Well, what a couple of weeks it has been. The commercial spot shoot went really well. I believe it’ll cut together fine and the finished product should be pretty unique. I think the client will be happy, which is important for commercial work. Of course, in the midst of all the busy-ness surrounding the shoot, simultaneously, the reelout programming deadline came and went. Thankfully, Carla did a great job with the reelout work and we managed to pull it off with style as well…The program for the festival looks great. Our gala film is “The Gymnast” , an excellent indie American film that this year we are screening at the Empire Capitol 7 cinema in downtown Kingston. It’s amazing to see how reelout has grown even in the short three years I’ve been involved.

As the arts community in this city works towards a sustainable funding model with the municipal government, I hope that a strong case is made for grassroots, smaller scale alternative arts organizations to receive operating funds. It’s these street-level groups that foster innovation in the arts and garner surprise media attention and credibility for a city trying to position itself as a leading creative community. It also increases the opportunities for local artists and curators, I would imagine exponentially, beyond the larger arts bodies like major galleries, symphonies etc. The return on investment in terms of economic impact, I suspect, is also higher with the smaller groups- though I’m curious if any studies have been done.

Anyways, Happy holidays. I’m looking forward to new projects, building new relationships in this next year. So, please, be in touch.

So, the screenings in Kingston and Ottawa of “Two Little Monkeys” went really well. It was surprisingly well received. A lot of people were grateful because the film gave them a chance to see something they rarely see on screen. There are a few little things I’d like to adjust, but I’ll get to them sometime later. Also, thanks to Ohbijou and Jill Barber for graciously allowing me to use their songs. You’re the best. Right now I’m in the throes of pre-production on a few webisode commercial spots for a local company. It’s a very fun and exciting concept and I’m actually really enjoying the creative possibilities that advertising provides me. Strange, eh?

Related to that: I need student extras. Here are the details…

STUDENT EXTRAS NEEDED for a commercial to be shot on TUESDAY MORNING DECEMBER 5th. Meet at 10:30am in the lower ceilidh of the JDUC. We are shooting a parade scene (one block in the ghetto and one block downtown) and it won’t take longer than 2 hours. We will provide food and coffee and a small cash honorarium. Please wear clothing without logos. Bring studying with you in case of any waiting around.

50 people needed. Email to reserve a spot, or just show up. Once we have 50 people, that’s it. Some people, if available, may be held over longer to shoot smaller scenes later in the day.

RSVP: lenny@epsteincreative.ca

NOTE: We also need a couple of adult characters who would be appropriate age to have kids in University. Please email to find out more about those roles as they would be shot at a different time that day.

Alright, so, this Sunday afternoon is the premiere of my first documentary short (first doc in fact). “Two Little Monkeys” as it is called, follows my daughter as she welcomes a baby sister into her life and approaches the end of her existence as a two-year old. It was a project I undertook for Modern Fuel Artist Run Centre’s collaboration with SAW Video in Ottawa- the theme was Folie a Deux (Folly of Two). I don’t think I realized what I was getting myself into because I logged 20 hours of footage which I edited down to an awkward length of 27 minutes. I think it might be a pretty good movie- but it’s hard to tell because the only ones who have seen it know me/my family. The first screening is here in Kingston at the Screening Room this Sunday (November 5th) at 1pm. It’ll then screen in Ottawa at Club Saw next Sunday (November 12th) at 7:30pm. Unfortunately, I won’t be there because I’ll be in Vancouver. Which will be fun, because I’ll get to see my family. And, I’ve got tickets to see the Canucks (thanks dad) so I am set.

Busy times ahead….Keystone campaign (real livestock!), reelout programming decisions, business development, more updates soon.

Regards,
L.

Good Eeevening to you all. Next Saturday night (the 28th), join the Artelians for Art Hell, an event starring Idiots! and McRorie Live Electronic (perhaps the most innovative and talented one-man band on the planet). In EC business news, I will be facilitating a roundtable discussion on Tuesday the 24th of October for KEDCO as part of a “Your Business for Artists” workshop.
Also, I’m going to try to meet some new folks in the business community in hopes of building relationships to expand my client base, and with that in mind, I’ve decided to join the Kingston Chamber of Commerce. I’ll convince all the visionary business-types that some real fresh creative energy provided by yours truly and my network of Kingston’s top artists is what’s needed to elevate their messaging and help them stand out. And I’m going to get a chance to eat some breakfasts and feast on ‘light refreshments’. Shrimp ring, anyone?

I’m extremely excited because I’m going to have some help with all that I’m doing. Thanks to the Department of Film Studies, and a little cash from my own coffers, I am pleased that Carla Henderson will be joining Epstein Creative Inc. as an associate on a variety of contracts. Carla is in her final year of a degree in Film and Drama and I know her best because I worked with her on reelout last year. She’s totally capable and is going to be such a huge benefit to growing the company. Yay Carla!

Also, Kyra and Tully have announced the dates for their October tour…check out www.kyraandtully.com for details.

reelout event this tuesday night. “Backalley Jukebox”…I don’t have the tape in my hands yet so I’m reluctantly plan b’ing…hopefully for naught. Programming is going well. Saw a feel-good gay Jesus camp movie last night. Quite warm, definitely worthy of serious consideration for reelout. My “Two Little Monkeys” movie is going to premiere in Ottawa at the end of Oct., followed by a screening in Kingston in early November. I’m going to be facilitating a roundtable discussion for KEDCO and will begin some work for new clients in October as well. It looks like I may be welcoming a Queen’s Stage and Screen student as an intern this Fall. If that happens, and it looks like it may, I will be so grateful.

Anyways, I’ll post again at some point soon.

later,
Lenny

The wasps are out. I know because I can’t eat outside anymore without the damn things buzzing around and in my iced-tea.

Kyra and Tully are getting a boost thanks to a booker and a publicist (hooray Greg and Laura) and are planning to play a bunch more shows over the next couple of months. Very exciting…

Mr. Mat Abramsky has visions of Kingston as a hub for the arts and I like to support such visions so if you are looking for studio/arts related space check out the available spaces available at the Sydenham Art Studios in beautiful downtown Kingston…

reelout has almost hired my replacement as Fest Director…two more interviews to do this week and then a final decision can be made.

Send me an email and receive a reply that will include the NEW! cellphone number in the signature! Watch as Epstein Creative Inc. embraces the mobile telephone in all it’s picture-taking, vibrating glory.

Until next time,
Lenny

So, I am a father to two daughters now. Our new baby was born on August 3rd. I think the last time I posted was right before then. Anyways, since my last post, I completed “Staying Healthy” (an exercise video for women with breast cancer), a script for ITEC/Niagara Parks at Journey Behind the Falls, Buster Records popped up in Broken Pencil and there are signs of movement towards developing something for television (oh how much fun that would be. comedy maybe, perhaps lifestyle…) And I have 16 hours of footage for my documentary on Talia which will have to come together quickly and soon. Also, as I mentioned, I am in dad mode pretty much around the clock, and today while I was changing a diaper, I swear to god, my newborn daughter sprayed liquid yellow poo from her butt like artillery fire, targeting my face , clothing, and very nearly reaching the spinning blades of our ceiling fan and turning our walls into four canvases of jackson poollock.

Later, Lenny

It’s so hot here. It’s not even our official due date but we’ve been expecting this child for so long, we’re ready for it to be born. Well, almost ready…if it wants to wait another week, I won’t complain…though I do feel for my partner, who is shvitzing for all the extra blood pulsing through her. I was digging around my labyrinth of memory when I stumbled upon a little 5 minute video I did a couple years back as a little promo for The Stone Fence Theatre in Moscow, Ontario. The theatre is affectionately known around those parts as Bart’s Barn. Bart is an example of someone who cares about the quality of his neighbourhood and built a theatre out of scraps from old barns. It is one of the coolest places I know. I’ll post the video tomorrow (barring early arrival of monkey #2).

Hi all,

So since my last post, I have been awarded a contract as the new programming coordinator for reelout. I just couldn’t stay away. We are still looking for my replacement as festival director and hopefully, we find a suitable candidate soon because right now that means I’m juggling both positions. It’s not so bad though because there are a lot of folks who are helping out with various tasks. Also, lately I’ve met some great new people in town who are doing amazing things and who promise to become valuable collaborators on future projects. There’s one long term project that sincerely excites me. I can’t say too much about it right now but it’s something that could really become world-class and it can be done right here in Kingston! I’m aiming to finish a number of projects in the next week or two (hopefully before the baby comes!) so I’ll let you know how that goes.

Also, since I think it’s important to link to interesting things…Check out the long tail. I think it makes new, low risk business models possible.

Until next time,
Lenny