(my film) Getting down to the nitty-gritty; 2nd rought cut due this Saturday, fine cut due week after that. I have cut a lot of scenes, but I think the piece flows better now... Pierre seemed pleased, but who knows with that guy? My film seems more distant to me, but I don't know if that's better or worse. Better for editing, I suppose. Worse for other reasons.
Went to 38th Annual Ann Arbor Film Festival this weekend--completely exhausted. I'm amazed at how there can be so much crap mixed in with all the good stuff. Then again, that's how our screening will be. Notable films that I can still remember seeing: "Flight of the Stone" (Suzanne Horizon-Franzel, PA) "Confederation Park" (Bill Brown, TX)* "Bottomless Cup" (Paul Bonner, NY)* "Hong Kong HKG" (Gerald Holthuis, Neth)* "King of the Jews" (Jay Rosenblatt, CA)* "The Ettitquete of Letter Writing" (Lucy Lehmann, AUS)* "Reinvention" (Sadia Shepard, CA) "I'd Like Them Better if They Were Rainbow" (Travis Ryburn Leland, CA) * denotes winner Also seen lately-- American Beauty: I knew the 1st time I saw it that if I saw it again I wouldn't like it as much. The surprise factor is a huge issue for this film, and it loses that the 2nd time 'round. Still a good film, though, and another viewing gave me a chance to observe other elements. Viva L'Amour: Strangely compelling Taiwanese film that bored and fascinated me at the same time. Predictable, deliberate, quiet, sexual, and very strange. A 15 minute shot of a woman crying is the finale, and that pretty much sums up how you feel after the film's over. Super Citizen: Although I was amused by what I saw, I fell asleep for part of this hokey yet supposedly symbolical Taiwanese film, produced in part by slo-mo King John Woo. Laughable sound dub & horrible subtitles made me lose interest even more. I'm tired of making every Chinese/Taiwanese/Hong Kong film out to be a national allegory.
	Canada First thoughts: just weird enough to really set you off, like something out of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers". Landscape: straight & straighter. Other: Boring as hell. Border guards: Fucking assholes. US (Michigan) First thoughts: first trip back since I was 12, & it hasn't changed much. Ann Arbor is a nice town--lots to do for the kids, yet cultured. Cold. Landscape: Detroit has a big tire. Other: Rain made for a hard ride home, plus the fact that it's just a really fucking boring trip. Saw white deer near Geneva Army/Coast Guard base. Coast Guard... in the middle of NY state. Interesting... Border Guards: Fucking assholes.
Witnessed more car accidents this weekend: multiple rear-end collision on my way out of Ann Arbor. Friendships are being tested because everyone's so anxious about everything... graduating, classes, projects. I try to keep these things in mind, and I hope my friends do, too. I have lost patience with many of my peers, and those I used to consider as friends. No patience for a lot of things. Spent weekend in close proximity to people I didn't know all that well, and some I don't ever want to know better. It seems that some folks just can't get enough of that whole beer thing. When I don't sleep I get cranky & sick.	Previous weeks: March 4th March 12th