Another Saroyan Shot

Very Annie Liebowitz.

Robin Cee

Here's another great Saroyan Humphrey shot. That's me with Robin Cee, one of the funniest people I've ever met. What I love about this chick is her squeaky Minnie Mouse on helium voice. I first met Robin at the San Jose 48 Hour Film Project screening. She starred with Jeff Crispi in the romantic comedy "Lost And Found." We met again at the summer edition of the Avalon Micro Film Festival and then again at the SJ48HFP Awards Ceremony. Robin is a class act, and I would definitely want to work with her in the near future.

Saroyan Humphrey

Jeff Crispi had a pretty amazing photographer named Saroyan Humphrey at the summer edition of the Avalon Micro Film Festival. This guy took some pretty cool pics, and this shot of Evan and Jeff is my personal favorite. This could be a Rolling Stone cover!

According to his website, Saroyan Humphrey began his career as an art director in San Francisco after leaving his hometown of Charlotte, NC, at the age of 22. Within a few years he had produced award winning work for Guitar Player magazine and Ziff-Davis. Saroyan has since designed for a wide array of clients, including Experience Hendrix, Isuzu, The City of San Francisco, and Microsoft. His work has been featured in Print and Communication Arts. Leveraging his success, Saroyan has established an eclectic career as an art director and graphic artist. He has launched designed, redesigned, and consulted for over 75 different publications, books, and companies.

When you get a chance, check out his portfolio. Good stuff.

Avalon Micro Summer

Below is a shot from the summer edition of the Avalon Micro Film Festival in Sunnyvale. I'm looking forward to the upcoming fall edition, which will take place at Laney College. I like the casual feel of a bar, but it would be nice to have this screening in a theater this time around. I talked to Jeff Crispi this afternoon, and not surprisingly, he's running around like a chicken with its head cut off. I assured him that he'll be fine and that the festival will rock!

Avaon Micro Film Festival Poster

The fall installment of Avalon Micro Film Festival is right around the corner, so keep October 18th open! It is a privilege for me to work with Jeff Crispi, and as the marketeer for this film festival, I wanted to make sure that the festival poster looks top notch. Check it out:

Me, A Marketeer?

Kudos to Strange Media's "Tracker" for taking the top honors at the Avalon Micro Film Festival. This film took home The Excalibur Best Film Prize. I had the privilege of speaking with the film's creator, Steffan Schultz, after the screening. It's really funny how it's such a small world: it turns out that Evan Donn worked for Steffan a few years ago. There may be a lot of people in the independent film community, but the ones who are truly passionate about this art form are the ones who keep popping up at these events. I guess that's why it came as no surprise to either gentlemen when their paths bisected again. I'm fairly sure that these two will meet again and again.

I have some exciting news. Jeff Crispi has asked me to join Team Avalon as a marketing consultant. All I did was post one write up on Blogged Arteries, but apparently it was enough for the invitation. The Fall edition of AMFF on October 18th is right around the corner and Evan will probably be producing again, so I figured I will be in good company. Also, this will give the opportunity to hone my marketing skills outside of It Donned On Me. We all know what I can and will do for IDOM! Of course, for Avalon, I will tone it down just a tad. In any case, I will be in touch with Mr. Crispi in the next couple of weeks to get the preparations underway. Hope you all can make it to the screening on Saturday, October 18th at Laney College. More details to come.

Jeff Crispi Rocks

I managed to tweak my schedule so that I could attend the Avalon Micro Film Festival. I guess I'm making up for lost time for missing out on the whole "Doggie Style" experience last year. For those who are new to Blogged Arteries: The Unrendered Files, I am referring to It Donned On Me's 2007 San Jose Film Project submission. I know that last line probably sounded a bit perverse, so I had to make that clarification. In any case, I really do feel like I missed out last year due to family obligations, so when Jeff Crispi invited me to attend this event (where "Doggie Style" would be screened) I did what I could to get there.

The Avalon Micro Film Festival is the brain child of Jeff Crispi. What started out as "The East Bay Micro Film Festival," a screening that took place in Mr. Crispi's home, has turned into a film festival tour in New York, Oakland, the South Bay, and eventually San Francisco. This film festival is really making a name for itself, and I am proud that It Donned On Me is a part of it. Not only was "Doggie Style" screened, but so was "TwirlyBoy." I was very impressed by the selection of high caliber films that Jeff put together. I got to meet a few of the filmmakers as well as some of the actors, some of whom were hysterical. On the schedule for the evening (in no particular order):

"Renounced" - Angelo Bell
"Consumed" - Subject To Change
"Love Hurts" - Christian Simmons
"Doggie Style" - It Donned On Me
"El Invencion" Trailer - Andres Garcia Franco
"Sunshine Bob" - Christian Simmons
"All Nighter" - Ryota Mori
"Max" - Rick Kemp
"Crickets" - Kari Navil
"The Key Master" - Ryota Mori
"El Ride" - Veronica Rodriguez
"Tracker" - Steffan Shultz
"Pencil Face" - Christian Simmons
"TwirlyBoy" - It Donned On Me

After every film screened, Jeff had a question and answer session with the filmmakers. As TwirlyBoy, I got to be a part of the panel! Initially, it felt weird to be up there, but the other filmmakers were so supportive and fun that I completely chilled out and ran with it. The audience asked very insightful questions, but what was even better was hearing the filmmakers responses. When all questions were answered, Evan--who just happened to be the executive producer of this film festival--played some of the filmmaker's other works. It was well after 11pm, but I was still engrossed on the screen. However, as the clock ticked closer to midnight, I had to call it quits. I thanked everyone, especially Jeff, for the great evening.

The Avalon Micro Film Festival is an intimate engagement where the audience member really gets to know the filmmaker and his or her art. I like that. Jeff Crispi is doing something good for the film community. Jeff, if you're reading this, you rock!

Avalon Micro Film Festival 2008 Summer Edition

Tonight is the Avalon Micro Film Festival in Sunnyvale, and I am bummed that I won't be able to make it. Whenever I can, I try to make it out to all the screenings of IDOM's work. Unfortunately, I have some family obligations that I can't get out of. The next stop for the festival is New York, and I will try my best to make it out to The Big Apple. I'm pretty sure the organizer will screen one of our films again. Below is the description of the festival that Evan posted on the IDOM site:

Once again several of IDOM's films will be screening as part of the 2008 Avalon Micro Film Festival. The Summer edition will be taking place this Saturday, August 30th at The Quarter Note in Sunnyvale at 8pm. IDOM's films "Doggie Style" and "Tail" will be screening on Saturday along with a dozen other short films including "Max" - a short film by IDOM member Rick Kemp written by and starring Mickey Joseph, star of our first 48H film "Urgent Care". The screening will be followed by a Q&A with several of the filmmakers in attendance.

The Avalon Micro Film Festival is a truly grassroots production started and run by Jeff Crispi, one of the stars of "Doggie Style." From a single screening last year Jeff has grown the festival to four scheduled screenings this year spanning both coasts, so if you miss this week's screening you'll still have a chance to catch the fall or winter shows (in Oakland & New York, respectively - I'll post details as they are finalized). So come on out to support both truly independent filmmaking and independent exhibition as well as have a great time at the movies.

Above is a shot of Jeff Crispi and Dinah deSpenza, a.k.a Don and Dawn August of "Doggie Style." This little family reunion (Don and Dawn are siblings, in case you didn't know that) took place at last week's screening of TwirlyBoy. Next year, regardless of what genre we pull, I say we incorporate these PR Specialists into the script. They, of course, would represent TwirlyBoy!

Avalon Micro Film Festival

'Stick & Pound', 'Doggie Style' and 'Tail' are scheduled to screen at the 2008 Avalon Micro Film Festival on Saturday, August 30th. Unfortuanately, I won't be able to attend because of a prior engagement. First I miss Kosovo and now Sunnyvale!