Atlanta Producer Linda Burns at Sundance

Goodbye Park City...

2007-01-31T14:59:00.000-08:00

...still colder in my house than in Park City, but hopefully will have heat by the weekend...in the meantime, here's a few photos to keep you warm...

Park City after the fun is over...peace and quiet at 5am waiting for a shuttle to the airport.

Sleeping on the plane. Hats are great to pull down over your eyes and block out the world. Gotta give JD the credit for that!

Can't wait to do it again next year!!

The Fest Wrap Up?

2007-01-29T10:55:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm back in the ATL and freezing my @ss off!

We got home last night and noticed that the house seemed colder than it should, even though I turned it down to 55 before I left. A few hours later, it was still damn cold...the heater is blowing cold air not hot and I can't get a repairman out til tomorrow.

So JD & I are huddled around a heater that toasts one room up nicely...

Anyway, I'm also really, really sleepy since I seemed to get little sleep while in Park City, and will be posting my final thoughts, observations, party gossip, film gossip, and pictures sometime later today or tomorrow....it's hard to type when your house is sitting at 32 degrees.

Bugmaster

2007-01-27T10:21:00.000-08:00

This is a brilliant Japanese film....I hope we can get it in Atlanta. It's incredible filmmaking.

Taking a nap now...the adrenaline pass and all these damn late night Signal screenings are killing me.

I have 3 more movies today....must pack at some point...leaving tomorrow early...

another great review

2007-01-27T10:12:00.001-08:00

http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:HRCKutHTdpIJ:www.cinematical.com/2007/01/26/sundance-review-the-signal/+%27the+signal%27+movie+review+sundance&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=4&client=safari

Protagonist...and my rant on the indie state of mind in GA

2007-01-26T14:16:00.000-08:00

What a wonderful film. Great characters...very interesting concept. Jessica Yu is branching out and doing a narrative comedy...can't wait to see what she does next.

I keep meeting kids on the street that are jazzed about The Signal screening...we screen Friday and Saturday night...should be a great crowd. More on that tomorrow.

The weather has been fabulous this week. It was cold as well, Alaska in summer, the first week, but the snow is melting and I'm without hat, gloves or a scarf til after sunset. JD hates it cause he's boarding on ice instead of powder.

Half the kids went skiiing/boarding today and the other half are just hanging around chillin'. It's been a great week...an overwhelming week...and a successful week for us.

I just hope that someone starts taking indie films seriously in Atlanta. If you are an investor...do your homework...don't give your money to people with no track record, no skills, no story...but there is talent here and you need to seek it out.

It's high risk, but it can pay off if you invest in the right people...our investor is now a millionaire...he didn't make his money back on the first one...it's a long term investment...3-5 pictures...but it can pay off if you do your homework and find people with skills.

I hope that The Film Office, GPP, WIF, and other non-indie organizations will start to understand if our industry is to not just survive, but to THRIVE...we need to nurture and support the filmmakers of the future. We need to pass our knowledge on, train the next generation...or we will be as extinct as the dinosaurs.

And filmmakers...learn your craft, respect the arts, and don't ruin the hard work of those that came before you...filmmaking is a privilege, not a right. You have the right to do it, but unless you understand it's a privilege and a lifetime learning curve, you will never have true success, freedom and happiness doing it.

Friday - just two more days left

2007-01-26T08:59:00.000-08:00

Off to see Jessica Yu's new doc Protagonist. Should be interesting.

The Signal plays at midnight tonight in Park City, and again tomorrow night at midnight. Should be interesting to see how the crowds react.

I have a meeting with a distributor today for the Tibet movie...wish me luck.

Salt Lake City Premiere

2007-01-26T01:09:00.000-08:00

The whole gang loaded up in every available car and drove into Salt Lake for out premeire there.

Sold out, wait list again, which was great.

Good crowd. Lotsa people freaking out, although a little less crazy than the first screening. It's still fun to hear the grown man behind you moan and scream and say things like 'oh no, god no'. Another guy in the audience had one of those totally freaky laughs like he had lost his mind to the Signal.

Great Q & A too.

Saw more great movies today...
Eagle vs. Shark was pretty funny and endearing.
On the Road with Judas was structurally interesting.
Starting Out in the Evening was a good character study.
Buried Dreams was a beautifully crafted French film.
And, of course, the Signal rocks.

Lionsgate's acquisition of Fido

2007-01-25T01:18:00.000-08:00

What a great movie....total polar opposite of The Signal. Just a wonderfully funny zombie movie.

In store for only 3-4 hours of sleep before a 5 day movie...off to bed/

Lots of star sightings by the way...they are everywhere...like a virus. ;)

Thoughts of the first week...no photos finally!

2007-01-24T21:05:00.000-08:00

I got 13 hours of sleep last night...awesome.

I got up for an 8:30 am film, then stayed awake until the midnight Signal premiere, then partied after the sale at the condo, had breakfast with Alex, AJ, Justin, JD, Pete, Mark, and Dan. They all went to bed and Mark and I toughed it out. I was off to Broken English with Parker Posie. She rocked it out. Then off a panel on Doc funding, then another one on doc funding. Great panels, but of no use to me unfortunately. Then off to the new Hal Hartley film, Fay Grim. Totally off the hook. Not anything that I would expect from a Hartley film. Mystery, thriller, fast moving and over the top. It was awesome. I then went to dinner at 412 Bistro again. I love that place. We're eating there every other night.

Then I posted all those photos and went to bed at 9:30pm....woke up at 10:30 am this morning. I felt good, refreshed, ready to conquer the world.....ready to see movies and actually write up a blog.

Wow...Sundance sure is different this year. Last year, I came out with no agenda, just to hang out and absorb the craziness.

This year, I'm with a film that just sold to Magnolia for over $2 mil, so says Hollywood Reporter.

The messed up part is that it doesn't actually mean I get into parties. I forgot The Great World of Sound pary, which blows. I really like the director, Craig Zobel, and Melissa. I can't believe I wasn't there. I saw the director earlier and congratulated him, and sent them both e-mails, but it would have been good to show up and say HI. Bummer. I suck. I also never received the invite from Effie, so I missed that party too. Oh well.

I'm seeing lots of great movies.

Joshua was insanely freaky. Another Magnolia purchase. Creepy stuff. This was hitchcockian in nature with a bit of Damian thrown in. The kid was awesome.

Hounddog, the Dakota Fanning rape movie..it was really overblown. The movie was actually quite heavy...Crystal-like actually. Her performance was brilliant.

Khadak was an amazing foreign art film. I loved it.

You want to know more about these...go to http://festival.sundance.org/filmguide/ and read all about them.

I gotta tell ya, we're all overwhelmed, shocked, thrilled and crazed that the Signal sold here literally right after the screening.

Here's what you want and don't want at your screening....

If a distributor walks out and keeps walking, you're screwed. But if they walk out, then walk back in, then walk back out again, over and over again...they are making phone calls....they are figuring out what to do with it...they are getting everyone on board for a sale.

I was getting text messages about the first reviews about 3:30-4:30 am...about the same time that Alex, Jacob and our investor were signing on the dotted line. The reviews freaked us all out...I mean, damn...does it get any better than that?

Shortly after, I was getting calls to come out to the condo. JD & I, as you know, are in a love shack right on main street, and the kids are all out around lot G, near the Prospector. The buses weren't running anymore, so we hoped in a cab and headed out to the condo. Our sales reps and the Magnolia guys were all there to celebrate.

Everyone was drunk and having a good time. We all actually watched the Academy Awards announcements together at 6am.

That's when the party finally broke up and we all went to breakfast.

It's pretty overwhelming for the boys...selling this film, getting approached by agents and managers, pitching their movies. I know, I mean, what, are they complaining...hell, no, but you gotta imagine, this is pretty crazy. We're all just trying to remain calm and appreciate what we all did together...cause it's really about the collective and what we have in Atlanta, that is special to this place...our Dailies collective. We are a team and we all will keep making amazing movies in Atlanta, together.

Look out Hollywood, the Hollywood of the South has finally been recognized.

ATL folks...

2007-01-24T20:57:00.000-08:00

A few more photos for you...

More reviews...

2007-01-24T20:54:00.000-08:00

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/31337

http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/review/1507

http://www.ioncinema.com/beta/news.php?nid=1803

http://slashfilm.com/2007/01/24/sundance-the-signal-movie-review/

The Boys on Stage

2007-01-23T19:06:00.000-08:00

Photos at Q & A after premiere.

photos and more photos

2007-01-23T19:03:00.000-08:00

Magnolia Films snags The Signal

2007-01-23T18:56:00.000-08:00

The rumors are true and we couldn't be more crazed with excitement. I love Magnolia Films, Tom Quinn and all the guys that made this happen.

Oh yea, and this photo is of Bobb and JT, not the Magnolia guys.

Now..seriously, I'm going to bed.

no sleep til brooklyn

2007-01-23T18:32:00.000-08:00

Didn't get to bed last night and stayed up watching movies all day.

More on the Signal tomorrow, but check out the rumor mill....interesting and exciting things happening at sundance.

The first review is in...Signal could be a hit!

2007-01-23T03:10:00.000-08:00

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/31335

Directors on stage

2007-01-23T02:42:00.000-08:00

The Premiere PARTAY

2007-01-23T02:26:00.000-08:00

Vokda, tequila, beer and wine...salmon, asparagus, puff pastry, other yummy stuff...

ATL is seriously representing out in Park City...more photos tomorrow...I've got tons to post...

We sold out the theater and had a line wishing and waiting...

I've got tons of photos from inside the premiere as well...

It was an amazing screening...

The audience freaked...they got signalized...

It's 3:30am and talks might be talking place...

I've got a 9:30am movie...

Georgia Film, Video and Music Office represents

2007-01-23T02:19:00.000-08:00

eagle vs shark

2007-01-23T02:16:00.000-08:00

pacman attack, anthony hopkins and that guy from requiem for a dream

2007-01-23T02:10:00.000-08:00

crazy things happen on the streets of park city

THE SIGNAL premieres TONIGHT!!

2007-01-22T14:28:00.000-08:00

Things are crazy today as we gear up for the premiere.

We're shooting Transmission 3 tonight at our party at the
Airbourne Lounge on Main Street.

I've got to sell some tickets for this afternoon, so I'm off to find a buyer.

Hopefully, I'll get some great photos of the party and of the premiere.

Stay tuned.

Of yea, the Doc Commissioners meet and greet....great opportunity, but sadly, I've got feature length films. Most were looking for hour long programming and funding and licensing deals not really at the level I need.

More later....

THE SIGNAL video blog from Sundance

2007-01-22T14:16:00.000-08:00

Here are the links...wish I could post them here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwmhM9avX2o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgAhUlVDqnw

You can also find these on AJC.com

more vlogs to come later...

Eddie Murphy sighting...I got photos!

2007-01-22T13:05:00.000-08:00

I just finished an interview with a college station and I'm walking back to the condo to finish a bio, and I look over and there he is trying to hide. I crossed the street and was walking about 20 feet ahead of him, trying to decide...do I cheese out, break my own rules and take a photo? Then the paparazzi came running at me, so I grabbed my camera and popped these photos.

Dude, Where's my Budget?

2007-01-21T16:19:00.000-08:00

Another great panel...but as I write this JD and a few friends just crashed into the condo for cocktails...so I must be a good host.
More later if I have time.

Tomorrow I'm headed to a doc funding panel which should really be awesome.

Doc Panel with Fest Programmers

2007-01-21T16:05:00.000-08:00

Panelists...Cara Mertes (Sundance Doc Film Programmer and Moderator), Phoebe Brush (Full Frame Fest), Sean Farnel (Hot Docs Film Fest), Patricia Finneran (AFI/Silverdocs), Tiziana Finzi (Locarno Film Fest), Maxyne Franklin (Brit Doc), Beth Janson (Tribeca Film Fest), Thom Powers (Toronto Int'l Film Fest).

This was a great panel for me, considering my focus has always been on narrative fests, not doc fests. I took lots of great notes about each fests deadlines, content focus and the programs that they offer for doc filmmakers.

After the panel, I was able to target certain fests that were still considering films for this year that matched my content.

I was able to pitch and then give a copy of "Sacred Sites", the Tibetan film I'm trying to sell and get out there, to Sean at Hotdocs in Toronto. How exciting. I was more than willing to send him a copy of this fest, but he wanted the film NOW. And I just happened to throw a copy in my bag before I left the house this morning. So, he's walking around with my film and business card in his bag and I'll follow up in a week.

I also met the programmer and head of Silverdocs/AFI. The focus of their fest this year is politics and religion. Perfect for my movie. I pitched it to them and will follow up after the fest as their deadline has not passed yet. Perhaps I can send it to them without paying if they are interested enough in my follow up pitch.

Panels are so incredible this way. Always take advantage of panels at festivals and conferences. Don't ask ego centric questions, just listen and absorb. Then pick a few people on the panel you wish to speak to. Get their cards and follow up with them.

Getting SIGNALIZED!!!

2007-01-20T20:57:00.000-08:00

Doyouhavethecrazy.com?

Inside the party...

2007-01-20T20:15:00.000-08:00

Dave Brucker...Director Transmission 1

Jacob Gentry...Director Transmission 2

JD Taylor...Associate Producer with Jacob and one of the leads AJ Bowen

JD, Dan Bush...Director Transmission 3, Alex and AJ

Filmmaker Magazine party

2007-01-20T20:10:00.000-08:00

Graphic at Sundance screening...cool stuff...

Ski lodge and slopes at 8am

Filmmaker Magazine party...inside and out...cast and crew...more star sightings too, but no photos...Steve Buscemi and Sam Rockwell

star sightings...P. Diddy and others...who isn't here?

2007-01-20T17:24:00.000-08:00

P. Diddy on Main Street... Where's the photo you ask? I just don't care enough to take photos of him...but everyone is here.

Laura Linney, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, P. Diddy, Gina Gershon, Anthony Hopkins, Tony Robbins, Christian Slater, Geoffrey Gilmore, Paul Rudd...and I'm sure more plenty more...starting to get crazy up in here!!!

The Savages and Tuli

2007-01-20T13:29:00.000-08:00

Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney star in this funny, touching and sad story of a self absorbed brother and sister who must come to terms with themselves as they are forced to care for their estranged elderly dementia suffering father.

Great writing...some fabulous dialgoue like "We're not in therapy right now, we're in real life". I wish I could remember more, but this film is sure to hit the box office soon. Keep an eye out. A really well told story by Director Tamara Jenkins, who also directed The Slums of Beverly Hills.

Also saw a Phillipino Film called 'Tuli'. Interesting story and good acting, but the video would have been better served if they understood how to make video look more filmic. Shot on film, it would have really brought out the cinematic beauty of their surroundings.

On lunch break...more later...let's hope for some good parties tonight. According to our group, the PBS party was awesome with fantastic food, but the Frontier party was kinda lame....then they all crashed while...

JD, Michael McReynolds, his brother and I went to the midnight screening of We are the Strange. All animated in every possible way you can animate from anime to stop motion to claymation to stuff I don't even know how to describe. Very bizarre movie. Not even sure if I like it or not. I'm glad I saw it, because there is nothing in the world like it and this guy is certainly ahead of the curve, but the story was whack!! It was like watching animated Beckett...I have no idea what was going on in that movie.

Looks like it might snow...overcast and cold...

My first actual party... SXSW !!

2007-01-19T20:30:00.000-08:00

I met up with Alex and the Directors this afternoon...they were on interview #7. Haven't seen them since.

But, while I was with them I hooked up with my friends Alexis and Nikki, and actors AJ Bowen, Scotty Poythress, Claire Bronson, and Chad McKnight from The Signal and we headed over to the SXSW party.

I introduced myself to the programmers. One of them, Matt Dentler, publishes a blog on indieWire, so it was good to finally meet him. I've been to The Austin Film Fest with my short Petunia, but never SXSW...someday....

Ran into Pete Ballard and Mark Wynns of Lab 601, and Brian Newman, who used to be the Executive Director of IMAGE Film and Video Center. I stayed in a condo with Brian last year.

Anyway...the party. Great food, lots of liquor (if you like that Hypnotic stuff), and a fun crowd. I finally got to meet Morris, The Signal's sales rep. Great guy and looks a lot like Bob Saget.

I bailed early and missed going with the group over to the PBS party, but JD & I had dinner reservations at my fav restaurant at 6:15, so off I went to meet up with him.

When I checked my e-mail, I found another party invite...this one for another Sundance film with Georgia connections. The Great World of Sound produced by Melissa Palmer and Directed by Craig Zobel. I'm hoping to get a ticket to their movie, but at least I'll get to hob nob some more. Their film is also repped by Cassian at William Morris, which means this party will be full of "somebodies".

Anything goes at Sundance

2007-01-19T20:28:00.000-08:00

The rumor is that he's a character on Nickelodeon. I just know, I'm glad I'm not wearing that outfit in public or in 20 degree weather.

Paying for convenience...

2007-01-19T20:19:00.000-08:00

You gotta love living on Main Street, the home of the Sundance and Slamdance Film Festivals.

Here is the front of our condo at The Galleria, located at 580 Main Street...right in the middle of the action.

The other view is from the back door...looking at the transit station. I only have to walk across the street and up the hill to get on a bus to head off Main Street to some of the other venues. And in 10 degree weather, this convenience is worth every penny.

Chicago 10

2007-01-19T20:06:00.000-08:00

My first movie was a great one, and it should have been for Chicago 10 was the Sundance Film Festival's Opening Night film.

Chicago 10 retells the story of the Vietnam protests and eventual riots that occured during the 1968 Chicago Democratic Convention. Director Brett Morgan combined archival footage with animation similar to 'Waking Life' and a killer soundtrack to bring this story totally to life. This movie is incredible. It's funny, it's relevant, it's frightening, it's sad, it's tragic, and it's magic. It's a must see and I guarantee this movie will be coming to a theater near you.

Here's what Sundance says about it...

As one of the seminal political events of the 1960s, the Chicago Seven trial seems to come from another era, but filmmaker Brett Morgen, in his third trip to the Sundance Film Festival, has created a film that is much more than a look back. Indeed Chicago 10 takes a stylized, innovative approach that gives contemporary history a forced perspective. He boldly mixes original animation with extraordinary archival footage to explore the buildup to and unraveling of the infamous conspiracy trial. Set to the music of revolution then and now, Chicago 10 is a parable of hope, courage, and challenge as it portrays the struggle of young Americans attempting to confront an oppressive and armed government…their own.

The 1968 Democratic Convention was a watershed event in the ongoing opposition to the Vietnam War. Protestors clashed with Chicago police, and the ensuing battles were witnessed live on television. In an effort to find a scapegoat, eight protestors were charged. The trial became a circus, and the abuse of individual liberties made this event one of the era's most significant.

But this is not the focus of either the film or our choice to have it open this year's Festival. Chicago 10 is much more than mere historical drama, and its creative artistry and inspiration are at the core of what makes the subject of this documentary as relevant today as it was 40 years ago.— Geoffrey Gilmore

My first party invite!!

2007-01-19T19:41:00.000-08:00

Up bright and early this morning at 6:45am to hit the box office at 7:45am. We came in too late yesterday for me to hit the festival box office and pick up my adrenaline pass. I had a 9:15 am at the Eccles this morning and I didn't want to miss it.

An adrenaline pass is great. You get to see any movie before 10am or after 10pm just by walking in no later than 15 minutes before the screening starts. This allows you to see many of the Competition Films that otherwise are sold out. Plus, because it's a credential, you gain entry into the filmmakers lounge and many other locations that do not allow the general public.

The box office is right out the back door of my condo, which is very convenient. And they have separate lines for passholders, which is also very convenient, considering people slept in sleeping bags on the floor and were in line at 4am to try to get some available tickets. When I came in, the line was very, very, very long. I was the first and only in line for passholders.

They couldn't find my name on the list...I tried not to panic, but all my choices for movies had been plotted out specifically with the pass in mind. 20 movies were suddenly disappearing...finally, with my credit card number, they were able to look up the purchase. All was right with the world again.

On my way out, I ran into LA producer Effie Brown (Real Women Have Curves, Everyday People), who produced the Sundance dramatic competition film 'Rocket Science'. I met Effie at the Atlanta Film Festival a few years ago. She has bright red dyed hair. It's her trademark. I remember asking her if she found her wild hair to be a hindrance...or if money people had a tendency not to take her seriously because of it. She told me that it was actually a blessing. Money people just thought of her as a creative person and she was easily recognizable.

As someone with wildly colored purple hair, it was nice to hear. I love my purple hair. It's fun. I mean it's just hair and I've never understood why it's so "out there" to have it a different color or different style...although I do think the faux hawk is absolutely lame. But if you like your silly little faux hawk, who am I to judge?

Anyway, I got invited to her party...well, not yet, but she told me she would invite me. More on that when it happens....

Oh the Parties...

2007-01-19T19:30:00.000-08:00

Last night was the Slamdance Party.

Someone said, 'You don't have to be on the list, you can pay $15 to get in".

One thing I know...if there isn't a really large guy blocking your entry, standing next to a hot chic with a clip board, it's not a party worth going to! Let me put this another way, usually, when anyone can get in, anyone does. And when anyone can get in, the people who are "someone" aren't there. Sad, harsh, but true. And I need the "someone" to fund or purchase my movies.

So, I decided to stay in and get some sleep. Of course, I didn't sleep well at all for some reason...perhaps I was over tired from not sleeping the night before.

JD met up with The Signal kids and headed out to the party. About two hours later he showed back up and I got the real story.

There was a big guy, a hot chic, a clip board and a list. And he wasn't getting in. Only Alex, the Producer, and our three Directors were getting in. But then Alex popped his head out and got JD Taylor, our Associate Producer (and my man) and one of our lead actors, AJ, into the party. Boy does it help to have a sales agent. Morris, from Shoreline, had worked his magic.

JD didn't last long. His first party just didn't live up to his expectations.

Did I say HOT damn?

2007-01-18T22:37:00.000-08:00

It's cold...so cold that I'm inside and still shaking as I type.

Here a quick look at the street tonight while it's still calm and peaceful...

2007-01-18T21:28:00.000-08:00

I've landed in Park City...hot damn!!

2007-01-18T21:19:00.000-08:00

How to start, how to start...that's always the question.

Today is our travel day. Atlanta to Denver to Salt Lake City to Park City. And it's strangely uneventful. I say that because for the last year, I have been doubled booked in rentals homes, shown up at the airport to find my reservations didn't exist and been trapped in the airport overnight due to an earthquake knocking out the power grid in Honolulu. This morning, there was no traffic, there was no line at Air Tran and no line at security. Totally uneventful...except for the fact that I'm arriving in Park City on 1 hour of sleep!

I guess to start I should bring you up to speed on The Signal; its origins, its development and its players.

Let's start with Dailies (www.dailiesatlanta.org).

A little over four years ago, a group of local filmmakers, actors, directors, and play writes joined forces to create Dailies at PushPush Theater in Decatur. They challenged each other to create experimental films with a common theme that would explore different areas of filmmaking to help them grow as artists. This wasn't just another screening opportunity, this was a workshopping process with critical discussion, rough cut screenings and lots of collaboration.

Today, Dailies filmmakers have created over 100 short films, and the features 'Last Goodbye', 'Psychopathia Sexualis' and 'The Signal' have been produced by Dailies directors who have tapped the resources of the collective to help get their projects completed. All three features have gone on to play at major festivals and were picked up for distribution; Jacob Gentry's 'Last Goodbye' is available on Warner's Home Video, Bret Woods' 'Psychopathia Sexualis' can be found at Kino International and 'The Signal'...well, it's gonna get distribution...I mean, it's in Sundance right? ;)

OK...what does this really have to do with The Signal? Around two years ago, a new challenge was thrown out on the table. Exquisite Corpse for 5. The idea was that one filmmaker would write, shoot and edit a 20 minute piece, then pass that completed work onto the next filmmaker. Then that filmmaker would have to pick up the story and run with it for another 20 minutes and so on and so on and so on. Great idea, but it never got past the first two pieces. Jacob Gentry was the next director in line, but we were all busy producing his feature debut 'Last Goodbye'. The project sat on the shelf waiting for someone to pick up the torch and carry on.

Flash forward to the fall of 2005. Jacob and Alex were working to raise the funds for their next feature, when an investor approached them with a unique and different opportunity. Could they make a film really inexpensively, turn it around quickly and make a profit selling it straight to video? Of course! But what to do? It had to be a horror film. Instantly, they thought of the Exquisite Corpse project.

To use this concept, they knew they would have to redevelop the project and start from scratch. They would begin with 3 of the 5 original directors, Dave Bruckner, Jacob Gentry and Dan Bush. Frank Lopez of Submedia had moved to Toronto and David Edmond Moore was busy prepping to direct a spot for Georgia Pacific in Miami, so both had to pass on participating. For two months, the three directors and producer Alex Motlagh locked themselves in a room, discussing different ideas and writing. Then rewriting and rewriting and arguing and crying and rewriting some more until all three were satisfied they had something special.

In January of 2006, production began. Strangely, I had made plans a few months before that to go to Park City. I missed the last four days of shooting to go enjoy movies at Sundance.

We would have never dreamed that one year later, we would all be going with The Signal for a premiere at The Sundance Film Festival.

Welcome.

2007-01-18T13:11:00.000-08:00

This blog has been created to chronicle Atlanta Filmmaker Linda Burns experience at the Sundance Film Festival. Following along as she writes about her experience here.

About Linda Burns

2007-01-18T13:07:00.001-08:00

Producer Linda Burns has been a filmmaker for over 20 years, starting her career on Ann Arbor Community Access Television in 1986. Upon graduation from the University of Michigan, Linda moved to Kauai, Hawaii, where she lived in a sweet VW van and pulled seaweed, set net, cast net and dove for lobster and squid to make a living. When the seas turned rough, Linda turned to creating and shooting thirty-minute infomercials for the tourist channel. Before finally settling in Atlanta, Linda worked as an on-air DJ for two years in Key West, Florida.

Once in Atlanta, Linda quickly became immersed in the independent film scene as an assistant director and went on to work on large budget studio pictures and television shows as a production assistant. It didn't take long for her to begin production managing, then producing award winning commercials, music videos and television shows. Her clients include Georgia Pacific, BellSouth, CNN, TBS, Komatsu, ESPN, Logitech, Nickelodeon, VH1, CDC, Cartoon Network, National Geographic, TNT LA's 'Academy Awards Live from the Red Carpet', Snoop Dog, Jermaine Dupree, Bow Wow, Jagged Edge, LIVE and Outkast.

Linda continues to work on both narrative and documentary independent shorts and features, and many films have gone on to garner critical acclaim. Her films have been juried and presented with audience awards at festivals around the world.

In 2005, Linda won the Atlanta Film Festival's Southeastern Media Award and was honored with the IMAGE Award for exceptional contribution to independent film and video. She sits on the Advisory Board for Core of Culture, and the Boards of IMAGE Film and Video Center and Dailies at PushPush Theater. She volunteers her time to sit on panels, teach film classes, screen films for the Atlanta Film Festival, and judge short films for the Indo-American Film Festival. She has twice traveled to The Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan to teach film and consult on the documentation of sacred ancient monastic dance and intends to produce a narrative feature to help raise funds for dance preservation in Bhutan in 2008.

Her indie credits include "Petunia," a 37 minute musical, "Last Goodbye," an ensemble drama feature available on Warner's Home Video, and "Living is Winning: From Cancer to Kona," a documentary currently in production on a tri-athlete competing with leukemia. Linda most recently served as consulting producer on feature film, “The Signal," which is premiering at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. She recently found a fantastic film, “Sacred Sights of the Dali Lama” which she will try to sell while in Park City.