I've been away for awhile, sucked into the vortex of the physical world, busy working, creating, learning, and manifesting--and this space has been quiet. After being away from Torontoland for quite sometime, I've returned and have been reconnecting with old friends, while also meeting new ones, who will all play a pivotal role in the future of Touch the Sun.

I've just finished a training program for Film/ TV industry professionals here in Torontoland. It was an intensive ten weeks of in-class lectures, guidance, panels, and seminars. Part of the program was the development of a company and a 'first' project to launch through that company, and as a result of the program, I've received much insight into Touch the Sun, where the idea was lacking, and how to finally birth this juggernaut. I've also just finished Directing and Producing my first feature film and am currently developing three TV series and a handful of feature films.

And now, I give to you the new Touch the Sun...

Touch the Sun Productions begins through me as a film/ video/ multi-media production company that is already established, staffed, and ready to go. Touch the Sun Productions is a Film and TV Production company focusing on the production of long-form ethnographic and documentary productions for theatrical release and Documentary and Ethnographic TV series that will focus on multi-cultural bridge building, inter-connectivity, Green, Spiritual and forward thinking ideas, and Political and Social reform. These productions may take on the form of the experimental, or poetic, or traditional narrative type productions.

The intention is to welcome other artistic disciplines, healers, and forward thinkers into Touch the Sun Productions to become a multi-disciplinary production collective and to create an intermingling of ideas and art, and the Production company will bring those ideas to life through the disciplines represented in the collective.

Touch the Sun Productions will establish an Artist-Run Centre and I've already gots my sights on an old Vaudeville theatre that's in need of some lovin'. This centre will be a place for the company to work and play together, and will also provide a means of presenting our work to an audience by hosting one-off multi-disciplinary events and by having regular presentation possibilities for film, theatre/ dance, visual arts, music and so on...

As mentioned, I am busy developing film and TV series through Touch the Sun Productions. I will always use the international markets to sell Touch the Sun Production's work, which will bring money into the company, while also promoting the collective. I will always retain educational rights to sell dvds on the Touch the Sun Production's website, which will allow Touch the Sun Productions to become a self-distribution entity for its own work.

Touch the Sun will launch a full-on broadcasting entity within the next year, which will feature the work of the Toronto company through a film, video, and new media channel, internet radio station for music and information, a visual arts gallery and publishing house, which will be run out of the Toronto Artist-Run Centre. Remember, the Artist-Run Centre houses a fully functioning production collective, which enables us to create our own work, hold workshops, training, and healing sessions, for internet broadcast. An open call for user-generated content will also be extended, as long as the work fits into Touch the Sun's mandate. The eventual goal for this webcasting network is to become a self-sufficient producer of original content for the web, and a viable marketing and financing plan is in place to get us to that stage. The most important thing I've learned in the program I just finished is that the future of broadcasting is on the internet--one only has to look at You Tube to understand this BUT no one has figured out a viable way of making money from the internet--until now.

It is still my intention to establish Artist Run Centres, either in-city, or eco-village, around the globe to create a network of venues to present work in, produce work out of, tour work through, and broadcast work onto the web from. I've looked into satellite connectivity and IT IS NOT THAT EXPENSIVE, so even the most remote eco-village can be connected to the network and will be able to broadcast to the web.

On a side note, I've established a development relationship with a web-tv company in San Fran, and will be arriving there in Jan/ February to begin discussions about possible collaborations with them for the future. More details will be available when they are finalized. While in SF, I will also begin developing a film with a new friend, and will be laying the foundation for a SF Touch the Sun Production company there to work in tandem with the Toronto office.

My silence is over. The dance begins now and I am seeking facilitators who would be interested in working with me to help create this network. Even if you think you have nothing to contribute, all voices in this choir will be heard. The only requirement is that, in addition to singing your song, you must love to dance.

Michael