tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42189429015764560522024-03-12T21:53:19.903-07:00Daughters of Wisdom<center>INSIGHTS AND ANECDOTES FROM THE WORLDWIDE SCREENING TOUR</center>bari-btghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10584009353142332446noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4218942901576456052.post-47677895558628024402014-07-15T16:55:00.003-07:002014-07-15T16:55:33.323-07:00DAUGHTERS OF WISDOM screening at MoMA <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We are thrilled to announce that <b>DAUGHTERS OF WISDOM</b> will be screening at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) as part of the <b><a href="http://www.moma.org/visit/calendar/films/589" target="_blank">Lens on Tibet</a></b> series presented by MoMA and Trace Foundation. I hope you can join me for this very special evening beginning at 7pm on Tuesday, August 26 with the screening, followed by a Q & A. For tickets visit <b><a href="http://www.moma.org/visit/calendar/film_screenings/21391" target="_blank">moma.org</a></b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We are honored to be a part of <b><a href="http://www.moma.org/visit/calendar/films/589" target="_blank">Lens on Tibet</a></b>, presented as part of MoMA's ongoing <b>ContemporAsian</b> film series, and in conjunction with <b>Trace Foundation</b>'s <b><a href="http://gaton.trace.org/" target="_blank">Gatön</a></b>, celebrating their 20 years at the forefront of the effort to preserve the legacy of Tibetan culture while preparing Tibetan communities to meet the challenges of tomorrow. They write: "Through the lens of the camera, a generation of Tibetan and Western filmmakers are capturing breathtaking landscapes and creating a global stage for Tibet’s most captivating subjects, from a controversial caterpillar fungus that’s changing the lives and livelihoods of Tibetans to the place of women in rural Tibetan communities. Join us and MoMA for a series of screenings of Tibet’s most exciting films and talks with the visionary directors behind them."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The Museum of Modern Art is located at 11 West 53rd Street between 5th & 6th Avenues 212.708.9400 - For ticket information, visit <b><a href="http://www.moma.org/visit/calendar/film_screenings/21391" target="_blank">moma.org</a></b></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0mjfd8VNatA/U8W-nOZHjCI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/XHex_RKpPCQ/s1600/fb-sm.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>DAUGHTERS OF WISDOM at MoMA<br />Tuesday, August 26, 2014 @ 7pm<br />The Roy and Niuta Titus Theater 2</b></span>bari-btghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10584009353142332446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4218942901576456052.post-26588660950299108612012-02-29T14:20:00.000-08:002012-02-29T14:20:19.754-08:00On the Road AgainQuick update that all three NANGCHEN SHORTS (RITUAL OBJECTS, WATER, TSAMPA) will be having their Massachusetts premiere at the <a href="http://salemfilmfest.com/2012/all-films/nangchen-shorts?schit=2" target="_blank">Salem Film Fest</a> this weekend. Also down the road, WATER will be playing at the <a href="http://www.ashlandfilm.org/Index.asp" target="_blank">Ashland Independent Film Festival</a> in April. I'll be hitting the road for both of these, and hope to see you there!<br />
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More on these films <a href="http://www.btgproductions.com/nangchen" target="_blank">here</a>, but please enjoy the trailers for WATER and RITUAL OBJECTS right now:<br />
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<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/24093538?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/24093538">WATER - Trailer</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/24153998?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/24153998">RITUAL OBJECTS - Trailer</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</center>bari-btghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10584009353142332446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4218942901576456052.post-71799479929628793752011-11-23T20:48:00.000-08:002011-11-23T20:48:44.891-08:00Special Screening & Discussion this Sunday, November 27!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0vgASX6GTTQ/Ts3J2nJknoI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/VEf_pfROxLI/s1600/week5-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0vgASX6GTTQ/Ts3J2nJknoI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/VEf_pfROxLI/s320/week5-01.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">Please join me for the 7pm Screening of Jennifer Fox's award-winning documentary <u><b><a href="http://www.myreincarnationfilm.com/" style="color: black;" target="_blank">MY REINCARNATION</a></b></u> on Sunday, November 27 at Cinema Village in New York. </span></span></h6><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"></span></span><style>
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</style> </h6><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times CE"; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times CE"; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></u></b></div><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">After the screening, Jennifer and I will discuss spiritual filmmaking and the various Buddhist paths.</span></span></h6><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"></span></span></h6><div style="text-align: center;"><i> </i></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"></span></span><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">Co-hosted by <b><a data-hovercardx="/ajax/hovercard/group.php?id=5829488219" href="http://www.kdk-nyc.org/" style="color: black;" target="_blank">Kagyu Dzamling Kunchab Tibetan Buddhist Center (KDK) NYC</a></b></span></span></h6><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>bari-btghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10584009353142332446noreply@blogger.com022 W 12th St, New York, NY 10011, USA40.7349696 -73.9956025999999848.1215005999999974 -133.76122759999998 73.348438600000009 -14.229977599999984tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4218942901576456052.post-27304677316908971842011-06-03T13:43:00.000-07:002011-06-03T13:57:10.446-07:00Short Shorts<span style="font-family:verdana;">The summer is already sizzling here, and I am very pleased to announce the World Premiere of two of the Nangchen Shorts films about life in rural Tibet. <a href="http://www.btgproductions.com/water">WATER</a> will have its debut at the <a href="http://silverdocs.bside.com/2011/films/water_baripearlman_silverdocs2011">SilverDocs Documentary Festival</a> in Silver Springs, MD (near Washington DC) on <span style="font-weight: bold;">June 23 & 25th</span>. And <a href="http://www.btgproductions.com/ritualobjects">RITUAL OBJECTS</a> will debut in June (TBD) at <a href="http://www.psfilmfest.org/index.aspx">Palm Springs International ShortFest</a>. Trailers are available for viewing on the <a href="http://www.btgproductions.com/nangchen">website</a><a href="http://www.btgproductions.com/nangchen"> </a>and screening updates will also be posted there.<br /><br />In other news, <span style="font-weight: bold;">DAUGHTERS OF WISDOM</span> will also be playing this month. First, on <span style="font-weight: bold;">June 19</span> at the <a href="http://bodhifest.org/screenings.aspx">Bodhi Film Festival</a> in Malibu, and then on <span style="font-weight: bold;">June 26</span> for a special Benefit Screening hosted by <a href="http://www.kagyudc.org/">Kagyu Drupgyu Chodzong</a> Buddhist Center - all proceeds from that event will be donated to the nuns of Kala Rongo.<br /><br />Hope to see you in one place or another!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span>bari-btghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10584009353142332446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4218942901576456052.post-45603206843075939712011-03-19T07:16:00.000-07:002011-03-19T08:42:13.866-07:00Short and Sweet<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Aag3MVyckBk/TYS--03dTgI/AAAAAAAAANI/pXsNLUAkzis/s1600/nangchenshorts-sm.gif"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 133px; height: 385px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Aag3MVyckBk/TYS--03dTgI/AAAAAAAAANI/pXsNLUAkzis/s400/nangchenshorts-sm.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585799424398675458" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">I've just completed a series of short docs about rural Tibet that I'm really looking forward to sharing.(Stay tuned here for screening news as it develops.) All of them are very intimate and very rare looks at rural Tibetan rituals and processes, and were shot on location at Kala Rongo, the Buddhist monastery exclusively for women in Nangchen, Tibet where </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >DAUGHTERS OF WISDOM</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> was created. <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />WATER</span> is a 7-minute film in which a woman goes to collect water in a barrel (a 1 hour process in real time). <span style="font-weight: bold;">TSAMPA</span> is a 7-minute film in which a young woman prepares the Tibetan food staple while sitting in a traditional yak tent, and <span style="font-weight: bold;">RITUAL OBJECTS</span> is a 14-minute triptych offering a rare and intimate look at three traditional Buddhist rituals: In </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >PRAYER WHEEL</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">, a young woman discusses the meaning and mechanics of the iconic Tibetan implement. In </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >PROCESSION</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">, a group of nuns await the arrival of a High Lama in the customary way. And in </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >TORMA</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">, an old monk gently instructs a young nun on how to prepare the components of an intricate Tibetan ceremony.<br /><br />Thank you to the Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation, and Digital Arts, for their support in making the films possible. And to the artist residency at Yaddo where I spent a glorious month last summer editing them.<br /></span>bari-btghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10584009353142332446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4218942901576456052.post-77663818987495308302010-09-02T13:20:00.001-07:002010-09-02T13:28:46.590-07:00September Newsletter now available<span style="font-family:verdana;">Just spent an incredible month at </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.yaddo.org/">Yaddo</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> artists' colony creating a series of "mini-films" culled from the footage left unseen in the creation of </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><a href="http://www.daughtersofwisdom.com/">Daughters of Wisdom</a>. </span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Films include a rare look at "Ritual Objects" and a visit to a yak farm. Stay tuned for more information about where and how they can be seen (and again, very special thanks to the Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation for their support in their creation.) </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Our latest updates are available in the BTG Productions September newsletter.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Click </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=gelbovbab&v=001qGZo6GH_pRSMAUYTbmMThEB7dF_qcS2UmZvhJf5YMRgOaG2fg_dAwBOoxpAw-z0u8d7k_EidKh-7Er7EcyN2QAl0awdq7Y_crl9zsCtqMVEl8GcB44FYjET_7JVg_I6b">here</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> to read all about it (and don't forget to sign up so you don't miss out on future editions!)</span>bari-btghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10584009353142332446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4218942901576456052.post-30541541806490379712010-07-02T12:28:00.000-07:002010-07-02T12:58:57.257-07:00The Other Side of the PondYou are invited to the London Premiere of DAUGHTERS OF WISDOM. Sadly, we won't be there in person to present the film (blame the airlines for their <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/TC5AFYuZjlI/AAAAAAAAALQ/WKAFHUPl95g/s1600/DOW-STILL2.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 294px; height: 165px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/TC5AFYuZjlI/AAAAAAAAALQ/WKAFHUPl95g/s320/DOW-STILL2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489395457091800658" border="0" /></a>outrageous fares!) But if you're from that particular side of the pond, please do c'mon out and support the film (or send someone you know who is!) Here's the deets:<br /><br />Thu 8 July @ 8:50 pm<br />Riverside Studios<br />Crisp Rd, Hammersmith<br />London W6 9RL<br />Box office: 020 8237 1111<br />online booking: <a href="http://www.riversidestudios.co.uk/">Riverside Studios</a><br />tickets: £7.50 full /£6.50 concessions<br /><br />Proceeds of the festival will go to humanitarian aid for the victims of the Jiegu earthquake in Kham, Tibet, so please come out and support a great cause.<br /><br />Tibet Film Festival is the only international film festival committed to showing the newest and highest quality Tibet related material. The festival aims to stimulate broad discussions on human rights, cultural identity and geo-politics through a diverse programme with a particular emphasis on Tibetan, Indian and women filmmakers, as well as emerging directors. More at: <a href="http://www.day-for-night.org/tibetfilmfestival">Tibet Film Festival</a>.bari-btghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10584009353142332446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4218942901576456052.post-1172948833802804502010-05-23T20:21:00.001-07:002010-05-23T20:27:36.314-07:00Now on Netflix!<span style="font-family:verdana;">Great news! You can now queue up DAUGHTERS OF WISDOM on Netflix, and please do! Click </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.netflix.com/WiMovie/Daughters_of_Wisdom/70104105?strackid=44d025cc880df3fa_0_srl&strkid=1293438232_0_0&trkid=438381">HERE</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> to go there!<br /><br />And please join us on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#%21/group.php?gid=6177745285&ref=ts">Facebook</a>!<br /></span>bari-btghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10584009353142332446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4218942901576456052.post-2379751717474824782010-04-26T09:08:00.000-07:002010-07-23T22:00:00.415-07:00You CAN Go Home Again<span style="font-family:verdana;">Over the years, I'd received numerous invitations to Binghamton University (nee SUNY) alumni events that had yet to draw me out. But a few months back, I was intrigued to discover that Sonic Youth's Lee Ranaldo was a fellow Bingaling, and that there was to be a gallery reception in his honor in Williamsburg. This caught my attention, and off I went to reconnect with some old friends from school who I'd only seen of late on Facebook. One of these was Andy Stevens, who it turns out is now part of a cooperative art space in Binghamton called </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://spoolmfg.org/home.html" target="_blank">Spool Mfg.</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> The wine was flowing, the stroll down memory lane wa</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">s</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> in full force, and the natural progression to "we should show your film in Binghamton" emerged. And thus, just last weekend, I found myself on the road (Rte. 17W to be exact)</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">, courtesy of the good people of Spool and the <a href="http://www2.binghamton.edu/about/index.html" target="_blank">Binghamton Alumni Association</a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">, to show the film in my old stomping ground in the Southern Tier.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">And stomp I did. First around the campus where I got pretty lost in the car trying to get around all the new construction - Binghamton's a poppin'! </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">Good news was that some touchstones were still intact: </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/S9XBL_19CqI/AAAAAAAAAJE/1bnVaf_koWY/s1600/tree2.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/S9XBL_19CqI/AAAAAAAAAJE/1bnVaf_koWY/s200/tree2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464486134744418978" border="0" /></a>the newt ramps in the nature preserve were still going (the road to hell is paved with newt carcasses that can't migrate properly when roads are built), the Suck-A-Banana (um, er, I </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">mean Susquehanna) Room was still servin</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">g up coffee in the OLD union, and the gnarly tree that I wrote a poem about when that boy stomped on my heart still twists its</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> sinewy self outside Smith Hall. And there was my Shakespeare professor, Al Vos, still outstanding in his field, this time literally on the Hinman Quad (tho' I'm still miffed there was no underwear tye-dyeing as promised). </span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Here I was in the place that first fed my little hungry mind, and set the course of this thing called my life. What a befitting day to lead into an evening presentation of a film about the radical notion of educating women. </span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Spool Mfg is a seemingly endless expanse of space (and I didn't even see all of it), </span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">filled with great art and huge potential,</span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"> and showing my film there </span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">was a particular treat</span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">. I've dreamed of being part of such </span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">an endeavor</span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"> all my life - </span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">the one where my friends and I take over an abandoned factory and I run the cinema, my painter friend runs the gallery, my writer friend runs the bar/open mic poetry venue, and so on. Perhaps this is why, for the first time in a long time, I found myself wanting to sit in with the audience and watch the film. This is usually a process I skip - there are just so many times you can be </span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/S9XxrBug33I/AAAAAAAAAJc/aVhjAIrUBU0/s1600/spool.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/S9XxrBug33I/AAAAAAAAAJc/aVhjAIrUBU0/s200/spool.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464539444384161650" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">dazzled by your own work (wink). Seriously, there's just a point where you can't watch a piece anymore because every time you do, you want to get back in there and keep working on it. But something about the whole day landed me in my chair as a spectator. And, as usually happens when I subject myself to that experience, I saw the film with new eyes. But this time not ones of judgment but of clarity. I was blown open and filled up again by the kindness of <a href="http://www.nyema.org/" target="_blank">Lama Norlha Rinpoche</a> and the choice he offered to the women of Nangchen. The discussion/reception after the film offered the chance to commune with very smart locals, including fellow alum Andy Horowitz about his latest dance project <a href="http://www.galumpha.com/about.php" target="_blank">Galumpha</a>. Here's how that went: "Oh, you're a dancer, I guess you've heard of the company that's based up here, Second Hand Dance?" "I founded Second Hand Dance." "Andy, is that you?!" I guess people can look different after 20-something years.<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/S9XIbUJHs_I/AAAAAAAAAJM/7sbkuDpxsRA/s1600/belmar.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/S9XIbUJHs_I/AAAAAAAAAJM/7sbkuDpxsRA/s200/belmar.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464494094472950770" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The next morning, it was time for a drive around downtown Binghamton, which in fact <span style="font-style: italic;">doesn't</span> look different after</span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"> 20-something years. For every missing establishment (RIP Drum</span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">mer's) there was another still proudly (and surprisingly) standing. Belmar Lounge, I'm talking to you. And then it was up to the "scenic" Park Diner for breakfast.<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Maybe it was the pollen the size of golf balls floating around in the upstate air. Maybe it was my companion Andrew's quest for the perfect spaghetti sauce north of the 212. Maybe it was the ghost of native son Rod Serling himself. Likely it was a combination of all these</span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> forces swirling around in the ether that landed smack dab on the RECORD button of my cell phone camera and conspired to bring about the little video morsel below.<br /><br /><CENTER><object width="400" height="325"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oKce6op3UoQ&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oKce6op3UoQ&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="325"></embed></object></center></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">When I uploaded it to YouTube this morning, I was horrified to discover that it's been two years since my previous contributions to the "What in the World..." series (and not much more recent since I've blogged). Apparently, though I've still been traveling far and wide bringing </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.daughtersofwisdom.com/" target="_blank">Daughters of Wisdom</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> to museums and universities near you, the impetus to create has just not been quite there. But it's back, my friends, it's back.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">And so, dear Binghamton, I say in your honor... You not only </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >can</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> go home again...sometimes you really must go back to move forward.</span>bari-btghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10584009353142332446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4218942901576456052.post-90013095629286254722008-10-15T10:01:00.000-07:002011-03-19T08:45:33.150-07:00The Lattice of Coincidence<span style="font-family:verdana;">On the first day of the Brooklyn International Film Festival last year, where DAUGHTERS OF WISDOM had its World Premiere, I met a Swedish filmmaker named Lovisa. I ‘collect’ Swedes, so the fact that I found a bright, talented and eager one at a film festival in New York wasn’t a big surprise. We became friends, and 6 months later she invited me to the holiday party for her company </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.governessfilms.com/">Governess </a><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.governessfilms.com/">Films</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> at a bar in Hell’s Kitchen. There she introduced me to Joseph, a film director/producer and partner in his own production company, </span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><a href="http://www.cypressfilms.com/">Cypress Films</a>. Lovisa said “You have to meet Joe. He’s looking for someone to direct a documentary in Alaska in winter. You lived in Stockholm in </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">winter, you lived in a rural monastic community in Tibet. You’re it”<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">I did meet Joe at Lovisa’s party, and again at his own holiday party the following week. Turned out he had directed a film from a script that Mike Jones, my friend and old colleague from Filmmaker Magazine, had written. And he was developing another that Annie Nocenti, my old colleague from Scenario Magazine, wrote. S</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">o this was destiny, no? I was working on another project at the time, but I started to do some research and Joe and I kept in touch over the next few months, slowly getting more and more excited about the project’s potential.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">In February, I went to the Sedona International Film Festival with DAUGHTERS. It was a fantastic festival in one of the most beautiful spots on the planet (see the "Sedona on My Mind" entry below). There I met fellow filmmakers Joe and Steve from Tampa, who I spent a fair bit of time with during the festival. They said, “hey, if you’re ever in Tampa, come stay with us.” Sure, like I pass through Tampa regularly.<br /><br />But lo and behold, two days after I got back from Sedona, </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">I got an</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/SPYkEbdP2bI/AAAAAAAAAGA/UCfKCBx6fy8/s1600-h/alaska.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/SPYkEbdP2bI/AAAAAAAAAGA/UCfKCBx6fy8/s320/alaska.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257429273510140338" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">invitation to the Ybor City Film Festival in Tampa, and I was on the phone with Joe and Steve “booking” my room for April. </span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">While I was in Tampa, Joe and Steve had some friends over on Saturday night. I got to talking with this guy Joe (are you sensing a pattern? Ha!), who was</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> at the party taking a break from intens</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">e packing for his move to…Alaska. He had gone on a cruise there and had never shaken the place. Three determined years later he had found a job up there and was</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> going to drive from Tampa to Anchorage a few weeks later. He was very excited at the prospect of my visit at some point and we kept in touch over the next few months.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Finally, last Wednesday, Joe did indeed pick me up at the Anchorage Airport. We spent the few days after that roaming around in the rain </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">in the scenery south of Anchorage. But it<br />tur</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">ned out that he didn’t actually know Joe </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">and Steve in Tampa and had just gone to their house that night with a friend who told him it was time to get his nose out of moving boxes for an evening. Funny how these things happen. Above is a photo Joe snapped of me on the Seward Glacier Cruise. He's a great photographe</span><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/SPYjrETLzxI/AAAAAAAAAF4/DceBpQZkAkc/s1600-h/boat.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/SPYjrETLzxI/AAAAAAAAAF4/DceBpQZkAkc/s320/boat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257428837797187346" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">r, and I'll pass his website on to you soon.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Now I’m in the town of Whittier on Prince William Sound, which is my home for two weeks. The people here are great, and I’ve been enjoying getting to know </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">them. The crew arrives on Monday, and this film will be something special if I c</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">an help it. Each film is in its own way. But I am struck this morning as I watch the sun rise slowly at 8:30 am into a grey October day, of just how grateful I co</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">ntinue to be for the opportunity I had to make DAUGHTERS OF WISDOM and to share it with such receptive and thoughtful audiences, and for the gift it has now given me to continue my craft in another community of exceptional people. </span>bari-btghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10584009353142332446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4218942901576456052.post-61428398506117579442008-08-14T12:01:00.000-07:002010-05-23T20:51:20.432-07:00How Many Roads<span style="font-family:verdana;">I went to the Bob Dylan concert in Prospect Park, Brooklyn the other night. Never seen good ole Bobby live before so I was excited about it, though I was warned not to expect much. So I didn't, but fortunately I got a lot more than I bargained for - pretty darn good stuff, Mr. Z. He closed out the show with Blowin' in the Wind, still a powerful and sadly re</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">levant little ditty. And also one that always makes me smile thinking about <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy </span>and how the great q</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">uestion to the great answer '42' was "How many roads must a man walk down?"<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">I guess I was feeling pretty contemplative on that breez</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">y delicious park night, because I suddenly thought "Hey, I'm 42" (yep, just like that)</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> and then thought about this year of 42 </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/SKSTFiveM8I/AAAAAAAAAFw/7q7IHKb9gIc/s1600-h/IMG_0031.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/SKSTFiveM8I/AAAAAAAAAFw/7q7IHKb9gIc/s320/IMG_0031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234470390345905090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">I've been having and what a long, strange trip it's been (okay, groan, but I couldn't resist). I've traveled to 15 cities so far this year to attend theatrical premieres and film festival screenings of <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">DAUGHTERS O</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">F WISDOM</span></span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">in the US, Canada and Europe (though the film has been to even more). Throughout the winter and spring, </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">I was on a plane every other week there for a while, so along the way, there's been little time to actu</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">ally slow down and absorb all that has happened with this special slice of a non-arc, non-character, non-narrated documentary of mine. Except when I've had the chance to blog, of course.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />But this summer has given me that time, and I'm thrilled that it was bookended by two pretty amazing events. Bookend #1 came in May, w</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">ith </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">my trip to Trento, Italy, </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">home of the oldest-</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">running (56 years and counting) and m</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/SKSRONY4YyI/AAAAAAAAAFo/2eAKjDZzcmQ/s1600-h/award.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/SKSRONY4YyI/AAAAAAAAAFo/2eAKjDZzcmQ/s320/award.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234468340209574690" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">ost presti</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">gious mountain film festival in the world. It was an incredible week of great f</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">ood, astounding films and incredible spirit, and did I mention I was in Italy? </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">And did I mention my favorite restaurant with th</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">e chestnut and pistachio gnocchi and chocolate salami?! Not only that, we had sold out </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">screenings wh</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">ere people insisted o</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">n sitting in the aisles. But wait....not only that, we </span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.trentofestival.it/en/press/press55.htm" it="" en="" press="" htm="">WON A SPECIAL JURY PRIZE!</a> The prize was in recognition of the film's 'realistic insight' and inspiring 'positive attitude.' Viva Italia! And now we've been invited to so many wonderful other mountain film festivals all over the world, and there's nothing I wouldn't rather do than travel peak to magnificent peak - ah, f</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">or a trust fund to call my own! Oh, and th</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">at would be the awards ceremony over there on the right.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">Okay, so after Italy, the traveling came to a much-needed slow-down. I've been enjoying the summer in NYC more than I've been able to in years, and prepping for Bookend #2 - our exclusive <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">7 Weeks of Wednesdays</span> run at the <a href="http://www.rmanyc.org/">Rubin Museum of Art</a>.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"> Back in May 2006, when Carla Ruff was just beginning her editing magic on the film, </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/SKSPJuDY_4I/AAAAAAAAAFg/Ah3d9uIbZII/s1600-h/n552351456_1107663_2247.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/SKSPJuDY_4I/AAAAAAAAAFg/Ah3d9uIbZII/s320/n552351456_1107663_2247.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234466064055205762" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">we had a rough cut screening of </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >DAUGHTERS </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">at the Rubin Museum. The film was definitely rough, and short and <span style="font-style: italic;">preliminary</span> back then, but the evening's event was lovely, and co-sponsored by one of the biggest champions and supporters of the film, the <a href="http://hartleyfoundation.org/">Hartley Film Foundation</a>. And they've been there for us again this time around, co-sponsoring the delicious and elegant July 9 premiere of the <span style="font-style: italic;">completed</span> film. That's yours truly (right) and the dream team of cinematographer Gena Konstantinakos (left) and editor Carla Ruff (center), at the pre</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">miere party, donning Katas offered by the museum during the Q&A. That event, and the four subsequent screenings so far, have been sold out. Thank you, New York, and the patrons of the Rubin Museum, for making our run so successful...so far...<br /><br />Which brings me to my shameless self-promoting plug now. Put the kids in the other room, put the dogs out in the backyard, this is not for the faint of heart. There are still 2 more screenings to go at the Rubin Museum, so buy tickets ahead of time for the August 20 and 27 screenings. Call 212-620-5000 x344 NOW! I'll even stop writing so you can do it....<br /><br />Okay, I'm back, and just wanted to let you know that if all of this post has been too Italy- and New York-centric for you, please <a href="http://www.daughtersofwisdom.com/screenings.html">click here</a> to find a screening near you. And if all else fails, </span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><a href="http://www.daughtersofwisdom.com/buydvd.html"> </a></span><a href="http://www.daughtersofwisdom.com/buydvd.html"><span style="font-family:verdana;">buy the newly released DVD</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">.<br /><br />Ciao for now!<br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span>bari-btghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10584009353142332446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4218942901576456052.post-27125653861965655692008-05-19T13:41:00.000-07:002008-06-03T22:17:33.759-07:00Sedona On My Mind<span style="font-family: verdana;">I didn't write from Sedona back in February, partially because the </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.sedonafilmfestival.com/">Sedona International Film Festival</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> came during the throes of a lot of traveling for yours truly, and partially because sometimes the mind just has to stop and enjoy when it's in such a beautiful place. I met many great co-conspirators in filmmaking there, and had a lovely, restful time. It's one of those film festivals that is so incredibly supported by the area locals that you just want to make another film to be able to go back there with it. Hats off to festival director Patrick Schweiss and his incredible staff and volunteers....and here's a little something for your viewing pleasure (the latest in the series of 'What in the World..." entries.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyJO1a0lpyPh-3iDTPbkcmsrdTvn_JzPQlUu-8s6Ei9X7tiovug0qhAgndDLYNJy_O_BcUUnKWGnXw-KVlbSA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Shout-outs though, to two great films that I saw in Sedona that will be making their way to the </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://wbff.org/">Brooklyn Film Festival</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> this June: the fiction feature </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.thebluehourmovie.com/">The Blue Hour</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> (playing June 2 & 3) written and directed by Eric Nazarian (who I know from past lives for sure) and the short film </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.joburgthemovie.com/">Joburg</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> (playing June 6 & 7) by my Sedona B&B cohabitator Thabo Wolfaardt. Please go out and support them!</span><br /></div>bari-btghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10584009353142332446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4218942901576456052.post-41206772162940266022008-05-17T20:02:00.001-07:002008-05-20T10:32:10.284-07:00Jesus Christ Made Seattle Under Protest (look it up)<span style="font-family:verdana;">I’m back in the Pacfic Northwest. A place I’ve been lucky enough to visit a few times during this tour. First was Vancouver last fall, a place I fell truly, madly, deeply in love with. And that’s not just because the nuns were </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">such a hit. (see previous blog entries for details) After three sold out shows at the Vancouver Film Festival we played for a week theatrically in F</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">ebruary. I was doing a lot of traveling and couldn’t retrace my steps back up to that fair city. But between those two events, I had the chance to spend a few days opening the</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> film theatrically in Portland, which felt like a close second geographically.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />Portland is a great city, and my experience was enhanced by the excellent hosting of Richard Beer, who runs the <a href="http://www.hollywoodtheatre.org/">Hollywood Theatre</a>, and Tara Johnson who co-sponsored the event as part of the <a href="http://www.powfest.com/">POW Fest</a> (which if memory serves, is actually running this weekend). The Hollywood is a grand dame of a theater, an old art deco façade with cavernous space inside, which of co</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">urs</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">e has been divided into three screens at this point, but s</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">till. </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">We got some comprehensively stellar reviews in the Portland press, and the turnout was diverse and enthusiastic.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> I was particularly moved to have several members of the Tibetan community at the first screening who subsequently sent others to follow. </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">They uniformly thanked me for steering clear of the politics and getting to the heart of the people an</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">d life in their homeland and I couldn’t have asked for more.<br /><br />But really, the highlight of the whole trip</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> was Richard’s young son Ha</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">rry (Hi Harry!). Harry and I bonded on the ic</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">e. In full disclosure, I brokered that deal. I h</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">ad</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> discovered an ice skating rink in the shopping</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> mall near my hotel, but also discovered to my dis</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/SDHiqxAJZWI/AAAAAAAAAE8/o0GeZBHZL1U/s1600-h/196984650757_0_0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/SDHiqxAJZWI/AAAAAAAAAE8/o0GeZBHZL1U/s320/196984650757_0_0.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202188268925969762" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">may that there were no adults skating without a wee one by their side. So I lovingly ‘borrowed’ Harry and his sister Maddy for my own selfish ends. In my own defense, Maddy is quite a skater, with her own fancy skates and fabulous skating skirt so it’s not like it was child labor or anything. And Harry and I </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">had a blast playing tag. Here’s my wobbly feet in ugly rental skates.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">But now I am in Washington State. Just closed out the run in the <a href="http://www.pickfordcinema.org/">Pi</a></span><a href="http://www.pickfordcinema.org/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">ckford Cinema</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> in Bellingham. I met Michael Falter last year at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival where we sneak previewed last February. He approached me afterwards and said “whenever you want to book a week in Bellingham, you’ve got it.” And so now, nearly </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">a year and a half later, this was the week. It was great hanging out with him and his partner Susan in that beautiful waterside city. The crowd was again very receptive</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> and a group of ‘fans’ even took me to dinner Thursday night. Thanks ladies! Michael and Susan are busy at work renovating a new space to house an expanded cinema/art space in town, and I can’t wait to return to their new home.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/SDHk7hAJZYI/AAAAAAAAAFI/hegU6--i4oc/s1600-h/209977330309_0_0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/SDHk7hAJZYI/AAAAAAAAAFI/hegU6--i4oc/s320/209977330309_0_0.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202190755712034178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">But now for the past two days I’ve been in sunny Seattle. (who’d a thunk it?) Sunny, hot as blazes, Seattle. I even got sunburned today. Another week run at another jewel of a volunteer-fueled arthouse cinema, the <a href="http://www.grandillusioncinema.org/"> Grand Illusion</a>. Buddha bless you all! It’s been a tough opening, with competition from both the sun which until now hasn’t made an appearance in months. And a pretty great street festival going on right outside. The walls are thin, the street bands loud, so darned if there aren’t going to be people leaving the theater remarking their surprise that live reggae has made it to Tibet. I did manage to purchase a long-sought toe ring. A very kind and overly-enthusiastic chick even windexed my stinky foot and custom fit me (don’t ask). Ticket sales have steadily grown over the last 6 screenings, and hopefully our rave reviews across the board will keep the momentum going. I’m hoarse from a string of 30-minute Q&As (thank you, Seattle) and red-eyeing out of here tonight to catch His Holiness the Karmapa in NYC. The beat goes on!<br /><br /></span>bari-btghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10584009353142332446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4218942901576456052.post-52217214059226399642008-03-31T23:50:00.000-07:002008-04-07T14:51:12.647-07:00Gotta Love the Haight<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I’m sitting now in the lobby of the Red Vic Movie House, San Francisco’s gem of a cooperative cinema in the heart of Haight Ashbury.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> I don’t think t</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">here could be a better place for the theatrical premiere of DAUGHTERS. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And don't get me started on the popcorn...it's proven after two days that I don't</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> (can't) stop. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It's particularly wonderful to be back here in San Francisco and to once again be sharing the film with dear old friends - Sharon, Steve, Eric - who were with me </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ten years ago, in July 1998 (gulp) when I came here for the World Premiere of my first film, the short doc <a href="http://www.mahjonggmovie.com/">MAH-JONGG: THE TILES THAT BIND</a>, the little engine that could that a decade later is still going strong.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/R_HjD2o_vJI/AAAAAAAAAEM/sFFFa398ZIA/s1600-h/IMG_1021.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/R_HjD2o_vJI/AAAAAAAAAEM/sFFFa398ZIA/s320/IMG_1021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184174301426728082" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After introducing the first screening yesterday afternoon, I took a walk down Haight Street</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> and</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> had one of those rarified moments when it all sinks in - after 15+ years of independent</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> filmmaking (some of my own work, some for hire), the first feature documentary that I’ve directed is actually playing in theaters (this has actually been going on since January, but my brain is just beginning to catch up to it now). </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Then the moment of WOW fades away and all I</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> feel is pure, unadulterated exhaustion…from the push I’ve made over the last months (not to mention years) to get the film – and myself – out there into the world, and to get people into</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> seats to see it. I have grabbed the proverbial brass ring that is theatrical distribution, and damned if I’m not holding on for dear life. So much so that last week my distributor, Udy Epstein of <a href="http://www.7thart.com">Seventh Art Releasing</a>, gave me an honorary ‘Oscar® for persistence” (they’re not doing such a bad job themselves).<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And they like the film, they really like the film. The</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> <a href="http://www.sfweekly.com/search/events.php?oid=943229"> San Francisco Weekly</a> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">named us one of the "Three Best Things to Do in San Francisco" tonight, and</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">raves from the <a href="http://www.sfbg.com/entry.php?entry_id=5985&catid=85&l=1">San Francisco Bay Guardian</a>, and The Onion spur me forward through the jetlag and into presentation mode. And a very special thanks to <a href="http://www.tower26films.com/">Brigitte Erickson</a>, a fabulous new filmmaker friend I met at the Sedona Film Festival, who booked my interview on <a href="http://www.kcbs.com/topic/play_window.php?audioType=Episode&audioId=1722584">KCBS News Radio</a>. So far,</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> I’ve done six 45-minute Q&As (with two more to go tomorrow) to receptive audiences eager to talk about the lives of the nuns, my experiences with them, and of course the current situation in Tibet. Just before coming out to San Francisco, I met with Lama Norlha Rinpoche to find out about any news he’s had directly from Nangchen, and hauntingly, there hasn’t been any yet. We can only hope that the relative spiritual and other freedoms that the people of Nangchen have experienced since the mid 80s will continue.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">More coming on some of my recent travels, including to the Sedona and Green Mountain Film Festivals, and the incredible screening at Rivertown Film in Nyack. And Full Frame here we come!</span>bari-btghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10584009353142332446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4218942901576456052.post-41031609164243579202008-02-19T08:19:00.001-08:002008-02-19T08:50:36.098-08:00What In the World...Can You Name a Squirrel?<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I met Nan in the lobby of the posh hotel headquarters of the Santa Fe Film Festival. We were fast friends, and we spent a lot of time chatting during my comings and goings to festival activities since she spent all day sitting in the lobby watching people's comings and goings. Eventually, she allowed me to</span> <span style="font-family: verdana;"> film her for the "What in the World..." project. Sadly left on the cutting room floor are her explanation that she was visiting Santa Fe to attend a meeting of the mansion preservation committee, </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">the story of her nickname "The Countess" at one of the restaurants she visits frequently, </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">and </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">her repeated requests that I meet the two young gentlemen who were 'escorting' her. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> So </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">without further ado...</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">a</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">nd yes, those are rhinestones decorating her eyelids - she's phenomenal.</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzOLA9o_8ZKNJQFWeexP0jRS4TdvxbYfRDkFnkRXrZIkpJj4VzFDtiJRiqM7vZxbd0MxwRiHSlc3J3QQrhx2Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>bari-btghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10584009353142332446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4218942901576456052.post-46858226628165334422008-02-11T08:14:00.000-08:002008-02-18T17:36:00.102-08:00“You Never Know When a Cow Will Catch Air”<span style="font-family:verdana;">Last night, between films, I was sitting having a coffee with Eva, an Amsterdam-based painter, when she taught me the above expression. We were discussing art-making and you never know what the people will take to, or as we say in the States, what will ‘fly’. I guess for the Dutch, it's those few lucky cows. I wonder if they ever bump into pigs up there. Hopefully, more often than not.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Okay, enough about farm animals. More on the festival. The festival was very lovingly curated by Glenn Mitrasing, a Dutch/Nepalese doctor who just loves Himalayan culture and created this film festival</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/R7B1i5in3PI/AAAAAAAAAD8/hDi1sGAQe7Y/s1600-h/IMG_0916.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/R7B1i5in3PI/AAAAAAAAAD8/hDi1sGAQe7Y/s320/IMG_0916.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165758015016000754" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> 7 years ago, as well as a Himalayan Film Archive which he now stores in two large safe-deposit cubbies in a bank vault. (That's me with him, </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">voiceless but proud,</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> hanging out at the end of the loooong weekend). There was a very enthusiastic crowd and a great mix of films including a film I first loved at Mill Valley, <a href="http://www.dirttrackproductions.com/">Riding Solo To The Top Of The World</a>. I also really enjoyed <a href="http://www.lunamdocs.com/">Journey of a Red Fridge</a>, and that’s not just cuz we have the same international sales agent. And even though I screwed up and missed Henriette Lavaulx-Vrecourt's <span style="font-style: italic;">A Long Way To Freedom,</span> if it was a spirited and lovely as she is, I'm sure it was great! (Sorry again!) </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">Saturday night boasted a performance by a Dharmasala-based</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Tibetan rock group JJI Exile Brothers (to be posted on YouTube shortly - I'll keep you posted). And I frequented the momo stand so often, its proprieters exclaimed “Veggie Momo!” whenever I came near.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">And once again, to my delight and gratitude, we had a sold-out show of 300 filmgoers, followed by a lively half hour question-and-answer session that only ended in deference to the next screening. Being the European premiere, with my first non-English speaking audience, I had been concerned about the film’s ‘translation’, more specifically how well they would make it through the delicate balance between getting absorbed in the viewing, and furiously reading subtitles in a foreign language (as good as the Dutch are at English, even Americans have a tough go of it). But clearly it went off well, and there were laughs and gasps in</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> their respectively proper places.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/R7B1IZin3NI/AAAAAAAAADs/VxG0Yg0ejqE/s1600-h/IMG_0902.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/R7B1IZin3NI/AAAAAAAAADs/VxG0Yg0ejqE/s320/IMG_0902.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165757559749467346" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />Interestingly, there was one audience member who took me aside afterwards to ask if I didn’t suspect that Lama Norlha Rinpoche was only ‘playing to the camera’ a bit in his wish to elevate the status of nuns and grant self-determination. Surely, a Tibetan Lama would never *really* do such a thing, so naturally he must have just been putting on a show for us. And I once again was reminded just how authentic and unprecedented and *radical* a Lama he really is. </span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />And of course, there is another audience member that needs to be mentioned here. At the end of the Q&A, as I was reaching down for my bag, I heard a familiar voice say “I have a question for you…” It was my dear old friend Eric Vansevenant, who had driven up from Antwerp with his girlfriend Nancy for the screening (which he was late for, but who the *@&# cares?!) Eric and I spent two memorable months living in a communal backpacker community in Tel Aviv in the winter of 1987. We met on the ferry from Athens to Haifa. He oozed pseudo-macho bravado, and after four days of cabin fever, putting up with his antics and ego-infused card-playing, I wrote in my journal that I hoped I never saw the jerk again. Fast forward a week, and we were inseparable. Fast forward 20 years, and except for my gaggle of Swedes, he’s the only one from that one-year backpacking expedition with whom I’ve been steadily in touch. Seeing him Saturday, the years melted away – as they always do as soon as I hear his voice – and it was a joyful afternoon. Thanks for answering the signal, Batman (that’s another story). Again, another one of those moments where you just have to figure that the people in your life, that *stay* in your life, are there for a very good reason.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />Speaking of which, I’m now sitting in a pub on Earl’s Court Road in London, meters away from my old flat when I was a student here in 1986. It’s my first time back since then, and this is a much more modern a city than it was so many years ago. But at the same time, it’s feeling so familiar already. This is where my own cow first took wing, and it’s good to come back to the pasture.</span>bari-btghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10584009353142332446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4218942901576456052.post-27100346116398244132008-02-07T12:21:00.001-08:002008-02-11T08:13:48.414-08:00It started out in Amsterhmmmmm<span style="font-family:verdana;">This morning, I arrived in Amsterdam to attend the <a href="http://www.himalayafilmfestival.nl/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Himalaya Film Festival</span></a>, which will host the European premiere of <span style="font-weight: bold;">DAUGHTERS OF WISDOM</span> on Saturday. Coincidentally (?) today is Losar, Tibetan New Year, and I am reminded that last year on Losar, I was in Missoula, Montana for the ‘sneak preview’ of the film at the Big Sky Documentary film festival. Makes me wonder what next year has in store, because this last one has been a helluva ride.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />Amsterdam holds a special place in my life and my filmmaking career. In the fall of 1987 after I graduated from college, Amsterdam was the gateway to my 11 month + 11 day back-packing expedition through Europe, the Middle East and North Africa (an adventure I am now developing into a film project). In the summer of 2000, I was here en route to Samye Ling Monastery in Scotland to shoot a segment of a film I was producing, and it was there that I joined forces with a European Co-Pro</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">ducer <span style="font-weight: bold;">George Weiss</span> who I had met at the Berlin</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/R7B0Fpin3MI/AAAAAAAAADk/yg7mdNSeVxc/s1600-h/IMG_0891.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/R7B0Fpin3MI/AAAAAAAAADk/yg7mdNSeVxc/s320/IMG_0891.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165756412993199298" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Film Festival a year earlier. </span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />After landing at Schiphol over an hour early (my good travel karma continues – Chicago? Four hour delays each way into O’Hare? A blip, a dream, a cosmic blooper) I got to the Hotel Asterisk, which miraculously had a room ready for me. I spent all day sleeping (which goes against all ‘tactics’ I’ve ever developed for surviving European jet lag, but was the natural course as soon as I saw the pillow in my hotel room). I awoke, showered in the bathroom down the hall (ah, budget European hotels!) walked out into the beautiful, canal-ed streets of this fair city, and within about ten blocks, found myself standing in front of a Nepalese/Tibetan Restaurant. Butter tea and momos for Losar! A stop into a shop for salt licorice and Droste chocolate pastilles, and the evening was complete.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />Tomorrow night, I will again see George Weiss, who now runs a humanitarian NGO called <a href="http://www.labenevolencija.org/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">RADIO LA BENEVOLENCIJA</span></a>, and his partner Robin Brinster of <a href="http://www.illuminafilms.nl/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">ILLUMINA FILMS</span></a> who as a result of email blasting George when DAUGHTERS premiered last summer, has now become my international sales agent. My dear friend Liz Locke, an incredible woman who has lived in many corners of the U S of A - most of them dusty – once said that she never leaves a place until she knows why she ended up there in the first place. The odd set of circumstances that led me to meet George in Berlin at the start of my film career, and eventually to Robin in Amsterdam who will shortly be making my first international broadcast sales, presents one of those “oh that’s why” moments I am certainly gratefully humbled by. </span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />I heart Amsterdam!</span>bari-btghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10584009353142332446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4218942901576456052.post-60318663497441796882008-01-18T21:48:00.001-08:002008-01-25T22:22:00.422-08:00Joey Miserable and the Tequila Worm<span style="font-family:verdana;">Santa Fe, say it and you hear music (or mariachis….) I was last there ten years ago and couldn’t wait to return. And the Virgen Guadalupe clearly was smiling down on us because as sure as the yak grunts, the Nuns and I were on our way the first weekend in December for the Santa Fe Film Festival. My good car karma carried over </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">from the great red convertible mustang surprise in Mill Valley, because I became the proud driver of not a Hyundai as anticipated, but a spiffy brand new Jeep Liberty. Welcome to Tamale-wood!<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">But that was only the beginning of my good fortune. Upon receiving my check-in bag from the lovely Festival folks, I discovered that there was to be a party that night at which Santa Fe’s own <a href="http://www.jonomanson.net/">JONO MANSON</a> would be performing. Ladies and gentleman, back in the glorious early 80s, your humble narrator squandered way too many hours of her youth to recount (remember?) being as close to a groupie as she’d ever be, listening to the croons and jams of said Jono Manson (nee Frankie Sominex) knoc</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">king ‘em out with Joey Miserable and the Worms at Nightengale’s (RIP) in the East Village (RIP again). Ladies and Gentlemen, if you’ve never been fed gummi-worms by a tran</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">svestite singing “Nobody likes me, everybody hates me…” then you did indeed miss the glory that was the 80s. And who can forget such timeless ditties as “Pooper Scooper” (‘you gotta jump down, turn around, gotta pick that poop up off the ground’)? Not this Worm-head!<br /><br />But I digress…for a change. Jono and I did indeed reconnect at the party, and he even sang some of the old tunes I remember well from the vinyl I still own. And that contributed to that building feeling that I was right where I was supposed to be, which had started once I got in that Jeep o’mine. </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">Not to mention that at the first festival happy hour after my arrival, I had the incredible serendipity (that would become the word of the weekend) to run into a fellow filmmaker at the festival, <a href="http://www.annenorda.com">ANNE NORDA</a>, who I had first met in New York through my friend Ezra. I knew she was going to be out in Santa Fe with her film <span style="font-weight: bold;">RED IS THE COLOR OF</span>, but didn’t expect to run smack dab into her (and her mom Tuula) at the first festival event. But keeping in the</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> emerging theme of the weekend, there she was, and we were film fest buddies for the rest of the weekend. At the party where I reconnected with Jono, Anne and also met <span style="font-weight: bold;">JAYNE McKAY</span>, a fellow documentarian at the fest for the World Premiere of her film <a href="http://www.maynarddixondoc.com/">MAYNARD DIXON: ART AND SPIRIT</a>. (</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><a href="http://santafefilmfestival.com/Webcast">Click here</a> to see all of our </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">webcast interviews from the festival, </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">hosted by the fabulous <a href="http://www.pashahogan.com/">PASHA HOGAN</a>).<br /><br />I had padded my trip to Santa Fe with an extra day just to visit Chimayo, a Mexican town about an hour outside of Santa Fe – </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">it had been ten years since I’d been there, but the taste of a </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">shot of Chimayo red chili powder chased with pistachio nuts was still fresh on my tastebuds. Have Jeep Will Travel, </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">a</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">nd so the next morning, Jayne and I headed up to Chimayo listening to the set of CDs Jono</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/R5GPxN4UQ8I/AAAAAAAAADU/TY9yJ4NLJcw/s1600-h/P1000017_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/R5GPxN4UQ8I/AAAAAAAAADU/TY9yJ4NLJcw/s320/P1000017_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157061124018160578" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> had gifted me with (he’s been very prolific since migrating</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> West). We wandered around tasting chilis, snapping photos, and lighting candles and eating holy dirt (if you have to ask…don’t) in t</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">he magnificent old adobe Sanctuario. (Stay tuned for the video of the artist/chili harvester we met there, but here’s a production still courtesy Ms. Jayne - I'm the one on the left.)<br /><br />It was a beautiful day in the mountains, and we returned to Santa Fe to catch up with Anne and her mom, refreshed and ready for the rest of the festival festivities which included astounding New Mexico cuisine at Café Paquale (yum), chocolate confections at Todos Santos (double yum) and all sorts of other madcap adventures and culinary treats.<br /><br />And of course, the screening. Full house…again…for the show on Sunday afternoon. The festival did a great job reaching out to the community about the film, and once again, we had a very responsive audience and a lively Q&A. Unfortunately I had to high-tail it to th</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">e airport right afterwards so couldn’t stick around to hang out with the fabulous Dharma community of Santa Fe including fellow filmmaker DEBRA DENKER, whose short WE ARE THE MOTHERS, opened the screening. Good news, the festival organizers also program the year round screenings at the Santa Fe Film Center, and </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/R5GQKt4UQ9I/AAAAAAAAADc/tsjKsNyjS-M/s1600-h/P1000011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/R5GQKt4UQ9I/AAAAAAAAADc/tsjKsNyjS-M/s320/P1000011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157061562104824786" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">brought us back a month later for another round of screenings. Bad news, I couldn’t make it back there (sniff sniff).<br /><br />One other blessed event at the festival was </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">the start of a beautiful friendship with the fabulous Nan Rogers. Actually, if I had to venture a guess, Nan and I have been pal-ing around on this earth together since our knuckles hit the ground (or maybe even since we had gills). I will say no more about her than to offer this photo – again courtesy Jayne McKay - and a promise that my mini-biopic will be forthcoming on these hallowed pages as soon as I stop traveling so much and start editing!<br /><br />Speaking of which, on that note I say goodnight from Portland, where DAUGHTERS will screen tomorrow at the Hollywood Theatre. News from that incredible historic movie house to follow….<br /><br /></span>bari-btghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10584009353142332446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4218942901576456052.post-85263888646917649662007-12-14T20:01:00.000-08:002007-12-21T17:25:22.193-08:00Northland Tales<span style="font-family:verdana;">It's been a while since I've written, and of course I want to tell you all about my fabulous adventures in Santa Fe. But first I am reminded that it is time to recount my trip to the New Hampshire Film Festival in October, because I just saw <span style="font-weight: bold;">Southland Tales</span> tonight, and there's a story there.<br /><br />On the tail end of our drive to Portsmouth, New Hampshire in October, my friend/driving buddy Linda and I were treated to a brief rain shower followed by a full half rainbow that lingered in the sky for a good five minutes or so. It was spectacular and it seemed to bend in our </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">direction and point us on our way. It reminded me of my drive across the Golden Gate Bridge and how welcome the beautiful sunset (and my convertible) made me feel. I was receiving the same cheerful hello from New England, where leaf-peeping was in full swing and I couldn't be happier to be heading for this watery harbor town. I arrived, checked in to hotel and festival, and headed for the opening night film, starring NKOTB Joey McIntyre, </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">who, since I don't watch reality shows (there, I admitted it), I remembered most recently not for his dancing prowess but for his turn on Broadway in <span style="font-weight: bold;">Wicked</span> which I had seen when my friend took me and his mom from Indiana out for a night on the town - and what a night for sure - but I digress.<br /><br />Being one to seize on kitsch whenever possible, I did wrangle my way into a chit-chat with Mr. McIntyre for a bit at the party before some </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/R2NT9iR3mdI/AAAAAAAAACw/TU8OxD6rY2c/s1600-h/187202433029.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 222px; height: 166px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/R2NT9iR3mdI/AAAAAAAAACw/TU8OxD6rY2c/s320/187202433029.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144047516026116562" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">young(er) ladies circled him and told him about how much they had worshipped him and how they *screamed* when they</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> saw him live. He looked toward me for my sto</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">ry, prompting me to throw my arms up in a mea culpa "I was a David Cassidy girl!" which promted the same Mr. McIntyre to look right through me and suggest a threesome to the other two. Oh, and did I mention that <span style="font-style: italic;">he</span> had just mentioned his pregnant wife? </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">I kid you not. Baby boy was born last week. I snapped this picture before I moved on. That's me and him, I swear. Moving on....</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />Working my way around the room, I found some other great folks. I could not resist approaching a guy in a (here it comes, thanks for your patience) <span style="font-style: italic;">Southland Tales</span> T-shirt. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Donnie Darko</span> fan that I am, I knew he wasn't Richard Kelly, but couldn't figure out who in the name of </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/R2NWbyR3meI/AAAAAAAAAC4/xDjeW_nR13k/s1600-h/187202407557.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/R2NWbyR3meI/AAAAAAAAAC4/xDjeW_nR13k/s200/187202407557.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144050234740414946" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Drew Barrymore would have the audacity to wear such a T-shirt in public. Turns out, it was Mark Constance, the 2nd AD on the film who claims it </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">was a blast to work on even though no one knew what the hell was going on. I of course wanted the skinny on my beloved Buffy, and was pleased with nothing but positive accounts of Ms. Geller on set. There's Mark proudly sporting said T-shirt. What a trooper.<br /><br />Anyway, my screening was the next morning. A gaggle of cousins and friends old (and new) from Massachusetts kindly drove up for the occasion, as did my father and his wife who sadly spent a little too much time on Parking Lot (oops, I mean Interstate) 84, to come out and support me. The screening went well for what it was (I'll say no more about the festival's touted 'venue' expansion because, well, I'm a Buddhist, goddamit) and I am grateful to Lama Norlha Rinpoche's sangha in New Hampshire for getting the word out and having such a great attendance at the screening. And what a wonderful town Portsmouth is, and what a restaurant the Friendly Toast is! A toast to the Friendly Toast! And to Linda who will be starting Three-Year retreat very, very soon.....wow!<br /><br />And as for <span style="font-weight: bold;">Southland Tales</span>, well, everything you've heard is true, but seeing is believing and I do believe it'll be spending some time in my DVD player someday, right next to its baby brother <span style="font-weight: bold;">Donnie Darko</span>. Whoever gave Richard Kelly the budget to make that is a saint and I love them! But he sure knows how to make you work for it, so it's late and I'm wiped out from that crazy 2 1/2 hours of hijinx and Liquid Karma (and Wally Shawn making out with Bai Ling!!!!!) so I promise you my next installment of WHAT IN THE WORLD... from beautiful Portsmouth, as well as tales from the southwest, real, real soon.<br /></span>bari-btghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10584009353142332446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4218942901576456052.post-88856831896069792732007-10-27T18:05:00.001-07:002007-10-29T13:12:09.094-07:00Right Back Where We Started From...<span style="font-family: verdana;">Arrived in SFO on October 5 (stick with me, we’ll catch up eventually) at the tail end of the day, but with plenty of activity still ahead of me. And as luck would have it, my cheapo car rental company didn’t have any more Hyundai compacts available, so I was granted the keys to a (drumroll) . . . red . . . convertible . . . Mustang! Rode that beauty over the Golden Gate Bridge into Mill Valley during a spectacular sunset, feeling like a rock star. Vancouver who?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Mill Valley, place of legend. It was an honor to have been selected for the festival, and I was tickled pink to be there. Arrived just late enough though for all the restaurants to be closed, so I finagled my way into the Ang Lee tribute dinner, which was a lot of good food and lively chatter. No lust or caution though (tank you, I’ll be here all deh veek). Did reconnect with Janis Plotkin, who in 1998 programmed my short doc </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.btgproductions.com/mj1.html">Mah-Jongg:The Tiles That Bind</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> in the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival and set me on the filmmaking odyssey I’ve been on since. It was great to see her, and to briefly catch up on </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/RyPh8lMTpTI/AAAAAAAAACo/-HUwqd-c8io/s1600-h/caleb.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/RyPh8lMTpTI/AAAAAAAAACo/-HUwqd-c8io/s320/caleb.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126189231769888050" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">the last nine years which had landed me back in California and her at the Mill Valley Film Festival. Having her be a part of this new fest tour of mine felt like coming home.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The next day, I threw myself into film watching and postcard pushing. Made a few local friends even as I fretted about my screening the next morning, fearing an onslaught of political questions, which my film decidedly and deliberately doesn’t address. Was there a place in the hearts of committed Free Tibet-ers (which I assume Marin County is packed with, and more power to ‘em), for a film about the rural, 85% of the people who will in fact be free if/when Tibet is free, but for now don't have it nearly as bad as their city-dwelling counterparts?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">YES! And phew. For a Sunday morning at 11am, we had a great turnout to the Throckmorton Theatre. And again, a lively Q&A with a smattering of politically-oriented questions but a majority of thought-provoking ones about life at the top of the world (where I was sitting at that point!) Celebratory lunch (sense a theme?) followed with my father’s old elementary school buddy Bill and his family, and my old college…uh….friend, Eric (speaking of a whole other story…), and my dear friend and field sound recordist Caleb who had flown up from LA for the occasion, even though he still hasn't really forgiven me for not taking him to Tibet. Good times.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Monday morning, Caleb and I were off to Napa, topless, on special invitation to visit the exclusive </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.gracefamilyvineyards.com/">Grace Family Vineyards</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">. I had encountered Dick Grace when I was looking for a wine sponsor for my Brooklyn Film Festival World Premiere party, and googled ‘Buddhist Winery’ on a lark. Lo and behold, there he was! Wine donations at that time were not an option since his costs $800 a bottle (gulp – or rather, slowly sip and savor) but we chatted for a long time about all things Tibet and that greater part of the world, where he himself does exemplary humanitarian work. How better to spend a morning than in the company of such a kindred spirit. Lunch with Caleb at a beautiful patio’ed restaurant before our triumphant return south to the Oakland Airport to meet his plane. Talk about the profound to the ridiculous.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I wish I could continue to write about the wonderful momentum at the festival and the exciting adventures that continued apace. However, bad news from home brought me back to earth and to the east coast earlier than expected. Won’t take you there with me, but will pick up on what happened next very soon.</span>bari-btghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10584009353142332446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4218942901576456052.post-13436374868185028352007-10-27T16:35:00.000-07:002007-10-27T16:56:54.946-07:00Onwards and Upwards...<span style="font-family:verdana;">So where was I? Ah, yes...still in Vancouver, awaiting what turned out to be an additional two sold-out shows. Go Vancouver! A word though on the second screening, where I had the chance to reconnect </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">with an old friend, James Wilson. James and I met when we part of a renegade faction of volunteers during 9/11 that set up a Tent City along the West Side Highway and didn’t budge for 12 days, effectively and efficiently doing what the ‘official’ bureaucracy couldn’t – doling out supplies, hot food and coffee, and *humanity* to the rescue workers.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />That’s a whole other lonnnng story, but the bottom line is, James and I met on the side of the road under the worst of circumstances and became friends at the tail end of his three (?) years in NYC as an actor/student, and then he moved back to Canada – Vancouver to be exact. So my festival visit was also a reunion for us. And even better, I found him in the midst of heavy rehearsals for a new play he was directing for his own <a href="http://www.reacttheatre.com/">reACT Theatre Ensemble</a>. Break a leg, James!</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/RyPPnFMTpQI/AAAAAAAAACQ/OOkc-k9aEzw/s1600-h/viff-soldout.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 542px; height: 173px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/RyPPnFMTpQI/AAAAAAAAACQ/OOkc-k9aEzw/s400/viff-soldout.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126169071193400578" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">James joined in the festivities at a post-screening celebrational dinner with Eva (my Swedish hostess extraordinaire), Elvira (my now friend-for-life via Halifax), Graham (my Q&A leader extraordinaire), and of course Carla, my editor turned official festival sidekick. </span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />The following morning, the sun was ablaze for the first time since the day I arrived, which was just the airport send-off I needed to remember that fair city with all the fondness it deserves. We shall meet again, I’m sure. </span>bari-btghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10584009353142332446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4218942901576456052.post-25923702699741762872007-10-14T21:57:00.000-07:002007-10-14T22:18:53.785-07:00Passing Gastown<span style="font-family: verdana;">With deepest apologies for my negligent lack of writing, and with promises for new entries in the very near future, here is a little trifle to tide you over. This is Episode 3 of "What in the World...", a series of videos made during the festival tour of DAUGHTERS OF WISDOM. This comes direct from Canada during the Vancouver International Film Festival. Enjoy!<br /><br /></span><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyfwGA5HhtNFjmGNlkz2e6leKFGa7g4dd94h3Z9qDB-ogdiqR9x1fHqXbNicSj_Exyf-nc-28Xi0RE8qgvggQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>bari-btghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10584009353142332446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4218942901576456052.post-4011137140240147152007-10-02T09:29:00.000-07:002007-10-02T10:04:44.035-07:00"What in the World...." Volume 2<span style="font-family: verdana;">Welcome to my next installment of 'What In The World..." in which yours truly delivers riveting entertainment from her film festival tour....And now, live from the Minneapolis Airport en route to Vancouver....<br /><br /></span><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyW0dS9apVz45UiUptj_0XXYWBpYCb9G8rMFZTigDagdo2Bmjw2be1sSg5yqUGtsZ3RrhBal2IRrm0wMpr_hw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>bari-btghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10584009353142332446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4218942901576456052.post-21664540545292109002007-10-02T01:57:00.000-07:002007-10-02T02:25:02.661-07:00There's no place like hem<span style="font-family:verdana;">I am writing now from a beautiful apartment off of Commercial Drive, a strip of health food stores, vegetarian restaurants and cafes west of Downtown Vancouver. Wonderful Eva, one of the Swedes I met the other night, graciously offered her apartment as she left the city yesterday for her home two hours north. It was a sad parting for me and Jennifer the fish - she of course stayed behind at the swanky hotel, but I feel like I've left the lap of luxury but won the lottery. Took some doing this morning, but enjoyed a round trip quickie ride on the *sea bus* over to North Vancouver to get keys from my future sister-in-law, and then the *sky train* out to my new home (transportation here is SO Sesame Street!)<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/RwINmevweAI/AAAAAAAAAB0/IUP1lEY0NXo/s1600-h/ontheradio2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x9hbcdn8Dss/RwINmevweAI/AAAAAAAAAB0/IUP1lEY0NXo/s320/ontheradio2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116667081385867266" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Following that adventure, I had to scurry back into downtown for a full hour chat about DAUGHTERS on the Smiling Yogi's radio talk show over at the local Coop Radio (think WFUV - or WHRW for you Bingalings). I was daunted by the hour format but then we had so much to talk about that we even skipped the last PSA she was supposed to play. It was really a great hour of talking serious spirituality, which of course is not what I usually get to chat about regarding the film. Great interview, Farah, thanks!<br /><br />Got back in time to see the second three astounding eps of Jennifer Fox's "Flying: Confessions..." which landed my new friend Sofia and I in a long wander around the city and eventual cafe stop engaged in a discussion of gender and identity. Did I mention it was a full day?<br /><br />So now it's raining pretty hard, for a change, but I just feel so cozy sitting near the fireplace surrounded by the requisite Dalarhäst (the red Swedish horses) and Kn</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">ä</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">ckebrod (read: Wasa Crackers) and yellow and blue painted viking figurines found wherever Swedes are housed. There's no place like hem.<br /><br /><br /></span>bari-btghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10584009353142332446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4218942901576456052.post-61836343688894160262007-09-29T21:49:00.000-07:002007-10-27T17:29:46.677-07:00Debut of our new and improved (and shorter) trailer<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwwdjaVC2TjGnD7QH9rZkWtmbjvYL1pv0LBq6K2tdoA9XWltzAGhrqrcoQC-4oOKfWc6fCPFjF2oDQR2lELow' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>bari-btghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10584009353142332446noreply@blogger.com0