Hello All! Happy Holidays!
It's hard to believe another year has gone by and as we approach 2019, I'm excited for this new chapter. 2018 was quite the year, and as I've mentioned before, not one I expected. I know I'm not the only one who feels this way. It was a bit of a rollercoaster ride. I will say however, that I'm grateful for 2018 because it was yet another year of massive GROWTH!

I learned a lot about myself and those around me. I learned about the life I was living and the one I choose to create. That's the BIGGEST lesson learned, that we all have a CHOICE. Despite the fact that we live in various places around the globe and under various circumstances that comprise our lives, we each have a choice as to how we live our lives. It starts from WITHIN!

The last few weeks have brought massive clarity which I'm also grateful for, and I have BIG plans for 2019. Below you'll find all the latest details. I'm so grateful for your support of my work and my dreams and hope to connect with you in the New Year. Here's to dreaming and dreaming BIG!

RETURN TO SUNDANCE!
2019 kicks off on a great note as I return to Park City, Utah for the Sundance International Film Festival. I first attended Sundance some 13 years ago and it was magical. There's something special about the energy of Park City, walking down Main Street and taking in all the action of the films, events and gatherings. THIS year I'm super excited to announce that I have been selected as one of the official VOLUNTEERS for the festival and will be working mostly in the Press Center supporting the media covering the events. I'm so excited and grateful for the opportunity to lend my skills and expertise to an industry I love and be of support any way I can. I'm also looking forward to catching up with my fellow filmmakers and soaking in every minute of my time there. If you will be in Park City during the festival, let me know and hopefully we can connect. Should be a fabulous time.

DREAM BIG and don't be afraid to put in the WORK!
In 2012 I began the year with a clean slate, or blank canvas as I like to refer to that period of my life. I had just experienced the most transformational year of my life in 2011 where I lost a LOT including a child and my home. I needed an outlet for my emotions as there was so much inside of me that needed to be released. That outlet was WRITING. At the end of 2011 I released my first book, IT'S SIMPLY SAUSALITO which was a combination of my writing and photography, but I wanted more. I wanted to learn everything I could about book publishing and the publishing industry as a whole. That's when I discovered the San Francisco Writer's Conference.

That first year in 2012 I decided to sign up to volunteer even though the conference was about a month away. As it would be, there was ONE slot available, and I was offered the opportunity. I loved every moment and learned so much. I was also able to meet the conference director, Michael Larsen. I expressed my dream of learning about the industry even though I was homeless at the time. He took me under his wing and taught me so much. Each year I would return to volunteer at the conference and learn. Soon I was publishing book after book of my own and then invited as a SPEAKER sharing my own journey and success to those just starting out.

In February I will be attending again, but this time leading a new track on Screenwriting & Filmmaking. I can't tell you how excited I am to share this track with those in attendance and connect with fellow screenwriters and filmmakers who I've called friends over the years. We're hoping this can be a track that grows each year so that we can support another crop of screenwriters and filmmakers and support them on their journeys. To learn more about the San Francisco Writers Conference, click HERE. I can't wait to meet you in February.

MY BIG DREAM!
In 2019 I plan to officially launch my production company, TOWER 15 PRODUCTIONS and set it up as a 501(c)3 non profit organization to support creatives through education and the arts. I have a passion for the arts and for creating. It makes me feel alive and I want to share that with others.

I have so much I want to share and have spent 2018 putting all the pieces together. I'm still working on securing the start-up funding to get this project off the ground, but have faith in doing just that and living the life I'm meant to live. Stay tuned for some exciting ways to help over the next month, and for an opportunity to be a part of the film projects I currently have in place. I can't wait to share this journey with you.

     2018 was a very interesting year and one I really didn't see coming. I was so excited to kick off the New Year and had such high hopes for what this year would bring. Yet it turned out to be one of MANY lessons and LOTS of growth, all of which I believe was for my own benefit and soul's evolution.

2018 was also a year of REFLECTION, looking back at the last seven years and being so grateful for everything I overcame and how much I accomplished. One thing is for sure, I couldn't have done it without YOU!

Being able to share my creative gifts with the world has indeed been a dream come true, and one I hope to continue into 2019 and beyond.

So happy to have you along for the ride.

Cali

Skating Documentary
Back in the day before I decided to pursue my creative passions for writing, photography and filmmaking, I was actually an athlete, a figure skater to be precise. After 12 years and a realigned spinal column, I hung up the skates to pursue journalism and event management. But I'll always cherish those 6:00 am ice times and that beautiful clean sheet of ice. In this photo I'm pictured with World Champion and two-time Olympic silver medalist, Brian Orser. We skated for the same club in Ontario.

So when fellow skater and filmmaker, Sharidan Williams-Sotelo asked for support with her new project, GO FIGURE, how could I say no? I'm thrilled to support her and fellow skater, Randy Gardner with this film. We're currently one week into the crowdfunding campaign on Seed & Spark, and just selected as the Staff Pick.

You can learn more HERE and many thanks for the support.