what does (this) production company actually do? + upcoming film project!

All the stuff I can't stop talking about with regards to producing movies, learning from (and working outside of) the Hollywood model, and what our first project means for "the plan."

First, a huge thanks to everyone who voted for a/b studios to reach the finale of What’s the Big Idea! Though we weren’t chosen as one of the finalists, the exercise helped us calibrate our priorities and focus on the plan. 

tl;dr for this email: a bit about “the (business) plan” and what the heck (this) production company actually does, as well as share an exciting launch! (Skip down to the movie poster if you’re bored by business and just want the film news)

I spent the last six days celebrating my birthday in Florida with old friends, family, and former educators (who are also friends!). It’s exciting to have so much to share when folks ask, “What have you been up to?” but also nerve-racking when the answer is, “Jumping headlong into my dreams without a plan B!” 

Bless those former educators especially, though, because they wanted all the details. They wanted to hear about the vision, the plan, and the mechanics of how this dream works. Talking it out with them made me realize I’d like to put it down on paper for y’all, too. 

a/b studios is a production company. What does that actually mean? 

Making one movie is a lot like starting a BIG business with a millions-dollar budget and 30 - 60+ (temporary) employees who crew the project and provide the specialized movie-making skills to complete the film (the “product”). The producers, who operate under a production company, are the folks who plan, organize, connect, fundraise, coordinate, manage, and guide the project over the course of its lifetime. Many people and (production) companies “own” a movie, but the producers make the movie happen. 

So yeah, does that make a production company the overhead of a bunch of project managers? I wouldn’t say no… having been a project manager myself. 

We’re the fairy godmothers who wave wands, say magic words, and conjure the story assets, teams, and capital needed to create that BIG business that makes the movie. 

a/b studios sources, develops, co-creates, and distributes movies and television primarily sourced and/or crewed in the Southeast & Appalachia. 

At this stage, without a steady film fund (capital), we’re in the sourcing and developing phases, translating stories and completed scripts into story assets with business plans while doing what we can to gain entry into spaces where we can meet more necessary collaborators along the story-to-cinema pipeline. 

Which brings me to an exciting announcement! 

a/b studios is producing and creating our first film project: 

Lavender Fields Forever, a proof-of-concept short film

Step into Lydia’s world and experience how an unexpected opportunity can shake loose a future that feels stuck. 

Proof-of-concept is a loose term for preview, portion, or small sample of the larger story of the feature film. In the case of Lavender Fields, this is the first 8 - 10 minutes of Lydia’s story, where we see her dissatisfaction with her current options and a glimpse at the opportunity that could change her life forever. 

We’re working closely with the fundraising platform Seed & Spark to launch a crowdfunding campaign for this short film project, which will accompany the Lavender Fields Forever feature film story assets at film festivals, in applications to mentorship & community programs, and as part of presales conversations at film markets across the country. 

Please always feel like you can respond to these emails and ask clarifying questions if you’re curious about anything I mention. I read all your replies and always learn from your queries! 

We are casting our lead, Lydia! The casting call is open until Sunday, March 3. If you or someone you know finds themselves in her character breakdown, please apply! 

You can learn more about the Lavender Fields Forever proof-of-concept short on the a/b studios website. 

Don’t worry; this is only one part of the plan. Stay tuned for more on Outdoorsy (TV), Everything is Fine (short film/sitcom), the a/b studios showcase, and much more! 

Hoping this message finds you well –