Found out on Tuesday that my movie, "Trampoline" was one of the 3880 entries to SXSW that DID NOT get into the festival. So I that sux. We were really counting on that to be our festival. So I a bit bummed out by that. On a positive note, I started work on a hollywood independent that started production last week in Hopkins, "the Convincer". I am the propmaster on the job. Till next time.

This week

This week I have applied to the LOS ANGELES film Festival, HOT DOCS and SILVERDOCS. I have the postage stamp strategy for the film. I need to keep pluggin away. Had a great old friend over last nite, Catherine. She's from New New York and she was in town with her little girl. It was so sweet to see them all. If your in New York sometime check out her band the Quavers,

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Quavers/56618357967

Looks like she is the closest I am getting to Sundance this year, as the quavers are performing there for Sam Greens new film on Utopia. So if youre in Utah, check them out.

oh yeah, wish me luck on the these submissions. Till next time.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I wish all of your dreams come true in 2010. Here are my pics for best Docs and Narrative films of the last decade.

Best Docs of the 00's

Iraq in Fragments

Trouble the Water

Darwin’s Nightmare

Our Daily Bread

Dig!

Sicko

War Tapes

World in Conflict

The Same River Twice

Grizzly Man

Honorable Mention

Romantico, Man on Wire, Fog of War, I am Trying to Break Your Heart, Fahrenheit 911, Tarnation, Inconvenient Truth, Capturing the Freidmans, Murderball, Stevie, My Architect, Super Size Me, Hijacking Catastrope, Unknown White Male, Dogtown and the Z-boys,Fearless Freaks, Bowling for Columbine and the Devil & Daniel Johnston .

Best Narrative Films of the 00's

Pans Laberninth

Me & You & Everyone We Know

Hunger

Dancer in the Dark

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

In Bruge

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon

Amelie

Y’ Mama Tu Bein

Once

Honorable Mention

Mysterious Skin, Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Borat, Hurt Locker, Gosford Park, Spirited Away, United 93, 28 Days Later, Little Miss Sunshine.

What do you all think, what were your favs?

Day Six - Nicole Explains Her Process To A Group of Wayward Teenagers

"Mostly, I do nothing.  No, really.   I don't do anything at all.   Sometimes I just stare at the wall for hours." 

Contact: 2009 Minneapolis Underground Film Festival

Venue: MCAD, 2501 Stevens Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN, 55404

Contact Person: Greg Yolen

Company Name: Minneapolis Underground Film Festival

Telephone Number 612-353-9993

MUFF2009 4190 Vinewood Lane North, #111/417, Plymouth, MN, 55442-1771

Email Address minneapolisuff@gmail.com

Web site address www.minneapolisundergroundfilmfestival.com

Just had lunch with Dean Otto from the WAC at the Modern Cafe. I had the meatloaf sandwich with the mushroom soup, the food was a bit dry but pretty good. I hope he's into my film and can give me some thoughts and a good crit. This week, I have been sending the film out to festivals, BERLIN, FULL FRAME, SXSW. I'm crossing fingers! Did you hear that cinevegas was cancelled! What a bummer!!!!!!!

Day Five - Nicole Sees A Light At The End Of The Tunnel

Props to Greg Yolen, director of the Minneapolis Underground Film Festival for supporting underground work and for deciding to screen my short "The Horses" at this year's festival.   I made this film a few years ago and it has NEVER screened anywhere, despite my contention that it is my most sophisticated and haunting work.    I had completely given up on the film until I got this precious email from Greg - "Congratulations!  You're in the program!"   The voice of God.

You can see a trailer for The Horses - as well as many other goodies - on the festival website:

www.minneapolisundergroundfilmfestival.com

Never been to an underground film festival?  Thinking about it, but don't know what to wear?  Here are a few guidelines to making it work for you:

1. Expect the unexpected.  B-Movies, German Arthouse Noir, Experimental Home Video of a First Time Blow Job - it can happen.  Be prepared.

2. Dress casual.   Dress up.  Wear your favorite steel-studded black satin corset with a feather boa and fedora.  Don't wear anything at all.  It's really up to you.  As long as you don't block the screen with your traditional Native American headdress. 

3.  Ask the filmmakers questions.  We don't bite.  And we're used to hearing things like, "Was that a real crack pipe?" and  "What was your childhood like?"

4.  Enjoy the experience.  You may not like everything you see - but we hope that at the very least, it inspires some interesting table conversations with the in-laws.