More Awards Bull Shit!

My hat is off to Jim Fields at Apartment 101 Films. Not only has he made a terrific documentary “Preserve Me A Seat” about old movie theaters disappearing, but he also sent me this note…

Hi Kelley,

I totally agree with you about the Independent Spirit Awards - what serious film anymore doesn't want to have an independent spirit? Interestingly, after yesterday's awards, bloggers at indiewire pointed out that in each category the film with the highest budget won - amazing huh? And if the so-called group "Film Independent" was truly concerned about independent filmmakers, then they would nominating truly independent films made for low budgets (instead of the current "under $20 million" it should be "under $20,000.00). This would get rid of the neo-Hollywood excess and would allow attention to be focused on high quality low-no budget films like this year's "Four Eyed Monsters" and "Dance Party, U.S.A." Just how bad are the Independent Spirit Awards and its founding organization, Film Independent? Check out this link to an expose published in yesterday's Los Angeles Times...

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-spirit24feb24,0,3755246,full.story

I hope you'll write and direct a new feature for us soon, so that you and the rest of us "truly indie filmmakers" out there self-distributing our work can make most, if not all, of these bogus awards and film festivals obsolete through public screenings across the country and online DVD sales. In the meantime...Stay Angry!

Your friend,

Jim

Read the article, it is great! It does expose some of the bull shit in the so-called Independent Film Industry.

Thanks Jim and good luck on your movie.

Check out Jim’s web site, www.apartment101films.com. Jim is one of the good guys!

Later.
Kelley

www.angryfilmmaker.com
www.myspace.com/theangryfilmmaker
www.youtube.com/theangryfilmmaker

I need to apologize...

I need to apologize!

You know, I haven't been writing any thing worth reading in a while. I have been using my blog to promote my tours and me, but I haven't really let loose on anything in quite awhile. I guess I have been in a bit of a fink, and pre occupied with lots of other stuff. So to any one out there who is till reading me...

I apologize!

Let me get back in to what I used to write!

I am working here on a rainy Saturday in my apartment. I have to say that I do love apartment life. Yes I miss my house sometimes, but I love the lack of responsibility that comes with apartments. I can work more on my movies and I can write and not have to worry about how my yard looks. It's not my problem!

I have been having problems writing my own stuff, scripts and the like and I think that I have become so obsessed with getting the tour happening that I have been having trouble concentrating on the creative stuff. I need to get back in to it. I think I have been so concerned over Britney and K-Fed that I have been having trouble thinking about my own stuff. Okay that's not true. Actually I don't give a damn about any of that. it is just taking up useless space in my brain!

And today is the Independent Spirit Awards, and tomorrow are the Oscars. And you know what I have to say? Who cares! I actually think the Oscars are better than the Spirit Awards. Why you ask? Because the Oscars don't pretend to be anything they are not. They are an excuse for people to give awards to themselves and their peers because they feel like it. It is so big and phoney, but it always has been! Let them do it! It doesn't really make any difference to most of us!

The Spirit awards on the other hand are absolute BULL SHIT! Real Independent Filmmakers don't need awards to feel good about themselves. This is just an event cooked up by people who want to make big movies but haven't been able to break in to the Hollywood thing. They say the don't want that, and the Spirit Awards are the opposite of the Oscars! Give me a fuckin break! What real Independent Filmmakers want is an audience, an out let for their work. Does any one really care who wins a Spirit Award! Am I going to run out and see some film I have never heard of because it won a Spirit Award? Of course I am, right after I drop Paris Has-been off from our date!

The Indie Film Distributors think the awards are great, as long as their films win. It is good for business! What ever happened to making movies because we have to?

I HATE award shows! All of them! They bore me! And I sure as hell don't care who wins! I I would rather be writing or editing, or even reading a book during those shows. It is a hell of a lot more enjoyable to do that than to watch rich people parade around in clothes they don't own trying to be humble! I don't buy any of it! The good movies are never honored, and they most certainly never win! It is all a popularity contest! And I don't even want to be popular! (Not that I have to worry...).

You know what, I feel better now. I need to do this more often. Talk later.

Kelley

www.angryfilmaker.com
www.myspace.com/theangryfilmmaker
www.youtube.com/theangryfilmmaker

Tour booking...

Feb 9, 2007

I am working on the next tour, and I am frustrated! I am sending out tons of email inquiries and I am not getting a lot of answers back. I mean what is the deal here? I have a pretty god letter I send out as a first contact, and I attach a file that has more of my back ground and the work shops that I teach. And for some reason a lot of places and people don't even have the courtesy to write me back. There are some places that have been on my list for 4 years, and I have yet to hear from any of them! What is so tough about hitting reply and sending me a note back?

The high point is that I am getting emails back from people who are genuinely interested. The booking is going slow, but it is moving forward. I am trying to book a minimum of 40 dates in 60 days. We'll see what happens...

Boy am I glad Sundance is finally over! What a waste of time and resources! A bunch of wealthy people hanging out trying to act like "Indie" Filmmakers. Did any of you catch Jake Paltrow's new movie? Who is Jake Paltrow you ask? He has a sister in the business, who is also in his movie... Gosh I wonder how he made the cut at Sundance?

I am also tired of Sundance and festivals like it being a closed club. So many Hollywood/New York types don't do what the rest of us have to do. You know, submit our movies with an entrance fee. A lot of "Indies" have private screenings for the Sundance folks, because they know the people there. It sure is a level playing field.

If you want to read more about Sundance by some one with a good healthy attitude, check out www.mewanthorsie.blogspot.com. I like this post...

I need to run. Talk later.

The Spring Tour 07

Hey Everybody,

It's deja vu all over again!

That's right it's time for the Angry Filmmaker's Spring Tour! Say, didn't we just do this...

This tour is going to run from the beginning of March thru the end of April, (although I do have some west coast bookings for late May). As usual, I will be screening my movies, and teaching workshops. In the last year Moses and I have logged almost 30,000 miles and appeared before thousands of people

Check out some of these reviews…

'Angry Filmmaker' spreads the rage. - - City Pulse, Lansing Michigan

Kicking Bird Kicks Butt! - - Runner's Gazette

The Gas Café - - “A well-told and compelling story with good acting and sharp dialogue that often wavers between very funny and very sad.” - - John Wooley, Tulsa World

“I recommend that anyone who can get their hands on anything by Kelley Baker do so. You won’t be disappointed.” - - Matt Osgood, Film-411

This Spring I am going to be going thru Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina, then up to Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Idaho and finally back home. (That is a lot of driving!)

I am still filling in dates; my goal is 50 gigs in 60 days. So help me out here. I do great work shops and the screenings are always a blast!

Please contact me if you are interested in hosting a screening or work shop. If you know of a place that needs me let me know about that as well.

Thanks every body! Moses and I are looking forward to another good tour.

Later.

Kelley

www.angryfilmmaker.com
www.myspace.com/theangryfilmmaker
www.youtube.com/theangryfilmmaker