First Meeting at Eteck

Hi Everyone, Hope all is well.

Today we had our first meeting with Eteck. It was a bit intimidating because we did not know what to expect. We actually held hands and prayed that all would go well with the meeting and... It was GREAT!!!! We realised that Eteck was just as enthusiastic about the project as we were. They agreed with our interpretation of the project so much so that they now want to change some of subject matter of the script. YES you read right. They want to change the script. We told them okay provided they could email the "slight" changes by Friday or else. This is the first hurdle we have to overcome and we agreed collectively to allow this and THIS ALONE to slide since we have not given them contracts to sign but before anything else comes up they would have signed contracts so that things go the way we want it. I know this seems harsh but it has to be done for a successful production. (I am slowly learning how to put my foot down. One step closer to being a producer.) Additionally, I could get the feeling that they all know what they are about especially the finance person who tried to pretend she did not, but she does. So she thinks she is going to get the sweetheart deal out of us and we are going along but it will all be stated in the contracts. I know this is a bit sneaky but essential. Okay everything other than the sneakiness was fantastic. They were cooperative with showing us where we could use in the organisation for filming and are basically giving us whatever we want, BUT I am keeping my guard up, not because I don't trust them but because you never know what can happen.

From today's meeting I learnt a heck of alot about being a producer.
1) You have to do what you have to do to get the job done. Even if it is being sneaky but trying to keep it all ethical.
2) Producing your own project is very different from producing work for a client. DEFINITELY NO slip ups can happen. Have to compromise to what client wants although I am trying to take a Hitchcock approach: to be creative despite the studio (client) pressure.
3) Organisation is key. Without organisation there would be chaos and chaos means that very little can get done and efficiency goes out the window. Everything should work like clockwork or else there would be failure and failure is not an option.

OKAY I have more to write but I will stop writing now because I have to leave some things for the others in the group to say. Anyone can add to the list I was making and at the end we could develop commandments for producing. What do you guys think?

Take care and Happy Producing,

Kavita.