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Hilarie Burton: Hi guys! It’s Hilarie Burton and you have tuned in to the Southern Gothic Productions Podcast. It’s our weekly look into the inner workings of a production company. So sit back, hang out, and enjoy a sneak peek into our journey.

Mike Grubbs: Hi, this is Mike Grubbs, lead singer of the band Wakey Wakey, and I think that Southern Gothic Productions and Hilarie Burton rocks!

Denise Gideon: Denise Gideon here for the Southern Gothic Productions podcast. It’s another new dynamic. It’s just Kelly Tenney and I, so Kelly, we’re kind of lonely, but we’re here!

Kelly Tenney: [laughing] Yeah. Seems a little odd without Nick or Hilarie here with me today, but we’ll get through it.

DG: We’re coming on because we have some good news and some bad news. Kelly, do you want to tell everyone the good and bad?

KT: Well, the good news, the reason I’m here alone, is that everyone is very busy. Hilarie is busy auditioning and things like that. And Nick is busy writing the next webisode and… actually, which builds onto our good news. We’ve been very busy… I don’t know if the words is auditioning… but, reviewing and looking at artist’s rendering and things for the graphic novel, which is keeping Nick very busy. So, with that said, we’re going to go to a different format, and be bi-monthly. That way, when we get on and talk with the fans, with you guys, that we have more to say and it’s pertinent to what’s going on with SoGoPro.

DG: And I think, you know, some people are going to be like ‘Oh no, we don’t get to hear them every week,’ but, as I thought about it, and we talked about it a lot in the last couple of days, I think it’s a great idea because you can almost give too much information away, and innate people with information every week, and it’s different when you’re doing something for a television show, or something like that, like I do with my other podcast, but with this one, I think, when we do come back on and it’s every other week, you can say it like that, or twice a month – however you want to decide to roll with it – it’s gonna be… when you come on, you know that there’s going to be some exciting news to say.

KT: That’s exactly right. It is difficult to keep it fresh every week. I mean, you know, things don’t move that quickly in this industry, especially independent, and, as you know with your other podcast, that every week there’s something new to talk about. Every week, a script comes out, and it goes on the air and you guys have a lot to talk about with new actors and things like that, so it’s a little bit slower for us, but nevertheless, we’re pushing forward and getting our business in order so that hopefully we’ll have some bigger news soon.

DG: And the great thing about it is… it’s our podcast, and we can do what we want!

KT: [laughs] At the end of the day, you’re right.

DG: If we decide somewhere down the line that we’re going to go back to once a week, we can do that too!

KT: That’s true. That’s very true, and it’s not that we don’t enjoy interacting with our fans like this on a weekly basis, but we just don’t want to waste your time, basically, if, I guess, we’re getting to the bottom of it. We just want to tell you as much as we can without it coming stale.

DG: Exactly, and I totally agree. And last week, we had that great podcast with you and Nick, and I think it was awesome.

KT: Oh, thank you. It’s always good getting Nick talking. [both laugh] He really is good at it, and he gives out a lot of information. He’s a really good, clever guy, so…

DG: Well let’s talk a little bit about what will be going on in the next couple of weeks when we’re not going to be on. I know you mentioned a little bit about the graphic novel. Can you maybe give everyone just a little insight into that and hopefully, when we come back in November, we’ll have a lot of information.

KT: Well, we’ve, you know, been interacting with Dave Dorman a lot, you know, a lot of conversations go back and forth. I mean, it’s really a process that you need to take slow, because whatever artist we decide to do the artwork, it’s like a permanent thing. You can’t switch gears halfway through and go ‘Oh, by the way…’ I mean, it’s like hiring a director to do your movie. It’s very important to make sure you have the right one that can get the, you know… to tell the story, the flavor, of the work, artwork, things like that, and so it’s very important that we make the right decision, so we’ve looked at a lot of reels – it wouldn’t be reels, but art, illustrations, and things like that, and I think we’re getting close. We’re… all three of us, well actually four with Dave, kind of, have agreed upon a person and we’re going to try to move forward with them.

DG: You kind of have to change your terminology a little bit, too. You said reels.

KT: [laughing] Yeah. It’s weird. I mean, it’s a whole new side of the business that I’ve never been involved in. I mean, in books and things like that, so yeah, learning curve, another one.

DG: And then Nick had a really great conversation with Dave Dorman a couple weeks ago too, to kind of help him direct him in the right direction.

KT: Yes, absolutely. Dave is working with him, and Nick is doing a lot of research. I mean, we’ve put a lot of pressure on Nick to do something that he hasn’t done before, which is write a graphic novel, so he’s busy researching and absorbing all that kind of knowledge, so that… you know, it’s a big deal… all of us are taking a pretty big step here to get the right product out.

DG: Did you think that it was going to be like this when you decided that this is an avenue that you wanted to go in as a graphic novel? Did you realize the intricacies?

KT: I mean, you do. I mean, this business is really about the details, even the film industry, the T.V. industry, the music industry, it’s all about details. It’s about making sure that you kind of know what you need to know. You have to do the research. You have to put the work in and the hours. It’s like anything. The more you put it, the more you get out. So no, I didn’t know it would be this difficult, but I suspected that it probably wasn’t going to be easy.

DG: Have you been surprised, though? I mean, you started this company in January, and we’ve talked about it a lot, but I mean, have you been surprised that if you wanted to start a project, that… do you feel like it’s been kind of easy to find people and bring them onboard?

KT: Yes, because of the connections that we all have in the industry, it’s been a little easier to reach out to artist and creatives and things like that, but again, it’s a betting process. I mean, we might like one person for some things, but it doesn’t work for something else, so it’s a constant, kind of, motion. I mean, it’s hard to describe.

DG: Like an ebb and a flow?

KT: Yeah, it really is! And, you know, there’s a lot of outside conflicts that go on, you know? I mean, each of us, in this company, actually has other things that we also have to do to pay the bills.

DG: Jobs to pay the bills, you’ve got that right! [laughs]

KT: Yeah, so it’s tough to focus as much as we, you know, we want to, and that’s another thing that we’re working on, trying to… all of us moving forward and achieve our goals.

DG: Tell me, you’ve got your web series you’re doing, ‘Friendship Union Community Theatre,’ and since we’ve got you on, you are the behind-the-scenes guys, which I can relate to. You did the first one. You got a nice response, and you’ve got the second one. We’ve talked a lot about what you want to do with it. Have you guys worked in any direction to, you know, get some money out of it?

KT: Yes, actually, we have been talking with advertisers and things like that, and other revenue streams… Again, it’s what would work best for SoGoPro.

DG: Right.

KT: And that’s kind of what the debate we’ve been going internally with: How do we keep, you know, fresh product coming out, but also, you know, keep it from being a drain on the company, and yeah, right now we’re trying to work that out.

DG: You’re just a normal company, even though you’re a production company. It’s just like any start-up business. You’re not going to see any cash flow for a while.

KT: That’s right! Revenue stream is, you know, going one way at the moment.

DG: [laughing] It’s going out the door!

KT: Yeah, hopefully soon we’ll correct that, and we will. It just takes a matter of time. We’re, you know, a start-up company and advertisers and companies looking at us want to make sure that we’re going to be around before they invest in us.

DG: Right. That makes sense. And then, recently, in the last what, week or so? You guys starts selling some wristbands on your website. The same ones that I was using as swag down at Dragon Con. How has that been? And is it just kind of fun to offer a little something different to your fan base to kind of show… it’s easier because they can wear that all the time and show it off!

KT: That’s right. It’s remarkable how many we’ve sold. I think we’re almost through the first printing, so to speak. Yeah, it’s great. I mean, we get the pictures… People send us pictures of them wearing our swag and stuff, and it’s pretty cool. [laughs] I have to admit it’s really, really cool.

DG: Now, what’s going to be cool is when you’re just out somewhere, not in Wilmington, and just out somewhere in the United States, and you see somebody wearing it. That’ll be cool!

KT: Yes. That will be cool, and I can’t remember… I thought, someone, actually we know… ran into someone… wearing one of our shirts somewhere, and posted it and said I’m in Boston or I’m somewhere and I just saw one of your shirts. So it’s cool. It’s getting out there.

DG: Spread that word!

KT: Spread it! [both laugh]

DG: A little bit more about your short film. We talk about it being in November, and when we come back in November, hopefully, we’ll have some really cool guests to come on and talk a little bit about being in that short film. You talked a little bit, a couple of weeks ago, about putting it on iTunes and things like that. Is that something… again, the short film was the beta. Is that something where that short film’s also going to be a beta test to put on a iTunes store like everything like that to kind of get a feel for selling your product? Because, even though it’s great to give things for free, it’s also nice to get some revenue from it too!

KT: Yeah, we are. That’s exactly what Andrew and Ali and Megan are working on… is the test through tunecore that we’ll do with the short that Nick directed. We’ll put it up on iTunes and other various stores, internet stores, and we’ll see how the fans react to it.

DG: See if you get some baas, and I’m sure you will. I’m not gonna… I’m just gonna say it: It’s gonna happen!

KT: I hope so!

DG: And another thing, since we have just you on, and I’ve been wanting to, kind of, just talk to you for a while, in the fact that… why don’t you tell everyone what a week is like for you, because I don’t think they truly understand the task master that you are!

KT: [laughs] The task master!

DG: The whip cracker? Maybe that’s better.

KT: Yeah, well I don’t… yeah, I don’t really whip anyone. You know, as one of the producers on ‘One Tree Hill,’ I mean, that’s a 12-hour day, every day, 5 days a week plus weekends, I mean, it’s a full-time job. I get calls all the time, and then in-between is SoGoPro, so on top of that is SoGoPro, and you know, it’s schedules when Hil’s on the West Coast, trying to figure out when all three of us can talk. We email quite a bit. That’s how we communicate, mostly. It’s long days, I mean, it’s long because, like I said, each of us have to make a living. It takes up, pretty much, all my free time. But it’s worth it! It absolutely is worth it. It’s great to see the fan input and the interaction, so yeah, it makes for long days! [laughs]

DG: And you also… just to talk about this podcast, we’ve done 14 straight, and you’ve had to coordinate all of that!

KT: Yeah, but it’s not too tough. You make it easy. You’re very flexible, which is a blessing! Because in this industry, we never know where we’re going to have an emergency, and it’s like ugh, and then it’s like ‘Hey Denise, can you push…’ [laughs] And you’ve always been very flexible for us, so that’s always made it very easy to do that podcast.

DG: And you squeak away from work.

KT: Yeah, and you know, I’m in the van doing tech scouts, or this and that, and it’s like ‘Oh god, I hope I get back in time!’ [both laugh]

DG: And then, I work in college athletics, so it’s a little crazy in itself. We’re talking on Saturday morning and I have a volleyball match at 1, so…

KT: [laughing] And I’m off to edit! So we both have some jobs to do!

DG: We got the job that pays the bills, and we’ve got the job that’s, kind of, fun and takes us away from the job that pays the bills!

KT: Yeah, but I enjoy it all! I mean, it… even though I say I’ve got a job to do, I love what I do. I love that I’ve been able to work with SoGoPro and I love working with Nick and Hilarie.

DG: And it’s something where, with this company, you’ve got two people who you really enjoy working with, like you’ve said, so it’s really not like a job a lot of the times, and you look around going ‘Yeah, this is pretty cool.’

KT: I’m always amazed, and I always feel rejuvenated when I read just the work that Nick does and that Hilarie does. She’s also a very talented writer. It’s great. It’s just like, wow. These are really two creative people and I’m lucky to be with them, and, between us, we’ll get these projects made.

DG: That’s what I was going to ask you about. One last thing is about how sometimes you guys will get on, and I’ll be like, ‘Oh my gosh, they’re talking about this already!’ and I’m wondering, you know, is it doing to get done? Because, like you said before, you’ve said this, that people will talk about something and then they won’t do it, but I have to give you guys some credit in the fact that if you talk about it, you do it!

KT: We do. Like I said earlier, it’s not instantaneous. But you know, I don’t know of any projects that are instantaneous. Even the studio projects. They go through a whole process that takes up to many, many years. And ‘Pedestrian’ has taken a little while, and it may take longer! It’s such a financial… It’s a big financial decision, and you have to make sure that you have all your ducks in a row. It’s a big responsibility on this company, because when we take investors money to make something, we have to know we’re going to be successful. There is no second chance. So we… that’s why it’s a slow process. We have to make sure everything that we’re doing is correct and that the risk is taken out of it.

DG: Well, why don’t you tell us just a little bit about what’s going to be happening for you guys in the next couple weeks until we come back on the first of November.

KT: Well, I believe in the next two weeks, we will have an artist onboard, and Nick will start writing the graphic novel. I know Hilarie is working on the treatment right now. We’ll be able to chat a lot about the graphic novel!

DG: That’ll be exciting! Hopefully we can bring Dave on.

KT: Yeah.

DG: He’s an interesting guy! [both laugh]

KT: Yeah. We’ll get some fresh people on, other than me! [Denise laughs] And you know, we’ll always continue fundraising for ‘Pedestrian.’ That’s one of the functions that I’m doing. I could always use some help, if anyone’s out there! But, that’s out goal. We’re trying to get ‘Pedestrian’ financed and up and running by next summer, so it’s a continuous duty.

DG: I did see some people make a comment at one point, and I’ve known one or two production companies with a group that I’ve worked with… I didn’t get involved with it, but they did… and there’s been fans that have asked, you know, ‘Hey, how can I give money?’ Is there ever a thought in your mind of maybe setting aside a percentage where a group of fans can be an investor?

KT: Well, you can never say never. I don’t know…

DG: That’s a lot of legal stuff! We don’t like legal stuff.

KT: Yeah, it is a lot of legal stuff that I can’t answer at the moment. I don’t know how that works. I’ve seen some of those projects. I think there was one in England where they raised the money by selling shares to just ordinary… to the fan base, but I don’t know… In this country, it’s… yeah. Lawyers are on everything. You have to be very careful. The government’s involved in it, so it’s a tip toe through the tulips, so to speak.

DG: [laughing] Lawyers make me laugh!

KT: They do! [laughing] But they’re not very funny, are they?

DG: No! [laughing] We’ve had to go… We went through that with this podcast. [both laugh] It was an interesting experience!

KT: Exactly, and it’s even worse when you’re talking about millions of dollars. You know, everyone has attorneys.

DG: We were just trying to do something for free! [laughs]

KT: Yeah, yeah. You saw how that ended! Back in talking with some of these sharks, you know, investors and things that have their own powerful attorneys, and you know, everybody’s trying to structure it so they’re protected, so we have to make sure everyone is happy and satisfied. It’s just a process.

DG: Well, we’re going to close out with a question and since it’s just you and I, guess what?

KT: Yeah, I guess I have to answer it.

DG: [laughing] You have to answer it! This question is kind of funny, because I make this joke all the time, so you probably know what it entails. The question is from Courtney, and Courtney says, ‘Will you guys ever have interns? I think how you guys operate would be a great place to learn!’ And why are you laughing?

KT: Well, I have to laugh, because my office deals I’ve kind of pushed off to Elizabeth with interns, and you know what, I understand that that’s very important, to get a foot in the door. That’s the only way to get in this business, someone helping you. And so the answer to your question is, eventually, yes. I mean, I will… once ‘Pedestrian’ is up and running, we’ll have a couple. I get a lot of emails from folks who want to help, want to volunteer, want to do internships, and stuff like that. And it’s important that the internship is for school, so that they get credit, because it’s a lot of work and I want to make sure they get something out of it. So, eventually yes. We will… I think ‘Pedestrian’ will have an intern or two. People can start getting their foot in the door that way.

DG: That would be exciting for people, though, to… if you get the right one.

KT: Yeah, you know, I did an internship at a T.V. station a long, long time ago. It was great! It was, you know, a foot in the door, and I believe that’s something that you have to do in this business, is reach down and lift people up and give them a chance.

DG: Kelly, thanks for answering Courtney’s question. Hopefully when, maybe, it comes around, and you need an intern, maybe Courtney will be one!

KT: I hope so. I mean, again, I think the first time we have interns would be on ‘Pedestrian.’

DG: There you go. Well, Kelly, thanks for coming on the podcast! It’s going to be a little lonely in the next couple of weeks, but we’ll make it!

KT: We’ll make it. As always, it’s my pleasure, and I appreciate what you do, Denise, and we’ll chat soon!

HB: Thank you guys so much for listening to the Southern Gothic Productions Podcast. We hang out on Wednesdays so be sure to check us out! See you next time.

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