"I needed a mission...."

I am in a full lather. What to pack? Do I have my CFF business cards? Should I bother getting a hair cut? Any last minute contacts to make before heading out there?

I just got Hurt Locker from Netflix. Now I can watch that on the plane going across Ohio! I bet it wins an Oscar or two.

I will just be happy when we are in the car tomorrow morning at 5:30 heading to BWI. All the planning will be in place and we can just take it as it comes.

I feel so blessed to be going as a film attaché for our little town. Bring back the goods, young man! That is my mission, to bring back the smartest, coolest, funniest films of 2010. What a mission! I feel like Martin Sheen in Apocalypse Now. "I needed a mission and for all my sins they give me one."

Must get back to packing. Energy bars?

Tom McCall

Some thoughts about Sundance

All kinds of media are spouting off about Sundance and I am getting excited to get out there past the hype. Basically, what CFF does best is find really smart films that have been orphaned by the commercial juggernaut. We bring films to light that will NOT be playing at a theater near you. Often times that means not having mega wattage star power like Kristen Stewart, but I love CFF's programming niche because we don't have to make money. We just have to compel, challenge and delight our audience. It is cinema for the pure sake of its delight. We don't offer a market to sell in or a deal to get rich in. We just show great films to an eager audience. The purity of this thrills me.

There is so much bull in the film business. It is an awful Darwinian business. Everyone says, "Yes, of course, love to do it." The translation of that is "No way, not interested." When we make connections after screenings at Sundance, we aren't offering any fiscal payoff. We are offering a smart community that loves film and will fill the seats. Our community will roll out into the streets and talk about the films, not the hair styles or box office takes.

So I go with a renewed sense of purpose to find great stories.

Tom McCall

Trailer for GASLAND

Who doesn't like trailers. Here's one for GASLAND, one of the films Doug and Tom will see at Sundance.

What's not in a name?

Movie titles alone can be intriguing. We assume that filmmakers labor--maybe even heatedly--over how to encapsulate tremendous amounts of time, energy, and financial resources into a word or a phrase to formally tag the final production. One never knows if the choice was right until the film is viewed. And sometimes it doesn't matter--the film defines the title. At any rate, CFF's Doug and Tom have some interesting titles in store for them at Sundance:

Climate Refugees

Winter's Bone

Obselidia

Imperialists Are Still Alive!

Splice

Sympathy for Delicious

Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radi

Douchebag

Smash His Camera

Contracorriente

GASLAND

Secrets of the Tribe

Holy Rollers

Shock Doctrine

Seat cushions & long lines

As he readies for the upcoming Sundance, Tom recalls scenes from last year’s.

“There is the almighty tickets chain that is like a link of sausages. Also, for most of the films, there is a wait and being treated like cattle is not unheard of, unless you are a VIP and then you are swept magically past hoi polloi. A typical night scene on the main strip in Park City will feature fine dining, drunk kids, and great films. They all seem to go together. One constant is the scheduling dilemma--go to two mediocre films or catch that one great one that makes the day. That is a no brainer for CFF--always go for quality. Pictured is the famous and funky Egyptian Theater. You can feel the Indie good vibes emanating from every worn seat cushion. Oh yeah, baby, you're at Sundance now.”

A 20-minute frenzy

Sundance has a way of pumping the adrenaline, even before you put a foot in Park City. Tom has this to say about assembling the film itinerary:

“I am in a sweaty lather after having completed my ticket purchase at Sundance. Out of 200 films you get 20 picks in 20 minutes. Of course, there were technical problems as movie after movie is selling out. I get a very nice young woman on the phone who is helpful. We stack up 19 films and she says, ‘Run it or they will sell out!’ A decision must be made quickly. Run it!

"I am pleased. We got some keepers. Art, sports, anthropology, dramas and docs. A good spread to keep us busy.

"After a full day of preparation, the die is cast. It is never what you think it will be, but at least we have a whole bunch of films to see.”

Saddling up for Sundance

Chesapeake Film Festival 2010's Board members and visionary factotums Tom McCall and Doug Sadler are preparing to join the throngs at the annual Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, later this month. They'll be sending daily feeds about who and what they see, their impressions of the films, and their takes on the premier showcase for new films by many of the world's best indie filmmakers. They'll be keeping an eye out for movies to feature at this year's Chesapeake Film Festival, set for Sept. 24-26.

An early report from Tom, who is still in Talbot County gearing up for the trip:

"Hello Film Lovers!

I am frantically going through lists and lists of films that I would love to see at Sundance. Hard-hitting international docs to romantic comedies to cheesy post modern horror. It's all there. But much to my horror, it is hard to get tickets. Even though I registered in the ticket lottery a month ago, all the hot tix are taken. So here comes the creative part...how to still see some good films that I didn't initially pick? 8:30 am screenings are less popular with the party crowd. Midnight screeners are also less popular. I can piece this together!

There is also a vibrant black market outside of every screening. So to the bold go the spoils.

Wish me luck!

Tom"