As 2024 begins to wind down, I could not be prouder of the film festival results for First Launch. Earlier this year the sequel to First Signal began its journey through the festival market at the script stage. Over the last two weeks, First Launch has been accepted into The Macoproject Film Festival and the Asian Film Festival. This brings the script’s total take to 20 awards and 10 official selections. My sincere thanks to all the respective juries.

When I tell people who aren’t involved in the industry what goes into making a feature film, they often look at me with a bit of confusion. From the initial idea to writing the screenplay to the search for financing, to the production, release, and marketing, whenever you see a film you can be sure that a minimum of three years has been committed to something that only takes you two hours to watch. With the majority of film projects, you probably want to add a few more years to that estimate. So next time you watch a movie in the theatre or stream online, take a moment to sit through the credits. It really does take a village!

SOS United States, as a novel, is now being reviewed by a few publishers. Due to the overwhelming number of submissions they receive, I know this is a play for the long term. In the interim, I’ve been breaking down the screenplay for production and budgeting. That task should be completed in a few weeks. With all the attention the actual SS United States is getting in the media due to its future as a reef, along with some of the general story elements that are playing out in the real world, I think the timing may be in the project’s favor.

Speaking of ocean liners, if you are in the Boston market, I highly recommend Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition. This new exhibit opened about a month ago and is truly a wonder. Although my mother and I have attended several Titanic exhibitions between the United States and United Kingdom, I would say this one has been the most immersive.

In addition to countless artifacts we’ve never seen before, their recreation of the Grand Staircase along with a First Class hallway was studio quality.  Offering visitors the opportunity to be photographed on the Grand Staircase made for a great keepsake and memory.

As we were walking through the exhibition, one particular artifact that moved me the most was the davit. It was these pieces of equipment that swung out the lifeboats and lowered them with scared passengers as the arctic cold Atlantic Ocean awaited them. It’s hard to imagine what they were thinking as they evacuated the “Ship of Dreams” towards an uncertain fate.

In closing, the sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 2012, not only represented one of the greatest maritime disasters in history but illustrated a microcosm of civilization from high society to those making the journey to start anew. These exhibitions keep their hopes, dreams, and memories alive for us to learn and appreciate who they were and the world they lived in.