Musings of an Idiot

Bluegrass

Wohoooooooooo...Memories has been selected to screen at Bluegrass Independent Film Festival in Louiseville, Kentucky. The acceptance letter was really cool and I really am thrilled. I actually got this news yesterday morning but between the late night on Wednesday and the long long lecture yesterday night - I was too tired to even look at the computer.

I totally forgot that Wednesday night was the NZ Screen Awards and it was only when the local distributor gave a ring asking where I was that it struck me {I was taking a workshop in the evening with the editors}..so made a franatic rush to become presentable and get to the venue on time. The event was long and vaguely entertaining in bits but the best thing obviously was seeing people trying to support the awards. The cool thing was meeting Andy Conlan - another upcoming director, who is currently in post production with 'The Untitled Andy Conlan Film' aka 'The Magician' aka 'It will get a new name soon'. Met Amarbir as well and was happy that their movie, 1 Nite, picked up 'Technical Contribution for digital feature'...I should have been at their launch party tonight for their DVD {which they are self distributing} but am really tired at this stage..I was half inclined to go to the gym but the thought itself is tiring right now. Coming back to the NZ Screen Awards - sitting in the audience watching so many media practioners watching the event made me realize one thing - I do really want to be making films all the time and it doesn't matter how I make them -with a budget or without a budget - I want to keep making them. I am still a newcomer to NZ as a country as well as to the NZ Film Industry - which gives me the flexibility of not conforming to all the rules or following the normal paths I guess - meaning thereby that I can experiement with story telling for more time to come. I also realized something else - I don't have any sense of humor...well atleast when it is a public gathering, I guess.

Richie, the record label producer saw the rough cut of the music video and really liked the look and feel of the video and is pleased the way it is shaping up -he wasn't sure about the beginning, which was slower paced, so Phil spent today adding more stuff to the beginning and I think it holds up really good now and all that is left to do is the colour grade - which is a task I will leave for tomorrow, since it needs fresh eyes and fresh mind. I talked to Richie and it just might be that the music video would be included in 'special features' on the NZ/Australia DVD.

Met David M., who is a south seas graduate and a freelance writer and a fellow comic book geek...ooops...should I say graphic novel connoisseur ??? It was really cool meeting and talking to someone who is as passionate about story telling as well as dedication to the craft itself. The coolest thing was that David lent me his collection of Neil Gaiman's Sandman series - can't wait to tear into those {i mean read those not literally tear them ;-) }

Yesterday night was also the guest lecture by Zane Holmes, south seas graduate and a leading industry specialist specializing in children's fantasy drama. The lecture was fantastic as usual. He is really inspiring and makes you think out of the box. I am pretty sure that it must have given the editors a good kick up. The lecture went on till about 12.00 PM {i mean 12 o' clock midnight} after starting at 7.00 PM... it was a record of sorts - last year the lecture ended at 11.15 but this year he bet it by 45 minutes. It was worth it though.

Yesterday was also cool as I talked to Benji after a long time. It was again discussing future projects and possibilities and I always get excited when I am able to talk to someone who is as passionate about making movies as I am. Benji is currently writing a script and he intends to direct it somewhere at the end of 2006 in Japan with Japanese actors - which is pretty insane {especially without a budget}, so just have to see how that shapes up. I am really excited for him though. There are other projects which are on my mind but have to wait for 5-6 months before I am able to discuss anything concrete, publicly.

Today was again a fast paced day and the day simply disappeared. It is suddenly friday and I can't understand how. Anyhoooo...am feeling tired, exhausted, hungry and sleepy all at once, so I better get off the net and get myself something to eat before I fall asleep.

Amit

posted by Amit @ 7:12 PM