Yesterday morning as I was working in Starbucks, I noticed a woman introducing herself to a man who’d just arrived, primarily because she used the immortal and ear-catching words, “I’m the writer.” I spent the next hour or so alternating between writing and evesdropping as three more men showed up and were introduced.
Someone took out a laptop and showed a video. Great delight was expressed. Enthusiasm grew. The project was discussed. A crowdfunding project was in the works. I was sitting there twitching and going “THOSE PEOPLE ARE OVER THERE MAKING ART WITHOUT ME!”
I listened intently, but I could not catch the name of the project. After about an hour, two of the men stood up in preparation to leave.
I leapt up and hurried to their table, putting myself between the two men who were leaving and the three people who remained sitting. “I’m sorry,” I said, “I’m sure you’ll think this is very strange, but I couldn’t help overhearing your discussions and your project sounds really exciting, but I didn’t catch the name of it, and I want to know what to look out for on the crowdfunding site.”
I’m not sure I’ve ever seen five people look so collectively astonished and delighted. Chuffed, I believe is the operative term. Hands were offered all around for me to shake, along with, “And your name is?”
“Catie,” I said, “CE Murphy. I’m a novelist myself.”
“I’m the producer,” said the man who’d first arrived. “I’m the director. I hope I’m the director!” said the man leaving with him. “I’m the writer,” said the woman, and the other two men were introduced as actors. The producer insisted I take his seat as they left. *Insisted*. They sat me down. They chatted me up about the project. We exchanged email addresses. They asked my own story. They eventually remembered to tell me what the project was called. :)
It’s called “Artists”, and it’s a proposal for a sitcom, and they’re hoping to launch their Fundit.ie (like Kickstarter, but for Ireland) project in April. I’ll link to it when they do. :)