The film premiere of Independent America: Rising from Ruins, is up for grabs right now with Gustav gathering strength and heading to the Gulf of Mexico Once local officials get a handle on the hurricane's path, they may issue a 48-hour evacuation notice. The New Orleans Institute has just canceled the day-long conference, but we intend to go ahead with the Saturday evening screenings unless we need to evacuate.
I'm ready either way. I brought my camera, waterproof gear, and even my Pentax W60 waterproof point & shoot -- which I may call into duty if I need to re-start production of a film that won't end (as we like to say in the MCDM program, "permanently beta"). Or we have the premiere as scheduled with even more to discuss.
In the meantime, we've decided to do a "sneak preview" tonight at Fair Grinds Coffeehouse (which gave away free coffee for a year after Katrina), just in case the city is empty come Saturday.
I'm really happy with this 52-minute version of the film. To celebrate its "completion," I'm posting this short animated excerpt (above) from the documentary, created by MCDM graduate Tom Troisch. The challenge was to take a very complicated tax mechanism, used and abused across America, and make it understandable.
Your adventure never ends!
Be safe! And best wishes for your screening(s), whenver and however they ultimately take place.
Posted by: Shaula Evans | August 28, 2008 at 03:33 PM
Not a Hollywood premiere but I thought an appropriate gathering for your insightful film. A small but cozy neighborhood gathering, a few technical sacrifices, a passionate discussion...could it have been better at The Big Box Movie Complex? Of course not!
Thanks for allowing us the privilege to have the honor as the world premiere. This is one "Pop" who with his "Mom" thank you for the story you tell and the thoughts you inspire. There may be hope for us yet!
Robert & Elizabeth Thompson - Fair Grinds Coffeehouse
Posted by: Robert Thompson | August 29, 2008 at 04:16 PM