Highway 29 - The First Meeting

[Les Butchart]

Well, it's Thanksgiving and I have something else to give thanks for. Yesterday we had a great meeting at a coffee shop in Greensboro called the Green Bean. We filled the conference room there and had a wide-ranging discussion about how to develop the promise of this new motion picture production company we're calling Highway 29.

For the record, here's the attendance list: the five founders: Lucas Butchart, Matt Nunn, Mark Robertson, Alksander Epselund, and myself; Billy Ingram, who is playing a lead role in Swimming,; Rebecca Clark, director of the Piedmont Triad Film Commission; Cameron Wood, artist; David Treat, musician; and Marshall Lakes, artist/graphic designer.

This was the first time everyone had been exposed to the name Highway 29 Motion Pictures, and everyone seemed okay with it. It's not east finding a company name that everyone loves. We didn't want a name that sounded too goofy or strange or "indie" because investors in North Carolina tend to be conservative. In fact, one reason we felt the need for an entity other than Movies Among Friends is that we felt that Movies Among Friends sounded a little too lightweight and casual, not business-like enough. But we also recognized that this website serves a special and unique purpose as an open community and free-flowing source of information on independent filmmaking, and that it was probably best to set the production company apart from it, yet to stay allied with it. In the future you'll see Highway 29 referenced on this site. Just keep in mind that it is the official, legal, corporate structure for making films, whereas MAF is the informal social network behind the company. Or, to put it another way, if you want to become involved in Highway 29's projects, the best way to reach us is through Movies Among Friends.

That's my report on the meeting. It was a great meeting with lots of energy and hope and goodwill flowing, and some great ideas popping up everywhere. The stage is being set for Highway 29 and our first feature project.

All the best ... and Happy Thanksgiving! //Les