blog neglect

It's been a hangover. A creative one, at that.

The months after production of "FLiCk" were not easy ones. The drain that the key participants endured was exhausting... broke, hungry, tired; we were all fairly stagnant and still after the pouring out of every ounce of energy we had to give.

I have yet to give myself time to recount the events in my journals, letalone on the interweb.

The whole thing seems like a dream. There are so many details that exist in the back of my mind that I've subconsciously stored for later, safekeeping. It was an endurance test, and we were running a marathon against time.

Fourteen work days. Seven years of dreaming on my part. Twenty years now since the concept of the lighter was conceived by my mentor, Roy and his cohorts Kelix and G Thomas in 1988. 6 months of planning with my incredible co producer, Miss Nicole, and one month, 14 days of which we spent pushing ourselves to limits we never thought possible.

David Anthony, my hero; our cinematographer, lighting specialist, asst. director and believer.
Grant Monohon, my friend and fire; actor, assistant director and acting coach (also stylist.)
Nicole Schafer, my partner in crime, driving me forward; co producer, actress, story input
Aaron Ward, my favorite plant. The sound department, and future film scorist.
Meghen West, friend and rock. My work horse, my runner, assistant in production.
Mersud Dolic, roommate, ex boss, and favorite brother whose not a brother, actor and workhorse.
Roy Fisher, my mentor. Actor, set design and implementer of getting shit done.
Travis Johnson, my mail-order actor, Lead Supporting actor, workhorse and acting coach
Joshua Boyd, inspiration. Actor and dreamer, performer of poetry.
Jessica DeRegnier, my saving grace. Showed up in time to costume, tape, stitch, clean, organize, and save my ass.
Fej Williams, designed the logo and supported
Masses of friends that showed up when they could.
Brandon Lanciel, brought the ladders, the cords, and believed in me.
Kelli Jo Sweeney, available, inspiring, and rocked Lucy hardcore.
Molly Kotval, my easy going and beautiful starshine.
Aaron "AceFoto" Christensen, showed up when he could to save the day and do promotional shots.
Starbucks, for giving us coffee, and giving me a month off to follow my dream.
Kimberly Carpenter, for teaching me and supporting me through my insecurities.
Patrick Boltinghouse, Make-up, female impersonator and beautiful, strong energy.
Lindsey, make up artists, assistant to Nicole, and an amazing individual.
Jason Simpson, for his support and donations of time and Zanzibar Coffee onsight. He is out of sight.
Emily Svec, for being supportive, even in her illness.
John Hansen, for donating an editing program and his emails of strength during the hardest moments of my life.
Jim Nervig, for law advice and starting up my LLC, Axis Manifest
Kevin Thomas McCarthy, second assistant director and believer in the dream
Nick Strickland, for all his strength, support, and teaching skills in post production editing and hope.
Seth Nosbusch
Jonny Ringo Gearino
Melissa Engleen
Brent Houzenga and Michelle Phillips
Blake Brown
Justin Collins
Jared, Rainbow, and the Locust Tap
The Beechwood Lounge, for allowing us to be random.
Scott Baskerville, of Scot's Shoppe, Valley Junction, for allowing us to create on his premise.
Cydnie Owens, my beautiful inspiration for "Del" and her hardwork
Cydnie's dude Brandon for being around
Viken, for photography and group bullshit
Heather and Laura of Lasting Impressions for being the hottest drunk girls I have ever met.
Eric Wickes, for support and showing up when I needed him
Katherine Rains, for putting up with Joshua being gone all the time, and for her help with the Poster
Express Print on Ingersoll for lending a hand
Garrett from Earlham Savings Bank and the Loan!
Kirk Hartung, for thoughts on the logo and laws
Brandon Mann, for showing up and giving it his all to be "Friend" in the film.
Roy Fisher and his Limo and love and support and for giving me "Flick"
G Thomas Fergerson, for believing in me and helping me to establish a new story
Kelix Williams, for his support and love and patience in editing
My parents, for putting up with me and all my talk before the time was right, the stars aligned to make this happen.
My sisters. I love you.
My grandparents, Cy and Roz Kirk for believing in me and my dream
Carole Lee Dean, from From the Heart Productions, for her phone call, denying a grant, but congratulations on the concept
Satyrus for his consultation
All my friends who watched me disappear for a year, and welcomed me back when I was ready to emerge.
All the randoms that loved the idea.
The Waveland Cafe,
My father, for providing apartment #6 for me to trash and rearrange, over and over and over again.
Karen Downing, my creative writing teacher from highschool that inspires me every day.
Mr Jim Lamson, my drama teacher from highschool that continues to inspire me.
Jason Scott Hoffman, for being my teddy bear trooper.
Jimmy John's for putting up with our enormous orders at 2am
Big Tomato Pizza for providing pizzas to feed the troops.
The City of Des Moines, for not arresting us at 3am shooting film on the streets of our city
The Screen Actor's Guild, Kay Woods and all the awesome folks that didn't restrict us although our paperwork was late.
Micah Gerger, for helping me with the script and his belief in the dream
the number 333
three stars
The East Village
The Continental-- sorry the christmas lighting is still up
Dr. Mithra Osiris Gonzalez, for his belief in me
All the nurses at Lutheran hospital when I was hospitalized for three days in September.
Linda Monohon, R.I.P.


i don't know how many names I've missed in the seven years it's taken me to get to this point.
If you know me. If we've ever spoken, if I've ever handed you a card and asked for your support, Thank you.

I feel so rich with gratitude and abundance for every one and everything that has ever touched my life and led me to this point.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Signing off for now,

With love,

Lauren Kathleen Hickman