American Fair

BIG NEWS x 2

2007-05-30T22:01:00.001-05:00

(1) American Fair finds distribution with prestigious Documentary Educational Resources (DER). Now available for viewing and purchase.

American Fair's Somerville preview and "barn-raising" was successful, raising over 10K for the film. With guests from as far away as Maine and France in attendance.

DER director Cynthia Close after viewing, comments about the films visual style, the sense of people and process and culture, and links it with American documentary film making tradition: Pennebaker, Wiseman... She asks which filmmakers influence my work: I answer, Wim Wenders, Germany, for films like "Paris, Texas" and "Notebooks from Cities". And Len Kamerling, an ethnographic filmmaker working in Fairbanks, Alaska. Len is a mentor and close friend. He has dedicated over 30 years to community-collaborative film making in Alaska and Japan. He has a film in the Library of Congress, "Drums of Winter" made with Sarah Elder.

Working with DER is a great honor, not just because American Fair will join a world-class collection of ethnographic documentary films, but also because several of Len's films belong to DER. I am honored to be in his company.

Special thanks to American Fair's generous contributors: George and Ann Fischer, Katherine, Michael and Jeanne Widmer, Claudio and Jean Marzollo, Allen and Bonnie Martin, and David Blumsack. Thanks to so many family and friends. Thanks to DER for believing in the film. Cynthia, Brittany, Michael, Razan. Thanks again to Redbones, Avid, and Sherman Cafe.

Final titles and sound design are complete. DVD is professionally mastered. Available for purchase. Submitting to film festivals. Awaiting decisions. Still working on a curriculum guide.

(2) We are returning to China in July.

Two-year agreement with the TODAY ART MUSEUM in Beijing, to develop and operate a film and television production department. Zhao Hong is pregnant with our second child. The 2008 Olympics. The Joe Maneri Birthday project, Pilgrim's Progress, Maiden Voyage. Contemporary Chinese art documentary. All this and more...

Work hard, and make dreams come true.

RJW

Earring: lost and found

2007-01-31T23:20:00.000-05:00

This pretty earring was found on the floor while picking up after the show. Does anyone recognize me? Please contact Rick to claim me.

Music for film

2007-01-31T22:39:00.000-05:00

The music for the American Fair documentary was composed and performed by Emre Yilmaz. Thank you, Emre.

Emre is from Istanbul, Turkey. He is a conservatory-trained classical guitarist. Today he lives in NYC. Emre's beautiful sounds and structures broadened the film's American themes. And give the film a life of its own.

Take a bow, Emre. You deserve it.

The milk is gone...

2007-01-31T15:34:00.000-05:00

The farm fresh milk is long gone. Almost two months have passed since the preview screening of American Fair on that cold Monday in early December. But I haven't forgotten the night. The moon was full. A great vibe was flowing in the theater. I am behind on my thank you notes to everyone. But here is a quick wrap:

The “barn-raising” event was 100% successful, raising over 10K for the completion of the project. The room was packed. Face after face of my closest friends, family and supporters. Rosalie Barnes hosted. She is a lifelong friend. Pempa Tsering played three Tibetan tunes to open the performance, bless the audience and the film. New faces too. Redbones restaurant donated a feast of ribs. Sherman’s Café contributed coffee. I expressed my thanks to all and we played the film.

And people loved it! During a question and answer session the second person to speak was a woman named Cynthia Close. She praised the film up and down, and linked my work to a string of the greatest American documentary film makers of all time, and tossed me a softball question about influences in my work. (I answered with Studs Terkel, Wim Wenders, Len Kamerling). Well the amazing thing is — she runs a distribution company called Documentary Educational Resources, she is an expert, and has offered a contract with DER to distribute American Fair!

riding a wave of positive feedback...

2006-12-05T13:13:00.001-05:00

Thank you, everyone. Your particpation and support inspire me:

Maribeth Swan: a truly special night, and you could feel the love in the room, for you and the project. the film itself tells such a heartfelt and honest truth about an American way of life, almost obsolete, and I loved the idea of you showing this in the [Far] East... where everyone thinks of us as corporate mongers... would be interested to hear about the reponse it gets internationally!

Cass Sapir: Great film last night. I knew it would be well edited and a compelling story, but I had no idea the depth you would go to reveal the characters. You mentioned Studs Turkel. I just finished rereading "Working"... it was right along those lines.

Adam Carlson: Thanks for inviting me to share in the unveiling of this project, hopefully one of many... It reminded me so much of my first job on my friend's dairy farm and how that family took me in as another son to them. It brought back some warm memories. I could definitely see this as an educational/historical piece and hope you succeed.

Josh Gigantino: I'm really impressed with both American Fair and how you put your support network together. You know I'm from that area [York County], right? The kids from Shapleigh all go to my old high school, Massabesic. It's great seeing someone pay attention to the farmers back home.

I'm decompressing today. Cleaning-up and re-organizing. I somehow thought that this project would be over after last nights show... but it seems that this is just the beginning.

I see someone found the comment button, on the previous "SHOWTIME!" post. How interesting...

Showtime!

2006-12-04T10:15:00.000-05:00

Perfect night for a movie. Just a few hours from now we'll be gathered, well-fed, warm and cozy at the AMERICAN FAIR "barn-raising" movie event. And the Tibetan troubador will begin...

The phone is jing-jing-jingling. People are coming! I AM PSYCHED!

Look here, the event is OPEN TO ALL. So many people have rolled up their sleeves and lent a hand that the "barn-raising" is nearly complete. And tonight just might put us over the top. Now it is time to celebrate your support and have a good time...

EVERYONE IS WELCOME. The screening is casual. You can "pitch-in" with a small donation at the door - or just stroll right in! The film will be playing anyhow. It's all about community, right? Bring your conversation and goodwill. Come on in from the cold!

Thanks to Ty Burr of the Globe for mentioning our show in his Movie Nation blog. [Side Kick is still showing Friday's picks...]

Maps and Directions

2006-12-03T01:11:00.001-05:00

I drive to Maine today. Final day of preparation for the screening on Monday night. 2 hours north to get some milk from Ridley Farm. Borrow some handsome farm tools from the Roberts. I'll pick up the hay from Winston's on Monday morning. When is the snow arriving?

Mon Night Screening @ JTOB: 255 Elm Street, Somerville, Davis Square
Driving directions from Acton, ME to "barn-raising" in Somerville.

And licking my chops...

2006-12-01T12:15:00.000-05:00

BOW WOW WOW. Yesterday Valerie from REDBONES Barbecue & Southern Hospitality (Davis Square, Somerville) called me back...

"I just wanted to give you a call and let you know that the donation request for your film HAS BEEN APPROVED!..."

REDBONES will provide tasty ribs, corn, cornbread and pies! (My mouth is watering...) Ridley Farm in Maine will provide farm-fresh milk! With all this support, our "barn-raising" event will be a cornucopia of food, music and film.

AMERICAN FAIR represents the best of what this coutry is all about -- neighbors helping neighbors -- it is a beautiful film and poised to succeed. Join us, roll-up your sleeves, pitch-in and feast on Monday night!

I'm dancing a jig...

2006-11-27T09:01:00.000-05:00

The screening and fundraising event going to be GREAT! The project is gaining momentum. I am excitied to be connecting with people who believe in this film.

AVID Technology agreed to support the doc. They called the day before Thanksgiving. Nice timing and nice news. Ridley Farm of Shapleigh, Maine will provide some of the sweetest milk you ever tasted for our event. Sherman Cafe in Union Square will be providing coffee for our party! Thanks Everybody. I'll tell you about our other food sponsors soon. Hope you're hungry!

And look, I received the new postcards this morning...

Q: How do I pitch-in? (ticketing info)

2006-11-19T15:32:00.002-05:00

A: If you are interested in attending the Somerville premiere and/or pitchin'-in, please download the invitation, print and send to:

Rick Widmer/ lakefilm
21 Prospect Hill Avenue
Somerville, MA 02143

Or contact me directly: 617 290 5404, or write to rick@lakefilm.com

The suggested donation is $100. But don't let the pricetag scare you away! I want to share this film. One large, one yard, a sawbuck, two bits - come one, come all.

Barn-raising and Somerville sneak-preview!

2006-11-12T11:54:00.000-05:00

Join us at the Boston-area premier of American Fair:

Monday, December 4th @ 7pm at Jimmy Tingle's Off-Broadway Theater in Davis Square. [map]

The event is a virtual barn-raising - a film screening and fundraiser - to support the American Fair documentary. I am hoping to find one-hundred supporters willing to pitch in $100, but you can give less... or more!

The American Fair film is beautiful and worthy, documenting a community of hard-working farmers facing a vanishing way of life, their commitment to tradition and community. The project is starting to build momentum. I am getting lots of help from friends and family. Local businesses are beginning to offer their support. As a Somerville-born filmmaker, I am encouraged by the way my community is pitching-in.

My goal is to enhance the 87 minute festival film with an improved audio mix, create an educational classroom version (under 60 minutes) and a curriculum guide to help teachers use the film. American Fair will compete at film festivals across the country and around the world. The film will be offered for broadcast and international distribution.

Just three weeks until the big night! I am busy planning a fun event, with special guests, food and drinks. Help me spread the word. Have a suggestion, ideas or questions? Please contact me: rick at lakefilm dot com

Hope you can join us at the premiere!

feels like the first time

2006-10-17T14:51:00.001-05:00

NH Film Expo was good. American Fair played Saturday morning. Watching the film with an audience in a theater was a thrill.

The film recieved great praise from the audience during the Q & A. One of the nicest comments came from Dan Hannon, that the film had "heart".

I met the director of the Philadelphia Film Festival and a Film Threat exec. I also had many nice though brief encounters with local film execs, producers and directors. It seems that there is some local money interested in making films, and a growing number of film-makers with New England roots or connections.

The opportunity to show my film, listen to feedback, and meet new friends with a passion for film gives me encouragement. American Fair is special.

I'm currently arranging local and regional screenings for American Fair, and awaiting decisions from upcoming film fests. Stay tuned!

HOORAY! New Hampshire

2006-10-09T01:13:00.000-05:00

American Fair plays New Hampshire Film Expo. Saturday morning, 10:30am at the Portsmouth Music Hall.

Map of Music Hall:603-436-2400 28 Chestnut St
Portsmouth, NH 03801, US

And a recent Boston Globe story about the NHFX mentions American Fair.

Pretty early in the morning! Hope some people come to see the film.

seeking finishing funds

2006-10-08T12:57:00.000-05:00

Three quick ideas:

1). Editing is complete, music is finished. Film festival submission process has begun. American Fair is seeking finishing funds for final audio mix and color-correction.

2). You can support the project and purchase a premiere edition American Fair DVD from my lakefilm.com website.

3). I would also like to hold a film-sceening/fund-raiser in the Boston area before the end of October. But I have not found the right place yet. If you have any ideas, drop me a line: rick at lakefilm dot com.

Thanks!

American Fair trailer and intro

2006-09-21T17:39:00.000-05:00

click image to play...

AMERICAN FAIR is about farm families. It is a simple story of companionship and rivalry, human relationships and the emotional connection of people to their farmland.

Made collaboratively with the York County Agricultural Association, the film centers around Nick Ridley, a farmer's son, entering his senior year of high school, working in his father's dairy, and getting cows ready for the show-ring. His girlfriend Tiffany helps him with his chores and they contemplate the future. Will he stay on the farm?

The story takes place in one of the one of the earliest European agricultural settlements in the New World, York County in Maine. But farming there today is a challenging way to make a living. But the community pulls together to continue their annual tradition: the Acton Fair.

The AMERICAN FAIR doc is my first independently produced, directed and edited project. The original musical score was composed and performed by guitarist Emre Yilmaz. The film is being submitted to festivals in the USA, Europe and internationally, seeking screening opportunities and commercial distribution.

I am currently seeking funding for final color-correction, an improved audio mix and foreign language translation. A premiere edition DVD is on sale at www.lakefilm.com

Many, many thanks to all of the people who shared their time and patience while helping me learn how to throw hay, shovel gutters, sort ribbons, judge cattle and assemble a Ferris wheel. I had so much fun at the fair. I feel honored to have been part of this year’s work and festivities. Thank you.