I want to share some big news: “Screening Process” has been selected as one of the top 50 films of the 2004 National Film Challenge.
The judging’s still going on — the official “finalists” will be announced December 1 — but this is still one hell of an honor. It’s a testament to the phenomenally talented and dedicated individuals who worked their asses off to deliver the best possible picture they could. Congratulations to all of them.
Of course, we’re not resting on our laurels. The wheels are already in motion for next spring’s 48 Hour Film Project. I’m serving as an Associate Producer for another indie project shooting right now, Bystander, and I’ve already met an even larger pool of talented folks, all equally eager to join in next time. It’s nice not to be in the position of having to beg absolutely anybody to help, the only criterion being a warm body.
On the flip side, for some positions, we may end up with multiple qualified people wanting to join in. Which has me thinking, perhaps suicidally: What if Tohubohu sponsored two teams in the competition?
We’d have a shared pool of acting talent, but — except for the necessary overlap in the executive rank (i.e., me) — the top-level production teams would be established as two independent creative groups. The big question is whether my taking on an overarching role might mean I wouldn’t be able to direct one of the films... and I don’t know that I’m ready to give up that seat just yet.
Wednesday, November 24, 2004
Thursday, November 18, 2004
Tohubohu Gets Some Press Coverage
Now this just feels weird.
Tohubohu Productions, not to mention yours truly, has just received its first front-page newspaper article: “Burke Filmmaker Sprints to Big Screen,” now appearing in the Burke Times, the Springfield Times, and the Fairfax Station Times (and maybe others, though those are the papers for which I’ve been able to obtain copies). Okay, so we’re “below the fold,” but once the paper is placed into its little transparent plastic delivery bag, ours is the story you see.
I actually talked to a store proprietor, and he lit up when I told him that I was the one pictured. He hadn’t done more than glance at the paper as a whole, but he had taken the time to read that one article.
Yes, I’m blowing my own horn by calling attention to it. But read it anyway.
Tohubohu Productions, not to mention yours truly, has just received its first front-page newspaper article: “Burke Filmmaker Sprints to Big Screen,” now appearing in the Burke Times, the Springfield Times, and the Fairfax Station Times (and maybe others, though those are the papers for which I’ve been able to obtain copies). Okay, so we’re “below the fold,” but once the paper is placed into its little transparent plastic delivery bag, ours is the story you see.
I actually talked to a store proprietor, and he lit up when I told him that I was the one pictured. He hadn’t done more than glance at the paper as a whole, but he had taken the time to read that one article.
Yes, I’m blowing my own horn by calling attention to it. But read it anyway.
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
The “Screening” Screening: Reaching an Audience
Well, the “Screening Process” premiere was last night, and — not to put too fine a point on it — we kicked ass.
Now I don’t mean we kicked the ass of any other films — after all, there were some seriously creative entries presented (my personal favorite was the event’s closer, Nachismo) — but I do think we competed more than admirably, far exceeding even my expectations.
I was a little nervous to see that our picture was going to be the absolute first one shown. We’d be setting the standard against which all of the films to follow would be judged. (No, this screening wasn’t part of the “official” judging, but since the actual judges were in attendance, I can’t help but think they’d be taking audience reaction into account.) The key for me was going to be how quickly the audience “got it,” how quickly they realized that we were recreating scenes from ’80s movies. Would it be after two scenes, three, four? Would we have to wait until the later line virtually spelling it out for them?
The moment the first scene — the Sixteen Candles shot — came up, the audience burst out in laughter. With just that visual composition, they had clued into exactly what we were going for.
The big grin on my face — ably captured by the photographer from the Burke Times — only got bigger as the film progressed. The audience laughed at all the right cues, applauded at exactly the right moment when the credits rolled (you can always tell the difference between “honest enjoyment” applause and “polite appreciation” applause), and I received several compliments afterward.
Granted, being a smaller event, the National Film Challenge doesn’t bring out as many of the professionals as the 48 Hour Film Project, but we still had some very polished competitors. Still, I think we’ve got a really good shot at making the intial finalist cut: 30–50 films from a total of 151 eligible submissions.
That announcement is expected this week. And I want to take this opportunity to offer my sincerest congratulations to all of the teams that completed this monumental undertaking, and wish the best of luck to everyone.
Well, just not as much luck as I’m wishing our team. I hope you’ll understand if I’m a bit biased...
(By the way, the National Film Challenge producers have a slot at Art-O-Matic, where they’ll be screening this same set of films on December second, followed by out-of-area entries on the third. So if you missed this screening, you’ve got another chance to see some really great work.)
Now I don’t mean we kicked the ass of any other films — after all, there were some seriously creative entries presented (my personal favorite was the event’s closer, Nachismo) — but I do think we competed more than admirably, far exceeding even my expectations.
I was a little nervous to see that our picture was going to be the absolute first one shown. We’d be setting the standard against which all of the films to follow would be judged. (No, this screening wasn’t part of the “official” judging, but since the actual judges were in attendance, I can’t help but think they’d be taking audience reaction into account.) The key for me was going to be how quickly the audience “got it,” how quickly they realized that we were recreating scenes from ’80s movies. Would it be after two scenes, three, four? Would we have to wait until the later line virtually spelling it out for them?
The moment the first scene — the Sixteen Candles shot — came up, the audience burst out in laughter. With just that visual composition, they had clued into exactly what we were going for.
The big grin on my face — ably captured by the photographer from the Burke Times — only got bigger as the film progressed. The audience laughed at all the right cues, applauded at exactly the right moment when the credits rolled (you can always tell the difference between “honest enjoyment” applause and “polite appreciation” applause), and I received several compliments afterward.
Granted, being a smaller event, the National Film Challenge doesn’t bring out as many of the professionals as the 48 Hour Film Project, but we still had some very polished competitors. Still, I think we’ve got a really good shot at making the intial finalist cut: 30–50 films from a total of 151 eligible submissions.
That announcement is expected this week. And I want to take this opportunity to offer my sincerest congratulations to all of the teams that completed this monumental undertaking, and wish the best of luck to everyone.
Well, just not as much luck as I’m wishing our team. I hope you’ll understand if I’m a bit biased...
(By the way, the National Film Challenge producers have a slot at Art-O-Matic, where they’ll be screening this same set of films on December second, followed by out-of-area entries on the third. So if you missed this screening, you’ve got another chance to see some really great work.)
Tuesday, November 09, 2004
“Screening Process” Premiere Tonight
Just a friendly little better-late-than-never notice that the latest short from Tohubohu Productions, “Screening Process,” will be premiering at the Warehouse Theater tonight at 7:30 p.m., along with 18 other submissions from the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia region.
Tickets are only $4 apiece — so no excuses about not having the scratch.
And by the way, we’re expecting a reporter and photographer from the Times Community Newspapers, so everyone dress nicely for the camera — and if you need any help putting together your “spontaneous” raves about the movie, I’m happy to offer my services.
Tickets are only $4 apiece — so no excuses about not having the scratch.
And by the way, we’re expecting a reporter and photographer from the Times Community Newspapers, so everyone dress nicely for the camera — and if you need any help putting together your “spontaneous” raves about the movie, I’m happy to offer my services.
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