The Condom Shack

The day after Team Juice Box of Seattle and I performed "The Love Shack" at The Fox And The Fiddle, I stumbled across The Condom Shack in Toronto. I wonder how different The Condom Shack is from The Love Shack? I wanted to jump out of our Impala and bang bang bang on the door to find out, but unfortunately, time did not permit this. Since there was no glitter on the highway nor tin roof rusted, I came to the conclusion that these two shacks were nothing alike.

Celebration!

---------------------------
From: Kirk Moore
Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2008 6:11 PM
To: Nguyen, Tony
Cc: Sig Thorsen; Dinah Despenza; Evan Donn; Joanne Donn; Joe Kirsch; Michael Eyvazov; Richard Kemp; Thomas Flowers; Rob Carey; Xing Kai Wu; Brenda Moore
Subject: IDOM PARTY

Holy Cow, I leave town and IDOM becomes an international phenomenon!
Congratulations to all and, yes, let's have a party to celebrate.
I want first hand accounts of Toronto.
Joe has generously offered to co-host and Brenda is up for it, so here it is:

6:30 PM this Friday at our house in El Granada.
I'll have the BBQ fired up with teriyaki chicken and rice for everyone.
Bring a side dish to share (and something else to eat if you don't want chicken).
RSVP ASAP so I know how much to get.
I hope you can all make it!

Kirk

Still Buzzin'

-----Original Message-----
From: info@documentarychallenge.org
Sent: Monday, April 28, 2008 9:53 AM
To: Tony Nguyen
Subject: 2008 Doc Challenge Winners

Hello Doc Challenge Filmmakers,

The Hot Docs premiere of the International Documentary Challenge finalists was a smashing success! Twelve of the fourteen teams made the trip to Toronto for the screening where we announced the winners of the competition.

There was a lot of buzz at Hot Docs about this event and many distributors and broadcasters are interested in the films. Over the next few months I will be working on festival and broadcast opportunities for ALL of the submitted films (not just the winners.) I will keep you posted on developments.

I want to thank our Judges at Hot Docs who helped determine the ultimate award winners:

Chris White
Director, Programming and Production, P.O.V.|American Documentary

Maxyne Franklin
Editorial Director, The Channel 4 British Documentary Film Foundation Film Programmer, BRITDOC

Richard Beer
Artistic Director, Film Action Oregon/Hollywood Theatre

And a hearty congratulations to all 122 participating filmmakers! Making a short doc in five days is no easy task and we hope it has been a fun and rewarding experience for all of you.

14 Finalists, 14 Revelations

Congratulations Doc Challenge Finalists!

Congratulations to all 14 finalists of the Documentary Challenge, especially to the two Seattle teams who walked away with the two top prizes. I am honored to be in your company. The quality of everyone's films has motivated me to continue to forge ahead with all my creative endeavors. I love documentaries because not only does this art form entertain, but it also educates. I learned a great deal this weekend, and I thank you all for broadening my horizons. After the screening, 14 revelations hit me:

• YNOT is "Tony" spelled backwards. That's an anagram! Why Not???
  
• A digital camera is just a modern day version of the Polaroid.
• A toonie is a Canadian $2 coin, a loonie is a Canadian $1 coin, and a penny is a worthless piece of American copper.
• Why can't I rub oil on a Dutch Lady's naked derriere? Only in Amsterdam...
  
• Filing down the teeth of a saw to make music is definitely the safe way to go. The last thing I would want is to accidentally maim or fatally wound a spectator with my saw musical instrument. I may be thrown in prison for that. I guess that wouldn't be a bad thing, because that would set up the sequel to Bend & Bow, and Profluence Productions could use the original title that they had scrapped: "The Sawshank Redemption."
• Freeganism is an anti-consumerism lifestyle whereby people employ alternative living strategies based on "limited participation in the conventional economy and minimal consumption of resources. Freegans embrace community, generosity, social concern, freedom, cooperation, and sharing in opposition to a society based on materialism, moral apathy, competition, conformity, and greed." The lifestyle involves salvaging discarded, unspoiled food from supermarket dumpsters that have passed, or in some cases haven't even passed, their sell by date, but are still edible and nutritious. They salvage the food not because they are poor or homeless, but as a political statement. - Wikipedia
• Does Facebook have a version of Bingo like they do Scrabble? That would be Bingo-liscious!
  
• I have this weird urge to go throw on a parka, drill a hole in the middle of an ice skating rink, guzzle down some beer, and catch some frozen fish. Of course, all this would be done while rocking out to Vanilla Ice. ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ice ice baby!
  
• Supporting the ma and pop shops in America is the way to go. I'm going to drop Starbucks and start hanging out at one of the local cafes in San Francisco.
  
• "The parallels and divergences of twins Chris and Kevin--twice the documentary in the same low running time." Imagine if Chris and Kevin had a fraternal triplet sister named Candace. Boy oh boy, I could only imagine what their Final Cut time line would look like.
  
• When will ghost bikes start cropping up in San Francisco?
  
• I doubt that I would be brave enough to interview a homeless person in New York. Kudos to Team Boss and Coder 34 for taking chances.
• "In a society where singular dedication to a career seems like the only way, Gary Synder struggles to balance two lives and thrive as both an art dealer and an Aikido instructor." I, too, am trying to balance a full time job and being the creative soul who just wants express myself through film.

After the Documentary Challenge screening, a bunch of us headed on over to The Fox & The Fiddle to celebrate, and it was at that pub that I had my final revelation: A Documentary Film Maker + Alcohol + Karaoke = a huggin' and a kissin', dancin' and a lovin', wearin' next to nothing cause it's hot as an oven! The video clip below says it all. (Please pardon the the bad audio!)

Internationally Acclaimed Award Winning Film Makers

"Internationally Acclaimed Award Winning Film Makers." I really do like the sound of that! I am very proud to announce that Stick And Pound has captured the 2008 International Documentary Challenge Best Director and Best Cinematography prizes at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Film Festival in Toronto. Woo Hoo!!!!!!

Best Film of the 2008 International Documentary Challege ($1,000 cash award)
CLICK WHOOSH
Team: Reel Grrrls
City/Country: Seattle, WA, USA
Genre: Historical
Team Leader: Reid Kuennen

American Documentary P.O.V. Short Film Award
($1,000 Cash Award & featured on POV Website)
ARS MAGNA
Team: Juicebox
City/Country: Seattle, WA, USA
Genre: Biography/Character Study
Team Leader: Sean Roach

Doc Challenge Original Vision Award
BEHOLDER
Team: Boss and Coder 34
City/Country: Brooklyn, NY, USA
Genre: First Person
Team Leader: Eric Daniel Metzgar

Best Directing
STICK AND POUND
Team: It Donned On Me
City/Country: San Francisco, CA, USA
Genre: Art
Directed by: Evan Donn

Best Editing
I=ME2Team: Year of the Rooster
City/Country: Sherman Oaks, CA, USA
Genre: Experimental
Edited by: Kevin Thomas

Best Cinematography
STICK AND POUND
Team: It Donned On Me
City/Country: San Francisco, CA, USA
Genre: Art
Cinematography by: It Donned On Me

Best Writing
BEHOLDER
Team: Boss and Coder 34
City/Country: Brooklyn, NY, USA
Genre: First Person
Written by: Eric Daniel Metzgar

Best Soundtrack
THE MIXTRESS
Team: Wideshot Studios
City/Country: Portland, OR, USA
Genre: Biography/Character Study
Arranged by: The Mixtress: Jules Bennett

Best Original Score
JETTY
Team: Fly On The Wall
City/Country: Portland, OR, USA
Genre: Social Issue/PoliticalOriginal Score by Bell Plaines & Arlen Kallunki

Best Use of "Change" Theme
PENNYWISE: THE CHANGING FACE OF CHANGE
Team: Lucky Shot
City/Country: Silver Spring, MD, USA
Genre: Social Issue/Political

Best Use of Date Stamp
RED LIGHT BLUES
Team: Abrahami-Netz Productions
City/Country: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Genre: Social Issue/Political

BEST USE OF GENRE AWARDS
Best Use of Art Genre
GHOST BIKE
Team: Go!
City/Country: Toronto, ON, Canada

Best Use of Character Study Genre
ARS MAGNA
Team Juicebox
City/Country: Seattle, WA, USA

Best Use of Experimental Genre
I=ME2
Team: Year of the Rooster
City/Country: Sherman Oaks, CA, USA

Best Use of First Person Genre
BEHOLDER
Team: Boss and Coder 34
City/Country: Brooklyn, NY, USA

Best Use of Historical Genre
CLICK WHOOSH
Team: Reel Grrrls
City/Country: Seattle, WA, USA

Best Use of Music Genre
OLD SOUL
Team: Reel Hard Workin Dogs
City/Country: Washington, DC, USA

Best Use of Nature Genre
FARM TO TABLE
Team: Smoke In Mirror Productions
City/Country: Rutland, VT, USA

Best Use of Social Issue/Political Genre
MEET THE FREEGANS
Team: Shields Films
City/Country: Portland, OR, USA

Best Use of Sports Genre
THE ART OF BALANCE
Team: Surge Media
City/Country: New York, NY, USA

SPECIAL JUDGES AWARDS

Best Use of Archival Footage
PENNYWISE: THE CHANGING FACE OF CHANGE
Team: Lucky Shot
City/Country: Silver Spring, MD, USA
Genre: Social Issue/Political

Best Social Commentary
FIERCELY INDEPENDENT
Team: Higher Rock & Downward Spiral Productions
City/Country: Moab, UT, USA

So Many Documentaries, So Little Time...

One weekend in Toronto for the International Documentary Film Festival is not enough. So many documentaries, so little time. This donned on me when the girl at the registration table said that we pretty much missed every screening and industry party this past week! Oh well.

Friday Night Doc Challenge Get Together

-----Original Message-----
From: Doug Whyte

Sent: Friday, April 25, 2008 10:27 AM
To: Nguyen, Tony
Subject: Friday Night Doc Challenge Get Together and Advance Tickets

Hey Everyone,

I'm arranging a meeting place for Doc Challenge filmmakers tonight. Stop by if you can:

Friday, April 25, 10pm
The Victory Cafe (http://www.victorycafe.ca/)
581 Markham Street

It's just around the corner from the Bloor Cinema: one block west of bathurst, south of bloor. Also, I recommend that you go to Innis Town Hall on Saturday during the day to get your tickets for the screening with your pass. The reception goes from 7 to 9 and if you wait until after that, it might be sold out (hopefully.) I will be giving out the 2 extra comp tickets at the reception, but any other tickets you should get in advance just to be safe.

Cheers,
Doug
By the way, we got two parking tickets because we parked in a "No Standing" zone. Evan is clearly breaking the law by standing in that prohibited spot.

No Layover

I've been to Toronto twice before, and I do have to say that it's so much cooler outside of the airport! I'm not a big fan of airport layovers, and the last two times I was in Toronto was when I spent a few hours in the terminal before hopping on the connecting flight to Scotland. Third time's a charm, and now I get to explore this great Canadian city! Below are pics from day one in Toronto.

Here is the view from our hotel room. When Evan pulled the curtains, I nearly flipped out when I saw the baseball diamond below. The concierge did note that our room had a view of the stadium, but I had no idea that the view would be of the inside!

The four of us ate at "Hey Lucy." I ordered the "Where's The Beef" pizza thinking that I was going to get sausage, ground beef, and pepperoni, but instead I got broccoli, sun dried tomatoes, and bell peppers. I must have misread the menu. It makes sense though: "Where's The Beef?" I probably should have figured that out on my own, but I'll chalk it up to jet lag.

Downtown Toronto:
I have a fascination with street signs, and that Canadian turtle jumped out at me. I had to take the shot. This sign was located near the Shoe Museum. Dinah, the shoe diva herself, couldn't go so I took a shot of her in front of the museum for her scrap book. The other note worthy photo is that of the theater playing Evil Dead: The Musical. I tried getting Evan to go with me to see this production but he said no. Again and again.

Toronto, Here We Come!

It finally donned on me: I’m off to the Hot Docs Documentary Film Festival in Toronto. The past few weeks have been so hectic that I really hadn’t had the chance to think about ‘Stick And Pound’, IDOM’s entry into this year’s event, advancing to the finals. Honestly, I’m still scratching my head over the fact that this is our fifth film together as a team in less than a year. We are obviously doing something right. It is unfortunate that the whole team couldn't make it out to Toronto, but Evan, Joanne, Dinah, and I will be representing. It's about 6am in the morning and the four of us will be boarding shortly. I just need a short nap, and then I'll be able to jump off walls.

The Networking Game

When "Exit" finished third in the Visa Life Takes Invitationals, I mingled, networked, and marketed IDOM at The Bubble Lounge WITHOUT business cards! I remember writing my contact information on napkins and handing them out! I'm not going to make the same mistake this time!

Doc Challenge Extra Tickets and Reception

I really do wish the rest of IT DONNED ON ME could go to Toronto this weekend. How awesome would that have been? If this trip is going to be anything like that night at The Bubble Lounge after the Visa Life Takes Invitational, then I'm going to have to party even harder to make up for the missing IDOM'ers!

-----Original Message-----
From: Doug Whyte
Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2008 5:52 PM
To: Doug Whyte
Subject: Doc Challenge Extra Tickets and Reception

Hello Doc Challenge Filmmakers,

I hope you are getting excited for the premiere of your film this Saturday! I have an extra pair of comp tickets for each team leader which you can pick up at the Doc Challenge reception. You are all invited (as are all of your attending team members), but this is a private reception so don't invite everyone you meet at the festival!

Here are the details:

Doc Challenge Reception
Saturday, April 26, 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Duke of York Pub (http://york.thedukepubs.ca/)
39 Prince Arthur Ave.
Toronto, ON M5R 1B2
Complimentary Appetizers/Cash Bar

This reception is within walking distance of Innis Town Hall where the screening takes place. If you need to get a hold of me in Toronto I can be reached on my cell phone: 314-397-9740. I arrive Wed afternoon.

See you soon!

Cheers,
Doug

International Documentary Challenge

After a sold out screening in 2007, The International Documentary Challenge returns to Hot Docs! The Doc Challenge is an event where filmmakers from across the world have just five days to make a short non-fiction film.

This past March, 122 filmmakers from 16 countries were assigned a random documentary genre (character study, music, social issue, etc.) and had to include the broad theme of "Change" in their documentary. They then had to complete their entire short non-fiction film (3-7 minutes), from first shot to final edit, in just five days.

The 14 Finalists will premiere at Hot Docs on April 26 where the winners will be announced. (See below for a full listing of films.)

SCREENING TIME
9:30 PM Saturday, April 26 at Innis Town Hall

In addition to partnering with Hot Docs, The Doc Challenge recently partnered with P.O.V., PBS' premiere showcase for independent, non-fiction film. P.O.V. will award the "American Documentary | P.O.V. Short Film Award" to a Doc Challenge film and feature the film on their website.

Doc Challenge films are available for festivals, film series' and TV broadcast. Please contact Doug Whyte at doug@kdhx.org or 314-397-9740.

Additional Doc Challenge partners include the International Documentary Association, SILVERDOCS/AFI Discovery Channel Documentary Film Festival, Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, Documentary Organization of Canada, 48 Hour Film Project and Film Action Oregon.

Doug Whyte
Director of Media Arts Programs
KDHX Community Media
St. Louis, MO | Portland, OR
O: 503.493.4365
C: 314.397.9740
http://www.kdhx.org/mediaarts
http://www.docchallenge.org
http://www.myspace.com/docchallenge
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=24323502432

2008 Doc Challenge Finalists

All The Eights, 88
Team: Sholi
City/Country: Sydney, Australia
Genre: Biography/Character Study
88 year old Betty Van Acker, champion bingo player, shares her secrets to finding luck in life.

Ars Magna
Team Juicebox
City/Country: Seattle, WA, USA
Genre: Biography/Character Study
Cory Calhoun, creator of the famous Hamlet anagram, is an average guy with an obsession for finding meaning in jumbled phrases.

The Art of Balance
Team: Surge Media
City/Country: New York, NY, USA
Genre: Sports
In a society where singular dedication to a career seems like the only way, Gary Synder struggles to balance two lives and thrive as both an art dealer and an Aikido instructor.

Beholder
Team: Boss and Coder 34
City/Country: Brooklyn, NY, USA
Genre: First Person
An autobiographical film about a photographer's evolving perspective of New York City.

Bend & Bow
Team: Profluence Productions
City/Country: Brooklyn, NY, USA
Genre: Experimental
Natalia Paruz reveals the moment that changed her life and how she became known as the "Saw Lady" to millions of New York subway riders.

Click Whoosh
Team: Reel Grrrls
City/Country: Seattle, WA, USA
Genre: Historical
An homage to a familiar fixture of popular culture that now teeters on obsolescence.

Ghost Bike
Team: Go!
City/Country: Toronto, ON, Canada
Genre: Art
This documentary explores the grassroots "ghost bike" movement - why are these mysterious white bikes being placed in cities all over the world?

I=me2
Team: Year of the Rooster
City/Country: Sherman Oaks, CA, USA
Genre: Experimental
The parallels and divergences of twins Chris and Kevin--twice the documentary in the same low running time.

Ice Fishing
Team: Rotating Planet
City/Country: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Genre: Sports
As the ice fishing season comes to a close, families and friends drive to their huts on the frozen lake to get away from the city, breathe fresh air, drink a few beers and fish one last time before the surface of the lake melts away.

Jetty
Team: Fly On The Wall
City/Country: Portland, OR, USA
Genre: Social Issue/Political
A "Mom and Pop" fishery on the Oregon Coast is threatened by an ecologically unsustainable crabbing policy.

Meet The Freegans
Team: Shields Films
City/Country: Portland, OR, USA
Genre: Social Issue/Political
Steve is an educated man. A school teacher. A home owner. He also enjoys eating food from dumpsters.

Pennywise: The Changing Face of Change
Team: Lucky Shot
City/Country: Silver Spring, MD, USA
Genre: Social Issue/Political
Reflections on the cultural value and economic insignificance of the
American one-cent coin.

Red Light Blues
Team: Abrahami-Netz Productions
City/Country: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Genre: Social Issue/Political
Could this be the Swan Song of the world’s oldest profession?

Stick and Pound
Team: It Donned On Me
City/Country: Foster City, CA, USA
Genre: Art
A documentary that explores the rhythmic language of the Gullah people.

Do We Really Need A Roll Away Bed?

Flight: $465.22

Fri 4/25/08
Leave SFO 7:00am
Arrive Toronto 2:50pm

Sun 4/27/08
Leave Toronto 8:30am
Arrive SFO 10:54am

Hotel: $75/pp Renaissance Toronto Downtown

I booked 2 rooms, and will call the hotel to try and get us 2 beds in each room. If not, then hopefully I can get each room with a roll away bed or something. I'll keep you posted.

Hmmmm. I wonder who I'm going to get...

No Stick And Pound Behind The Scenes

I am a little disappointed in myself for not submitting any behind the scenes footage of Stick And Pound to the Doc Challenge folks. I'm usually on top of stuff like this, but that little trip to Vietnam derailed me. Those who know me know that I'm big on the behind the scenes stuff and I did have a ton of footage. So since I missed that deadline, I will go ahead and post some pics from that day. It seems like so long ago.


-----Original Message-----
From: info@documentarychallenge.org
Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2008 2:28 PM
To: Nguyen, Tony
Subject: Behind The Scenes Footage
Hello Doc Challenge Filmmakers,

I will be editing the Doc Challenge Documentary in Portland so if you still have behind the scenes footage that you want to send in, please send it to:

International Documentary Challenge
Attn: Doug Whyte
6104 NE 32nd Ave
Portland, OR 97211

I have a decent amount already, but could definitely use some more!

Thanks,
Doug

Best Acting By A Horse Award

I got home and saw a large envelope sitting on my kitchen table. The return address was St. Louis, Missouri. I wondered who this could have possibly be from. I opened the envelope and pulled this out:

It's our Best Acting By A Horse award!! I'm going to frame this and give it to the Serendipity Ranch so that they can proudly display it in Junior's stall.

Top 25 Doc Challenge Films Considered for P.O.V. Prize!

It just keeps getting better...


-----Original Message-----
From: info@documentarychallenge.org
Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2008 11:12 PM
To: Nguyen, Tony
Subject: Top 25 Doc Challenge Films Considered for P.O.V. Prize!

Hello Doc Challenge Filmmakers,

I am happy to announce that the International Documentary Challenge is partnering with P.O.V., PBS' premiere showcase for independent, non-fiction film.

http://www.pbs.org/pov/

P.O.V. will be awarding the "P.O.V. Prize" to a Doc Challenge film. This film will be prominently showcased on their website and receive a $1,000 award.

Currently P.O.V is looking at the top 25 rated films from the 1st round of judging to determine the winner. The winning film will screen at Hot Docs, where the prize will be awarded. If the P.O.V. Prize goes to a non-finalist, we will announce it next Monday so the filmmakers can attend the festival if they want to. If it goes to a finalist, we will just announce the winner at Hot Docs. Below are the top 25 teams being considered for the award (in alphabetical order.) Good luck!

Abrahami-Netz Productions
Appaloosa
Boss and Coder 34
Eyesfull
Fly on the Wall
Ghost Mountain
Go!
Higher Rock & Downward Spiral Productions
It Donned On Me
Lucky Shot
Nameera Ahmed
Profluence Productions
Reel Grrls
Reel Hard-Workin' Dogs
Rotating Planet
Shields Films
Sholi
Smoke In Mirror Productions
Surge Media
Team Juicebox
Team Sour Cream
Testigo
Whoretoculture Films
Wideshot Studios
Year of the Rooster

Cheers,

Doug Whyte
Doc Challenge Producer

Par-Tay!!

Here's a shot of me and Evan at the Visa Life Takes Invitationals reception. I'm hoping the Hot Docs folks will be opening up that envelope and calling out "Stick And Pound" on April 26th. Win or lose, Evan, Joanne, Dinah, and I will be partying up after the festival!


-----Original Message-----
From: Doug Whyte [mailto:doug@kdhx.org]
Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2008 7:58 AM
To: Doug Whyte
Subject: Hot Docs Lodging and Reception

Hello Doc Challenge Finalists,

First, I want to let everyone know that 12 of the 14 finalists will be attending Hot Docs (many with large groups)! It's a fantastic turnout and should make for a great reception and screening. A couple of notes:

1) Soon you should receive an email confirmation from Hot Docs for your pass. Let me know if you don't receive this by the end of next week.

2) The Doc Challenge Reception is set - here are the details:

Doc Challenge Reception
Saturday, April 26, 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Duke of York Pub
39 Prince Arthur Ave.
Toronto, ON M5R 1B2
Complimentary Appetizers/Cash Bar

(The Duke of York is within walking distance of Tinnis Town Hall Theatre where the screening and awards ceremony takes place at 9:30pm)

3) I understand that this can be a pricey trip for many of you and I'm thrilled you are making the effort to come. I spoke with Eric Geringas who is on the Board of the Documentary Organization of Canada, and he has some recommendations for reasonably priced lodging (at least by Toronto standards.) Here is what Eric says:

>>
Cheaper hotels (all conveniently located) include: HoJo Yorkville, Holiday Inn Midtown, Days Inn Toronto Downtown.

There are a couple of very inexpensive B&Bs on Spadina Rd. (close to either Dupont or Spadina subway stations), including the very cheap Havinn B&B. For more details on B&B, see TripAdvisor:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g155019-c2-Toronto_Ontario-Hotels.html

Another inexpensive hotel on the subway line is the Clarion Selby, at Bloor and Sherbourne.

Finally, I don't know much about this place, but it gets rave reviews:

http://www.clarencecastle.com

It's a bit farther away, but right on the Spadina streetcar line.

Feel free to give the filmmakers my e-mail address
(geringas@gmail.com) if they have
questions about accommodations or anything else. I'm happy to help.
>
>

I'm looking forward to meeting all of you in Toronto!

Cheers,
Doug

---
Doug Whyte
Director of Media Arts Programs
KDHX Community Media
St. Louis, MO | Portland, OR
O: 503.493.4365
C: 314.397.9740
http://www.kdhx.org/mediaarts
http://www.docchallenge.org
http://www.myspace.com/docchallenge
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=24323502432

April Fools!

I've been bamboozled! PUNK'ed! I fell for the email below!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Doug Buon [mailto:chihuahuafilms@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 6:11 PM
To: vitamint73@yahoo.com
Subject: Interested In Film

Dear Mr Nguyen,

I recently came across your submission for the 48 hour film contest, and wished to contact you regarding an opportunity for a 30 minute film on chihuahuas. If you are interested, please contact me at your convenience at: chihuahuafilms@gmail.com

Sincerely,
Doug Buon

It turns out, this was an April Fools Day prank that my coworker Sylvia pulled on me! The funny thing is that I actually forwarded this email to some of the members of IT DONNED ON ME, thinking that this could be a good experience, considering that I do have a chihuahua of my own. I do have to say that I initially suspected that this was a hoax because it seemed oh so coincidental, but in the end, I got punk'ed. Loser!