Indiefest

The Midwest Independent Film Festival, also known as Indiefest started on Friday. I volunteered to help out in whatever capacity they needed on Friday and today (Sunday). I worked, on Friday, at the merchandise table and today I worked as an usher, after which, I was able to watch the feature. I will admit to having a taste that runs toward indie materials, both film and music. I find that a lot of mass-market stuff aims for the lowest common denominator and ends up losing all of its edge. I would say that indie art is more the undiluted view of the artist, aims for a smaller audience, and is more pure in form. Having said all of that, just because its independent doesn't mean it's good. It could be that the reason that it's independent is because the idea is garbage and it isn't worth the money to invest in it. That, I would have to say was the case for the feature on Friday night. It was called Blood Deep and it was one of the most cliched slasher films that I have ever seen. It was a typical group of friends getting together for a reunion at a place familiar to their past and people start dying. As is typical, the killer is one of the group. It reminded me of "Happy Birthday to Me" which was a positively mediocre slasher flick from the 80's. The movie I watched today was a documentary called Little Man which was about the trials of a lesbian couple after they tried to raise their 2nd child who was born via a surrogate 100 days early (25 weeks) weighing less than a pound. It was very emotional and the camera work was very good but it could have been better with a little emotional distance.

And so ends today's update. Everyone have a great evening.

I'm Baaaa-aaack

Yes, I haven't written anything in 3 1/2 months. Where have I been? I did spend 2 weeks in California in April, but obviously that leaves 2 1/2 months. Before I left, I was starting to have trouble coming up with new things to say every day. I couldn't stand the idea that I was saying the same thing every day so I wasn't writing as often. I really didn't have a chance to write when I was in California so I got out of the habit of writing regularly. So where does that leave me? The girl I had been dating decided that she didn't want to date me anymore so I was a little despondent for a while but I didn't let that slow my life down. I have been very busy volunteering and enjoying the summer. I am going to try to get into the habit of writing again although admittedly it probably will not be 5 times a week like it had been before I went on hiatus. We will see...

What else? I happened to see in the Chicago Tribune today that the Hmong deer hunter from St. Paul who was accused of shooting 7 other hunters had apparently written to a Tribune reporter and some of the things that he said are potentially incriminating. A Wisonsin judge has ruled that these letters are admissable in court.

I had been documenting the American military that have been killed in Iraq. I will continue to do this as soon as I figure out the last month that I documented. So ends my first update in the last 3 1/2 months, I will write again soon.