In 2002 when I was working for Hi-Wire, Bill Slichter approached a group of us in the post industry in Minneapolis to discuss his ambitious plans to direct a short film to be named “Flourtown”. Armed with his vision, and a short story he persuaded many of us to sign on for the adventure of producing an all-green-screen film on essentially no budget. He managed to come up with the money to pay for needed gear Rentals, got Ice House to contribute use of their greenscreen space, and persuaded director Rich Michel to shoot a couple of minutes of the story. From this we produced a proof of concept clip, that then led to Bill being able to raise more money and win a small grant or two, that led to the monies necessary to complete the film.
At the outset, the decision was made to shoot on Sony’s Cine-Alta camera, a video camera capable of shooting filmic motion of 24 fps, with a color response much like a film camera. Few companies at the time were attempting fx work with digital motion cameras, and the efficiency afforded by shooting on tape as opposed to film made it an attractive idea.
Cut to 6 years later… now it’s 2008 and “Flourtown” is finally making the Festival rounds. It has been an official selection of the Florida Film Fesitival, the Palm Springs International Film Fesitval, and Dances with Films, and impressed one film critic enough to call it “A dense, beautiful, hypnotic combination of live action and animation, not unlike some of the visions of Dali. Director Slichter incorporates both fantastical and anachronistic images in this animation tour-de-force”.
Although a Minneapolis premiere is in the works, there is not a date set yet or specific local festival it will screen in…
Next time I’ll discuss the production and post production processes and workflow that allowed the film to be made…
Being that I’m in public relations normally I would execute some kind of formal release, but Carlos won’t really open up about this. He just sent this video but he won’t give me the facts. So there you have it…no details.
But here’s what I would have written if he’d have let me:
Fischer Edit’s Assistant Editor Carlos Lamas edited this new video featuring Lazerbeak and Mike Mictlan of Minneapolis-based hip hop group-extraordinaire Doomtree. This video directed by Isaac Gale coincides with the release of their collaborative album “Hand Over Fist.”
To celebrate the duo will be holding their CD Release party Saturday, September 28th at the 7th St. Entry. For more info click here.
“The Story is Happening” is a moving collage of work by artist Sabrina Ward Harrison in collaboration with editor Katie Carpenter. Original music for the film was composed by Modern Music’s John Hermanson. This film is an homage to the lifelong adventure of handmade “true living.” Harrison’s True Living Project inspires a generation of mindful pioneers through global collaboration and generational partnership. This is the first film created by the True Living Project.
The Beacon Art Salon & Fovea Exhibitions presents
The Beacon Film Flam
An arts-crafts-puppet village & outdoor film festival
Saturday, September 13, 2008, Noon – 10:00 pm
At the lot on Main Street’s West End at Cross Street
Arts Village: Noon – 6pm
Film Festival: 7pm (dusk) – 10 pm
Fine arts and crafts vendors will sell their wares throughout the day.
Music performances, puppet shows and film showings are free to the
public. Featured fine arts include photography, painting, art gifts,
ceramics and more. The film festival will include a video presentation
by Fovea Exhibitions, followed by a screening of selected short films.
Special World Premiere Screening – “The Story is Happening”
a moving collage of work by artist Sabrina Ward Harrison as part of the True Living Project.
