I'm at Marcus's place, he's cooking chili fries and I'm using his internet connection.
Just heard by email from Plm Springs that 'Flip' is going to the Palm Springs Short Film Fest. This is the number one short film festival in the USA and arguably the world, at least according to the Americans. It's on in late June, like Melbourne and Vienna. I am very tempted to travel to this one, I was there in 2005 with 'A Black & White World' and it was a fun but very hot time. They've changed the dates to take advantage of cooler weather so it might be even better this time around.
Yesterday I went to Takasaki with Marcus and his friend Yumiko, Wakana came up from Yokohama and we watched 'Eastern Promises'. It's a very good but often violent film, Wakana was a little disturbed I think.
Takasaki is a beautiful city and there were lots of cherry blossoms around. It's good luck if you can catch a falling petal, I managed to catch a petal in my hand and then another in my mouth. I was joking around but then actually did it, looking forward to the huge amount of luck coming my way.
I am seriously thinking about next year now...what to do?
At least 'Flip' is being recieved well, it's such a relief after so long working on it to have festivals selecting it. I think most artists are insecure and paranoid to some degree, we need confirmation that someone actually likes our work and being selected by festivals is one of the best ways to get that feeling. Next is to be present in a crowded theatre during the screening and hear the audience react appropriately in the right places, so I have to travel to at least one or two of the big fests. Melbourne would be great, but somewhere further from home would soothe the artistic temerament more. An audience peppered with friends and family isn't the best way to gauge a reaction.
Although I certainly hope everyone back home will go to MIAF and vote for 'Flip'.
