Stockpiling (Pun Intended)

Well, we've had some pretty crazy weather for the last 48 hours, so I've been shut in. I have today off, so I spent it working on the bylaws for my MFP. Once I'm done with the bylaws, I plan on drawing up a plan and a budget. Then I'll seek out a pro bono lawyer on Craigslist who will take a place on my board of directors as well.

This morning, I ordered two HD MiniDV tapes from Edgewise Media. I also spent a good chunk of the day looking at Pro8mm's website and their different types of film stock. I know it seems kinda moot in the digital era, but I'm very fascinated with Super 8. I'm seriously thinking about shooting a short with it once the organization is finalized. With film stock, however, I know I'm going to want to write a more elaborate script.

As for the MiniDV HD tapes, I'm going to start working on my documentary on the SXSW trip once I recieve them. I can't wait.

Finally, Joe Swanberg had some nice things (okay, an understatement) to say about my Mumblecore Video on SpoutBlog in an interview with Karina Longworth. But I've already elaborated on that here.

Happy Birthday Dave & Joe Swanberg! Yay1!!

My trip to NYC so far has been okay. I've been down to New York many times in the last decade, but this is the first time I've had a chance to experience what it feels like to be a New Yorker--conversations with random people, jumping on trains without a second thought, and so on.

After I arrived at my apartment Friday afternoon, I took a nap, then went over to Greenwich Village, bought the movie tickets, ate a pizza, then headed back over to the IFC Center.

The first movie I saw was Aaron Katz's Quiet City, which was really good. An awkwardly adorable slice-of-life piece set in New York. A girl comes up to visit her friend, whom she can't get ahold of. She meets up with this guy and ends up spending time with him.

After the screening, Aaron Katz, the cast, and crew answered questions about the movie. When that was over, I came to the front, gave him a copy of Are You From Bingo?, and told him what an inspiration he, Joe Swanberg, and Andrew Bujalski are. I told him that I hoped that we would meet again. He said the same.

The next movie I saw was Hannah Takes the Stairs. That movie was AWESOME, but before that, I saw the movie's director, Joe Swanberg, outside, talking on his cell phone. I would've gone down and given him a copy of my movie as well, but he left before I had a chance to get him.

Anyway, as I said, Hannah was RAD. Greta Gerwig plays the title character, and we see her going through relationships with three men. The movie seamlessly transitions from one relationship to the other. If this movie comes out to your neighborhood, run out and see it! If not, put it at the top of your Netflix Queue.

I'm really tired. I would like to take the opportunity to say "Happy Belated Birthday" to Mr. Swanberg. He recently married his longtime collaborator (and frequent co-star), Kris Williams. Below I have linked to his wedding video, along with Hissy Fits a short film of his that I uploaded.

Finally, I'd like to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my friend Dave. He also turns 26 today (it's after midnight as I write this), so HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVE!! You, Mr. Indie Rock, you! Yippee!!

Now I Have It

Last night at work, for reasons I don't know, I began listing the items I will need to include in the budget for my movie. Actually, earlier in the day, I was reading this article, and in particular, the sidebar by Joe Swanberg. It cost him only $2K to do Kissing on the Mouth, minus the transfer to DigiBeta (and a few other expenses).

When I made Are You From Bingo?, I tried to keep those other expenses in mind--namely, the festival submission fees. Of course, it didn't get into any festivals at that time. But whatever. Here's the list of things I came up with:

Camera Rental
Food
Batteries
Tapes
DigiBeta/HD Transfer
Gaffer Tape (?)
First Aid
Festival Fees
Soundtrack Expenses
External HD

This budget is not final. I'm sure I'll think of other things as I go along. I don't even have a script yet, but I do have ideas...

In other news, I watched Inland Empire tonight. I fell asleep about a 1/2 hour or so into the movie, but up until then, it was good. At nearly three hours, I thought it dragged on. I can understand firsthand not wanting to be comprimising, but this movie should have been split into two parts, a la Kill Bill. I liked the closing credits, which had the cast dancing to Nina Simone's "Sinner Man". That was awesome.

Erin takes the Greyhound

I apologize for not blogging the past couple of weeks. I've been working on my show--and working out. In addition, I've also been copying and reading like crazy.

For weeks, I've had plans to work on something--what, I'm not so sure, but that it would criticize some aspect of the movie business. For awhile, I was thinking screenwriting gurus. Now, I'm not quite sure. Whatever it was that I was going to write, I'm not ready to write it. It would take time, energy, stability, and knowledge that I do not yet have. Besides, when it comes time for me to make my movie, I'll be able to structure it anyway I want to. I'll be in charge of the material, not some producer or studio head. Or another director.

One thing I may still have in the pipeline is an essay on mumblecore. My goal for the essay is to take the works of Bujalski, Swanberg, Katz, Duplass, Russo-Young et al and contrast it with how the rest of the movie world works. Right now, I have some quotes that illustrate "the other side" of the equation. I still have yet to see a few of those movies, and I still need to get all the interviews with the directors in one spot. However, unlike the project I was mentioning in the previous paragraph, I do think that writing this essay is a goal within reach. The big question is...where will it be published?

Speaking of "mumblecore", I discovered that Hannah Takes the Stairs is opening at the IFC Center in New York on August 22. I really hope it's still playing by the time I arrive August 31. Here is the trailer for the movie: