Fridays have a distinct vibe. The schedules slow down, the frantic calls wrap up, and for a brief moment, we get outside the spreadsheets, budgets, breakdowns, pitch decks, casting grids, and all the beautiful chaos of producing.
We spend so much of our week moving current slates forward that it’s easy to overlook the next dream sitting quietly on the horizon, not necessarily the giant, ultimate lifetime goal, but just the next deeply meaningful milestone we want to achieve.
So for today’s chill-out check-in, I’d love to hear from the Producing Lounge:
- What is the next dream in line for you as a producer? What is the next step that feels genuinely exciting, purposeful, or personal?
Mine, as an executive producer, is to solidify the financing to produce Seeing Rachel—a feature film centered on human trafficking—and use the power of cinema to amplify human rights themes. My ultimate goal is to secure a distribution framework that allows human trafficking NGOs to utilize the film as a global tool for awareness and education, supporting the incredible work they do on the ground. That is the next dream I’m actively walking toward.
Between the call sheets, tight margins, and the million moving parts of your week, what is the next milestone you are aiming for? Big or small, quiet or bold, share it below.
Let’s head into the weekend inspired by each other’s forward motion. We all need that, sometimes :)
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It's interesting to have been so emotionally consumed by a project and to feel, notice and observe the transition of that emotional universe to a new project. It's the first time happening for me so I am really trying to luxuriate becoming so entranced by a project and imaging all of the possibilities it holds.
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Darrell A Pennington, this is such a gorgeous reflection and honestly, one of the most magical parts of being a filmmaker. That exact moment when you feel the emotional universe of one project slowly loosen its grip while another begins to pull you in is like shifting dimensions. You can literally feel the new world forming around you.
What you described, luxuriating in the transition, letting yourself be entranced by the next project, and imagining all the possibilities, is the ultimate sweet spot. It’s where your creative energy resets and re-roots itself. While most writers/producers rush past this phase to get straight to the page/journey, sitting in it with this level of awareness is incredibly powerful. It is the very beginning of deep, authentic project immersion.
The fact that this is your first time noticing the transition so clearly is a major milestone. It means you are evolving as a creator, becoming more deeply attuned to how your inner landscape shifts from one narrative world to the next. That sensitivity is going to serve you across every story you ever tell.
Enjoy the entrancement. Let the new universe seduce you a little; it is easily one of the absolute best parts of the creative journey. Thanks for sharing.
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Yes, you said it much more eloquently Sandra Isabel and nailed it. I've really tried to soak it in as much as possible.
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O am happy for that Darrell A Pennington. I always give permission to the Universe to surprise me also :))
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My next dream is to create a unique model for the worldwide distribution of films that draws on my 35 years in the Business and my extensive personal buyer relationships. I feel filmmakers are no longer valued on a human level by most sales agents and distribution reps and I want to change that landscape to make it more like the "old days" when I was a sales agent (the 90s) where films and projects were picked up because they resonated not to just add them on a slate and to create avenues for the filmmakers to spend less "markets" money and build their own relationships with the distributors around the world. The business is changing so fast and producers need to feel empowered when creating the sales plan for their films but also properly advised.
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As someone trying to produce my own scripts, my dream is to get my Indy film "The Long Road Home" made. I wrote it with my local area in mind. It can be filmed here in B.C. with a small cast and crew of local talent, and showcases the amazing landscape of this province as an active participant in the story.
I have completed all the pre-production I can and am now working on financing, maybe through arts grants or private funding? This dream isn't necessarily to make big sales, although it'd be ideal for a streaming service, rather to produce my own "proof of concept" film which will open up a lot more funding options for me, through programs run by TeleFilm and the Canadian Media Fund. This, in turn, will hopefully get me some momentum with also selling some of my bigger budget scripts.
So much seems to rely on this one cog turning... I've been spending so much time writing grant proposals and budgets and shot lists, etc, that I'm almost sick of my own story before the film is even made! Hopefully by this time next year I'll have a finished Indy film though.
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My next dream is simply to find producer or a literary manager or director that will get on the phone with me and let me talk through my scripts and what I want to say as an artist and ultimately find a small set of collaborators to bring my scripts to life. But is all starts with a direct conversation.
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Right now, my next milestone is finding the right production partner for Wish You Were Here, the six-episode fantasy television series I adapted from my novel. The writing is complete, so my focus has shifted to getting it into the hands of someone who connects with the story and wants to help bring it to the screen. For me, that would feel like a huge step forward. Every conversation and new connection reminds me that it’s often persistence and relationships that move a project ahead. Thanks for the great question!
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Alexia Melocchi, your dream is so beautiful and necessary and Why Not? In my vision, you are right and we need to work together as one. If you need a hand, let me know, I am here :)) Dreams come true :))
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Thank you for sharing your inspiring goal, Sandra. I truly admire your commitment to using storytelling to raise awareness about such an important human issue. I sincerely hope Seeing Rachel secures the funding and worldwide distribution it deserves.
As for me, my next dream is to find the right producing partner for SONIA, my original 30-episode audio drama series. The first season is complete, and I'm currently developing the second season.
More than financing, I hope to find a producer who genuinely believes in the story, shares its vision, and wants to build something meaningful together. My hope is that SONIA will one day reach audiences around the world and prove that emotionally driven audio storytelling can leave a lasting impact.
Wishing you every success with Seeing Rachel. I hope we both see our projects come to life.
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I feel like I'm at the start of my dream, Sandra Isabel , working with a core group of people whose company I enjoy, love working with, and can truly call friends.
The director of our short, Sol Rise, is a joy to work with, and so is our lead actor. They have their own projects, and I have mine outside of this, so I'd love to establish my own production company that churns out my sci-fi/fantasy projects under that banner and flows through a distribution mechanism that reaches audiences directly or with less obstacles.
That's been my hope and dream for years, so it's nice to see producers on the other side who are thinking along these same lines. Thank you Alexia Melocchi for thinking like this. It's encouraging.
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Love your post. And you're right, it's funny, Fridays, even now when I'm between jobs, still have that certain vibe. So my future dream - I have so many - is to see my feature made as well - I'm in the midst of figuring out post for my documentary, doing a new draft of my half hour comedy but my future future is (after another draft) is to see my favorite feature script being shot!
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My next dream as a producer is to find a producing partner (or team) that I can work with across multiple projects, especially now, as my first feature "The Wednesday Killer," is slowly moving ahead. I want a producing partner (s) who can work on all five screenplays, help turn the books into made for streaming movies, and help with the episodic projects. I'm finding myself pulled in several directions, and so the next dream is to find a producing partner (s) to help shoulder some of the burden.
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I would like to breathe! I'm currently producing TWO pictures; a drama and a throwback creature feature set in the 50s. It's a lot, but of course it's also wonderful fun. As to future dreams, my brother and creative partner have a three picture deal, so next up is a screenplay we'll be writing together - a first for us. Usually I write and he directs. THEN an historical comedy based on a true story and my son's horror script (ick)...so many stories to tell!
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I really like your long-term vision, Leonardo.
Building not only projects, but also a production company with its own identity and a direct connection to audiences, is an inspiring goal. I wish you every success with Sol Rise and your future sci-fi and fantasy projects.
I hope we both continue building meaningful stories and finding the right creative partners along the way.
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My answer to this question is I want to make a live action movie based on Disney Channel's animated TV series, Kim Possible, with a big budget, theatrical release and a darker and edgier nature worthy of the PG-13 rating, similar to the Pirates of the Caribbean movies and Daniel Craig Bond 007 movies and any recent Batman or Wonder Woman movie. I already have a script and pitch deck and I'm ready to get it made. I just need someone at Disney to pitch it to.
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Thank you for sharing that, Xochi.
I really hope you see your favorite feature script come to life. It's inspiring to see you balancing your documentary, your comedy rewrite, and your long-term dream at the same time.
As for me, my dream is to find the right producing partner for SONIA and see the first season brought to life. I hope we both get to celebrate those milestones sooner than we expect.
Wishing you every success on your journey!
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I really relate to this, Janet.
I've come to believe that finding the right producing partner is about much more than financing. It's about building a long-term creative relationship based on trust, shared vision, and mutual commitment.
I hope you find the right team to help bring all of your projects to life, and I wish you every success with The Wednesday Killer and everything that follows.
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Sarah, I smiled when I read, "I would like to breathe!" It sounds like you're wonderfully busy.
Congratulations on producing two films at the same time. I also love that your next dream is writing a screenplay with your brother. Creative partnerships like that are special.
I wish you every success with all the projects ahead, and I hope each one finds the audience it deserves.
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That's an ambitious dream, Ben.
It's great that you've already completed both the script and the pitch deck. Preparation is such an important part of the journey.
I sincerely hope you get the opportunity to present your vision to the right people at Disney one day. Wishing you the very best of luck with your project.
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Now that my indie horror film is in the hands of other producers who will be packaging and financing, I'm turning my attention to my TV series, "Hurricane, Alabama", a quirky small town mystery with a genre twist. The pilot is written, the deck is done, the pitch is ready. Just need to start getting into the right rooms to pitch it.
And I'm also thinking about what other kinds of projects I might want to develop after that...
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Congratulations, Thunder!
It sounds like an exciting new chapter. I hope Hurricane, Alabama finds its way into the right rooms and connects with the right people.
Your post is also a great reminder that preparation matters. Having the pilot, the pitch deck, and the presentation ready means you're prepared when the right opportunity comes along.
Wishing you every success with both projects!
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blending Faith into my world (I'm not religious)
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Hi Sandra Isabel and everyone in the lounge!
Thanks for opening up such a great space to wrap up the week. Even though my day-to-day is screenwriting rather than dealing with budgets or contracts, I didn't want to miss this conversation. For me, writing is just the starting point. Everything I have in my head is created with the big screen in mind from day one.
Right now, I’m fully focused at my PC, putting the final touches on my action and dark fantasy trilogy, Suplicio. But my mind never stops; I’ve already structured my next stories, Lúcido: El Guardián de la Luna (Lucid: The Guardian of the Moon) and Las Sombras del Darién (The Shadows of Darien). I love defining myself as a creative developer who builds worlds to grip an audience.
So, looking at the horizon, my next major milestone isn't just about finishing the pages. My real goal today is to find the right production partners and international allies who will fall in love with this vision. I want to connect with producers to team up and bring these stories—which carry the roots and unique mystique of my home country, Venezuela—to the global market.
In the end, that’s my dream: to write, create, co-produce, and fully experience these universes coming to life on screen.
Have a great weekend, everyone! Cheers from Venezuela.
Emilio Briceño
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My current goal and dream is to finish my series. Even if it's an AI video. Even if it has a lot of errors. But I couldn't achieve anything better.
How was your week?