I took my first venture over to Westwood yesterday for the LA Film Festival. It seems….uh…festive. As with 2006 Film Independent has taken over many of the theatres in Westwood Village for their annual celebration of film. I would say “independent” film…but that’s not totally the case. There are however a lot of films and […]

From today’s LA Weekly – it’s a GO pick!: GO JUMP! (USA) The ever-growing documentary subgenre that could be called “Schoolkids Do the Damnedest Things!” (Spellbound, Mad Hot Ballroom, et al.) has now given rise to Jump!, which details the up-and-coming school sport of competitive jump rope. Anyone who has seen a Rocky movie knows […]

Is anyone reading all this Academy rule coverage? Docs are trying to qualify and the Academy wants what it wants. Doc Insider pal AJ Schnack was on a panel at Silverdocs . You can listen here.

I am teaching a class on documentary and indie film distribution in July at Stephen’s College. They are still accepting applications for enrollment. Join us in Columbia, MO and learn about filmstuff.

Silverdocs is happening and I’m not there. The past two years I made my way across the country for AFI/Discovery Channel’s celebration of documentary film – but this year I just couldn’t make it. They’ve got a terrific slate, program and conference including screenings of The Fighting Cholitas! I’m in LA surviving the noise of […]

I finally started a My Space. Wanna be my friend?

Yes, I went to SXSW, I saw a few movies, and naturally, ate TexMex and BBQ too. But I think I was having festival burnout. I didn’t try to see 3 movies a day. I didn’t try to get into tons of parties. I just plain, hung out. And, Austin is a good place to […]

After a 24-hour whirlwind food tour of St. Louis (frozen custard at Ted Drewes, gooey butter cakes at the Missouri Baking Company, toasted ravioli and the STL fave a Slinger at Courtesy Diner and the perfunctory search for real St. Louis ribs) and a visit with my guys from Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington […]

Time for another whirlwind doc roundup. Outsite the Wilma the marquee brings in the locals. I got back from Big Sky Documentary Film Festival on Tuesday. I think a good time was had by all. The locals are thrilled to have guests. And the guests are thrilled to be visiting the 60,000 person town. I […]