Sorry for the hiatus from the blog, but not much new has happened on the project. I hope to start working on the behind-the-scenes shorts in the next few weeks so the site will be a little more active then.

But the REAL announcement is that FORGE has been selected for the International Film Festival Ireland. The festival is in its second year and had nearly 200 films last year. That’s pretty sweet. I’m psyched about the potential for exposure at any level. I’m definitely going. Maybe Jason can scrounge up a few bucks and go with me.

We were rejected from the Another Hole in the Head sci-fi fest in San Francisco. Since the IFFI is the first festival acceptance, I’m feeling better about the movie’s prospects.  I’m not looking for any kind of sale, just exposure and networking.  I met a lot of great people at festivals in the past. If I can be frank for a moment, allow me to give you an observation that I’ve made over the past couple years…  Festivals need to be two-way scenarios.  If a festival is only in it to draw some attention to some dirt town in the middle of Arkansas, then you’re not really helping yourself by going.  If you really want to make some connections, make sure the festival you’re submitting to draws industry people.  Or at the very least, draws people!  See if you can find out what the attendance numbers were the previous years.  Ok, that was a lead-in, not the observation, most people know that part already.  The observation is that since everyone can get their hands on quality gear and make an inexpensive film (as we did), the festival scene has become a beast that feeds on itself.

It’s a two-headed monster…  Head One)  The small- to mid-level festival scene is attended by dozens of sickening mirror images of myself; doughy white guys with a penchant for the latest Apple products and software workflows who all own an Ex-1, HVX, and/or a DSLR and have ten below average screenplays on their laptop.  This kinda bums me out because there’s nothing new in the sauce.  It’s like an infinite loop of people who will never get past this stage of filmmaking.  Everyone will trade quotes from Soderberg, Aronofsky, Rodriguez, and Tarantino, and talk about Brick, Paranormal Activity, Moon, and other inexpensive overnight successes.  I can already picture it:  ”What did you shoot on?”  ”Edit on Final Cut?”  ”Where did you get the money?”  Ugh.  There’s a strange irony to people who desperately want to be part of a group while they dream about being the next big thing.  That is exactly me, except that I don’t really want to fit in, and I’m not that crazy about Apple products.

Head Two)  There is no better place to meet people than a festival.  Yes, you are subject to people who are just like you, looking for the same things as you, and trying to figure out what you can do for them.  But there is always the chance that you’ll make a real friend who you stay in touch with and commiserate over the disease that is cinema.  On top of that, financing can be found at almost any festival.  All it takes is one wealthy benefactor to say, “How much do you need for your next one?”  So despite all the griping and grumping about film festivals, I will go.  It’ s a love/hate relationship, but I will go because more often than not, you meet good people, and any opportunity to play your project is a good one.

It only takes one person to pluck you from the swamp of mediocrity and give you a chance, but you won’t find that person if you’re living in a vacuum.