FUN WITH PHOTOSHOP

I went back to school this past Fall to finish my degree in Media Arts and Technology. I was tired of having to rely on other people to do technical stuff for me. So after years of calling myself "technologically retarded" I took steps to change that and become more self-sufficient. Had a blast in my Raster Imaging class (aka Photoshop) and decided to revisit an idea for the Film Commune that never saw the light of day. This was an image to appear on our website and promotional materials. We did the photo shoot, but then nobody ever got around to piecing the concept together. I, at the time, had no idea how to. But now I do and here it is... 2 years too late! ;)

HEARTLAND FILM FESTIVAL COVERAGE

Last week I recieved press credentials to cover the Heartland Film Festival for Inside Report, the webshow I co-host. (Thank you to Lisa Dudeck with three sixty group for hooking us up with that)


It was a good time. I enlisted the help of my friends Jill Thixton and Michael Drain to act as correspondents. They also attended the Filmmakers Media Reception on Friday on my behalf and found 3 filmmakers for us to focus on. They picked some good ones. Anna Christoper won a Jimmy Stewart Memorial Award on Saturday night for her film Queen of Cactus Cove.


Joel Nassan was another recipient of the Jimmy Stewart award for his film Wednesday. You'll be able to catch a clip of the film when the special airs. And finally we focused on Matt Ruskin, director of The Hip Hop Project, which won Best Documentary Feature.


The films were all fantastic. The awards ceremony was Oscar caliber, but I think the most fun was going out with the filmmakers. We took them bar-hopping along South Meridian on Friday night. Saturday night they took us to a VIP party at some penthouse in the Omni Hotel. Needless to say it was a very late night. I got home around 5AM Sunday morning and was unable to get up in time for the Filmmaker's Brunch which we were originally going to cover.


Be sure to check back here for updates on when the special Heartland Film Festival edition of Inside Report will air. Join my mailing list (see my email in sidebar) and I'll let you know when its up-and-running. Thanks again to Heartland, my friends Michael and Jill, and all of the filmmakers for their support and cooperation. It was a blast!

THE MODEL BUILDER

A FILM COMMUNE REUNION OF SORTS

Joel and I got together this weekend to go catch my friend Shawn's play, An Adult Evening of Shel Silverstein, at the Indy Fringe Festival. Afterwards we joined Shawn, his cast and a couple of friends for dinner and drinks at MacNivens on Mass Ave.


While there, we ran into former comrade Lauren Smith who was in town for a friend's wedding. Joel and I hadn't spoken to each other in well over a year, nor had I seen Lauren since she moved to California, and then here we all were together again. It felt like a strange, cosmic coincidence that our paths had crossed in this Scottish-themed pub.


A few minutes later Joel and I crossed paths with a couple of belly dancers on Michigan Street outside the American Caberet Theater. A cosmic encounter? I think not, but it's still not a sight you see everyday in Indianapolis. Gotta thank the Fringe for that one.

AN ADULT EVENING OF SHEL SILVERSTEIN

It's that time of year again, time for the Indy Fringe theater festival. My friend Shawn Whistler, who produced and directed the #1 show at last year's event, is back with another offbeat, irreverant play that is sure to be the #1 draw this year as well. And I'm not just saying that because we're friends. Details are below. I encourage everyone to check it out:


DOES SIZE REALLY MATTER?

From the producer of last year's #1 IndyFringe hit A Midsummer Night of Fairies and Asses and the author of Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, and The Giving Tree comes a series of one-act comedies proving childish behavior never grows old...only the humor does! Discover the hidden literary treasures of this immensely popular children's illustrator/poet and prepare to be SHEL SHOCKED! One-act comedies include:

BUY ONE GET ONE FREE -- a tale of two hookers offering a discount
WASH AND DRY -- dry-cleaning without the cleaning
THE BEST DADDY -- a father's drop dead birthday present...literally and many more!

Performed at AMERICAN CABARET THEATRE, 401 E Michigan Street

Showtimes:
Saturday August 26 @ 5:30pm
Sunday August 27 @ 8:30pm
Tuesday August 29 @ 6:30pm
Saturday September 2 @ 4:00pm
Sunday September 3 @ 10:00pm

Tickets: $10 GENERAL ADMISSION, excludes one-time $3 festival admission. Advanced tickets available at www.indyfringe.org/tickets.php or by visiting Loudermilk Photography Studio, 882 Massachusetts Avenue (Hours 12 - 6pm daily). All other ticket sales are CASH ONLY at the door.

For more information visit www.indyfringe.org/IND15.php or contact Shawn Whistler at 317-925-1988 or ganastheatre@sbcglobal.net

MYSTICAL MOVIE GUIDE REVIEW OF SENSES

Someone recently sent me an email saying that they had enjoyed Coming To My Senses after following a link from a review on the Mystical Movie Guide. Had never heard of that before, but they had nice things to say: "This short is wonderfully evocative, beautifully shot and leaves you wanting more." The full review can be found by clicking here.

NEW CO-HOST POSITION ON INSIDE REPORT

You can now check me out as the new co-host of Inside Report, the Web's #1 indie film show. I was actually a guest a few months back. Then the main host Sky Wilson contacted me, said they were looking to re-vamp the show, add a co-host and they wanted me to do it. The show is produced out of England, but thanks to modern technology I was able to tape my segments here in the U.S. on a bluescreen (big thanks to my friend and mentor John Blankenship for doing that!) and upload it to their server for them to edit and assemble. Sky said this promises to be the best episode yet and they're excited to have me on board. Check it out at www.inside-report.com.

WTHR SEGMENT NOW STREAMING ONLINE

If you missed Andrea Morehead's special report about Jean and I on WTHR, you can now watch it online. Go here and click on "woman you should know" next to the red video camera icon.

POV ON WTHR WEDNESDAY MAY 17TH

Andrea Morehead's special report on Jean and my documentary Persistence of Vision: The Eye-Opening Life of Jean Brown will now be airing on WTHR Wednesday, May 17th at 5:30PM. It was originally was supposed to air last week, but was moved at the last minute. My apologies to all those who tuned in last Thursday and never saw what I said they'd see.

If you'd like to to be kept up to date on Jean, her business and the film's progress, please send an email with ADD ME in the subject heading to: chad@cinemaverick.net

COMING TO MY SENSES NOW SCREENING ONLINE

Coming To My Senses is currently one of the featured films on UndergroundFilm.Org. I've added a FILMS link area to the sidebar of this site; find it there (along with Immaculate) or simply click here to watch it. Feel free to give it a 5 star rating while you're there!

SENSES TO SCREEN AT "RAISING THE BAR"

My short film Coming To My Senses will be screening at Key Cinemas on Tuesday, May 9th as part of "Raising the Bar-Taking Filmmaking To The Next Level" presented by the Indiana Filmmakers Network. I was honored to be asked to be a part of this special event. CTMS will be screening along-side In The Blue (co-directed by Kehaulani Haydon and Sarah Mynett) and Ha! (directed by brothers Dave and Joe Herbert.) More detailed information on the evening can be found by clicking here.

PERSISTENCE OF VISION PROMO PHOTOS

So it's been a while since I've posted anything (sometimes life gets in the way of blogging), but yesterday I got the POV promo photos back from Steve Hill. He took something like 177 pictures and it was hard to whittle it down to just a few.


These are a sampling of what they look like. She looks beautiful in all of them, but I think the top is my favorite. While obviously posed, there is still something very real (or surreal) going on between that forced symmetry.


I cannot thank Steve enough for donating his talents to this film. I got a call from Andrea Morehead yesterday as well. We got bumped in February by the Olympics, but her piece on Jean and the film will now air on WTHR in May. May/June is now also when I hope to have this baby finished.

WORKING IT FOR THE CAMERA

With four different setups and three wardrobe changes, Jean got to re-live her former modeling days for a few hours on Friday as we took the promotional photos for POV. I could tell she enjoyed it and Steve Hill of Hill Photography took incredible photos.


Very big thanks to Steve and his assistant Chris for donating their time and talents to the cause. I should be able to pick up the pictures sometime next week and you'll be able to first check them out on the official Persistence of Vision website coming soon. Stay tuned.

MORE ON THE PERSISTENCE FRONT

Andrea Morehead, nightly news anchor on WTHR Channel 13, has taken an interest in Jean and POV. She came up to my work and Jean's salon today with a cameraman to tape interviews with us. The interview went well, although it's awkward being on the other side of the camera. Andrea is a great lady, even prettier in person, and has a genuine interest in spreading the word about Jean and the documentary.


I didn't have my camera on me today; she still wants to get footage of me "shooting" Jean and also editing the film in the studio. The piece she is putting together will cover a little about me, how I met Jean, the making of the documentary and then of course Jean, her life and her business. It's almost a documentary about the making of a documentary and will tentatively air sometime during February sweeps. I'll keep everyone posted.

PROMOTING PERSISTENCE ON RADIO NOW 93.1

Was on "The Morning Mess" today on Radio Now 93.1 with Jean doing some early promotion for Persistence of Vision and Jeanie's Relaxation Beauty & Barber Spa. The film isn't finished yet, but it was nice to raise some much-needed awareness of Jean's business.


Doing promo is fun and it was a nice relief from the post-production hell I've been in lately. Big thanks to Radio Now and the "Morning Mess" crew (Shannon, Marco and Super Phat Mikey) for having us on as guests.