Fast Forward

Fast Forward news -

07/10, 2003 -
Quick screening info for those with a scrolling aversion:
Friday, August 15th, 8PM.
open end gallery / Ideotech
2000 W Fulton

For two years, Atom and I have been running the Fast Forward film fest (known for some of that time as the 5x8 video fest). We've watched and enjoyed over 200 films produced by our friends, neighbors and unknown people who claim to be from the area. The event has taken place nine times and we've shown movies to 2,000 or so people. After a long and litigation-free run such as this, one gets to feeling reflective about things. Like when you see an old flame out with a new beau and you think back on that time they were locked outside in a snowstorm and had no way to call you. Or when your Mom complains because you won't fly home to her community college graduation and watch her receive a diploma in computer literacy. Or even when the guy next door becomes a multi-millionaire and, many years later, distinctly remembers the campaign of terror you brought upon him with the help of Smuckers, your cat. The good screenings, the bad screenings, the sweating-like-crazy screenings and that one screening that involved the drunk woman that wouldn't stop shouting.

Miles of MiniDV shot by sleepy filmmakers, dozens of fights between filmmaking teams, countless desperate last-minute phone calls and a couple of inside jokes that poke fun at the event organizers. Without getting sanctimonious, it's been really wonderful seeing all of your accomplishments, large and small. Atom and I will often make remarks about some of the films for a long time afterward and we've decided to hold an event that just involves showing our favorite shorts.

'The Producers' will feature 20 to 30 films from previous events. Some of these films won awards, some were overlooked or shut out by tight judging. All are deemed 'real good' by the two of us and maybe Christian, our video projectionist. Atom and I are above bribery, Christian may be contacted at simple312@yahoo.com.

Thanks for everything are due to our web designer Marc Needham, the various venues that have helped us out, the DJs that have come and played their records, folks from the local press and all of our friends that have supported us though we're stand-offish at times and get sick of hearing 'So, how's the festival going?'

>>>>>>>> THE INFO REGARDING THE SCREENING. The Producers
A Fast Forward Retrospective
Friday, August 15th, 8PM.
open end gallery / Ideotech
2000 W Fulton (near Grand and Damen in Ukranian Village)
BYOB and seating is lousy, but you already know that.
Should have about a hundred or so chairs on hand.
$5 at the door :: cheap! Still the best entertainment value in North America.

After party is at Club Foot, 1824 W Augusta. Come on down - we'll buy you drinks if you buy us drinks.

There may be a Sunday afternoon screening as well, we'll keep you posted.

T-shirts and DVDs of the show will be available at the show that evening, moderately priced.

Brought to you by Cutters, home of fine editorial, Atomix coffeeshop and Atom and Sean. To sponsor this event in any way, shape or form, contact me or Atom at the coffeeshop.

NOTE: Next actual filmmaking event is coming up late August/early September :: At The Drive-In... Should be a fun one.

03/31, 2003 - Hey Folks, fellow Americans and future expatriates;

The time for another Fast Forward festival has arrived. Or almost arrived. We've been working on other various projects, most of which involve paying the rent.

The new and improved dates are:
May 3rd - registration opens.
May 16th - The topic is issued. We're still working on it. Rest assured that it will involve coffee, robots and probably monkeys. However, it will not be cute in any way.
May 17th - the screening begins at 8 pm sharp, no delays or anything. open-end gallery and our friends Kevin and Marshall are our hosts for this installment. Thanks, guys!

It's been a very weird time here at the festival, what with enormous life-style changes and all. Atom appears to be mostly intact, despite his inability to drink more than one Guinness in an evening. As for me, I'm continuing to wait for the public opinion polls to start reflecting a resurgence in haiku popularity. Marc, our website updater, has been captured by angry housecats and is awaiting liberation. Yet he reassures us that, somehow, his massive website changes will be finished any minute now. Christian the Video Stylist is being kept in the dark about everything for tax purposes.

Exact times are still forthcoming, but these are the correct dates. We're really looking forward to this event : as it says in the subject line, this marks our two year anniversary. Nine events in two years and well over 150 movies produced by you, your peers, various post house assistants, PAs, waitresses, security guards, receptionists and dog walkers. At the end of this, it's still a festival by, for and starring you. If you have suggestions or comments, please let us know via internet or in person at Atomix cafe. Or send a postcard to the following address:
Atomix
1957 W Chicago
Chi, IL 60622

Thanks again, and we look forward to seeing you all soon.

Sean
FFFF

01/14, 2003 - Well, another festival has come and gone like a sharp potato chip forcibly ejected from a windpipe. The space at Collaboraction looked gorgeous and the movies were so hot they were almost literally on fire. Figuratively, they were completely on fire. There were some technical problems for the first half of the show, but the second half went a little smoother and we were again amazed at the quality of your works. Thanks to you, audience and participants, it was a great time.

Thanks again to Jason and all at Found magazine for their work with us this time out. When he, Atom and I were sitting around the table of photographs, I remarked, 'You know, someone's going to be making a shot out of this photograph. Someone will have a shot in their film of a girl dancing with bubbles." Friday night, I was perched high above my friend Keri, videotaping her as she danced under a rain of bubbles. I started laughing, realising that I was fulfilling my own prophecy. Or maybe I was just lightheaded from anxiety, who can tell. Check out future photo, flyer and audio finds from around the country at www.foundmagazine.com

Thanks also to Anthony and Scott, our tireless friends and compatriots at Collaboraction, the folks at Cutters, Monkey Business, Atomix coffeeshop, Freedom Coffee Roasters and the people who came and sat as our judges. Thanks.

Our next event will be coming up in March or April. Check the website from time to time, as we will have pictures from the event posted and maybe even a bulletin board for chatting/crew hook-ups/Atom and Sean-directed complaints/etc. And please remember - if you know someone who's been looking for a creative outlet, someone who makes sculpture out of old shoes, someone who paints with Log Cabin syrup, someone who's starting a stop-animation film, someone who can't stop talking about someday starting a film, someone who washes dogs or hand-letters swimming pool signs for a living - please tell them about the event. We'll try to help them out. Thanks.

Sean
fastforwardfilmfest

ps If anyone knows what happened to Eliot Brodsky, a regular playa in our festival, please let me know. That man is reliable to the letter, and we hope he's okay.

pss Special thanks to Julie Shapiro, our all-time quarterback the night. Our thoughts and prayers are with you as you continue to battle your cold.

01/08, 2003 - If you're making a movie, don't forget to tie a string around your finger and be at Atomix Coffeeshop (1957 W Damen) at 7:45 on Friday, January 10, 2003. We'll unveil the topic for your movies. 21 hours later, turn in your movies at Atomix (5pm).

At 8pm that evening, Jaunary 11, everyone is invited to join us at Collaboraction (2046 W Carroll) for a screening and judging party. Prizes will be awarded and beer will be readily available. Admission is $10 for drinking / $7 for soda pop beverages.

Thanks to Found Magazine for being our co-conspirators this time around. Thanks to Scott and Anthony at Collaboraction for helping produce this event. And thanks to Christian Matts, Marc Needham and Julia Cardis for helping the event go anywhere.

12/04, 2002 - The next Fast Forward Film Festival will begin January 2nd, 2003. See Future Events for further details.

10/15, 2002 - Our new name is... Fast Forward Film Festival!

9/10, 2002 - The next show is up and ready to roll. We're calling this event THE LOTTERY, on account of so many fine filmmakers wanting to participate in the festival.
See Future Events for further details.
Sean
Fast Forward fest person

9/10, 2002 - We're looking for volunteers who might be interested in helping our man Christian with some simple video/audio set-up and tear-down. If you'd like to help out, contact me. We can't offer college credit, but you'll get some free beer for your time.
Sean
Fast Forward fest person

9/10, 2002 - We're changing the name of the event. Really. This time for sure. Anyone who wants to suggest a new name, by all means, go ahead.
Sean
Fast Forward fest person

9/10, 2002 - There will soon be a Starbucks opening near Division and Ashland. Just in case you didn't know and you're craving some hot brown water called 'Mochalattchino!'
Sean
Fast Forward fest person