Oh, right... I almost forgot.

McDonalds is bad for you - and NEW YORK WILL UNDERGO A NEW ICE AGE. It's docu - truth weekend.

First of all... I'm never going to walk the streets of New York again without knowing exactly how far I am from the Public Library. If that wall of water comes - I'll be able to scramble up those steps and SURVIVE! (Who said the internet makes books obsolete?)

This is one of those weird movie moments where our desperate need for a summer movie might have saved this film.

I saw it at a multiplex way upstate. And trust me - MoveOn.org wasn't handing out flyers. This crowd was coming for a rollercoaster ride. The kind that only a true 'disaster' movie can provide.

I schooled my son in the art form. "the Poseidon Adventure" "The Towering Inferno" "Earthquake" ... a genre of fine b movie art. But this would not be a lesson in that craft.

Because this was a film with a message. Make that a MESSAGE. Ok, really it was a MEEESSSSAGGGGEEE!!!!! We're killing the planet. And, btw - the homeless are just like you and me, interracial marriage is cool, dad's need to pay more attention to their young sons, the President is being bamboozled by his Veep, and a bunch more politically correct storylines that I couldn't keep track of.

I get the concept of wrapping important info in entertainment. Michael Moore take a bow. But in this film, the message gets lost in the pure fog of silly science, bad science, no facts, and just plain head scratching weirdness.

How does a Wendy's flame broiled burger save your life? You'll have to spend 9$ to find out. I'm not going to ruin it.

So - back to my basic point. Supersize Me? Yes. Fun, entertaining docu can teach us stuff while being engaging. Roland Emerich GAZILLION DOLLAR blockbuster -and environmental agenda setter - Nope. The less from The Day After Tomorrow was... hmm, don't ignore global warming. Ok. Sold. But the snow shoe treck from Philadelphia to NY to save the son... no way. The cell phone working. We learned that after 9/11. The super cooled air kept away by the library door. Ok, I'm munching on popcorn so I'll take a zero... but don't expect this to be a staple in science classes for years to come.

If ever there's been a blurring of the line between truth and fiction....this is it.

Super Size Me vs. The Day After Tomorrow.

(ok, shrek was also a contender, but I think that we can rule the Ogre out of the Truth category for the purposes of this post).

first - Super Size Me. Truth index - (scale of 1-10) - 11. Easy. McDonalds is not good for you. Sold. And while lots of films take themselves way too seriously, Morgan Spurlock seems willing to do the whole thing on a lark... and let the chips fall where they may. Ok, maybe I should say let the 'fries' fall where they may.

The fall immediately to his hips. As does the shake, apple pie, big mac, McGriddle, and all other McFoods. What makes this film work is that you get the fact that Morgan truly likes McDonalds. He likes the taste, the smell, the whole eating fast food 'thing.' Who doesn't. It's so clearly a desert masquerading as a nutritious meal. But then - as his doctors stop finding the whole thing funny - Spurlock turns into a bit of a anti-mac ideologue. Surprise... he's so dedicated to his cause (the film or the food - you decide) that he's going to STICK IT OUT!!! Ok, this is getting gross.

Now - back in the real world - McDonald is fighting back with healthy meals and an adult 'happy meal' that includes a pedometer. 'eat McDonalds - be HEALTH!'. OK, fine.

This film has already sold $4.8 million in tix and shows no signs of slowing down. And MTV is now in the ultra wierd positiion of having awarded it their news and docs prize at FULL FRAME (well deserved!) and now pushing back on the film's commericals on thier air.

Let's face it - fast food isn't good for us. We all knew that. Once in a while, sure. But the McSalad isn't fooling anyone. Those Fries just CAN'T be healthy - they're too damn good.

And now parents everywhere have Morgan Spurlock to thank for the evidence (read 'willpower') to just say no to the plastic toys, the endless commercials, and the golden archest that seem to show up at every roadside rest stop and airport food court on the planet. Pizza anyone?

I had one of those 'ah ha' moments last week.

I was at home - and ready to watch TV.

Why, for the obvious reason. I wanted to find some mindless escape and dig into a drama that fills my head with other peoples issues and problems. Ok, maybe that's not obvious, and it's certainly not the only way I watch television. But it's one of them.

So I went to see what was on my Tivo unwatched. And there was West Wing. So in I dove. But it wasn't a romp. Far from it. It was a thoughtful, engaging, smartly written political drama. Ok, I knew that (I'm a fan of the series). But the topic was the Israeli/Palestinian situation... And the hour long drama gave me lots to think about.

My 'entertainment' time now used up, I clicked to a Tivo'd episode of "Nightline". It was a well cut, entertaining half hour... But I found myself looking back at the West Wing... And I decided I'd learned more from the fiction than the facts.

Why is that - why are the old forms of entertainment reaching so much further?

Control Room
Fahrenheit 9/11
Fog of War

And the hits just keep on coming. Movies that are about the world. Indie directors, tough topics, non-commercial works. But then they work. They make money. They catch fire. Hmmm... Maybe I'll start watching West Wing ever week and skip "Meet the Press".

Just a thought.

Since the advent of motion pictures, it's been really clear that the combination of pictures and sound was an extraordinarily powerful communications device.

Sure - fine.

And then Television came along... but almost knowing how powerful images in peoples living rooms would be - the idea of balance was baked into TV news.

So that left us with movies as an 'entertainment' medium, and television tied to a stopwatch balance in storytelling.

But in the freewheeling world of ideas - opinions and perspectives are far more compelling than an endless spew of headlines and facts.

Slowly - documentary has been taking it's place as a critical part of the marketplace of ideas. But even as documentaries have started to get some respect and traction in the marketplace, there's been a strange lack of support from the mainstream media.

One of the reasons is that news organizations are tied to a a whole set of rules about fairness, balance, and such. Mi

Why are movies the new hotbed of political discourse?

Michael Moore is the talk of Cannes. Harry Thomason's "Hunting The President" screens to a sold out house at Tribeca. "Bushes Brain" makes it's way to the Crossett as well.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg. George Butler is working on a documentary about John Kerry's Vietnam war record. And "Inside The Bubble" has a heavyweight list of producers and Exec Producers inside team Kerry.

But what's really going on her? Why are films the new medium of choice for engaged, political, independent storytellers?

Are these films objective or activist propaganda? And does the movie going public want to engage these kinds of issues during the few hours on Friday and Saturday night reserved often for 'entertainment' experiences in the multiplex?

These films are the natural outgrowth of the diminished impact of television... As cable has added choices, television has become less of medium that can move the public and more of a headline service. In order to aggregate a mass public impact - independent storytellers find their moving to books and movies as a way to create a voice that is able to create discourse across multiple media outlets.

Case in point - the Richard Clarke book. After it's publication, CBS, ABC, NBC, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and a raft of print, radio, and internet publications covered both the book and the story. It's what Bill Clinton once called the media "echo chamber." An echo chamber that works both ways. When it's echoing a story that you want to reverberate... Then an independent publication is the only way to creating enough exposure to generate dialog.

Strangely enough - being independent is more powerful than being affiliated with, say, "60 Minutes."

And that's a good thing.

Then there's the whole idea of filmmakers wanting to have an impact. Even as the media reports of Michael Moore's anti-bush agenda, it seems a bit surprised that he is allowed to have a point of view. Why is that so surprising? Artists aren't creators because they want to make a picture to put over your couch. Dancers, Poets, Authors, Singers, Sculpters all want to move you. Touch you. Have impact. Open your eyes. Engage your spirit. Challage your notions about life, politics, the planet, your neighbors.

Artist work in poverty, obscurity, suffering at the fringes of society... And not for nothing. They struggle to expose injustice and touch a nerve.

Shame on Mr. Moore for being - well - successful. Did he play Disney? Yup. Did he play GM? Sure. What about his buying that gun in Bolwing for Columbine? Or taking on Charlton Heston. No Fair. He cheated. He made us feel something. What right does he have to use his art to engage my brain.

Now he's taking on George W. Bush. Why? Because he wants to. And in a free
society he's got the right... Even the obligation... To act on his conciouncous or have his artists card revoked. Truly. He's doing his job. He's messing things up. He's a fire starter. A trouble maker. A rabble rouser.

Didn't we use to think of journalists like that? Rabble rouser? Who's rousing the rabble now? Certainly not the news establishment. They're selling soap, filling the 'news hole', keeping their jobs. Searching for 'balance'.

Michael Moore is throwing gasoline on the fire - leaving journalists to put it out... Or report on the facts in his film like they've never heard them before.

It’s Friday.

And tonight – in five cities – our film WITH ALL DELIBERATE SPEED opens. It’s been a wild ride… a six month production that should have been a year long production. A hard deadline… with the anniversary of Brown Vs. Board of education on Monday this was a film that was destined to be made – and made now.

Peter Gilbert is the kind of director you want on a film like this. A documentary filmmaker at hear who’s been involved with enough big budget projects to know now to get things done.

And watching the film last night at the Library Of Congress… you can’t help but feel like it’s moments like these that are why we’re in this business.

Brown Vs. Board of Education is a triumph of the spirit. The stories of individuals that gave up everything to fight for social justice. Given the events of the world around us today… it’s worth looking in the mirror and asking yourself “am I willing to sacrifice for peace and justice in the world.”

If you’re not sure – please go and see the film tonight.

You’ll see real American heroes… who 50 years ago step out into the spotlight and took on the doctrine of Separate but equal. They’re fight moved mountains, redefined the law of the land… but didn’t solve everything.

NEW YORK
Cinema Village
22 East 12th Street

WASHINGTON:
E STREET CINEMA
555 11TH ST NW

CHICAGO
Century Centre Cinema
Century Shopping Center
2828 N. Clark St.

BOSTON
Kendall Square Cinema
1 Kendall Square, Bldg 1900

LOS ANGELES
Cecchi Gori Fine Arts Theare
8556 Wilshire Blvd.
Beverly Hills, CA

Tribeca hits and misses.

Ok, first off. Great. Films, parties, communication, ALL ACCESS, etc.

Little things made a difference. The new map was great. Hey, I live here and I couldn't find some of the locations without it.

The Venue managers seemed more empowered to solve problems and be nice. Which was a major help.

The weather - well, can't really control that. Windstorms and rain are just a seasonal thing.

Ok - now a few negs.

I still can't seem to get a handle on what's going on where. The New York Times insert...please spring for the color printing of the schedule. The shades of grey are just too hard to figure.

And what about a master spreadsheet with Events, Panels, and Films? Last year I stumbled into the concert -this year, found myself saying... Pretty sure there is a music event. Couldn't figure out where or when. Missed it - bummer.

Also - the info booths. :(

They didn't know a thing. The web site was much better this year than last... But still hard to fathom.

There needs to be a way to see the festival from 30,000 ft - big picture. The day for films, docs, drama, panels, events, parties. Etc. Then zoom in on you're interest area.

I know that the complexity of an event with this many faces is how to communicate with so many different constituencies - Filmmakers, Industry, Locals, Visitors, Celebs, Families - etc.

But it seems like more fast turn around print (festival daily newsprint?) and web improvements (with kiosks to check for updates?) could do the trick.

I'm not mentioning programming, because I mostly liked what I saw... And the things I didn't like I was glad to see in any case.

And lots to say about ALL ACCESS, but I'll post that later...

Seeing films about the world - while the worlds swirls around us - is a strange out of body experience.

I spent much of yesturday following the story of the torture and abuse of Iraqi prisoners in the news... very much taken with the fact that it's the pictures, not the actions, that seem to have so many people up in arms. For Rumsfeld to gripe about all these people with camera's on the battlefield is chilling. It's not what we've done - or how we've acted as a nation - but rather the fact that we got caught.

Then I went with Pam to see "Sister Rose's Passion", Oren Jackoby's short about the Nun who has made it her lifes work to force the church to face the fact that there is a troubling undercurrent of hate and anti-jewish retoric in its teachings.

The film - with Passions of the Christ still very much in the public eye - is both timely and troubling.

The fact is that Mel Gibson's film will turn back the clock on Sister Roses' lifes work. And little to be done to change that. Film isn't simply 'entertainment' - it has impact... and we need to be aware of that as both filmmakers and audience members....

Tuesday night's screening of Cry, the Beloved Country was one of those moments when you know why you go to festivals.

To have Archbishop Desmond Tutu introduce the film, and James Earl Jones come on stage for a "Q&A" after made the screening all the more extrordinary.

Since i'm a docu guy - i found myself watching a drama about South Africa and wondering if a documentary could have captured the same story. In this case... James Earl Jones was able to create a dimentional portrait that a documentary would have done differently, and maybe not better.

After the screening, we wandered over to the filmmakers party - that was jammed full of filmmakers, and ideas.

Many knowledges I have found here... I would come back.

Had a weird and wonderful time at Tribeca day one...

Weird because it's not like any other festival in the world - not 'about' anything... really more of a bunch of related festivals.

Opening night film Raising Helen was -well - ok, a Hollywood romantic comedy that made you cry. Not quite formula, but not an 'indie' by any stretch of the imagination. Last years opening film "Down With Love" had the same fluffy texture.

But everyone showed up. After all - it was opening night.
Chris Hegedus and D.A. Pennybaker (their film for HBO on Elaine Stritch plays on Tuesday). Mona Eldaief from "Control Room" was there. Zack Tucker - who I just saw across the room and didn't ever catch up with. His film is at the festival. As was Danny Franco with her film""Crazy Legs Conti: Zen and the Art of Competitive Eating". Elizabeth Holder and Xan Parker were hanging out at the Gala party. As was Dianne Holzberger from Films Transit, and Eamon Bowles from Magnolia. You get the idea. The film club turned out in force.

Then Pam and I went looking for a cab - across the west side highway - and into a tunnel we've never walked through before. It was 1am. And we found ourselves standing right at the edge of Ground Zero. I almost wished that someone had posted a sign "Danger intense emotional experience ahead - don't walk this way if you've consumed alcohol." But it all came back. (somehow the Winter Garden was exempt this year - last year the Winter Garden was echoing with the memories - but now they've faded).

We stood there - thought about New York. Thought about the world. And caught a cab home.

Congrats to Bob, Craig, and Jane. They made me come downtown. And I'm glad I did.