April 20, 2008 by wilmington.

The Sea Shanty Films short bailey has been accepted into the CAPE FEAR INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL in Wilmington, NC on May 2-4!!

On top of that outstanding news, bailey has also been selected as one of the FINALISTS in the “Avant Garde” category.

The festival will be held in downtown Wilmington, NC - a hotspot in the world of independent film AND television (”Blue Velvet,” “Dawson’s Creek,” “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” “One Tree Hill,” “A Walk to Remember,” “Manhunter,” etc. etc.)

bailey is our most recent film. It’s a short dramatic piece inspired by real events. Writing and filming and performing and editing was all very exciting but also emotionally draining. The most common feedback from viewers has been: “Whoa. That was intense”…usually followed by a request for a second viewing.

It’s only 6 minutes long, all in real time, but we took the usual Sea Shanty approach of packing a much larger story and world into multi-layered writing, visuals, original music, and editing. I guess it is kind of “avant garde,” but that was mostly a function of trying to tell this particular story within 6 minutes. bailey is definitely different in design, execution, tone, visual style and “message” - - but it is a good example of a film that almost matches completely with our earliest vision. And that’s not easy, my friends…that is not easy.

If you’re anywhere near Wilmington, NC between May 2-4, we hope you can attend. I’ll update when I know more about the schedule - and you can check the festival site linked in its name above.

Comments are always welcome!

* Concluding Un-scientific and Blatantly Self-congratulatory (but in a triadic sense) Postscript*

All three of the Sea Shanty Films productions ( 1) The Wingnut and You! - (2004) , 2)X-GEN - (2006), and 3) bailey - (2007) ) that have been wrestled into complete forms have now been accepted into festivals. All 3 have been chosen as finalists…with bailey now in the running to join her older siblings as an award-winner, too. (And, hopefully, we can add The Spectre to this list someday soon…)

This is very nice icing on the much-more-satisfying cake of the actual creation and collaboration of our filmmaking odyssey.

..and that icing/cake metaphor is all mine. Don’t even think of stealing it.

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April 12, 2008 by wilmington.

NOW SHOWING at the Nickelodeon Theatre in Columbia, SC:

More details to come from Columbia and the Indie Grits Film Festival - but X-GEN is showing right now (2pm Eastern).

Matt Long flew out from his exclusive artists’ co-op bungalow in West Hollywood and was greeted in high style by the organizers of the festival. They have proved themselves to be extremely gracious and hospitable - read their “mission statement” on their site and see that these folks practice what they preach/promote.

Matt is soaking up the scene (outdoor concerts last night, screenings all day today) and loving a venue where “Independent Film” does not mean “the same few films that all the festivals who pose as independent somehow end up showing.” Sounds like great crowds and good networking.

Hopefully the judges and audiences will join the millions who are expressing their individuality by asking their doctors if X-GEN is right for them…

— And, see below if this seems random, but…BRIAN McBRIDE scored the winning goal to give Fulham its first away victory in ~18 months!! They may just avoid relegation with another couple of wins and a loss or two by Bolton and Birmingham…

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