September 2008 Archives

News?

Of course there’s news! Exceptional news!!! But, I can’t say anything for another couple of weeks.

Instead, I will simply say that something very cool will be happening with CENTIGRADE come October. (After all, October is the month of ghosts, goblins and of things that go bump in the Airstream!!!) Keep your eyes ‘peeled’. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!

Okay. Couple of quick festival updates. If you’re in the neighborhood, CENTIGRADE will be playing at the following;

The INTERNATIONAL HORROR and SCI-FI FESTIVAL in Phoenix, Arizona!

The MILL VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL - Northern California!

The BACKYARD FILM FESTIVAL - Palm Springs!

The WHISTLER INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL - Whistler, British Columbia!

And the CANADIAN FILM CENTER has requested our presence at their WORLD OF SHORTS SERIES at the NFB Mediatheque - Toronto, Canada

ALSO!!! If you live in San Diego, you’ve got a chance to go see one of my favorite short films of the year, CUTE COUPLE by Courtney Balaker. It’s playing in San Diego THIS coming weekend!! And, if you can’t make it, spread the word to anybody hanging out in Southern California this weekend. It’s a great film. San Diego Film Festival. Check it out, you won’t be disappointed.

And for those of you looking for something in ‘clothing optional’ resorts in California, click here.

A year ago I unabashedly declared that CENTIGRADE would change the world! Well hush my mouth and call me cornpone!!

Last September we celebrated our Vancouver premiere by having a wing dinger at a restaurant called Lickerish. Our Script Supervisor, Kristine Erlendson was there. And so was a dashing young man by the name of Steve Catlin.

It was their first date.

And by the time the evening was over, they had both fallen madly, head over heals in love.

And well, love birds did as love birds do… and guess what? We got ourselves a couple of babies!

And so to Mom and Dad, we say CONGRATULATIONS.

And to ‘Khrystian’ and ‘Spencer’, welcome to Canada!

Shhhh. 9-11.

‘Never forget.’ Remember that?

In a day when the populous is herded about by shepherds wearing no underwear, I doubt many do. Sure, they remember the number. Most children can dial it. Hell, there was a minute there when it was almost nostalgic to lament on where you were, etc. But few still have ever had the courage to tell you exactly ‘what’ they recall. Wouldn’t want to offend anybody.

Shhh.

Keep it to yourself.

And so, today, we’ll all stand together quietly and recall. Take that minute of silence at work and remember.

What? Your place of work didn’t have one?

Huh. Neither did mine. In fact, come to think of it, I went the entire day and not a soul even mentioned it. Barely a mention of it on the radio. Heard about Brittany at the MTV Music Awards. That was cool. But little of that days recorded radio traffic between firefighters (all dead) and those choking to death (all dead). Kind of ‘get’s in the way’ of Lindsey Lohan I suppose.

But, you know what? My memory’s still pretty good.

Here’s what I remember.

I remember those that ‘cheered’ as my friends were incinerated or leaped to their deaths. (Shhh. Don’t say ‘Palestinians’.) Some leaped alone. Others hand in hand. It’s how we go through life after all, isn’t it? Alone, or hand in hand? Though I doubt but few of us have the courage to do it from the top of one of the tallest buildings in the world.

I remember the sound of unanswered cell phones ringing in the rubble. The scrambling of jets whose pilots had orders to shoot down planes filled with their neighbors. I remember the guy who told me, “You can’t say they didn’t have it coming.”

Ahh, yes. I remember him.

Only ‘I’ remember these things every time I forget to check my toothpaste at the airport (and they take it away.) I remember as I watch the little old lady when she’s padded down and told to remove her shoes. Then of course, it’s hard to miss those who preach tolerance, but blame America when they get ‘pancakes’ instead of waffles.

Now, I’d like to take the more prophetic road and note that those who choose ‘not’ to remember the throats slit that day, shall slice open their own. To watch them load up on matches, then lay upon their beds of hay. Usually, I’d let them go without a thought, except that I live in the apartment above them.

So instead… Instead, I think I’ll take my minute of silence and tune it to something else.

Rage.

I can spend the rest of the day in tribute. But for a minute… just a minute. I will hate this day and those responsible. For to ‘not’ hate such a thing, is to remember nothing. And to not remember, is to be as dead as those who jumped from the 106th.

So, take your minute.

I took mine.

And if you’re so inclined, break out the Red, White and Blue. The Maple Leaf. Or just the family photo album. Flags come in many shapes and sizes. But take note, it’s just for today. Flag’s are fine, but tomorrow you’re best to take it down. Don’t want to piss off the illegal living across the street. He votes too.

But today? Today it’s ‘cool’. Today, you can care.

Alone. Or, hand in hand.

When at the Jackson Hole Film Festival, I’d mentioned a number of films that got stuck in my soul.

CUTE COUPLE by Courtney Balaker. REWIND by Atul Taishete and CROSSBOW by David Michod.

All shorts. And ALL, better, smarter and more thought provoking than anything I’ve seen in a very, very long time. Empowered and validated, I was once again reminded by what ‘cannot’ be done for fifty million.

Well, I found CROSSBOW.

This film is of adult content and is played best at home, in the dark, with a good set of headphones.

See you in 14 minutes.