July 2012 archives
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July 8, 2012
going to ottawa on a racc grant
by sven at 1:25 pm
I've just won my first grant: funding from the Regional Arts and Culture Council will help me go to the Ottawa International Animation Festival this fall.
This is a Professional Development Grant. It's intended to assist "artists or arts administrators with opportunities that specifically improve their business management development skills and/or brings the artist or the arts organization to another level artistically." It doesn't go to the Northwest Animation Festival as an organization, but rather to me as an individual who has a career producing arts events. The funding won't pay for the trip to Ottawa in its entirety, but will certainly make a big difference.
Ottawa is the oldest, largest, most important animation happening in North America. I made the case that I'm at a pivotal moment, when experiencing the gold standard of festivals first hand is likely to have the most significant impact on my curatorial vision.
The fest will run from Sept 19-23. It's a 36-year-old event that pulls in 2000+ film entries each cycle. I'll be joining 27,000 attendees for 90+ screenings and related events... I'm really looking forward seeing this monster in person!
posted by sven | permalink | categories: exhibits & events, nw animation festival
July 6, 2012
part time playhouse interview
by sven at 12:53 pm
I got to be on television this past Sunday (7/1).
Archie Washington is the producer and director for a cable access show called Part Time Playhouse. He invited me to be his guest for a 15-minute interview representing PDX Playwrights.
I initially resisted the invitation. I've successfully passed the reins to Miriam Feder for producing Fertile Ground 2013, and have been gently extricating myself from power for the past few months. Better to spotlight the new leadership, I felt.
I did manage to get David Holloway on board — the one PDXP member who's been around since the group's beginning, five years ago — but Miriam was unavailable. Archie still wanted me... So I decided to do the interview to support a fellow producer. I know what it's like trying to wrangle enough people to put on a show.
It wound up being rather fun. Archie is very warm and easy-going, so it was a low-anxiety affair. And being in the big open room where filming takes place, surrounded by cameras and lights and equipment, you can't help but feel a sense of creative possibility.
The call for "talent" was at 4:50, the live broadcast took place at 7:00 — so there was a lot of sitting around, waiting. Most of that time was spent in the "green room" (actually a conference room) chatting with David, Claire Willett and Jessica Dart. Claire is the new creative director at Milepost 5; I've known her a few years via PDXP. Jessica's a dramaturge collaborating with both Claire and Archie to create The Scriptorium, a new series of workshopped plays.
This episode consisted of clips from the previous season's performances, an interview with Claire and Jessica, more clips, the interview with David and me, then more clips. I felt like I managed to hit all the important points about PDXP with at least tolerable eloquence. From what I can tell, the episode will eventually be available on YouTube — but I have no idea when.
So, all in all, a neat little opportunity. Thanks Archie!
posted by sven | permalink | categories: exhibits & events, playwriting