4 Emmy Nominations!

Last night I was nominated for writing, directing, and photography!  I was also nominated for a News Promotion Campaign with David Saich.  I watched with David Ostergaard (who also got a nomination for a commercial he worked on,) Tina and Erin at the Battery Park Book Exchange.  When the people around us heard our cheering and found out what it was about, they stared cheering with us and someone bought us a bottle of champagne to celebrate.  It was a great night!

The Awards are in June and both David and I are going.  So stay tuned for lots of red carpet action.

Katie

37th Cleveland International Film Festival Video

Here's a quick video of my time at the Cleveland International Film Festival.



Katie

The Cleveland International Film Festival

I just wrapped up a whirlwind weekend at the Cleveland International Film Festival. What a great experience! I can't recommend this festival enough. Not only where the theaters packed, but there were huge crowds waiting in standby lines to see films, the staff were all wonderful, the festival was well organized, and they treated filmmakers very well. I got to speak on a panel, see my movie beautifully projected on the big screen and do a Q&A with the audience after.

I met so many great filmmakers, like the very funny and charismatic Marvin Solomon from LA with a fantastic comedy short "Tug" in the same block as my film. The enigmatic Nic Balthazar from Belgium with 2 feature films at the festival (I got to see "Time of My Life" and was blown away by it, great writing, acting, everything, bring tissues if you get a chance to see it.) There was Valerie (international short film winner) and Fabrice from Paris who were both charming and easy-going. Mike "LJ" Littlejohn who was working at the festival and always made our evenings out even more entertaining, though he had been working all day and I'm sure he wasn't getting enough sleep. And so many more. I have made great connections at this festival. I cannot say enough good things about it. If you ever have the chance to go, do it! Stay tuned for the video.

Katie

P.S. - I've now heard back from all the festivals I submitted films to and Cleveland is the only one I got into.  I spoke to a filmmaker who suggested I submit to more LGBT fests and he would give me a list.  So I might do that now.  As always, I'll keep you posted.

Morning Edition Radio Interview

Pam Bunch interviewed me for Morning Edition on the radio (WNCW) back when word was getting around about the documentary and comedy features that I've been working on.  I was nervous, but Pam was so good at putting me at ease, by the end of the interview I just felt like I was talking to an old friend about all the awesome stuff that I've been doing.  For anyone that missed it, here is a copy of that interview:

Pillow Fight en Masse

Pillow Fight Asheville's Anti-Valentine's Day 2013 from Katie Damien on Vimeo.

The 3rd annual anti-Valentine's Day Pillow Fight held in Asheville, North Carolina. Shot and Edited by Katie Damien on February 14, 2013 with music by Muse.

Voted Best of Western North Carolina!

A while back I was honored to be voted one of the best local filmmakers in Western North Carolina by the readers of the Mountain Express.  I actually tied for Second!  This was news to me, since I hadn't told anyone to vote for me and it's all done by write-in.  In fact I forgot to vote myself.  So I don't know who put me down as one of the best filmmakers around, but I want to send them a big thank you!

Also just to update you on the film festival saga.  I recently received a very nice rejection from the Atlanta International Film Festival.  The cool thing about that festival is that they were sending regular updates to all the filmmakers that had entered so that we all knew how the selection process was going.  They also sent some really great tips and resources out to filmmakers.  So while I didn't make it in, I have to say the experience was still a good one.  I'm 1 for 3 so far.  Down to just 3 more festivals.

Making a Film Festival Run

Film Festivals are tricky business.  As an independent filmmaker with short films, there aren't that many more venues out there to get work seen.  With that in mind, I sent my movie, "Second Parent" out to 6 major film festivals:

South by Southwest

Cleveland International

Atlanta International

The Florida Film Festival

Aspen Shorts Fest

and Nashville Film Festival

In addition, I also sent it out to two smaller fests: the Seattle True Independent Film Festival and Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival.  Most of the festivals I've had my shorts play at in the past have been smaller, niche festivals where my work stood a better chance of being accepted.  So just getting in to one of these six major festivals is a huge honor!

So far I've been rejected from South by Southwest....but I made it into the Cleveland International Film Festival! http://www.clevelandfilm.org   I'll let you know if my movie makes it into any others.

Katie

On the Cover of Scene Magazine!

Photo by Matt Rose/Asheville Scene

When my short film "Second Parent" won first place here in Asheville, the local paper decided to interview me and take pictures for their scene magazine insert.  It was so hard being on the other side of the camera.  Now I realize why people need so much reinforcement when they are modeling.  The whole time I was just thinking "Did you like that?  Did you get it?  Should I try something else...oh... no?  Keep doing what I'm doing?  Soft smile?  Is this soft? How about this? What do you mean relax?  I am relaxed..."  And that was just some of the inner monolog running though my head.

On the movie web page I've linked below, you'll find the pictures from the article and an except from my part in it:

http://2ndparent.blogspot.com/p/press.html

Katie

The Other Time Lapse Spot for News Thirteen

It took me forever to get these time lapse spots finished.  I shot these with my old Nikon D200, using an intervalometer (triggers the camera at the rate you set it for) and some times I triggered the camera manually to make the action flow the way I wanted it to.  Most exposures were 1 second long, with the night time shots, especially the star trails as long as 1 minute for each frame.  That means for some of these 3 second shots, I spent over an hour just letting the camera go.  It was a great way to spend an evening.  Sometimes my job is just awesome.

Katie

Principle Photography Wrapped on New Feature Film

Jaime Byrd, Katie Damien, Coco Adams (DP, Director and AD) photo by: Lexi Rufty

I've just wrapped principle photography for my upcoming comedy feature Angel Demon, Stab Stab Stab (working title, it was Touched by Angels.)  The shoot was grueling and glorious.  We did 17 days, with only one day off, working 12 to 14 hours each day.  The movie looks better than I could have hoped for thanks to our amazing cast and crew.  We had great actors all around, crew members that really stepped up and did much more than was asked of them.  I'm really excited about where this movie will go.

We'll be doing a completion fund raising campaign soon, so stay tuned.  This photo is all I have to share at the moment and I have no idea what I'm directing people to do, I obviously had plenty of coffee that morning.

Katie

Time Lapse Promo 1

All year I've been collecting time lapse footage in North and South Carolina for 2 news promos for News Thirteen.  Here is the first:

Coffee promo for News 13 Website

Last minute, end of the year promotion with Emmy entry potential.  They brought back the director short form category.  I'm definitely going for it this year!  Biltmore Coffee Traders was nice enough to let us shoot in their coffee shop and Rebecca Morris and Savannah Crespo are fabulous local actors who make this spot just awesome.  Also look for mom's antique coffee grinder I borrowed.  Enjoy the cuteness!

Katie

Holding the Hope (short documentary)

A while back I made a short documentary for Homeward Bound of Asheville.  They help put homeless people into permanent housing.  I've always loved their mission and think it makes a lot of sense.  Don't worry, it's not sad.  It's actually kind of uplifting.  You can watch the video here:

http://youtu.be/A5MMYWZW048

And this is Homeward Bound's website: www.hbofa.org

Katie

My movie in Google+ Film Festival

This is the 2nd Film Festival my movie "Second Parent" has made it into!  And unlike most festivals which only take place at a particular physical location, this one is happening as an online event.  So you can all finally see my movie!  It will be playing in a block of shorts on Saturday December 1st at 8pm (Eastern Standard Time) 5pm for my West coast friends and family.

Go to: https://plus.google.com/u/0/events/c3e426r5u1pv0knk8vhge1gj9ok for the event info.
And for more info on the festival: http://www.ugpff.com

This is the only time you'll be able to see my movie this year.  I can't make it available on youtube or any other site like that because I'm still submitting it to Film Festivals.  So if you want to see the movie along with some other great short films, follow the links above and mark your calendars.  I'll be available online for a Q&A after the films.

Katie

Second Parent Trailer

I'm looking for film festivals to submit this film to.  If you can think of any that would be a good fit, please leave a comment.

My Movie "Second Parent" Won First Place!

Matt Shepard and Emmett Winton in "Second Parent"

A short film I just made ("Second Parent") just won the top prize in the Prestige Subaru Competition!  It will be screened at the Asheville Cinema Festival in one of their short film blocks.  This film is touches on a very important issue that is close to my heart and I hope to share the film with you as soon as the festival is over.  In the meantime if you're near Asheville on Saturday around 1pm go to ACT (Asheville Community Theater) at 35 East Walnut Street, Asheville, NC and check out the movie along with some other really great films.

More info here: http://2ndparent.blogspot.com

Katie

Video for YWCA Equality

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=em6NZ0_s3N0&feature=share&list=UUi2RBqmNRwGEe2VDZq2bExg

I was lucky enough to get a gig shooting vignettes for the YWCA of Asheville.  There are three videos of women in the community that are making a difference.  Dr. Liz is an awesome woman who is working to fight health care disparities.  She was awarded for her work in equality.

Katie

The Tattoo I Want

Ever since I was a teenager I've always wanted a tattoo, but could never decide on what or where.  Now that I've lived my life with a pristine body and I'm safely through my twenties, I've decided I'm ready.  I designed this compass rose to represent my time spent on ships and I like my wrist as the area where I can see it and remember.

This picture is just the ink pen drawing I did on my wrist.  I decided I should wear it temporarily to make sure that's what I will like.

Katie

UPDATE: I was not able to get what I wanted where I wanted and here's why: the rose compass I designed is too intricate and overtime the details would bleed into each other and it would eventually become a blob.  It might take a few years, but that's what would happen.  Also the place on my wrist where I drew this temporary tattoo has creases in it and the creases would cause weird healing and scabbing and an uncertain outcome.  I'm lucky to have gone to a reputable tattoo artist who was able to steer me clear of making a big mistake!  I did a redesign and with some modification I was able to get a small anchor on my wrist close to where I originally wanted it.  I'm very happy with my new tattoo.  The lesson?  Go to a reputable tattoo artist and trust what they tell you, they know a lot more about tattoos than you do.

GoPro Camera Test Footage with Leon

I recently shot some test footage with a new GoPro Hero2 HD camera, in slow motion and underwater.  So I put this little video together of the random footage.  You can see Leon riding around the porch, he's so cute!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTZVdlblxKA&feature=plcp

Katie

Katie's High Flying Adventure

Start your engines!  With chief flight instructor David Shields.

I just had a flying lesson at WNC Aviation!  It was an amazing experience.  The instructor let me take the plane up!  Of course he had a hand on the wheel because I was so distracted by the fact that I WAS FLYING A PLANE that I wasn't steering very well.  What a awesome feeling.  If you're in Western North Carolina and you want to learn to fly check out: www.wncaviation.com  Here's a video of my experience.

Katie