Notes from the Filmmaker

Part the First:

Part the Second:

So, today I made the purchase of airline tickets from my home in Madison to Rotterdam, returning via Frankfurt. Oh my goodness, it's getting exciting again. I wonder how long it will take before (if?) international travel becomes more of an ordinary event, not one that sends my adrenaline through the roof of my head.

Funny, though. Although I have the apparent lifestyle of a globetrotting librarian-filmmaking (wtf?!), I am broke, broke, broke. Can't think how to make money for doing such fabulous stuff. So, I just shrug and figure it will work itself out somehow.

Morricone by Hey Hey My My.

Nice .

Just added the BlogIt application so perhaps I can get back on track with my WordPress blog? Lord knows, it's probably a vain hope. Kisses to everyone reading this.

Contact and more information:
MELISSA McGUIRE
Email: media@hollywoodlibrarian.com
Website: <a href=”“>www.hollywoodlibrarian.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 20, 2007

42 locations in U.S. and Canada set to screen new librarian documentary; deadline extended

MADISON, WI – The producers of the new documentary The Hollywood Librarian: A Look at Librarians Through Film today announced that the list of screening locations for the film during Banned Books Week (September 29 through October 6) now numbers 42 across the North American continent. The film will be shown from Saratoga Springs, New York to Anchorage, Alaska, with Canada libraries in Winnipeg and Quebec also participating.

Memphis, Tennessee, Ketchum, Idaho and Las Cruces, New Mexico are among the locations where libraries will host the film with everything from red carpet entrances to lunchtime brown bag discussions. The full list (available as a Google Map on the home page at www.hollywoodlibrarian.com, “Where to See the Film” or http://tinyurl.com/28umog) comprises 64 screenings in 19 states, plus the two Canadian locations.

The 96-minute documentary is the first look at the real work and skills of the more than 60,000 librarians working in the U.S. The film provides a glimpse into this well-loved but little understood profession and will leave audiences with a new appreciation for a group of people who have been called “democracy’s heroes.”

The August 15 deadline to fax a signed Screening Agreement has passed, but due to numerous requests the deadline has been extended until August 24 at 5 p.m. Pacific time. Screening Agreements are available at the film’s website at hollywoodlibrarian.com

***

The Hollywood Librarian: A Look at Librarians Through Film is an Overdue Productions film in association with BiFolkal Productions (www.bifolkal.org), a non-profit organization with 30 years of service to libraries. The Hollywood Librarian is an original, full-length documentary by and about librarians. www.hollywoodlibrarian.com

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I’ve recently read a couple of articles I want to share.

The Christian Science Monitor printed a piece in May entitled For Indie Filmmakers, the Trick is Finding an Audience that nails the challenges faced by filmmakers like me and films like The Hollywood Librarian.

Then the delightful Mary Pols at the Contra Costa Times (a fine paper, imo) wrote this article about the dearth of women directors in Hollywood’s movie machine that I think is both true and disgusting. I’m, once again, outraged by the endlessly Fixed Games men play. [Note: It's not that I'm interested in being a filmmaker -- I made a film -- I'm disgusted as a woman because once again, the boys make it so they get to keep all the money and all the prizes.]

Comments welcome.

Some footage of the premiere! Enjoy.

Friends!

OPERATION F*I*L*M (Funny, Informative Librarian Movie) is now in effect. Hundreds of librarians signed up at ALA to show the film during Banned Books Week 2007, and I’m getting dozens more emails every day about screenings.

My apologies to all who have been hunting for details in vain at the web site, or who are waiting for me to reply. I’ve been drowning since the premiere in DC and now I have another thousand things to take care of as we roll out OPERATION F*I*L*M.

But at last I can now post The Distribution Plan here! Please read it, pass it along to every librarian you know, and SIGN UP to host a screening from September 29 through October 6.

Let’s make a HUGE splash! Let’s show the world what we already know so well: that we are passionate, skilled professionals doing incredibly important work under sometimes impossible conditions.

It seems very unreal to have actually witnessed the premiere of The Hollywood Librarian: A Look at Librarians Through Film. Unreal that it’s now in the past. For so long, it was always, “At the premiere…” “On June 22…” “…will take place in Washington…” It was always in the future. It is surreal for me to be blogging about it in the past.

It was a magical evening for me in many ways. First of all, there was a gratifyingly long line queued up to get in the doors. They had to open the hall 10 minutes early because somebody got concerned about fire code violations. I actually didn’t witness that, but my crew — my distribution assistant Melissa and my cameraman Aaron — told me about it. I had some peeps there with me or I would have gone crazy. I have footage of the entire evening, so I’ll be editing that together as quick as I can for YouTube, and it will ultimately go on the DVD special features when that comes out.

I have no experience estimating crowds, so I asked Shane, the professional A/V guy they always have for conferences, and he said without hesitating, “About 5,000.” Whoa.

When the lights dimmed, I, who had been expecting to be pacing in the back of the hall like a father-to-be, just sat there in a state of unbelievable weariness. It was as if I had just finished a marathon. I literally wanted to crawl under my row of seats and go to sleep in my ball gown.

I didn’t, of course. I watched the film (there were four screens set up so everyone could see well), and noted the reactions of the audience at various spots in the film. The sound was excellent (a major worry in a cavernous concrete space like that). I was gratified with the audience response. The laughter sounded like real enjoyment, not just polite chuckles. The silences I took to be genuine engagement with the dramatic elements (or was it boredom? Hmmm).

I was going insane before I set off for Washington. There were a thousand and one things to do, from programming in all my cell phone numbers in my brand new Verizon to getting my dress ready to returning phone calls to reporters.

Here’s what happened there. I have been in contact with NPR librarian Kee Malesky for months, and she has been a very enthusiastic supporter of the doc. She agreed to make a few remarks following the screening. I also asked her who she knows in the way of film critics at the Washington Post. She didn’t know anyone personally, but recommended one reviewer. I left a voice message for her, not expecting anything much, but giving it my best shot. To my surprise and delight, she called me back! We had a lovely conversation and she was very interested in the project.

Turns out she couldn’t attend the premiere (she lives in Baltimore), but she forwarded an invitation to her editor who in turn sent it along to the Style section. Monica Hesse, the reporter and Susan Biddle, a photographer, were assigned to the event.

The result? The amazing piece in the Sunday Style section entitled The Modern Librarian: A Role Worth Checking Out. I couldn’t have dreamed up better press coverage.

After the screening I went up on stage and brought up the “stars” of the film: Martin Garnar, a PATRIOT ACT and privacy rights expert; Maria Mena, a children’s librarian; Susan Turrell, a rural library director from Pennsylvania; Dr. Rhea Lawson, director of Houston Public Library; Jane Curtis, inmate literacy coordinator from San Quentin; Molly Kliss, a 20-something librarian – now in Missoula, then a library student; Susan Hildreth, California State Librarian; Pat Lawton, a great cataloger; and Jamie LaRue, the eloquent library director from Colorado (who also made a few remarks). They were all warmly applauded, especially the diminutive Jane Curtis, who deals with convicted felons and helps them learn how to read and how to teach literacy to their peers.

My entire family was there, complete with 3 nieces and a nephew, and Saturday night I was taken to a celebration dinner at Zaytinya, an amazing, happening joint. 23 people were at the dinner which lasted for 3 and a half hours — many drinks, many courses, toasts and congrats. Librarians in the restaurant stopped by to congratulate me.

When I got off the plane on Tuesday (home about 1 pm), I drink two tall, strong vodka and lemonades in quick succession and then fell asleep for 4 hours. Also slept like a baby last night.

More about the film and its distribution in the next couple of days…now, emails/laundry/piles of cat hair command my attention.

Thank you all for your wonderful support.

ALA’s Office of Public Information came out with a nice press release about The Hollywood Librarian.

And I put up another video at Youtube, just for fun. Some production shots from what I now think of at the “early days.”

Yowsa.