William Shatner calls back

Well, in fact, his associate producer (AP) calls back. Encourages me to "take a meeting" (sic.) with the producer, who will be in Boston in August.

The production company Heart Beat of America finds and promotes smaller businesses with the show Keeping America Strong. "Mr. Shatner wanted to get behind these companies because so many were hit so hard after 9/11," AP said. What I get is video and CD-ROM of the "full half hour show about your company" to use in whatever ways will build the business - web site, trade shows, copy for sales staff and distributors, mail to client prospects. Theoretically, 11 million viewers of the American Life cable network also could see the show.

"Mr. Shatner waives his six-figure fees," AP explained, "but we ask companies to share production costs in the amount of $15,000. To go into the studio yourself could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. But if I feel the company would be right for the show, I recommend they meet with the producer."

I take the meeting.