

$3000 -- A free copy of the never before seen "Tom Tita Begins" e-comic that tells the complete back story of Tom Tita, those crazy lights, and how came to be in the basement at Crazy Cat Lady's house. Just pledge or up your pledge between $2500 and $3000.

$3500 -- Everyone who pledges or ups their pledge after the $3000 mark will receive a role as a monster in Episode 1 of Season 2 at the fabulous Monster Ball if we reach $3500. Everyone will also be invited to a suburb pasta dinner at the DiMarco household to celebrate the successful completion of the campaign.

Hero Sue! Grandma Sue Kicks Off Monday!

A long-time supporter of the sniff, Sue is David Hogan's mom. You'll all remember David from Episode 3 and Episode 6 where he played Peter, the werewolf soldier who risks his life to warn Forge and then help Maxo. Maxwell and Faith know Sue as "Grandma Sue" because David is married to my sister, Angela (who plays Green Dawg in Episodes 7 and 10), and so that makes Sue... err... well, on our family tree, that makes Sue a grandma to Maxwell and Faith, darn it! :)

But for today, at least, more than anything else, Sue is our Monday Hero -- our first pledge going into the new week. Thank you, Sue! Welcome (one more) to the sniff!

Welcome Heroes Steve and Kayla! And more!!

Heroes Steve and Kayla have joined our campaign to save "Ghost Sniffers." Thank you, heroes, for supporting these kiddos and making the rest of Season 1 possible! Your belief in us gives us hope and makes us work all that much harder.

And more thanks are due! Thank you to Kristie and Launa for upping their pledges and thanks to Kristie's fabulous grandma for donating through her granddaughter.

Go, Team Sniffers! Go!

Hero Beryl!

Welcome, Hero Beryl! How wonderful to be seeing names we've never seen before. Your support means so much to us as we all work together -- KickStarter Campaign, Facebook messages, yard sale, car wash -- to help save our wonderful little show. Thank you for keeping the momentum going! http://kck.st/O8X2Q6

Hero Cassie Cahill!

Cassie Cahill may play a serious meanie in the adult film "Jericho House," but in real life Cassie is an international show cat judge and a supporter of children making a difference. Today, Cassie donated to "Ghost Sniffers" and became the first actor from a grownup Blue Forge Productions project to cross over and rally behind BFP's very special show for wonderful kiddos from all walks of life.

Cassie knows what it's like to be misunderstood. Her character, Jo, might be described as a very bad mom in every sense of the word "bad," but Cassie has worked with the character's secrets and back story and created a fully-realized human being from Jo. Cassie brings a depth and pain to Jo's voice that can't be faked. Cassie understands that Jo may have grown up to be an destructive force, but it all had to start somewhere.

Thank you, Cassie, for impressing us with your generosity, your sincerity, and your awesome "day job" of being a cat show judge! (We love cats!!)

Hero-to-Be Cassie Cahill

Hey Sniffers! Guess what? The wicked mama character from "Jericho House" (that grown up Blue Forge project) is played by an actor who, in real life, is actually friendly and wonderful! I got to meet Cassie in person for the first time today (auditions were held over the phone) and when I got home Cassie had sent me an email. Cassie said she was fascinated by "Ghost Sniffers" and thought all of your kiddos doing the show was SUPER AWESOME.

Cassie is not only going to pledge to help keep the show on the air, but she's going to tell all her friends about it! See, Sniffers? You impress people who have just now found out about you :)

Thank You, Hero Bobby!

Hero Bobby G. joined the team today, pledging to keep our epic little heroes on the air and making adventures for all of us. Thank you, Bobby! Just TEN more dollars and we're at $1400... just $110 more and we're half way to our goal! Bobby, you rock!

The Purple Imp Strikes Again!

The Purple Imp (Ryan Gronberg) has upped his pledge... bringing Kristie another friend closer to her hat ;D But will the Purple Imp find and eat the hat?! Who knows... ;) Good luck, Kristie! And thank you, Ryan!!

http://kck.st/O8X2Q6

Hero Jackie! And Kristie, too!

Hello, Hero Jackie! I do believe that Jackie has been a hero at every single step of the series, always stepping in to support the show -- over and over again! This is one dedicated sniffer fan, folks! Thank you, Jackie, for joining us in this -- our FINAL LAST ULTIMATE campaign! :D

And Kristie "Spark" Gronberg also upped her pledge... thank you, Kristie! Hm... wait a second. Jackie is Kristie's aunt? Kristie upped her pledge? Could it be that Kristie is in the running for her own personalized sniff hat?? :D

Hero Suzanne and Hero Lizzie!

Brand new heroes have joined the team! Hero Suzanne S. is brand new to "Ghost Sniffers" and we welcome her with open arms and thankful hearts. Lizzie G. (who pledged through her friend Brianne DiMarco) is a Season 1 actor! Listen for Lizzie as the voice of the GPS Guru in Episode 1 and Episode 3, then watch for Lizzie in Episode 3 as the curious tourist in the final scene with Peter the tour guide.

Suzanne and Lizzie? You ladies rock!!

Hero Eric and Hero Rachel!

Welcome, brand new heroes! Eric A. and Rachel (pledging through her friend, Cris DiMarco) are both first-time supporters of "Ghost Sniffers" and we're so glad to have them with us for this amazing adventure. Thank you, Eric and Rachel! Our final, last and ultimate fundraiser is flying along at the speed of light!

Feel that wind beneath your little sniffer wings, sniffers? That is the wind of hope!! Okay... was that too silly?! I'm just really excited!!

Hero Brittany and Hero Joe!

Hero Brittany and Hero Joe, welcome to the sniffer team! Wow! You guys started off the Friday on a GREAT note!

Brittany is a special hero who kept me sane on crazy-busy sets during Season 1. Brittany played Hund, one of the four young women captured by the Monster Bunny. Brittany always made me laugh... especially when anything would go wrong and I'd immediately look at her with narrowed eyes ;) It was never her fault... but I loved blaming her for everyone's giggles ;)

Joe is an all-new hero to us! Hello, Joe! But a small bird told me that Joe is a friend of Emma's! Emma is building her own little sniffer army of heroes, I believe, but Joe was the very first! How brave to go first! How brave to not just ignore a sincere and honest letter from a wonderful young woman like Emma! Thank you, Joe. Because you DID make a difference in the lives of these kiddos. All of them.

Go, Sniffers, go!!

http://kck.st/O8X2Q6

Outside: Not Just Kiddos with Disabilities

You know... I didn't grow up with autism or Type 1 or OI. I grew up short, but other than that, there was nothing much that challenged me. I was just... well... regular. I loved school. I had diverse friends. I dated. I wrote books and painted paintings and loved gaming and hiking and going to the ocean.

Would there have been a place for me in "Ghost Sniffers" as a kiddo?

Yes. Despite a small typo in a recent article, not all the little actors on "Ghost Sniffers" have medical conditions that challenge them. As a matter of fact, *most* of the cast are only challenged by... well, life! A family business that's unexpectedly failed. A house that's burned down. A sibling being bullied at school. A grandfather with cancer. These are all real challenges that life has thrown at some of our young cast members in the time I've known and worked with them.

But if these kiddos aren't living with a health condition that makes them feel like an outsider... than why are they so passionate about the show?

Because there are GOOD people in this world. Young people who CARE when they see others being bullied or ostracized. Kiddos who reach out to the kids around them and ask, "Are you okay?" and "Can I help?" and even, "I'll be your friend."

Today, Emma Forest (who played Harley and Fess in Season 1), read a blog I wrote about stepping outside your comfort zone and asking your friends to give just $5. The message was not intended for Emma. It wasn't intended for any kiddo. It was meant for all the grown up who have acted in, watched and enjoyed, or just "Liked" the show. But Emma took it upon herself to step outside her comfort zone... WAY OUTSIDE her comfort zone and AS A KIDDO ask all her friends for MONEY!! Eek!

Emma? I'm proud of you. And I'm grateful you're part of the project. Now... who do you want to be in Season 2?

http://kck.st/O8X2Q6

Hero Jennifer, Hero Anne and Hero Launa!

Jennifer and Launa upped their pledges (What?! Amazing!) and new hero, Anne G., joined the team. We're saving our sniffers, ladies and... oh my gosh. Could it be?! There are only TWO men pledging of our 22 supporters! Wow... what does that mean? Does it mean we need more boys on the show? Does it mean the world is actually run by little girls and ladies?! Hm.

WHERE ARE YOU, MEN?!

Enough of that :) Back to Jennifer, Launa and Anne! Thank you, heroes! Thank you for believing in the show. Thank you for giving up a latte, or pizza, or chapstick... or cable tv for a month! We want to continue SO BADLY! We're all burning the midnight oil to find new ways to get the word out. Thank you for helping us feel not so alone in our fight.

Sniffers? We are loved!! :D

Hero Susan! Break Those Stereotypes!

Long, long ago (okay, not THAT long ago) in Basking Ridge, NJ, there was a long-haired girl named Cris. She went to high school with lots of people and she was nice. Huh. Fancy that! Year later, she re-found many of her high school friends on a little website called Facebook. Facebook was strange. It had this weird thing called "friending" and everybody ran around "liking" everybody else. But what did it mean?!

Then, one day, Cris needed help. Real help. Not just supportive words but, well, you know... money. It was for a kids' show. A kids' show with a great big cast that supports each other and really cares about each other. A show that was going to end unless it could raise $3,000,000... oh, wait. Not three million. It just needed to raise $3,000.

So Cris sat. And Cris thought. She thought about her friends. If she lived near them, she would take them out to coffee. She wouldn't think twice about buying their latte. She wouldn't think twice about buying them an ice cream cone on a hot day. Could she simply write to her closest and dearest friends from way "back in the day," and ask them: Would you mind, just $5. To help support this show, about these kids, who I love so much.

But that would be hard to do. NO ONE likes to ask their friends for money. NO ONE likes to ask for help when lots of people have it rough right now. But you know what? Cris did. Just little notes. Personal notes. Not marketing. Not press releases. And she even said: Please, if you can't do $5, would you post a link on your Facebook page? Would you help spread the word for these kids?

And you know what else? Hero Susan is one of those friends. Not a stereotypical "Facebook friend" who barely knows your name. Susan is a real friend... who just happens to have reconnected with Cris on Facebook. So... thank you, Susan. And thank you, Cris.

Because it isn't fun to ask people for money. I, personally, hate it. But it would be way worse to watch this show end. Have you done everything you can? Or do you just assume that your friends won't step up? Don't assume. Let them surprise and amaze you. An hour of writing personal messages with the campaign link http://kck.st/O8X2Q6. Just an hour. Would it be worth it to watch our goal fly by the half way point?

Step out of your comfort zone. Kristie did. Faith did. Maxwell does every time he steps on set. Show them how brave they are.

Hero Dianne!

Like Carrie, Dianne is a hero for supporting "Ghost Sniffers" and for being a mom to a sniffer... and for being a sniffer, herself! Dee was a mama monster in the Monster Cafe scene in Episode 6 and her daughter, Kyra (who played Potro, Wiz and a monster), will be coming back for Season 2 as Xyra, the mythical Amazon guide who helps Spark, Maxo, The Ninjas and Forge. Thank you, Dee, for pushing us ever closer to the half way point!

Hm... what should we do to celebrate hitting $1500 (half way)? Should I post a secret video (for pledgers only) of Maxwell and I singing the "Wish Maker" rap song that will be the theme for Season 2? Hm.

Thank You, Carrie and Elizabeth!

Hero Carrie (who is also a hero because she's Lila and Emerson's mom) and Hero Elizabeth (who is also a hero because she's a friend of Cris' from way back), have stepped up and said to all of you: WE SUPPORT YOU, KIDDOS!

Carrie and her family have supported "Ghost Sniffers" before and Lila and Emerson were articulate and joyful during our interview with the Kitsap Sun. Lila (who played Reh in Season 1) and Emerson (who played Cosmo and Em), are coming back for Season 2 as... wait for it... NINJAS!! Yes! Raise your hand if you love ninjas! *raising hand wildly*

Elizabeth is a first-time supporter of "Ghost Sniffers" and what makes her so super cool is that -- like Anthony, our hero who helped break the record last night -- she breaks that icky stereotype that "friends" on Facebook aren't willing to step up and support each other beyond clicking "like" or "share." Elizabeth crossed that divided between cyber and reality and, with all of our heroes, is going to save the sniffers!

Remember... this is our LAST FINAL ULTIMATE fundraiser. How many company's can say that? This campaign will fund all of Season 1 in its beautiful, glowing entirety. Christopher (who played SIX roles in Season 1) funded the making of the Season 2 music video trailer which will help us secure a fancy producer who will handle the funds for Season 2. So this is it! Just this one campaign!

*singing* We can do it, we can do it, we can save our little sniffers! *singing* http://kck.st/O8X2Q6

We Broke The Record!!

We made history, Sniffers! Thank you, Hero Anthony! We have now officially had more new pledges in a single day than ever, every before! How perfect for this -- our last and final and ultimate fundraiser! Good work, everyone!

Now, in the words of Forge (and Anthony when he texted me to tell me about his pledge):

NO MORE TUBA!

Let's not worry! Let's be brave! Let's talk to more people than ever! Let's hand out the fliers I posted on the Facebook page! Let's say "no" to one single latte and "yes" to more "Ghost Sniffers"! http://kck.st/O8X2Q6

Less Than an Hour Left! *happy squeal* Katie!!

Thank you, Hero Katie Jones! You've brought us that much closer to making "Ghost Sniffers" history!! Thank you not just for your donation tonight but for your ideas and brainstorming on the "Ghost Sniffers" Facebook page. Please keep the excellent ideas coming -- oh! Bridget! Tell everyone about your Sniffer Yard Sale idea!!

Just ONE MORE supporter for the campaign and we'll make history with the most new pledges in one day!! http://kck.st/O8X2Q6

Are We On A Roll?! Welcome, Hero Kathy!

Kathy Sorensen just pledged to help the sniff! Welcome, Hero Kathy, and thank you!

We've had a lot of new heroes today, friends. Is this a powerful new trend? Are we all opening our mouths more and sharing what makes us proud? Are we singing the praises of these epic little heroes and how they've touched so many lives?

Because, you know, it isn't just Faith and Maxwell and Kristie... it's all of us. It's Kyra and Emma and Lila and Keeli and Emerson and ALL OF US! Even the grown ups who have been lucky enough to hang out with these awesome kiddos. We're all showing the world that TOGETHER we can make great stories, we can inspire and support and empower each other. We can, in short...

CHANGE THE WORLD.

Come on, heroes. Let's make some history. http://kck.st/O8X2Q6 Just two more pledges before midnight tonight and we'll have more pledges in a single day than any campaign we've ever run for any project. Let's do it!!

Gronberg Heroes!

You know... I don't think Kristie and her family will mind what I'm about to say. The Gronberg family (Kristie's family) is not rich. Nope. They are not. I know, I know, you're all shocked. Kristie and Bridget and Ryan have been on set with many of you and they look very fancy and they're super nice (which always means someone is rich, right?). But the Gronberg's are actually not independently wealthy.

And yet Kristie pledged with her own funds and just a few moments ago, little Ryan pledged his tooth fairy money to bring us right up to a nice, round $900. You don't have to pledge $100... or even $10. $3 is a cool pledge. $1 is a fine pledge, actually!

Of course, if you *are* independently wealthy, or if you've never supported "Ghost Sniffers" before... now is certainly the time to step up and say to the world: "Children with disabilities DESERVE to be super heroes. They DESERVE to see themselves on the silver screen and the small screen. I believe in empowering kiddos. They are not less than. They are more than their conditions. They are the strongest among us."

Take action, friends. Now is the time. http://kck.st/O8X2Q6

And Ryan? Thank you, Purple Imp.

Jennifer

Jackie and Jonathan, Thank You Heroes!

Two new heroes pledged today -- Jackie and Jonathan -- and we, the sniffers, salute them! We're now at $897 with just $2103 to go in the next 23 days. We have some new ideas... so stay posted!

One Dedicated Teen Makes Huge Impact

Kristie Gronberg, one of the teen actors on "Ghost Sniffers," wrote this incredible blog in an effort to help build awareness in the show. The fate of "Ghost Sniffers" will be decided in 24 days when it's final fundraising campaign is either successful or not. Even if you can't donate $5... take a moment to read Kristie's blog. It will inspire you that kiddos like Kristie -- passionate, dedicated and selfless -- still exist in the world.


Kristie's Blog: SOS (Save Our Sniffers)

Hero Jennifer H. -- and Blog #201

Celebrating our 201st blog, let's have a huge thank you and welcome to our newest KickStarter hero, Jennifer Hoggard! Thank you for believing in us, Jennifer. A monster sniff pin -- to celebrate your awesomeness is winging it's way to you :D

We're making our goals, team! Come on heroes! Many of you are *in* these episodes. Let's make this happen -- together.

Jennifer <--- burning the midnight oil, writing letters for the sniff

Is "Ghost Sniffers" Ending?

My inbox was suddenly stuffed with messages asking if the show was ending. Please let me clarify for everyone. The answer is yes and no.

We're running our last fundraising campaign (http://kck.st/O8X2Q6). If the campaign funds, all of Season 1 will post online and Season 2 will be able to move forward and secure a producer -- so no more fundraising ever, ever again. Yay!

If the campaign isn't successful, then "Ghost Sniffers" will officially close. The seven episodes we've finished will stay on the website but production won't move forward on the remaining episodes or on Season 2. The crew here will have to turn their attention to other projects to recoup their financial investment in the show.

Whether or not the campaign is successful, we will move forward and make the music video (which was funded by Christopher Harris). The finished video will be posted on the website. Should a series producer step forward to take on the show's corporate and business fundraising, he or she would then start working on Season 1 instead of Season 2.

The best thing any of us can do right now is either donate to the campaign (even $5 brings us closer), or post the link to the campaign on your Facebook, or email it to friends and family. The campaign is run through KickStarter and their rules are that unless we fund completely ($3000) we receive nothing and the pledgers are never charged a penny. We've already past the $500 mark and we still have 25 days to go. We all feel very hopeful but we would appreciate your help to spread the word.

Thank you all and I hope this clarifies the situation :) May we continue making "Ghost Sniffers" together for many, many years to come.

Jennifer
http://kck.st/O8X2Q6

Hero Jo Ann Joins the Team!

We woke up this morning to a new hero on our FINAL LAST ULTIMATE fundraising campaign -- Jo Ann! Thank you Jo Ann for your continued support :)

Have you written a letter about "Ghost Sniffers" to your favorite tv talk show host? Have you talked with a local business about sponsoring the show? Tell us about it on Facebook or email us. We want to share your ideas and be inspired by them to do more!!

We have 25 days to go. In 25 days the fate of "Ghost Sniffers" will be decided. Will we be able to post Season 1 and move on to the music video and securing a producer for Season 2? Or will the show send with Episode 7? The decision will be made based on the outcome of the campaign.

Another Hero!

Thank you, Marie, for becoming our latest hero and earning your sniff! Pins away!

Hm... should I issue another challenge? Hm... double your donation or get a family member or friend to match your donation... and get a knitted sniff hat?! Hm... hey! I have an idea:

Name your reward!

Email me or post on Facebook in response to this blog. What reward should I give for the next pledge challenge?!

Jennifer

Two More Heroes!

Thank you to Meg and Kristie who became monster pin heroes today when they backed THE FINAL CAMPAIGN -- isn't that an epic name?! Who will join these brave heroes who did without lattes and poptarts and who knows what else to support "Ghost Sniffers" in our LAST, FINAL, ULTIMATE push to fund Season 1 :)


Become a Hero... just $5 will do it. Wow... that's cheap!

Thank You, Heroes!

For all your kiddos who have been clicking refresh:

Thank you, Cindi, Anne, Rebecca and Launa for your donations to the KickStarter campaign -- our last fundraiser! Monday morning, I will be sending each of you a monster pin! When they arrive in the mail, I hope you all wear your pins with pride. You've earned your sniffs!! You are the first amazing heroes who made Maxwell squeal with delight when he clicked refresh ;)

Oh... did I just name the "will remain unnamed" blue-eyed child? Hm. Oops :) Anyway...thank you, heroes!

Remember, Readers: Anyone who pledges $10 or more between now and Monday at 11pm will receive a monster pin from me immediately -- whether or not the campaign funds.

Monster Pins for All Heroes!!

 I know that folks like to think of KickStarter like eBay. You bid. You take a gamble. You win when a project wins! I have supported complete strangers through KickStarter for some wonderful rewards... and just for the joy of helping someone reach their dreams. And it is kinda fun to come in at the last moment and be that hero who pushes a project over the top so it funds :)

But you know what? I have a kiddo living with me (who shall remain nameless... but who has blue eyes) who turns on his computer every morning and goes to our last KickStarter campaign. Then, every thirty minutes or so, he checks the page... and click refresh.

And I know for a fact he isn't the only kiddo doing this.

Even if you can only donate $5 (skipping your morning latte and donut), go for it. Don't wait until the last day of the campaign. Be a hero today -- because it doesn't take hundreds of dollars to secure hero status :) Plus, if you want? You can always donate again; KickStarter allows pledges to be raised as often as you like.

 Let's give these kiddos something to cheer about when they click refresh -- and here's something for you to smile about:

For every hero who pledges $10 or more between today and Monday, July 16, at 11pm, I will personally send them a monster pin -- immediately! So even if the project doesn't fund, you get your monster pin. Because, just like Maxo, you will have earned your sniffs! Your monster pin will be a badge of pride. A hero pin! Come on... *wink* ...you know you want one :D

Onward, Heroes!

Don't just "Like" us on Facebook... "Share" us!

After Season 1, no cast or crew member will ever be asked to donate to "Ghost Sniffers." Never asked to hold a yard sale, sell donuts on the sidewalk, or pawn her mountain bike. As someone who has personally funded more than four thousand dollars of the show, I'm not shy to say, it would be nice to not carry that burden.

It is our responsibility -- as a team dedicated to reaching kiddos everywhere -- to fund Season 1... but after that? After that, the funding will be in the hands of a producer -- who isn't an actor, a crew member, or a DiMarco :) So...

Shall we get this over with, friends? As the song says, "We just wanna make the world dance!" Let's get the money part wrapped up and shipped off to someone who does this fund-raising stuff professionally with corporate sponsors and fancy methods. Then we can concentrate on making great stories, well told adventures, and epic quests :)

Look at these numbers:

To raise our goal of $2895, we need...

579 people to donate $5
or
290 people to donate $10
or
193 people to donate $15

We have 35 "Ghost Sniffers" actors who appear in Episodes 8 through 12. We'd reach our goal if each of those actors had:

17 friends donate $5
or
9 friends donate $10
or
6 friends donate $15

When you break it down like that, it seems like funding Season 1 will be a walk in the park. And a nice park, too! On a nice day!!

So help build the buzz, friends. Talk up the show. Make a flyer and send people to the website (there are lots of "Donate" buttons there). Write letters. Make phone calls. Like Kristie says at the end of the video that posted with the KickStarter campaign, "We need a few good heroes."

Be a hero.

Kick-Start Season 1!

Episodes 1 through 7 are posted for all to see... but the donation buttons for Episodes 8 through 12 are GONE! That's because we've create one EPIC fundraising campaign for all five remaining episodes with exclusive PRIZES and even an AWESOME special video starring... ALL OF YOU!!


Watch the Video and Check Out the Prizes Here

Share the link, friends! This is the last fundraising that "Ghost Sniffers" will be engaged in. Season 1 will be complete -- all the episodes will post. For Season 2, we hope to hire a producer who will secure sponsors to fund the season. So this is it. Make history! Get prizes! Watch the video!

Just in case you're confused about which episode you appear in, here's a complete cast list for the episodes that will benefit from the campaign:

EP 8 "WILD THINGS WAKING" Forge and Maxo attend a recital only to find themselves breaking into a haunted dance studio with Spark's help. What they find is a universe more than they expected as the "Ghost Sniffers" mythology takes another leap forward. Starring Kristie Gronberg, Ryan Gronberg, Sarah Best, Sarah Coleman, Abigail Philips, Jonah Kendzioka, Faith Aoibhinn DiMarco and Maxwell Kier DiMarco.

EP 9 "DIME A DOZEN" Forge joins forces with fellow ghost hunters (both real and ridiculous) to investigate a paranormal hotspot. But even as Forge meets her first rival, she makes loyal allies... which she'll need to face the Big Bad. Starring Breanne Johnson, Marcee Skidmore, Ralph Marshell, Keeli Burton, Kristie Gronberg, Ryan Gronberg, Faith Aoibhinn DiMarco and Maxwell Kier DiMarco.

EP 10 "ONCE UPON AN EVER AFTER" The hip-hop duo Green Starr rocks the club house as the new coaches of Forge's acting club, but an unexpected twist lands Green Starr and the kids in a world not quite their own. Can they solve the riddles and get home? Starring Meg McLynn, Angela DiMarco, Sierra Garcia, Emma Forrest, Emerson Lang, Tressa Peterson, Faith Aoibhinn DiMarco and Maxwell Kier DiMarco.

EP 11 "MIDSUMMER KNIGHT'S DREAM" Maxo wakes to find himself recast as a knight on a quest but the people he encounters are strangely familiar and the message they have for him is a grave one. Are they friends or allies? And can Maxo warn Forge in time? Starring Kyra Boatwright-Frost, Lila Lang, Brittany Schroeder, Catie Hinson, Sierra Garcia, Emma Forrest, Emerson Lang, Christopher Harris, Breanne Johnson, Marcee Skidmore, Ralph Marshell, Keeli Burton, Kristie Gronberg, Brianne DiMarco, Carol DiMarco, Cris K.A. DiMarco, Faith Aoibhinn DiMarco and Maxwell Kier DiMarco.

EP 12 "EPIC" Forge is mad as heck and won't take it anymore! The Big Bad has crossed a line and Forge is finally ready to take the monster down. Forge is a force to be reckoned with alone... and she's not facing this beast alone. Starring Kyra Boatwright-Frost, Lila Lang, Brittany Schroeder, Catie Hinson, Breanne Johnson, Marcee Skidmore, Ralph Marshell, Keeli Burton, Kristie Gronberg, Brianne DiMarco, Carol DiMarco, Cris K.A. DiMarco, Faith Aoibhinn DiMarco and Maxwell Kier DiMarco.

Join the team that funds this incredible show. Your name will be listed in the credits as a producer!

Season 2 Planning: A Team Effort

It all begins this week! The characters, plots, twists, and themes for "Ghost Sniffers" Season 2 are being planned at last. I feel a great joy that the students of the Forge It! Workshop are helping me chart out the new season. The task seems much less overwhelming and the knowledge that there may be other writers for Season 2? Wow! What fresh ideas and voices will they bring to the series? I can barely wait to find out.

At first, I was sad that the larger attendance for the workshop meant that we couldn't host it in the office space at 7419. Shifting to an online version (for about half the price) is more work for me... but is turning out to be incredible. I've been previewing the classes with two of our adult students and the feedback has been amazing. This week the classes will be accessible to all the students and then, to end the week, we have a live, online chat session where everyone gets to meet, share ideas and bounce around crazy concepts.

"Ghost Sniffers" will benefit from all this incredible creativity... thank you, students! The fate of Forge, Spark, Maxo, Maximilian, and all the of the other characters roughed out for Season 2 are in the hands of the wild, silly, smart and creative creatures in the workshop.

Let's shake things up! (And it's never too late to join, ladies and gents -- read more here!)

Mirror Sound Studio Donates Space!

Our sincere and amazed thanks to the incredible team at Mirror Sound Studio who just tonight donated time for us to shoot a make-believe recording session in their incredible studios for the "Ghost Sniffers" music video. We know how valuable recording space is and it means so much to the cast and crew to be able to make the music video the best "episode" we've ever shot.

Thank you, Mirror Sound. You're helping to make dreams come true.

Rock On, Sniffers!

The fireworks are still flashing behind my eye lids but I had to share this amazing news with all you sniffers :D

Christopher Harris, who gamely played GI Handsome, Jack Chickadee, the Lord of Light, AND Dean Earnest in Season 1, has stepped in to be the First-Look Producer for the "Ghost Sniffers" music video!!

The music video will serve as the trailer for Season 2 and will feature the original song, "Wish Maker," that will become the theme music that runs during the start of each episode in Season 2.

Do you sing? Do you rap? Can you bust a move? Email blueforgeproductions@gmail.com (NOT ghostsniffers@gmail.com!) to join the cast for the music video!

100 Likes = $$$ ?!

Happy Fourth, everyone ;) Episode 7 is posted and free to everyone... because this is, after all, a free country :D

* * *

I got a text today from a friend who is always issuing me challenges. Most of them are silly but I always take them :-} Today, she wrote:

"When you get 100 Likes on the GS website, 100 Likes on GS FB page, and 100 Likes on BFP FB  page, I'll donate $100 to ep of your choice. Go!"

Hm... 100 people to click the little "Like" button at www.GhostSniffers.com? We already have 94!

100 people to click the little "Like" at the "Ghost Sniffers" page on Facebook? We already have 60!

100 people to click the little "Like" at the Blue Forge Productions page on Facebook? We already have 23 in just the first few days of the site being up!

So... my text back to my buddy?

"You're on!"

And Then... Something Happened

As the students taking the Forge It! workshop know, good stories aren't made by good writers. Or good actors. Or even a good director and crew. As a matter of fact, not a million dollars in equipment in or a whole army of friends willing to help out will guarantee "good story, well told." 

It takes all of those things.

You need passionate actors. You need a dedicated writer. You need crew willing to stay in post production when they should be in bed. You need a vision. You need images that speak where words don't. You need clarity. You need friendship.

And you also need music.

When Brianne showed me the first cut of Episode 7, I thought (very quietly) to myself, "Oh... I'm not very good at writing these investigation-style episodes. This didn't turn out very well. Darn it." But I found the little things that made me smile about the episode and I approved the cut. Brianne finished up the couple of changes I requested and we all turn in at about 4:30 in the morning.

Then today (well, Tuesday), the second cut of the episode came to me. Note how I don't call this the final cut. It never is. Because I tweak. Brianne has taught me just enough about how to edit in the program we use for me to know what we can and can't accomplish... even if it's difficult. It was my job to take the episode by myself today and watch it very slowly, composing or securing the music that would create the soundtrack.

And that's when the episode finally came together for me.

Suddenly, the little eyes watching the camera worked. Suddenly, the quirky characters and ominous angles were perfect. The pieces were there all along... they just needed a little glue to bind them all together and the music was the glue. It was such a wonder to watch the scenes come together. To bolster the emotional moments. To set the tone for every section. Beat became triumphant. Wiz became punk. Captain became goth and All-Star and Twink became epic. Harley, Cosmo and Reeve coalesced as a group, as friend. And Eve? Well, Eve became exactly what I needed her to become -- new little hero in the "Ghost Sniffers" world.

Because all of the kids and adults who acted in Episode 7 had given me their best performances. They trusted me and laid their offerings on the table. Sometimes, those gifts are enough for me to see the final vision of the episode but with Episode 7 -- a complex and challenging episode that played with new conventions and a dual timeline -- we had to live up to the trust placed in us and take all the raw materials that final big step. Brianne did cuts and fades and tweaks in timing -- more than ever before. Remember, we didn't have our new fancy equipment until AFTER we shot Episode 12! And I poured my heart and soul into crafting a soundtrack that spotlighted each of the actors to the very best of my ability.

Is the episode silly? Yes. Is it serious? Yes. Is it... epic? You know what... I think it is :)

Quietly, in my mind, I thought this episode wouldn't be my favorite. But now? We all worked together and made something incredible. Something sincere. And Bridget? You might want to have that box of Kleenex near by... because I lost it for the whole last ten minutes :}

Christopher, Jocelyn, Emma, Emerson, Tressa, Sierra, Caitlin, Sarah, Kyra, Coleman, Hannah... and Maxwell and Faith... thank you for giving me your all for Episode 7. I promise you, I have done the same.

Episode 7... Countdown!

Brianne, who has been the quiet (and often unsung) hero behind the editing of every episode in the series, completed the editing of Episode 7 at 4:30am last night (this morning?). On of the hard parts for an editor (I can only imagine) is that you work very, very long hours on a project and then, before anyone else gets to see it, you have to show it to the director.

And the director tells you to change everything.

Well, actually, I never tell Brianne to change everything... but there are certain things that I look for that have to be changed and the changes are never, ever easy ones. In Episode 7, I was working with several actors who had never been in front of a camera before and we had two premium locations (South Kitsap High School and ArtsWest) but for very limited amounts of time. Though most of our shots for the episode wound up taking three to six takes, sometimes the final take still wasn't perfect. Tricky takes went like this:

Recorded speaking from behind the camera, Jennifer says: "Okay everyone! Speak slowly. Stay in character until I say 'cut.' And never, ever look at the camera." Lots of nods.

And then we have six takes of little eyes looking directly at the camera :D

I find humor in this because also recorded before and after these takes is laughter and chitchat and everyone having a lot of fun. "Ghost Sniffers" doesn't pretend to be a glossy, serious show with an entire cast of professional actors. Yes, we have some amazing actors who have done years of school and many films and shows. And yes, we have some individuals who have never acted before but who clearly have a natural talent and poise. But we also have kids cast because they have a passion for empowering other kids and that passion is something that CAN'T be faked and DOES look great on camera.

The episode is a stand-alone episode in many ways -- a classic investigation cut with scenes of Forge hanging out with her friends at CPAC, an acting club she founded and belongs to. The episode has some of my favorite vignettes (vignettes are little scenes that stand alone) of the entire series. Without spoiling anything, I'll just name a few keywords that you'll all understand once you see the episode -- spork, limo, hair blowing, and creepy.

The other incredibly cool thing about Episode 7 is that there's one timeline (the acting club) and there's Forge remembering an investigation in the past. The investigation is shot in selective color so the whole thing is black and white except for shades of red (which is the episode's special color). It was strange and wonderful to shoot that way and it made from some strange and wonderful shots :)

You know, I'm so proud of what we've all accomplished. I wouldn't recast a single person or redo a single episode (even all these episodes before we got our boom mic) because the REALNESS of what we're doing, and who we all are, just shines brighter than everything else. When I work on other Blue Forge Productions projects -- projects where I get a million takes to secure the perfect shot and where I'm working only with fancy actors who demand perfection in everything they do and from everyone around them -- I will miss the silliness and the laughter and the gentle hearts that have made, and continue to make, "Ghost Sniffers" the sincere show that it is.

The cast of "Ghost Sniffers" -- all of you -- have made me fall in love with film. Thank you :)

Now... I better hurry off to score the episode before Brianne comes home from her (real, paying) job and yells at me for not having the episode ready to post! Okay, she never really yells... but she looks at me with squinty-mean eyes and that's even worse ;)

Season 2 and the Music Video

Hey! It's Season 2! How cool is that? :)

The casting for Season 2 has began but won't be complete until late in July. So far, called back for the season are:

Faith Aoibhinn DiMarco as Faith Forge
Maxwell Kier DiMarco as Maxo and Maximilian Forge
Kristie Gronberg as Sirius Spark
Kyra Boatwright-frost as Xrya

Remember that Season 2 is a very different format than Season 1. Faith wants less to do and that means that everyone else will have way more to do! The show will no longer be the "Forge Show" but a true ensemble. With that in mind, I'll be casting four to six more ensemble members who will each appear in four of the twelve episodes. These are epic quest episodes and the silly dream episodes, so there's lots of room to stretch as an actor.

Though I originally wanted to cast only Season 2 actors in the music video, I have decided to open that door wider because Season 2 simply doesn't need as many actors as Season 1 did. I think more actors in the music video would be a lot of fun and I think viewers of Season 1 will enjoy seeing faces that they know. So... Season 1 and Season 2 actors can join the fun when we shoot the music video! Remember, if you're interested, email blueforgeproductions@gmail.com

Double Your Money Back on the Sniff

Now that Blue Forge Productions has officially launched with a wonderful new website, there are some gems available for those of us who have been working on the sniff for all these months :)

BFP is going to hire us a Producer to raise funds for Season 2 from businesses and corporate sponsors. But in order to hire a Producer, we need to create a cool trailer for Season 2 -- to really show this fancy new Producer what we can do with our awesome new equipment (slate, boom mic, lights galore!) and with actors truly dedicated to the show and ready to give 120%.

To fund the creation Production Trailer we need a First-Look Producer -- someone willing to pledge $300 so we can create the most amazing music video trailer that the big ghosty world has ever seen :) But we can't use a donation.Only an investment.

Here's how it works:

The First-Look Producer pays for the trailer. Only $300.
We make the trailer.
We post the trailer online and send the trailer on CD to professional Producers interested in the series.
The Producer secures the funding for Season 2.
The First-Look Producer is paid back $600.
We shoot Season 2 and all is good in the world.

Isn't that cool? It's a "double your money back" deal for a really good cause! But wait, there's more... :D

Before the First-Look Producer pledges a penny, he or she gets to see the super secret plans for Season 2 -- this includes the breakdown of the episodes, the complete and detailed budget for both the trailer and the episodes, and even sneak peaks at character sketches for the role-playing game.

Do you know someone interested in making a killer investment for a great show? Want to post a link on your Facebook? Link here (http://www.blueforgeproductions.com/firstlook.htm) and ask folks to consider "Ghost Sniffers: Season 2: On the Sniff" for their next investment :D

Season 1 Trailer... with Real Tears

Tuesday, I wrote the special KickStarter trailer for Season 1 of "Ghost Sniffers." Our goal is to create an awesome KickStarter campaign to tie up Season 1 and get the rest of the episodes finished and posted online. The trailer itself was fun to write -- boiling down the spirit of the show and the major points of Season 1 while showing the audience flashes of almost all the characters. Though it was a little tricky to focus and make the trailer Forge-centric (since I've shifted into the ensemble theme of Season 2). The hard part was that, for KickStarter, I needed to splice the trailer with scenes of the cast and crew talking directly to the camera and explaining the heart of "Ghost Sniffers" -- a show about kids and monsters, disabilities and super abilities.

Though most of the KickStarter videos that I've seen have just the director talking to the community, I asked Maxwell, Faith, Kristie, and Bridget to join me. I wanted to expand the cast even further but I had to stay true to Season 1 so Forge, Maxo and Spark seemed the best choices. I wrote the direct-to-camera sequences with the theme "moms" in mind. Why do moms do this? Why do we work so hard for our kids? How do moms feel about "Ghost Sniffers"? How do moms with special kids feel when they see their kids on the show? Do we feel sad... angry... frustrated... nervous?

Neither Bridget nor I got through the shoot without tears and Brianne, as the director and cinematographer, and Cris, as the boom mic operator, were very patient. I think Faith, Kristie and Maxwell just rolled their eyes at us and talked about how many sticks were stuck to my butt (we were all sitting on the porch) -- LOL! Over all, the shoot was a success (or so Brianne announced) but I think Bridget and I are glad it's "in the can."

The KickStarter campaign will launch in a few short weeks -- in the mean time, Brianne and I will be finished Episode 7, and Brianne will be editing down Episodes 2, 3 and 4 to 30 minutes -- and you'll all get to see the trailer :) Were we just two weepy moms or did we sum up with "Ghost Sniffers" is all about? I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Episode 7 Funded!

The entire "Ghost Sniffers" team would like to recognize Becky Fitzgerald and Jo Ann Swanson who (simultaneously!) donated the final funds for Episode 7. The episode has now been fully funded and will move into post production today! So start your count downs, fans :) In seven days? Episode 7 will premiere!

Director's Cut

The decision has been made that Episodes 2, 3 and 4 (which are all currently over thirty minutes) will be edited down to 25 to 30 minutes. The longer versions will continue to be on YouTube but they will be marked as "Director's Cut" versions with the new standard, shorter episodes being the ones we link to from the website.

These shorter versions will be similar to what was shown at the premiere with some notable exceptions:

1. Captions won't be embedded (viewers will still be able to turn them on or off).
2. The music will be re-edited so it flows more naturally.
3. The choppy cuts that created the caption errors will be eliminated.
4. The dance sequence in Episode 4 will be slowed down so the music won't distort.

These changes are in preparation of the final Season 1 fundraising effort (which will launch through KickStarter with a beautiful Season 1 trailer) and to show the world that -- even when it means extra work and even longer unpaid hours, the team at "Ghost Sniffers" is dedicated to providing the very best episodes.

We've been asked if we'll be re-shooting Episode 1 (which was shot before we had a professional mic or light trees), but we'd like to leave Episode 1 as our pilot to show how very far we've come :) The pilot episode of a show is often more rough than regular episodes and we're very proud of what we were able to do with so very little.

"Wish Maker" Music Video

Many of the actors who contributed their talents to Season 1 have asked about the timeline for shooting the music video. As a quick reminder, "Wish Maker" is the original song I wrote for the Episode 10 hip hop duet, Green Starr. The song has a sung chorus and rapped verses and was performed in the episode by professional actors Meg McLynn and Angela DiMarco with a little help from Maxo for the last rapped verse ;)

The song will become the series theme music for Season 2, replacing the song we purchased that plays during the opening title sequence and ending credits in Season 1 episodes.

We've also decided to use the music video as the Production Trailer for Season 2. Production Trailers are of vital importance to a production because they are the tool that producers use to secure funding for a project. As you all remember, the goal is for Season 2 cast and crew to be paid. That means the Season 2 producer needs to raise not just the funds that all of us have been raising together for Season 1 that covers props, foods, permits and transportation, but all the salaries as well. The Season 2 producer will need all the help we can give him or her and we think "Wish Maker" would be the perfect heart to any producer's pitch package.

This being the case, we'll be casting only actors coming back for Season 2 for the music video and we will be holding serious auditions for the various roles. Some Season 2 actors will appear in the video acting out scenes from the forthcoming season while others will be singing or rapping. If you are interested in auditioning for the music video, please email me at blueforgeproductions@gmail.com with the words "Music Video Audition" in the subject field. Be careful ;) Don't email the standard "Ghost Sniffers" email address. This message needs to go to the production company because it involves a new audition.

I look forward to working with many of you again!

Wow!

$130 more in donations just flooded in! (Yes, that *is* considered a flood around here, darn it!) Yay! I'm off to update the website again :D

Episode 7 is now down to $52!!

Episodes 7 through 12 Update

I'd like to open by saying thank you to the four incredible people who wrote after my blog and offered to help pay for our last day of shooting. I was able to buckle down, sell a few things (who needs a bike, anyway?!) and make Friday happen. And the family here made me so proud by literally rolling coins and packing brown bag lunches. As a result, we were able to bring Episode 12 to completion for $40 less than the budgeted amount (I've already adjusted the goal on the website) and I was able to turn to those four angels and encourage them to turn their support to any of the other episodes :)

Speaking of donations, we've had quite a few come in from Carol, Louise, Cindi, Marie, Christopher and Harley and so later today an update to the website will post with the current goals. Let me share the good news with you early :) Our goals until each of the episodes post online are:

Episode 7 needs $182
Episode 8 needs $430
Episode 9 needs $352
Episode 10 needs $415
Episode 11 needs $475
Episode 12 needs $400

Pretty awesome, really! We're very close now. Just a little over $2000 and the entire second half of Season 1 will be available. I think we're doing a great job.

Oh! Did you know that there's a packet of great materials that you can download and give to your favorite local business, asking them to sponsor the show? There sure is :) Email Cris at ghostsniffers@gmail.com for the link ;)

Countdown: 5... 4... 3... 2... 1!

Sometimes parents say things they regret. Such as: Won't it be fun to hike to that location again in June when the weather is so good?! June weather isn't always good. Often, it turns out, June weather is just as pouring down rain awful as December weather :) But hike we did and shoot we did... the last shots of Episode 12. Incredibly, we have done what everyone said we couldn't and what so many others have only dreamed about. We shot an entire season of a show. And guess what? Today, almost as if he knew, Brett Cihon's front page feature on "Ghost Sniffers" ran in the Port Orchard Independent (http://www.portorchardindependent.com/news/160029875.html). Even though we drove four hours to hike for an hour in the freezing rain and get souked to the skin before the camera was even "rolling"... we did it. And Brett really captured the show's spirit. It's a spirit that all of you who have supported us throughout have already seen, and now thousands of readers of the Indepdent will join you. Thank you for taking this journey with me. And now? Some sleep :)

Countdown: 5... 4... 3... 2...

It's only 5:30pm and the shooting for today is already wrapped. Captain Snakes, Gogo and Forge threw sporkoons, talked on conch shells and peered through spyglasses :) Now it's time for me to do the magic that all of my family and closest friends love me for -- money. LOL!

I have a knack for coming up with the funds we need at the last minute of the last hour. Perhaps this is because I'm too busy working during all the other hours? Could be! But now is that special last minute moment because tomorrow I need to get five people, one kraken and a Monster Bunny to Fort Worden. That's $60 in gas and one meal out the road (either fast food or packed lunches). So... what will I do? Pawn jewelry? Sell flowers on the corner of the road? Walk home-blended coffee and tea house to house? Offer biscotti or muffins for sale at the local park? I've done all of things but I'm not sure what I'll do today. But I do know one thing:

Tomorrow... come heck or high water... come wind, rain, sleet or snow... we will finish shooting Episode 12 and Season 1 will be complete.

Wish me luck, friends. The reward of completing this Season 1 journey is worth it.

Love,
Jennifer

Countdown: 5... 4... 3...

Today began with Brianne waking me: "Jennifer, you took the battery out of the alarm clock to power the boom mic. We have to leave for your doctor's appointment in ten minutes." Yikes! I am a complete weenie when it comes to doctors. I sulked the whole way there and four times said: "I've changed my mind. Let's go back home." But it's hard to avoid doctors when your kiddos have to go so often and they're so brave... plus, Brianne refused to turn the car around.

Today completed the third of five days of shooting until Season 1 wraps. It was an day of introducing the Ultimate Big Bad (yep, not the Monster Bunny) and a other firsts. Today was Brianne's first day as cinematographer and director. Taking a pivotal scene in Episode 12, Brianne got to stretch in these new roles and test the water, so to speak, to see if she liked the fit. Since she ran away when I tired to take back the camera, I'd say the experiment was a success :)

Tonight will see an intense sit down meeting in regard to many BFP projects. We'll decide who will continue with Season 2, who will executive producer which new series, and if we'll be adding any new projects to the schedule. We'll also be deciding on which of the new projects will be features, which will be shorts, and which will be series (like "Ghost Sniffers"). There's always forty-thousand things going on (and getting done!) around here :) And the great news? I should be able to share most of it with all of you :)

Countdown: 5... 4...

The second day of shooting the final scenes of Season 1 has drawn to a close at last at just before midnight. Today we started the day with a rather surprising turn of events, actually. Not shooting scenes for Season 1 but leaping ahead to Season 2 -- Episode 11! And let me share, friends, if all of Season 2 is as good as this scene was? We're in for a whole new level of entertainment.

Brett Cihon of the Port Orchard Independent came and conducted an interview with some of the cast and crew about "Ghost Sniffers" and the forthcoming workshop. On set were Kristie (Spark), Kyra (Xyra), Maxwell (Maxo) and Faith (uh... Forge!) -- all of which are not just Season 1 and Season 2 actors but also will be workshop attendees so the mix was perfect. Crew on set was our Season 1 producer, Cris, and our editor, Brianne, who today was the boom mic operator :) Moms on set (never to be overlooked, darn it!) were Bridget and Dee.

It was a first "Ghost Sniffers" interview for Kristie, Kyra and their moms and I think they all learned a lot. It's hard to not talk over each other, interrupt one another, and to try to keep answers concise and on-topic. But (as I learned as a pokey teenage novelist) the only way to get good at interviews (with others or alone) is to keep doing them :) The awesome thing about today was that Brett was a pleasure to have on set, a friendly and creative presence.

After we'd shot our special Season 2 scene (which will be used at the end of a Season 1 trailer used in the proposal package for interviewing new producers), Brianne whisked Faith away to change her into her costume and make up for her Season 1, Episode 12 scenes. Her work today included stunts (not unlike Episode 1) and six pages of stand alone and close up shots that will be spliced into earlier footage.

One cool (super secret *wink*) scene included our first ever use of a multi-filter that fractured the image into three. Wow did that look cool!

Just three more days to go and Season 1 will be completely wrapped. *gulp* How will I ever script the music video in a week before the workshop begins and there's so much prep?! Hm... I might have to pull a few all-nighters! All together now:

Sleep?! What's sleep?! :D

Countdown: 5...

Today we began shooting the last five days of Season 1. Episode 12 is incredible complicated in terms of costume and set changes and even spreading the episode out over the week, all five days will be quite full. Today we shot the scenes with Cupcake (Charlie the Golden Doodle), Stickie (Shanti Cece the Giant Stick Bug), and half the scenes with Kraken (with puppeteer Brianne). Everyone did wonderfully -- so wonderfully, in fact, that I take back my earlier comments about the difficulty of working with animals. As a matter of fact, I would like to make Charlie, Shanti, and Kraken the first three actors to be invited back for Season 2 :)

Let the countdown continue!

Blue Forge Productions

Blue Forge Productions is pleased to announce that our new projects (film and web series projects) have been posted at our website. The site now features a complete listing of all of our current projects so everyone who loves us (we love you right back!) can see what we're up to in addition to Season 2 of "Ghost Sniffers."

On the Anvil

The first six "On the Anvil" interviews have been added to YouTube and to the official "Ghost Sniffers" website on a new press and interviews page here. We'll be interviewing six more actors from Season 1 to complete the twelve interviews that will be included on the Season 1 DVDs. While I haven't made the decision yet which six actors I will be interviewing, I'm leaning toward focusing on six of the actors who I'd like to welcome back for Season 2. I think this would be a nice way for viewers to learn more about my choices for the new season and get to know a little more about them as people -- and more about their characters as well :)

Season 2 Format

At the end of Episode 12 of Season 1, one of the central characters is in dire peril and in need of a magical cure. As Season 2 launches, the remaining characters attend a Monster Ball in an attempt to discover more information about the cure. There they meet Xyra, a new character who plays on a mix of Xena and Shera pop culture. Xyra provides a scroll of riddles that gives the team a list of the ingredients they need for the cure. The team of allies then spend Episodes 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 searching for an ingredient. The ingredient episodes all have the core team plus one specialist -- either a new or reoccurring character. Episodes 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12 take place in the dreamworld where the character in peril is stuck. These dreamworld episodes parody classic '80s films and other fun American films. The dream episodes are cast with the actors who appeared in the previous ingredient episode. This format varies from our original idea of doing all origin and back story episodes because that idea didn't generate enough interest or allow more actors more screen time. In Season 2, "Ghost Sniffers" will truly shift into an ensemble show so that the focus is shared instead of so much pressure on Faith as Forge. Ingredient episodes will tend t be serious and dreamworld episodes will be more humorous. Additionally, our goal, as we've always said, is to pay our actors and crew in Season 2. This becoming a reality will depend upon the hard work of the cast and crew to create buzz about the show -- talking it up on social networking sites and in their local communities -- and by the hard work of our Season 2 producer, who is yet to be announced. While we all valued having Cris to organize and raise funds as the Season 1 producer, Cris may not be returning as a producer for Season 2 due to demands at her other job. Never fear though -- Agent Skully will absolutely make a Season 2 appearance :)

Episode 6 through 12 Premiere

We're getting a lot of questions about when the second premiere will be. Of course, the most deciding factor is when will the episodes be done. Episodes 6 through 11 have been completely filmed. However, these episodes have not been edited or scored (the soundtrack -- music and soud effects). Episode 12 still has several days of shooting. I had originally thought we only needed three more days but it looks like we'll need six due to travel to Fort Worden and elaborate makeup and costume changes. Either way, Episode 12 will wrap very soon. So starting in July, keep your eye on the website widgets that track the goals for each episode. These funds are what reimburse costs that have been covered such as prop purchases, transportation, food and water, and permits. As each goal is met -- by fans, family of actors, independent businesses who support us -- then we shift into production of that episode. Episodes take five to seven days to complete. As each episode is completed, they will post online. Episodes 7 through 11 need to post online before the premiere; Episode 12 can show for the first time at the premiere. Now, of course, I have no idea how quickly the episodes will fund. But it seems that we'll be looking at late in September. The theater we work with allows us to rent the space on any day Monday through Thursday. We pay for the space before hand. Once Episodes 7 through 10 are edited, I will reserve the theater and add a place to purchase premiere tickets to the website. Remember that if you used a free ticket to the first premiere, you will not be issued a second one unless you appeared as a different character in the second half of Season 1. Tickets will be $10. The premiere event will be 3pm to 9pm. Episodes 7 through 12 will be shown in their entirety :) We will give everyone as much notice as possible so please follow the blog as I announce when goals have been met and when various episodes post.

No Small Roles

It is, today, my little sister's birthday. I believe Angela is turning about 25 though at one point in our lives we were only four years apart in age. However, I believe I am aging faster and she is aging backwards :) Today is also my daughter's birthday. Faith is turning 10. She has mixed emotions about leaving single digits behind but over all she is looking forward to CAKE. A lot of cake.

At the end of this musing blog there are some important announcements about the pretty big changes on the website. Before anyone emails, calls or texts us in a panic, please read the information below the * * * even if you don't want to wade through the rest of the blog :)

Growing up with a beautiful and talented little sister was not easy. She was working hard, stealing the show in commercials and on film and stage while I was still trying to figure out how to stop my hair from frizzing just from hearing a forecast of rain. Even when I had published my first -- and then my first ten -- novels, touring nationally and winning lots of fun awards, I always felt like something of a mutt compared to her silver-green eyes, olive skin and overall awesome Italian look. I cannot count how many times people said to me, "You're sisters? Really?! Wow. I just don't see the resemblance!" Gee. Thanks.

But when something isn't easy, you learn a whole lot more than when it is.

It was my little sister who taught me some of the most important film and theatre lessons I've learned. She proved them true by living them and now, all these years later, almost two dozen actors working on "Ghost Sniffers" have proved them true as well.

1) There are no small roles. You can't make a good episode with just principle actors. Let's be more blunt: Everyone can't be The Star. But guess what? Often, it is the supporting actor (the one playing the smaller part) who stands out the most to the audience... and to the director.

Over the course of shooting Season 1, I have continued to audition every actor I worked with. Sometimes it took me more than one scene, or more than one episode, to determine if I ever wanted to work with that person again. Did they bring 110% to their single line? Did they ask questions about their character? Did they never complain about the reality of "hurry up and wait"? How did they treat the other actors around them? Did they "joke" about how their role was too small, or someone else had a role that was so much bigger? You were right, Angela, there are no small roles. There are only a few actors who simply don't love this show, and the message of this show, as much as I do. And I will only surround myself with people as passionate as I am.

2) Never be afraid to ask questions. I have said this before and I will continue to say it again: Ask, ask, ask! When someone has questions about their character, that tells me they're thinking about their character. I would rather have someone have written fanfiction about their character and created a whole back story for them, than have an actor perfectly memorize their lines, spend thousands on a costume, or never need another take.

3) Good acting is subjective. You may have a favorite actor... who your brother hates. You may have a favorite book... that your best friend set on fire and then stomped on the ashes in glee. Art is subjective and that includes acting. Having a long resume and lots of acting lessons, does not mean I will like the way you speak, twitch your nose, box, ride a horse, or act opposite a cat with a leading role. It doesn't mean you're not great! You may go on to win lots of fun awards... but not by working with me. You want to find someone who loves your style, your brand of talent.

I am not a big television watcher. At all. I've walked away from shows I love just because they take so much darn time to watch them... when I could be writing, for instance. And when and if I do watch television, it is scripted television. If I wanted to watch a reality show filled with drama, I would video tape the next time my big Italian extended family has a meal together. But there is a show I watched the entire first season of that I adored and am currently watching the second season of. It's on Oxygen. Do you know what show it is already? It's "The Glee Project." The show is about the casting process that the co-creators of "Glee" and their unbelievably superhuman team of producers, coaches, and choreographers go through to cast special roles on "Glee" (which is on Fox). Last season Ryan Murphy shocked me with every decision he made as he narrowed down contestants in a reality competition-style format. This season, I am equally amused and stunned at the bottom line that Murphy and his team hammer home:

Be yourself. Your real self. Your hidden self.

I think the undercurrents to that theme are:

Believe passionate in "Glee" and its message, and... check your attitude at the door.

I wish I could make Season 1 and 2 of "The Glee Project" required viewing for every actor who ever auditions for me.

Now for the fourth vital lesson:

4) Always be nice to the director. Now, hopefully, you all laughed or smiled a little. But let me explain the serious part of this lesson. I really mean to say: Be helpful. Be willing to run and get a prop. Move a curtain. Chase away a stray cat. Hand another actor a cookie. Pass out flyers. Hush when I call, "Action!" Cheer when I say, "Perfect take!" Be friendly. Not just to me. But to the other actors who have "bigger and better roles." To the many moms and dads who are exhausted but trying so hard to be supportive. All of these things make my job so much easier and so... it makes me want to work with you again.

See how it all comes back to me recasting you for Season 2? :) But enough of the musing...

* * *

On Sunday, June 10, we secured 75% of the footage needed to complete Season 1 of "Ghost Sniffers." I have six days of shooting left and all of it is with actors with my last name :) Actors who performed on Sunday were patient and good humored, impressed me (some of them -- beautifully! -- for the first time) with their talent and drive, and, most of all, were able to last the long eight-hour day. I appreciated all the actors as well as the moms present who help hang sheets, gather props, and pick up more snacks; we are not funded by a single corporate sponsor and so we don't always have the tons and tons of food we'd like to have. I also felt blessed by our excellent crowd of cheering actors, fans, family and friends who helped bring the baseball battle to life :)

In celebration of being so close to the wrap of Season 1, I have began the redesign of the website. You will now find the first wave of new images -- five at the top of the first page and six below. PLEASE understand that my choices of which actors will be featured where had nothing to do with talent or even who I am recasting in Season 2. My final decisions regarding Season 2 will be sent out the last week of July. My decisions were based on the images I had that were the right composition and emotion; the theme of an episode; how many times an actor appears in the series; my favorite character that they played... etc.

For instance, you will notice that Mau of the Four is shown as the icon for Episode 6. Why not the Monster Bunny? Because Mau (all of the Four, actually!) are also seen as the bad guys in Episode 6, and Catie was giving the camera just the right look that showed the haunting emotion I wanted for the icon without giving too much away.

The icons for Episodes 7 through 12 will be posted this month. They will be:

EP7: Harley
EP8: Sphinx
EP9: Moonlight
EP10: Papercraft Jack
EP11: Maxo
EP12: Forge

There are many excellent actors -- and yes, actors I want to work with again in Season 2 -- who are not featured at all on the first page. Where will they be?

We are finally going to start to build the wiki! This will be the comprehensive one-stop location for all things "Ghost Sniffers" including profiles of every single character -- even the tourists in Episode 3, the actors who supplied voice recordings for the recorder ghost at the start of each episode, the puppets, the cats and the dogs. When creation of the pages begins in earnest, I will be sure to tell everyone here in the blog.

In my next blog, I'll be covering the general format for Season 2 and I'll also be making an announcement about the the premiere of the second six episodes. I'll talk with you again in a few days!

Baseball Game Delay

News Flash...
10 June 2012, 11:00 am

This just in.

Team Leader and Director Jennifer DiMarco called a press conference to announce that the baseball game will be delayed until 1:30 due to a higher than expected number of contributions to the blooper reel.

All cheerleaders and various onlookers should adjust their timetables accordingly.

Today is the Day

Noon! Long Lake Park in Port Orchard. Noon today! Come cheer on Team Forge and watch the ghost hunting team beat that bunny once and for all!

Forge It Workshop Update

Today, Kyra (Potro and Wiz), her mom, Dee, and Kristie's (Spark) mom Bridget got a taste of what part of the Forge It Workshop will be about -- creating unforgettable characters and scenes for Season 2 of "Ghost Sniffers." Working together over popcorn (yum!), we decided:

(1) What Forge's team needed.
(2) What pop culture references we would draw from for our viewers (both kiddos and mommies).
(3) What naming convention would be used.
(4) How the character would make her first appearance.
(5) What archetype the character would be crafted around.

Of course, during Forge It, the crafting of plot and characters is only Week 1. We move on to acting, directing, shooting and even editing and effects, but as Robert McKee says, paramount is, "Good story, well told." Forge It is much more structured and in-depth than what we did tonight but I think everyone will be tickled to know that the kickbutt character of Xyra (Zeer-Ah) was created over triple butter popcorn :)

For everyone who registers ($25) for any Forge It session (Monday through Thursday; Online, or Saturday and Sunday) at the website in the month of June, you will not be billed until July 1. The workshop now officially has enough students to run and so we're full steam ahead!

One Mile = Five Seconds

Sometimes, shooting a series has its own special complications. When creating a series, you need to repeat certain themes that are the core material of your over all vision but you have to do so while still keeping the visuals fresh and arresting enough to hold your audience; and in the case of "Ghost Sniffers," that audience is vastly varied in age.

In Episode 11, which wrapped yesterday at 7:30PM, Maxo finds himself in a fantastical world with towering trees, crazy twisting trails and road signs with names like Flying Squirrel, Croaking Frog, and Trepidation. In order to secure the footage of such a grand forest and such fanciful signs, I knew exactly where to go.

Then the car broke down.

Our family of five was already split that day with Cris, Faith and Maxwell going to see Kyra (Potro of the Four and Wiz from EP7) in a staging of, among other things,"Fifteen Minute Hamlet," so it was just Brianne and I who were going to drive to the location in our borrowed second car and hike in. There was no way I was going to tell the kiddos that they couldn't go see their friend perform, especially since the acting group Kyra is part of (a group of homeschooled kids with an acting coach) is what I based Forge's CPAC on! And so Brianne and I waved goodbye to the three of them with smiles on our faces. Away drove our only working vehicle.

After a few moments, Brianne said, "So, I suppose we'll bike to the location. It's only three miles away and then about two miles of biking the trails to the get the shots you need."

Apparently, when I once mentioned to Brianne that TWENTY YEARS AGO I had ridden a bike and enjoyed it, she took that to mean that I (1) could still ride a bike, (2) could bike on steep, rocky, rooty, muddy, wooded trails, and (3) could still ride a bike. You see, of the three adults in our household, there is about a decade and a half between each of our ages. There are times when we forget this and just assume we're all in our 50s (and so we're more willing to let go of caution and act crazy-silly as Crazy Cat Lady or a talking squirrel or a fey all in white). There are times when we all think we're in our 30s and we buckle down and make deep, personal sacrifices in order to pay bills and keep doing what we love even if it means less sleep and harder work. Then there are times when we all assume we're still in our 20s and so we mountain bike eight miles to shoot eight five-second shots.

And so I learned (and relearned) important things yesterday:

(1) Nature is grand.
(2) I can still ride a bike.
(3) When you lose control of your bike and ride into a ditch, up a mound and into a bush along a busy road, people will stop their cars to make sure you're okay; the best thing to do is laugh and wave them on.
(4) Riding a bike on steep, rocky, rooty, muddy, wooded trails is actually a lot of fun.
(5) No matter what age I think I am while biking eight miles after not biking at all in twenty years, I will still wake up feeling 38.

The real lesson for the day, my friends? Always wear a helmet ;)