off to the festivals

whew...what a busy few weeks it has been...hmm...where do i start?

well, the cast and crew screening at the afi a couple of weeks ago went incredibly well, and i couldn't be happier with the turn out and the response, and pretty much everything else. it was really great to see a lot of people that i haven't seen in a while, though, because i was running around so much, i didn't get a chance to sit and catch up with everyone that i had hoped. anyhoo, i did get to spend time with bob massey, and tom and andrew, and the rest of the crew, which was really cool.

we also got a really great article in the Washington City Paper: (http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/display.php?id=1774) ,
which i wasn't expecting.

it was really a great article, and hopefully it will boost the chances of the film getting into festivals...hopefully.

seeing the film up on the big screen was both exciting and overwhelming. but ultimately, it re-enforced my whole reasons for making films. there's nothing like it. everyone was talking about the film at the after party - all talking about all different kind of things, and arguing about what different things represented and such...which is all a good thing. anyway, being able to have the screening at the afi for the cast and crew was really cool, and a really great way to end this phase of production.

after the screening weekend, me and paul headed down to florida for a short weekend trip - a chance to regroup and relax on the beach and such. it was sooo relaxing.

but now it's onto a completely different phase of the film - off to the festivals. i've already submitted screeners to a couple of major festivals, but i've also missed a couple as well. my thinking on it is that i do think that PRAXIS is a very strong film - why not submit to the big ones and work your way back to smaller festivals from that? the festivals market is such a game, and everyone tells you that you don't have a chance. but if you don't submit, how will you ever know? so, i'd like to at least submit and see what happens. if it turns out that i need to apply to smaller festivals later, then i'll definitely do that. but for now, i think we should go for it. what do we have to lose?

of course, it's always best to have a plan b, and even a plan c. so, plan a is to apply to the festivals, plan b is to work my old contacts and previous festivals where i've had my other work screened, and plan c is to four wall. either case, i definitely intend to push the film as much as i can, and let it get seen by as many people possible.

having the screening was a little bittersweet - i'm sure that the film will eventually screen somewhere. i just can't determine if and when that happens. that also means that i won't get a chance to see a lot of my friends and crew and such for quite a while.

such is life, but the important thing now is to concentrate on this new phase of the film and do the best that i can to put out there...

ya never know what can happen...

The Big Day

So, it's the thursday before the big weekend of the big day, that day being saturday, which would be the first screening of the PRAXIS at the AFI Silver Theatre. a lot of hard work and planning have gone into making sure everything goes well for this weekend, and i'm looking forward to it all. Bob Massey, flies in from LA tomorra, and Andrew and Tom get into town from New York on saturday. the screening is saturday night, and it looks like we'll have a really good turn out. there are a lot of people that i haven't seen in a long time that are coming, so it's going to be really great to catch up with them all.

Bob's staying with us til monday, and i hope that he'll dig me and paul's place - during the shooting of the film, andrew and tom stayed with us, and it seemed like they were both very comfortable here. so, i'm sure that bob will be totally cool here, and it'll be great to catch up with him too.

this past week, i got interviewed by the Washington City Paper, and they did an article about the film. it was totally cool, and the reporter complimented me on giving him a ton of information about the film. he said that usually when he interviews people and asks them questions, he usually doesn't get a decent answer and it's difficult to write about anything. fortunately, i told him that i've been interviewed before, and i also think that we put together a really decent press kit, so between the two, there should be plenty to write about. having a decent press kit is essential - and giving writers a ton of different angles to write about makes their job a lot easier. so there ya have it, the first published article about PRAXIS, and hopefully, many more to come.

after all this, i have no idea how the film will be received. i'm excited to present my first feature on the big screen, but at the same time, i'm a little nervous that not everyone will get it. audiences are always hard to gauge. but, i think ultimately, you have to trust the film itself, and trust that it can stand up on its own. i'm proud to have PRAXIS as a first feature, and i think the sincerity and honesty of everyone who worked on it speaks volumes on the big screen.

so, here comes the big weekend with the big day, and i'll be running around like crazy, but it'll really be awesome to see the cast and crew again, and the film will look incredible on the big screen. i just have to make sure everything works, and that i haven't forgotten anything...i'll be both happy and excited when it's over, and i can have a few beers...

but i better make sure that i not forget to take a picture of PRAXIS on the marquee...

awesome...