FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Martin Vavra
galaxysailor@gmail.com
541-621-4825
Breckenridge Festival of Film recognizes local filmmaker’s doc ‘Patrick’s Story’
For high-rez press images, more info:
http://galaxysailor.com/patricks-story/
Another Oregon documentary is making waves on the film-festival circuit.
Martin Vavra’s doc “Patrick’s Story” has been accepted into Colorado’s Breckenridge Festival of Film.
“Patrick’s Story” follows a gay man, Patrick, who was removed from a Portland hospital as his partner lay dying.
Vavra explores what the word “marriage” means in our culture — taking a powerful look at the social confusion associated with registered domestic partnership rights.
Another Vavra project, “The Last Stand” — a zombie-apocalypse Web series filmed in Portland — recently won three awards at the LA Web Fest. “The Last Stand” has been distributed by three other Web sites and translated into three other languages. It will soon be available on Hulu and Netflix.
Established in 1981, the Breckenridge Festival of Film ( http://www.breckfilmfest.com ) is one of the oldest film festivals in the country. Breckenridge 2011 runs Thursday-Sunday, June 9-11 — featuring 56 independent dramas, comedies, documentaries and big-picture premieres.
Vavra is available for interviews.
For high-rez press images, a trailer and other press materials, click here:
http://galaxysailor.com/patricks-story/
[END]
Yes, it is true. A Deed without a Name is done filming. We finished our third and last night of filming this last Tuesday, and as of Wednesday I had a rough edit out to Jeri, the writer of the screenplay. I am cleaning up edits, replacing audio, looking at special effects, and looking at filming the next in about two weeks. I am really please with the way the film sounds, looks, and was performed. The people that were on board did amazing. A huge thanks goes out to all those that were involved, and I can’t wait to do the credits just so I can thank them again. With any luck, this will look as nice to others as I think it does, and it will be off to the races with it.
In the mean time, the next script is already up and ready to roll. It is a no budget jem, and it will probably take a day to shoot. It’s a little more than a one-off, but it won’t be much more than five minutes. I think it will be sweet. It’s intended to get out a little quick without the idea of a film fest, but if it fits the smaller categories, I’ll send it. It will be a small crew and a small cast. All in all, I think six people are going to be on this one. Should be great!
And, no, I am not hearing voices. Today. At this moment. I have to say though (I hope this isn’t narcissistic) that I kind of feel like I have “made it” in filming. I say that because I had some people on my crew that are, what I consider, the top of the game in Portland. First off, my Assistant Director was Susan Funk, who is just awesome and amazing in all aspects. Then there is Brian Mazzola, who shocked me when he said yes to being on my set for audio. Jerry Buxbaum came on board, and I was thrilled. These people are amazing. They are the pros of town. To me, having them on my set, even if it was only three days, was magnificent. This makes me feel like I have made it. Like I’m working like a pro. I hope that what I made lives up to them and what they have done for me.
Thanks to you all!
No, filming or film or filmmaking aren’t really dying. While there was a major shake up a few weeks ago with digital filming and Roger Dekins, I was referring in a very weird way to the recent filming I did in which a murder takes place. Whether accidental or not, it is interesting and fun to set up such a scenario and play it all out. It’s like diving into an odd place in your brain and exploring the nuances that you would reserve for people in bad traffic. Then reeling that in and finding the calm insanity that would make people flinch in terror for a moment. It’s new to express that aspect and I am hoping I will do that well.
I refer to filming A Deed without a Name, the short film I am working on from the script by Jeri Klein and myself. We have two out of our three days of filming done, and will be returning to film our last day very soon. So far, I am totally in love with this cast and crew, and I am feeling so amazed at the work that is getting done. Soon we shall have a trailer and some music, and then it’s off to the festivals if all goes well.
Speaking of festivals, I am happy to announce that Patrick’s Story was accepted into the Breckenridge Festival of Film for 2011. I was starting to give up hope that Patrick’s Story would get any recognition at all. The whole film has been a labor of love; one that I have fought for over a year with some of the most unlikely people. It has been a relentless pursuit to have people get the message. I am really excited to have this story seen, and I hope that more people will watch and support the cause!
The art of war I am referring to…well, it actually has a lot a meanings. Some of you that see me in the real world (not Facebook, twitter, or other such places) know that I have had an open conversation about a certain group of people that are bad. Bad people that I “worked” for in their film. I speak quite openly about their reputation, or lack of, their skills, or lack of. I caught myself the other day really laying the complaining on thick with someone, and finally shut myself up. It’s not always easy to practice your own preaching or keep in mind your own convictions. I have often said that your attitude dictates your actions. Admittedly, when I watch someone that, in my own hypocrisy, is getting something they don’t deserve, I get a little mouthy about it. That is a war that I need not perpetuate. The war is one in which I cannot win. It’s proverbial. The wrestling match with the pig, in which the pig likes it and you are covered in shit. The fact remains, if I choose to repeatedly put energy into my dissatisfaction with these people, I am taking energy away from where it needs to be: making more films.
You see, in the grand scheme of things, I don’t believe in karma as a cosmic balancing of all things good and evil. In the original Sanskritic, karma was defined as ACTION. If you partake of actions that are ill, you will most likely get caught or stumble on your own actions eventually. We’ve all been caught in that white-lie, now just imagine it on a more catastrophic level in which you care so little for the people in your path, or the tapestry of deception you create that to have that come back on you is a devastating act. That isn’t the universe setting you up for a lesson, that is you.
Along with the war of words comes the war of presentation. I am speaking of hype. Hype is such a dangerous thing. It sets up expectations for those skilled enough to create it, but it is a dangerous pit for those that are all talk and no action. I probably lack on the hype aspect of things, bu there are others where I watch and see all the talk. Talk talk talk. Just talk. Are you ever going to do anything? Will you please just finish ONE of your many projects so someone can see them. Just one! One completed action; a fiery hoop jumped through to show that what you say is what you do. This is a war that wages on constantly. I recently met someone on a commerce gig I was filming who was in from LA for a day. We talked and laughed at the talkers. The people that don’t follow through. The Hypers, as I like to call them. The similarities are carried throughout this industry and is not a Portland phenomenon. Thank goodness. I was worried.
Again, this is the conversation that takes away energy from the act of doing. To talk and have a laugh is one thing, but to worry and fret over these is another. I have made such leaps and bounds in the last two plus years, that to lose this to jealousy, or aggression, or just stupid mouthiness is pretty much the worst thing I can do. I have had some very fortunate things happen. I continue to work with some amazing people. AMAZING. It’s astounding the great people around me. To sacrifice them to arrogance or jealousy would be the saddest moment in my life. I can’t give these people up, and I certainly wouldn’t want to lose any moment I am able to create thanks to them.
I think that is good for now. I’m off to do something not sitting I think. I’ll leave you with my latest video.