sundance

Back from Sundance- a very good trip all in all. We added some 160 new Producers, who together donated over $1,600... and we got some priceless footage for our behind the scenes documentary. At some point during the trip we officially passed the 1,000 Producers mark. Seems by the end of the festival, we would run into our producers everywhere we went. That is such a good feeling.

Sundance was such a bench mark trip. I realized while I was out there that it was exactly one year ago (while I was in Park City for Slamdance) that I started selling credits again for The 1 Second Film. I had finally finished 'The Three of Us' and was able to refocus on The 1 Second Film, which had been on the back burner as I finished my other projects. Now with my other projects completed, it occurred to me that I should start finishing The 1 Second Film. I was talking to the guys who made "Deer Pillow" and they gave me $2- I wrote their names on the back of our dinner receipt. I think they thought I was joking. But now, one year later, the film is being completed on 70mm and has an international cast of thousands.

Today is Tuesday.

My friend Blaine Thurier (Director of Male Fantasy and member of The New Pornographers) volunteered to help as my camera man. We panhandled for producers on the sidewalk for awhile, and at some point we saw Steve Buscemi walking down the sidewalk and caught up to him. Steve, ever so slightly amused, laughed at our pitch, but he didn't stop walking; we told him he could be a producer for $1 and said that was more than he could handle cuz he had just given his last buck to the waitress at the bar... So Blaine, in a moment of true generosity, offered to loan Mr. Buscemi a dollar. Steve accepted, referring to Blaine as his "benefactor." Taking Blaine's buck, he then gave it back to us, placing it in our money tin. He stopped just long enough to sign our signup list and get his one free business card.

The deal was done.

Days are blurred. So much has been happening every day... here are some highlights:

Last night, our Associate Producer Bob Odenkirk got us into this party. Bob has been so nice- he introduced me to several different people at the party and was actually pitching the concept better than me.

I hadn't eaten all day, so I went to the free food, which looked really good. But before I could get food, someone spotted John Leguizamo and I had to get out of the line and pitch him. John didn't think he had any money, so a woman offered to buy him a credit. But then John found $3 and ended up buying not only a credit for himself, but also a credit for the lady who was going to buy him his credit. that was pretty good karma for her.

Well, after what I thought was a surreal Day 1, which included sneaking into our Associate Producer David LaChapelle's party, we had an even more absurd Day 2. First of all, I didn't know where I was going to stay. By chance, I ended up running into my good friend Noaz Deshe from LA.

Noaz is one of our Associate Producers and was at Sundance filming a project with Bob Odenkirk; they were being put up by the Sundance Channel at a giant 3 story condo. Noaz checked with Bob, who was totally cool with letting me sleep on their couch. Then I got to show Bob The 1 Second Film and some of my animated shorts. Bob really liked the concept and came on board as an Associate Producer (with the goal of moving up later). He also interviewed us for the segment he was shooting for the Sundance Channel, so maybe we will get a little exposure.

made it to sundance. Drove up with Dan Mirvish, a co-founder of Slamdance. a very resourceful filmmaker. we ended up crashing at Film Threat's condo. Dan said it never hurts to sleep with the press. then the next morning we loaded out. i tried easing into the credit selling. it's always a little awkward at first, going up to random strangers and initiating a conversation. but before long i was doing an interview with einsiders.com; i also met alot of nice/strange people. including a bunch of hobbits waiting to watch Lord of the Ringers.

Sundance is in 10 days and i still have no idea how i'm going to get there. nor do i have any place to stay...

The rough plan is to meet Craig out there and then find a place to stay and sell some producer credits. sort of a repeat of Toronto. But this time, not only do we have no credentials, we also have no place to stay.

I'm a little anxious about the trip, especially because i am being evicted and need to find a new place to live and then move as soon as i get back from Sundance. if i even go... but of course im going. im sure something amazing will happen if we just show up.