Charming Hapeville

If you have some time and you are near the Atlanta airport, stop into Hapeville.  It is a charming little town with interesting history and friendly folks who love the arts and film.  The mayor introduced my film!  How awesome is that?  Thank you Allie and Charlotte and all the folks who came out for a wonderful evening of music, film and poetry.

Gift shopping at a wonderful
antique shop in Hapeville, GA.

The owners came out to my screening!

Beautiful renovated church in Hapeville, GA.  Great place to screen a film!

South Arts Stalwarts

Free day.  Take nap.  Catch up on blog.  Southern Circuit is a really good thing.  When folks in the independent film community ask what to do with all these films being produced that have trouble getting out there, look no further than the Southern Circuit.  There should be a circuit like this for every region of the country.  They have a great formula that just works.  That being said, keeping arts initiatives going is a struggle.  Pictured below, art at work near the Atlanta airport. A musician making a coffee shop surrounded by concrete come alive.

On the Clemson University/Gainesville Arts Council/Gainesville State College leg of the trip several conversations revolved around funding cuts for the arts.  To all those stalwarts keeping art alive, keep going.  You inspire folks like me to keep going.  Thank you Teresa and all the folks at South Arts. Thank you Gladys, for working tirelessly to set up arts events three evenings in a row.  Thank you Allison, for driving one hour to pick me up in Gainesville.  Thank you Amy, for struggling to find funding for Liberal Arts initiatives.  A few art stalwarts below.

On the bright side, Gainesville State College has developed a great film program under the leadership of Dr. Jeff Marker.  If you are interested studying film, I highly recommend their program.  If you are interested in Mexican food, though, check out Super Taco in Clemson.

It's always good to see "Otis" on the big screen and Anis on the stage.

Augusta Embers

Screening #1 at the Morris Museum of Art was a great way to start the tour.  Anis and I rolled into Augusta without the slightest idea of what to expect.  At every turn we were pleasantly surprised with giant heaps of Southern hospitality and a dynamic visual landscape.  Below is the Look Away Inn where we stayed.  It passed the Anis seal of approval with flying colors.

The Morris folks, Kevin, Michelle and Jason were warm and accommodating, which was great, considering we had no idea what to expect for our first screening. The audience was fantastic, choosing us over the presidential debate (they might have been able to still watch it after the screening). We had a great discussion after, very engaging and thoughtful. We were, then, treated with a poem by Anis to top off the night.

After the screening, Anis and I walked down the main strip in Augusta. I can't count the visuals that pleasantly surprised us. I am not sure if we were over sensitive to our new surroundings but Augusta seemed like an ember that refuses to go out. While there was a stillness in the city, the night was filled with people still out and about, embers of activity waiting to ignite new kindling.  Augusta feels like it is in no hurry.  There is a comfort in this.  Perhaps it was just a normal weeknight and Augusta was where the rest of America was, watching the debate light up the TV screens.

The drive to Clemson continued the idea of life hanging on in decay. Sublime.

Meet Anlo Sepulveda

Welcome Anlo Sepulveda to the Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers! Anlo and his film, Otis Under Sky will tour the south starting this Tuesday, October 16, at the Morris Museum of Art in Augusta, GA. His film is a can't-miss that will soon be a new favorite for audiences all around the south. To see if Anlo and his film will be coming to a town near you check the Otis Under Sky page on the Southern Circuit website.

click below to view the trailer for Otis Under Sky:

More about Anlo:

Anlo Sepulveda has written, directed, and edited numerous short films such as Bovinity Divinity and One Dollar Poem. He has also created documentary films UPLIFT Uganda,Camp Casey, and Ahmad. Recently, Sepulveda teamed up with a Scottish bagpiper and made a documentary about their travels and misadventures through Cuba in Cuban Pipers. It was an Official Selection at the Cuba Film Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. Sepulveda also worked as the director of photography for Out for Blood II: Out for More Blood, Brodie's Boys and The Dumb Asian featured at the Vietnamese International Film Festival. He is currently working on a documentary about the San Marcos River calledYakona. Otis Under Sky is his first feature.

October on the Circuit!

We just finished up the first month of touring for the 2012/2013 Southern Circuit season. Now its October and that means its time for three new films and their filmmakers to hit the road. Check out the touring films for October below. To learn more about each of these films and see the complete October schedule visit the Southern Circuit website.

A Matter of Taste: Serving Up Paul Liebrandt
An intimate look inside the world of an immensely talented and driven young chef, Paul Liebrandt
filmmaker: Sally Rowe
cities: Suwanee, GA; Montgomery, AL; Gallatin, TN; Baton Rouge, LA; Charleston, SC

The Entertainers
For 35 years piano players from across the world have strapped on their bow-ties, armgarters, and straw boater hats to descend on Peoria, Illinois to battle for the title of World’s Greatest Old-Time Piano Player.

filmmaker: Michael Zimmer

cities: Madison, GA; Tupelo, MS

Otis Under Sky
Otis and his new friend, Ursula, are kindred spirits, but unable to express their bond physically.

filmmaker: Anlo Sepulveda

cities: Augusta, GA; Clemson, SC; Gainesville, GA; Hapeville, GA; Clinton, SC; Auburn, AL; Greenville, NC; Long Beach, MS

An Encounter with Simone Weil
Haslett's own struggles with suffering interweave with Weil's dramatic life story, to create a deeply moving film about living life with compassion.

filmmaker: Julia Haslett

cities: Cullowhee, NC; Jacksonville, FL; Miramar, FL; Manteo, NC; Savannah, GA; Alexandria, LA; Winder, GA; Johnson City, TN