A Copy of My Latest E-mail "Update"

(here is a lazy way to write a blog entry--just cut and paste from my e-mail)

Hello friends of Intermedia Arts Project:

As many of you know already, we had an amazing turnout at the film festival last Tuesday. It was standing-room only.   People came out from at least four different counties to witness our 30-minute film plus the Q/A. It was particularly touching to see our consumer/participants  receiving a standing ovation after the screening.

We're getting lots of positive feedback. Leah Garchik from SF Chronicle said she "loved our film" and would do a column. We are even getting offers for possible grants. 

At this point, I am really overwhelmed and need a break. After I return from vacation (sometime in mid-august), I will get back to you with thoughts about where we might go next. And I would love your feedback since this is really a collaborative effort. But here is what I'd like to do when I get back from vacation in mid August.

(1) Have a get together (perhaps over lunch or potluck) and discuss where we might go as a group...Perhaps we can critique our films, explore ways to expand our storytelling, and just celebrate our success, etc. I'd like to do this sometime by mid-August. Perhaps over a weekend at my place???  

(2) One of the things I'd like to do at the meeting is to explore OUR CORE VALUES. Since we are now gaining a lot of attention and many people are showing interest in our project, I think we need to develop a set of standards that are clear and Un-Compromisable. 

(3) Vince and I will get together with Andrew Lackey (sound designer) for some sound mixing. As you know, our video needs some serious sound work. I'd like to get our stuff over to Andrew by mid-to late August. 

(4) I'll probably get together with David L. Brown (my former instructor and one of our consulting producers) to get some feedback from him about our shorts...perhaps over beer!

(5) In August, I will also start booking a "tour" to possibly screen our project at different venues. Already, we've been inundated with calls from hospitals, clinics, and even a vocational training facility to have a screening. It would be great to have our consumer/participants go to these screenings and show off their work! 

So thanks again everyone. I will be contacting some of you individually to discuss pertinent details.