Blog

November 11, 2007
RJ's Newsletter - April 27, 2006
 
RJ’s Weekly Newsletter—April 27, 2006
 
I hope you are having a great week.
 
Mission:   To inspire myself and you to live a “grand, heroic, life.”  (from a poem by Walt Whitman)
 
Six favorite Quotations of the week:
 
  1. “Like what you do, if you don't like it, do something else.” --Paul Harvey
 
  1. “Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just  up and dance.” --Dave Barry
 
  1. “Yesterday ended last night. Every day is a new beginning. Learn the skill of forgetting. And move on.”
    --Norman Vincent Peale
 
  1. "To play it safe is not to play.” --- Robert Altman
 
  1. “If you don’t make a total commitment to whatever you’re doing, then you start looking to bail out the first time the boat starts leaking.  It’s tough enough getting that boat to shore with everybody rowing, let alone when a guy stands up and starts putting his life jacket on.” --- Lou Holtz
 
  1. “First, think.  Second, believe.  Third, dream.  And finally, dare.”--- Walt Disney
 
 
Inventive Productions update:
1.    This past week we joined the Association of Personal Historians ( www.personalhistorians.org ).  This national organization is a great group of people dedicated to helping people write their biographical book or they will help you tell your life story with either audio tape or on video.  They are having a NW meeting in Kirkland on May 8th, and are planning to stop by for a tour of our production studio.  They are having a national convention in Portland in October.
2.     Tour of the Studio.  We currently are giving guided tours of our production studio.  If you would like to make an appointment to see our Green Screen Room, editing room, Lighting equipment, Sound studio, etc.,  email RJ@inventiveproductions.com or stop by.
3.     We just completed a new short three-minute demo DVD of our new production of the Autobiography of John “Bud” Hawk, a Medal of Honor recipient from World War 2.  Let me know if you want me to send you a DVD.  It should be able to be seen on our website this week (www.inventiveproductions.com ).  John Hawk is truly an American hero who’s story must be told.  It is not only amazing, but it is inspiring.  We should have his complete biography finished within two weeks.
4.     This week we have been shooting a fun and entertaining autobiography of an 80 year old woman from North Bend.  She had five husbands and still has a great sense of humor.  We look forward to her Premiere DVD party coming soon.
5.     Next week a discount coupon for a Love Letter Video will be mailed to many area residents in the Valpak envelope.  Make sure you look for this special offer.  Give me a call if you want to know what a Love Letter Video is all about.   Your loved one will never forget you, if you take the time to make a custom love video for them.
6.     There was a great article about Inventive Productions on page 40 of the April edition of Northwest Prime Time newspaper distributed throughout the Seattle metro area.
7.     Our editing team is so busy that we are looking for interns to help.  If you know of anyone who would like to help work in our editing department or grip department, please ask them to send their resume to RJ@inventiveproductions.com
8.     We are very excited about a new biographical DVD we are creating for a former NFL quarterback.  It is turning out terrific.
9.     Video newsletters.  This is a new product that we are creating for companies.  It is a lot of fun.
10.                       We are finalizing a promotional video for Providence Marianwood that is scheduled to be shown at their fundraising event on May 11th at the Snoqualmie Ridge Golf Club.
11.                       It is exciting to see how people all over America are now thinking of Video Biographies and of getting one created for their parents or grandparents.  We heard from a big company in New York that has been creating video biographies for several years.   They are doing a product very similar to ours at nearly double our prices.  We heard from another company in Atlanta who have a successful video biography company, and they are charging nearly six times our prices.  I really feel great that we are offering a great value for our clients.  Our real goal is to help people tell their stories.  I am confident that if we do a great job for them, our clients will tell their friends.
12.                       Referral program.  We have a great referral program.  If you send a new client to us, we will offer you a cash reward as our way of saying THANKS.  You can use the cash yourself or give it to charity.  Either way, we are very grateful.  We have been very fortunate to have received some incredible testimonials.
13.                       Fear.  Usually the only thing holding people back from getting a video biography is fear.  Some people are afraid of how they look.  We do have people who can make you look great with makeup or digital special effects.  Some people say they have led a boring life.  I don’t believe it.  Everyone has an important story to tell.  I am grateful to have the opportunity to witness and learn from the wisdom of our biography subjects.  Remember, we believe in total confidentiality, too.  You get the opportunity to tell your story in your own words.  Why not do it today while you can?
 
We have a fantastic team at Inventive Productions LLC:
Kellie.—part time Rock N Roll groupie and clogger, now professional Office Manager
Marc.—former award-winning, professional dancer from American Bandstand, now professional Editor and Director of Photography
Tyler.—former award-winning, gutsy TV news reporter (he once got Tasered for a news story), now pro Editor and Director of  Photography
Peter—former Rock Singer with hair, now writing a Symphony, documentary soundtracks, and Producing Autobiographies
Julie—former Cheerleader, now helping people tell their life stories (Producer)
Bill—former Television documentary cameraman who shot film footage at Cape Kennedy blastoffs in the 1960s, who also had his own TV show for kids, and is a WW2 hero & veteran, a book author, and now Producer of Autobiographical videos.  
 
I feel tremendously blessed to have the opportunity to work with such a wonderful team who really want to help people tell their life stories in their own words.   You can see some samples of our work at www.inventiveproductions.com
 
Ship of Miracles update:
I have been burning the midnight oil big-time on this film project.  It will be ready to go to the Musical Director by the first of next week.  I hope this documentary is eventually shown to Korean war veterans and their families, as well as the families of the Korean refugees who were saved by the Americans during the Hungnam evacuation.  It has been over three years since I started producing this documentary film, SHIP OF MIRACLES, based on the book by author Bill Gilbert.  The film is the true story of the American heroes of the merchant ship SS MEREDITH VICTORY who saved 14,000 Korean refugees during the Hungnam evacuation.  The Guinness Book of Records recently awarded the crew of the SS MEREDITH VICTORY the World Record for the Greatest Sea Rescue in History.  Thanks to the sponsorship of the IDA (International Documentary Association), we have been able to secure tax-deductible status that helped raise donations from numerous people.  Once the editing is complete,  Musical Director Brian Johnson, will be putting together the custom musical soundtrack, and the film will be ready for viewing.  To make a tax-deductible donation, or to learn more about this film project, go to www.shipofmiracles.com
 
Writing update:
I am enthusiastically waiting for a big box to arrive any day.  The book publisher shipped off my first copies of my first two novels (THE DIRTY DEED and MY KIDS).  They will be available for purchase on Amazon.Com hopefully in the next two weeks.  My third book, BONUS TIME AND OTHER SHORT STORIES, will be available later this year.
 
Umatilla Film update:
My award-winning documentary UMATILLA (www.umatillafilm.com) is now available on DVD.  To purchase a DVD copy of this controversial documentary, please email RJ at rj@inventiveproductions.com
 
Family update:
My wife Victoria and I have just celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary.  I remember when they used to bet against us.  But we have proven them all wrong.  I can honestly say that it has been a wonderful 18 years of fun, love, and friendship.  The whole family is excited about our upcoming move to Redmond, Washington.  We are scheduled to move in the first week of June.  Both Jason and Crissy are doing well in school.  My wife Victoria will be moving her dog breeding business up to our new home.  Her website is www.astoriaweenies.com
 
Joke of the week:
What did the fish say when he swam into the wall?
Damn (joke provided by my son Jason)
 
Dedication:
This week’s newsletter is dedicated to Kellie Ridenour who fractured her left arm this week.  She is doing great, and we really cannot wait to see her smiles again.
 
Thanks for reading my email newsletter. 
If you have any questions or suggestions, please email RJ@inventiveproductions.com
 
Here is a list of my websites:
To learn more about Inventive Productions, go to www.inventiveproductions.com
To learn more about me, go to www.whiteknuckles.com
To learn more about THE SHIP OF MIRACLES, go to www.shipofmiracles.com
To learn more about the SS MEREDITH VICTORY, go to www.meredithvictory.com
To learn more about UMATILLA, go to www.umatillafilm.com
 
Feel free to forward this newsletter to your friends and family.
 
If you would like to be removed from this email list, please email RJ@inventiveproductions.com
 
Have a great day.
 
RJ McHatton
Inventive Productions LLC
3625 132nd Avenue, S.E.
Suite 100
Bellevue WA 98006
office 425-747-4538
cell 503-470-0728
 

Leave a comment*
Name*:
Email*:
Website:
 
 

Note: All comments must be approved by the post author.