Adding to the Festival Entry List

Scratching of Gen Art, Crossroads, and Houston Worldfest.

You know, in all honesty, I expected rejection -- it's a quirky film -- but not this MUCH rejection.

The lone acceptance, as of now: COSMOS International

Number of festivals entered: 42

Number of festivals who have rejected the film: 20

Number of festivals who have accepted the film: 1

Number of rejecting-fests who never bothered to tell me we were rejected (i.e., I found out only by NOT getting contacted when others were hearing they were in): 4

List of fests:

Sundance
Slamdance
Cinequest**
SXSW
San Francisco Indie Fest
Syracuse International Film Festival
DC Indie Fest
Durango Independent Film Festival
Beverly Hills Fine Arts Industry Showcase
Tribeca
US Comedy Arts (HBO)
Florida Film Fest
Crossroads (Jackson, MS)
Gen Art (NY)
Ann Arbor Film Festival
NY Underground Film Festival
Atlanta Film Festival
Houston Worldfest
Los Angeles Film Festival
Seattle International Film Festival
MethodFest
Palm Beach International Film Festival
New Directors/New Films (NY MoMA)
Staten Island Film Festival
Brooklyn Underground Film Festival
FilmFest DC
Cannes
Boston Independent
Dances With Films
DIY Film Festival
Santa Cruz Film Festival
Seattle True Independent Film Festival
Cosmos Film and Video Festival
deadCenter
Brooklyn Independent Screening Series
Festival Comedia (Toronto)
USA Film Festival
South Regional Indie Gathering Film Festival
Chicago Underground Film Festival
Trenton Film Festival
Jacksonville Film Festival
VisionFest

**Cinequest did reject the film from the main fest, but they extended an invitation to their online festival. I politely declined, after thinking on it for a while, because I didn't want the film to premiere online. Since it's a feature, I didn't think it would be a great way to start off a festival run, and I was concerned about how it might affect distribution deals in the future.

I'll update this post as new results come in and as I enter new fests.

Festivals, by the numbers (REPOST)

Some more rejections to add, plus the one acceptance. New rejections: New Directors/New Films, MethodFest, and Cannes (rejected in TWO languages). MethodFest actually sent a snail-mail letter, surprising in the digital age (and the first snail mail rejection I've received with this film.

Oh, and New Directors/New Films goes on the wall of shame as the fourth fest who never bothered to officially reject me. In fact, I only found out I wasn't in when they happened to announce their lineup to indie film press. Nice.

The lone acceptance, as of now: COSMOS International

Number of festivals entered: 33

Number of festivals who have rejected the film: 16

Number of festivals who have accepted the film: 1

Number of rejecting-fests who never bothered to tell me we were rejected (i.e., I found out only by NOT getting contacted when others were hearing they were in): 4

List of fests:

Sundance
Slamdance
Cinequest**
SXSW
San Francisco Indie Fest
Syracuse International Film Festival
DC Indie Fest
Durango Independent Film Festival
Beverly Hills Fine Arts Industry Showcase
Tribeca
US Comedy Arts (HBO)
Florida Film Fest
Crossroads (Jackson, MS)
Gen Art (NY)
Ann Arbor Film Festival
NY Underground Film Festival
Atlanta Film Festival
Houston Worldfest
Los Angeles Film Festival
Seattle International Film Festival
MethodFest
Palm Beach International Film Festival
New Directors/New Films (NY MoMA)
Staten Island Film Festival
Brooklyn Underground Film Festival
FilmFest DC
Cannes
Boston Independent
Dances With Films
DIY Film Festival
Santa Cruz Film Festival
Seattle True Independent Film Festival
Cosmos Film and Video Festival

**Cinequest did reject the film from the main fest, but they extended an invitation to their online festival. I politely declined, after thinking on it for a while, because I didn't want the film to premiere online. Since it's a feature, I didn't think it would be a great way to start off a festival run, and I was concerned about how it might affect distribution deals in the future.

I'll update this post as new results come in and as I enter new fests.

Pseudonymous Blogging

I've been blogging under the TerminalMFA pseudonym for a while now (a quick check of my blog just now shows posts going back to October 2004, just after I started my tenure track job). But with my film going out to festivals, and a script about to start making the rounds in Hollywood, I feel the urge to blog more openly in terms of titles, names, specifics.

If you ask me, it's just ego. Nevertheless...

I started up a blog in my own name. Those of you who read this who know who I am IRL, drop me a line at terminalmfa @ yahoo.com (remove spaces), and I'll give you the address.

And yes, I do realize I am probably kidding myself that anyone is looking to make the leap over there.

Caveat: I will keep this blog active. I don't think it will go away completely. I like to have a private space where I can speak my mind without any fear of repercussion.

But I had this deep and burning desire to plaster my face all over my new blog, so...

Good news!

The film FINALLY got into a small, regional fest. It's a brand new fest, just starting out, but I'm hoping this will be the stepping stone we need to get going with the festival circuit.

Festivals, by the numbers (REPOST)

I haven't been officially rejected by the Florida Film Festival, but many others have heard of their acceptances and even screening times, so I'm putting two-and-two together...

Number of festivals entered: 33

Number of festivals who have rejected the film: 13

Number of festivals who have accepted the film: 0

Number of rejecting-fests who never bothered to tell me we were rejected (i.e., I found out only by NOT getting contacted when others were hearing they were in): 3

List of fests:

Sundance
Slamdance
Cinequest**
SXSW
San Francisco Indie Fest
Syracuse International Film Festival
DC Indie Fest
Durango Independent Film Festival
Beverly Hills Fine Arts Industry Showcase
Tribeca
US Comedy Arts (HBO)
Florida Film Fest
Crossroads (Jackson, MS)
Gen Art (NY)
Ann Arbor Film Festival
NY Underground Film Festival
Atlanta Film Festival
Houston Worldfest
Los Angeles Film Festival
Seattle International Film Festival
MethodFest
Palm Beach International Film Festival
New Directors/New Films (NY MoMA)
Staten Island Film Festival
Brooklyn Underground Film Festival
FilmFest DC
Cannes
Boston Independent
Dances With Films
DIY Film Festival
Santa Cruz Film Festival
Seattle True Independent Film Festival
Cosmos Film and Video Festival

**Cinequest did reject the film from the main fest, but they extended an invitation to their online festival. I politely declined, after thinking on it for a while, because I didn't want the film to premiere online. Since it's a feature, I didn't think it would be a great way to start off a festival run, and I was concerned about how it might affect distribution deals in the future.

I'll update this post as new results come in and as I enter new fests.

agent update

spoke with agent on the phone this week. he liked my polish, had one or two other small notes. why do they always have MORE notes? like i said, they were minor, but it just delays the process.

he also asked me to come up with loglines for pitching it.

hey, who's the agent, anyway? shouldn't he know the best way to pitch it?

we're going to hit some production companies and actors starting at the end of the month. i'll update as things begin to happen...

Festivals, by the numbers (REPOST)

Latest rejection is from NY Underground... (and also DIY)...

Number of festivals entered: 33

Number of festivals who have rejected the film: 12

Number of festivals who have accepted the film: 0

Number of rejecting-fests who never bothered to tell me we were rejected (i.e., I found out only by NOT getting contacted when others were hearing they were in): 3

List of fests:

Sundance
Slamdance
Cinequest**
SXSW
San Francisco Indie Fest
Syracuse International Film Festival
DC Indie Fest
Durango Independent Film Festival
Beverly Hills Fine Arts Industry Showcase
Tribeca
US Comedy Arts (HBO)
Florida Film Fest
Crossroads (Jackson, MS)
Gen Art (NY)
Ann arbor Film Festival
NY Underground Film Festival
Atlanta Film Festival
Houston Worldfest
Los Angeles Film Festival
Seattle International Film Festival
MethodFest
Palm Beach International Film Festival
New Directors/New Films (NY MoMA)
Staten Island Film Festival
Brooklyn Underground Film Festival
FilmFest DC
Cannes
Boston Independent
Dances With Films
DIY Film Festival
Santa Cruz Film Festival
Seattle True Independent Film Festival
Cosmos Film and Video Festival

**Cinequest did reject the film from the main fest, but they extended an invitation to their online festival. I politely declined, after thinking on it for a while, because I didn't want the film to premiere online. Since it's a feature, I didn't think it would be a great way to start off a festival run, and I was concerned about how it might affect distribution deals in the future.

I'll update this post as new results come in and as I enter new fests.

Weekend Plans

My dear old dad turns 60 next week, so we're all travelling to my hometown for a surprise birthday celebration. He apparently has no idea... My mom has arranged flights for me and my family and for my brother and his family, plus friends to pick us up at the (big city) airport. Really looking forward to surprising my dad, and showing him (and other party guests) the tribute video I made...

When my family travels, it's hard to travel light. I have three kids, all under the age of 10. The smallest has yet to reach her second birthday. Getting us all on a plane is no easy task. I don't love air travel -- it's not the flying. It's the logistics. Getting to the airport, getting checked in, getting through security, getting on the plane. I don't like this stuff when it's just me.

Now imagine it with three kids. Whoa. I'm not sure how to occupy their time on a plane. My oldest will probably bring a book or two to read (she'll probably finish both before the flight is done -- [bragging mode] she's the top reader in her grade, according to "Accelerated Reader" points [/bragging mode]).

But the younger two will not be as much fun.

Did I mention we have to drive nearly two hours to get to a major airport out of which we can fly for a reasonable price? If we flew out of the local airport, we'd have to change planes in that city anyway, and THAT'S probably even more of a pain with the kids. At least with this flight, we don't have to change planes, and we'll be there after one two-hour flight.

So, I'll reconnect with the blog next week some time. Maybe I'll have good festival news soon. On the other hand, given the record so far, maybe not.

Writing, Fest Update

Okay, let me get the Festival Update out of the way first -- no news. Why update then? I don't know -- the waiting is just getting to me.

As for writing, I still haven't started anything new. I still don't have an idea for something new. But on Thursday and Friday, I worked on the agent-requested changes to my script. So that's done. Now, my only concern is that the changes pushed the script to 111 pages (actually about 110.5). Manager told me, before Agent recommended changes, to keep it at 108 pages maximum (because it's a comedy). So I'm not sure if that's going to be a problem. But at least it's done and things can begin happening.

Are You Watching The Office?

Because you should be. I was very skeptical when NBC announced plans to Americanize the BBC's wonderful short-run show. And I was concerned when I heard rumors that it was one of the most awful pilots people had ever seen.

And in its first (shortened) season, it was so-so. But I like Steve Carrell, whose character was very different from the one played by the brilliant Ricky Gervais in the original. And there aren't many original sitcoms on TV, so I kept watching.

Wow, this show just keeps getting better. Last night's episode as a pinnacle of comedy interlaced with tragic disappointment. Seeing receptionist Pam grapple with her dreams and have them shot down by her fiance... expected, but still sad. But then seeing Pam and Jim actually FIGHT because he's trying to encourage her, to see the look in her eye when he asks her if she wants to be a receptionist forever... wow. And that final moment, when the phone rings, and she does her job and answers it and transfers the call, while Jim casts a glance at her. And then she hangs up and casts one back at him.

The show is very well written, but speaking as someone who has directed actors in a similar type/genre story, the acting talent on this show is priceless.

Representin'

Or, more to the point, being represented.

I (sort of) have an agent. I say 'sort of' because it's not like we signed anything. But I secured a verbal commitment to send the script out to various companies after I make a few minor changes (I'm almost done with those).

So... weird. I expected this moment to feel very different.

I guess I'm more aware of the nature of the biz then I was years ago when I started this process, so while I am VERY pleased to finally have someone with legit connections working 'in my corner,' I am also acutely aware of how much of a 'first step' in the process this is. I've always HEARD that getting an agent isn't the 'end all/be-all' some people think it is. And while I was nervous, and while I attach a lot to this (emotionally, etc.), I guess I have a much more realistic view than I would have had years ago. (And it's not like anything is official YET anyway)...

I mean, if this were 10 years ago, my wife and I would have gone out to dinner to celebrate this event!

But tonight? Well, my eldest daughter had homework, the kids needed baths, my wife needs to work on the local girl scout council's cookie-sales location-scheduling... LOL, I guess it just felt like a much smaller blip on the radar screen today. Kinda puts things in perspective (in a good way).

I'm very happy about it -- but I know there's still a lot of work to do. I hope that doesn't sound bad to people who are really trying to get an agent. I know I'd probably be one of those people reading this and thinking, "what a jerk -- yeah, I'd say that too if I HAD an agent."

So I don't mean it to sound like it's not a big deal to me. It is. I'm just putting it in proper perspective for myself. I think I'll celebrate when/if I sell, or maybe when some hot actor reads it and loves it ;-)

But last night? I spent the entire evening researching stuff on the internet to execute the notes the agent gave. It all comes down to doing the work, right?

Feeling like the work actually might matter for a change? Well, THAT'S priceless...