The meeting with the people at the tv station went amazing.

I didn’t really believe that they were truly serious about these interstitials. I kind of thought that they might still be feeling us out. Or if they did actually want us to do these 1-minute bits, then we’d start in January and roll one out every couple of weeks or so.

I was totally wrong about well everything. They really do want these comedy interstitials. And they want two of them, shot and edited in the next three weeks. Wow. Totally didn’t see that coming.

The other thing my co-producer Jill and I both expected was that the tv powers that be, would insist on having a great deal of input on the final product. Hell we’re using their cameras, mics and editing equipment and air waves!

Totally wrong again.

Instead our mentor on this project emphasized that this was Our Project. That we were free to try different things, explore, find out what works for us and ultimately create the segment that we want. Essentially she’s said: Here’s your sandbox. One minute. One theme. Go play.

So tomorrow’s the meeting with the peeps over at the tv station. Yesterday one of the women sent over some questions and asked us to be prepared to chat about them. Among them was “What’s your vision for this 1 minute spot?” An absolutely reasonable request. Even my guy suggested that I should be ready to talk about that. Except that the question sent me into a quiet panic. “What? Vision? Me? I don’t know. Oh my God I really don’t know. What the fuck am I doing here?”

But I met with my partner. And she is amazing at letting me freak out and get it all out of my system. I guess by now she just knows that this is how I operate. Then we started thinking about how this spot would look. Hashed out ideas, put things together. Took things apart. And by the end I felt much calmer. It’s like just taking action relieves some of the stress. It keeps that voice in the back of my head silent. The one that says “You can’t do this! You don’t know anything!”. It’s like a much needed moratorium on my inner critic.

Ooh nice word “moratorium”! Don’t get to use that one much.

A few weeks ago I chatted with two comics if they’d be interested in being interviewed for the  Women in Comedy episode. And then this interstitual business happened so I had to tell them that the show idea was being put on hold for a little while.

I didn’t expect them to get back to me. They certainly didn’t have to.  But I was pleasantly surprised that both chicks contacted me just to reiterate their interest and enthusiasm for the Women in Comedy episode (whenever it happens). Wow! How great!

It’s funny. I’m continually surprised when anyone shows genuine interest in this idea. I totally expect people to be like, “Comedy? Toronto? Women? Who cares?” So I’m totally delighted when the response is: “What a great idea!”, “Count me in”, “Keep me posted” and best of all  “Can I help?”