IT’S ALL ABOUT L.A.  I am sitting on the balcony of the Channel Road Inn, a quaint B&B in Santa Monica. The early morning sun is warming my tired bones. The soothing Pacific is just half a block away.

I am in LA for meetings, some with potential distrbution partners. One of the hard realizations an aspring filmmaker makes is that making movies is not just about making movies. That’s only half of it. The other half is distribution.

If you’re a creative type like me, your primary concern is to make a great film. Once you do that, you expect the world to embrace you with open arms. Well, I am not going to say nobody cares, but it takes some time, effort, and divine providence to get on the film industry radar.

Our story?  It  involves first attempting to market to the industry ourselves (not recommended – too many gatekeepers to overcome), hiring a compatible producer’s rep (recommended), then working with the rep to brainstorm through the list of usual and not so usual suspects, with the goal being finding a distributor with integrity, and who gives you a fighting chance for financial success.

As always, the filmmaker is best advised to stretch, to be involved, to have common sense, to develop some interest in the business and business skills. It is awesome when a creative can link up with a business minded person and as a team work together, both doing what they do best. But until you find such a partner, and even when you do, it’s on you to figure it out as best you can.

Then there’s divine providence. Sri Nisargadatta, an Indian sage, said (and I paraphase), that a whole lot more would get done if we just realized the universe was in charge, not us, so just chill. That’s really paraphrasing, but the point is, everything that happens is the working of a higher power. Shakespeare said, “there is a higher power that shapes our ends, rough hew them as we will.”

Does this mean just lay back and do nothing?  Generally no, we need to show up, be present and alert, and let our inner guidance lead us. There is no telling what will happen or when. It is a surrender to the unknown, and a willingness to go with the flow.

So I am in LA, flowing, with the waves, the traffic, the people, the vibe. The sun feels good. The Prankster is taking another step on it’s mysterious journey.