Don Schaffer: Producer, director and editor in Los Angeles, California.

One of the best ever of your events. Pete is not only whip smart and hugely experienced, but his manner and way pf presenting were totally engaging. Kudos!

That was an amazing event! Thank you!

Thanks, Peter! Your webinar was inspiring. I'm thinking about my "personal connections now (included on the weekend lounge blog). Jerry

Yes, this sounds quite interesting! I'd be interested in learning more about your work and your plans to help producers get their projects of the ground.

Hey Don, glad it sparked some interest. I'm not the most connected individual as far as getting work in front of people who can make things happen but I do know a thing or two about creating the marketing materials to leave a strong impression when you do get that meeting. That's kind of where my strength lies – in being able to bring a strong and unique voice to your project visually before you have any footage to show off.

You clearly have a talent and I believe with good strength behind you you will go forwards in your future projects, wish you the best of luck! My parents never give up and have achieved so much even when life was against them. I feel lucky to have the same trait and fill keep pushing strongly forward in my newly found dreams of being an actor.

A quick google brought up this film friendly cemetery in New York. http://www.allfaithscemetery.org/home.htm. I'm sure there are many more....

http://www.green-wood.com/2010/film-and-video/#locations. Another one.

Is it a mystery?

Anthony, perhaps post in the Jobs section found in the upper menu bar. That's where members post various "want ads" or searches for creative partners, paid or not paid. I hope that helps. Best to you! :)

Hey Anthony, if you're interested in talking it through, feel free to connect. Interested in seeing the script before any commitments.

I agree on making sure you really have a story. I always know my beginning, end and have a working logline. If I can't come up with those things, it's probably not a viable story. I'm lucky in that my boyfriend is a writer too, I can bounce all my crazy ideas off him. Sometimes he will say "write it!" and helps walk me through the idea. Sometimes he says "really??" and walks me through why it doesn't work. Sometimes he just laughs.

Magpie Syndrome - The problem of moving from one shiny object to the next. A good option is to STOP writing loglines and outlines. Write a script. If you keep writing about writing you'll never write anything. Think of one solid interesting idea. Write one sentence that encapsulates the idea, then start writing the screenplay. Describe who your protagonist is, where they are, why they are there, and whats happening. Make it interesting enough that even you don't become bored with it and look forward to getting back to it whenever you can. Write everyday until done. Then go back write the synopsis and loglines.

What are your goals, Marcus?

That's a loaded statement, but coming up with an answer, that really depends on the story, the business plan, existing commitments to your project, and your personal drive to get it in front of people, ETC! If you have already qualified the project as having a solid stance in the market and that it could/should (obviously, never promoted as a guarantee unless you want to die early) provide a return to investors, then the challenges should be minimized.

I agree with Shaun. Grow through each project make it a stepping stone to the next; unless you can't afford it at the time, use the industry standard tools. Beyond that, I would recommend completing a budget by plugging in the "real life" values of your cast, crew, locations, etc. and helping those vested in the project to see where things would/should have been financially. This further gives you an edge when you talk to investors later on this or other projects when you can provide true values in the discussion.

I would just add that filmmaking is a collaborative art - if one wants to run everything, perhaps one ought to go into painting. I would also say that any producer looking to be the sole individual in charge of every aspect will find themselves facing an uphill battle and soon, things will inevitably fall through the cracks. Redundancy helps in film. Producers and Director to AD's and so on and so forth.

Don and Shaun thank you for your input. Right on point. Hope others can also benefit.