Getting into a film festival ain't all gravy. Sometimes you have to go to parties. Last week Slamdance held a "directors only" event at the DGA. I wondered why the DGA would host an "orientation" for Slam, when Slam already had one of their own, but soon I determined the true purpose of the event--to disseminate propaganda for the DGA. I.e., why we should all join, should our careers take us to the place that we could afford the $3500 initiation fee.

But main speaker Penelope Spheeris (Wayne's World, Decline of Western Civilization) made it fun, telling the story of how producers Ozzy and Sharon Osborne released some kind of labeled "director's cut" of her Ozzfest documentary--a cut which Spheeris hadn't even seen. The Ozz-man and his wife got fined $50,000 by the DGA, and it sounds like they deserved every bit of it.

The Slamdance people, some of whom are apparently anarchists (I'll keep you updated), spoke about how we all need to pitch in and help. Co-founder Dan Mirvish says we all need to concentrate on disseminating the map/shuttle route to the Silver Mine, where Slamdance is being held in Park City. This is a very big issue at Slam. Dan suggested to me that we put the map on our movie's postcard, too. My experience with the Silver Mine in 1997 with Slumdance (we popped its cherry, filmfest-wise) was that nobody showed up, because it was too far away and too hard to find. Apparently Slam has had better luck, but everyone has to pitch in to deal with the accessibility issue. So tell all your friends: IT'S EASY TO GET TO THE SILVER MINE NOW, AND IT'S VERY, VERY COOL THERE. And that's true--you have to see it to believe it. It's like an art installation.

I met lots and lots of new people, some of whom I liked. I have to say, with this project it's easy to answer the eternal question, "What's your film about?" Some projects, that's tough--"Um, it's about some people who do some stuff, and it's kind of a drama, but funny in parts. Oh...I don't know. I'm a loser." This film? Seven words. "It's about the assassination of Bill Gates." It's amazing how referring to a historical event that simply raises all kinds of emotions in people. Everyone I talked to about the film at the DGA party seemed to have a different reaction, from puzzlement to horror (it has only been two years after all).

There was lots of great food, by a caterer named Terri Dayton, who is very nice. You should hire her for your next event. There were three photographers snapping away (due to the presence of celebrities such as Spheeris, "Memento" director Christopher Nolan and, I forget, some other folks). My self-promotion instincts kicked in yet again when it came time to take the group picture for DGA Magazine of all the directors and Slamdance staff in front of, what else, a giant DGA backdrop. I huddled near the side as everyone got into place, then, just as the photographer was finishing up the arrangement, I slipped into the front row, camera left. We'll see how it turns out. If all goes according to my diabolical plan, when you see the picture, your eye will be drawn to me in my bright red jacket. And the caption will read: "Front row (l-r): Brian Flemming..."

I only look like I'm dumb.

Best,
Brian Flemming
doc@nothingsostrange.com