The Tailenders and other adventures from the Nashville Film Festival

Well, it seems like a long time has passed since this weekend, but I'll try to recount the events with as much accuracy as possible. This past weekend was the Nashville Film Festival. A friend of mine had a laminate pass, but was going to be gone all weekend. He graciously gave me his (thanks HK). It was as if someone had given me a free pass to six flags (and Lord knows I love me some amusement parks). I went to see so many movies. I would have seen more had my schedule permitted, but i still saw a glorious bounty of film. Including:

Fourteen - a film short with no dialogue about a fourteen year old's Mormon wedding day to a 58 year old man.

For the Love of Dolly -A journey into the hearts and homes of Dolly Parton's most devoted fans, held together by the shared love for their icon and a need to be close to her.... it was unbelievable.

In a Nutshell: A Portrait of Elizabeth Tashjian -A well-salted look at eccentric nut collector and former curator of the Nut Museum and the town's efforts to close it.

Danielson: A Family Movie - A music-filled look at Daniel Smith, eccentric Christian musician, as he leads his four siblings to indie-rock stardom, launching the career of Sufjan Stevens along the way.

Party for the People - short film creatively explored the links between communism and rock n' roll.

Chances: The Women of Magdalene - A truly inspirational story about a group of women who know Dickerson Pike all too well; and maverick Becca Stevens, who creates a program to help them recover. [*featuring a cameo by our own Emily DeLoach singing in the Kim Carnes all-star choir brigade!!]

Aurora Borealis - Joshua Jackson, Juliette Lewis, Donald Sutherland and Louise Fletcher star in this tender comedy-drama about bright, charming yet irresponsible Duncan (Jackson) whose need to care for his ailing grandfather (Sutherland) leads him to a brighter future-a future perhaps greatly aided by falling in love with his grandfather's nurse



Tailenders - my absolute favorite movie of the festival. A fascinating look at the 67-year history of Gospel Recordings, a company devoted to reaching out to the last few societies in the world as yet untapped by Christian missionaries. It was remarkable. I'm still thinking through it. If I had it in my possession, I would be watching it over and over again. I hope to be doing this as soon as it's in my little paws. There was so many great things about sound and the disembodied voice and how when these people in the Solomon Islands are played this voice booming through a box they've never seen before, the voice has so much more authority than any one person ever could. But, they're not just buying the story when the sign on to what the missionaries bring, they're signing on to the technology they bring as well as the wealth they see others gaining...aaah... i could go on forever. Adele Horne, the filmmaker, sat in front of me during the screening. This was a little unnerving as I ebbed and flowed in and out of being really conscious of my audible reactions to things. As all of the filmmakers who were at the festival did, Adele stuck around for Q&A after the showing. I actually asked a few questions. Afterwards, she came back up to get her stuff (which was sitting beside my seat) and we got to chat a little. Throughout the film festival I think I ran into her and what some might called "mildly stalked" her. Not really, but I did love talking to her and think she has created a phenomenal film. She said she's working on a new one about peripheral vision. I can't wait. You all must see this film. It's airing on PBS on July 25th www.pbs.org/pov/tailenders/
Read more about this film and the filmmaker here... http://www.adelehorne.net/Page02.htm

this is no place for a house.

So, I after rehearsal and a quick waffle house stop, LT and I watched "Proof". I thought it was excellent. Thumbs up. But that's a different story. So, I begin driving home at circa 2:15am, after just watching a movie involving questioning one's grip on reality. As I fly down Woodmont, I suddenly crest the hill and see a two story home spanning both lanes of the road. For a moment, I cannot decide if I'm crazy crazy or just crazy. I then see the wheels beneath and the truck behind and men with flashlights. One man is sitting on the roof, lifting the stoplights so that the roof can pass under them. After waiting a considerable amount of time, i decide to try and find my way around. This is probably the 5th time this has happened to me. Is this really that common? It's just weird and can freak the crap out of you at 2:30 in the morning. I'm just sayin.

just a quick break

It's only 10pm and i'm about to fall asleep. i'm such a wuss. We worked on Dawson's art all day today. seriously. 10am - 6pm. but, it's pretty much done and it was a really fun day. just a bit of editing and a quick proofread and it's off.

Can I just say how much I love noiseland? It's really rare that you find a cd manufacturing company that you love. I think I've found one. Now that I've convinced Dawson to use them, this will be 3 records I've worked with them on and I still love them. It just baffles the mind. If any of you are in the market for such a service, check them out. they're a delight. www.noiseland.com


So, Rachel and I are working on starting a print company. One that will design and print tshirts and posters.... really bitchin ones. "wires and fires" Next week we decide on a logo. Fun times. Know anyone who needs the aforementioned products? holla.

I have a lot of work ahead of me tonight. I'm heading home for Easter on Friday. It makes this week a bit more stressful, but it will be good to see the fam and sit on the deck. sigh. i'm already excited. I just love to be outside. If I can spend as much time outside as possible, that would be greeeat. I wish I could see the display on my computer better in my backyard. maybe i should get those big shield things. hmmm.

danny masterson is an attractive, attractive man. i'm not one for the celebrity crush, but he's playing on celebrity poker right now and.... i'm just sayin. we should date.

alright. i've seriously got to get back to work. until next time, loves...

way over yonder in a minor key

Gosh, I don't want to work today. I've been so busy lately, I start to feel like I should just get in the car and take a vacation... or at least have a movie marathon with friends who have equally unstructured jobs. I'll take either at this point. A vacation does sound totally sweet, though. I also feel like i have no room to complain. I love my job(s). I do. very much. sooo, maybe i should just suck it up and remember that. done and done.

I always wonder what people listen to on their ipods. there's a myriad of ages and people types at the Y all donning earphones. What gets them through that 30min stairclimb? who knows. Questions for heaven. I've thought about an invention that shows what you're listening to in a thought bubble sort of thing like the thing over the SIMS heads. You could turn it off and on, of course. Until I get a prototype running, we'll just have to wonder.

I realized lately that I have very specific things I listen to in specific situations. By this I mean, if I'm going to clean or mow the lawn, I have a playlist that usually does right by me. This playlist always includes Bonnie Raitt's "Nick of Time".
When my dad would let me mow the lawn, I would take my walkman cassette player and headphones and listen to that record over and over. When I finally got the CD, I would always hear a break where the tape should be flipped. It so fun to know a record so well that you know the keys of all the songs based on the end of the song before it. fun/really nerdy.

For cooking, it has to be old soul stuff, motown, or blues. Ray Charles. mmmm.
Outside on a warm night with friends... it's crazy old jazz records.
Working out.... i mix this one up. radiohead's "ideoteque" is great. but, sometimes i really dig running to Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. There's something about it when "Radio Cure" comes on. Everything around you is moving so quickly, but it makes things feel like a movie somehow... like you're not there. You know that scene in Garden State in the very beginning when he's on the plane in slow motion and everyone's freaking out and he's just staring? Yeah. Like that.

I've been playing guitar lately for this kid... www.myspace.com/dawsonwells I dig his stuff. It's so so fun. It makes me remember how much I love playing...especially in a band with friends. It's made me really long to do it more. sigh.
"it'll all work out"