Khanh Doan and Francile Albright star in Safe Passage.

Lakedance, the Sundance of Idaho.

On Halloween night, “Safe Passage” will play just before a special screening of George A. Romero’s 1968 horror classic “Night of the Living Dead.” They’re calling it “Horrors on the Lake” and they’re absolutely right!

How’s that for a trick-r-treat?

So, come on all you Spokanites, all you Post Fallsters, you Coeur d’ Alenians, show your civic pride for one of your own, getting out and getting it up.

7PM Halloween Night at the Panida Theater. That’s in Sandpoint, Idaho right off the shores of the deep and chilling Pend Oriellle Lake.

More info on Lakedance and the “Horrors on the Lake” screening here.

PS
I’d love to see you in the dark!

Ever heard of Pahrump, Nevada?

Nevermind the fine dining and the quiet country atmosphere less than an hour outside of Vegas, this little town with a funny name is a spectacular mix of deserts and mountains with a wealth of outdoor recreational activities including hiking, biking, camping, exploring, golfing, hunting, skiing and horseback riding. Considered Nevada’s scenic gateway to Death Valley, it’s also home to the state’s first winery, Pahrump Valley.

And, more importantly, the High Desert Shorts International Film Festival, now in its fourth year.

But I know what you’re thinking… wine from Nevada? Yes. Apparently. Probably tastes like Vegas, your hickey and a hangover in a bottle.

The point is, on November 6th and 7th, “Safe Passage” will screen in the Horror/Sci-Fi category vying for the coveted Lulu prize. Yes, the Lulu, distant cousin to the Oscar.

The final winner in each category (Animation; Drama; Comedy; Science-Fiction/Horror; Documentary and Music Video), selected by a jury, will receive a cash prize of $100; a custom award and a signed, numbered, limited edition, commemorative poster as will the people’s choice winner, selected by popular audience vote. By the way, the decisions of the Judges are final! FINAL!

This year’s films will be showcased in the Events Center of the Pahrump Nugget–which I’m guessing is a casino–whose management has generously donated the space. Thank you Nugget Management! You’re the best.

Keep your fingers crossed folks, ’cause everyone knows, I want a fucking Lulu sitting on my mantle come Christmas time! Not just so I can say “Keep your hands off of my Lulu!” but because I’ve never won anything with any of my films. YET!

Lulu, I want you to be my first!

Come on, baby, come home to daddy!

Amore
Shawn

Bumbershoot is fast approaching and for the third year in a row, I’ve got a film playing 1-Reel. That film is of course “Safe Passage” featuring my friends Khanh Doan, Rob Manning and one of the finest actors of my generation Francile Albright. Continue reading →

As you may know, this year my friends and I had the honor of making a Fly Film for the the Seattle International Film Festival. Our film was completed in April, screened twice during the festival then once at Rawstock. In case you missed those, it’ll play again at Bumbershoot Sunday the 6th of September at 1PM.

Thereafter, we hope to send it off into the ‘real’ world where it will play a number of film festivals beyond Seattle. That’s the hope anyway.

In the meantime, Jonathan Houser and I are hosting a special fundraising screening of the film in hopes of raising some completion funds. This means we’re hoping to cover the costs of duplicating, printing and manufacturing the DVD as well as covering some of the costs of sending it out to many other festivals where the entrance fees can add up quickly. For example, I spent over $1000 submitting my second film “A Night in the Sunlight” to film festivals all over the world.

This soiree is a no-pressure opportunity to see the film, socialize and party with the cast and crew… and maybe drop a few coins to the cause.

We’ll have beer, wine, hors d’oeuvres and lots of good company. Please join us.

Saturday August 22, 8PM until whenever at Jon’s loft in Pioneer Square.

PS. Even if you’ve already seen the film, this screening will have all new surprises!

After a successful two screenings at the Seattle International Film Festival, my third film “Safe Passage” will screen July 25th at Rawstock V. Our little film that could is meeting the little festival that could.

Now in its fifth year, Rawstock continues to support the local film community by programming local films. They’re also getting larger. They’re still at ACT theater but now their screenings are taking place in the larger Falls Theater.

This Rawstock features new films from Calvin Lee Reader, David Lowery and myself.

This year the Seattle International Film Festival asked myself and two other Seattle-based narrative filmmakers to be a part of the Fly Filmmaking Challenge.

Also known as the Fly Films, the challenge supplies the filmmakers with in-kind donations of goods and services that also includes a script, a genre, 7 rolls of film and a promise to screen twice during the festival as well as a kick-ass, all-access pass for screenings, festival events, beer, wine, women and a shortcut to the front of the line!

In short, enough impetus and stimulus to make a movie. And so I did. Continue reading →