Seriously, I can't take this commute much longer, I feel like I'm in the movie Groundhog Day - every morning the same thing happens: I see the same people on the bus who arrive at the bus stop at the same time every morning and the same car passes by at 7:03am just before the bus pulls up, which happens just as a family pulls into their Dry Cleaning Parking Lot (all wearing the same clothes as the day before), at which time an old lady turns the corner by the deli to wait for the #75 and asks me the same question everyday, "are you waiting for the seventy-five bus?" To which I always reply, "no Mam, I'm waiting for the 194 to New York" (then under my breath I say " what the F', she asks me this everyday, am I really that undistinguished looking that she doesn't realize this."

I forget what day it is half the time.

Anyway, we'll be moving back into the city the first or second week of November.

An evening of political films, all made independently and all completed within the last six months.

The filmmakers will be present for the event this evening, Wednesday October 27th at 7:30pm.

The Political Film Series is taking place in the very appropriate East Village at the Millennium Theater on 66 East 4th Street, between Second Avenue and Bowery.

The evening will kick off with "Voting Machine" produced by the political organization Billionaires For Bush and was submitted by Allan Greenspend.

"How Long" a short film by Mike Williams.

"Divided We Stand" a short film by Trish Dalton & OHMS Media.

"The Dreams of Sparrows" a feature length film by Aaron Raskin

and finally..."Citizen You! Helping Your Government Help Itslef" a short film by Mike Lowe & Joe Garden of The Onion, and Randy Ostrow...better known as the The Better Citizenship Bureau.

This is the "Double Check" list.

Here is a list of 6 films which you have most likely seen, but "double check" because if you haven't then definitely rent them.

Tis the election season and voting!

1. The War Room (1993) by Chris Hegedus & D.A. Pennebaker
2. Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election (2002) by Richard Ray Perez
3. Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004) by Michael Moore
4. Uncovered: The War on Iraq (2004) by Robert Greenwald
5. The Fog of War (2003) by Errol Morris
6. Bush's Brain (2004) by Joseph Mealy

others...

The Hunting of the President (2004) by Nickolas Perry
Control Room (2004) by Jehane Novjaim
The Weather Underground (2002) by Sam Green & Bill Siegel
Death in Gaza (2004) by James Miller

"I will never have to be a first-time director ever again," Nicole Kassell (writer/ director of The Woodsman)

On Thursday, I was able to see The Woodsman which was presented by the Tribeca Theater Festival. It's a series which screens films which were adapted from the theater.

The Woodsman, the play by Steven Fechter, had a successful four-week run in 2000. At the time, Nicole Kaassell was a student attending film school and had gone to see the play because they were giving out free tickets to students.

She loved the play and contacted Steven Fechter about adapting his play into a movie.

Both Steven and Nicole were on hand at the screening and said they worked together on the adaptation. They agreed that the most important part of writing the screenplay was revising it. They gave the script to almost everyone they knew and then revised it after receiving comments.

When they finished the screenplay they submitted it to the 2001 Slamdance Screenplay Competition and won.

After winning the Slamdance Screenplay Competition, Lee Daniels Entertainment (Monster's Ball) decided to go ahead and produce the film. Lee Daniels, also at the screening, knew Nicole through Monster's Ball.

Lee Daniels was looking for funds and sent a script to an investor who happened to be vacationing at the same place and at the same time as Kevin Bacon. The investor was not sure if he wanted to invest, so he gave the script to Kevin Bacon and asked him for advice on whether he should invest or not.

Kevin Bacon read the script and contacted Lee Daniels saying he wanted the lead and wanted his wife Kyra Sedgwick to have the female lead. Nicole had always pictured Kyra for the role, so it wasn't a difficult call.

Damon Dash, hip-hop mogul, requested to co-produce the film and the crew then brought on actors Benjamin Bratt, Mos Def, Eve and David Alan Grier.

Mos Def has a smaller role, but he was shinning. When he's in front of the camera, he's absolutely captivating and a breath of fresh air.

The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival 2004 and is being distributed by NewMarket Films who will release the film in theaters in December 2004.

Be on the look out for Steven Fechter who is continuing to write plays and the very pregnant Nicole Kaassell, who has signed on to direct a new Michael Douglas film.

1. British Movies – Tuesdays at 8pm at the Telephone Bar & Grill
2. Brunch Matinee Sundays at 3pm at Pianos (B Movie & Foreign)
3. EyeWash Wednesdays at 9pm at Remote Lounge
4. InfusionCinema – every other Thursday at Open Air Lounge
5. Monday Night Shorts at 7:30pm at Freight Film Salon
6. Monthly Director Series: New York-Tokyo every first Thursday at Tribeca Grand
7. New Film Series on Sundays at 7pm at Barbes
8. NewFilmmakers on Wednesdays at 7pm at the Anthology Film Archives
9. Pioneer Late Show on Fridays and Saturdays at midnight at the Pioneer Theater
10. The Screeners Club Movie Series every first Wednesday at Remote Lounge
11. Short Film Slam on Sundays at 5pm at the Pioneer Theater

The film series which are listed above take place in NYC, only because I’m more familiar with the events in NY.

There are film series which take place in every city. Some of the best places to check for the film series closest to you are local colleges and universities. Also you can contact your local film festival, and you'll find that either they have a film series or they will know of at least one.

Some of the best film series are run by film festivals; Toronto, SXSW, Hamptons, Tribeca, IFP, New Directors, etc...

Film series are events which you have to look for, unlike film festivals, most film series do not advertise and they depend on word-of-mouth.

A film series is a great place to meet people who also share a love for the art of independent cinema.

A film series is a special event, it's like a book club, it's a place for people to gather, relax, watch films and meet others who share the interest in independent cinema.

I believe there should be more film series, there is an audience and it's a wonderful privilege to be a part of.

Running a film series and/ or a film festival is very rewarding, the most rewarding part for me is seeing the audience walk away with something more then they did when they first sat down.

Details are what I love about programming films, you'll find that the longer you are running a film series, the easier everything becomes. It's difficult to start, but stay with it because things will get easier.

The most vital aspect of programming is making sure you see the film first, or if you don't see it, then have a trusting group or committee see the film (that is unless it's an open program). You want what is best for your audience, and if they are making an effort to attend your series, it's important to respect their time and their trust.

Another important aspect of having a film series is finding a niche and sticking to it. Whether you show docs, shorts, gay & lesbian, experimental, premieres, etc...

For example, the Reel Roundtable's niche lies within the guests. We take pride in our guests and try our best to introduce them to our audience. Our guests make a difference in the independent film community and so do the films which they showcase.

We try to introduce the Roundtable community to different areas of the industry and let them meet the people who we know and respect. There are many people working in the independent film industry and only few of them have recognition for their endless hours of hard work.

Another important part is location; where is your audience, which location is beneficial to them, is your series a bar-oriented film series or a theater-oriented film series?

Also, who is your audience? Is it public? Membership? Limited? Open?

How often does the film series occur? This is an important detail to work out with your location. Most theaters prefer to have a film series run for one week straight. It makes sense because it is easier for theaters to block out a week of programming and it's easier to advertise in blocks of time.

A once-a-month film series tend to take place in bars, restaurants and/ or screening rooms. Some theaters will participate in once-a-month series, but only if it's not on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday.

To have a weekly film series in a theater is difficult, because you're asking the theater to take a risk. If they are screening a film which is selling out every night then they may lose money.

At the end of the day, a film series is a wonderful thing to run and to program. It allows you to be creative, show films to a niche audience that they will enjoy. It's a community within a community.