Update

"Mac’s trust in Lou Soteriou was so deep, so absolute, and in hindsight so blind that Mac did not stop believing in him until Soteriou disappeared...Only then did Mac start to realize the depth of his mistakes and delusion....Mac continued to believe in the integrity of what he was doing, long after common sense should have told him otherwise... "  Statement from John Pacht, Mac's Attorney 04/11/2012

 

I    I was planning on writing a more extensive update, but I am emotionally drained from a recent email exchange with Mac. I am tired. I am tired of this debacle having such a negative affect on so many people's lives. I tired of waiting for some sign of hope. I am tired of Mac droning on and on how he cares and how hard he works. I am tired of Macs animosity toward me as I attempt to get to the truth and help him and the lenders...

My intent now… after years of defending Mac, both personally amongst friends, other lenders, people in the community and to the various investigators and prosecuting entities and to the grand jury... essentially giving him time to prove himself and opportunity to start paying back his debt... I plan to recommend to the court that Mac be removed from society as a part of the consequences to face. While this decision has created a higher level of animosity towards me and does not help in paying back his lenders, I think it necessary to help break the delusion and allow for some sense of justice. If I believed there were any chance of Mac righting his wrongs through the course he is on, I would think otherwise. I think it is time to get real.

I think about Sophia and my heart aches as she is the most sweet and innocent of victims in this. I don’t want her to see her father in jail, but worse yet is for her to think that her parent could act in such a manner…illegally and unethically…and have it be “ok”. It is seriously NOT ok. The spread of delusion needs to end.

The truth is that this movie was the birth of delusion and deceit… not innocence. It has become like the ring in the Lord of the Rings – this "precious” has an gotten a bizarre grip over people leading only to terrible ruin. Ruin of relationships, finances, time… on multiple levels – personally and for our state of Vermont and even on a federal level. Millions upon millions has been squandered, hundreds of thousands more continue to be spent through hard earned tax money on a state and federal level in legal pursuit.

Mac's other creative ventures - the book series - can bring in some money, but not even close to millions. Mac can write in jail...maybe even easier with less distractions...

On a very personal level - I think of what good my $80K could have brought and instead wasted… it makes me sick. I am not mad as I choose to not go there...at least not for very long. But I do not blame others for getting mad. I just want my involvement in this craziness to do some good…somehow. For me, I want in part, to shine a light on delusion.  Being human, we all suffer from delusion to some degree, but what we are witnessing in this, is delusion at a dangerous level. I hope that somehow this ordeal, will allow us opportunity to learn from it and as a society find ways to identify and treat it sooner… It is crazy to live a life in delusion. It is even greater madness for us to not deal with it for what it is.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delusional_disorder

The following can indicate a delusion:^[6]

1.    The patient expresses an idea or belief with unusual persistence or force.

2.    That idea appears to exert an undue influence on the patient's life, and the way of life is often altered to an inexplicable extent.

What I believe happened with Lou and Mac is a shared delusion. There is a medical definition for this as well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folie_%C3%A0_deux

This is what I received back from Mac today:

" in my experience with you, your capacity for clear self-reflection and civil behavior is shockingly limited."

Mac has launced a New Website

Hello, Everyone,

I want to welcome you to my new website: www.macparkervt.net.

I am truly sorry for having to be out of touch for so long.  I would have preferred to be in regular contact with you during this difficult time, but this has not been possible.  You are in my thoughts and efforts daily, and I am glad to have something I can share with you now.

The primary purpose of this website is to generate revenue toward repayment of lenders to the BIRTH OF INNOCENCE film project.

This website is only one step, but much care and creative effort have gone into it.  We've set it up so we can post news of additional steps as we take them.

On the site, you will find:

  **information about a new novel I have just finished writing, RARE EARTH

  **a new trailer for BIRTH OF INNOCENCE

  **special digital downloads of LET'S GO TO THE FARM and FARM STORIES FOR FAMILIES

  **a status blog, where I can post entries

  **additional features and information

I hope you will visit soon at www.macparkervt.net.  And, if you are so inclined, please help us spread the word...

Thank you.

Mac

Horace and Sunset Films

I am opening up a fresh comment thread to discuss Horace's work and intent. You can find what Horace proposes in the post on "Greed". Horace - feel free to re-post under this new title. I would suggest using your name to post a comment instead of  "anonymous", as clearly you wish to be identified.


Personally, I am just one lender and I only represent myself with my comments. My interest is in recovering the monies Mac owes. How this money is recovered is second to that. I am not a fan of the movie I previewed a couple years ago, but I don't need to be if there is enough of a market to sell to.
If Horace can start selling to pay back monies owed and Mac is still free to do his own film, then I am all for it. My support is not to be considered an endorsement of Horace or the film. I won't get involved in the personal relationship between Horace and Mac. I do care about both people, individually, and appreciate the conflict that exists. It is understandable...we are indeed all human, not God... but for their sake, I hope when opportunity does come... and strength is there... that forgiveness, grace and love will find a way back in.

Relationships are all that really matter in life.

I encourage others to voice their perspective and I will set up another poll to help identify our collective opinion.

"Greed"

I have heard a number of lenders refer to their "greed" as somehow playing a part in our dilemma. Know first that 20% interest on an unsecured loan is not high. I have money borrowed from my brother, for my business, under that same amount of interest, compounded annually. It is not unheard of to have over 30% interest on credit card balances. So get out of your head that expecting Mac to pay 20% on our money is greedy. It is not.
Second of all, even if one feels that they were expecting more than they deserve, it doesn't effect the situation we find ourselves in. The lenders have absolutely no fault here...lenders have done nothing wrong. Thinking otherwise is like a victim thinking that a crime is somehow their fault. That is not healthy thinking.
Mac is 100% responsible, both for the trouble he is in and for our loans not being paid back at this time. The financial agreement is between us as individuals and Mac, no one else. Mac should not shift blame to his lenders in any way shape or form nor should we as lenders accept blame.
And it is normal to feel anger, fear, sadness. For many of us, the monies not being available to us and with no real end of hardship in sight - hurts - plain and simple. This is a natural consequence and Mac must accept this. To not accept it is like hurting lenders twice over.

My thoughts...

I've been asked to get back on the blog and share my thoughts. I am glad to do so, but I really want to see more people sharing their thoughts...

I did meet with Mac recently and strongly encouraged him to speak directly, openly and honestly with his lenders. I told Mac that I would appreciate monthly reports, from him and not through anyone else, and that the reports be kept business in nature. I specified what would be helpful in reports such as work in progress, work to be done, projections, time table...and I told Mac what would not be helpful such as his commentary.

Horace has his ideas for finishing this film as well. They appear to me well formed, but not being in the film business, I cannot give an opinion. I do know that Horace would need to get the film out of Mac's control/ownership and I don't see how that could or would happen. This is the one thing (and most important bit of detail) missing from Horace's plan.

Mac appears to have his plan in motion, but there remains the legal problems. Could the film be completed if Mac becomes preoccupied with his legal battles and possibly in jail?

I am one that finds no value in the drama surrounding this film production. I am choosing to remain involved in a business-like manner. I understand why there are a lot of emotions flying around, but I don't want to be pulled in emotionally. I simply want the money I gave to Mac to be paid back. I am guessing that most of the lenders feel as I do.

I eagerly await the next report from Mac and/or Horrace.

Testified in Front of Grand Jury

I assume everyone is aware of the federal investigation underway regarding Mac's handling of our money and his relationship with Lou. I believe that because I was one of the lenders that Mac collected money from in the last month of his fund raising I was subpoenaed to testify in front of a Grand Jury this past Thursday. I was first questioned at length by the prosecuting attorney who very clearly has much of the details surrounding Mac and Lou and appears to me quite capable and intent on indicting Mac. I don't want to say much here in a Blog, but it is evident to me now how serious Mac is in trouble.
I do feel responsible to keep our group informed with whatever I think we all have a right to know. Fundamentally, it is our money that is the focal point of Mac and his legal trouble. I wish common sense and decency to prevail with Mac coming forward to speak the whole truth, the judicial system to recognize the truth and apply the law in consideration of all people affected (Mac, his family, us...), Mac to accept the consequences and hopefully full resolution and restitution...sooner than later.

?????

I was asked if this BLOG is still up and I thought I would try and breathe life into it by posting again...but I have nothing new to say. We all (the lenders/investors) should have received the letter from John Cronin a couple of days ago saying that the trail is being put off while criminal investigation continues...this doesn't sound encouraging to me, especially when we get nothing from Mac to explain...
Mac, I will repeat myself...I would like to know what is going on. My money you hold (have spent) has a real use and to not keep me informed of the status is not helping my trust in you. If you cannot repay your debts as promised, at least you could offer me some information. That is free.
I also would be encouraged to hear that you are employed and working in some capacity to honor some of your debt. It doesn't feel like this would be asking too much. If I cannot expect this, then what can I expect? Please offer something.

Accounting to BISCHA?

I was hoping that Mac met his obligation to the court in providing BISCHA with all the remaining accounting. That was due Sept 3rd. Does anyone know? Does anyone else care to know? I would like a simple accounting to feel more comfortable that someone/anyone has a grip on what has happened and is happening financially. Sums in payments out (interest, movie production, personal, Lou,other?). I would think that Mac can provide this info to us now that BISCHA has it?
The November hearing being 2 months away, is a long wait for information...

BISHA letter

Greetings all-
Just wondering what others are thinking of the letter BISHA mailed out last week?
-sue

8/13 Court Hearing Update

This morning's Washington County Superior Court's hearing to consider Horace's group's petition proved to be a somewhat routine and, overall, uneventful proceeding.

Ramona O'Brien-Brisson represented the groups position and concerns before Judge Crawford.

She clearly expressed that it wasn't the group's interest to seek party status in the current complaint before the court. Expressed as well was, that while it wasn't the group's intentions to be divisive, their collective interest was to have "control of the film" in that, in their belief, it would prove more expedient in creating revenue with which to begin repayment of lenders. Also acknowledged was an unawareness of Mac's full intention to complete the "existing" film which is, indeed, the Birth of Innocence.

Judge Crawford, while expressing understanding of the group's concerns, made clear that the court would only proceed with the existing securities case presently before him - reconfirming the upcoming trial is set for early November with a status conference ("behind doors") in three weeks time. He did as well indicate that, should they choose, the concerned party could address their position, independently, at a later time following the conclusion of the current litigation.

Regards,

Christopher