getting closer to the unveiling...

What I want to make clear to everyone is no one story is better than another. PAH-FEST is more like a digital media gallery. Every year we will pick six stories based on how will they work together as a complete show and if they are a balanced cross section of everyday people. I want to thank all of you who submitted your story ideas.

Here are the six teams that PAH picked for PAH-FEST 2006:

1. Team NMSU-Grants/Super Hero

2. Team Unemployed/Vinyl Fever

3. Team Madonna University/Life of Pain

4. Team Latino/Matanza

5. Team African American/First Light

6. Team Native American/Laguna Uranium

7. Team Outlaw. I also want to reiterate that anyone who wants to still tell their story digitally can do so but they are completely on their own--equipment, food, water, supplies, etc. This is the Outlaw category. My son will be making one on his own with three of his friends (2 from New York, 1 from New Mexico). However, we will look at all the submitted Outlaw films and pick only one to represent that category. This is the one that our distinguished judges will see and vote on against the chosen 6.

CRC says...

Marching Bugsy Kahns prepare for the dawning of a brand new, totally inclusive digital mecca. Don't be afraid, even though they are master warriors, they're here to help.

I do not know what I may appear to the world; but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.

--Sir Isaac Newton

Below is a vlog that demonstrates how to create mobile phone video art for PAH-FEST 2006 and a chance to win 500 smackeroos.
CELL PHONE ART.mov

BAILEY'S MOBILE PHONE VIDEO ART
WATERLIGHT.mov

Andy Takakjian has been hard at work carving and mold making. Now, we just have to get it black nickle plated.

A friend of mine just sent me this. He's a wise and very talented young man. I wonder if he's trying to tell me something?

THE DUCK AND THE GOOSE

A duck and a goose decided to race, a hamster blew the whistle and off they chased.

They ran past a barn and climbed over a shed, the duck was fast, but the goose led by a head.

As they neared the finish they swam across a lake, the duck was tired, he needed a break.

The goose looked back, the duck was drowning, but he said, "F... it" and let him die.

The moral is, think of yourself first and you will always win.


By Michael Jason Rosen

NFP wrote these but I added a tad live CRC relish. DBL is the perfect straight man. And a very special thanks to DJ Derek for creating the spots and helping to promote PAH-FEST 2006.
Christopher PAH Fest.mov
Christopher & Doug.mov

CRC says...

This is one of the articles that came out of my most recent trip to Grants. I really thought these reporters were wry, smart and got me and the PAH program. Mark Twain is alive and well in the small town of Grants, NM. It was a pleasure doing interviews with them.

Digital media fest to open July 5

GRANTS - When you mix a maverick Hollywood director, a college digital film program, the Cibola Arts Council and the mystique of New Mexico, you produce the Project Accessible Hollywood (PAH) Digital Media Festival.

The event is scheduled to begin July 5 at New Mexico State University-Grants Campus.

The brainchild of producer-director Christopher Coppola, the festival will screen on-line theatre productions, team mobi-flicks (six-minute digital films) and mobile phone and web-cam art. Other planned events include a technology treasure hunt at the KOA Campground south of Grants and an award ceremony.

Coppola, nephew of award-winning director Francis Ford Coppola and older brother of actor Nicholas Cage, claims he is viewed as an "outlaw" in Hollywood because of his unconventional approach to film.

In an exclusive interview with the Beacon, Coppola and PAH Fest partner Doug Bocaz-Larson, manager of the planned Digital Film Technology program at NMSU, explained their vision for the event.

"I hate exclusivity and want to bring the technology down to everyday people...I want technology to be available to everyone," Coppola said. "Art can be a healing force internationally and it should be assessable to all people. Art and technology can be a powerful communication tool for us all," he added.

Bocaz-Larson agreed that everyone has a story to tell and should have the opportunity to voice that story. He said he has initiated that process through his students' digital film efforts.

"The students need to work on actual films rather than study theory," Bocaz-Larson said. "In this way the students get to work and also receive academic credit for their efforts. In most film schools, students work for free. It's also a way to promote the New Mexico film industry and prepare local people for work in that industry."

"We're hoping to empower people to produce films here rather than going to Hollywood," the director added.

Coppola has always loved New Mexico and the mythical attraction of Route 66. "I've toured the Rio Grande valley and visited places like Tinker Town and the Ice Caves. I really like Grants because you have a creative rural community, Native American cultures nearby, the defunct uranium mines and a dedicated person like Doug to promote the digital film industry," he stated.

Coppola considers New Mexico to be a perfect location for the digital revolution. "This state changed the world when the atomic bomb was developed and it can change it again with new film technologies," he said. "There are lots of scientists and PhDs in New Mexico who can help make that happen. I can see this state becoming a digital center rather than just a place where Hollywood studios can get a tax break. I visualize lots of small digital centers around the state," he added.

Coppola met Senator Joseph Fidel when the filmmaker was in Santa Fe consulting with state leaders on methods to attract the film industry to New Mexico. Fidel gave Coppola the phone number for Felicia Casadas, Campus Executive Officer at the college, and she referred him to Bocaz-Larson. "This is a perfect fit for me because of my background in both theater and technology," Bocaz-Larson related.

PAH Fest organizers have a distinctive sense of humor. One of the awards in the competition is the Bugsy-Kahn Award, which "encapsulates the spirit and philosophy of the PAH Fest," according to promotional materials. "This award is inspired by two legendary mavericks who did it their way, Bugsy Siegel and Genghis Kahn, and will be given to the festival contestants who best reflects that philosophy."

Coppola pointed out that Bugsy Siegel taught his gangland followers to negotiate with their enemies rather than just kill them, and that Genghis Kahn was ruthless but also wanted to bring people together. "We see a modern Genghis Kahn as someone who will conquer the digital film industry," he said wryly.

Mark Twain, who Coppola sees as a symbol of creativity, is part of the PAH Fest logo.

Because many of the competition entries can be made on-line, participants from around the world are welcome.

The PAH Fest will run from July 5 to 9 at NMSU and other locations around Grants. For further information on making entries and the festival schedule, go to www.pahfest.com or call Doug Bocaz-Larson at 287-6656 or 290-1331, e-mail dbocaz@nmsu.edu.

By Diane Fowler

It is easier for a father to have children than for children to have a real father.

- Pope John XXIII

I want to wish a very happy Father's Day to all the real fathers out there.

--CRC

All three of these have something in common to me for some reason. They're definitely cool and have artistry in an innocent, non-pretentious way. They put a big o'smile on my face and bring the kid out in me. That's a good thing. And I love them for that.

Talented artist and long time biker buddy, Andy Takakjian is hard at work on the soon-to-be-coveted PAH-FEST "BUGSY KAHN" award. He just sent me this snap shot. Pretty cool, huh?

I've been called the Bugsy Siegel of New Mexico because I can see New Mexico as a huge digital Mecca in the future when others don't. My business partner likes to call me her "Little Genghis" because I can see the big picture and have the shoulders to carry it through. Doug Bocaz-Larson took this photo of me yesterday morning doing a radio spot for PAH-FEST 2006. I do look a little Mongolian around the edges.

REJOICE INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS!
DIGITAL AMNESTY IS HERE!

HAVE YOU POURED YOUR HEART, SOUL AND CASH INTO A DIGITAL SHORT OR FEATURE LENGTH MOVIE, AND NOW IT'S GATHERING DUST ON YOUR HARD DRIVE?

CHRISTOPHER COPPOLA'S
PAH-FEST
DIGITAL MEDIA FESTIVAL IS HERE TO HELP!

ENTER OUR ONLINE THEATER CATEGORY AND YOUR MOVIE WILL BE VIEWED AND JUDGED BY AN INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE.

DIGITAL AMNESTY!
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHEN YOUR PICTURE WAS MADE OR WHAT
DIGITAL CAMERA WAS USED.

$500 FIRST PRIZE!

GO TO WWW.PAHFEST.COM FOR DETAILS.
PRESENTED BY THE CIBOLA ARTS COUNCIL

CRC says...

I liked all of the young ladies and felt each one could be a good Miss New Mexico for different reasons. However, Miss Albuquerque Christina Hall got the big win and I do feel she will represent the state well as she competes to become the next Miss America.

A VIDEO BLOG MEMORY
THE JUDGES.mov

Young man, if God had wanted you to see me that way, he would have put your eyes in your bellybutton.

--Lillian Gish

My cousin Jason Kuzia and his fiancee Tanya Martin were married today in San Jose! I was sorry that I couldn't be there due to my long promised responsibilites to act as a judge for the Miss New Mexico beauty pageant. May Mr. and Mrs; Jason Kuzia have a long, loving, fruitful life together.

I'm sorry I haven't managed to blog for a couple days. I'm serving as one of the judges to help find Miss New Mexico 2007 in beautiful Alamogordo, New Mexico. These ladies have to keep their poise as they go through some rigorous contests that exhibit their mind and body, grace and humility. I used to have mixed feelings about beauty pageants--beauty is only skin deep, etc. However, I see most of these young ladies working hard, because they truly want to be strong role models for other young ladies in their community. They also get a chance to win education scholarships to better themselves as well as a chance to represent their state as they run for Miss America. But, only one will win. That's always that hard part, except this year I will be making an announcement that all 22 contestants will be invited to join my cast of beautiful women wrestlers for my Big Bad Voodoo Momma this fall. So, it's a win-win situation for all involved.

I saw this post on the IMDB. It made me happy that I affected our youth in a positive way.

May 20th, I graduated from High school. My school heavily emphasizes the Arts. Mr. Coppala is really big in the arts apperently and spoke at our graduation ceremony. It was so ironic - everyone was really dressed up and here he was with a black bandana and an Indian biker type coat like he had just came in on his Harley. He had big chains around his neck and leather pance. He looked like a total bad ass. We introduced him as Nicholas Cage's brother and when he got up to the podeum, he said something like, I didn't write a speach, I like to talk off the cuff because it sounds more personal. He went on to tell us not to be art school drug flakes stoners and to take the arts seriously. Then he made us all hold hands! It was awesome. He was so funny! Now I'm going to watch all his movies.

Don't let anything discourage you, especially negative reviews, as the hatred you feel after reading them should be ample enough fuel to fire up your next picture. Use that emotion, plus an either active or suppressed libido, to their maximum potential to give kinetic energy in lifting camera to eye and soul to tape.

--George Kuchar

This is an excerpt from George's creative process essay "Some Movie Moments" which will be published in full in the premiere EARS ON-LINE MAGAZINE.