Dear Friends and Myspace Family (and secret visitors) -

I trust 2008 is off to a wonderful start for you.  I was in LA for beautiful holidays with family and friends, with surprises from all directions - including the mountain of mail.  (Special thanks to Luigi and to Raffaele for the wonderful and magical music!) 

Having seen MJ off to the new home in Sacramento, I drove south, stopping in one day for visits with Paul, Bradley's Marina, Betsy and Coco, before meeting up with Jason past midnight to get things organized before he flew off to Kansas.

N and V hosted several great meals at their new 3 story home; beautiful Vikki  met me for cocktails and girl-talk by the fire at Shanghai Red's; Graham and 'Boneless' and I caught up til the wee hours of a night framed by the film 'Ashes and Snow'. 

Layla and I ate at Joe's in Venice for Christmas Eve, though how that came about is a funny story I can only tease about right now.  Suffice to say, we didn't need reservations!  Of course, feasting continued the next day as we gathered together to honor the true Spirit of the Season as a family of doers and dreamers.

I got in my second annual Christmas night beach walk with Andre for the rich philosophy-in-part-French discourse. (He gets to avoid a social scene; I get to elucidate ... upon what varies according to the phase of the moon and whether or not chocolate or pie {or both} were had during the day. In this case, I'd had plenty of both, thus we waxed on for hours alongside the gentlest little wavelets.)

Daughter Beth drove up from San Diego to meet me and Layla for lunch at Fisherman's Restaurant in San Clemente. The sisters sped ahead, leaving me to a luxurious walk and beach combing, on the warm sand south of the Pier. We three later sat to view an endless sunset while listening to the CD Beth and 'her' Jason are compiling.  Man, can that girl sing!

'My' Jason, Layla and I spent a day in Santa Monica with the editor for 'Cinder' as Layla's soundtrack was synced up with the video.  Final touches with Julia should be in place within the next week or two! 

For the first time in five years, I rang in (virtually incognito! - and what fun was that!?) New Year's with a crowd.  Darling Turner and costume-goddess Sue and I attended a party last minute,  disappointed only that no one was video-taping the shenanigans. (There's a pic in 'my photos', however my big 1800's hair blended right into the night sky! Ha!)

Had enough time to enjoy dinner with 'daughter  no. 3' Jill at Kate Mantilini's  before I headed back up to Marin to relocate and dive back into the work scene.  The two week break was predominantly (and happily!) social, seeing as how LA shuts down and few film folk are available to talk shop.  I was disappointed not to get to meet up with Tom and 'Vince', but we may yet do that soon.

The usual meetings, phone calls, emails and a lot of patience during several weeks of torrential storms and flooding are only a tiny piece of what's going on in the big and often challenging puzzle I seem to be putting together. 

Thing is - it's coming together! 

Bev and Jim are following up on the big meetings in Oklahoma a couple months ago, and Jim and I will be meeting around mid-February to discuss next steps on the IMAX project. Byron K, Mr. Kerr, and Eric:  I miss you. We're scheduling my return. Bev is 'holding down the fort' and has been a super-support in many ways while I maneuver from up here.  She also played an initial role in the article that genius Gary and I helped Paul (a classic gentleman) with - the one that ended up on the front page of the Wall Street Journal a couple weeks ago.  ;-) 

CJ's play-turned-script is still a likelihood, with a great team on current hold as he meets prior engagements in China, and as we sort out the usual funding scenarios.  But his latest documentary idea could prove quite doable, and I'm studying the details.

Kudo's to Steve for all the successes with The Beauty Project.  We're hoping to work with him sometime before the new bairn hits pre-school!

Gary's contemplating getting the scenes off the index cards and finalized on his latest comedy before he dives in to some 'green' work in this now super green area. We'll check our contacts regarding the vital content and keep you posted. How this is done around the care and feeding of two toddlers oughta be a film in itself!   (Thank God for stable Stacy.)

Ireland and Italy are featured prominently of late, with a couple possibilities lining up for co-productions that I am honored to have been asked to participate in.  Lots to do and discuss yet, but it looks like Europe may be in the picture for summertime, though of course, in this business:  what year?  lol   A major name actress / producer is currently reading Nelson's phenomenal book, while in the book's key city - though what may come of it remains a temporary mystery. 

So, will it be Vancouver first, with darlings L and S, or will it be Rome with A and G?  One thing for certain,  Sicily is on the near horizon - 'Vulcana' has some personal business and serious exploring to tend to in a little town not far from Etna.  (Note: The Zeffirelli bio was great reading, as was Daphne Phelps 'A House in Sicily'.)

I have had about a dozen new requests for script reads in the past couple weeks - and as much as I'd love to be able to help everyone with all the great ideas and stories out there, I regret I am absolutely fully committed to so much right now that it's impossible for me to add anything new at this time. I thank you so much for understanding. And I know great things can and will happen for us all! Just hold the vision!

I'd like to welcome the great new array of friends, and although I have been SO busy, I hope to drop by for a visit sometime soon. The comments from friends old and new are appreciated, and bring me great big smiles, even though I don't often have the chance to reciprocate as I would like. I'm so grateful for your presence in this fun little cyber-world. 

And thanks for all the great new music that's out there!  I so appreciate the variety, the risk-takers, the beauty, the beat.  Wouldn't it be fun if we could put together an orchestra from all these amazing talents!?  If anyone gets the funding together, I'd love to help produce! LOL

Okay, One and All,  I wish you every continued joy and happiness as we continue to co-create from our various anchor points.  A thousand thank-you's for your continued interest and support. 

Shine on!

Shine on!

Shine on!

Debra