Films, films, films

What a day. Three films and a full shift yesterday. Interviews, work, maybe a film, and potentially a jam session today! Opened the day yesterday watching KICK IN IRAN about an woman kick boxer from Iran preparing for the Olympics. What a window into the culture. Saw WINTER'S BONE after work, a riveting tale, and then closed the night... with SON OF BABYLON, a narrative about a boy and his grandmother traveling through Iraq 3 weeks after the fall of Sadaam in search of the boy's father. Shot on location in Iraq in 2008/2009. Another window into a land not often seen on tv.

Fantastic Mountain music in the film WINTER'S BONE. Someone asked the singer, Meredith Sisco, during the Q & A if she would be playing anywhere during Sundance. I told them I had my mandolin if they wanted to borrow it. Trying to set up a place for them to have an informal session.....as there are other musicians that traveled from Missouri to be here for the film.

BRAN NUE DAE y'all!

Well where oh where does the time go? It's nearly a week later, and I've been to-ing and fro-ing all over this Sundance land working, seeing films, meeting and greeting, and being with friends. Even with the full time schedule, have managed to see (I think) six films so far and I have to say, none of them have disappointed. From serious docs to a laugh out loud comedy, it's been a whirlwind. The Australian film BRAN NUE DAE might far away be the funniest and wackiest film I've ever seen. I hope it gets picked up so more people can see it. I asked the filmmaker if she was comfortable with the description of "Australia meets Bollywood" and she said yes. www.brannuedaemovie.com.

SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL 2010, from before it begins.

And it begins...
Well, sorta. It's a pre-festival state-o-mind right now at the SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL 2010. Travel day today. Thoughts from the air....as the world recognizes both the selfless sacrifice of Martin Luther King, Jr., and the continuing aftermath of the Haiti earthquake, I couldn't help but wonder. Amidst all the rubble in Haiti, if there isn't already an independent filmmaker there witnessing and documenting what has happened and what is happening. Therein lies the significance and importance. A documentary is a witness. Imagine how different the story being handed down the generations about Martin Luther King would be without the incredible footage that exists. Imagine how stories from hundreds of years ago might have been perceived differently if they had Facebook and Twitter then. Who knows what tales will be told and what amazing opportunities lie ahead at Sundance for films that don't even know it yet. Imagine....

WHAT'S THE PLAN?

It's a New Year and you would have to be sleeping under several rocks not to have been inundated with the look back on the first decade of the 21st century.

The question is, WHAT NOW?
What's YOUR plan?
On the brink of the edge of the cliff before you, do you go for it, and fly? Or do you stay on course, because you can see what's ahead, even if it's not so enticing.

Personally, I think this is a time to go for it. If not now, when? Many greats before us have paved the way with their successes and failures, and the concept that's often overlooked is that right before a huge success was probably a fairly substantial failure. Can you say Wilbur and Orville?

IF AT FIRST....
It's not as if we don't know what to do, it's keeping the momentum, the stamina, and the stick-to-it-ness to withstand the unknown. Whatever you're attempting, if it doesn't work out, take a look at it, re-evaluate, and try again.

YOU CAN DO IT.