Two nights ago, I met with the core cast of Starmind to start laying down the logistics of our production process. After a bit of socializing and a bit of business (and a delicious bit of Chef Dave's knuckle stew), Gerard and Charlotte departed for the balcony for gossip and bonding - a critical part of the actor's process.

This left Matthew Dave McCallum and I sitting on the couch with our first private opportunity to start hashing out how, exactly, an actor plays a pan-galactic consciousness that's possessing the Earth.

Dave and I have known one another for the better part of our lives, and both he and I have rich, lively intellects. One thing we appreciate about one another is how thorough we are in our respective thought processes, even though we're very different from one another in how we think. There's been plenty of times I've seen Dave engage an idea or a task, and I've always been impressed with his acuteness and diligence.

That all said, this is the first time I've put a nearly impossible performance task in front of him. As soon as Dave had the chance, he started asking questions - and they literally didn't stop for two hours. On the one hand, he was probing the actual mythology of the situation. On the other, he was feeling out the foundations of the character - where is my own understanding of what Dean is going strong? Where is it weak? Every time he perceived a crack in the concrete, he stood there and pointed at it like a ten year old finding a special bug or rock in the forest - he wanted me to know he saw it, he wanted me to know it needed addressing... and at the same time, he was thrilled by the opportunity to step in and co-create.

This process of taking apart the character and putting it back together energized him. While Charlotte and Gerard were out there on the balcony, the project was rapidly changing right under their feet - but they didn't need to know that. So much of what we're doing is improvisational that the actions themselves still hold up. Their script, such as it is, still works. This is something that will lead to endless surprises, though - and I get to capture those surprises on camera.

All the while, Dave was just gaining steam. Here he was, just coming off a non-stop European cultural tour, prepping for a catering job at 5 AM the next morning (for those who don't know, McCallum is one of LA's most reknowned master chefs) - and his relentlessly inquisitive sense of exploration is driving him through topic after topic like a runaway train.

One thing that bears mentioning here was that those cracks Dave was spotting weren't there as a result of negligence. Insight like Dave's is the product of decades of training and practice. One thing I know about Dave is that he will not coddle incompetence - if the story I've assembled couldn't support his talent, he would have left this project behind. No, this is what it's like when a phenomenally tuned actor with a passion for truth fully engages a story. For hours, we combed through the events of Starmind and pieced together the core of what the Starmind's modus operandi is really about, from the perspective of someone who needs to step into a scene and improvise that process.

There aren't many actors you can ask that of.

When presented with the chance to do this, McCallum didn't even hesitate. Instead, he started breaking down the character's actions to understand the tools that assembled them. He asked for my help AND pointed out the conflicts, without judgment or apology.

McCallum is the kind of actor that directors will tell you makes a project better. This is classical acting at it's best, and it's why I work with Dave McCallum.

When we first conceived of "The Starmind Record", our plan was basically to follow the hubris of the main characters from their ambitious beginnings, down the toiletbowl of bold intent, and into the sewage treatment plant of history. Once they hit rock bottom, our hope was to leave you wondering whether their actions have doomed our world, and whether they or anyone else could have done differently. This was always intended to be one of those incisive critiques of human nature, ala "Lord of the Flies".

Plans change.

As our outline for the improv has come together, it's become apparent to us that getting to rock bottom is going to take some digging. That's not to say we don't end the series on a high note - desperation transforms Eli and Casey from the normal, passive, Los Angeles dreamers we all know and love into something truly vile by the end. At the same time, bringing them face-to-face with their new selves has raised the question of what they will do next - and that question is more urgent than any of us expected.

For his part, Dean is also going to have a lot to do in Season Two. We're all very curious to see where this goes, and it makes your support all the more important.

Every dollar counts. We only have $1255 to go - please make your contribution to The Starmind Record today!

Dear Friends of Starmind,

Our Episode list is finalized! Here's a breakdown of what you can expect from Season One of The Starmind Record:

EPISODE 1: First Contact
Wannabe Los Angeles filmmakers Eli Richmond and Casey Young find a mute stranger collapsed on the side of the road, and document the extraordinary ability he reveals to them.

EPISODE 2: Dean Ballard
Casey and Eli document Dean's past, looking for evidence of his paranormal condition.

EPISODE 3: Privacy Policy
When Eli and Casey realize Dean may be communicating with the outside world, they are confronted with the question of how open they can afford to be regarding Dean.

EPISODE 4: National Security
Eli and Casey are under investigation by the Defense Intelligence Agency.

EPISODE 5: One Day in the Life of Dean Ballard
While attempting to document their daily routine with Dean, Eli and Casey make a discovery about his possible origins.

EPISODE 6: Agent Steven Drakenmeyer
As the Defense Department's investigation comes to a head, Eli, Casey, and even Dean are forced to make some difficult choices about their future.

EPISODE 7: The People Who Came As more and more people are affected by Dean's presence, Casey and Eli have everyone from pilgrims to scam artists knocking on their door.

EPISODE 8: Big Black Sky
With the death of Agent Drakenmeyer on the public record, Eli has to wrangle further insights regarding Dean's origin from a frightened and unwilling Chase.

EPISODE 9: Joanie Ballard When Dean's wife comes knocking, Casey and Eli are forced to choose between remaining objective as observers... and the consequences of letting Dean go.

EPISODE 10: The Starmind When Eli and Casey finally get Chase Matthews and Amber Strickland in the same room with Dean, they perform an experiment that might reveal the Starmind's true purpose.

EPISODE 11: Homecoming When Dean Ballard wakes up in a strange home, Eli and Casey need to find out what he remembers about the starmind... before they answer for their actions!

Over the past 2 years, I have had the honor of helping to found a very special film and theater repertory company called 8 Sided films.

Last year we produced and staged the interactive theatre piece "Heartsgaard" which some of you here saw. This was a seminal event that allowed us to coalesce as a group and get up and running. In addition, we have created the 8 Sided Forum http://www.8sidedforum.com/, a discussion page where hundreds of actors, filmakers, producers and agents come to exchange ideas, ask for help and advice and show their work. As of now, we are in preproduction for our first feature, Sam Bailey http://www.8sidedfilms.com/.

However, as the saying goes, you have to walk before you can run! Towards that end, 8 Sided Films is producing the Science Fiction webseries, "The Starmind Record". "Starmind" is the story of two filmmakers from Los Angeles who discover a visitor from another world - and seize the opportunity to tell his story for personal gain.

With "The Starmind Record" we will be bringing our work to a greater audience than ever before and telling a fascinating story in a captivating and original manner. We will, in short, be bringing 8 Sided Films to the next level. However, we need your help! We are trying to raise $2000 for the project and are currently 37% funded. Please visit our kickstarter site at http://kck.st/dRn4fy. $20, 10$ even $5 would greatly aid our efforts! If every single person I am writing to now gave $4, we would be 100% funded! And hey, there are even a gifts for donations of $5 and up!

So visit our Kickstarter campaign and help bring a uniquely talented group of filmakers to the public eye and say you were there at the beginning.

Sincerely,

Gerard Marzilli
Actor - The Starmind Record

Yesterday, I posted an urgent call for Kickstarter donations on behalf of The Starmind Record on one of our forums. One of our 8 Sided actors, Gerard Marzilli, made some very insightful comments on the post. I share them here with his consent:

In response to Tennyson's above post, "The Starmind Record" is a project that truly deserves your support. It is not only classic Indie Cinema but a shining example of what could be called "Cinema of the People". Yeah I know, that sounds pretentiously socialist but it actually is a cinema of the people, for the people, by the people.

We are entering an area where for the first time, indie films and filmmakers are garnering worldwide attention and respect. Indie film is now THE source for original ideas and deep, thought provoking work, the likes of which, hasn't been seen from major studios since the 1970's. Due to the widespread use of digital cameras and outlets like Youtube, we are living in an age where anyone at all can bring their visions to the world.

"The Starmind Record" is exactly the type of project that represents the best of what today's cinema of the people is all about. It is a tight, well woven tale with the type of urgent situations and goals that actors beg for and audiences thrill to. At the same time the script puts the new type of cinema that it emerges from on trial with its forensic examination of how instant media access,exposure and the notoriety it can brings can become the goal itself rather than simply a tool to spread ideas.

Helping this project will not only help forward the cause we are all fighting for, but will bring a great story to light! So stop on by Kickstarter and give your support today!

Sincerely,

Gerard Marzilli
Actor - The Starmind Record