Jan 17

nothing personal

The several of us have been discussing business. How to reform a business. How to run said business. How to become a business that has any business doing business in show business.

We are working, I want you to know this. The details have been lacking to you, the reader, and it’s because…this is not exciting.

Within trying to make a movie, we have stumbled upon a series of things that need to be discussed and executed on in a matter of weeks…or months…maybe days, I don’t know, the whole thing seems convoluted. But it is necessary.

We have had a lot to do these past few weeks, but not much can be divulged. In order to turn the Myst franchise into a motion picture, (a series of motion pictures?), we must first find our footing and find a specific way to operate so that…blah, blah, blah.

See, it should work like this:

Step 1: Find a good idea.
Step 2: Write a screenplay.
Step 3: Make a movie.
Step 4: ????
Step 5: Profit!

But in actuality, it works like this:

Step 1: Find a good idea. If it is not your good idea, ask permission to use the good idea. (Before asking permission, consult a physician to find out if this good idea is right for you. Side effects may include increased stress levels, loss of fraternization, jambalaya and other serious health risks.)
Step 2: Wait.
Step 3: Write a script.
Step 4: Wait.
Step 5: Create website.
Step 6: Contact a lawyer.
Step 7: Contact a lawyer, again.
Step 8: More waiting.
Step 9: Create better website.
Step 10: Work out kinks in original plan. ie: Regroup; Back to drawing board.
Step 11: Follow new plan with undetermined amount of twists and turns.
Step 12: Persevere.
Step 13: Years later, appreciate how far you’ve come, unsure of how far that really is.
Step 14: Partially succeed.
Step 15: ????
Step 16: ????
Step 17: Studios?
Step 18: ????
Step 19: Enjoy Christmas.
Step 20: Wait.
Step 21: ????
Step 22: Create even better website.
Step 23: ????
Step 24: ????
Step 25: Finish succeeding.

…I like my business plan.

I just thought I’d fill you in on the fact that there is no new news. But, we’re working on it.

Posted at 2:43 am by Jason in collaborators, communications, life, planning
58 others write,
  • Nek'rahmreply
    Jan 17 2010 4:01 am

    Doesn’t matter much, in my honest opinion, mate.
    —
    People sometimes say “no news is good news.” Considering how nothing at this point is certain or set in stone, the fact that we aren’t hearing things MEANS that you’re busy and MEANS that something honest will very likely come of it all.
    —
    Just remember we’re all back here rooting for you guys! Update when you can, but don’t feel guilty for putting honest work into something to make it great.

  • RIUM+reply
    Jan 17 2010 4:54 am

    So, what number are we up to now? :P

  • Worldsurferreply
    Jan 17 2010 6:57 am

    Did everyone enjoy Christmas, or do we have to wait until next year for step 19?

  • TOOOreply
    Jan 17 2010 9:34 am

    “I just thought I’d fill you in on the fact that there is no new news. But, we’re working on it.”

    For those of us waiting on Uru Open Source, this sounds very familiar. But, at least you were considerate enough to detail… the lack of news.

  • Codefreakreply
    Jan 17 2010 12:15 pm

    I think you missed one there. Maybe something about “Keeping the rabid fans happy on said website.” Lol. Thank you for the update none the less.

  • Adrianreply
    Jan 17 2010 4:45 pm

    As Jason said, there is plenty happening, it’s just stuff that is:
    _
    a) not exciting enough to share with you guys, and
    _
    b) not information we can share (as in business stuff that is not juicy or fun in any way)

  • Deiusreply
    Jan 17 2010 5:32 pm

    By chance, does step 21 involve the consumption of lobster tails in garlic butter? I could help out with that. It really wouldn’t be any problem at all. What can I say…I’m here for ya.

  • blackmesaboyreply
    Jan 17 2010 8:01 pm

    Oh boy! News! Well….sorta.
    -
    Everyone thinks its so easy but in all reality its not. Sadly you guys are trying to go through this whole process while trying to maintain a somewhat normal personal life. I don’t know how your guys do it but kudos to you! :)
    -
    Deius: You know if they ever contact you for help with their lobster and you find yourself in need of help I could make time in my busy college schedule to help ya out a little. Not that it sounds like you’ll be needing any help though. :P

  • Keverhreply
    Jan 17 2010 9:24 pm

    So, if you are creating a even better website and there are no new changes to this website, I take it that your working on a different website. A franchise website. With Franchise stuff.

    Although I do disagree with step 25, you’ll never stop succeeding. (I like how there are 25 steps and D’ni numbers are base 25!)

  • Sardareply
    Jan 17 2010 10:57 pm

    I looked at the title of this post, saw Jason, and immediately thought “Who is that?” I don’t know if that just shows how long I’ve been gone, if this is something genuinely new, or if my brain deleted that section of itself for some irrelevant reason.

    Also, the fact that you’re still updating the website at least implies the movie is still going, so it’s still good news!

  • myst fanaticreply
    Jan 18 2010 1:10 am

    Hey! as long as I know that you are working your tails off, no news is good news! I would start worrying if you said, “Hey! we quit. so, uh, no more news for you!” and then, the entire sight closes down….. that would be a very dark day indeed….

  • Flowerpowerreply
    Jan 18 2010 1:31 am

    A post! A post! Yay! :-) Who cares if it’s full of info or not. It’s just good to hear from you guys. :-)
    -
    But if you have nothing new/ interesting to report, make it up. Something like… you went on a trip to mars, met up with the Doctor (from Doctor Who), saved a race of super, Martian reekoos from environmentally unfriendly cookies, then haul butt over to San Francisco to join Starfleet, finished the academy (and kicked Wesley Crusher’s a$$), defended the universe from a group of Cardassian that worship Gehn, then link over to an alternate reality in which everything in the universe is controlled by an single all-powerful T.V remote known as “The Entity”, finally, you put a temporary end to your cape crusading to receive a huge metal w/ all the bling from the intergalactic president- Queen Amidala. Then you go sand surfing on Dune and battle one of those worms with nothing but a curtain rod and a stick of gum to aid you.
    …
    Yes, that’s what you did and we, myst fans all know it. So don’t be so modest ;-)

  • blackmesaboyreply
    Jan 18 2010 4:23 am

    Wow Flower…..I mean……….wow……….You guys did all that and still have time to work on the movie? Thats awesome! :-)

  • Amyjenc1reply
    Jan 18 2010 11:40 am

    Thats alright just to hear that you are doing alright is the best.

    “met up with the Doctor”

    Wait Flower they met the Doctor and didn’t tell us?! I hope the Tardis bites them in the butt.

  • Benreply
    Jan 18 2010 4:41 pm

    Jambalaya?? How!?!?! I would like to be around for that side effect…

  • Amaterialreply
    Jan 18 2010 7:01 pm

    Flower, you forgot the stargates.

  • Flowerpowerreply
    Jan 18 2010 11:30 pm

    Amaterial: That’s right! Geez, how could I forget one of the most important parts!
    -
    Okay, so this all happened after the epic worm battle (though I’m sure you guys knew all this anyway). After looking through various ads, they found that Best Buy had the best deal on Stargates. However, SOMEONE was to cheap to pay for the installation fee and decided to make it an afternoon building project. A couple of beers later, they finished the stargate without the aid of the construction manual. But something was faulty with the design- it was in the shape of a teddy bear. Obviously the logical choice, would be to test it out but, alas, that couldn’t be a possibility. Out of no where appeared the Tardis and it kidnapped ______________ ! Ya’ see the Tardis fell in love with a certain charismatic figure and couldn’t stand seeing him use another form of intergalactic transportation. Left with no options, the remaining Mysteriacs did the honorable thing and rushed off to Best Buy to get a refund. Poor, ____________ no one has seen him since that fateful day. He’s probably the Tardis’s love slave by now. Wait, forget him, poor Doctor- now who will save the earth from the sing hoards of doom predicting aliens! :-)

  • Orianareply
    Jan 19 2010 12:58 pm

    @Flowerpower: *dies of laughter* All I can say is wow! Which Doctor was it?

  • Andrewreply
    Jan 19 2010 5:46 pm

    But…..but……. Oh, now I get it. The stick of gum…
    But what if….. nevermind. Did this all happen in step 21?

  • Amaterialreply
    Jan 19 2010 6:14 pm

    Naturally Andrew, because an even better website follows.

  • myst fanaticreply
    Jan 19 2010 6:45 pm

    Flower! you forgot the Adama Manuver!!!!!

  • Magic88889reply
    Jan 20 2010 2:34 am

    Flower, they all clearly forgot their towel. Shouldn’t leave home without it.

  • The Lone Scribereply
    Jan 20 2010 3:14 am

    Where do you all get this stuff?

  • Angela Bonniereply
    Jan 20 2010 3:22 pm

    No news is good news? Eh? I’ll take what I can get! Thanks for the update.

  • Angela Bonniereply
    Jan 20 2010 3:24 pm

    P.S. I want some of whatever Flower is smoking!

  • Elerireply
    Jan 20 2010 6:08 pm

    Since when is jambalaya a health risk?!

    Don’t forget “Send someone/something to Mysterium 2010″ as a step in there!

  • Flowerpowerreply
    Jan 21 2010 2:30 am

    Oriana: It’s the Doctor of your dreams :-)
    Myst Fanatic + Magic88889: I didn’t forget anything, they just haven’t done that yet ;-) So, now without further ado…
    While ____________ was bravely fighting the advances of a… passionate Tardis, our favorite heroes were making great strides to save him. First, they had to navigate their way through the badlands of the Exchange and Refunds Kingdom, then they had to join the long and unending struggle of The Warranty (I’ll give you a hint on how it turned out: the ruthless legalese of The Warranty wins). Down but not out, our ragtag band of heroes finally make the journey of a thousand miles to Ikea. After all, it says in the good book, A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, “comfort is Nirvana”. So, what better way could there be to reach Nirvana, then on a reclaimed banana peel sofa-bed-swing-thingy. Packed and ready to go and armed to the teeth with a killer mission statement, the gang is off to the mean streets to show the Tardis who’s boss. Though, their Stargate is wonky and should have been recalled, our heroes’ hearts burn with driving determination. Just not enough to actually use that crazy contraption. Instead they use another, slicker approach to the art of rescue. Which is why you can find them in your nearest Sunbuck’s coffee shop. Day after day they lie in wait, downing super cup after mega-super cup of X000000 calorie coffee. They have a plan.
    It’s date time and, oh the horors! Poor ___________ his image went through a total transformation. Instead of his usual appearance, the Tardis took it upon itself to pick out his outfit. The outfit is a barrel and shoes made out of tissue boxes with glitter glued on to it. The Tardis likes geometry, never mind the fit it’s all about the polygons.
    It’s one thing to kidnap a man’s best friend. It’s acceptable to kidnap a man’s co-worker. But to ruin a grassroots film group’s image with tacky clothing is going to far. It’s time to go Adama on that box!
    “NOT NOW, NOT EVER!” is the heroes’ battle cry as they ram the reclaimed banana peel thingy through the doors of the Tardis. Then they all run. But how far can they possible get? Thus they are left with no other alternative- through the Stargate they go.
    When they land on whatever planet, they realize one terrifying fact: no one has a towel and they all need showers, especially barrel man.
    —–
    On the next episode of The Perils of the Mysteriacs… eh, I don’t know. What do ya’ll think should happen?

  • TOOOreply
    Jan 21 2010 7:10 am

    Um… a police constable puts his hand over the camera lens, and the cameraman can be heard cursing. The movie ends with a lot of corny organ music.

  • myst fanaticreply
    Jan 21 2010 6:03 pm

    *hands Flower 10 boxes of delicious cookies* ;)
    -
    TOOO, Wonderful Monty Python reference! And all i have to say is this: NNNNNNI!

  • Magic88889reply
    Jan 22 2010 3:05 am

    Lets see, what other shows should Flower pay homage to (read: ‘rip off’)? We can’t forget the T-9000, 3 ‘charming’ sister witches, a goofy named vampire slayer, getting their personalities replaced by a chair with lights, be interrogated by a semi-psyco CTU agent, get saved by the man of steel, consult a magic 8-ball, team up with a pointy-eared guy in green clothes to save a pointy-eared girl who can’t seem to stay out of trouble, and, and, and….
    *
    *
    Oh will, that’s all I got

  • Amaterialreply
    Jan 22 2010 2:41 pm

    Tron.
    And none of this has anything to do with Myst, although it would make a nice bonus feature on the DVD. “Pre-Production Blog Posts.”

  • Dr. Wormreply
    Jan 23 2010 1:21 am

    Hey, guys. Keep on truckin’. Good things are worth waiting for. We’ll be holding down the fort ’till you get back. *thumbs up*

  • P-K-Vreply
    Jan 26 2010 11:18 pm

    Hey, I know this is kinda random (not irrelevant to the blog itself, but this particular post), but is there some way to find out how to properly pronounce the names of people and places in the Myst books? I’m not expecting something as comprehensive as the appendices of The Lord of the Rings, but are there some official pronunciations? Now, I realize that “D’ni” has changed in pronunciation and even in spelling since the original Myst, but there seems to be an official canon concerning some things.
    -
    The reason for all this is because when I read Book of Ti’ana, I had a pronunciation for “Veovis” in my head. Then when I saw the concept animatic trailer, the pronunciation differed from mine, but I liked it better. The list could go on: Aitrus, A’gaeris, Suahrnir, etc. So, how do you pronounce them?

  • Magic88889reply
    Jan 27 2010 12:50 am

    You could try here:
    http://linguists.bahro.com/forums/index.php
    That’s the D’ni Linguistic Fellowship. They should be able to help you there.

  • Sardareply
    Jan 27 2010 9:32 pm

    Hey just noticed that you’re not in 2010 yet. http://mystmovie.com/layout/pane_right_stamp_2009.jpg

    I did try changing the date in the url, but there’s only this one.

  • JulyForTodayreply
    Jan 28 2010 9:40 am

    I <3 you guys! :-)

  • AndyBlooShoesreply
    Jan 28 2010 6:13 pm

    They have to make the new stamp.

  • Thomas Hitchcockreply
    Jan 28 2010 6:26 pm

    The good thing about this taking a while is that by the time you guys bring MYST to the silver screen it will be industry standard to do it in IMAX 3D!!!! Won’t that be fun ;)

  • Tirareply
    Jan 28 2010 8:22 pm

    You forgot Step 26). Become poetic unicorns. :)

    (To explain: On ABC World News, Diane Sawyer just compared JD Salinger to, and I quote, a “poetic unicorn”. Now, I have no clue what a poetic unicorn is, but I do know what fired is … and that’s the person who came up with that line.)

    “She was like … a poetic unicorn”. Yes, I think I want that on my headstone when I die. :)

    -Tanya

  • Juneereply
    Jan 29 2010 11:18 am

    Unfortunately poetic unicorns don’t stand a chance when it comes to philosophical giraffes.

  • Amaterialreply
    Jan 29 2010 2:34 pm

    The above may very well go in my quote book.

  • Matthewreply
    Jan 31 2010 2:34 am

    Poetic Unicorns aside, but only just a little, I write to express a note of encouragement in whatever endeavors you all are in currently! Ooraaah.

  • Ti'anareply
    Jan 31 2010 4:04 pm

    Well, I’m not sure if “no news is good news”, but good luck with your continued efforts with this awesome project! :)

  • Dr. Wormreply
    Feb 01 2010 1:37 am

    *waiting patiently in the corner, playing Mass Effect and saving up for Mass Effect 2 and Aliens vs. Predator*
    Don’t mind me.

  • Kavemanreply
    Feb 01 2010 5:14 pm

    *Wonders if the Mysteriacs are LOST fans…*

  • myst fanaticreply
    Feb 01 2010 5:21 pm

    Kaveman: well, i’m not a mysteriac, but I do have to put out there that LOST had me Lost at after season 3…. You know, right when they had a change in writers. After that, I was so lost, I just couldn’t bear to watch it. All I have to say is that they better not have let Lock ( I spelt his name wrong, i’m sure) be a bad guy…. He was like the coolest character in the series!

  • Adrianreply
    Feb 01 2010 10:12 pm

    I’m a fan of “Lost”. Not a rabid one, but I dig it. There were a few rough seasons in there, but the last one was pretty awesome. I’m looking forward to the new season.

  • Magic88889reply
    Feb 01 2010 11:22 pm

    The Beginning of The End is Tomarrow!!

  • Isaacreply
    Feb 02 2010 2:30 am

    My wife and I are HUGE Lost fans. It didn’t live up to it’s potential for a season and a half in my opinion but I think they got it back last year. I’m hoping they wrap it up well… it’s going to be hard to please everyone with this ending, harder then most other shows I think.

  • blackmesaboyreply
    Feb 02 2010 3:02 am

    Dr. Worm- I got Mass Effect 2 the day it came out. Ended up paying around $90 for the whole thing (CE version and guide book). Its FRIKIN AMAZING. Havn’t got much done because of it.
    -
    I was a Lost fan when it first came out but it just moved WAY to slow for me. I turned it on the other day on a more recent episode but not much had happened since I dropped it around the begginning of season 2. I probably didn’t give it that much time, but after I found 24 I couldn’t care less about Lost.

  • Kavemanreply
    Feb 03 2010 12:41 am

    Isaac – I hope Lost can knock everyone’s socks off with a spectacular conclusion as well. But if being a Myst fan has taught me one thing: it’s not about the destination, but the journey. I, for one, hope they DON’T resolve all the plotholes. Otherwise it would lose that “mysterious island” charm. ;) Unfortunately, like you said, people will scrutinize this ending so much according to their own expectations, that they’ll forget the awesome six-season-long adventure. *sigh* But I’m happy. Lost has done its job for me, and I have been thoroughly entertained. (especially after that 2-hour season premiere IT WAS SO AWESOMEHOLYCRAP – yeah I’m done now.)

  • Claudereply
    Feb 03 2010 11:33 pm

    Yeah.. Lost does have some Myst-like feel to it.. come to think of it, a very cool ending would be the Smoke Entity that now has taken John Locke’s appearance would end the season by finally finding a linking book in the temple, saying “home…at last” and vanishing!

  • Link Koririreply
    Feb 03 2010 11:42 pm

    Hey Guys! It’s really crazy what you have to go threw to make a movie! BUT, the main reason I am commenting is that I wanted to tell you that my wife and I just had kids. The first born was named Tiana Marie, and the second *twin* is Catherine Elizabeth! I’ve always loved the story of Tiana and for years I knew I’d name my first girl that.

    Sorry if this announcement was out of place, but I figured I’d throw it out there ^_^

  • Dr. Wormreply
    Feb 03 2010 11:49 pm

    Personally, I think that for an arc-heavy show like Lost to work, it needs to know how long it’s gonna last and exactly when and how the plot will conclude, and a good outline of all the in-between. And all this should come BEFORE the first episode is filmed.
    -
    Unfortunately, Babylon 5 is the only show ever made to fit these criteria of mine. And a damn good show it is. Stiff acting at times, and a low budget (executive meddling), but I’ll be damned if it wasn’t brilliantly contrived through FIVE FREAKING YEARS of plot threads all woven into each other for a series of gigantic revelations about the very universe itself at the end.
    -
    The world needs more shows like Babylon 5.

  • Dr. Wormreply
    Feb 03 2010 11:50 pm

    Correction: it’s the only show that I’ve heard of. Unless the original version of The Prisoner counts.

  • Flowerpowerreply
    Feb 04 2010 2:18 am

    Lost is a good tv show but so are:
    The Zeta Project, Eureka, Battle Star Galactica,the first few seasons of Andromeda, Star Trek et al (not the enterprise one, though. Capt. Archer sucks), Arrested Development, Parks and Recreation, Cleopatra 2525 (man that was cheesy but in a good way), The Lost World (barely even based on the book but still a good show), Barney Miller, Cheers, Futurama…
    Ahhhh the list goes on and on… Now what was I going to say? I LOST my train of thought ;-)
    Ok, I admit it, I just wrote this to use that last line. :-)

  • Isaacreply
    Feb 04 2010 4:36 am

    @ Link: Congratulations on the new babies! I’ve always thought Ti’ana was a beautiful name. Ashley and I just had our first baby (Tristan James) 3 months ago and we are loving every minute of it!

  • Amaterialreply
    Feb 04 2010 7:19 pm

    I’m still a die-hard Stargate fan. *raises glass* The longest running Sci-fi series to date! Speaking of involving plot lines though, Heroes was pretty good, for at least the first season. Yay for Star-Trek too.
    Once again, non Myst-related stuff, but hey, we’re all geeks of one type or another.

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