AF’s Tip of the Day

We have 2 postings today as I just switched servers and I had some problems yesterday. The earlier posting was actually for yesterday. That is if anyone out there really cares. Here's Thursday's tip, enjoy ...

If you are going to bore an audience, bore them for a short time.

- - from The Angry Filmmaker Survival Guide
(coming early 2008)

AF’s Tip of the Day

The studio/distribution people will tell you that you need a star, don't believe them. They're lazy.

- - from The Angry Filmmaker Survival Guide
(coming early 2008)

AF's Tip of the Day

Not everyone should make a feature film. In fact most people should merely watch them and dream.

- - from The Angry Filmmaker Survival Guide
(coming early 2008)

Why I am not a fan of Thanksgiving, and other thoughts.

I want to set the record straight from the beginning, I like turkey. I use it on sandwiches all the time with a bit of spicy mustard. It's not the turkey that bothers me.

I don't like Thanksgiving because of what it has come to mean. It is one day every year that we are told it is okay to be a glutton. We are supposed to sit on our asses and eat until we explode! It is supposed to be about "family" and so we sit around and watch football and eat! When I was younger I would eat as much as I could, and then I would feel like crap for the rest of the day! I could hardly move.

Many of us complain about having to go somewhere and see relatives that we don't really like. We're told to do it because family is important. So we do it.

I am a little confused. Why is this a holiday anyway?

In school I was taught that we celebrate Thanksgiving because the "Indians" (I went to school before the term Native Americans was in use), saved the Pilgrims from a harsh winter by giving them food. They all sat down together and ate and it was a wonderful thing. And we should all be thankful.

So when did we start killing them? Was it after the big meal, but before dessert? Did the Native Americans forget to bring dessert? In school we are taught all of the ways the Native Americans helped us We have to memorize dates for all sorts of other important things, the Pilgrims arriving at Plymouth Rock, the founding of Jamestown, but we are never taught the date and the reasons why we started killing the Native Americans. Why is this?

I recently saw a documentary, Ten Days That Unexpectedly Changed America, that was on the History Channel. And there it was, Massacre at Mystic, May 26th, 1637. The day that a group of Pilgrims attacked an "Indian Settlement" and killed everyone. And when I say everyone, I mean men, woman and children, EVERYONE!

Now why did they do that? According to the documentary it was out of greed and jealousy. This particular tribe, although generous, had a little too much wealth and power as far as some of these Pilgrims were concerned. So they put together a sneak attack and destroyed the entire village before the Native Americans had much of a chance to defend themselves. It was a massacre!

And it put all of the Native Americans on notice, don't mess with the Pilgrims. And by mess I mean, don't be more prosperous than they were. So I guess it's thank you very much for saving us from a severe winter, and in a few years we'll thank you by killing you. At least that's how I read it anyway.

And how do Native Americans celebrate Thanksgiving? I have been told that many of them fast on that day. It kind of makes sense.

The other thing that bothers me about Thanksgiving is the emphasis on buying stuff the day after. Apparently we are all expected to get up early the day after Thanksgiving and go to the mall and buy as much stuff as we can. And when I say early, I mean early. All of the stores now are opening up at 4 a.m. so that we can get special deals on sox, or a TV. But this year some outlet malls have decided that we can't wait until 4 a.m. Friday and so they are opening up at midnight on Thanksgiving! Thank God! If I am stuffed with turkey and alcohol and have spent most of the day with family and other relatives that I am not crazy about, and I can barely stay awake then I want to get behind the wheel of a car and go out and buy stuff!

Why is this a holiday again?

Thanksgiving seems to be merely the doorway to Christmas.

And why is Christmas important?

Christmas is important because it is the true measure of how our economy is doing. If we don't go out and buy stuff ( hopefully on credit), then apparently our economy will suffer. So Christmas is about spending money so that our economy will be in good shape so Americans will have secure jobs and health care year round. But most of the stuff we are supposed to buy isn't made here anymore. So where are these products coming from? And who is really benefiting from all of this money that we don't have, that we are spending?

I guess the good part about Christmas is that we didn't kill anyone.

That's right isn't it?

Talk later.

Kelley

AF's Guest Quote of the Day

You can't find any true closeness in Hollywood, because everybody does the fake closeness so well.

~ Carrie Fisher

AF’s Tip of the Day

If a shot is too beautiful, too visually interesting, and most of all stands out from the rest of the stuff around it, GET RID OF IT!

- - from The Angry Filmmaker Survival Guide

(coming in early 2008)

AF's Tip of the Day

No one gives a shit if you ever write a script or make a film. No one cares! But if you do, then keep writing and making films. Ultimately, you're the only one that matters.

- - from The Angry Filmmaker Survival Guide
(coming early 2008)

AF's Tip of the Day

You are going to get in to disagreements, people aren't going to listen to you, actors will be late or unprepared, and stuff is going to get set up wrong. And this is with a good crew.

- - from The Angry Filmmaker Survival Guide

(coming in early 2008)

AF's Tip of the Day

After 20 plus years in the business I can tell you as an independent filmmaker, this business is like no others.

- - from The Angry Filmmaker Survival Guide
(coming early 2008)

AF's Tip (or comment) of the Day

What's the deal with all of these people who seem to be proud of the fact that they don't read books!

- - from The Angry Filmmaker Survival Guide
(coming early 2008)

AF's Tour Notes and Tip of the Day

Hey everybody, I'm back.

The Fall Tour was good. I had some great work shops, did some funny guest lectures, and had some really good screenings. So guess what? I am going to do it again in the Spring. (Like you didn't already know that...)

Here is some big news though.

I am pushing my UK Tour back to the beginning of February. I was going to be going over to Amsterdam and the Documentary Film Festival at then end of this month and then do a 3 week tour of the UK. Due to personal reasons I am having to post pone.

I wish I could tell you that like a big rock star I am checking myself in to re-hab, (just like Eddie Van Halen did), but my reasons are much more mundane than that. And no, you won't find out the reasons by watching Entertainment Tonight. I am trying to keep a low profile...

This will also give me time to put together some more bookings. So for all of my friends in the UK, please contact me so I can hit as many places as possible while I am there.

I am currently booking some gigs in the Oregon/Washington/Vancouver, BC area over the next two months so if any of you out there in those states want to have me come to your town or school please drop me a line at angryfilminfo@aol.com.

My book, The Angry Filmmaker Survival Guide is moving forward, but it won't be coming out until after the first of the year. Probably in early February. Writing a book is sort of like making a film, you never know how much work there is to it until you do it. Don't worry, it's coming.

And on that note, here is you AF Tip of the Day.

If you want to shoot film, you can still get deals, but not as good if you're going to shoot video.

- - from The Angry Filmmaker Survival Guide
(coming early 2008)

Talk later.

Kelley

AF's Tip of the Day

Important Law in the Hollywood Film Business: No one ever gets fired for saying "NO!" They only get fired for saying "yes" and costing the company money.
- - from The Angry Filmmaker Survival Guide
(coming soon)

AF’s Tip of the Day

Personal, documentary, long, short, experimental, it doesn't fucking matter! You still need to have something to say and say it so it's understood!

- - from The Angry Filmmaker Survival Guide (coming soon)