One of the reasons that I became a comedy writer/producer is because I believe that making people laugh is non-destructive.  It really just ads to our world and makes the world a slightly better place.  What I like about travel is that it allows people to connect on a face to face level and that brings us all together in a more productive and enlightened world centric view.  So, I like to believe that what we are doing is good but don’t for a minute think it’s easy.  We have invested three years of our time, thoughts and energy and we’re still a good way off from completing our stated goal of releasing a feature length docu-comedy that will inspire people and make them laugh.  We’re going to need help in the coming months.  We have the footage and we can write the dialogue but we’re going to need a really solid graphics guy.  We are also looking for exceptional music.  Our taste lend themselves to indy rock and if you watch our trailers, “The Laughing Planet,” and “Destination Unknown” you’ll get a good feel for what we’re looking for. If you make or know someone who makes music and would like to have an exceptional forum to showcase their art then give us a call so we can see if there’s a place for your music in our movie.   

 Now back to doing good.  Christmas is approaching and I want to get the word out that there’s a new company who is trying to get laptops to every child on the planet.  If you haven’t heard of the digital divide it cuts right down economic lines.  Those with access to the web and the information highway are going to enjoy a better standard of living then those that don’t.  This product is amazing and could possibly bring web access to millions of children in sub-Saharan Africa and other extremely poor regions around the world.    Here’s what their front page says, “Thank you for your interest in One Laptop Per Child. Our mission is to provide a means for learning, self-expression and exploration to the nearly two billion children of the developing world with little or no access to education. While children are by nature eager for knowledge, many countries have insufficient resources to devote to education—sometimes less than $20 a year per child. Imagine the potential that could be unlocked by giving every child in the world the tools they need to learn, no matter who they are, no matter where they live, no matter how little they may have. If you’d like to donate an XO laptop today, simply click the donation button on the right, above the photo. A donation of $200 will pay for and deliver one XO laptop to a child in a developing nation, $400 will pay for and deliver two XO laptops, and so on.  Starting November 12, One Laptop Per Child will be offering a Give 1 Get 1 Program for a brief window of time in North America. For $399, you will be purchasing two XO laptops—one that will be sent to empower a child to learn in a developing nation, and one that will be sent to your child at home. If you’re interested in Give 1 Get 1, we’ll be happy to send you a reminder email. Just sign up in the box to the left and you’ll receive your reminder prior to the November 12 launch date.  Once again, thank you. We sincerely hope you’ll join our growing community of people working to create a connected, educated, enlightened future for the world’s most essential resource—its children.   Nicholas Negroponte Founder and Chairman of One Laptop Per Child http://www.xogiving.org

I just wanted to pass this information along.  You’ll be getting more information from me about doing good in the future.  It speaks to my core belief as a human who shares this planet with six billion other humans who should stop killing each other and start loving each other.  We can find solutions to all our problems but we have to work together. 

Blog ya later!

Herbert C. Goss

When I started producing television and features fifteen years ago the playing field was incredibly uneven.  If you wanted to break into production you needed to be filthy rich like most producers in Hollywood or a child prodigy like Spielberg and lot of successful  acting talent.  The studios ran the show and to make it to the creative suite you had to pay years and year’s worth of dues.  In one way this helped weed out those that wanted to make it quickly and had no ability or backbone, but it another it put a cramp on a lot of creative energy that just couldn’t afford the cost of admission.  Technology has destroyed many of those barriers to entry in the entertainment world.  These days all it takes to get your message or idea across is an affordable camera and access to the web.  While freeing up the entry to entertainment it does have the effect of diminishing the quality level of what’s we’re seeing being passed off as entertainemt.   

At “The Laughing Planet,” we want to bring you amazing entertainment that has all the quality you’ve come to expect from traditional Hollywood style production but tap into the interesting body of work coming out of the independant world. We believe there’s a new way to tell a story and a joke.  That real humor is created by the human condition and that humor can be found everywhere you go on this planet.  That includes going so far off the beaten path that there is no path.  I’m so proud of my fellow producers Marc and Cheyney.  To search out, find and shoot in exotic locals is no easy task.  To brave life and limb to bring back compelling footage that is unavailable anywhere else in the world is a monumental undertaking. 

When I envisioned this project, I dreamed that Cheyney we would film his incredible exploits and it would make worthwhile and compelling viewing.  Now thanks to Marc and Cheyney I have been proven right.  As we continue to shape this footage, distill and define this project we hope you come along with us on an incredible adventure. At the end of the journey will be a feature length docu-comedy that we all hope will enlighten, entertain and hopefully change those things on this planet that aren’t laughing matters.  There are serious issues in the world and we’re going to make it part of our mission statement to combat the disintegration of the rainforests, the destruction of wildlife habitats, and the policies of greedy corporations who put their own self interests in front of the interest of mankind.  We’re going to make fun of these people and laugh at them until they are so embarrassed at not being good citizens of this planet that they change their ways.  If you can help us in this worthwhile endeavor please contact us.  We’re looking for contributions of all sort, from money to time to the most valuable asset anyone has, talent. 

Come join us as we save the world, one laugh at a time.