A small item that appeared in yesterday's L.A. Times had the effect of an obituary. The fact that it was printed similar to an obituary didn't help matters. The item said that Mitch Spinelli of Rain Productions was filing Chapter 7. The prospect of dire financial consequences, however, ain't what they seem.
Spinelli explains: "This is from old, old debts. Old Plum [Productions] stuff. This is an old story. When I sold Plum, there was two years that I was between gigs. I had Rain, but I was fighting with Outlaw, and Pleasure promised me a whole bunch of shit. So, like a year and a half, I had nothing coming in. I maxed out credit cards, my dad [Anthony Spinelli] was sick, it was a horrible experience. Everything happened at once. I exhausted a line of credit at the bank. Now that Rain [Productions] is going extremely well, I'm paying old bills, just interest. I said fuck it. In one clean sweep I'm going to get rid of all that shit and start fresh. It's the best thing that ever happened. I was working on this thing about four-five months ago because you have to grind the receivables and show the courts that you really have no assets. I have a hearing with trustees April 8. Hopefully, it's done. The future looks bright."
Spinelli says an ex-employee also "bled" him, causing much of the situation. "I lost focus between '96 and '98. I just lost it. It was terrible," says Spinelli. "At least my distributors know what I did. I didn't think this was a secret. I didn't know anybody gave a shit."
Spinelli: "For what it's worth, Rain is doing extremely well. I'm in a better position now than I ever was with Plum. I think I got a better handle on what I'm doing. I got a rid of all the old business. [Spinelli, again, refers to the ex-employee who supposedly took him down. "He was a big part of my problem."]
"It's funny when you lose your power-base, like I did with Plum, you always sound desperate. I couldn't get arrested. Now I've got lots of companies calling again. I guess it's that sense of independence you exude. It shows. People that think you're doing well want to be around you."
