So much to look forward to...

Things are progressing nicely here at Story Teller Pictures...An A-level television scribe has agreed to write the Pilot episode of our series in development, The Blair Boys. He comes from the likes of LA Law, NYPD Blue and Deadwood, and will stay on as co-creator...The pilot will be ready by March 1, '09 and HBO is first in line for the pitch...We continue to get very positive feedback from our indie film script DUST...the script is penned by Rob Smith who won the April '08, Kennedy Center John Cauble Award for his play of the same name...We intend to go out to major stars after the first of the year and hope to build the project around them...DUST is a compelling, relevant arthouse Drama...Also, Story Teller Pictures may have something in the works partnering with a NC based film company and a major network...more later on that and on Blair Boys developments...Other pojects in development with great potential are MASTER JUSTICE and LEVEL 4...more on them as we get closer...

On the acting front: I had a fabulous time working on Bordertown as 'Vincent Ames'...a man who literally leaves everything behind to find his kidnapped daughter. On his journey he finds himself, his daughter, and some very bad people. My partner and Director, Chris Allen Williams was on top of it every moment and was a delight to work with...Executive Producer Adam Sledd and Chris have worked hard to get the film sold...and they have...so that means we will be seeing BT on the shelves at Blockbuster before you know it....

Oh...on acting...well, this is why I keep doing it....

For the actor, there is a place at the core of a performance from which fear and self-consciousness have retreated...Once there, all the actor’s preparation is forgotten. He is empowered and fully present in the moment...This is ‘the sweet spot. Having visited this place, he will wish to return again and again.

Story Teller Pictures

Mark Joy here, of Story Teller Pictures. I've been at this for close to 25 years now and haven't always moved through the experience gracefully. Over the years I've had the little (and sometimes huge) complaints, disappointments and frustrations that come with the territory. In an occasional moment here and there, of fantastical belief that a more typical work-a-day job would magically take away all the discomfort, and fear of uncertainity I sometimes feel, I have resolved to leave the business...for about 5 minutes...Only then to realize (again), I don't want to, and I can't think of anything else I could do anyway. Obviously I'm still at it and it is not likely I am going anywhere. I hope to use this space to reflect a little for myself. I'll be posting updates about Story Teller's filmmaking endeavors and my experiences as an actor and what I may have (or haven't) learned...You know I actually started producing with the idea of creating my own roles because they were coming my way far less often, and I was afraid folks had discovered I couldn't act afterall...But, you know what, it's working and I can act, and I am carried through those complaints, disappointments and frustrations by an ever-growing optimism and dare I say faith, that there is much to look forward to...not only in the business, but in life...and it was through this pursuit that faith came. And that makes it all, ALL worthwhile. I hope you'll stop by every now and then and let us hear from you...All my best, Mark