Personal Update - Bipolar the Movie

Goals & Vision For the Film

This next blog is from the heart and pretty much paves the way for the next four months of my life and the progress of Bipolar the Movie. On a personal level I will focus on the two most important pieces of my life right now, and that is being the best possible father I can be to my little boy and to be the best teacher I can be to my second graders. With that said, the goals for my advocation are about to become the most challenging I will place upon myself yet - in addition to getting any semblance of sleep.

I have set five major goals professionally from now until December 31. The first is to secure underwriting funds to do a multiple city tour of speaking; to share my story and valuable information educating others on bipolar disorder, share my artwork - which coincides with the presentations, and to promote the upcoming feature film "Bipolar".

The second is to complete the fifteen paintings that are part of the Polarity Paintings - Series for display in the presentations and showings. The third is to complete a unique and inspiring video for teenagers, young adults, and related groups focusing on the difficult topic of suicide, providing inspiration in all we are and do.

The fourth will be to write and submit a follow-up autobiography to a national publishing company. The first book 15 Minutes At A Time, of a brief biography and 120 writings/poems, did not tell the deeper story that I believe can help many people to relate and find hope in their struggles. My story is no more grandiose or significant than anyone else's, but believe it offers a view from the mind not yet shared by others. I don't care how simple it may sound, but if sharing my story helps one teenager, one adult, or simply one person from taking their life and giving themselves a second chance - then everything I have done, everything I have shared, everything I have gone through will have been worth it. Anything beyond that is just incredible and a wonderful bonus.

The fifth and most challenging will be to raise the $300,000 to make and produce the feature film "Bipolar". As humble as I can possibly be, I will confidently say that we 'will' raise the entire amount by the end of December or sooner. I say this for several reasons.

Number one, and in no particular order, I believe in the law of attraction. If you visualize it and believe without a semblance of doubt that it will be and can happen - it will happen! Remove 'all' doubt and visualize with clarity in our mind exactly what we want and need, and we will attract the events and people to make it come to fruition. I absolutely believe it to be true...and have to. My faith is also as strong as it has ever been, but I keep that personal and to myself.

There are many people who ask me how the film is going and I believe genuinely for the most part that they are interested and want to see where the progress currently is. However, whether it be family, friends, or an average inquiry, I don't completely buy into their inherent interest and belief that it will succeed. An elementary teacher? Making a feature film? Naaah. Sadly, my experience with all of this so far has proven people in general to look for failure, to doubt, to unknowingly critique, to tell how 'they' think it should really be done, or to see a fall in a person's attempt to do something they have never done before. I am just sharing it as I have experienced it thus far. These thoughts, these feelings, these opinions...only make my resolve to succeed greater and more passionate. I know there are many people out there who 'truly' do want to see "Bipolar" succeed...and I am and will do everything humanly possible to make that happen.

Secondly, I have searched and patiently surrounded myself with some wonderful, professional people in the business. There are those who are out only for themselves, but you search - and search - and search some more, until you find those people who not only want to help, but will go out of their way to see something creative come to life. And not because they want the spotlight, or the recognition, but because they genuinely want to help others succeed and see something creative and unique come to life. If you surround yourself with great people, whether friends, family, or professionally - incredible things can happen. I've been very blessed and fortunate to have people like that helping with this film and other dreams I hope to accomplish.

A third and very important reason I know we will find the resources to make this film and have it succeed, is that I believe it has value and purpose for many. I will say boldly and please excuse the harshness of this, but there are so many films that are absolute-shit, poorly made, and funded with hundreds, if not millions of dollars. If by some horrible, unimaginable fate the film is not well done or not inspirational to others - I will be the first to stand up and take whatever criticism and blame that is given and necessary for its failure. I know there will be some people who simply won't like it because I breathe in and out - or that my heart beats. I understand that. Films are subjective and what one person loves another may dislike. I just have to believe that there is enough positive support, encouragement, and backing for something as far-reaching as bipolar disorder, and the thousands of lives it touches.

As I have said before...what does all this have to do with the price of eggs? Nothing! I just wanted to take the risk to share openly what I am setting out to do, what this movie means to me, and what I hope to accomplish by bringing it to fruition. That is simply - to bring hope and inspiration to others.

Four months...time will tell.

NAMI - of Greater Milwaukee Presentation

Okay...procrastination can be a horrible thing, so guilty as charged. I wanted to go back a few weeks and talk briefly about a shared-presentation I did with an incredible woman named Diane Lotter on July 31, 2006. Diane is an incredible woman in her early fifties who wrote a beautiful book on her life with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. We spoke at a meeting for NAMI - of Greater Milwaukee and I was in awe of Diane's story. Very soft spoken and humble, she shared the brief history of her life with the two disorders, how she battled and beat alcoholism, and is today a successful mother and grandmother. It continues to amaze me, the incredible life changing stories that are out there of people who have made it through incredible odds. They are not famous athletes, famous actors or actresses, but everyday people like you and I - that are seen driving, in the grocery store, or walking down the street. Share your story. Let others know what your struggles are and were and how you overcame them. You never know when or whom your story will positively affect, and the impact it can have on someone else's life. I was so grateful and excited to have been able to get to know Diane and hear another incredible story of someone's survival and perserverance. If you would like to order Diane's book, "The Why of Me", please contact her at dlotter318@sbcglobal.net, or send $19.95 to 840 Weinert Rd. #318 West Bend, WI 53095 (she said she'll pay the postage).