Can We Be In The PDX Film Fest Please?
by kmikeym
John and I submitted the Crane Off to the PDX Film Fest. We're excited about the possibility of the general public seeing it! Here is the one sheet we sent in:
Film Description/Statement:
Surprisingly, The Great Crane-Off 2004 is not a mockumentary. The reason we want to start off with this disclaimer is that since making and showing the Crane-Off we keep getting asked about its authenticity, and we believe it's more interesting when you realize that there was no scripting, planning, or direction. Sure, we planned the event, but we left everything else up to our two dynamic competitors.
The Great Crane-Off 2004 represents documentary as obligation. This isn't the first project we wanted to tackle, but when you are faced with not one, but two friends who are both unnaturally skilled at the same ridiculous thing, your options become readily apparent. We had no idea that turning the camera on someone would invoke such engaging discussions, and this is probably why we get the mockumentary thing all the time. We didn't encourage anyone to be "natural" or "more like themselves", we just set up the camera and started recording. It certainly helped that our subjects are two of the most hyperactive, crazy-gesturing, charismatic guys you'll ever meet.
Creating and documenting a competition is something that fits well with what we do all the time. We love competition, whether it's eating a box of donuts, growing great mustaches, or attempting to find the best Tetris player in Portland, we want to document it and enhance the experience for everyone. Please enjoy The Great Crane-Off 2004, and hopefully you'll want to try for yourself the wonderful world of craning that awaits you.
About The Directors:
J. John Afryl and K. Mike Merrill met in the last days of the old millennium, and upon discovering they shared high-standing with their middle-named status decided to stick together should the apocalypse strike. After everyone survived, they turned their attention to documenting the numerous events and challenges of their non-middle-named friends, forming Middle Names Productions. The duo began documenting events such as the Portland Open Tetris Tournament, the Sushi Challenge, and the Crane Competition, which became The Great Crane-Off 2004.
John and Mike both call Portland home, but originally hail from much colder climates—Minnesota and Alaska respectively. John previously employed himself for the Midwest’s biggest meteorologist before deciding to head to Portland and see if he could contribute to this “creative class” thing. Currently he can be found projecting films at the Hollywood Theatre.
Mike once held the least-enviable job of graveyard shift at a SE Plaid Pantry, before working his way to a position at the much-beloved local Macintosh software company Panic, Inc (where he works for one of the Crane-Off’s subjects, Cabel). In addition to his work with Middle Names Productions, Mike is also co-founder of the ever-growing online community Urban Honking, with over 50 authors worldwide.
Posted on January 26, 2006 | Comments (2)
