The Martini Shot

It’s day five of SXSW, and I’m feeling overwhelmed. Yesterday while hanging out with Adam Carr of 88.9 Radio Milwaukee, he mentioned that it’s difficult to be satisfied with what you’re doing at SXSW, because you’re always wondering if something cooler is happening someplace else. (Usually, it is.) I think this is what has me exhausted today. I’ve thought so much about trying to find the best event, and then navigating how to get into it, that I’ve reached the point of not caring what’s happening at all. So I’m taking the morning to write in an attempt to hit…

It’s SXSW day three, and this is the first moment I’ve had to write! Austin is buzzing, to say the least, and I’m currently hiding in an out-of-the-way Mexican restaurant having breakfast before returning to a full day of screenings. Luckily, it’s Austin, so the restaurant has free wireless. Since I have so little time, I’m only going to focus on my favorite film so far: Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey. The documentary follows Kevin Clash, the voice and personality of Elmo, from puppet obsession to national sensation. It’s a mesmerizing and emotional film, and it was clear when I…

Yet again it has been too long since I last blogged! And I owe apologies to Caroline Haebig, Social Studies Educator and Bradford High School, and her wonderful students Laure Landre, Christopher Maxwell, Alexis Rodriguez, Kate Sherman, and Zach Sullivan. Caroline facilitates a high school film program where talented students create short, silent, sociological films. The films screened publicly Friday, February 18. I heard it was an excellent event, but sadly the antics of some politician in Madison overshadowed the blog I intended to write about those students’ experiences with filmmaking. That said, it is with great enthusiasm that I…

It’s that time of year when all film critics are putting together (or have put together) Top 10 lists of their favorite films from the previous year. This always proves difficult for me because I have a very short attention span, and thus I forget most of the films I’ve seen in January by March. I’m also not good about seeing all those films I’m supposed to see (Inception? What?), and I’m a film curmudgeon with wacky taste. Therefore, I asked a few other film people to contribute lists as well. For me, however, the “best” films of the year…

I’d been planning to write a Gift Guide for Film Lovers, and then I read Mack and Kerry’s DVD Bonanza: 2010 Holiday Gift Guide. I thought, “Maybe this is redundant,” until I realized they put together an entirely different guide than I would. Being film-centric and believing (or at least deluding myself into believing) that all people love movies, I’m going to pretend there is room for another, more offbeat list. Oscilloscope Laboratories “Circle of Trust” Subscription: $150, www.oscilloscope.net/shop/cot.php Oscilloscope is one of my favorite independent film distributors with a catalog that includes the fabulous Wendy and Lucy, Exit Through…

I took last week off from the blog because it’s autumn, which means I’m going into hibernation mode. This includes a lot of me-time in flannel jams on the couch drinking Rishi tea and watching Deadwood or revisiting Cassavetes films. It’s a pretty great existence. That said, seclusion is setting me behind on my real-world movie going, and my calendar is filling up! This past weekend I attended another Sunday Cinema Club screening even though I still haven’t seen the new Jackass in 3D. I also am gearing up for this month’s big film event—the Nordic Film Festival at UWM…

Thursday begins the 23rd annual Milwaukee LGBT Film/Video Festival with its opening night film Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls. Festival Director Carl Bogner is one of my local heroes. I’ve mentioned him in my blog before, but he’s so extra noteworthy that all the gushing bears repeating. Carl knows more about experimental film than anyone I’ve ever met, and he consistently works with UWM, MAM, and the Milwaukee Film festival to bring quality screenings to the area. I’m always curious to see what he brings in for the LGBT festival, and with the new format this year, he may have programmed…

First, let me guarantee that this blog will not focus on film festivals every week. I’m clearly having a difficult time letting the Milwaukee Film Festival go, but by next week, I’ll be over it. Promise. In the meantime, I’ve been thinking about the feedback I’ve read, heard, and even written regarding this year’s festival. One thing people are saying repeatedly is that during the festival, Milwaukee felt more open to, and connected with, the world. Milwaukee is just small enough that it often feels isolated or disengaged from movements and people in other cities. Perhaps this is especially noticeable…