I’m back to driving, screening, driving, screening, driving… I had a break from driving for a few days, and now I’m heading toward the west coast. I’ve been in my car so much this past month that my left-seatbelt side collar bone is a little tender from having the seatbelt push against it for hours at a time, day after day.

I drove through the desert today. As I reflect, I’ve seen an amazing wide variety of different environments as I’ve been on this screening tour: from the picturesque northeast, busy cities, a nice, sandy beach, rolling WV hills, and wide rivers to dry, hot deserts. It’s really quite a beautiful country with a lot of diversity. Yet there are very interesting similarities in conversations throughout the country.

I’m filled with a profound, humble and exhilarated feeling of thankfulness. Thank you to all the people who helped the East Coast screening tour of Considering Democracy be a success. Thank you very much to the people who helped it to screen; from theater owners and operators, film festival organizations, to coffeeshops, churches, other organizations and individuals. The film could not have been seen without your generosity and work in allowing the film to screen in your space and community. Thank you for the opportunity.

I returned home after over three weeks on the road screening Considering Democracy. I wanted the film to get out quickly to audiences, so I lined up screenings, (in what I thought was a logical route) then drove from screening to screening. It’s really amazing to me as I try to comprehend what was done. People’s kindness and generosity across the country is oh, so appreciated. Thank you to all the people who hosted my stay with them. They were often strangers before meeting at the screening. Your kindness, generosity and hospitality is very appreciated. The screening tour couldn’t have been done without the help that was extended to me. Thank you.

I’ve been back home for a few days and am leaving again tomorrow, heading for the West Coast. The first tour was really, wildly successful, given that no one really knew of the film before hand. It was reviewed nicely, for which I’m also thankful. I drove over 6,500 miles, spent over $1,100 on gas, tolls, parking and lodging. Food and postage were additional costs, but I need to eat anyway. I was able to support independent eateries, or I ate sandwiches. (I currently really detest baloney sandwiches. I started out eating sandwiches for about three days, then near the end, I realized that for economic reasons I needed to go back to my bread and instant-ice tea diet, so ate more baloney sandwiches for a few days.) But I also had really good food from independents. It was a really nice contrast to the baloney sandwiches.

I’m very thankful for the kindness of people. (Really I am. Sorry to repeat myself, but I am thankful.) I slept in the car a couple of times while on the road. It’s a comfortable setup, so it’s not bad. I move over the boxes of DVDs and go to sleep.

There were times when indeed, I thought to myself, “What the hell am I doing? I need to drive 9 hours to a screening in another state. But they looked so close on the map.” I would sometimes get to the destination, during the screening, just in time for the Q&A. It’s somewhat tough to switch out of the brain-numbing-driving-zone mindset, into one of – jump onto the stage or in front of people and – start answering deep philosophical questions that have major economic or political ramifications. The Q&A sessions overall went really well. They’re actually kinda fun. There was one though, that after getting into town late, (traffic was horrible and I also stopped by the side of the road to do a radio interview for a different screening) and I couldn’t find the screening venue. I ran into another shop, asked the shop owner to go online to the website, to find the link and address of the screening. (People are really cool. Thank you to all the cool people who crossed paths with me.) I made it to the screening, got in front of the crowd, had one really odd question, and started crying. But I pulled it together and finished the Q&A. Someone else brought me water, and all the other people were really nice though. Thank you.

I’ve also been able to meet really fabulous people within different communities, people that are doing amazing things, and making positive impacts. I was also able to spend some time with others within the film industry. I’ve appreciated (feel humbled) and really enjoyed the conversation that I’ve had with other filmmakers, distributors, producers, and directors. I also appreciated the time spent talking with people from bands, and listening to their tour experiences. There are a lot of similarities between the music and film world.

The tour, while tiring, is also exhilarating. It’s a strange and beautiful blend of contrasts. It’s also very cool that people are screening the film to others. People are returning to the website and getting the film then screening it for others. It’s encouraging. It’s as if the lack of information in the U.S. has created a hunger for information. Thank you to all the people who have been screening the film and passing on the information to others. I really, really, really appreciate it. Thank you. Really. I’m filled with gratitude and thankfulness.

I’ve been driving across the country screening the documentary “Considering Democracy”. So far, I’ve been on the road for over three weeks and have driven over 6,000 miles. There’s one more screening in Chicago tomorrow evening, then I’m heading back to Colorado for a few days before heading toward the west coast.

Driving gives a person a lot of time to think. Gas prices are starting to come down, which has an immediate economic-relief effect, but I wonder if another reason the price is falling is because the dollar is falling against other currencies. Oil trades in U.S. dollars.  It’s quite a complex issues, but the U.S.  economy is not doing well, even after passing the costly and irresponsible bailout.

Kudos and thanks to Bernie Sanders, the Senator from Vermont who spoke and acted against the $700,000,000,000 (initial) bailout for the financial industry. He also created a very reasonable alternative funding source for the bailout. He proposed a 10% surtax on people earning more than 1 million dollars for 5 years. This alone could have created $300,000,000,000 for the Treasury. His proposal, however, was not included in the bailout. Indeed, most legislators seem to not pass legislation that benefit the middle class. Seems odd since the majority of their voting constituents are within the middle class. This is something that we really need to look into and start discussing, especially as it relates to the Constitution.

As I’ve been screening the film, there is always interesting discussion that follows. I had an odd realization during one discussion. I was explaining that our legislators are our lawmakers, and they are the ones who create legislation. After all, that’s what I learned in school. Then it struck me that I’ve been hearing quite a lot of legislators say that they only read parts of the bill or, that they don’t have time to read the whole bill before passing it and thus helping to enact our national policy. That alone is quite frightening. I had seen the picture in the paper of Nancy Pelosi and the $700,000,000,000 bailout legislation. It looked quite thick and is rumored to be over 400 pages. I also understand that they did add quite a lot of other things to the bill so that more representatives would vote for it.) So, my question: if legislators are not reading, nor seemingly writing our legislation, then who or what entity is? Staffers? Lobbyists? What exactly happens as U.S. legislation is being shaped? Has this changed since the 1976 and 1978 Supreme Court ruling? Hmmm.

As I’ve been driving great distances almost everyday, I’m wondering why the cost of diesel has risen past the cost of gasoline. Previously, diesel had been less than gasoline. Years ago, someone once explained to me that diesel didn’t need as much processing as gasoline, therefore, it cost less. So why does it cost more now?

In looking at the debate about wanting “energy independence” there seem to be missing aspects from that discussion as well. While the source of the oil may be from foreign countries, U.S. corporations are the ones that are importing it. As an American taxpayer, I feel that tax dollars have undeniably gone toward subsidizing the activities of oil drilling and exploration in other countries.

U.S. legislation at one point sought to keep certain environmental sanctuaries within U.S. boundaries as pristine places for wildlife and future American generations to savor. Oil companies have been salivating for some sort of reason to get into the Arctic. But really, how is their version of “energy independence” going to help the average American? U.S. based multinational corporation ExxonMobile profited the most in the history of the world, at the same time gas prices rose for all Americans, at the same time that the American taxpayer subsidized a very expensive war in the heart of the oil producing Middle East. American oil companies seem to be behind the facade of the mantra and belief of “energy independence” as an excuse to get into the Arctic. If you think about it, wouldn’t true “energy independence” actually bypasses the oil companies and be based off of sustainable energy sources like solar or wind? This is because a person can sent them up, then achieve an energy and economic independence from the high prices the energy companies are charging Americans. Please do think about this. They simply want the licenses and rights to be able to drill in a protected area. Drilling in the Arctic will not automatically lower prices for the U.S. consumer. It might actually have the opposite effect. Something to think about. Ah yes, and discuss. Nicely.

Literally and figuratively.  Two days back to back driving over 7 hours is not good.  I’ve been driving around the country screening “Considering Democracy”.  I’m starting on week three and I’m really tired.  I talked to a couple of friends who tour in a band and – they’re much smarter than I am, they said that they try not to drive over four hours.  Otherwise, really, I’m not sure that I made sense this evening.  After driving about 7 hours, I got a call asking if I could do a TV interview.  I did brush my hair and tried to look nice, but really, driving on the road sort of mesmerizes and slows down the mind.  So tired.  Not even going to watch it.  Going to sleep…

The tour is taking my drive up to New England. The leaves are just starting to turn various vibrant autumn colors. It  is quite stunningly beautiful. I can imagine what it will look like in a few weeks. Small communities are gearing up for the elections and at some corners near the center of town, there’s a garden variety of signs that have sprouted up to urge the voter to choose one commissioner over another, or to vote a certain way on a certain issue.

I’m meeting really good people who are interested in what is going on, and I do talk to everyone that I can. I went to the bank and the teller asked what I was doing in Maine from Colorado – “I made a film where I traveled around the world asking people what they thought of the United States, and it’s actually quite interesting that the U.S. is the only developed country that somehow get the working middle class to pay into Medicare, yet it doesn’t actually cover them. So the documentary looks at other democracies and examines why the U.S. is so different from the other representative demcracies. Anyway, how are you?” This tends to make the other person really look at me, somewhat stunned, somewhat puzzled, yet curious, and their usual response is, “Umm, huh. I have worked jobs where they take Medicare out… Yeah, why is that?”

It has been interesting being on the road. I am learning a lot as an independent filmmaker, and as a sort of philosopher, as I have a lot of time to think as I drive around. I’m currently at a rest stop in Maine and am typing this by the side of the road on a picnic table overlooking a slow moving river, serenaded by passing trucks.

There are many people who are quite concerned with the current state of affairs, yet there’s also a lot of puzzlement, as it is somewhat difficult to really understand what is going on if one only watches the new on television, or reads the newspaper. I have some writing to do on the financial bailout, but that will come soon, because the batteries on the laptop are low. More soon. Remember to take the time to appreciate the beauty and goodness around you! Discuss things with people! Refresh your dialog! Drive safely.

The aspect of driving and screening seemed like a practical thing to do, and in some ways it is, but it does take a lot of time. The time spent driving takes up most of the day, leaving little time for other things, like doing the blog. Here’s a little reflection and catching up.

After Kansas City, I went to Columbia, MO for a screening. I arrived in town, saw an independent restaurant and stopped for lunch. (I’m trying to do a green tour – as much as possible.) The cool thing about independent establishments is that some of them make a big effort to buy local produce and supplies. I think it’s good because of the positive impact it has on local economies. I like to support these places. It had been raining, so I wasn’t sure how the screening would go, but people came out, and it turned out really well. I met and stayed with a very cool couple that also do quite a bit of traveling. I enjoyed their company as we spent time together. I’m thankful for the good people that I am meeting as I travel in the States.

There was a rest day without a screening in the evening, so the day was spent emailing, updating the website, calling people, preparing packages and running to the post office. To do a film, then promote it, is quite a lot of juggling. As I’m on the tour, some screenings are still in the process of being arranged, so in between driving, I also try to email, snail mail DVD screeners, send promotional materials like postcards, posters as well as press kits in the hopes of newspaper reviews, as well as talk to newspapers and do radio interviews, while still driving to the screenings. It is a range of things to do, while I also need to be mentally ready to answer questions when I arrive. After each screening I then find out exactly where the next screening is located and how best to get there. It’s a lot of work, however, the film is getting more exposure.

The next screening was in St. Louis. I met people at another independent restaurant and had an early dinner with people from the local Veterans for Peace Chapter. They are very cool people and I was overwhelmed by their kindness and hospitality. They also told me that the staff of this restaurant has done things like shut down for a week and went to New Orleans to help out after hurricane Katrina. (Americans are very good people! For people who live outside of the States, please don’t judge us by the mainstream American media that you see. There’s a lot of independent, good businesses that do still operate in the States, and they make great quality goods and services.) The film was also reviewed well, and that helps.

There was a really long drive through many states in order to get from St. Louis to Pittsburgh, where there will be a screening on October 5th. I stayed with a friend, a former teaching colleague from New Mexico. I did some web work in the morning, walked to the post office, and once again, got back into my car and drove eastward to Bethlehem, PA.

I had previously screened the film with the SouthSide Film Festival as a working cut. The community was incredibly cool and emailed feedback, so I asked to screen it again as a finished film as part of their monthly screening. I was very grateful for this opportunity. It screened to a packed theatre audience with the overflow sitting in a adjoining cafe. “Thank you!” to community of Bethlehem. The next morning I returned to the SouthSide of town and bought gifts and other things from various independent businesses. I stopped at a chocolate shop (how can one not stop at a chocolate shop!) and had divine chocolate and conversation. There has been a lot of work to get to this point though.

In order to arrange this tour, the film goes through the screening process, whether it’s through a committee, programmer, or some other ‘gatekeeper’. The process of arranging these screenings started over two – three months ago. I usually don’t talk on the phone that much, but needed to gradually increase my cell phone minutes from 450 to 650, to 950, to 1350, surpassed that, and am now (at a huge rate!) have unlimited minutes. (If you’re from another developed country, please respond to this blog and let us know how much you pay for internet and phone access. I’m currently paying 99 dollars for unlimited cell phone access and 59.99 for nationwide internet access.) So as an independent filmmaker/distributor, I call organizations and programmers to see if they are open to watching it, then after sending it, I call them back to see if they had seen it and if they will program it. (In some states, I have a 10 to 1 ratio: for every ten calls, one does call back.) I have spoken to some programmers over 12 times. All are usually really busy, but most do watch it, then most do program it. Some totally ignore me both with email and calls. Just like making and finishing the film, distribution also takes time and persistence. Once the film is finally programmed, the publicity starts. When the local, sponsoring entity helps in this regard, it’s really a relief.

The drive from Bethlehem, PA to Northampton, MA was a long one. After all the tolls around NY, I was snared in traffic for about two hours before and around New Haven. (I also voluntarily stopped for about 35 minutes for a phone radio interview for the Brattleboro screening. This is also exciting, because often the radio interview happens after the screening, before the screening is even better!) I had some difficulty finding the screening venue, but stopped in a snowboarding and skate shop and the owner got online and went to the consideringdemocracy website to get the address of the screening. I arrived the the screening, somewhat frazzled, started the Q&A, and got a question from a gentleman about why the Iraq war wasn’t in the film – (fairly angry about that!) to which I was slightly puzzled, since it is actually in there, and I was struck by the irony and difficulties of traveling and getting these sometimes difficult views from people outside of the States that would actually talk to me – on tape, then getting back to the States and facing the oddness of getting attacked by both ‘liberals’ and ‘conservatives’ in the United States for various reasons – made me almost start crying in front of the audience. (Thank you to the person that brought me water because I pulled myself together and went on.) I suppose the film is getting people to talk – that’s good. What we need to do is get past divisions in and start talking rationally and nicely to people who may be on the opposite side of the polarization. It’s to the point in the States where false assumptions sometimes can create a divisions that don’t actually exist in the first place. For example, how often do people create identities and false perceptions based upon political party registration? Yet when one looks at the different political parties, there are similar corporate entities that fund and lobby both of them. The two major political parties have different opinions on some issues, but there are also striking similarities. Take, for example, most of the major policies of the United States. Why are we so different from the other developed countries? It’s just something to think and talk about. We are a representative democracy after all. Democracy is strengthened by talking to other citizens. The sun is shining, it’s a beautiful day, and I hope to catch up on work. I’m thankful for the opportunity to be doing what I’m doing. More later. Enjoy your day!

Yikes! I’m getting ready to start a screening tour tomorrow with the film “Considering Democracy”. I continue to learn a lot, and I’m really thankful for that, but it will be a pattern of driving, screening, driving, screening… for a few weeks. On one hand, the film is being screened. (Good – yeah!) On the other hand, it’s going to be a lot of driving, and spending over 8 hours continuously in the car isn’t the most fun (Blaa – but a lot of time to think. I suppose that’s good.) I could have a lot of time to think about what I’m going to do next. I am going to try to have a ‘green tour’. This is what that would mean.

I am going to driving in a car. While it would be adventurous to ride across the country on a horse, it’s really not that practical for say, a screening tour. Shouldn’t probably show up for screening Q&A smelling like a horse. The car is fuel efficient, but there’s more. I found that if I drive under 80 miles per hour, I get about 40 miles per gallon. I also drive kinda slow uphill, not so slow going down, so I think that also helps the overall mileage.

I’m going to try to refill my waterbottles, as opposed to constantly buying new ones. I’m also going to take a cooler with bread and sandwich stuff. That way, I’ll have food to eat, and as the ice melts, then I’ll have water to drink. I’ll wash and reuse them. I’ll also get powdered tea to drink for a treat. I’ll also take my coffee mug so I don’t need to get the throwaway cup when getting coffee in the morning. There’s more ideas in my little tour.

Independent, individual business owners are the ones I want to support. I will try to support them if ever I need books or eating supplies, as well as dine with them. I like the food better (usually) at independent businesses, they usually have a more varied menu, and it supports someone who is taking an active part in and supporting the local economy. It’s sad when I drive through small towns and see a lot of businesses boarded up. So, I’ll do what I can.

I’m hoping that I’ll have everything that I need with me. People have been pretty cool, very kind, and by and large, I have places to stay. (I can also sleep in my car. I really appreciate good design.) If I’m at a hotel, I figure that I won’t need to use the little shampoo bottles because I’ll have everything with me.

I’ll try to blog more regularly during the long drive. Is this the life of an independent filmmaker? Does it get easier? I need to start getting ready and packing the car. Cheers!

Originally, as I first started organizing screenings for Considering Democracy, I thought that it would be fairly easy to self distribute the film. After driving over 5,700 miles in two and a half weeks, I’m humbled and have learned a lot. Driving hundreds of miles per day to get from screening to screening also gives a person time to really reflect and think. Overall, it was definitely worth it. Word is slowly, slowly getting out about the film, but I’m doing it somewhat backwards, and that makes for different difficulties. Things that I have learned.

The promotion of the film is really important. It’s one thing to line up screenings, it’s entirely another step to get word out about the film screening so that people attend the screening. The screenings that were well attended were promoted well and were listed and/or reviewed in a couple of local newspapers, as well as on a few different online event calendars. The screening was also registered with Brave New Theaters was packed. The locals helping to organize and promote the screenings also had a strong hand in the event’s success. Thank you for helping to make the event come together. I’ve learned a few other things.

People in the United States are good people, but if they are looking to the mainstream media or conservative AM radio for news, they pretty much aren’t able to access information. Yet people seem to really want to know what is happening outside of the States. I tried to get people’s point of view on various issues, and by and large people who didn’t get that much information shook their head in puzzlement and said, “I just don’t know.” So I gave them a copy of my film.

An independent filmmaker is up against a really big machine. Films from huge production companies are prepicked and fed into thousands of megatheaters across the country on a release date. They are booked months ahead of time and usually use one or a few main distributors. On the other side of the spectrum are independent filmmakers trying to figure out how to get their projects out to an audience. I did find it encouraging that a lot of people really desire information. Now it’s a matter of figuring out an efficient means of promoting it.

I haven’t recently submitted it to film festivals, (because I thought I would get it straight to other audiences) but realize that I probably should submit it to festivals because it’s also part of a legitimacy thing for films. I also need to learn more about online networking. I finished school before facebook and myspace became popular, so I’m trying to figure them out. I need to spend some more time with them, but there’s so much to do! So enough of reflecting. I need to get more things done. If you have any other distribution tips, let me know!