John Cassavetes says it all.

We love this clip of John talking about audiences and film. He had such great mannerisms.

Poker Face...

So, I'm listening to Lady Ga Ga as I write this. Poker/Zipper Face. It's pretty rockin.

Anyway, as Burke previously posted, Cinequest was awesome. They have some of the best festival staff of any festival we've been to. Mike Rabehl is an amazing guy. If you're a filmmaker you MUST submit to Cinequest. They treat you right, know how to have fun, and they really want to see your film succeed in this crazy industry.

We hauled the couch from the film out there and gave people rides before and after our screenings. It was pretty fun. We actually staged it so when the huge crowds came out of "All About Dad" (a great film from Mark Tran) we would basically push the couch right in-between groups of people. Annoying? Probably. Effective? You bet your booty.

We also met some amazing filmmakers. One of our main goals for film festivals was meeting as many people as we could. Fans and Filmmakers alike. Actually, we made good friends with some of the people who hated our movie, like Cynthia. We read her scathing review the day after one of our screenings, and told her to come find us, which she did. So, we snapped a picture of her and have become good friends. She still doesn't care for Billy or his escapades, but she'll come around. Some of the great filmmakers we met were Rob Margolies (Lifelines), John Michael Thomas (Corpse Run), Alejandro Adams (Canary), Chris Cannuciari (New Brooklyn), Don Hardy (Witch Hunt), Mark Tran (All About Dad). I'm sure I'm leaving someone out...I'll update it when I remember. So go check out their films. Please.

Cinequest in pictures...

So Cinequest has come and gone. We had a ton of fun and met a lot of great people. "Billy Was a Deaf Kid" got a lot of great reviews and some not-so-great ones. There were honestly some people who said Billy changed their lives. Even I'll admit that the more times I watch it the more and more I get out of it...and the more I understand things about my own life.

After Cinequest I thought back to when we first screened Billy to test audiences and the mixed reviews we got. What's interesting is some of the people who have hated it, hated it because of how some of the characters acted...and that's interesting because we based a lot of the conversation and characters off of these people who hate it. It's funny that when people see themselves from a 3rd person perspective they don't even realize that they're looking at themselves. They think they're watching someone who is oppressive, mean, and has no likable quality to them....when really they are seeing certain aspects of their real life and they won't accept that, either consciously or subconsciously. It just goes to show that people aren't aware of who they really are. People look at movies like "the Bourne Identity" and think "I'm a lot like Jason Bourne" or they think they're Leo Decaprio in "Titanic" or Keira Nightly in "Pride and Prejudice." When really we're not these always-perfect, never-a-dull-moment, get-along-great, happily-ever-after people...in fact, we're all less than perfect and that is what keeps us human. How many of us snap, for no reason, snap at the people we care about most? Are the majority of our arguments based on things worth arguing about? Or are they usually based on superficial things that if you stopped for a second and breathed in you'd wonder why you started arguing in the first place? I'm willing to bet it's almost always the latter.

There's quote at the end of the flick that I think sums up peoples reaction better than it sums up the movie:

"I used to have a girlfriend that thought I was the funniest man alive.
Whenever I went out with her and thought I was being romantic and
dashing, she simply used to roar with laughter - at everything I said and did.

This taught me a very basic, necessary lesson: that we really aren't
ourselves, and the impression we make on people is often the direct
opposite of the one we intended."

John Cassavetes


So there you go.

Burke.



Here are some of my fave pics we took during the festival:

Getting Close.

So, getting ready for film festivals is a full time job. With no pay. With this being our first major film festival, I wonder if we've done all that we can to prepare. We've read and read all about different strategies, studied books, read a bunch of blogs (Joe Swanberg has some great advice) and talked to as many filmmakers as we could have. But you still wonder if it's enough!

We've made a lot of mistakes so far, and I'm sure we'll make a lot more, but it's all part of the process I suppose. It's a fun experience. We are getting really really excited for Cinequest though. Hopefully people will come to our screenings.

At least my mom will be there. So now we only need to worry about getting 299 more people to attend.

Rhetty

Microphone Thief.

During shooting one night out on the street, we set Billy's microphone down for a minute as we adjusted some of our lights. A few minutes later we went back to retrieve said microphone and soon realized it was no where to be found. We thought at first we had just misplaced it, but after searching all of our cars, street blocks and houses we realized some poor soul had stolen it.

The economy must be worse than we thought. It's forcing people to steal toy microphones off the street.

Now, it wasn't just your run-of-the-mill microphone. It was a vintage 1984 Fisher Price Karaoke/Microphone. We searched and searched online for one, but had no luck. So, Rhett being the mad artist that he is, set to work on building a replica out of paper mache and foam.

It took him about 2 days, and a ton of patience, but we're confident no one will be able to tell which is which in the film.

Hopefully the dude that stole it in first places rots with guilt. Or at the very least, goes to see the film.

Candyce Foster. The Loogie Girl.

Yes, we know, that's a disgusting title. But once you see the movie it will all make perfect sense.



We want to take the time to highlight members of the cast and crew, so everyone can see what great people we had to work with. Instead of giving a little bio, we thought we'd put together "lists" of dif. facts about each person. It's more fun, plus lists are easier to read.

This is what Candyce had to say:

5 Random Things:

1. I sleep with my eyes open. "Freaky."
2. I love to shop-judge me.
3. Once I find I good book I can do nothing else.
4. I am an honest to goodness Madonna fan. Her old retro stuff ROCKS.
5. I have Osgood Slaughter disease. Look it up.

Fav. Foods

1. Mexican.
2. Movie theatre popcorn. I dont care how much you pay for the box from a store, it just isn't the same.
3. uh... Mexican.
4. Mashed Potatoes.
5. Ice Cream, Raspberry Sorbet in particular.


Things You Want To Do
What like before I die? What?
1. Travel. A lot.
2. Sleep on a beach. Naked.
3. Open a flower shop.
4. Become a good cook.
5. Relax.

"Billy" is Candyce's first feature film, and we think she did a phenomenal job.

Welcome to the Billy Was a Deaf Kid blog!

Howdy,

This is it...the first post in the "Billy Was A Deaf Kid" blog. I personally am not a fan of blogging so bear with me.

"Billy" is premiering in San Jose California at the Cinequest Film Festival. Check out this link for showtimes and tickets: http://www.cinequest.org/event_view.php?eid=463.

The official website for the film is: www.billywasadeafkid.com. Check it out for the trailer, photo's, links, bio's, yada yada yada.

I'm sure we'll have some kind of highlight for cast and crew members up here shortly...so come back for updates!!

Peace out...

BURKE LEWIS