In a couple hours, I'm driving out of LA to head up to Sundance for a week, then Colorado for a couple days to visit my Mom & stepdad, then eventually, finally, after 2 months being away from it, good ol' Austin, Texas. How small and unfamiliar is my house going to look when I walk in ( Read more... )

Had a phenomenal trip with Kim up the Pacific Coast Highway last week. Got up as far north as the enchanting seaside town of Mendocino, after being enchanted pretty much the whole way up by the crashing surf, the dizzying cliffs, the beautiful wine country, etc. The nighttime drive back down on I-5 not so enchanting ( Read more... )

The cat was kinda let outta the bag by this Statesman article, so I might as well open the bag wide open now. I'm taking a bit of a break from AFS to go "on sabbatical" in Los Angeles for December & January. Fortunately those are two relatively slow months in my schedule (that's when I shot LOH 2 years ago), so it kinda made sense to do it now. The ( Read more... )

I finished a new script about a week ago. It had been over 2 years since I'd written a new, original screenplay. The last one was the first draft of LOVERS OF HATE, which I completed back in August of 2008. In that time, I'd shot that film, edited that film, premiered that film, sold it, followed it around on the festival circuit and into a handful ( Read more... )

- Riding the Tube ( Read more... )

I'd say we did a pretty good job making the most of our final night in Seoul. First was the oddly formal Closing Ceremony at the beautiful National Theater of Korea. Several festival higher-ups made short speeches, including a "report" on the festival from the general director. Then, a four-man a-cappella group sang several songs, including "Oh ( Read more... )

Turns out poop jokes totally translate! Oddly enough, those were some of the only jokes that did translate. Not a whole lot of laughing at our screening yesterday at the Chungmuro Film Festival, but I don't think that means the Korean audience didn't like it. Apparently it's a bit of a no-no to laugh loudly at a movie theater. The festival bumpers ( Read more... )

Made it through most of the Wong Kar-Wai film last night but dozed off in the last 15 minutes. The jet-lag is sending us early to bed every night so far. Also didn't help that the Wong Kar-Wai film, his first, from 1988 called AS TEARS GO BY, didn't have English subtitles. But, fortunately, it wasn't too hard to follow, kind of a gangster love- ( Read more... )

Doubek & I are in Seoul, South Korea, attending the Chungmuro International FIlm Festival. It's a trip that was on, then off right up until maybe 2 weeks ago when it was suddenly on again. Unfortunately, the city government pulled out a big chunk of the funding for the festival and the number of movies had to be slashed in half. Nearly all of the ( Read more... )

Managed to make two of those deadlines over the last few days. Both required some writing, organizing of thoughts, budgeting, etc. You'd think I'd be better at this, or at least more responsible considering the fact that my day-job is reviewing, advising on and evaluating grant proposals. But, no, I'm just as last-minute and procrastinatory as I  ( Read more... )