very very happy

all who helped to make yesterday very special,
thank you so much.
we are very happy
see you soon...
-katie & daniel

Ginger Navigates

In the car this morning Ginger and I were on our way, still wearing pajamas, to get our traditional weekly 'Special Breakfast'.

From the backseat she was making these beautiful faces at me in the mirror, sunlight and shadow racing across her pale skin and intense eyes.

"Mom? Is that 'East'?", she asked while throwing a thumb over her right shoulder.

"Yes", came my slow reply(surprised at her accuracy).

"I got hit yesterday in the East eye."
She continued matter-of-factly, " That hurt. That hurt on the Eastside."

I asked my brain to take a picture.

Yesterday I had all four kids in the front yard, playing ball and making chalk drawings and exploring boundaries.

All of them would be roaming the yard, engrossed in independent play, when one of them would bellow an announcement of discovery. Next, three sets of hands would drop what they were doing and race across the yard on feet made light by curiosity.

One such moment:

Will galumping across the grass, tennis racket in hand, eyes on the sky, occasionally tripping.

Isaac standing perfectly still, red plastic baseball bat in hand, staring me down for a squishy lime green ball pitch that we both know is very likely to land in his face..and almost certainly nowhere near the swinging bat.

Ginger on her knees with dirt under her nails, meticulously digging delicate white blossoms from the ground by the roots(collecting them for the wedding..against all odds).

Willow emerges from the trees lining our yard and bellows in disbelief,"There's a STREAM between our yard and the NEIGHBORS!"

Thus began the caravan through the tangled branches. Willow followed by Isaac followed by Will followed by me..unknowingly followed close behind by Ginger.
Before I could prevent it, a small branch swung back and struck her face. She cried and while I held her each brother and sister came to check on the stricken eye and express their concern.

After a few minutes all was well at the Big Blue House. As evening set in, not only did we manage to play outdoors with *no* fighting(?), but each and every child was *willingly* bathed and PJ'd(!) before Daniel got home. Such moments of ease are there to sustain parents for the long stretches between when all their best ideas are tested and rejected in the face of youthful defiance or sibling discord. Last night's decadence gave me the chance to pause in the middle of a very busy week, a very busy life, and really enjoy the kids I've been blessed to love.

What *does* she do for a living, anyway?

A few posts ago I promised to tell you more about how the recent tax incentives for film productions will affect me as a non-union actress/resident of Michigan.

This week the governor signed Michigan's Film Incentive package into law, generating buzz everywhere from the industry's most recognizable publications, like this article in the LA Times, or this one in Variety Magazine.

Locally there was coverage of the just-started crew training through GRCC.
And other articles giving readers a basic overview of what the Film Incentives will mean for Michigan.

My friend David O'Malley was featured in the Battle Creek Enquirer, a piece in which he mentions plans for bringing film production to Michigan via Safe Harbor Productions in the coming months.

I've been working with Safe Harbor since last summer as their Michigan Representative.
Much of that time has been spent waiting to see what Michigan would do with this legislation.
Now things are progressing very rapidly(an understatement). At least three major productions are set to shoot over the summer, and Safe Harbor is working quickly to establish a ground-floor presence in the state.
Janet Lockwood has been the go-to woman for the Michigan Film Office. Thanks to the governor's signature on the bills, she is able to be at the Locations Expo in LA shopping our state's robust incentive package to the most influential decision makers in Hollywood.

I met with TicTock Studios in Holland recently to see their ongoing progression toward creating the Columbia Art District, and was encouraged to see the tangible headway they're making. West Michigan has a chance to be the premiere area for the state's emerging film industry. With all the hard work they've done and the strides they're making now, I expect that they will be one of the names at the forefront of that movement.

As for Safe Harbor, we have two projects in the works which we plan to shoot in Michigan soon. I will serve as a producer on the first project, and might even sneak a little acting in as well. I am thrilled for the chance to gain a better understanding of the process it takes to tell stories though film. Life is very full and the furthest thing from boring at present.

It's wonderful to see a near future in which it could be possible for performers and crew to stay in Michigan instead of relocating themselves and their families in order to have a chance at living their craft. And in this smaller market, bringing the industry here means every Michigan actor, actress, gaffer, P.A., and the list goes on.. has a better chance at making a go of it. It's a smaller ocean, with fewer sharks.

So for me, the next few months will consist of developing Safe Harbor's presence here and, if all goes well, playing a key role in making a movie or two..
And I'll continue helping with licensing development for Redbeard Music..
And I'll have a fabulous Michigan summer with the five people I love more than anything in this world! Can't wait for swimming weather..