Jousting!
07.30.05 (6:19 pm) [edit]
Okay, I know this doesn't seem to have a lot to do with film, prayer, God, or any of my usual topics. But I just had to report that I jousted for the first time this Sunday, and oh my was it a BLAST! In the SCA (one of the reenactment groups I play horsie with) there is a new kind of fun, non-lethal jousting. I think it is the most fun I have ever had on a horse.
Tjeerd, the Frieisan I am privileged to ride, wasn't too sure about the shattering styrofoam and galloping opponent. So a kind friend let me use his horse, who is already trained. And I broke my first lance! And I made new friends while there, some of whom work in film, so there; relevance.
Life is good.
Blessings upon all endeavors that bring us closer to God's light. And for this rabid horse fan, galloping down a lane holding a lance and feeling chivalric completely rocks.
And now back to our regularly-scheduled discussion: the ongoing journey of a middleaged mother of two trying to direct her first feature film before the age of fifty . . .
Tjeerd, the Frieisan I am privileged to ride, wasn't too sure about the shattering styrofoam and galloping opponent. So a kind friend let me use his horse, who is already trained. And I broke my first lance! And I made new friends while there, some of whom work in film, so there; relevance.
Life is good.
Blessings upon all endeavors that bring us closer to God's light. And for this rabid horse fan, galloping down a lane holding a lance and feeling chivalric completely rocks.
And now back to our regularly-scheduled discussion: the ongoing journey of a middleaged mother of two trying to direct her first feature film before the age of fifty . . .
Fire Island Film Festival
07.18.05 (11:50 pm) [edit]
I just got in, it's 2 am, flight delayed because of New York thunderstorms. But, oh, did I ever have a fabulous time at Fire Island, and then up with my Godmother today. At this particular festival, more than any other, I felt honored as an artist, even though there were no awards for short films. I felt that my little film was cherished, and so was I. They treated me like a goddess, as they did all the filmmakers who showed up. I made some great new friends, and fell in love with that magical island and its people.
The amazing Ken Forté and his wonderful wife Donna escorted me out to the island Friday, after Ken picked me up at the airport and Sherpa'd my stuff into his house and let me sleep off the red-eye. Then we all three walked the red carpet, and sat and watched the first couple of films showing in the ballfield. Surreal with a blow-up screen several stories high!
Here is an excerpt from my e-journal, begun last night (Sunday):
I am sitting in a Super 8 Motel in Torrington, CT. This morning, after a PERFECT weekend,
I woke up on glorious Fire Island to see my screening of “Dancing With You”. Though I never wanted to leave that wonderful place, and HATED to miss the last 3 movies/last party, I came off the island at 3pm with sweet loyal Sandy Munoz and Lori Pieper (who woke up at 5 to get tho the island by 10!), because they knew how to get me to JFK. Then I rented a car and drove up here, arriving just before it got dark. Phew. Much easier to read maps that way in the country.
It is odd not to be staying in the guest room at the cottage. The only time I stayed anywhere else up here was that sad Christmastime for Bion’s funeral.
It was surreal going to Applebee’s alone, and to the Stop ‘n Shop (which of course I barely found, but did because of that time we three got lost . . .).
I hurt inside, and am in fear of tomorrow’s meeting with M., at the same time revelling in my rare chance to do very little in a familiar-yet-new- town. Like last night wandering the boardwalk on the island, or yesterday morning, wandering the the beach. No one to report to, no one to disappoint or worry if I stay out late or just wander around.
On the island I really tried to see every movie, but here, there is no agenda but mine.
When I talked to the fam tonight Tallis repeated a rare, sweet thing that Theo said about me in my absence. He was "kissing the Invisible Mama" at bedtime. Awww . . . miss them.
8:20 pm JFK
My flight is delayed at least one hour.
I wish M. hadn’t ushered me out so soon, but she was worried about the crashing thunder and lightning and torrential rain. The trip down was . . . eventful. I kept my head, though the road got very dicey at times with the liquid air.
I kept calling folks to tell them the fabulous news - M. was having a GREAT day! At 87 she is happy, thinner, healthy, and sharp. She actually loves the rest home! And I can see why; the staff are amazing. She introduced me to some of them. It is cheery, light, well-decorated, and even smells good. I took pics to show folks that she is the farthest thing from feeling confined, she is choosing to be there. Though she did say she wishes, now that she’s better, for a phone, and to go out to dinner again the next time I come. She almost asked me to call when I got home, as usual, then remembered she had no phone, and said I should send her a postcard.
I am SOO glad that I stayed to see her, especially since the flight was free, thanks to Ken, and the hotel was free, thanks to my new best friends, the Fire Island Golden Wagon International Film Festival. They even paid for my ferry fare. So renting the car and staying in the Super 8 Motel was not that expenseive, considering all the glorious, needed financial help.
M. asked about Terry and Tallis and Theo and Mom; remembered that Tallis was an actor, and that Theo had special needs. She told me she loved me and said that Tallis is living up to his name. Love flowed freely between us. The only small glitch was that I had to remind me that Dad had died, and she asked “Why didn’t you tell me?”, and said that she missed him.
The other tiny fly in the proverbial ointment of the visit was that Dick, a writer of unpublished novels and stories, was very insistent upon reading his work to M. So the visit I had yearned for for a year wasn't very long. Sigh. But when he left, she said that he was a really nice guy, and she had fun having lunch with him. And then we had about 45 precious minutes to ourselves, thank God, after he left, in which she told me she has a book in her head about the cration of the universe: what could have been in God’s mind, and now that she’s better she can’t wait to get to it. She says that she is having a “Crisis of Faith”, and that when she’s writing again she will feel better. I prayed for her, then and there, holding her sweet soft hand, that God will wrap His arms around her and be very close to her, and that she will feel it.
I gave her a copy of “The Message” and a little silver seahorse from Fire Island, which she promptly put around her neck. We remembered Eugene Peterson together. It matches the little silver/black cross that I got on Fire Island.
How I wish I could go back there . . . I was enraptured by that place; by the people, by the beaches and the community. I could really get used to it. I felt free and happy and young and alive there, and the way I was cherished as an artist really rocked my world.
When she made me leave in worry about the rain and storm, I drove back through Goshen and looked at Crosswicks and the Cottage, and let the memories flood over me.
I am not sad, this trip, and I didn’t even cry when leaving her, as I usually do. I am jubilant at her health and well-being, which astounds me. I expected things to be very different. Praise be to God!!!
And when I got home at 1 a.m., I got the good news that "Classified" took third place:
Dear 'Classified' team,
From Kirk Nordenstrom, administrator of the 48 Hour Project 2005/Seattle:
Sat Jul 16 19:50:06 EDT 2005
Hey all!
The votes are tallied for the audience awards! All teams are eligible
for this regardless of whether or not the tapes were turned in on time.
First off I want to say congratulations to all the teams that
participated. We had a great showing on Tuesday night!
Ok... here goes!
#3 - Blue Scooter Productions - Classified
#2 - GadZook Productions - Hook Her
And the audience award goes to.......
#1 Chapter One - Anybuddy Home?
Again congrats to every team that participated. Getting a short film
done in 2 days is no easy task!
The judging panel will be getting their DVD on Monday and we will
have the judging completed within a week.
Of the 22 teams that competed, 18 are eligible for the panel judging
and the awards thereof. This puts us higher than the national average
for eligible films and in our first year!
Way to go!
krk nordenstrom
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
From Royce Buckingham, Screenwriter/Co-Director:
So...third place for us out of 22. Congratulations! (and sci-fi is a very tough sell with 0$ and only 7 minutes too...comedy is much easier).
I know that I voted for all of the top 3. They were all clever, had decent production values and good acting. I hate to say it, but the first place winner was an idea that has been done oh, maybe 1 zillion times (guy must hide dead body as people wander past, and hilarity ensues)...not exactly original. But it was executed well and humorous--classic example of keeping it simple.
Great job! Let's sweeten the product and see where else we can take it!
Royce
The amazing Ken Forté and his wonderful wife Donna escorted me out to the island Friday, after Ken picked me up at the airport and Sherpa'd my stuff into his house and let me sleep off the red-eye. Then we all three walked the red carpet, and sat and watched the first couple of films showing in the ballfield. Surreal with a blow-up screen several stories high!
Here is an excerpt from my e-journal, begun last night (Sunday):
I am sitting in a Super 8 Motel in Torrington, CT. This morning, after a PERFECT weekend,
I woke up on glorious Fire Island to see my screening of “Dancing With You”. Though I never wanted to leave that wonderful place, and HATED to miss the last 3 movies/last party, I came off the island at 3pm with sweet loyal Sandy Munoz and Lori Pieper (who woke up at 5 to get tho the island by 10!), because they knew how to get me to JFK. Then I rented a car and drove up here, arriving just before it got dark. Phew. Much easier to read maps that way in the country.
It is odd not to be staying in the guest room at the cottage. The only time I stayed anywhere else up here was that sad Christmastime for Bion’s funeral.
It was surreal going to Applebee’s alone, and to the Stop ‘n Shop (which of course I barely found, but did because of that time we three got lost . . .).
I hurt inside, and am in fear of tomorrow’s meeting with M., at the same time revelling in my rare chance to do very little in a familiar-yet-new- town. Like last night wandering the boardwalk on the island, or yesterday morning, wandering the the beach. No one to report to, no one to disappoint or worry if I stay out late or just wander around.
On the island I really tried to see every movie, but here, there is no agenda but mine.
When I talked to the fam tonight Tallis repeated a rare, sweet thing that Theo said about me in my absence. He was "kissing the Invisible Mama" at bedtime. Awww . . . miss them.
8:20 pm JFK
My flight is delayed at least one hour.
I wish M. hadn’t ushered me out so soon, but she was worried about the crashing thunder and lightning and torrential rain. The trip down was . . . eventful. I kept my head, though the road got very dicey at times with the liquid air.
I kept calling folks to tell them the fabulous news - M. was having a GREAT day! At 87 she is happy, thinner, healthy, and sharp. She actually loves the rest home! And I can see why; the staff are amazing. She introduced me to some of them. It is cheery, light, well-decorated, and even smells good. I took pics to show folks that she is the farthest thing from feeling confined, she is choosing to be there. Though she did say she wishes, now that she’s better, for a phone, and to go out to dinner again the next time I come. She almost asked me to call when I got home, as usual, then remembered she had no phone, and said I should send her a postcard.
I am SOO glad that I stayed to see her, especially since the flight was free, thanks to Ken, and the hotel was free, thanks to my new best friends, the Fire Island Golden Wagon International Film Festival. They even paid for my ferry fare. So renting the car and staying in the Super 8 Motel was not that expenseive, considering all the glorious, needed financial help.
M. asked about Terry and Tallis and Theo and Mom; remembered that Tallis was an actor, and that Theo had special needs. She told me she loved me and said that Tallis is living up to his name. Love flowed freely between us. The only small glitch was that I had to remind me that Dad had died, and she asked “Why didn’t you tell me?”, and said that she missed him.
The other tiny fly in the proverbial ointment of the visit was that Dick, a writer of unpublished novels and stories, was very insistent upon reading his work to M. So the visit I had yearned for for a year wasn't very long. Sigh. But when he left, she said that he was a really nice guy, and she had fun having lunch with him. And then we had about 45 precious minutes to ourselves, thank God, after he left, in which she told me she has a book in her head about the cration of the universe: what could have been in God’s mind, and now that she’s better she can’t wait to get to it. She says that she is having a “Crisis of Faith”, and that when she’s writing again she will feel better. I prayed for her, then and there, holding her sweet soft hand, that God will wrap His arms around her and be very close to her, and that she will feel it.
I gave her a copy of “The Message” and a little silver seahorse from Fire Island, which she promptly put around her neck. We remembered Eugene Peterson together. It matches the little silver/black cross that I got on Fire Island.
How I wish I could go back there . . . I was enraptured by that place; by the people, by the beaches and the community. I could really get used to it. I felt free and happy and young and alive there, and the way I was cherished as an artist really rocked my world.
When she made me leave in worry about the rain and storm, I drove back through Goshen and looked at Crosswicks and the Cottage, and let the memories flood over me.
I am not sad, this trip, and I didn’t even cry when leaving her, as I usually do. I am jubilant at her health and well-being, which astounds me. I expected things to be very different. Praise be to God!!!
And when I got home at 1 a.m., I got the good news that "Classified" took third place:
Dear 'Classified' team,
From Kirk Nordenstrom, administrator of the 48 Hour Project 2005/Seattle:
Sat Jul 16 19:50:06 EDT 2005
Hey all!
The votes are tallied for the audience awards! All teams are eligible
for this regardless of whether or not the tapes were turned in on time.
First off I want to say congratulations to all the teams that
participated. We had a great showing on Tuesday night!
Ok... here goes!
#3 - Blue Scooter Productions - Classified
#2 - GadZook Productions - Hook Her
And the audience award goes to.......
#1 Chapter One - Anybuddy Home?
Again congrats to every team that participated. Getting a short film
done in 2 days is no easy task!
The judging panel will be getting their DVD on Monday and we will
have the judging completed within a week.
Of the 22 teams that competed, 18 are eligible for the panel judging
and the awards thereof. This puts us higher than the national average
for eligible films and in our first year!
Way to go!
krk nordenstrom
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
From Royce Buckingham, Screenwriter/Co-Director:
So...third place for us out of 22. Congratulations! (and sci-fi is a very tough sell with 0$ and only 7 minutes too...comedy is much easier).
I know that I voted for all of the top 3. They were all clever, had decent production values and good acting. I hate to say it, but the first place winner was an idea that has been done oh, maybe 1 zillion times (guy must hide dead body as people wander past, and hilarity ensues)...not exactly original. But it was executed well and humorous--classic example of keeping it simple.
Great job! Let's sweeten the product and see where else we can take it!
Royce
"Classified" Screens Tonight!
07.11.05 (8:47 pm) [edit]
We got it done, by the grace of God. And one of our actresses didn't show up, so I had a 3-line cameo in the first scene, which was really interesting at 12:30 a.m. after shooting all day. Neither Melissa nor I could remember our lines, we were both so punchy.
Here's what the incredible Bill Murray wrote in the Northwest Screenwriter's Guild newsletter:
Team Bluescooter’s ‘Classified’ screens in 48 Hour Film Project!
TUES. 12 July, 9:00 & 10:45 Screenings of The 48 Hour Film Project 2005 at The Neptune Theatre on 45th St. in the University District. Each screening is for half the entries, but one admission pays for both. (Read aloud: my favorite is Classified)
Stay out late-- this is going to be a blast, and almost surely one of the most dynamic collections of shorts you’ll see all year! 48 Hour Film Project www.48hourfilm.com
Last Friday, 21 teams converged at Nimble Productions http://www.landmarktheatres.c... (credit card required), or can be bought at the door of the Neptune Theater that night. (my favorite is Classified)
This project follows two intense weeks, with NWSG members Wash Phillips, Wally Lane, Joe Acton, and Cornelia Duryée Moore writing under-two-minute entries for the Austin International Film Festival Cell Cinema competition.
Corrie, who directed her short, Promise, has another entry in the mail festival as well, and did casting and AD’ed for the project, while I produced, directed and DP’ed Wash’s Veggies in Turmoil, Wally’s The Outa Towners , and Joe’s White Bitch, featuring Jessica Skerritt (Hello, Drivers Ed). James Canfield edited The Outa Towners, and I edited the other three. All this, from start to finish, in less than two weeks.
Please pay no attention to the subliminal messages. (my favorite is Classified)
Screening "A" 9pm
Albemuth
Azzurri
Bent Penny Productions
BI Film Crew
Blowtorch Entertainment
Call Off Your Dog! Productions
Chapter One
Chrysoprase/Meow productions
The Dexter Jones Experience
FDB Entertainment
Fine Grain Films
GadZook!
Midnight Storm
Screening "B" 11pm
The NFA
No One?s Bigger Productions
PJK Productions
Play Nice Productions
RebusFilms
Shoot The Moon Productions
Snagbuddy
Spag
Team Swamper
"whatever I feel like I wanna do, gosh!"
Team Bluescooter- Classified
Urban Kings
We were mentioned in the Seattle Weekly and Andy Spletzer had a
little blurb on us in his column "Blow Up" in the Stranger last week.
Now, go tell every single person you know!
Bill
--
Bill Murray Producer-Director
Bluescooter Team, 48 Hour Film Project
Co-Pres., Northwest Screenwriters Guild
206-264-5454 www.nwsg.org
Here's what the incredible Bill Murray wrote in the Northwest Screenwriter's Guild newsletter:
Team Bluescooter’s ‘Classified’ screens in 48 Hour Film Project!
TUES. 12 July, 9:00 & 10:45 Screenings of The 48 Hour Film Project 2005 at The Neptune Theatre on 45th St. in the University District. Each screening is for half the entries, but one admission pays for both. (Read aloud: my favorite is Classified)
Stay out late-- this is going to be a blast, and almost surely one of the most dynamic collections of shorts you’ll see all year! 48 Hour Film Project www.48hourfilm.com
Last Friday, 21 teams converged at Nimble Productions http://www.landmarktheatres.c... (credit card required), or can be bought at the door of the Neptune Theater that night. (my favorite is Classified)
This project follows two intense weeks, with NWSG members Wash Phillips, Wally Lane, Joe Acton, and Cornelia Duryée Moore writing under-two-minute entries for the Austin International Film Festival Cell Cinema competition.
Corrie, who directed her short, Promise, has another entry in the mail festival as well, and did casting and AD’ed for the project, while I produced, directed and DP’ed Wash’s Veggies in Turmoil, Wally’s The Outa Towners , and Joe’s White Bitch, featuring Jessica Skerritt (Hello, Drivers Ed). James Canfield edited The Outa Towners, and I edited the other three. All this, from start to finish, in less than two weeks.
Please pay no attention to the subliminal messages. (my favorite is Classified)
Screening "A" 9pm
Albemuth
Azzurri
Bent Penny Productions
BI Film Crew
Blowtorch Entertainment
Call Off Your Dog! Productions
Chapter One
Chrysoprase/Meow productions
The Dexter Jones Experience
FDB Entertainment
Fine Grain Films
GadZook!
Midnight Storm
Screening "B" 11pm
The NFA
No One?s Bigger Productions
PJK Productions
Play Nice Productions
RebusFilms
Shoot The Moon Productions
Snagbuddy
Spag
Team Swamper
"whatever I feel like I wanna do, gosh!"
Team Bluescooter- Classified
Urban Kings
We were mentioned in the Seattle Weekly and Andy Spletzer had a
little blurb on us in his column "Blow Up" in the Stranger last week.
Now, go tell every single person you know!
Bill
--
Bill Murray Producer-Director
Bluescooter Team, 48 Hour Film Project
Co-Pres., Northwest Screenwriters Guild
206-264-5454 www.nwsg.org
Vote for Me!
07.07.05 (8:01 pm) [edit]
If you are able and willing, I would be honored if you would vote for my little film, "Dancing With You". It is in an online festival that is up and running now. Link below. And thanks so much for looking . . .
It is on-demand, and costs 7 dollars.
http://www.tvnet.net/festivalb.php" title="http://www.tvnet.net/festivalb.php" target="_blank"http://www.tvnet.net/festival...
It is on-demand, and costs 7 dollars.
http://www.tvnet.net/festivalb.php" title="http://www.tvnet.net/festivalb.php" target="_blank"http://www.tvnet.net/festival...
New Job Today!
07.04.05 (10:11 pm) [edit]
I just returned home from a wonderful 4th of July parade in gorgeous Manzanita, OR, on the first day of my new job, “Tillamook Treasure”, the feature film I got hired to do Script Continuity on today! I drove down to do a day 'on spec', and they liked me and my work, so hired me after the shoot. It will film for a week here, a week there, in August, September, and October. I had never been to the Oregon Coast that I can remember, and it was revelatory. There is a reason why those beaches are so famous.
Today we filmed the small-town parade, and it was incredible footage.
It was a classic old-fashioned parade. There were antique cars, fire trucks, Citizen of the Year, horses and foals, and kids riding their ponies or bikes. Smaller kids rode in wagons pulled by mom or dad, and there were floats of all aspirations, often pulled by pickups.
Everywhere you looked people were decked out in the Red, White & Blue. There were streamers, ribbons or pinwheels on all bikes, wagons, etc. The street was absolutely packed with hot, cheering throngs.
It was wonderful, challenging, and exhausting. It was quite difficult to do good continuity beside a moving camera with no monitor, so I just tried to scribble what I could in my binder as I walked. Jane, the kind writer/director, was very forgiving.
I woke at 3 a.m. and drive the 5 hours to Manzanita, eyes jiggling with fatigue, so that I barely stayed on the road despite all the tea. One there, the day began with the director making the crew a pancake breakfast, and ended with me actually jogging (SO not fun) after the parade car with the camera in it. Then when the parade shoot wrapped, I visited with the crew, particularly René the DP (who owns his own HD camera, the same as the one we shot "Expiration Date" on, and Avid system!) and Neyda the co-producer (on this quick shoot, she also did wardrobe, PA, cheerleading, and just about everything else, God bless her!). Then I drove the 5 hours home, trying very very hard to stay awake by various means, including singing at the top of my voice to my Ipod. I barely made it in time to Mom’s house for croquet and fireworks. But I made it! A miracle.
My body is telling me that I drove ten hours today, so I should go to bed.
But I am employed for the third time on a feature film this year, which is amazing. And I have the 48-hour film competition coming up with Bill and Company next weekend, then an actual 4-day vacation, and then I fly to Fire Island for the Fire Island Golden Wagon Film Festival, for FREE, thanks to dear Ken, with a free flight on my beloved JetBlue.
I am a very blessed woman. In quite a lot of pain tonight. But for a good cause.
Today we filmed the small-town parade, and it was incredible footage.
It was a classic old-fashioned parade. There were antique cars, fire trucks, Citizen of the Year, horses and foals, and kids riding their ponies or bikes. Smaller kids rode in wagons pulled by mom or dad, and there were floats of all aspirations, often pulled by pickups.
Everywhere you looked people were decked out in the Red, White & Blue. There were streamers, ribbons or pinwheels on all bikes, wagons, etc. The street was absolutely packed with hot, cheering throngs.
It was wonderful, challenging, and exhausting. It was quite difficult to do good continuity beside a moving camera with no monitor, so I just tried to scribble what I could in my binder as I walked. Jane, the kind writer/director, was very forgiving.
I woke at 3 a.m. and drive the 5 hours to Manzanita, eyes jiggling with fatigue, so that I barely stayed on the road despite all the tea. One there, the day began with the director making the crew a pancake breakfast, and ended with me actually jogging (SO not fun) after the parade car with the camera in it. Then when the parade shoot wrapped, I visited with the crew, particularly René the DP (who owns his own HD camera, the same as the one we shot "Expiration Date" on, and Avid system!) and Neyda the co-producer (on this quick shoot, she also did wardrobe, PA, cheerleading, and just about everything else, God bless her!). Then I drove the 5 hours home, trying very very hard to stay awake by various means, including singing at the top of my voice to my Ipod. I barely made it in time to Mom’s house for croquet and fireworks. But I made it! A miracle.
My body is telling me that I drove ten hours today, so I should go to bed.
But I am employed for the third time on a feature film this year, which is amazing. And I have the 48-hour film competition coming up with Bill and Company next weekend, then an actual 4-day vacation, and then I fly to Fire Island for the Fire Island Golden Wagon Film Festival, for FREE, thanks to dear Ken, with a free flight on my beloved JetBlue.
I am a very blessed woman. In quite a lot of pain tonight. But for a good cause.