Congrats, Team!  DOLORES is going out with a bang in the final months of her fest tour.   Catch her at the super awesome Megacon in Orlando (details HERE).   She’s also making appearances at the wonderful Taos and Durango Fests later this month and back in Florida at the Gasparilla Festival in April.   Hope to see you there!

I’ve another fun film to share.  Check out the delightful animated “Slimtime” HERE.

People had told me Berlin is magic.  Now I understand.  As I see the old, the new, the saved, and the mostly destroyed, I gain ever more insight into things I’d only previously read about.   The impact’s far greater than I ever could have imagined.   I daresay Berlin has already changed my life.  Who could have guessed?

On Day 2, Berlin-Greeter, this fabulous (and free!) service, set me up with a wonderful local hostess who gave me and new fest buddy, Abel, a 3-hour walking tour of the city.  I am in awe.  History is alive and all around us. I’ve found answers to questions I didn’t even realize I had.  And I’ve formed new questions for which I suspect there are no answers.  Above all, I understand the value of freedom like never before.   It is our most precious blessing.

Admittedly, I am getting to know mostly foreigners and Ex-Pats.  It’s such a wonderfully international city.  New friends from Turkey, France, Portugal, Norway and Italy regale me with stories and ideas that have my inner gypsy all aflutter.  Disney got it wrong.  It’s not such a small world after all, only sometimes we try to make it that way.

Above all, I have learned two valuable truths:  1)  I must come back and live here at some point.  2) I indeed want to make our next films in Europe.   There is a freedom here that I fear the U.S. filmmaking industry has misplaced.   Film is still a revered artform – not merely a business.  There seems to be less fear, less concern about tried-and-true formulas and marketing packages.    Interesting faces and original visions are valued above “safety”.  It’s liberating…and a relief.

But enough waxing philosophical.  There’s a festival on which to report…  I am increasingly humbled as I see the other films screened.  Where have these filmmakers been all my life?  Before coming here, I was beginning to feel like I’d seen it all.  After a hundred or so fests the past few years, it was becoming increasingly rare to find a truly original story told in a truly unique fashion.  Is there a point when there are simply no new ideas?  I now believe the answer is a resounding, “No!”  Phew!

We’ve had our first 2 screenings and I daresay we’ve never screened in a more impressive block of genre shorts.  There was not a cliché in the bunch.  To the contrary, they were some of the most original horror shorts I have ever seen.  The block is aptly named “Nightmares and Dark Tales.”  The nightmare imagery is stunning.  It’s a relief to go to brand new places.  Perhaps I’m too jaded for porn, but lately it’s felt like horror should go for a stroll on the beach with its mother and ask about that “not-so fresh feeling”, if you know what I mean.

There is simply no need for horror clichés.  I now have proof.  I hope these fine directors go on to make features as inspired as their shorts.  Our beloved  genre needs them.  It’s time to raise the bar.  For movie descriptions and links, click HERE.

The other shorts in various genres have also been remarkable.  I’m pleased to find Germans seem partial to dark comedy if the  films I’ve seen are any indication.  Some favorites have included:  Water Lilies in Bloom (a wonderful fairytale by the “Norwegian Paul Bartel” inspired by his time as the only man at a “fat camp.”) And  Out of Erasers which somehow reminded me of “classic noir meets Godard’s Alphaville meets A-ha’s TAKE ON ME video.”

There are too many more to mention at present.  It’s actually Day 5 already and my intention to blog daily proves to have been delusional.  There is simply no time.  However, I will try to recap some of the highlights tomorrow.  Last night I experienced one of the most delightfully weird and wonderful experiences yet and it has resulted in a new filmmaking goal for which I may just need some help from twisted kindred spirits.  But now, some underground bunkers beckon….

Perhaps I’ve been out of the loop, but I just discovered a wonderful Youtube gem that was screened as part of Interfilm’s opening night kick-off.  Watch it HERE.  You’ll thank me.  It’s even more fun on a giganto screen amidst an audience of thousands.  Scroll down for more awesome films and trailers below…

But first, a quick recap of Day 1 here at the Interfilm fest.  Berlin is like no city I’ve ever visited and Interfilm like no other fest.  It feels like a whole new world has opened up to me.  It’s been wonderful…and a little intimidating. Moments after I first arrived, I had little time to freshen up and find my way to the opening night kick off.  Interestingly, some street names seem to change at every block making it rather challenging to find one’s way about at first.

After a couple wrong turns, I found my way to the giant venue.  It was already packed with thousands of people, all speaking German, all in groups of friends.  In my jetlagged state and not knowing a soul or more than a handful of German phrases, I confess I had a minor case of ‘fish out of water’ syndrome.   I had no idea what was going on, nor where I was supposed to go.  Part of me wanted to retreat and hide in my hotel.   I quickly amputated that part and left her bloody carcass in an alley out back.  Life’s too short for such nonsense.

I then followed some folks into a giant auditorium and took a seat.  Mercifully, a fellow next to me made a remark in English and we fast became friends.  I marveled once again how film fests so easily unite kindred spirits.  A documentarian from the U.K. who currently resides in Portugal, he’s a lovely chap and a big horror buff.  And I was so grateful to have a buddy to muse about the weird goings-on onstage.  Most of the show was in English, but it was like some bizarre variety show you might see on TV in South America or Japan only with German humor and accents.

Our host was quirky to say the least .  He arrived on stage by bicycle (they’re everywhere here) and launched into an odd monologue at which I occasionally chuckled only to discover I was the only one to do so. I suddenly wondered if he had not intended to be funny.  I would later learn from a native that this is not uncommon in my fave quote thus far:  “German humor is awkward and we ourselves do not always know when it is funny or not.”   I like this place.

They showed a number of films and previews of films that will screen during the fest.  OMFG!  In all of my vast festival travels I have only seen a few shorts that compare in variety and scope as these.  Interfilm is celebrating its 30^th year and our host boasted “ This year, we received 7,000 entries.  We only accepted 500.  So, relax.   We weeded out all the riff-raff for you.”  Once again, I was the only one to chuckle.  Oops.  And yowsah!  7,000 short films?!  Can you imagine?  Congrats, Team – we beat amazing odds.

To give you but a hint at the range, a few highlights included:

Luminaris  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjr_b-dh29I

Concerto Crasso http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDYQSMXnw7g

Hambuster  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARoLPibWAIk

Think  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51r4lNX2tUQ

La Gran Carrera http://vimeo.com/27602618

It was all so inspiring.  Short films are truly revered here.   Such perfection in artistry can be achieved in this smaller, but remarkable format.  I have fallen in love with this wonderful medium all over again and can’t wait to shoot our next.  More info on that when I return.  I’m jumping on the transmedia bandwagon and it’s so wonderfully exciting.  Endless possibilities.  But I digress.

The program ended when a guitar accompanist who was present for the duration of the stage show jammed out an awesome rendition of Iggy Pop’s THE PASSENGER, a personal favorite, and our host sang just like Iggy himself.  There was an impromptu sing-along and then he rode off on the bike he’d ridden in on.  Nice!

There were both a ‘reception’ and a ‘party’ directly after.  The reception offered free champagne, wine and beer (no water anywhere – d’oh!).  I was so parched I had no choice but to down some champagne.  Oh darn.  Upstairs was the “party”, which consisted of wall-to-wall people. The only other difference I could discern from the downstairs “reception” was that there were some cubes of Swiss cheese piled on platters.  No other food – double d’oh!   I grabbed a few cheese cubes, chatted a bit more with my new bud, then went back to the hotel just before 1am.  After 24 hours of travel and no sleep, food or water in some time, I seriously needed some recupe time.

The walk home was bitter cold with an eerie but beautiful fog in the air.  I kept expecting Peter Lorre to come by whistling and offer me a balloon.  Inspired, I wrote some ideas down for my latest writing assignment then promptly conked out into the most peaceful sleep.  It seemed like only minutes later when my alarm so rudely woke me up.  Breakfast is only served at the hotel until 10.  Oy.

I think Berlin may just challenge New York as the town that never sleeps.  It’s been rather nonstop since my arrival.  Not that I’m complaining.  There’s a wonderful energy here – so vibrant, yet not at all stressed out like so many cities.  I’ve never been anywhere like this.  The history, the people, the love of art permeate the crisp air.  And let us not forget the beer.  Sublime.

Apparently there is little industry in Berlin, which is made up primarily of artists and academics.  My own personal Mecca.  Everybody’s so well traveled, educated and diverse.  I love how discussion seamlessly flows through a plethora of topics and languages.

Anyway, these are my first impressions.  More to come.  Now, I have more screenings to attend…

Wow!  Berlin is another world and DOLORES is in AMAZING company.  Last night I attended Interfilm’s wild kick-off party.  The films were positively mind-blowing!  I’ve also developed a new appreciation for SNL’s SPROCKETS after the delightfully bizarre opening ceremony.  What a wonderful world we live in! I’m off now to meet my personal greeter to give me a walking tour of the city.  They are so accommodating here.  It’s rather cold and there’s a spooky mist in the air which, particularly walking home after midnight, suggested I might run into Peter Lorre being pursued by an angry mob at any moment.  I think I’m gonna like this place.  More soon…

Happy almost-Halloween, Folks!  Providence, Rhode Island is the PERFECT place to celebrate the season we are finding at the super awesome RI Horror Film fest, where I’m pleased to share DOLORES (and I ) were awarded with the “Grand Prize for Directorial Discovery”!  I am truly honored (especially because the trophy itself – right – is so very awesome.)  Providence is amazing and you can easily see where Lovecraft got his inspiration.  The architecture’s stunning and the seafood sublime (evidenced by some super tasty tentacles seen left.)

There have been some truly great films – my faves so far  include:  HATCH, CABINE OF THE DEAD and INCUBATOR. Shortly we’re off on a Lovecraft walking tour sponsored by the Providence Historical Society.  The attention to detail in everything here is so inspiring.  To the right is our hotel’s lobby, and below is the ceiling at our new favorite bar – the Dorrance ( a 100-year-old former bank turned upscale cocktail bar and restaurant).  Sadly, RI has just received huge cuts in their film tax incentives, but I still foresee coming back here to shoot.  The people are so wonderful, the sights offer ready-made production design, and the crisp air is invigorating (how I love a proper autumn)  Thanks to the wonderful folks at RI Horror Fest for such a wonderful experience and super fun time!

Congrats, Team and thanks to the kind folks at the Madison Horror Film Festival where DOLORES just won awards for Best Short Film and Best Director!

This weekend catch her in Santa Fe and Fargo!

It’s the season of Berlin!  Last month we saw the 80s band perform live at the Hollywood Bowl (Terri Nunn is hotter than ever – you go, Girl!) and now I’ve learned DOLORES and I have been invited out to one of Germany’s biggest fests, The Interfilm Festival  – another first for the Deviant oeuvre!  Yes, we will go to THE Berlin – you know the one in Germany that used to be divided by the wall?  I am beside myself with joy.  I’ve long wanted to visit this city I’ve fantasized about for years (ah, sweet visions of teenage me dancing in my bedroom to “Dancing in Berlin” …East, such a mystery / West, open history…”

Meanwhile, DOLORES continues to rake in the festivals:  Fargo Fantastic, Mike Snoonian’s awesome Shudderfest in Boston (along with other Deviant shorts), two fests in Santa Fe, and another in East Lansing.  I will also follow her out to the Rhode Island Festival at month’s end (they boast a Lovecraft walking tour about which I’m particularly excited – the perfect way to welcome Halloween!)

Phew!  I don’t know if she can keep this up (or if we can.)  It might just be time to shoot another film.  In fact it just so happens… well, more news on that shortly.  In the meantime, congrats, Team – our baby’s making her way in the world.  You all rock!

I’ve yet to have a moment to write of my wonderful fest experience in Port Townsend, but journalist R. O’Donnell has beaten me to the punch HERE.  R. is an incredible writer-artist-wearer of many wonderful hats whom merited my “I’ll miss you most of all, Scarecrow” sad goodbye as I was ripped from this magical land over the rainbow.  Check out the first of his 4-part feature on this life-altering festival:  http://staticmultimedia.com/movies/features-interviews-movies/port-townsend-film-festival-out-of-this-world And, thanks, beloved Scarecrow, for the oh so kind words! For more of R’s lovely verbiage in Edward Gorey-esque fashion, check out his delightfully creepy poetry and prose HERE.

Thanks to Heather Wixson at Dread Central for her awesome write up on all things Deviant.  Check it out HERE. I am just off a redeye back from one of the most magical festival experiences ever.  After 80 or so by now, trust me – that says a LOT.  Every filmmaker MUST submit her films to the truly spectacular  Port Townsend Film Festival.  Seriously, I may just have to move out there (or at least go back to shoot a movie).  It’s worth the plane and ferry ride for the oysters alone, but there is so much more.  A full account is forthcoming.  Also, I’ve returned to a plethora of fun news including upcoming screenings of DOLORES in Santa Fe, Rhode Island and Boston.  Dates and such are also forthcoming.  There’s so much more fun news to share, but first, a shower, giant vat of caffeine and academic duties beckon. Hasta pronto!

Bonjour, Mes Amis!  I’m just back from French class and shortly off to ballet, but first a quick update on all things Deviant.  It’s been an INSANELY busy summer with festival fun, writing, accolades, pre-production and teaching.  Plus, tired of having no time for a personal life, I’ve just read FLOW by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and finally found the key to squeezing more hours into the day (hence the French and ballet).   It’s a revelation!  Seriously, read it.  You will never waste another precious second.

On the festival front, DOLORES continues making the rounds from Melbourne Independent to Dragon*Con, Madison Horror, and the Netherlands.  We’re just back from its screening in our nation’s capital at the very awesome DC Shorts fest.  If you’re a foodie  in DC, be sure to go to the following restaurants:  Proof, Zatyina, Coco and La Tasca. The portrait museum is also amazing (and free!) and Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum is the best venue for a film fest party ever! (and just around the corner – a spy museum – sweet!  BTW, that’s me chillin’ with fellow Sarah Lawrence alumnus, Yoko.)

Next up, we’re off to the Port Townsend Fest.  DOLORES will also travel to Milan, Whitby, England and…BRUGES!  I am particularly heartbroken to miss the always wonderful BRAM STOKER Festival and my p.o.-ed inner gypsy isn’t speaking to me as I must also forgo the trip to Bruges (fall on knees, arms raised,  “nooooooo! whyyyyyy?!”), where both DOLORES and DEATH IN CHARGE will screen at the RAZOR REEL festival.  But, alas, too much is happening on this side of the pond.

A joint documentary project is underway involving our upcoming short BRIDE OF FRANKIE, a Mary Shelley scholar and a group of Notre Dame students.  As such, I’m flying back to Indiana next week to give some workshops and kick off the first stages of this ambitious project.  Sadly, this means I will miss DOLORES’ L.A. premiere at the super fabulous SHRIEKFEST film festival.  Do attend if you can – always a wonderful time and such great people.

Thereafter, I’m diving into an intensive 6-week-long directing workshop where I get to work with professional actors to further develop scenes from some of our upcoming projects.  A year of intensive writing and rewriting has led to some promising leads with several features I’ve written.  In fact, 5 of my scripts have all recently placed in several highly competitive competitions.  It will be interesting to see which one makes it to set first – fortunately, I’m enamored of them all, so it’s win-win.  Incidentally, filmmaking friends, I cannot stress enough the value of developing multiple projects at once.  Half the heartbreak, 5 times the thrills.  The nonstop activity has been positively exhilarating.

And just to avoid being a total slacker, I will likely teach another semester at the Academy – schedule permitting, we kick off shooting the new web series in November, and I’m also participating in a 6-week-writing workshop with an exciting new mentor.  Meanwhile, we’ve raised 25% of our budget so far for FRANKIE (you can help us HERE – it’s tax deductible – thanks!), tentatively scheduled for an early winter shoot.  More active financing efforts recommence for both that and PROM (the latter at the AFM. Gonna be there?  Let’s do drinks!) as of mid-November.

So, that is why I haven’t been blogging (or keeping up with e-mail or returning calls – sorry for sucking).  Admittedly, I have managed to steal a few nights out to the cinema because I refuse to become one of those filmmakers who never watches films.  What’s up with that?   I absolutely recommend the following:  POINT BLANK, THE HEDGEHOG, BEGINNERS, THE FUTURE, and GAINSBOURG: A HEROIC LIFE.  All have given me faith that inspired and inspiring films are still getting theatrical releases if you know where to look.  FYI, I favor the Laemmle Pasadena ($7 tix on Tuesdays! great happy hour at Roy’s next door, and wonderful bookstore/cafe on the other side).

That’s all the Deviant news that’s fit to print for now.  Thanks for not giving up on us.  We will be back with new stuff before too long.  Also, news on our DVD release and more trippin’ and other screenings are forthcoming…