I dare you come to see me at both my engagements this Saturday. Come on, I dare you. Both events. C’mon!
Both are on the same day in the same part of town and only two hours apart, so you have no good excuse to miss either of them. Is it too much to ask? What can I say? I love independent film and I believe I truly believe we can make it better together. When an organization or individual or film team I believe in, and they ask me for my help, know what? I try to help. I was really thrilled to be asked to partake in some excellent events on behalf of excellent people by excellent organizations. So will I see you at…
My double header starts with IFP’s Script To Screen Conference at the Tribeca 92nd St Y on Canal and Hudson. The whole program is pretty close to dynamite, but our sure fire stockpile of don’t miss info goes on at 1030A. I have the privilege of talking with the Borderline team. These guys are the biggest talents to come out of NYC in at least a decade: Antonio Campos, Sean Durkin, and Josh Mond. They’ve written and directed a slew of films, all to great acclaim, many to Cannes, several to NYFF. I saw Antonio’s AFTERSCHOOL and had to wonder why he wasn’t on the cover of the Village Voice yet. I got to start to work with them on Sean’s feature directorial debut, and that went on to win Best Director at Sundance this year: MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE. We will reveal the controversial techniques they employed to get the script ready and expose the brutal tactics they use on all their works. Although this will be but a simple conversation, I warn you, it is not for the squeamish and faint of heart.
Two hours later you will be able to find me at the New School (12th Street between 5th & 6th Aveneu) for the now legendary DIY DAYS organized by Lance Weiler and The Workbook Project. If Indie had a Burning Man or an X-Games, this would be that. Okay maybe not, but DIYDAYS is one of the coolest events around, and not just because it’s free. Lance and his gang pull together a true cross-platform smorgasbord of thought & community leaders that can’t be more tasty if they tried. Even though I don’t fit into any of those categories, DIYDAYS is so damn inclusive, I got to be keynote last year. Check out my rant here. This year will be even better though because they have none other than indie film legend and provocateur Christine Vachon on hand to stir things up. And you know what? I am going to get to have a public conversation with her. Some of our planned talk has already been outed on Wikileaks so we may just have to be spontaneous this round.
This was my talk last year:
