**we're assuming, of course, that you'll probably freeze to death before the end of the week.
In order to keep you, dear reader, moderately involved in-between d press events, and in an effort to appease people we'd like to work with again, we give you another run-down of all the things worth paying attention to in the collective.
++ On 22 February Amy Crawford and the hit band Deleon are at long last playing their first Pittsburgh show at the Thunderbird Cafe in Lawrenceville. Naturally you should go, but you should also purchase a copy of Amy's new EP. It's pretty damned good and definitely worth the cost.
++ Jerome Wincek's been doing some interesting things on his MySpace page, essentially releasing numerous cuts and edits and mixes and whatnot of whatever songs he's been working on. You're best bet is probably to just keep checking in every couple of days and see what's new, as he's approaching a rather prolific pace.
++ 21 January is, you guessed it, the start of the 5th season of "LOST". I'm hearing from people in the know that the first 5 minutes or so are awesome, and hit or miss in the middle before finishing strong. Just thought you should know.
++ Yen Tan's film "CIAO" (edited by our friend David Lowery) is currently playing in major cities cooler than Pittsburgh. If you're fortunate enough to live in one of them, get thee to the theater. Per screen averages are key for a film like this.
++ far beyond frail is playing two shows next week in the Dakotas. Really, Shar? The Dakotas in January? Did that seem like a good idea?
++ Steve Vesolich is playing Club Cafe in Pittsburgh on 30 January in support of his album "This Continual Flight".
++ Congrats to our friend Brian Kazmarck, as his short film "Game Theory" just played in competition at the Festivus Film Festival.
That's pretty much it for this quick rundown. And now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a pile of screeners to watch before my awards ballot is due at the end of the month (quick version: there's nothing even close to as good as "Wall*E", although the French film "A Christmas Tale" is pretty good) and the Wii Fit is yelling at me to exercise more.
14 January 2009
10 September 2008
festival 9.0...and news from around the collective
Is your fantasy football team reeling from injuries to Tom Brady, Merriman, Colston, and/or Burleson? Well, we've got some good news for you: gravida is an Official Selection of the 2008 Tacoma Film Festival. Click here for more info.
We screen on 4 October and 7 October in Tacoma, WA. This is our third festival on the West Coast and number 9 overall. There's a good chance that this is our last one (unless we get invited to one or highly motivated to send out some more submissions), and if that's the case, then we've had a hell of a good run, thanks in part to your help. There's 2 or 3 more screenings that may or may not happen, and we'll let you know as soon as we know.
Oh, and I'm not sure if I've mentioned this yet, but look what happens when you look up gravida on Wikipedia.
I've been out of town for the last couple of weeks, so let's catch up on what's going on around the collective, shall we?
+++ John Gallagher (a.k.a. the co-producer on gravida) has a short film he produced in the Dare To Direct 2 short film contest sponsored by Chiller TV. The short Wreck Room is a horror short in a horror contest, so if you have a weak stomach and/or aversion to horror like I do, be fair warned. Anyway, you know the drill. Watch it. Give it a "thumbs up". Tell your friends.
+++ Also worth checking out this month (and beyond) is the Pittsburgh Neighborhood Narratives project. Basically, it's Paris, je t'aime, minus all the famous people and set in Pittsburgh instead of Paris. Our pitch for a segment about Dormont (complete with roto-scoping and some dream-like lighting ideas) was actually a finalist for this project (basically our pitch wasn't very narrative, which may have been the problem), but we aren't bitter. Rachel Shaw is in the Homestead film and our good friend Justin Crimone of Zeno Films is doing the Downtown segment.
Anyway, it premieres 25 September at Regent Square and then will show all over the city after that. Go to their MySpace page for more details. You can find the trailer here.
+++ Amy Crawford and her band The Electric have an EP coming out late summer and they're also on tour in a town near you (but not in a town near me....what the hell?)
In other Amy news, she finished 3rd in the 2008 Shure/Montreux Jazz Festival Vocal Competition in Switzerland. Oh, and her MySpace page also has some live tracks up. Check them out.
+++ Ilona V has a new song on her MySpace page, called "Summer's Almost Gone". Check it out.
+++ far beyond frail's song "Portland" is included in the new compilation CD "Hope, Volume One", which benefits the group "Suicide Awareness Voices of Education". Also included on the album are Tegan and Sara, Trisha Yearwood, Kevin Max, Lisa Loeb, and Joanne Cash (I think she's Johnny's daughter). Also, they seem to be using the same webpage template we are, which is weird, especially since they're about hope and stuff.
far beyond frail is also touring the country (and also not playing a city near me). Check them out when they get near you, and tell them I sent you.
+++ jerome wincek & the old hats have a new song up, titled "the intranet man all redd up". The title is some sort of Pittsburgh something that I don't even remotely understand, and I don't really want to.
And I think that's it. Enjoy the warm weather while it's still here.
We screen on 4 October and 7 October in Tacoma, WA. This is our third festival on the West Coast and number 9 overall. There's a good chance that this is our last one (unless we get invited to one or highly motivated to send out some more submissions), and if that's the case, then we've had a hell of a good run, thanks in part to your help. There's 2 or 3 more screenings that may or may not happen, and we'll let you know as soon as we know.
Oh, and I'm not sure if I've mentioned this yet, but look what happens when you look up gravida on Wikipedia.
I've been out of town for the last couple of weeks, so let's catch up on what's going on around the collective, shall we?
+++ John Gallagher (a.k.a. the co-producer on gravida) has a short film he produced in the Dare To Direct 2 short film contest sponsored by Chiller TV. The short Wreck Room is a horror short in a horror contest, so if you have a weak stomach and/or aversion to horror like I do, be fair warned. Anyway, you know the drill. Watch it. Give it a "thumbs up". Tell your friends.
+++ Also worth checking out this month (and beyond) is the Pittsburgh Neighborhood Narratives project. Basically, it's Paris, je t'aime, minus all the famous people and set in Pittsburgh instead of Paris. Our pitch for a segment about Dormont (complete with roto-scoping and some dream-like lighting ideas) was actually a finalist for this project (basically our pitch wasn't very narrative, which may have been the problem), but we aren't bitter. Rachel Shaw is in the Homestead film and our good friend Justin Crimone of Zeno Films is doing the Downtown segment.
Anyway, it premieres 25 September at Regent Square and then will show all over the city after that. Go to their MySpace page for more details. You can find the trailer here.
+++ Amy Crawford and her band The Electric have an EP coming out late summer and they're also on tour in a town near you (but not in a town near me....what the hell?)
In other Amy news, she finished 3rd in the 2008 Shure/Montreux Jazz Festival Vocal Competition in Switzerland. Oh, and her MySpace page also has some live tracks up. Check them out.
+++ Ilona V has a new song on her MySpace page, called "Summer's Almost Gone". Check it out.
+++ far beyond frail's song "Portland" is included in the new compilation CD "Hope, Volume One", which benefits the group "Suicide Awareness Voices of Education". Also included on the album are Tegan and Sara, Trisha Yearwood, Kevin Max, Lisa Loeb, and Joanne Cash (I think she's Johnny's daughter). Also, they seem to be using the same webpage template we are, which is weird, especially since they're about hope and stuff.
far beyond frail is also touring the country (and also not playing a city near me). Check them out when they get near you, and tell them I sent you.
+++ jerome wincek & the old hats have a new song up, titled "the intranet man all redd up". The title is some sort of Pittsburgh something that I don't even remotely understand, and I don't really want to.
And I think that's it. Enjoy the warm weather while it's still here.
28 May 2008
once more around the block
Voting continues in the Now Film Festival. So, if you haven't voted...bloody hell...what are you waiting for?
Until we hear those results, a quick run-down of what's happening around the collective...
+ This past weekend was the Oil Region Indie Songwriter's Festival in Oil City, PA. It was quite a lineup (featuring Brad Yoder, The Old Hats, Newmen, Nate Custer, Jeremy Jack, Namoli Brennet, Secretly Plotting Your Burial, and many more) and the weather was nice. Word is there may be more shows in the works, so we'll keep you updated as we hear about it. I can't seem to find the actual article in newspaper's online archives, but the Derrick ran a story about the festival, featuring a photo by yours truly. Click here for proof..
+ In other Oil City news, Jerome Wincek has put out a couple of live videos of himself and the Old Hats. They're available on his MySpace page.
+ Steve Vesolich has a new album ready to drop. "This Continual Flight" will have a CD release party on 27 June 2008 at Club Cafe in Pittsburgh. The cost? $7. More info.
+ The Futility Parade has a new song ("based on a short story by ambrose bierce of which i can't recall the title") on their MySpace page. I'm told it was recorded on the side of the road. They do stuff like that.
+ We may have already told you about this, but Ilona V. has a new-ish song on her MySpace page, "Deliverance Coffin". Honestly, I'm not sure if this is new info or not. The method is to look for songs that have a lot fewer plays than the rest. So...yeah.
And...I think that's it. If I'm missing stuff, let me know. I try to include as much as I can remember and/or find quickly on MySpace, etc. As for new d press stuff...well...we're working on it, but it's so damned hard with all these playoff games on every night.
Until we hear those results, a quick run-down of what's happening around the collective...
+ This past weekend was the Oil Region Indie Songwriter's Festival in Oil City, PA. It was quite a lineup (featuring Brad Yoder, The Old Hats, Newmen, Nate Custer, Jeremy Jack, Namoli Brennet, Secretly Plotting Your Burial, and many more) and the weather was nice. Word is there may be more shows in the works, so we'll keep you updated as we hear about it. I can't seem to find the actual article in newspaper's online archives, but the Derrick ran a story about the festival, featuring a photo by yours truly. Click here for proof..
+ In other Oil City news, Jerome Wincek has put out a couple of live videos of himself and the Old Hats. They're available on his MySpace page.
+ Steve Vesolich has a new album ready to drop. "This Continual Flight" will have a CD release party on 27 June 2008 at Club Cafe in Pittsburgh. The cost? $7. More info.
+ The Futility Parade has a new song ("based on a short story by ambrose bierce of which i can't recall the title") on their MySpace page. I'm told it was recorded on the side of the road. They do stuff like that.
+ We may have already told you about this, but Ilona V. has a new-ish song on her MySpace page, "Deliverance Coffin". Honestly, I'm not sure if this is new info or not. The method is to look for songs that have a lot fewer plays than the rest. So...yeah.
And...I think that's it. If I'm missing stuff, let me know. I try to include as much as I can remember and/or find quickly on MySpace, etc. As for new d press stuff...well...we're working on it, but it's so damned hard with all these playoff games on every night.
07 May 2008
we won something! (sort of)
No, the results of the Now Film Festival aren't in. You'll hear as soon as possible, trust me.
But, this past weekend gravida was in the Twin Rivers Media Festival in Asheville, NC, where we nabbed a Honorable Mention in the short drama category. It doesn't seem to be on the webpage anywhere, but I've gotten 2 emails about it, so we're going with it. Victory.
And don't forget, voting continues in the Now Film Festival. So if you haven't voted yet, then what the hell are you waiting for? Click on the sweet button to go where you need to go.
Find the "5" under gravida. Tell your friends. Spread the word. It'll take longer for you to think of a good reason why you didn't vote when we ask, and you'll feel better about not having to lie.
So take 30 seconds and help your favorite film collective out.
But, this past weekend gravida was in the Twin Rivers Media Festival in Asheville, NC, where we nabbed a Honorable Mention in the short drama category. It doesn't seem to be on the webpage anywhere, but I've gotten 2 emails about it, so we're going with it. Victory.
And don't forget, voting continues in the Now Film Festival. So if you haven't voted yet, then what the hell are you waiting for? Click on the sweet button to go where you need to go.
Find the "5" under gravida. Tell your friends. Spread the word. It'll take longer for you to think of a good reason why you didn't vote when we ask, and you'll feel better about not having to lie.
So take 30 seconds and help your favorite film collective out.
18 April 2008
vote "gravida"
Are you ready?
Big weekend here at d press as gravida, everyone's favorite film about pregnancy, is in 2 film festivals (one in West Virginia and one in Chicago) and today voting starts on the Now Film Festival.
Forget the plus/minus stuff. This is the important part. Click on the sweet button to go where you need to go.
You can rate each film on a 1-5 scale. 5 is the highest. So...go...vote vote vote. Tell your friends. Spread the word.
Want to add the "gravida" button to your webpage/blog/myspace/whatever? Feel free to grab the image.
Big weekend here at d press as gravida, everyone's favorite film about pregnancy, is in 2 film festivals (one in West Virginia and one in Chicago) and today voting starts on the Now Film Festival.
Forget the plus/minus stuff. This is the important part. Click on the sweet button to go where you need to go.
You can rate each film on a 1-5 scale. 5 is the highest. So...go...vote vote vote. Tell your friends. Spread the word.
Want to add the "gravida" button to your webpage/blog/myspace/whatever? Feel free to grab the image.
11 April 2008
Festival 7.0 (with a twist)
Howdy,
First, some email history for you:
7 March 2008
"Thank you for submitting to the Lake Forest Film Festival. As we received nearly 200 submissions, we were only able to accept a little over 30% of the films. Many deserving films were cut from the program. Unfortunately, your submission will not be shown at this year’s festival."
Our initial thought was that not making the 30% cut probably wasn't a good sign, but these things happen. We've gotten a number of emails just like this one.
Then, out of the clear blue sky, today I got this email.
"I want to apologize for this late notice and incredibly horrible mistake we made when notifying filmmakers, but also want to congratulate you. Your film Gravida, was marked as not accepted, and it is in fact accepted into the Lake Forest Film Festival and is competing in the short live action category. For information in regards to your screening, please visit our website at http://www.lakeforest.edu/life/orgs/film/default.asp.
I am so sorry for this terrible inconvenience, but am delighted to screen your excellent work next weekend!"
This, of course, is something close to an artist's dream, to get accepted for something he previously thought had rejected him. Kind of the equivalent of having a critic retract a negative review. It's also a little weird and unexpected.
Oh, and Sundance, if you're reading this, there's still time to accept us for the 2008 festival. We don't even care that it's already over. We just want the leafy thing for the webpage.
So what, you ask, do you need to know about the Lake Forest Film Festival? Well, it's April 18-20 at Lake Forest College outside Chicago and we're in competition with Academy Award nominee Binta y la gran idea and fellow Festivus Film Festival entry Simulacra. So, based on that it should be pretty cool.
First, some email history for you:
7 March 2008
"Thank you for submitting to the Lake Forest Film Festival. As we received nearly 200 submissions, we were only able to accept a little over 30% of the films. Many deserving films were cut from the program. Unfortunately, your submission will not be shown at this year’s festival."
Our initial thought was that not making the 30% cut probably wasn't a good sign, but these things happen. We've gotten a number of emails just like this one.
Then, out of the clear blue sky, today I got this email.
"I want to apologize for this late notice and incredibly horrible mistake we made when notifying filmmakers, but also want to congratulate you. Your film Gravida, was marked as not accepted, and it is in fact accepted into the Lake Forest Film Festival and is competing in the short live action category. For information in regards to your screening, please visit our website at http://www.lakeforest.edu/life/orgs/film/default.asp.
I am so sorry for this terrible inconvenience, but am delighted to screen your excellent work next weekend!"
This, of course, is something close to an artist's dream, to get accepted for something he previously thought had rejected him. Kind of the equivalent of having a critic retract a negative review. It's also a little weird and unexpected.
Oh, and Sundance, if you're reading this, there's still time to accept us for the 2008 festival. We don't even care that it's already over. We just want the leafy thing for the webpage.
So what, you ask, do you need to know about the Lake Forest Film Festival? Well, it's April 18-20 at Lake Forest College outside Chicago and we're in competition with Academy Award nominee Binta y la gran idea and fellow Festivus Film Festival entry Simulacra. So, based on that it should be pretty cool.
04 April 2008
festival 6.0
Kids, string up the banjos and dig the gut bucket out of the cellar. gravida is an Official Selection of the Appalachian Film Festival in Huntington, WV. [insert joke here]
We screen on Friday, 18 April at 11.45am at the Keith Albee Theater in downtown Huntington.
And now, news from around the collective...
**gravida musicians and indie rockers extraordinaire The Futility Parade have posted a recording of their song "a january carol" on their MySpace page.
**Also on the MySpace, newly-engaged Matt Reed has posted a few songs, "Put Me In Your Colophon" and "Look Out the Window".
**The general rule with Jerome Wincek's music updates is just to check every couple days, because that seems to be the rate at which he puts stuff out. By the time you read this, he'll probably have released 3 new songs.
**Ilona V. has a couple new songs on her MySpace page (see a theme yet?). Go and check out the "Gone" demo and "Deliverance Coffin".
**Amy Crawford has added "See It Through" to her MySpace page.
**Steve Vesolich's new album, "This Continual Thirst" is done and awaiting a late May release.
**Finally, Justin Crimone's zombie film planet of the living dead is in the running for a George Romero sponsored contest on MySpace. Click here and show it some love.
Unless I'm forgetting something, that should be about it. Enjoy your weekend.
Don't forget to purchase a DVD or a tshirt. Be one of the cool kids.
We screen on Friday, 18 April at 11.45am at the Keith Albee Theater in downtown Huntington.
And now, news from around the collective...
**gravida musicians and indie rockers extraordinaire The Futility Parade have posted a recording of their song "a january carol" on their MySpace page.
**Also on the MySpace, newly-engaged Matt Reed has posted a few songs, "Put Me In Your Colophon" and "Look Out the Window".
**The general rule with Jerome Wincek's music updates is just to check every couple days, because that seems to be the rate at which he puts stuff out. By the time you read this, he'll probably have released 3 new songs.
**Ilona V. has a couple new songs on her MySpace page (see a theme yet?). Go and check out the "Gone" demo and "Deliverance Coffin".
**Amy Crawford has added "See It Through" to her MySpace page.
**Steve Vesolich's new album, "This Continual Thirst" is done and awaiting a late May release.
**Finally, Justin Crimone's zombie film planet of the living dead is in the running for a George Romero sponsored contest on MySpace. Click here and show it some love.
Unless I'm forgetting something, that should be about it. Enjoy your weekend.
Don't forget to purchase a DVD or a tshirt. Be one of the cool kids.
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