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Tuesday, December 09, 2003

Thanks for the support Michael, Nick and as always Cyndi. Oddly enough I was more disappointed about Slamdance than Sundance. Sundance, in my understanding, is a lottery. You can't win if you don't play so I play but I never really had any hope for Sundance. It just cost me $30 to never have to think, "I wonder if The Promethean could have gotten into Sundance." Slamdance was the bigger disappointment because it is still one of the top ten film festivals in the world (according to Chris Gore) and yet small enough to pay attention to films like mine. Last year two BYU films were accepted, Peluca and The Snell Show, since then both filmmakers of those films have gone on to make features and found distribution. Slamdance was very impressed with the BYU film program and said they would keep an eye out for BYU films this year. All this culminates to me thinking I had a pretty good chance to get in. I think the thing that disappointed me the most is that this year another BYU film was selected but, unlike last year where they selected the two best films BYU students made, they chose one that in my opinion, and many others, is one of the weakest. Last year I attended the showings of Peluca and Snell Show and the films shown with them were also very weak. Everything is so subjective, that is what has bothered me so much. They not only passed over my film but many other well made, strong BYU films and chose the one we all hated. Oh well, I am over it now and I have my film out to four other film festivals (two of which are bigger than Slamdance) and I'll keep working The Promethean until I feel that it has run its course.

Monday, December 08, 2003

I didn't realize I had been missing out on so much good conversation. This doesn't have anything to do with movies, but I just spent a few days on the printing press with Cyndi and I think I have a new hobby.

As far as Sundance goes, if the The Promethean didn't get in, the only reason possible is because it has already done so well in other festivals. I've only been to Sundance once, but I did see a lot of short films that were not nearly as well crafted as Kohl's film. Second, I want to enter 2 films by Oct. Cyndi, I will be in OK with you I presume and I will transform Vigilant from script to film also. Maybe we could take a small trip to LA and scout some possible locations and begin some pre-production with casting and such.

Later kids.

Wednesday, December 03, 2003

Sundance Films Announced

If you haven't already seen it, the 2004 Sundance Film Guide (titles only, no short films yet) is available at the Sundance Festival Site. It looks like Joanne Caroselli's film didn't make the cut either (unless she didn't get it done in time and is saving it for next year). I noticed that D.E.B.S, the feature, will screen this year (as opposed to the short of the same title that screened last year.
Dang Kohl. That is a real bummer ... I know this feeling PERSONALLY. The rejection is hard to get used to but, if that's the price to pay for making films, I'll take it. I like the process too much to give it up. I think The Promethean is great and I wondered if it would make it at Sundance because it had already showed (and won) at a few festivals. Sundance likes to be FIRST ... they seem to prefer either World Premieres or, at the very least, North American Premieres. Regardless, you should feel really proud of the film you made! It was terrific. And, I'll be watching for The Peluca DVD. The students will LOVE seeing it!

Tuesday, December 02, 2003

Sad News: I just received a rejection email for The Promethean from Sundance. Rumor around town is that Slamdance has also announced the films it is showing and since I have heard nothing, I'm thinking the outcome is similar to Sundance. I'm bummed but rejection is an aspect of filmmaking that I am growing use to. My friend Todd Hamilton said something that really got me thinking. He said, "look at it this way: if you were a one trick pony and the Promethean was the only and best idea and execution of filmmaking you will ever do, then you have reason to be depressed. but you've got other ideas, and im sure you've learned more about filmmaking from making the Promethean and ill the films after that youre next one will be better. and if festivals dont take the next, they will take the next one or the next one."

P.S. Todd is now living in Mesa and looking for work. You can check out his website which includes his film projects, art, and scripts at www.toddhamilton.net.

Good News: The BYU TMA Office has agreed to send Cyndi the 2002 Final Cut DVD which includes a copy of Peluca (The Promethean showed in 2003 and they've decided for one reason or another not to do a Final Cut DVD). So Cyndi, I gave them your address and they said they would send it today.

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