The question I am most commonly asked,

So, where are you headed next?

has had a twinge of ouch to it for a while now. Despite the fact that our project is all about world travel, it’s coming up
on 2 years since I departed on my most recent journey abroad, the journey that comprises this 1st installment of TLP. How the time has zinged by like that is beyond me. I guess making a movie is a lot of work.

Let’s see, there was 3 months of shooting, 4-5 months of editing, 2-3 months of writing, a couple months
or screening and re-writing, a month of recording the narration & many months of polishing. Lost in that is the waiting. Oh, the waiting. Let’s call it “many months”. And when all you wanna do it return to beautiful place like this,

patience is tough.

At long last, weeks after the work was completed, the postal service actually delivered the DVD which contains our final sound mix. It was a painful exercise in patience. But fortunately, I have been quite busy with other things (see previous posts) and Marc was out of the country most of that time, so it hardly mattered.

Now let’s see if we can get everything synched up, compressed, burned onto a new DVD, sent out to TV networks, & sold!

And, no, I’m not talking about this picture:

But rather the evolution of “The Laughing Planet” as illustrated by our logo. Prepare for a pictorial journey about how

THIS became THIS

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Forgive my recent reticence on this here blog. Frankly, I’ve been otherly occupied as described in the previous post. In, oh, 9 days or so, life should be back to “normal” and we will begin getting news about distribution, film fests, agents, networks and so on. Things are looking good.

But first, I got a birthday cake I gotta eat.

Do I need to tell you what my wish was? Not that I would, cuz I really want to ensure it comes true.

Yesterday was my birthday. I spent it talking to voters at their homes about the upcoming election.

Follow below the break for photos, details, and hopefully a laugh or 2 about the most effective political work we can undertake. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s true. The former Finnish President, Martti Ahtisaari, helped bring peace to the Aceh region that produced some of the most poignant moments in The Laughing Planet.

For the past 20 years, he has figured prominently in endeavors to resolve several serious and long-lasting conflicts,” the citation said, mentioning his work in conflicts from Namibia and Aceh, Indonesia, to Kosovo and Iraq.

Ahtisaari had been listed as a possible Nobel Peace Prize candidate since 2005 after he negotiated an end to a conflict that began more than 130 years ago by bringing together the Indonesian government and the leaders of the separatist guerrilla movement in Aceh.

“He has also made constructive contributions to the resolution of conflicts in Northern Ireland, in Central Asia, and on the Horn of Africa,” the citation said.

Speaking to NRK Norwegian TV, Ahtisaari said he “was very pleased and grateful” at receiving the prize.

Asked what work he considered the most important, Ahtisaari, the first Finn to win the prize, said that “of course Namibia is absolutely the most important because it took such a long time.” He also singled out his work in Kosovo and Aceh.

I’ve noticed they never seem to announce who wins the Nobel War Prize. I suppose Bush & Cheney win every year so it’s not news-worthy anymore.

HINT: It involves a handshake!

As the old adage goes:

“Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”

In addition to the big Kahuna, we have begun choosing other festivals to which, frankly, we are more likely to be accepted. The latest submission is to one in California,

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

Wish us luck!

Sorry, I know this website and blog should remain non-partisan, but it is one of the most important elections in American history, and the most important of my lifetime. I just can’t stay silent on this issue anymore! I’m sure some of you are shocked at the title of this post, especially those of you who have known me for years. But I have my reasons. They are listed in detail below the fold. You can also watch a video which spells it out in less than 3 minutes.

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