Kevin McGuire here, voice of Pupsock Jackson.  Patrick and I have been in Palm Springs for almost 3 days now, and this is the first opportunity we’ve had to post updates.  First let me say that the screening on Saturday morning was great.  The theater was full, although there were not many children in attendance.  The audience reaction was overall great even though the copy was a little dark on the big screen.  The rest of  Saturday included Bill Pullman, Kirsten Dunst, and Jessica Biel…although I did not officially see Jessica.  I delve into that a little later.  Patrick owes me dinner and the BBQ ribs are calling my name.

Sitting in the lobby of the Palm Springs Hilton, enjoying the free wireless that doesn’t seem to extend into my room.  It’s been a blast so far, though I’m surprised at how few films we’ve actually seen.  Been having a lot of fun networking, something I’m not usually good at, but there are some great people at this festival.  A few of the artsy elitist snobby people that make me uncomfortable, but luckily those are few and far between.

Saturday’s screening went really well, but the print was a little dark.  We checked it out at Adam (the editor)’s house before we sent it and it looked fine, so that’s a mystery to me!  Great audience reaction, though, and an invite to submit to another festival, so all-in-all I’d say it was a success.

Kevin and I should be meeting up with Tom within the  hour.  Hopefully Tuesday’s screening will go well for him.  It will be good to see him again, as he’s been on the road shooting for a while.

That’s all for now.  I probably won’t be able to blog again until after I get home tomorrow night.  Then I can tell the tale of the invisible Jessica Biel, the Camera That Couldn’t Photograph Kirsten Dunst, and the Blocking of Bill Pullman’s Path.  None of which are remotely as interesting as they sound in title form.

Palm Springs is coming up this weekend. Kevin McGuire (voice of Pupsock) and I are flying out to the fest on Friday.  We’ll be there through Monday, the 25th.  Tom is coming out late Sunday night, and will be able to attend the rest of the festival.  We have two screenings, one on Saturday morning, and one on Tuesday morning, so we’ll all be able to attend one!

The following weekend, September 6th to be exact, Pupsock will be screening Colorado at the TriMedia Film Festival.  It sounds like a fantastic festival, but unfortunately, I won’t be able to attend.

Lastly, we were contacted by the Drive-In Film Festival, who had heard about Pupsock through someone who saw it at the Florida Film Festival (thank you to whoever that was!).  I sent them a screener, and while they really enjoyed Pupsock, they said they absolutely love Dudley, which was also on the DVD.  So, now Dudley is in yet another festival!  It won’t be showing in the actual drive-ins, but rather as part of a special selection of digital films.  Pupsock was invited to be a part of the traveling Drive-In part of the fest, but the Drive-Ins can only screen movies on 35mm, and the cost of making a print was too high, so, sadly, that won’t be happening.

I’ll blog again after Palm Springs to let you know how it went!

It turns out that the Smithsonian Press Release I originally saw was in error.  Pupsock will not be screening as part of Jim Henson’s Fantastic World.  Instead, my first puppet film, Dudley and the Toy Keeper’s Chest, will be playing at the Smithsonian’s Kids’ Discovery Theater.  The screening times remain the same.  Also, on October 4th, right after the Dudley screening, will the premiere of John Kennedy’s The Sure Sheep, which I am doing Special Effects and camera work for.  Shooting this project has been the most fun I’ve had on a set in a long time!  I think everyone is going to love it!!