SMALL, BEAUTIFULLY MOVING PARTS at ECU and Mississippi

So I fell a little behind on blogging as there’s been a lot of travel.  I had a day off but had to zip back to NY for a day of work and now I’m in Mississippi on the Gulf Coast. What I noticed was the sky – it seems to fill most of the frame here and the cloud formations are dramatic. But here's the view from my hotel: beach meets freeway in a kind of bizarre collision.

But I want to rewind and give hearty thanks to the East Carolina University Cinema Guild and their fearless leader Allison Pulley pictured below who hosted a packed screening on Weds night.:

 Half film students, half community… I was very impressed by the smart questions and up beat attitude. Here's the group of future filmmakers forming the rest of the "guild".

Michael Crane was also painstakingly organized in planning my visit and set me up at the 5^th St. Inn – a classic which felt miles and miles away from my usual life.

Here in Biloxi, Dixon McDowell of Univ. of Southern Mississippi drove me along the coast which has been mostly rebuilt. I found out that the state recently enacted a 25% (of budget) rebate film incentive. Rebate (not credit) means it's actually a CHECK ... amazing! He took me to dinner at Darwells - a local place where the chef convinced me to try his "yum yum" sauce and crayfish étouffée.  Thumbs up....

We had a good screening - the last on the circuit so tomorrow heading back to normal life. Thanks everyone!

SMALL, BEAUTIFULLY MOVING PARTS at Jule Collins Smith

After a long drive from South Carolina, through Georgia, into Alabama:

SBMP screened at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Arts in Auburn Alabama:

 A pretty dramatic building to screen in. It only got better as the sun went down:

 The audience was small but enthusiastic with questions spilling over into the Café gathering afterwards supported by some excellent brownies. I learned a little about the museum – it was built to house a collection of American art that was bought for about a thousand dollars (!) in a government auction in the 40’s. The work includes Georgia O’Keefe, Ralston Crawford and Ben Shahn and I was told by one of the “regulars”, who is actually a docent at the museum, that the government wanted to get rid of the work after the artists were accused of being communist sympathizers. I’m sure I’m totally simplifying a complex story but I was intrigued. 

Thanks to Debbie Frojo who fielded endless emails and helped me figure out my stay and Scott Bishop for the welcome.  Last night and this morning was all about travel – airport hotel, 4:30 wake up call and then airport at dawn complete with rocking chairs:

Now zigzagging back into Eastern time and North Carolina….

SMALL, BEAUTIFULLY MOVING PARTS - part two! - Clinton SC

So SBMP tour part two!  I (Lisa Robinson) have traded places with fellow co-director Annie Howell and yesterday and after a day of flights from NYC and some driving...  had my first screening in Clinton SC at Presbyterian College – home of the Blue Hose  (think Scottish warriors with blue knee-socks). Molly McGehee from the English Department organized my stay in such an easy going and perfect way – thank you Molly! I'm really jealous that her husband is an organic farmer...  Here's a photo of us before the screening. 

Great Q&A with smart questions that I tried to answer intelligently in my sleep deprived from an early flight state…  especially the one about the role of western landscape visuals in this movie and other movies. Much to ponder there... and regardless of its role, I have to admit I’m not “done” yet with western landscape – it’s irresistible.  Great screening and company aside… how come no one told me about the Waffle House before? Molly took me there on my way out of town this morning and I was in awe of the cook and his 6-10 waffle griddles attached to the wall. I left with a commemorative mug and a paper hat for my daughter. I guarantee that gift will beat out all others.

After Waffle House I drove a long drive to Auburn Alabama and saw at least a dozen or so more Waffle Houses along the way, realizing again that I had missed out on something huge,  and changed time zones- I’m still trying to figure out whether I lost or gained. Tonight screening at Auburn University…

Meet Annie Howell and Lisa Robinson

Welcome Annie Howell and Lisa Robinson to the Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers! Their film, Small, Beautifully Moving Parts will begin their Circuit in Augusta, Georgia at the the Morris Museum of Fine Art. The screening and Q&A with the filmmaker are free admission, so don't miss a moment of this beautiful film. To view the trailer, learn more about the film, or see if Small, Beautifully Moving Parts is touring near you, visit the film's page on the Southern Circuit website.

More about Annie:

Annie J. Howell (Co-Writer/Co-Director) recently co-wrote and co-directed her first feature,Small, Beautifully Moving Parts. The film opened theatrically in 2012 to favorable reviews from NPR and Roger Ebert, and received the 2011 Sloan Foundation Feature Film Prize. Her short films have aired on the Sundance Channel, PBS, and the Independent Film Channel, and as part of the ITVS web series, FutureStates. She lives in Athens, Ohio, with her husband and two sons.

More about Lisa:

Lisa Robinson (Co-Writer/Co-Director) works as a screenwriter and director. Small, Beautifully Moving Parts, her first feature, premiered at SXSW and has screened at over 20 festivals, winning the Audience Award at RiverRun and opening theatrically in over 15 cities. She has written and directed other shorts that have screened at festivals including Cannes - Directors' Fortnight, Telluride and Edinburgh. She lives with her husband and daughter in New York.

A Small, Beautifully Moving Movie

In September, filmmakers Annie Howell and Lisa Robinson will be going on the Circuit with their film, Small, Beautifully Moving Parts. But you won't have to wait until then to hear from the filmmakers. In this interview from SXSW the filmmakers, as well as the film star, talk about the film and filmmaking experience. To see the full movie and meet the filmmakers, check the Southern Circuit website for screening locations and schedule. Enjoy!

SXSW 2011: "Small, Beautifully Moving Parts"... by IFC-Official

Recent Accolades for Upcoming Circuit Films:

A Matter of Taste is nominated for an Emmy in Outstanding Arts and Culture Programming. The News and Documentary Emmy Awards will be presented Monday, October 1, 2012. Best of luck to Sally Rowe and her team!

Girl Model filmmakers, Ashley Sabin and David Redmon, successfully raised funds via their Kickstarter campaign to begin a national educational tour with their film. See all the details here.

Eating Alabama won Top Grit Award at Indie Grits 2012. Congrats to filmmaker, Andrew Grace!

The Entertainers won the Audience Award at the Wisconsin Film Festival. Congrats to filmmaker, Michael Zimmer!

Small, Beautifully Moving Parts won an Audience Award for Best American Independent Film at the River Run Film Festival 2012. Congrats to filmmakers, Lisa Robinson and Annie Howell!

See all of these films and more on the Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers this season 2012/2013 in different locations around the southeast. To see all the films and where they are screening go to the Southern Circuit webpages.