Friday, April 28, 2000
8:40 PM

For the first time today, I have a minute to write updates! And what a day it has been. I arrived at the Charles Theatre greeted by a lobby full of dogs! The 9:30 AM screening of A.J's Dogumentary invited dog owners to take their canine companions out to the movies. Over thirty dogs came to the show! What a wonderful sight: a theatre filled with dogs. Jed's dog Zeke, who ruled the festival last year, graciously shared the spotlight with Zoie, A.J.s adorable lab, and all of the four-legged festival-goers. With the exception of Rusty, who had to leave because of bad behavior (owner Chris Kaltenbach of the Baltimore Sun prefers the term "resigning with honor") the dogs seemed transfixed by the film, as well as the short, Sporting Dog. Frisbees from the short were distributed before the screening, and there was much joy and rejoicing. And tail-wagging.

The American Premiere of La Esquina Caliente was an emotional and joyous event as filmmaker Michael Skolnick invited classes from the St. Ignatius School to attend the film. The film, which chronicles the Baltimore Orioles' 1999 historic trip to Cuba to play the national team, includes extensive footage of the St. Ignatius student exchange, in which kids from the Baltimore school traveled to Cuba in conjunction with the game.

I moved from that screening to John Hazlett's Bad Money, a black comedy about the lengths people will go to for monetary gain. John, who hails from Alberta Canada, informed the crowd that this was indeed an American Premiere. Post-screening Q&A was handled by festival guest, and Slamdance co-founder Dan Mirvish, who donned one of his legendary hats and fielded questions for John. When asked about transition from Producing to Directing, Hazlett, predictably said, "I always wanted to direct."

All warmed-up, Dan was ready to go for his own screening of Omaha (the movie). Before the show, I offered a lengthy introduction about the significance of this film. Not only is this film the inspirational force behind Slamdance, it also serves as a model for self-distribution. Dan, never at a loss for words, offered numerous anecdotes including how he got the Mayor of Omaha, the Governor of Nebraska, and Red Robin Restaurant mascot to make cameos in his film.

Also, Dan announced that thr Maryland Film Festival will be premiering his new film, The First Couple of Omaha Theater will be making its world premiere online at the Maryland Film Festival site! Click here to see.

Gabe's notes Friday Continued
The World Premiere of Towson University student Mike Flanagan's Makebelieve featured all the pomp and circumstance accorded a World Premiere. The filmmaker, and his cast rolled up to the Charles Theatre in a stretch limo as big as the one last seen in the Phil Collins "Take Me Home" video. Before the screening, the young director gushed, "This is a dream come true," as he thanked everyone who made the screening possible. Flanagan was accompanied by a TV news camera crew, and will be featured on Fox45 News at 10 feature story that chronicled the novice director through his entire festival experience.

John Waters returned to the Maryland Film Festival to present a screening of Lodge Kerrigan's Clean, Shaven ("A title I love. Note the comma. It's not Clean Shaven, it's Clean, Shaven.") After presenting last year's screening of the camp-fest Boom!, Waters warned the audience that this year's selection was dead serious. "I remember the first time I saw this film…but, I don't remember where. I was so disoriented afterwards." The psychological drama made quite an impression on the near capacity crowd. After the film, Waters commented that it was his hope people remember the FILM, and not his presentation of the film.

Meanwhile in theatre 3, Lynne Sachs and Mark Street presented their films Window Work and Happy? As part of a program with the mondo-L.A. head-trip, Enter. Before the screening, Street and Sachs, who serve on the festival advisory board, acknowledged the breadth of the programming, and commended the Maryland Film Festival for championing avant-garde works, and showcasing them side by side with everything else. Spotted in the audience were the Borthers Kuchar, M.M. Serra, John Hazlett, and Baltimore cinema legend George Figgs, whose (now defunct) Orpheum Theatre hosted the majority of experimental works last year at the festival.
-GW 10:52 PM

Chad Etchison hosted his screening of The Initiate, with Producer and cinematographer Jim Hunter, and his wife and co-producer, Mary Etchison. The Initiate, which has only screened at one other festival, boasts solid writing, star quality acting, and stunning images. Considering that the film was shot in the rural South, the audience was surprised to learn during the Q&A that the film's look was inspired largely by Ridley Scott's futuristic, sci-fi masterpiece Blade Runner. Chad applauded the Maryland Film Festival for taking a chance on his film. "It's like in class when no one raises their hand. Then someone does, and everyone follows…It is great to receive validation from a festival like this. We are honored to participate in such a great event."

The Work in Progress screening of Barry's Gift was introduced by the Maryland Film Office's Jack Gerbes, who commended Francis Xavier, and who lamented that many of last year's "Maryland" filmmakers (Barry Levinson, Mark Pellington) had to be brought back to Maryland for the festival. "It is great to include films like this made in Maryland, by Maryland crews, with Maryland talent…" I offered a brief introduction explaining the significance of the filmmaking process. The filmmakers began the show with a brief retrospective of their company Metropolis Pictures. A Real Barrel of Monkeys made audiences laugh and laugh and laugh…but I guess you had to be there… More anon.

-GW 12:27AM (It's Saturday…)