After Sleep

Sometimes I forget how different the rest of the country is. And then I spend a night in Utah, and the kid at the front desk is offering to call a restaurant for me to find out if they deliver, and when he calls back, he lists several places he called, but no one delivers because it's Utah and it's ten o'clock at night. In Cali they would probably just say "I don't know" and hang up. The other side of Utah is that I saw an enormous billboard advertising a sheep festival. I'm not sure what happens at a sheep festival, but it just might be my next documentary.

I've always thought that Utah is a beautiful state. I'm amazed by the colors and shapes of the rocks, and it's comforting to see wide open spaces with no lights or buildings for miles.

Tonight I stay with Ma and Pa, and tomorrow pick up my cinematographer at the airport. George and Jason (whom I've affectionately began calling "The Boys") are staying at a fancy schmancy Marriott in Vail, so I hope they are enjoying it. Tomorrow will be the last chance we'll have for any last minute pre-production planning, and then we'll get started early on Saturday and hope the weather cooperates.

So, if my sister has internet access, I'll try to update on how things are going and see if I can get those pictures to work, and if not, you'll all just have to wait with bated breath for the next installment of "The Drama of Making Drama", also known as "There's a reason they call me the Queen..."

Until after sleep...

Bon Voyage

I'm leaving in eight hours, and truck #1 is packed to the gills, and there's nothing in it except equipment. Even the camera isn't in it. I'm a little nervous about fitting everything in. Cross your fingers, hope for some luck, and we'll get there.

By the way, I know I promised pictures, but I'm having some technical difficulties with that. When it gets figured out, there will be some fun stuff to see.

Bon Voyage!

First Signs

I received my first sign that this isn't a dream yesterday. It came in the form of a box covered with strange flourescent stickers all over it that even evoked a comment from the FedEx guy (i.e. what the hell is in there??). I particularly like the one that says HANDLE LIKE EGGS, since that's kind of how I feel about the whole film. Inside the box (which I still haven't opened) is some of the film that I bought the other day from a nice man named Carl. He gave me a super price and was very patient with my weird shipping issues.

Anyway, this feels like the actual beginning of the film part of the film, since it's film. It feels good to start things, and I'm excited (and scared).

Party Time

So today was the party, and I think it went pretty well. It seemed like everyone had a great time, and I came out of it with more money than when I started. It was nice to be able to introduce myself and my movie to everyone, and let them see that I'm really serious about this and that I'm not completely crazy. (Maybe a little, but not completely) It was also a great opportunity to see some people I haven't seen in a while, and know that there is an army (ok, more like a guerilla group) of people out there who are willing to support me. We showed everyone my movies, and most of my friends haven't seen all of my films, since dragging them out is akin to pulling out a photo album whenever someone comes over (or if you're on a plane next to a random stranger who wants to share their life with you...).
We also showed everyone my paintings, and several people expressed an interest in having something painted for their newly painted/barely decorated homes. That makes me feel good for two reasons: First, they like my work, and second, they like it enough to pay for it. I think that's pretty cool. But then again, I have cool friends. As much as the party was about me me me, I'm glad I got the chance to hang with so many people I don't get to hang with often enough, and introduce all the people in my life to each other, which I hope was enjoyable for everyone. And I hope everyone who won a prize is happy with it. Hopefully we'll get to do another prize thing next time.

So all told, we made around $500, which is a great start in my opinion. Thanks to everyone who came and helped me out. I'm hoping everyone had a great time and will want to come to the next shindig we cook up. Either way, consider this my first (but not last) thank you to everyone who helped the film out today. Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you.

Sunday Sunday Sunday

So Sunday is the big day of our first fundraising party, and we've got lots to do before then. We've decided to go with the divide and conquer strategy, hoping we'll get everything done. I don't understand why Party City is so far away! The party should be fun, though, because we're going to have food and drink and prizes to raffle off and it will give me a chance to introduce my film to anyone who doesn't know about it yet. I'm hoping people will feel it's something worthwhile to give money to. I know I'm not feeding starving children in Africa, but I still think it's a worthwhile piece of art.

Speaking of which, I've added a cute little button to this page that says MAKE A DONATION, over to the right. If you feel so inclined, please do so. The button links to Pay Pal, so it's pretty easy from there. And I'll be forever grateful, because your help might just mean the salvation of my sanity! Please help keep me out of the institution....

Anyway, more later on some nuts and bolts stuff, and then pictures from the party.

Stay tuned...

The Work

There are three of my paintings hanging in the show, and they go together, even though they are being sold separately. So here you go, get a good look at them. And if you have some money burning a hole in your pocket, let me know. They are selling for $750 each.

The Opening

Friday was my debut on the art scene. Me and my paintings had a great time, and I like to think of it as the beginning of my fundraising process for my film, since the paintings are for sale. If they sell, that money goes directly into the movie fund, which is sadly undersized at the moment. However, I have faith that my hard work and dedication, along with my great friends and benevolent strangers, will yield many returns that will get my movie funded.

There's a feeling of superiority that comes along with standing within earshot of my work and having people stare blankly at it, wondering what the hell I was thinking. It's fun to answer their questions and hear them say, ohhh, now I see... The woman who interviewed me for the paper was there, and I again had nothing eloquent or profound to say, and most likely she thinks I am an idiot, but that's the breaks I guess. I think one of my favorite moments was being stopped in another part of the gallery by a man who had read my name off my name tag (furnished for all the artists). We engaged in a lovely conversation in which he guessed the ancestry of my last name (Czech), and then asked which pieces were mine. He hadn't seen them, so our conversation ended with him on a quest to find them. I happened to see him later, and he avoided looking at me. I take that to mean he didn't like my paintings, but I was amused anyway.

A few of my movie friends came, which made it feel all that more special (even though they came without the knowledge that I had been accepted into the show). David made my necklace, and I'll post a picture of that later. But for now, here he is. He's a metalsmith, and makes some amazing pieces. Not only is he talented, but he is super smart and funny, and his laugh is a wonderfully resonant sound that I try to evoke as often as possible.



The girls were there; one of my producers, one of the crew, and an avid supporter, but most importantly, they are all good friends and smart women. They're a goofy bunch, but I'm goofy too, so it all works out. Plus, any place that pours alcohol for free is a hit with us.


And last but certainly not least, was my escort, who is also goofy, so he fits right in. Thanks for not making me walk to the opening by myself. And he was also there when I twisted my ankle on the way home, which left me splayed out on the street like roadkill while he fetched the camera I had hurled across the asphalt during my graceful, yet unplanned descent.