Budget Fabulous Films – Films by David Meiklejohn

17 March 2008

Dear Stella,

Looks like the BFF website's about finished, which explains this letter, obvi. Christopher did a great job on it, did exactly what I wanted: lean and mean. Still cranking on the MHIAI documentary. Four videochunks are done, a fifth one on the way. Lo and I worked out a rough script, and now we're cutting scenes together. Still have so much to do, and always will, I hope. The more work, the better, forever and ever, amen.

Did a couple of fun interviews in recent months. One with No Is For Wimps, one with Christopher at The Bible of Animal Feet. During the latter I figured out a possible tagline for the doc: the truer the love, the lesser the truth. Too brutal? Should I add a touch of whimsy? I'm sure the answer will be clear once the film's further along. Oh, and I made it onto the front page of the Ann Arbor News too. My love of Barbie finally documented. I'm sure you're super proud.

Talked with Daniel today about Michael Haneke's remake of his own Funny Games. We both appreciate how Haneke utilizes the film medium in all its particularities, how he honors its limitations even when he breaches them. I love how horrible I feel watching a Haneke film, how I'm complicit with the violence, how I'm woven into the action against my will. Deleuze wrote this: "Every closed system also communicates. There is always a thread to link the glass of sugared water to the solar system...." Watching Haneke's films, I feel respected, I feel valuable, like the movie is worse without my participation. It takes trust to depend on the audience in this way. It's also a form of love. Remind me never to forget this, okay?

In other news, my Ann Arbor days are coming to an end. Time to move forward. Right now my shortlist of cities is NYC, SF, Austin, and Portland Oregon. Depends on the budget, the work, the magic of the moment. Do you have any advice? Any leads? A wealthy friend with a fetish for bookish, blue-eyed, boy toys? Let me know.. I'm interested.

Nice writing to you. I'll send more news your way in a couple weeks. Hope all is well.

Xoxoxo,
David.

P.S. "What we carry likewise carries us." That's Cixous. Thought you'd appreciate it.




17 March 2008 Dear Stella, Looks like the BFF website's about finished, which explains this letter, obvi. Christopher did a great job on it, did exactly what I wanted: lean and mean. Still cranking on the MHIAI documentary. Four videochunks are done, a fifth one on the way. Lo and I worked out a rough script, and now we're cutting scenes together. Still have so much to do, and always will, I hope. The more work, the better, forever and ever, amen. Did a couple of fun interviews in recent months. One with No Is For Wimps, one with Christopher at The Bible of Animal Feet. During the latter I figured out a possible tagline for the doc: the truer the love, the lesser the truth. Too brutal? Should I add a touch of whimsy? I'm sure the answer will be clear once the film's further along. Oh, and I made it onto the front page of the Ann Arbor News too. My love of Barbie finally documented. I'm sure you're super proud. Talked with Daniel today about Michael Haneke's remake of his own Funny Games. We both appreciate how Haneke utilizes the film medium in all its particularities, how he honors its limitations even when he breaches them. I love how horrible I feel watching a Haneke film, how I'm complicit with the violence, how I'm woven into the action against my will. Deleuze wrote this: "Every closed system also communicates. There is always a thread to link the glass of sugared water to the solar system...." Watching Haneke's films, I feel respected, I feel valuable, like the movie is worse without my participation. It takes trust to depend on the audience in this way. It's also a form of love. Remind me never to forget this, okay? In other news, my Ann Arbor days are coming to an end. Time to move forward. Right now my shortlist of cities is NYC, SF, Austin, and Portland Oregon. Depends on the budget, the work, the magic of the moment. Do you have any advice? Any leads? A wealthy friend with a fetish for bookish, blue-eyed, boy toys? Let me know.. I'm interested. Nice writing to you. I'll send more news your way in a couple weeks. Hope all is well. Xoxoxo, David. P.S. "What we carry likewise carries us." That's Cixous. Thought you'd appreciate it.