 | | | | October 1, '09
More good news as Fall slowly makes her way into our lives.
Looking for Nick has been recognized again. I've been offered a distribution deal with a Canadian company called Ouat! Media (sounds like "what"). I'm very flattered. It is certainly nice to be noticed. Unfortunately, I'm not sure it makes financial sense.
You see, when you make a film with music made by other folks, as in the Grateful Dead, you have to pay them. Yeah, sad but true. Not that I mind paying the Dead to use China Cat Sunflower. It's just that I'd like to know that I'll be making some money (any money!) at the end of the process. So, I'm negotiating with the powers that be (actually some very good people), to see if this can work. I'll let you know. But it certainly feels great to be recognized as having done something worthwhile.
Meanwhile, Leila and I went out and saw Julie and Julia the other night. (We had a pair of free passes, but that's another story.) Anyway, the film is not to be missed. The great Meryl puts on yet another performance for the ages. (What's the right verb for acting up a storm and making it look so damn natural?) If you are at all interested in great screen acting, you must see it. Stanley Tucci isn't bad as well.
Which brings me to Mad Men. Is it just my imagination or is this the best thing on the telly, hands down? The character development has been amazing. TV for adults, what a concept.
Hope you all are surviving the Bush hangover. Oh wouldn't it be nice to make some money again!
Hoping and dreaming, and dreaming and hoping,
Sandy
August 25, 09
Yeah, it's been a while. But you know how these things are.
Ok, first the latest news. Looking for Nick has been awarded Honorable Mention at the Indie Gathering. To see the listing, check out:
theindiegathering.com/2009winners.htm
Not a game-changer, but I'm not complaining. It's great to be recognized.
In regards to the below-mentioned Raleigh International Film Festival, well, let's just say its time has not yet arrived. Perhaps it's the economy, but, for now, sponsorship interest is just not there.
Meanwhile, I'm busy writing, upgrading my computer skills, and contemplating the idea of re-entering the job market. Yeah, it's not pretty, but you gotta do what you gotta do. And, living off of Leila is unfortunately not an option.
Or is it? (Just kidding, it isn't!)
Optimistically yours,
SG
April 18, 09
Some good news came via the mail box this week. Looking for Nick was honored with an Award of Merit from The Accolade. More about The Accolade:
www.TheAccolade.net
I’m pretty thrilled by it regardless of how it may or may not help me make another film. The recognition is enough for me.
The hardest thing about doing a film, and this probably applies to any art form, is the feeling that what you’ve done is somehow worthy. Making money out of the thing is a long shot. You know this fact going in. But to make something of artistic value, that’s the most important part. And with this small bit of recognition, I feel more secure about Looking for Nick and its value.
The award also helps me convince people to get onboard the Raleigh International Film Festival. That’s also a good thing. But mostly, it’s the feeling of validation. No matter what an artist says, he or she wants the critics to say “good work.” Someone has now said that about LFN and it feels rather good.
all the best,
Sandy
March 20, 09
Still no good news on the festival front [gasp!]. But one must remain positive. It’s a cold world out there.
However, today is the vernal equinox. First day of spring! Here in NC, the Bradford pear trees are more than halfway through their budding and the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. It’s funny, but growing up in NY, I never imagined the wonder of flowering trees. What a concept.
I’ve been working feverishly on the film festival idea: the Raleigh International Film Festival. Yup, it’s now official. I paid my $125 to the NC Secy of State for the privilege.
The theme is, well, a couple/three themes really. First off, I’m looking for “Surprising Cinema.” That’s got a nice ring to it and nails down some of what makes the film-going experience so unique. We go into the darkness to experience feelings that are new or refresh old ones. Or something like that.
Another trope will be one or two programs of Indian/Indian-American films. Bollywood has spawned a great explosion of Indian independent filmmaking. I’m planning to show some of the best shorts, and maybe a feature or two, of the best stuff that comes in the door. Should be fun. And if you haven’t yet seen Slumdog Millionaire, you don’t know what you’re missing. A fabulous film!
And here’s one from left field. How about the Raleigh (or American) premiere of some excellent Dutch films? Yeah, it’s a bit out there. Where did this idea come from, you may ask. Turns out that Leila is taking me to Amsterdam for a vacation during the last week in March. I’ve got a meeting set up with the director of the Netherlands Filmmuseum:
http://www.filmmuseum.nl/website/exec/frontpageread/page.html?id=722-6e6c2e66696c6d6d757365756d2e50616765
With any luck, I’ll be able to tap into the local filmmaking community and convince some of the most creative folks to send me some of their work.
So, I forge ahead. Or muddle, depending on my frame of mind. It’s all relative.
Cheerily yours,
Sandy
Feb. 25, 09
As I wait (hopefully not in vain) for my first film festival acceptance to float providentially down from on high, I’ve had a chance to think some about festivals in general. I now realize just how competitive this whole endeavor is. And I’m not talking about the chance to direct a feature length film. I knew that was damn close to an impossible dream when I started.
What I underestimated was just how difficult it is to get a festival to accept a film in the first place.
Chris Gore in his “Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide” estimates the daunting odds of just getting into a festival (any festival) at an overall average of 1 in 25. I won’t go into the much longer odds of getting into Sundance and Tribeca, mainly because I can’t find the spot in his book where he mentions them. Needless to say, it’s easier getting elected to the House of Representatives.
Gore’s book, by the way, is excellent. One problem, however, is that the advent of withoutabox renders some of his politicking points moot. (If you are not familiar with withoutabox, it’s a very easy way to submit to festivals on-line.)
Anyway, this is a long way of getting to my point. (Yeah, I talk a lot.)
I’m thinking about starting a Raleigh, NC-based film festival. It seems as though every major (and many not-so-major) city in the US and Canada has its own festival, but not beloved Raleigh.
I’ll be writing more about this later. If you read these words and want to converse about it (or have any ideas I can steal), drop me a line. I’ll respond.
In the meantime, take care and have fun. Oh, and check out what’s on TCM, it's usually something good.
Best,
Sandy
Feb. 2, 09
I guess it had to happen sooner or later, but I’m still not sure I’m ready for prime-time. I’m referring to the spectacle of being on TV. Or maybe I should write “tv.”
Raleigh’s RTN (public access channel 10) will be showing 2 tiny interviews with yours truly sandwiched around the cablecast of Looking for Nick. (For those of you who live in Raleigh and get their box content via Time Warner Cable). The program is called Camera, Action and focuses on independent film.
For everyone else out there, you can check out Camera, Action online:
http://www.suzindaly.com/sz/Camera_Action/Camera_Action.html
As you can probably tell, I’m not altogether thrilled about seeing my radio face on the boob tube. Yeah, it’s great for the film but I’d MUCH rather be behind the camera than in front.
BTW, the broadcast schedule is Mondays at 5:30 pm, Tuesdays at 6 pm & Sundays at 7 pm, throughout the month of February. My segment follows a ten minute interview with Aaron Syrett, Director of the North Carolina Film Office.
Meanwhile, I continue to submit LFN to film festivals in the wild hope that some programmer may just be crazy enough to get hip to the idea of a 35 minute short musical film with lots of great dance. Who knows, it may just happen!
Keep warm or cool (depending on your outlook). I’ll try to do the same.
SG
Dec. 23, 08
With the holidays upon us, time for a bit (but not too much) reflection on the year soon ending.
It's definitely been an incredible year for me. I can't believe that it has been a whole 12 months since I was laid off from my corporate job and got the crazy idea of, first, writing a TV serial (unproduced of course) and then believing that I could just go out and make a film.
Sometimes just being naive about things can work in your favor. I don't know where things are headed but it was definitely worth the money and hassle and worry, etc, etc. to get Looking for Nick on a DVD in my media cabinet. And if you read my earlier post, you know how amazing it feels to have made the music.
So, before I start fretting about actually earning a living in 2009, I'm going to sit here (or at the dinner table surrounded by my family) and give a word or two of thanks.
Thanks to the team that helped me pull this off, thanks to those of you out there who helped me put the team together, and thanks to whoever makes this whole crazy world go round.
And of course, happy holidays to everyone out there!
Peace & Love,
SG
Dec. 8, 08
Finally! The LFN website is complete.
All music is now up for sale. Isn't that a thrill? In fact, one of the great things about doing the film was working with Todd Igo and John Custer on the music. I have been a frustrated musician all my life. Writing lyrics for the film (and hearing the final versions) was (and remains) a fantastic high.
So, anyone who wants their very own mp3 copies of the soundtrack can now go ahead and buy them. And all from the privacy of one's own home.
Other news...well, not much news. But I did upload a rather esoteric bit of video on Vimeo. It's called "silent wind" and captures the patterns made on my bathroom floor from the wind outside. And at the end a bird flies through. (You have to see it for yourself!) However, be warned, it takes over a minute's worth of patience to see the bird. The link is:
http://www.vimeo.com/2307705
In other non-news, I'm still waiting to hear from a bunch of film festivals. I'll update this blog so that my fans (all three of you out there) can follow the progress of Looking for Nick.
In the meantime, be cool and love the moment.
best,
SG
Nov. 18, 08
Welcome to the Looking for Nick blog.
The site is not 100% operational, but close enough. The soundtrack mp3s are not quite ready for sale but will be by the end of the month.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all my collaborators who helped make Looking for Nick a reality. Movie-making is a team sport and I am very proud of the team. Special thanks to Rochelle Woodward for making this website come to life.
The latest news is that LFN has been submitted to a bunch of film festivals. We’ll see what happens…
I have also been writing a feature-length screenplay of the LFN story. I’m going to tilt at windmills for a while longer.
Please share your thoughts and let me know what you think of the site, or whatever moves you. My parting words: live like there’s no tomorrow. Or not. It’s your move.
Peace,
SG | | | |
