SIFF filmmakers' dinner

I was invited to an intimate dinner for several SIFF filmmakers last evening, and had a terrific time.

I didn't hob the knob very much; I pretty much stayed with the folks at my table until we all walked amongst each other at the end of the evening.

The good news is that the folks on my table all worked on the Seattle indie sensation, "Humpday," the Lynn Shelton bromance feature about two straight friends who decide to make a gay porn film to win some cash.

I see it Sunday at SIFF.

I sat between Lynn and her camera assistant Nate Miller; across from one of the film's stars, the delightful, darling Alycia Delmore, and Lynn's co-producer Jennifer Maas.

What great food, conversation and stories!

The award-winning director/actor just returned from Cannes, where Humpday played; Magnolia Pictures is the film's distributor. It enjoys a limited US theatrical opening next month with a potential wide release following in typical indie rollout scheme.

International releases aren't far behind (since this blog reaches readers in 104 nations, you may want to check their website for the international release places and dates where you live), although there is no similar colloquial term for the American Humpday in other cultures.

In the US, Wednesday is called "humpday," because Wednesday at noon, we say we're "over the hump" of the week. That is, that is the halfway point of the week, after that it's all "downhill." We've made it over the hump for the week.

"Hump" is also American slang for having sex.

The mind boggles at how other languages will attempt to describe two heterosexual men who decide to make a gay porn film without complicating the title's intent. Some great American films have been killed by bizarre other language titles that made no sense.

She's working on a new film - one that relies on her style of directing actors improvising from a basic script outline she's written - only this one has just two primary characters.

Meanwhile, while I was starting beautiful new friendships with other artists over some fine dining, my assistant Aaron Heinzen was off doing color commentary for the Portland Timbers' soccer match with Montreal Impact on FOX Sports Northwest cable network.

Aaron's a former professional soccer player; his last team was the Timbers - his promising career sadly cut short because of injuries - partly caused by the overuse of incorrect "heading" techniques as a kid. Make sure your coach teaches you how to use your head properly when you're playing soccer, kids!

Today starts my serious work creating a unique distribution/marketing plan for THE WHOLE TRUTH! I am very excited to get started on it. We're getting screening DVD's made of the finished film through our good friends at Modern Digital post production services as we attend to other logistical matters.

Again, my deepest thanks to you blog readers who flew in to Seattle to see TWT!

Film distribution

In this still frame from THE WHOLE TRUTH, acting coach Angela Masters (Elisabeth Röhm) coaches a criminal client as lawyer sidekick Brad Sanders (Jim Holmes) approves.

Something special is happening with our movie, thanks to our appearance in the Seattle International Film Festival, my website and blog, the growing numbers of folks watching the trailer on YouTube, the poster for the film, THE WHOLE TRUTH official website, other entertainment websites and blogs, fan sites, word of mouth and "buzz."

We've been contacted by several legitimate film distributors - worldwide (domestic and international), international (outside US) and domestic (US and, usually, Canada).

At this point we're keeping a list of all interested distributors who have contacted us - and will continue to add to that list through our SIFF screenings, as well as including distribution contacts we already have.

We're checking reputations (some promise but don't pay filmmakers their share of the profits, others are spot on fair and honest) and records for supporting and marketing films they have chosen.

Marketing is a big deal. It's a costly endeavor and we can name the films that died because of inappropriate, poor or totally misguided marketing on a roll of toilet paper, there are so many.

I started marketing THE WHOLE TRUTH in a unique way; one that is intended to raise curiosity and promise about the film without giving away the hundreds of surprises contained within. It's also a thriller/screwball comedy whose genres I've turned on their ears, which means that it's, um, different.

I think it's different in a way audiences will love -- but we'll find out if that's true next week, won't we?

We're also looking for a distribution partner, not someone simply wanting to make the most money from just one film, or a "one-off."

We're going to be making films for many years to come, so we want to hook up with a solid distributor who will be with us for the duration. We're only making quality, entertaining films, and we're looking for someone who feels the same way about marketing and distributing quality, entertaining films.

Meanwhile, here is what the SIFF program viewer wrote up about THE WHOLE TRUTH for their catalogue - I think it reveals the tone and texture of the film very well - it's what most distributors unfamiliar with our film are reading:

Angela Masters is an acting coach with an unusual client list.

Instead of catering to Hollywood celebrities, she gives what could be described as personality transplants—“character transformations,” if you will—to accused criminals.

By making her clients appear slightly more sympathetic to juries, Angela has become a specialist in securing acquittals for some decidedly shady characters.

This lucrative enterprise is interrupted when Angela overhears a client she helped set free plan a heinous crime—then she becomes a target for murder.

Portrayed by Elisabeth Röhm, of Law & Order fame, Angela discovers that escaping death and finding who she really is becomes the most expensive—and rewarding—experience of her life.

The plot points resemble those of a pure courtroom thriller, but Seattle director Colleen Patrick, in her feature debut, has turned the genre on its ear to create a fast-paced and hilarious satire about the current state of the legal system.

Billing itself as 'a screwball comedy—with a twist,' the film contains sharp dialogue and strong comic performances.

Filmed at various locations around Seattle and Tacoma, The Whole Truth packs in rapid-fire laughs, but also neatly skewers the sorry state of the American 'justice' system.

Come this weekend, THE WHOLE TRUTH trailer will also be available through the SIFF online catalogue for them to peruse; the official website is already posted.

THE WHOLE TRUTH World Premier

Will take place at the Seattle International Film Festival.

We were *just* notified, so we'll know more later - date, time, etc.

Hopefully, our stars Elisabeth Röhm,
















Sean Patrick Flanery,

Eric Roberts,
Jim Holmes,










Kristina Lilley

John Fugelsang
Rick Overton and Pisay Pao will be on hand to see the movie for the first time themselves!

Here's the 4-1-1 on SIFF from its invitation to include THE WHOLE TRUTH:

"Now in its 35th year, the Seattle International Film Festival is the largest and most highly-attended film festival in the United States, showcasing more than 400 films from over 60 countries to an audience of 150,000 attendees annually.

"While new festivals have seemingly emerged in every small and large city worldwide, SIFF was listed by Variety as one of the world’s “50 unmissable film festivals,” and continues to be recognized as one of the top festivals in North America.

"In terms of Seattle, the profile we offer for film is recognized as extremely important in the US. The Festival combines the best aspects of a casual film marketplace with our well-established reputation as a great audience festival that filmmakers love to attend.

(Here's the best part)

"We would be honored to present this film to our audiences and we look forward to receiving your confirmation of its availability."

Kewl!