2010-01-20 02:39:47

WINDRIDER: The Surprising Power of a Wish

Filed under: Featured, John Priddy, Windrider
Posted by: John

The Surprising Power of a Wish

by John Priddy

We are proud to present the next Windy Wednesday film in our Windrider WinterFest series: “Driftwood” by Michelle Steffes. With this highly acclaimed, 19-minute, family friendly drama, we invite you to explore a new take on an old tale — about the search for love, the pain of longing, and the surprising power of a wish.

“Steffes’ inventive short navigates the delicate balance between finding the courage to fulfill a wish and choosing between one’s own happiness and that of others.”
– Director Monika Moreno, Angelus Student Film Festival

 “2009 was my third time screening a film at a Windrider function, and it’s always a fantastic experience. It’s very rare to find a conversation about faith and film with the depth that is demonstrated at Windrider.”
– Michelle Steffes

A Brief Synopsis:

Blaire Farrow has grown tired of her job as a client liaison for a wish-granting foundation. She and her co-worker Jimmy bicker every day, and she hasn’t had a date in what feels like centuries. When Farrow decides to take in a handsome amnesiac, she thinks she’s found everything she’s ever wanted. But, there may be strings attached.

My Personal Reflections about this Film:

This special film is a well-written, beautifully shot, conversation-starting story about love, longing and wishes. Not only does “Driftwood” stand on its own merits for great storytelling and cinematic excellence, but both film and filmmaker are a part of our own “wishes come true” at Windrider. Here’s just a part of the story:

Angelus alumnus Destin Daniel Cretton met Michelle Steffes at Windrider Sundance 2008. Their “chance” meeting led to a collaborative effort on “Short Term 12″ (http://www.shortterm12.com/), the 2009 Grand Prize award winner for short filmmaking at Sundance Film Festival.

With all we dreamed of back in 2003 when we launched Windrider — our modest “Windy” endeavor — I don’t think we even thought of wishing our small forum could be used in such a big way. We hoped we could create an event at Sundance where people of faith could engage, and thereby enliven the dialogue about film and beyond. We dreamed we could find films with great potential for artistic excellence and insight that would open up theological possibilities, often by focusing on hidden aspects of the human experience. We wished we could bring local community partners (who serve as hosts and event organizers) together with films, filmmakers and their audiences. All our hopes/dreams/wishes have come true!

 Please enjoy “Driftwood.” And as you do, think about your own wishes and all the times they’ve come true. Then, think about occasions when you’ve received something even greater than what you wished for. Steffes and “Driftwood” represent that to me.

 Noted Screenings, Honors:

“Driftwood” (http://www.driftwoodthemovie.com/movie.htm) is an Angelus live-action semi-finalist and the second short film for writer/director/producer Michelle Steffes. The film was developed at the Directing Workshop for Women at the American Film Institute and featured at Windrider Colorado Springs in 2007 and Windrider Sundance 2008.

Grand Prize winner of the Audience Choice Award for Best Short at the Rhode Island International Film Festival, “Driftwood” has also played at the L.A. Shorts Fest, the Sonoma Valley Film Festival, and the Savannah Film Festival. 

Director’s Biography:

A Taylor graduate, Steffes served as director of development for Larger than Life at Universal Studios — Gary Ross’ production company (Pleasantville, Seabiscuit) — before leaving to pursue her writing and directing goals full time. She and writing partner, Timothy Lundgren, are currently working on their second psychological thriller.

View the film here.

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2010-01-12 23:53:11

WINDRIDER: A Truly Meaningful Mullet?

Filed under: Featured, John Priddy, Windrider
Posted by: John

A Truly Meaningful Mullet?

by John Priddy

We are proud to present the next Windy Wednesday film in our Windrider WinterFest series: “She’s a Fox” by Cameron Sawyer. With this highly acclaimed, 18-minute, family friendly comedy, we invite you to ponder whatever you find to be truly meaningful, and why.

A Brief Synopsis:
Infatuated with Talia, the school’s hottest hottie, 6th-grader Cameron Sawyer puts everything on the line — including his mullet — to win her love.

My Personal Reflections about this Film:
Sawyer shares the main character’s name and also narrates this hilarious, live action, coming-of-age short film that could easily have been titled: “Of Mullets and Middle School.” I love the way “She’s a Fox” showcases Sawyer’s well-written script, keen cinematic eye, and a really fun musical score. (Just think about winning a girl’s heart to the theme from “Chariots of Fire,” then losing her to “Love Hurts.”)

And, since this filmmaker has an undergraduate journalism degree, I wonder whether he might be “investigating” something a bit deeper than a middle-school crush and stealing a girl from Jake Magnum (the guy who has everything, including bulging biceps and cool T-shirts). In fact, I think Sawyer may be inviting us to consider the idea that we must be willing to sacrifice something important (like Cameron’s mullet) in order to get something that truly means something (like Talia, the film’s “fox”).

Think about it: What is truly meaningful? What stands in the way of finding it? Do we always have to sacrifice something in order to gain something else? And, are we looking for the right thing(s) in the first place? Sawyer’s film provides the perfect framework for an intriguing dialogue about these questions and more. Windrider viewers: Crank up some ’80s tunes … and jump right in. I’m there already!

(Click image to view film.)

“The bittersweet, angst filled journey of young love infused with music from the period and comedic film artistry at it’s best.”
- Monika Moreno, Director Angelus Student Film Festival

Noted Screenings, Honors:
An Angelus semi-finalist, “She’s a Fox” has also played at a number of popular fests on the circuit including the Heartland Film Festival, the L.A. Shorts Fest, the Fort Lauderdale Film Festival, and in cities everywhere — from Asheville to Anchorage.

Director’s Biography:
Writer/director/actor Cameron Sawyer grew up in Orem, Utah, a small city located at the base of Sundance ski resort. He earned a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from Brigham Young University (2002), and a Master of Fine Arts in film directing (2009) from Chapman University (Orange, Calif.). Sawyer has produced and acted in a number of short comedies, and is currently developing the feature-length high school comedy, “Edmund, Stay away from Talia, or I’ll Break Your Legs.” He lives in Los Angeles and is a member of the Screen Actors Guild.

View the film here.

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2010-01-06 01:32:14

WINDRIDER: Hats, Headwear and Hearts

Filed under: John Priddy, Movies, Windrider
Posted by: John

Hats, Headwear and Hearts

by John Priddy

We are proud to present the next Windy Wednesday film in our Windrider WinterFest series: “Topi” by Arjun Rihan, and, as an added treat: “American Made” by Sharat Raju. Both family friendly (FF) films feature “hats” as a key story theme; both use headwear to illustrate points of cultural friction. And, both encourage us to look beyond external symbols (like hats) — into the very heart of the wearer. As we jump in to 2010, I want to again wish our “windy” followers a Happy New Year … one that increasingly finds us looking beyond people’s physical appearance and into their spirit.

Brief Synopses:

Topi

“Topi,” inspired by a true story and set against the harrowing backdrop of Partition-era India (circa 1947), depicts a life-altering, chance encounter between a Hindu boy named Bir, and a Muslim stranger.

“Topi … conveys the qualities of redemption, forgiveness, and the ability to transcend differences among people, via the emerging and oft-overlooked format of animation.”
- Director Monika Moreno, Angelus Student Film Festival

American Made

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