Things have been quite busy around here lately, so I thought I pass along a number of tidbits:

Late last month we shot a teaser trailer for our next film project, “One Hand Clapping.”  We (I?) originally had the crazy idea to shoot it near the end of the SXSW film festival.  Not smart.  Most people were too busy to mess with it, so we had to push it back into the next week.  After some stops and starts in prep, we finally got it all together.  So for three days (20^th – 22^nd) we were in full production around the Austin, Texas area, predominately shooting in and around the small towns of Lockhart and Elgin.

It seemed everyone had a great time, and we had a wonderful cast and crew. Very hard-working and dedicated.  I would use them again in a heartbeat, which may be what exactly happens when we shoot the real feature there next year around the same time.

A quick note about SXSW, the now world famous film festival that takes place in March every year.  As large as the venue is, the festival has really outgrown itself.  It was near impossible to get into films, workshops, etc.  Combining the music and interactive with the film has made it way too big to enjoy.  I understand attendance was well over 50,000. Just not enough room for everyone.  I’m thinking twice (and thrice) before I ever attend again.

Within the past month we also got word that “Dreams Awake” will be in three film festivals.

The first one, to happen just next week, will be in Houston at WorldFest 2012.  This will officially be our world premiere.  And we were also informed that we will receive some kind of an award, a Remi Award they call it.  Named I understand after the famous western artist Frederick Remington.  I will of course attend, and afterwards conduct a ‘Questions & Answer’ session with the audience.  And we recently got the word that Erin Gray, who was the lead in the film, will attend and do the Q & A with me.  So if you’re in the Houston, TX area on April 19^th, come by and check us out.  It should be fun!

Then next up is The Honolulu Film Awards, which I only recently learned is actually a film awards ceremony and dinner, not an actual film festival.  At first I was a bit down that it didn’t involve any kind of screening.  But then they informed me that we were in competition with a lot of other films, and that we had won an award.  One called the Silver Lei Award.  That seemed cool, and I felt better.  Plus, I decided maybe it was time to take a few days off in Hawaii, so we will be attending that also.  That ceremony is on May 5^th.

Then just recently, we were contacted by the Awareness Festival that we had gotten into their festival.  But there was one hang up.  It was the exact same weekend as the Honolulu thing.  And we had already committed to it, plus we’d already booked our flight and hotel.  I felt some angst over it, but I guess it was a good problem to have.  We are now trying to figure out who can help cover that for us, as we have the option for a Q & A after the screening (on May 6^th).  I talked to Erin about it, but she is already out-of-town for another event herself.  Somehow we’ll figure it out.

I now wonder what other festivals we’ll get to go to this year?

JAD