University Proposal to MWS Project!!

Hello Everyone,

I have VERY exciting news!  Today when I picked up the "pads" for our posters from the print/copy shop at the University, Rose, the shop manager, asked if she could enter our poster in a national graphics/print/poster competition!  The University has won this competition several times, but as Rose explained, she had not seen a poster worthy of entry for a few years.  Wow!  What an incredible proposal this is for the project!  Just to be asked is a HUGE honor.  You must understand, that when you enter the copy shop, the walls are decorated with incredible posters/flyers and various artwork (as well as mounted awards) that has been collected over the years.  Really beautiful work(s).  So for Rose to even propose such a thing is MAJOR...she has seen it all.  This means NATIONAL recognition and viewing of the poster/project by an entirely new genre of people...ARTISTS!

Of course I said yes immediately!  The entry is in the spring...I will find out details and report back to you as soon as possible!  In the mean time, Rose was so impressed with the poster that she is going to print a huge poster on one of her speciality printers and hang it on the door of the shop.  Will definitely be taking a picture of that and will post to the blog for your viewing pleasure.

Once again folks, this project lets me know that it has a power and a life of it's own...and their are no limits on where this is going.

:}

PR Blitz!

Hello Everyone,

I have just seen the posters and 4x6 cards printed for the first time.  One of our faculty at the University (Bob) even custom designed a blue color for us...he calls it "Mystic Blue"!  Thanks BOB!  And a special thanks to Prof Kim, a master printer (not to mention a fine art photographer) for all your help!

All materials are just gorgeous!  The students, faculty, and staff that have seen them are very impressed with their artistic level and beauty.    Even though we have not posted them yet, they are already causing quite a buzz around campus.

You get the feeling you are looking at a piece of art...not just a poster.  I think all of the MWS ladies will be very happy with their promotional materials.  Truly, they reflect beauty, artistic expression, mysticism, power, and intrigue.  I guarantee you, each person that even glimpses at the poster out of the corner of their eye, will stop dead in their tracks to take a longer look!  Ha, mission accomplished!

This is quite a milestone for the Team.  Much, much planning, brainstorming, coordinating, and just plain hard work has gone into this campaign and believe me, it's not over yet.  We still need to receive the print order, and distribute them to our target areas, Salem, Boston, and New York City.  Having to wait until the last minute because of situations beyond our control, we have run into major printing, financial, and time issues!  But, once again our Project Manager, William, comes to the rescue with problem solving ideas, an incredible level of professionalism, and not to mention the finances to bail us out of this situation.  THANK YOU WILLIAM - you have saved us once again, and you really are a PRINCE!

During the first week of October a small number of posters and cards will be distributed around Salem, then when we receive the bulk order blanket distribution will begin (right during mid-terms...luv it).
:}

Lincoln comforting Marcio after treatment

Resting after fluids injections

 Lincoln's halo showing!  Marcio feeling better.

As most of you know, the mascot for the MWS project is Marcio Pitarcio Esquire (black alpha).  For over a month now we have been struggling with kidney disease.  His brother Lincoln, comforts him every single night during our fluid injections/treatment...never leaving his side.   There is NO restraining or even coaxing involved, they both know that this must be.  With the incredible support and assistance of The Feline Hospital (Salem), I think Marcio is getting a bit better.  For the first time in over a month he ate some solids last night!  Our little family is pulling together during this crisis and we KNOW Freyja is constantly with us...guiding/supporting/comforting us all.   As far as the Feline Hospital goes...well, all I can say is that they are THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS of all things feline!  And believe me when I tell you this has been a real ordeal..but, Marcio would not be with us today if it were not for them!

We thank you so very much FH for all that you have done and continue to do.

I will keep you all updated on our progress.

:}

Schedule

Good Morning Everyone,

The University is now in full swing again and all PR materials are now finished.  We will be sending everything to the printers asap, in hopes to get them back and distributed during October.

Due to so many scheduling difficulties and many other complications over the summer, we are running a month behind.  Since October is totally slammed for nearly all of the potential "Mystic Women" in Salem, I will not be conducting the remaining interviews until November of this year.  However, I will go forward with the new shoot schedule and will continue shooting...we are on schedule in this area.  A new schedule will be sent to the selected women.

The Project Manager is steadily working on numerous stories and hopes to be up to date in the next month or so.

I hope all of you are well, and looking forward to a fantastic October!  Everyone at my house is certainly looking forward to cooler weather and the arrival of the healing winds of the north.

Have many new things to report to you over the next couple of weeks...until then...breathe ladies...just breathe.

:}

What you get AS A MYSTIC WOMAN

If you are selected, after interviewing, to become a participant in this project you will be presented with the following :

Signed Originals!

(2) 8x10's of your choice (excluding the top candidate for publication) of your studio shoot

or

(1)  11x14 of your choice      "                     "                    "

These prints are museum quality and are processed by a master printer.  Value = $500 to $1000 depending upon the shot and your above choice.

Inclusion of your shoot (10 - 15 shots) in The Mystic Women of Salem Gallery on Smugmug (my site is viewed 25,000 to 30,000 views per month on average).

Unlimited promotion(s) via PR campaign materials and contact information on the BLOG.

Not to mention national (hopefully global)  promotion from the book publication itself.

:}







                                                              

PR Blitz Campaign

Good morning everyone!

I simply cannot wait for you all to see the posters/cards for the upcoming pr blitz...they are eye catching and exquisitely beautiful,  reflecting the mystery and beauty of The Mystic Women of Salem!

We are doing the final touches today, and I hope to have them printed and distributed in 2-3 weeks.  I would ask each of you to view them (will put them up on smugmug upon completion) and send your feedback.  If you'd like some of these materials, please let me know.

Spacing of course was an issue, so not all of you are on them...however, please know that we did the best that we could to include as many women as possible.

I am hoping to reach thousands of people over the next 6 weeks!  Of course, they will be posted all over the University campus...we have over 5000 students here.  Will be distributing to local shoppes/around Salem/Boston and New York City.  As I have said many times, it is critical to have a large following and fan base for publication.  During these hard economic times I certainly hope that this blitz will bring you an increase in your fan bases/customers and clients.  It is one of the goals of this entire project to do just that...to promote you, bring you new business, and certainly new admirers.  This is why we included your contact information under the "Mystic Women" button of the blog...we continue to work very hard for you and I feel it is important for you to know that.

Luv you all!

Therese Pendragon, Parting the Mists of Avalon - Behind The Scenes

The Proj.Mgr. assisting with props.

Lighting change during second half of shoot (test shot).

Mystic Woman, Therese, test shot -  beginning of shoot.

A sneak peek of William and Tabitha assisting Therese.

Therese arrived early in the afternoon on Sunday with her friend Tabitha.  William, the Project Manager, had arrived in Salem a couple of days prior to the shoot, to assist me in the studio.  He and I both knew this was going to be a tough shoot and that there was no way I could do it alone.  My vision was complex and required manipulating air/fabrics/shadows AND lighting.  So, a couple of months ago William volunteered to come and assist me  (he also had business to tend to in Salem).

The vision was of Therese in a canoe with her staff,  floating toward the mists...then parting them with her staff and of course her majick.  I knew it was going to be difficult...but, I had no idea that it would require two assistants, me, and Therese  to bring the vision into this realm/reality.  Fortunately, Freyja was watching out for the project yet again...by sending Tabitha and William.  We simply could not have achieved these shots without the two of them.

Therese was dressed and ready to begin when she arrived.  However, my vision called for her hair to be up (very Goddess like), and since she did not know exactly what I wanted,  she left it up to me to do it.  Being the considerate person that Therese is, she came equipped with an assortment of pins and clasps for me to choose from.   She also had several outfits w/props for me to choose from.  However, when I first saw Therese upon arrival, I knew she nailed the outfit from the get-go!  We got her hair done and decided upon the props to be used, then proceeded.

Even before we began the shoot,  my eyes quickly began fogging up...as if there were a film of vaseline over my iris'.  I rubbed, clawed, used eye drops, etc...but it got no better.  I had to rely on William to tell me if the beginning shots were in focus or not.  All I could see on the LED screen of the camera was a very blurred image...but, somehow I knew they were good, and instincts told me to keep going.  That's just what I did...with NO clear vision.  After the shoot, when I called it a wrap...I was helping take Therese's hair down, it occurred to me that her hair seemed damp and slick.  I asked her if she had hair oil in it...she confirmed.  Instantly I realized that I had literally blurred my eyes with oil (as I have a bad habit of touching my eyes without realizing it)!  However, even without 20/20 the shoot was a smashing success!

So, the moral of this story is...obviously, I won't be helping with hair again.  It is critical that your photog has her eyes!  hee hee :}   You'll never know it when you see her shots though, they are truly gorge and VERY, VERY mystical!!!

Therese, Tabitha, and William worked so hard prior to, during, and after the shoot.  You all were a pleasure to work with and I cannot thank you enough.  We experienced intensity, focused thoughts, some laughs, and had some majickal assistance from time to time.  But,  most importantly...I called it a  "wrap" knowing that we had just created and achieved something quite extraordinary.  I also knew at that point,  this shoot would be impossible "re-create" ever again.

Mission Accomplished :}

Updates

Our mascot, Marcio Pitarcio, Esquire (my black feline familiar) has been under critical care for the last week with kidney disease.  I am having to give him fluid treatments (with the bag/needles) an assortment of meds and a large variety of foods to temp him to eat... each and every night.  He is a little better now though...keep us in your thoughts.

Barbara, of Angelica's shots will be finished and uploaded to the Mystic Women of Salem Gallery this week and I hope to have Therese's shots done as well.

Please bear with me everyone...it is a trying time.  Heck...the whole summer has been a trying time.

Muchas Gracias,
Rebecca :}

Barbara of Angelica's

A cool shot of a prop!



Checking the lighting on Barbara's props.




A couple of test shots of Ms. Barbara




before her shoot began.

 Barbara arrived dressed to the nines and groomed to the max!  It was a beautiful day in Salem after hurricane Irene's rage luckily skirted around us, for the most part.  So, it was a great day to shoot.

I told Barbara my vision for her shoot about a month ago.  With that in mind, she brought several outfits and props that would enhance the theme of her shoot.  As luck would have it, the very first outfit she put on and with the Hurrell style lighting we nailed several perfect shots right off the bat.  She listened very carefully to directions and within moments seemed very relaxed and at ease with the camera and lights.  We got numerous good shots and several great ones...yea! 

Within an 1 3/4 hours I called it a wrap!  A very enjoyable and easy afternoon with Ms. Barbara.

Congratulations to our "angel" Mystic Woman... Barbara - you did great!  :}