Ch Ch Ch Changes! Business Plan Changes That Is...

Having written a post a couple of weeks back about two very important members of the industry. And when I say “very important members of the industry” I actually mean, industry royalty. I’m speaking of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, two incredibly creative people and visionaries from very early on in their careers.

Having taken this class this month, and going through some personal situations that have made me question myself, my plans in the very professional aspect of my life, and remembering that this was the last blog post of this class, it was convenient to find that it was about furthering even more into the information we found on these two incredible people we spoke about. So, I went back to that first blog post from three weeks ago, and (not that I forgot, but it sort of slipped my mind) that George and Steven must have went through similar circumstances at a moment in their lives where they had to question themselves, whether they were doing the right thing, in pursuing this big dream they had of making motion pictures.

But you get over it, you know? It’s all part of a human being’s development. So, I went back to my original business plan, and looked at it from a standpoint where I literally had nothing to lose. So, I decided to create a business plan that not only helped me make movies by myself, but also help others make their own films, whether they were international filmmakers looking for inexpensive locations, or just local filmmakers with the artistic intention of expressing an idea through film making. So the general idea for the business was originally going to be a film studio so that I could make the films that I wanted to, but I knew that it needed a bigger purpose than just that. So, it became sort of this dream for other filmmakers whether locals or international to come to my studio and film their movies.

I think investors will see the importance of the studio not just being a studio for the sake of being a studio. The fact that we are open for business for others as well is something that can speak volumes to investors. After all, we have to make a living out of this. At the end of the day we are looking for profit from this venture, so, it’s a good opportunity to help others fulfill their dreams as well as ours.

Steven Spielberg and George Lucas

Steven Spielberg is one of the most important and renowned directors of all time in the entire planet. That's actually a fact. He is considered a pioneer in the field of directing and producing. He has directed movies like: Jaws, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, and Encounters of the Third Kind. Steven has achieved many successes throughout his career, starting with his first short film in 1968 Amblin. Which name he later gave to his first production company Amblin Entertainment.

After that he started directing episodes of Columbo, and then after that he directed the film Duel, his ticket to the big screen. What came after that was what many today call classics. He eventually opened his own film studio called DreamWorks and proceeded to create many films that have garnered him recognition for his true artistry as a director and visionary.

Which brings me to my next point. In our discussion post this week, we were assigned to watch a video about three business-owners in Detroit, one of the most affected cities by the recession in the US. We saw how brave these people were, and we admired them because in all the things that were happening, they never wavered in creating what they did in their businesses. They managed to be successful in the midst of a recession. And all they had going for them, as far as they knew, was the motivation to do what they truly love to do. And that’s what I think about when I think of Steven Spielberg. Someone who has lived his life doing not only what he does best, but also what he loves the most, and has managed to make a great living out of it. It’s truly a great story to be inspired by, and use as a motivator for our own businesses and/or dreams.

Now George Lucas is another visionary.

What this man has managed to do for his name in pop culture history is basically unheard of. He is one of the most known names in the world. Why? Because he created StarWars. A story that is 6 movies long; and an entertainment empire that has been in business for many years now. He is number 4 in the list of most powerful in the entertainment business (following Time Warner, Turner, and his very close friend Steven Spielberg) with his many businesses, but perhaps his most important one is Lucas Film.
This is just another example that when you’re passionate about something that you feel and know it could take you places, you just go for it and do it. He certainly went through a lot to get to where he is at right now.
To me it comes down to dedication, and passion for what you love. I don’t think that you achieve anything when you do things you don’t like or even love. Yes, it’s romantic talk about how we’re supposed to live our lives, but think about it. When they started out their careers, they never thought they would be who they are today. They would’ve never thought people would regard them as they do right now, which is Hollywood royalty. They had to work hard to actually get there.

Now, after all that ranting I have to get down to the business of it all.

What are the critical & key components that investors are looking for in a plan? Why are these considered key?

I think that what they are looking for in a business plan doesn’t completely rely in passion for what you’re planning on doing with the business. I think it’s also a matter of being business savvy. Writing a business plan that is attractive the investors, something that doesn’t involve them having to pay more than they want to or more than they should. Which is why it’s important to start the business for at least 2 years, and see how it goes before going investor hunting. Once you do that, you go in that meeting, and you know exactly how your business works. And they obviously want to see actual progress in the plan you are presenting them with. So set some goals or those first two years prior to that meeting, and see how it goes. The last thing you want to do is go in that meeting without really knowing how your business works, what works for it, and what doesn’t work for it. 

These two men inspire me to actually do my best and make sure that I do things right, without really losing my path in what I really want to do with my life. You don't really hear of stories like theirs anymore. It's like there is no joy in actually fulfilling your own dreams. It's probably what scares me the most about this journey that I'm in right now, and that is about to end in two months. 

But, like they did, I have to give it a try.



May the force be with you.

Hit the comments afterwards and let me know your thoughts!