These Things: Which is My Song? + Bell, Byrne, & Bones
I have some super exciting news about the premiere of an indie film by two of the most generous people I know, but first, These Things (oh and I know I've been heavy on the arts so expect something pragmatic in the next edition like writing a personal manifesto for productivity or maybe a video about how to make a Chaga Latte (Yep. How to make a mushroom latte)):
- “I Hear America Singing” by Walt Whitman is one of my favorite poems because it captures Whitman’s love of people and being human.
- Singing is good for you. It’s that simple and a short article.
- Do you know what it means about you if you get goosebumps when listening to music?
Bell, Byrne, and Bones
Last Sunday, April 8, the film “Of Dust and Bones” premiered at the Vail Film Festival! It tours the film festival circuit this year so it'll likely be a few months before we get to watch online. But, I’m so excited to see the finished version.
- Watch the trailer for “Of Dust and Bones”
- Watch a short interview with Diane and lead actress Gaynor Howe at the Vail Film Festival.
- Looking for a filmmaking workshop? Let me recommend...
This really is the quick version of how I came to know about the film "Of Dust and Bones."
I subscribe to the Film Courage channel on YouTube where I heard an interview with writer and director Diane Bell and producer Chris Byrne talking about their indie film “Obselidia.” They talked about filmmaking the way me and my friends talking about making poems: sincerely, as a practice, as something they love. They are so charming in the interview I had to see their film.
Seriously, go watch “Obselidia.” It’s charming and full of wonder.
After seeing the film, I hoped to contact Diane for a copy of the script to read and discovered she and Chris teach indie filmmaking workshops through their company “Rebel Heart Films.” I went to one of their 2-day workshops in Portland (that included a copy of the script) and learned so much about how to approach making a feature-length indie film. And I'm working on it.
After the workshop I asked if I could work on their next project with them, literally, do anything on set just to see them in action. A few months later, Diane called me to work on her intimate and poetic film about grief and dealing with the weight of the world, “Of Dust and Bones.” I got to “do anything” as a production assistant and would work with Diane and Chris again without hesitation.
By the way, Chris is like a jukebox of stories and you don’t have enough quarters to hear them all. I learned a ton from simply being around them in their environment and met some super cool folks I hope to work with again some day.
Diane’s book on indie filmmaking, “Shoot from the Heart: Successful Filmmaking from a Sundance Rebel,” comes out in October!
Diane and Chris, I can’t thank you enough for sharing your art, experience, and humanity with us. With me. Ever grateful.
Toward the beauty,
Jeff O.