Much as I love Chris Gore’s “Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide” (I had a sidebar in the first edition about how to prepare a film print for festival delivery….back when filmmakers made films, and shipped prints)...the time has come for some new perspective. (Though a 4th edition is forthcoming!)
I am happy to announce two new anticipated new books about Film Festivals:
1) First up: b-side insider Chris Holland’s “Film Festival Secrets” (For which I’ve written the introduction…)
From Chris:
Film Festival Secrets is the starting point for your movie’s successful run on the festival circuit. Or perhaps it is the resource that helps you take control of your film’s path already in progress. Either way, there’s a lot to learn so let’s get started.
• My new book Film Festival Secrets: A Handbook for Independent Filmmakers is now available for pre-order in anticipation of its official release at the Austin Film Festival on October 16th! There are three ways to read the book: the print edition, the downloadable PDF, or online.
• The blog is my ongoing exploration of film festival strategies, trends, and news. Learn about festivals, the evolving world of indie film distribution, and new opportunities for filmmakers by visiting regularly.
“OK, this is nifty. Not only can you read the entire text of Film Festival Secrets online, but you can share it with your own readers by embedding the book on your own site or blog in this cool little flash reader from Issuu. The book is now available for sale at Createspace and Amazon (two faces of the same entity, but I get a better cut of the proceeds if you direct people to Createspace).
She describes the book as “a strategic filmmaking guide designed to help the inexperienced (and experienced) filmmaker go from zero to Park City while optimizing their chances of…
*outlining and conceptualizing a film that can get the right kind of attention
*making a successful indie film
*getting into festivals and packing the house
*winning festival awards
*getting good press
*getting representation for their film and themselves
*starting their successful film career”
Heidi at the Maryland Film Festival, with Erik Jambor, me, Paula Martinez, Skizz Cyzyk, and Ashley Sabin
What I believe will distinguish both books is Heidi and Chris’ desire to get it right. Both surveyed a broad variety of filmmakers, and festival insiders for perspective, insight and anecdotes.
Such input can only help filmmakers by giving them MORE information.
In this new ad campaign for the Volkswagon Routon, Brooke Shields is having fun with the idea of making babies JUST to be able to buy the new family wagon:
I “get it.” I get the irony.
But the more I think about it, the creepier this campaign feels to me.
A few months ago, I bid on a unique item at the Atlanta Contemporary‘s silent auction: a gun lesson with photographer (and gun enthusiast) Nancy Floyd, whose book “She’s Got a Gun” foregrounded the issue of women and guns when Sarah Palin…
...was little more than an inexperienced small town mayor, and not the well-spoken, internationally accomplished world leader she has fast become. That she’s adapting to the role of heir apparent to Ronald Reagan with such a “aw shucks” humility makes W’s own Texas affectations seem downright calculated. I’m especially amazed that Palin, in such a short amount of time, has developed the skill of framing complex political thoughts, and nuanced arguments into (wink) down home language for everyday people.
But I digress…
So, before we headed off to the range, a few things. First—a stop by Starbucks. I need to load up and be alrert!
My idea of a six-shooter: Venti Starbucks Doubleshot on ice (add shot!) = 6 shots of espresso, touch of classic syrup, dash of nonfat milk
A real six-shooter:
Safety First: Unloaded
Before heading to the range, we discuss gun etiquette, gun safety basics, and review technique (no sideways gangsta gun pointing)...don’t put finger on the trigger until you are ready to fire, never point the barrel at anyone or anything you aren’t intending to shoot…and NO PLAYING CHRISTOPHER WALKEN IN DEAR HUNTER. (Not even if you make a cowbell joke.)
Iron, man
Nancy displays gun control
I strike a pose
...and then we’re off!
Home on the Range Welcome to Target
Clipping paper targets—Nancy is adamant about not shooting at human targets
Others in the range are not:
My first go with the six-shooter, .38 special revolver
Getting loaded
You’re fired!
Hey Mikey, he likes it!
A few more rounds with the revolver before moving onto the Semi-Automatic Glock!
(correction: Para-Ordnance. A Canadian firearm, you betcha! I wanted it to be a Glock so I could be like R. Lee Ermy…)
Glockers…Para-wha?
Between the two, I definitely preferred the Glock. Like my main Metal Jacket man R. Lee Ermy:
Thoughts on the Range
I emptied my box of ammo—squeezed off a few more rounds, and that was pretty much it for me.
Nancy stuck around for a few more rounds!
I enjoyed aspects of shooting. But after blowing up the target, I had my fill. To me, it was a lot like bowling. I’m usually good for a game, then midway through the second game, I’m spent. All gutter balls.
This link between guns and bowling has been explored elsewhere. Maybe there really is something to it
My grandfather was an avid hunter. He would have been happy to know I took a trip to the range, if only to shoot handguns.
I am not afraid of guns. I respect them. I respect guns so much that I live in fear because of how many folks actually pack heat; Georgia has some of the most liberal carrying laws around. It is truly disturbing, and I believe it speaks to a more serious societal problem.
Parting Shots (get it?)
So, the other thing that disturbs me is how gun nuts are automatically assumed to be right wing. It doesn’t help when the range posts things like this:
Noteworthy: The Bin Laden target is still in stock; the Saddam target is sold out
and this bit of Anti-Obama Propaganda:
But there were Signs of Hope.
This car in the parking lot:
And the fact that even though I’m right handed…I found that when I shot the gun with my Right hand, I was all over the fucking chart:
But when I went to the Left (as seen in the video clip above), my aim was true: Nice grouping!!!!
When Bill asks the rhetorical religulous observation—at 3:43: “If there was a video of Barack Obama, standing in front of his congregation being healed by a black “witch doctor,” this election would be over…but there IS that video of Sarah Palin…”:
The complete Palin healing video—which looks like something out of a Stephen King movie—is here.
I find this conversation especially interesting.
Maher’s outcry over the lack of outrage for this clip is noteworthy. He is “Wright” that a comparable clip with Obama in it would officially end the election. As is his fish in a barrel shot at the crazy double standard Obama must navigate.
Bill Maher is on his own crusade right now…and honestly, it is not one of religious tolerance. His objections to the intolerance of others are spot on. His criticism of hypocrisy is much needed. But his attacks on believers strikes me as condescending.
Essentially he’s saying that believers are like children. His stance is as fundamentalist as that of the fundamentalists he so abhors.
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