Written by Valerie Smaldone
A few years ago, I took a road professionally that I had not entirely anticipated. I had always been on the talent side of the camera and microphone as a broadcaster, interviewer, host and actor. I liked that world just fine. But the idea of being the one to create something, like a play or a film, and be responsible for making it happen has always intrigued me. Yes, I had co-written and produced a play in the early 2,000’s. I had even produced a short film way before that. I have produced audio content and podcasts, radio shows and articles, and even live events that I hosted. But what happened during the great Pandemic was that I started to dip my toe into the guts of producing behind the scenes. Raising money, tracking down companies that would get exposure in exchange for filming at their place of business, identifying people with a story, setting up schedules, getting press involved, as well as local politicians who wanted to be in front of a camera, were just a small part of what producing entails. So, my new career began, and despite the incredible challenges any producer faces, I kind of loved it all.
I went on to become an associate producer on a documentary-series, then producer of a film… which somehow, I fell into directing. (Now THAT is a story for another day.)
While the filming was wrapping, the logical question is, what is next? The answer was an episodic series highlighting the notion that people and communities can help those in need, do good, have fun, and create strong bonds.
The show that was developed, along with my two producing partners, was Divine Renovation, and we were lucky enough to snag television icon Erik Estrada to host it. This series identifies families or facilities in need of home enhancements that will profoundly change lives, bringing together businesses, not for profits and volunteers to participate. We also provide a spiritual uplift, a delightful surprise to the recipients in each episode. It is a home improvement show married to an inspirational message.
We shot Season 1 in the lovely small city of Wilmington, North Carolina. With our very modest budget, the plan was to shoot 6 episodes in 6 days. In and out. And we did it…during a hurricane, to boot.
The show was not the best representation of what we could do technically, but it surely hit the heart, and because of the spirit behind the series, Divine Renovation was picked up immediately by distributors. That encouraged us to plan for a second season. Twice the budget, different location, more time to tell the stories. And we did that too. Divine Renovation, Destination: New England launches on Sept. 19 of this year on multiple platforms (to be announced.) But wait. There’s more.
While doing postproduction, editing, marketing, and press for that season, we were planning for a major splashy Red-Carpet Premiere of the series at the Warner Theatre, an art deco gem in Torrington, Conn., one of the locations we shot in. Now, this is not just any theatre. This is a magnificent movie palace, restored to its original glory (down to the same carpet pattern it had when it opened in 1931), an architectural masterpiece that alone is worth the trip to visit.
This Premiere, taking place on June 20, is an undertaking like no other. It requires endless time and dedication to make it happen. Between the Producer’s Cut of the episodes, crafting the run of show, working with the technical team, marketing it, finding sponsors, and getting the pre-show VIP party together, it is an enormous task. At the start of this year, we had time. Months to make it all come to fruition. But suddenly, June is just weeks away, and so…presto, those first 6 months of 2024 are in the books. While I am obsessing (obsessing!!) about this Premiere, I need to take a moment, breathe a little, and assess what has occurred in the first half of this year. Let me dial back a bit.
As 2023 came to a close, with the backdrop of the chaotic landscape of our world, my colleague, Monty Hobbs, and I, launched a new content creation company, with the unique mission of not only creating entertaining and compelling content, but making sure to do good along the way.
And so… Just Do GOOD Entertainment was born. In keeping with things happening quickly, and perhaps realizing that the doing good part really resonates with people, Monty and I signed a rep deal with Buchwald Talent in the very early days of January to represent us and the project. While the cold winds blew, Season 2 of Divine Renovation was deep in the editing process, pre-production for that splashy Red-Carpet Premiere was happening, and we made a partnership deal with 101 Mobility, a nationwide company that provides adaptive equipment for people with mobility issues, to integrate their important and life-changing products into our content.
We went to Nashville with the beloved host of Divine Renovation and our friend, Erik Estrada for an appearance and to celebrate the Divine Renovation-101 Mobility partnership.
Also in the first six months of 2024, we secured Erik and best-selling author Steven Manchester to write a children’s book featuring a friendship between a cop and a very special dad who happens to have a chronic disease. A portion of proceeds from the sale of that book will be donated to a charity focused on Multiple Sclerosis.
Meanwhile, Season 1 of Divine Renovation launched and is available on at least 9 streaming platforms, and the film we produced displaying kindness and doing for others, The Thursday Night Club, is also widely available.
That brings us up to date to Spring 2024. The Premiere that was months away, is almost here! Every morning, I count down the days to the big, huge live event that will highlight our season with a screening and an onstage program with Erik Estrada. And still, we give back…donating a portion of ticket sales to the preservation of the magnificent Warner Theatre.
June 20, the event takes place in a 1,772-seat theatre in the wonderful town of Torrington, Conn. That’s a lot of seats to fill! As time ticks, the anxiety grows.
Will the show go off without a hitch? Will the food and drinks arrive for the VIP pre-show party? Will people come???? Fretting, stressing, enduring sleepless nights, eating while standing. This, my friend, is indeed the life of an independent entrepreneurial producer.
On June 21, we will need an exceptionally long nap. And on June 22, we start all over again.
