..."In My Heart" (Director's Cut)

Recently, in spring cleaning mode, I unearthed this long ago video I had the great pleasure to work on a lifetime ago. Seems that way, now. I look at some of the dates on here and wonder as many of us do, where the time went. Before Tarzan hit Broadway in previews, months and months were spent on a sound stage in Brooklyn, NY prepping and rehearsing. It's hard to believe that more than a decade has passed since then, but I thoroughly remember 2005-2006 as the year I spemt engrossed in this unfurling production. The footage took me vicariously behind the scenes while I spent the time seated before twin monitors in a Manhattan video editing suite cutting teasers and trailers as things progressed. To this day, I'm not sure who these were geared for, but it was always with the highest priority. Disney apparently had a lot on the line. While my hands and mind worked furiously to appease the client, my soul had unknowingly, unceasingly warmed so much to this show from cast to soundtrack that I became completely enamored with it. As the months moved on, and Tarzan hit the stage, my creative half (whatever side of the brain that happens on) kicked in resulting in weeks of after hours work in a silent office to create this piece. Some would call it a Labor of Love. As a writer however, I am really, really trying to avoid the use of cliche's so I won't call it that (even if that is exactly what it was).

Fast forward some months, and ticket sales are waning. The client needs something more to draw interest. Unselfishly, and nearly free of charge, I offer this piece that I had kept solely to myself. Lesson to those who know little of video editing. There are always changes and like the dreaded the retail customer, the client is always right!

WRONG!

Corporate (not to be named) decided on a somewhat different approach to show more highlights and statistics. I followed directions and re-worked the piece over many, many days until they had exactly what they wanted. Their version worked, no question and ultimately, I was proud of it once my disappointment ebbed. Now it's over ten years later and deep down in a night table drawer, I find a DVD of the original version I had all but forgotten about. I don't know, maybe it's with a sense of stubbornness on my part, but WOW did corporate miss the mark. Their version took all the heart out of it. Why does any of this matter? Why is this even bloggable? (I know, so not a word). It's important to me. It's as important to me now as it was so long ago. Am I overstepping bounds by releasing this footage, now? Consider it a production demo. I do a fair amount of freelance video work and as I don't have a true demo reel online, well then this is it. 'Nuf said. For any who have gotten this far in my rant (and I thank you for that), go on and hit the play button if you like. In fact, I think I'll join you and do the same. We'll watch it together on