We’ve just put up an important announcement to investors and partners at a private blogsite. If you are an investor or partner, please send your request for the blogsite and password to sellers.michael@mac.com. Thanks!
If you only see one movie this holiday season, go see “Slumdog Millionaire”. This is one for the ages, a film that on the one hand taps into deeply familiar, satisfying story patterns (a humble man’s relentless quest for his lost love; a Dickensian commentary on social mobility, or lack thereof; even a “will she get away” suspense story), but on the other hand treats them with freshness, dressing it all up in a colorful, multi-layered, incredibly textured virtuouso example of cinematic razzle dazzle — none of it gratuitous, all in the service of a great story with fascinating multi-layered characters. If it sounds like I’m in love with this film — I am. It’s the first film I’ve seen in many years that made me want to go out and buy another ticket and watch it a second time immediately. Director Danny Boyle (Transpotting, 28 Days Later) has created something that special. It’s already started raking in awards — is nominated for 5 Golden Globes and won “Best Picture” from the National Board of Review. Watch for it to be an Oscar Best Picture dark horse pic, with Danny Boyle a lock for a Best Director nomination.
The story opens with 19 year old Jamal Malik (an excellent Dev Patel in a debut roll) being tortured by Indian police officials who believe that this quiet young boy fromt he slums (the “Slumdog” of the title) must have cheated to have advanced all the way to the final question of the Indian version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”. The police can’t believe that Jamal could possibly have answered all the questions without cheating, and they are determined to use the overnight break prior to the show resuming for the final question to wring a confession out of him. But instead of confessing, Jamal steadfastly claims his innocence and for each question, has an explanation drawn from an extraordinary life journey that, we learn, began when his mother was killed before his eyes by an anti-Muslim mob that attacked Jamal’s Bombay shanty slum, leaving Jamal and his brother to fend for themselves. 
We come to learn that Jamal — who is now working as a “chai wallah” serving tea to the workers in a massive call center — has become a contestant on “Millionaire” because the love of his life — Latika, played by the extraordinary newcomer Freida Pinto — loves the show and might see it. We learn that Latika is Jamal’s childhood sweetheart, herself an orphan from the slums, who is separated from Jamal by fate and social stratification — and in true (but fresh and unique) fairy tale fashion, Jamal’s final question appearance on Millionare will bring about a final resolution of his quest.
As a production endeavor, Slumdog is epic and intimate all at once. Danny Boyle has bravely gone into the deepest slums of Mumbai armed with tiny digital cameras whose footage cuts seamlessly with the 35mm film cameras used for the more controlled scenes. As viewers we are gripped by Jamal’s tale from the first moments of the film, and are not released from it until the end credits begin to roll and even then we’re captivated by an unexpected, yet totally exhilirating Bollywood style musical number that gives new meaning to the old axe that the ending should be “inevitable but unexpected”.
Most importantly — this being the season when we want to believe we are connected to one another, and want to feel affirmation of that whether it’s in gatherings with friends or encountering carolers on the street (and I encountered some just after coming out of the movie…couldn’t help but feel it was connected in some way) … this is a movie that provides the kind of uplift and connectivity that we all want and need — perhaps moreso this year than others. A word of warning before you take the kids: It’s a film that’s largely about children, but it’s rated R (I think PG 13 would have been sufficient) and includes some tough scenes, including the torture of Jamal by the Indian police, and the murder of a character by a gun-wielding 14 year old, Jamal’s brother. But do go see it. You won’t regret it.
Dev Patel in Slumdog Millionare
Here is a written version of a recent briefing on WeEarth we provided to some visiting investors. It covers the history of the project, it’s current status, and plans going forward.
Initial Planning: Oct 2007 thru Jan 2008
This was the initial phase where we knew we wanted to establish an environmentally themed web presence, but had many, many decisions to make. What would be the name of the site? What would be the features? The unique selling proposition? What would make it different, and “sticky”? During this phase we came up with and bought (at auction) the name WeEarth.com after testing the name thoroughly to ensure that it really has the potential we think it has. We decided on a model that has a unique blend of three elements: social network, social e-commerce, and information portal. And we committed to use the name “WeEarth”, which we tested in various ways and were convinced can become a great brand if we roll it out effectively.
Graphic Design: March 2008
During this phase we worked out the graphic look of the site — essentially creating a “dummy” of how we would like it to look and what we would like it to do. We worked with various consultants and designers, but our key team was the group from Stir Communications. By the end of this phase we had worked out our ‘look’ and basic functionality. Also, during this period in order to get a jump on the editorial aspect — articles and blogging — we operated a temporary blogsite that gave us the opportunity to get those systems up and running.
Website Development/Coding: April-June 2008 (and continuing during test phase)
During this phase we hired the design team to actually put together the working site based on the design created in March. By the end of April we had put an initial version of the site on the web … so at that point we “went live” on the web but it is very important to understand the difference between “going live” on the web and the actual “launch”, which comes much later. “Going live” means that the site exists on the internet and users can go there. But you intentionally do NOT heavily market the site because it is a “site-in-development”.
Beta Testing: July 2008 – early 2009
This phase can last up to a year (or in some cases 2), depending on the project. This is the phase we are in now. “Testing” means that with many (but not all) of the functions deployed, the site is “live” on the net and users are going to the site, using it, and providing feedback which is transmitted to management and the design team. Functionality of the site is revised and upgraded. Some features that are popular are improved ; other features that are not so popular or are problematic are dropped. The goal in this period is to refine the site and its functions to the point that we are confident that upon its actual launch, we will have a site that will attract substantial numbers of users and retain those users. We are targeting Q1 2009 for the completion of Beta Testing and actual commercial launch. One of the positive things to note is that even at this Beta testing stage, WeEarth has become established as a credible “brand” for environmentally themed news, and our articles are now receiving prominent “google search” placement which means we are definitely ‘on the map’, plus our e-commerce module is generating sales income (modest to be sure). But the goal of this phase is to “work the bugs out”, discovering what works best, what seems fresh and new and attractie to users. During the Beta Testing phase there has been a modest degree of revenue from e-commerce sales. Additionally, during this phase we have established relationships with more than 300 environmentally sound product suppliers. We have gotten the e-commerce functionality to the point where we know it works well — but we are constantly trying to make it work better, and to add more “social e-commerce” functionality to it. (”Social e-commerce” means making it possible for buyers to not only buy, but to rate products, to “tag” products and writeups so that they will be picked up by search engines and bloggers, and in general to create ways for the “viral” potential to take place.) Also during this phase we have been continually working to improve the social network capability, finding ways differentiate WeEarth from other social networks.
Official Launch: March 2009
When the “Official Launch” takes place, it means that we are satisfied with the functionality and marketability of the site and are ready to “put it out there” with marketing dollars designed to create wide awareness and attract large numbers of users. It is very important that we are “ready for prime time” when we do this because the site will be under much greater stress in terms of users, and it will be evaluated both formally and informally by people who can make or break the reputation of the site. If we get a good buzz going, the sky is the limit. If we don’t, the opposite can happen (although the good news is that there are second chances and with a terrific name like WeEarth there are a number of directions we can go). It is at this phase that the enterprise is really “open for business”, with operating costs (instead of development investment, which is what we have now).
Remainder of 2009: Operational Phase 1
During operational phase 1 the goal is to gather users, building up traffic to the site so that by the end of the year we have enough traffic (goal of 1 million unique visitors per month) to begin seeing meaningful advertising revenue, and so that the e-commerce sales can grow to become a substantial contributor to the bottom line. We will see operating costs that substantially exceed revenues but this is absolutely the norm even for the most successful websites. The key is — get the traffic, get the users, and keep building.
Folks — I’m currently blogging at the following blogsites:
Pls check out those site for up-to-date blog posts! Thanks.
I came across an interesting article in the LA times about the Navy releasing a Marine Mammal impact report. This is significant to us because we will be depicting a Naval officer talking about the impact of sonar on marine mammals in our movie “Way of the Dolphin”, and this helps us be able to be sure we are being accurate. Here’s the major portion of the article:
After losing a series of lawsuits, the Navy for the first time today will release a massive study that examines the potential collateral damage to wildlife when training sailors to use sonar, drop bombs, fire missiles and help Marines storm beaches in Southern California.
The environmental impact statement, fatter than the Los Angeles phone book, comes after federal judges have repeatedly ruled that the Navy failed to do a proper assessment on how to protect whales and dolphins from sonar used to hunt submarines.
The document is likely to be challenged by the California Coastal Commission and environmental groups for failing to recommend adequate environmental safeguards, state officials and lawyers said.
The Navy has stuck with its own safeguards to avoid harming marine mammals, and has not adopted those imposed on this year’s exercises by federal judges, such as keeping sonar-emitting ships at least 12 nautical miles off the coast.
Marine mammals are particularly abundant in California coastal waters and include gray whales that migrate through the area twice each year.
by Michael D. Sellers
One event in my life I’ll never forget is when, while living in the Philippines in 1994, I got hold of the July 24, 1994 edition of Time Magazine. Here’s the cover: 
I still remember how, for me at least, the internet at that point was something I only kind of dimly understood. I was still faxing and hadn’t really made the transition, and didn’t fully understand it — but that edition of time opened my eyes and made it clear to me that the internet was going to change everything going forward, and I changed my own habits and ways of doing business accordingly.
So when I came across the current edition of Time entitled “10 Ideas That Are Changing the World — What’s Next 2008″ I settled in with the magazine to read it very carefully. And I was rewarded right away with Idea #1, “Common Wealth”, written by Jeffrey Sachs who is the head of the Earth Institute at Columbia University. Keep in mind that the core thing I’ve been struggling with at WeEarth is how to make WeEarth be rooted in environmental awareness but also make it larger than that — make it be about how we are all connected. This has been a delicate balancing act and one that is not always easy to articulate. Sachs, in this article which Time is putting out there as the #1 Idea that is changing the world, says it for me better than I have been able to so far. This is very exciting.
by Michael D. Sellers
The three days since I got back from the Bahamas have gone by in a blur, and I apologize for not blogging on Wednesday and Thursday. I’ve just been going nonstop from 5:30 AM each day……but it’s Friday now and one thing I will try to really always do is put out a Friday end-of-week wrapup, especially if I’ve been at all light in my blogging during the week. Read the rest of this entry »
by Michael D. Sellers
The three days since I got back from the Bahamas have gone by in a blur, and I apologize for not blogging on Wednesday and Thursday. I’ve just been going nonstop from 5:30 AM each day……but it’s Friday now and one thing I will try to really always do is put out a Friday end-of-week wrapup, especially if I’ve been at all light in my blogging during the week.
WeEarth
The level of intensity of the WeEarth enterprise right now is almost as high as being in the middle of a film production. And in this I’m not even referring to the WeEarth site that’s visible now — this is about the “real deal” final full-on WeEarth that is being developed offline in the background, and which, when it launches on Earth Day (April 22nd), will combine all the functions of webzine/portal, social network, ecommerce, and video hosting. There are essentially three legs to the WeEarth development group — our team here in-house, the Stir Communications Team, and the Onesite team. To facilitate communication we have everyone on an “extranet” and there are over 100 messages, comments, file uploads, etc happening every day and at least 2-3 conference calls a day. I am very proud of our team in pulling this together, and am very excited about the prospects. Here is a screen grab which gives you a sense of how the “real deal” site is shaping up (click on the image to see it full sized)
by Michael D. Sellers
Last stop on our trip to the Bahamas was to screen Eye of the Dolphin for the townspeople of Smith’s Point — the tiny town that is featured in the film. We set it up outdoors just outside the town hall and almos everyone in the town was there. It was a great evening and set the stage for the next film.
by Michael Sellers
Quick notes is all I have time for…..we’re off an running in fifteen minutes:
Yesterday was another long and fruitful day. We did crew interviews all morning and are finding some good local crew — more than were available the first time. We feel we have found at least a half dozen whom we can hire but we still have to bring quite a large contingent from the US. We are committed as part of our effort to help develop the film industry here to use Bahamians whenever we can.
Mid-day, we took another trip down to Smith’s Point where we met with 93 year old “Ma Flo”, the matriarch of the town. She was in good health and spirits, and “held court” with us sitting in a circle around her for half an hour.
In the afternoon we spent 3 hours going over the budget line by line, making adjustments and identifying areas that need more attention.
Late afternoon it was back to Smith’s Point where we made a great find — a house for Hawk and family that is much better and more convenient than the one we had last time. (The one last time was not actually in Smith’s Point – it was in a place called Barbary Beach which is a 25 minute drive from Smith’s Point and is very difficult from a number of perspectives.) This house has a terrific, interesting interior that is very suitable for Hawk and family so that’s a major box that is now checked.
We also looked at half a dozen other houses in Smith’s Point and nearby areas — possible crew housing and office space.
Last stop before coming back to Port Lucaya was to look at boats — we saw three that are being proposed.
And finally back to Port Lucya in time for dinner with Chris Herrod, who played the attorney in Eye of the Dolphin and is a native of Nassau, and some of the marine department from Pirates of the Carribbean and Sea Wolf, a German film that is shooting here in April.
Here are some pix from yesterday:
