I’m feeling a bit delirious (perhaps it’s due in part to the bijillion layers of clothes that make me resemble the Michelin Man – how funny is that image left?). At least it’s a good delirium. The fest continues to delight with cinema, spirits and sobremesa ’til all hours and after Tuesday’s after-party I came home to discover that TRIPPIN’s already been accepted to its first fest – yay! We’ll premiere at the PHOENIX FEAR FEST through which we’ve gotten our first reviews as well:
“Snively throws every medium from animation to puppetry into the mix, to create a stoner horror-comedy from hell. Expect frog splatter, bear-traps and one of the most surreal trip sequences this side of Alejandro Jodorowsky.”
“Snively takes what could be just a tired horror staple and moves it in different directions, coming up with something much more original….complete stoner Zed (Wilson) is particularly amusing, with a cheerfully open approach to life, liberty and the pursuit of pharmaceuticals.” – Trash City
Pumped by the good news, I ventured out to join a fest field trip yesterday. It began with the consumption of a “Rudolph Omelet” (reindeer is too yummy!), then a small group of us journeyed off to see a bit more of Alaska. Ironically, I discovered I was hanging with yet another former fest buddy, RYAN WARD, whom I’d met and dined with years ago at the SHOCKERFEST FILM FESTIVAL. Funny that. He’s here with his first feature, SON OF THE SUNSHINE which I get to check out tomorrow. It’s so great to keep meeting people who continue to live the dream on their own terms in a world where too many are too quick to give up.
Our field trip was a blast. Natalie Eleftheriadis, Ryan and I were joined by ALBERT SHIN and his partner PEARL who are here with their film POINT TRAVERSE which screens Saturday. We all hopped on the “Magic Bus” (forgot to take a photo, but it was really called that much to my delight) and visited Portage, Alaska WildLife Conservation Center, a ski resort with the most amazing views and even checked out some glaciers. The light and scenery were worth it alone. I couldn’t believe the colors – or in some cases lack thereof. Check this photo to the right out… this is NOT a black and white photo or color enhanced in any way. 
It really looks like that. 
How cool is that? Even the ice/frost seems to form in the most aesthetic ways…
We rode an air tram up the mountain to see some gorgeous views and partake in hot cocoa. There was a layer of fog which, while it obstructed some views, also offered this beautiful surreal dreamlike quality to every landscape. By comparison I look anything but beautiful in my whale-like 5,000 layers of bulk, but I gotta admit the breathtaking 
views, fresh air (and even the tap water here) make the bitter cold 
well worth it.
After, we made some fuzzy friends at a conservation wildlife park as well including caribou, ravens, snow buffalo, musk ox (that reminded me of Sendak’s Wild Things) and even a black bear. Another late night of movies and after-parties has me feeling a bit worse for wear this morning, but I suppose that’s nothing a tour of the Midnight Sun Brewing Company later won’t cure. Better get to work. It’s far too easy to get caught up in self-indulgence in this town.
Oh, and to our beloved former housemate, PAUL COTTER, alas indeed you have been replaced – and you were right - he’s a total GQ-model hottie that Nat and I are just mad for….
CONGRATULATIONS! Let this be the first of many, many festivals to come! Keep the good news rollin’ in!
Congrats on our first fest! And Alaska looks amazing! Hope to get there some day myself. Keep rockin!