Flicker #30

here's what we screened:

Julie Shapiro "Anodynic"
super 8 4 min.

Paul Heltzel "The Track / The Ride / Zapatos"
16mm 3 min.

Radha Vatsal "A Step Removed"
16mm 10 min.

Neal Hutcheson "Cry Like a Baby"
super 8 4 min.

Chris Carson & Jonny Elkes "A Portrait of Wang Jun"
super 8 4 min.

Doug Vuncannon "Home Again"
16mm 4 min

June Merlino "New Century"
super 8 4 min

Karen Cirillo "Northwest Express"
super 8 4 min

Mike Connor "Frank's Monday"
16mm 1 min

Alanna Thain "Bridled"
16mm 20 min

Flicker #30

Welcome back to Flicker. Though I'm not ready to call this the end of summer, it is an ending of sorts, as Flicker's organizer extrordinaire for the past two years, Roger Beebe, has segued into the Real World by taking a Real Job in Florida. Roger's influence on Flicker will be long-lasting: in addition to keeping the home fires burning here at the Cat's Cradle, he helped spread the Flicker idea across the country with the "Best of Flicker" videotapes and the first-ever Flicker tour. He's truly a tough act to follow, and I'd like to thank him for his help and inspiration (and for leaving the projectors & stuff to keep this going). He's here tonight, and, I hope, for many more shows in the future.

And since this is Flicker's sixth anniversary, big thanks must go out to Norwood Cheek for starting all this in the first place. It's a testament to his enthusiasm, helpfulness, and dedication that Flicker has not only survived, but sprouted all across the country. His model was "open source" before that term existed, and thanks to him there will no doubt be Flickers popping up in new cities all the time, each with its own local flavor and identity.

But really, the biggest thanks of all go to you, the people who come out and participate in Flicker, and have for the past six years. One of the hardest things about making a film is wondering who would actually care enough to watch it, react to it, suggest things to improve it, and, ultimately, make one of their own. You have done this since the beginning, and Flicker is nothing without you.

I don't have a highfalootin' statement of purpose to give you here, but Flicker doesn't need one anyway. It's about local film, it's about proving that the best things come in small packages, and that, much as they'd like you to believe it, Hollywood doesn't own the movies.

As proof, we've got a bunch of great films in the lineup tonight, some new filmmakers, and, I'm glad to say, an equal number of entries from men & women (this film stuff is too often a boy's club, so here's to getting rid of another useless convention). Thanks a lot for coming, and enjoy the show.