Among those speaking will be noted writers and publishers from Redding, as well as Bay-area authors who will talk about publishing on demand and using social media tools to develop and engage an audience for you work. Authors take note.

Educator and multi-media trainer Donna Eyestone will be looking at how you can enrich your online presence with podcasting, sound and moving images. Eyestone was a content developer for Apple and has taught classes for several years through @One online.

It is open to the public, but seating is limited.

The opening included a clip of Kathleen Kennedy sending her greetings, congratulations, and regrets on not being able to attend. This was a nice touch, and served as a living example of how it is possible to start in a small town and really go somewhere.

The first film of the day was introduced by Dr. Lang Dayton, father of Todd Dayton, who was unable to attend.

Todd’s entry for the festival was “Matsutake,” his senior project for the UC Berkeley Graduate Program in Journalism. It was an impressive film, that took us through the entire process of harvesting and production of the world’s most expensive mushroom, Matsutake.

I was impressed with how the film went beyond just recounting facts to give us a feel for what it is like for those who, at each step of the way, work to bring this exotic food to Japanese consumers. The prices can range upwards of $600 a pound. The forests of Oregon are one of the few places with the specific, volcanic soil to support this fungus.  I was more than entertained by this film, and if I had tuned across a PBS or National Geographic channel, I would not have been surprised to find it there. It was of high quality. His production company’s website is www.falloutpictures.com.

Next up was Chase Jensen. Jensen’s story is that he left Redding for Los Angeles to work in the fashion industry, but was drawn in by film and landed at Azusa-Pacific His second entry for Sundial, “Revenge of the Mouse” was three-minute long  claymation with a dark sense of humor.

Chase acknowledged the work of Michael Stevenson, who’s claymation had screened on the first evening of the festival, and he commented on how “Revenge” was not done solo, as Stevenson’s work was. Chase estimated that he and his co-animator spent more than 150 hours to produce the three-minute film.  It was often intense, Jensen said.  “We’d spend 10 hours straight, without breaks, working to make the mouse take 8 steps and look up.”

Hard as it was, the work paid off, and the small moments, the details of movement and characterization in his characters, added an air of reality to the story. Jensen’s cast looked like it came right out of the bar scene in Star Wars, a bizzare group indeed.  But in the end, this group of baddies learned that you don’t mess with mice.

“Baba Yaga” was the work of Eric Pace and his talented crew. This film was offbeat and one of my personal favorites. Pace said that he wanted to do an adaptation, but a full-length novel was not appealing to him and his team. So, he found a 13-page story, with “dark illustrations,” and found the perfect vehicle for this film, which mixes some cutout, stop animation with live acting. The blend works, I think, and made for a creepy story. The best part is that this tale is on YouTube, you can search for Baba Yaga or click here.

A footnote: Pace said it took three days to make the film, and that he had a blast. Check out his band on his myspace page.

The last film before the intermission was that of Tom Stovall, whose work began as a narrated slide show of his trip to France. Stovall, who steeped himself in WWII history, went to pay his respects to the men who died during the re-taking of France. “They saved the world,” he says simply. And this film, in somber images and reverent tones, is a tribute to the 9,386 men who lie in the Cemetery that overlooks the shore that they wrested from the German army. Stovall’s film is, as he says, not about him or his trip, but about expressing thanks. He was asked, during his visit, if anyone there “was his.” He said, yes, all 9,386 of them.”

Chase Jensen returned after the intermission with his third entry, the “Reclamation of David Simms.” If there were an award that represented the sheer range of ability, Jensen would win it hands down. Each of his three films had a different look and feel. “Reclamation” was pure adrenaline rush from the first frame on. Jensen’s story returns to the theme of revenge for wrong doing, but this time the film’s star, Simms, is offered a chance to chose his redemption or save himself at the expense of another. The action is fast-paced, seamless, and compelling. This  sequence, this story, was well choreographed and executed, and it would be at home in any big-budget film. I can only wonder how Chase can top himself on day three, with his fourth film.

“Campus Safety 3″ was an delightful farce and spoof of police-action films. Director Michael Gallegos won this year’s Simpson Film Festival with his entry, and the film itself was shot at Simpson and dreamed up during graveyard shifts there. Gallegos played a lead,comic role in this film, and was a strong player in the ensemble. Of course, the bad guys did manage to get away…. and we can only wait to see if Dr. Sad and the 400 club turn up in a sequel…

“Paid In Full,” a film by Josh McHale, takes us back to the Old West, and has us asking two questions. First, who will end up with the loot, and, even more importantly, who ends up with the hat? The strength of this film lies in how unexpected it is, reversals and all.

I think it was Alfred Hitchcock who said that he felt he “owed” his audience a happy ending after they’d sat through a feature-length film, but didn’t owe them at all in his short-form, TV shows. McHale must agree with this philosophy, because the man with a black hat rides off after committing some vile deeds, and there’s no marshal to set things right.

The last film of the day was “Profiles are Lovely,” was a week-in-the-life of Montgomery Creek. Filmmaker Jeffrey Loveness was warm, funny, awkward, and captivating as the lead in a film he also wrote and directed.  I am a sucker for comedy, and I was enthralled with “Profiles.” It’s great how such a short work can have so many “favorite moments.” The scenes on the tennis court are feasts of visual humor.  Loveness’s lovestruck and lonely persona dominates this film, but he shares the stage with another interesting character: the town of Montgomery Creek. It’s mossy presence amuses and aminates much of the action.

That’s it for day 2 of the festival. I’m grateful to the sponsors of this event, and to those who volunteered their time to make it happen. Every one of these films was a treat, and the energy at the festival was an integral part of this unique experience. The organizers are already talking about next year. That’s the best news yet.

I’ll be adding contact information on the filmmakers when I am able.

The opening film was the documentary, “Angle of Inspiration,” and it was fitting. I had seen this film before, on DVD, and sent it along as a Christmas gift to my dad. I need to trek over to Turtle Bay Gift Shop for another two or three….

“Pigeon Pilfer” was screened next, a clever and artfully executed stop-action short. Michael Stevenson (a former student of mine when he was at Shasta College) wowed us. He said, during his brief speech, that the film represented four solid months of work for the 1:30 run time.   But he packed a great deal of story into such a short format, and the humor was just terrific. He’s presently working on an animation project for a Brazilian firm, the result of contacts that came out of his college in San Francisco. I look to see great things from Michael. Check him at at www.mstevenson.net.

“The Legend of Buffalo Calf Girl,” a film by Rodger Slagle, offered breathtaking visuals and some tender, magical moments. I am fortunate enough to have an autographed program sitting in front of me, courtesy one of the festival’s youngest stars, Amande Slagel, aka Buffalo Calf Girl. What a delight. The great thing about a film festival such as this, too, is that you are able to see the producers, directors, writers, actors and cinematographers radiating joy as they share their triumph with people who care about film.  See Rodger Slagle’s web page at www.lassenwriter.com.

“Poor Thing” was next, a compelling and moving story offered by an experienced team. Lisa and Bill Collins. I don’t want to give the story away, but Lisa, during her introduction, noted that it was inspired by what happened when her family had to deal with the difficulty of Alzheimer’s Disease. The acting was excellent, and the story well-paced. A lot happens in such a short time. This film represents the Collin’s first project in film where they were producing/directing.  Lisa invited anyone interested in screenwriting to join in with their “last Saturday of the month” project out of www.westsideperforming.com. This group will read screenplays, or short stories, to allow writers to hear their work embodied by experienced performers. What a gift. I intend to check this out.

Chase Jensen introduced his offering by nothing the last film he had seen in the Cascade had been Matilda, and cautioned us that his film, “Bound,” was not going to make us laugh. Jensen was director of cinematography in this visually striking short, an apology for the world’s inaction during the Rwandan genocide. The opening one minute, featuring an anguished man being literally and physically tranquilized by drugs and the media, was one of the most thought-provoking pieces I’ve seen in a long time. I must admit to a certain amount of envy. How cool to have played a part in making such a powerul and aesthetically compelling statement. Moments like that help sustain an artist through the hours and weeks of headaches that go with any production.  I am eager to see Jensen’s next project.

The evening ended with a real crowd pleaser,  “Cart.” This work could have been titled: “The Secret Life of Shopping Carts,” but Jesse Rosten went for the more succinct and economical title, a wise move and one of many great choices in this bittersweet look at a shopping cart that tries to follow a family home. The film had some of the best production values of any we’d seen in the evening, and had delightful moments of landscapes and locations easily recognizable to anyone from Redding. But the ability to give a shopping cart a life, even a personality, is a neat accomplishment. Rosten and his crew have real talent, and it was neat to see how gracious he was in recognizing the contributions of the composer and musician who made tihs film such a success. Check him at at www.jesserosten.com.

I hope to see you at today’s screenings. If not, be sure to find out how to track these films down. They are “must see.”

Robb Lightfoot