First Festival Selection!

DDLM got selected to play in the Queer Fruits Film Festival in Byron Bay, Australia, December 29th & 30th. This is the first of hopefully many film fests I get selected for.

Facebook, Festivals, and Fortitude

There is an official Dear Dad, Love Maria page on Facebook now. That'll be a good place to review what showings of the film are coming up and different random smatterings of news. So please, take the time to become a fan, I'm trying to promote myself here.
I haven't gotten any word back from festivals yet. But, I have added a few more to the list of hopeful festivals.

• Sundance Film Festival
• Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival
• California International Animation Festival
• ION International Animation Festival
• MIX NYC

This brings the total up to 13.
In other news, I am still searching for jobs to keep the money coming in so I can save up to move back to Philly as soon as possible. Just gotta keep looking. I'll be working as a teacher's assistant come July, but I still need another job to make extra dough and get out of here sooner. The plans are to work on the freelance stuff I have now and work full time somewhere that isn't animation related and network and try to get my studio off the ground. That's the plan at least.

DVD Swarm

I'm mailing out seven DVDs to festivals tomorrow. I'm super excited. I really hope they take them. The list of festivals I've applied to so far:

• Ottawa International Animation Festival
• Angelus Student Film Festival
• Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival
• Reel Affirmations: The Nation's LGBT Film Festival
• Animation Block Party
• Chicago International Film Festival
• Boston Film Festival
• Queer Fruits Film Festival

I hope to see some acceptance letters. I'm hoping to make these working vacations. One can dream.

DDLM on Sale NOW!

Dear Dad, Love Maria is officially available to be bought on DVD. Check out the PayPal button on the side. Please be aware that each disc ordered is basically burned when ordered. All who order will receive a frame from my film (I'll try to not make them the boring ones). As well as a PDF of another short story about Maria (which actually was half written before the film and was a big basis for reference for her character, and the latter half written in last half of production). The PDF will be emailed to you, so please include your email address in the order comments. Thanks!

Amazing Film

Holy crap! This film is awesome. It's a freshman film from CalArts. I must say this is just incredible filmmaking. David Ochs is going to be a force to be reckoned with.

Announcement

Dear Dad, Love Maria won best animation at my senior thesis show tonight. I'm very honored and still don't believe it actually happened. It feels good to say, and I'm very glad that my film reached people. My favorite moment of the show being when one of my friend Tiffany's friends, who I never met before came up to me and told me she loved my film. Thank you to all my fellow seniors, my family, Amanda Palmer and Jason Webley, and to the amazing animation faculty. I think this year was an amazing year for animation and that the quality my class put out was amazing. I can't wait to see the successes we accumulate in the future.

That was the speech I never got to say, I just wanted to let everyone know how grateful I am for them. I learned a lot this year, and I am eager to continue learning.

Ode to Joy

After much time, effort, doubt, frustration, and curse words, Dear Dad, Love Maria is officially done! Stress has lifted and the endorphins are rushing in. To celebrate I played this video:



It felt very good.