Man, am I glad summer is over

I know, your thinking WTF...this goof is glad summer is over. My problem is that during the summer I have no time for anything, including this blog. Its been forever since I updated it. Do I have stuff to say? I think so!

My new film "For the Record Featuring Bill Bourne is now available for sale on my website. Its a 72 minute musical Odyssey that follows Bill as he records his new record "free radio dance Band". Or was it called "See", no that's not right, wasn't it "Home". Funny stuff, there has been three changes to the title since I started a few months ago. Can't keep up. But I will say I am really proud of this film and I hope all of you that BUY it, like it too.

Next up? Not sure, I would like to do another For the Record, as well as a web series and I am still trying to get a feature done. No shortage of projects and I have been Tres busy doing other stuff like training videos and the like...so good summer just not enough time.

I hope to update this blog a little more and maybe we can get that filmmaker dialogue I talked about before, going?

Holy Shit, there is a lot going on!

So "For the Record-Featuring Bill Bourne" is done. Bill, some of the band, Elaine, Wes and a few others popped over to my place last week for an impromptu screening in my basement and everyone seemed to like it. Dropped it off at the duplicators this morning and it will be ready for purchase early next week.

Next, I am a huge fan of the Edmonton Folk Music Festival. It is truly a grand, world class event...and this year (this is blowing my mind) my Bill Bourne film will be available for purchase. Yup right there with all the other greats...For crying out loud, Levon Helm is going to be there...Van Morrison and this film will be selling alongside them, Tres Cool! Make sure you pick up a copy, perhaps 3 at 19.99 it will this years must have stocking stuffer. It will be at the CD/DVD tent as of Thursday or you can order it off the Hired Gun Website.

Finally there will be a public screening on August 19Th at the New City Suburbs (tentative). Tickets are 10.00, and you will be able to get an autographed copy of the show plus Bill will perform. Wanna know how to keep up with the updates? Visit the Hired Gun Website and subscribe to the mailing list.

Well that is it for now...ciao dudes! I'm trying a new catch phrase...let me know if you like it?

So what are we doing? How do we fix our slipping film industry in Alberta...and does anyone really care?

I do, I do desperately. I love being a filmmaker. I love telling stories, I love reaching people with ideas, and I love entertaining audiences. But it is a way of life that is rapidly declining. Alberta is in crisis...True That!

There is all this animosity toward the government. I understand this, and just a little while ago I would have been 100% there. But I am getting to know Edmonton's Film Commissioner Brad Stromberg (you said it Brad so now I own it)and he said something to me that literally made my mind snap completely full circle and it changed my thinking. I was very anti government and wanted them crucified, still do but I now know why I need to tame this anger. Brad simply stated "When you are in an election, you support the person you believe in, campaign for them, vote for them, tell other peoples about them...but the day after the election you have to live with one that won". So what I take that to mean, while the conservatives might easily be the spawns of Satan, we need to work with them and try and get the best we can out of them. Otherwise we will suffer. Look at the comments of Lindsay Blackett. Do you think he is still a supporter, still our Representative looking after our best intersts. I think he is pissed at us, and we are feeling his heat.

I guess my suggestion is that every one chill, try to get along, try to get as good a deal as we can, and then just a bit before the next election lets tell the voters about our industry and why it is worth preserving and see if we can't do what the Alberta Film Industry must totally do to save our way of life and that is make sure Alberta has a change in government.

Perhaps if we did this with a strategic plan in place we would have time to battle the true demon of our industry and that is the lack of support for Canadian Content.

Just some thoughts...please comment, lets see if we can turn this into a sounding board that comes up with some real ideas.

"For the Record-Featuring Bill Bourne

Our first trailer is out, and I think it is really good. We are calling it a trailer but it is more a music video with a little bit of a pitch. I don't want to make this a commercial thing, but yet I do need to sell them. That is tough balance, when as an artist do you become crass and commercial. You want people to see the work and at the same time you need to make a living. It is definitely a contradiction at times.

I have spent most of my career being pretty low key. Well, that is starting to change somewhat. I now want to have a bit of both. I am really tired of the conventional way of making television and film in Canada and have officially swerved down a different path. I hope people will join me.

I suspect it will be next week, or perhaps the week after...I will relaunch a brand new website for Hired Gun. It will have some of my films you can watch for free, the new trailer, my director's reel and you will be able to download for just $1.49, a documentary I did on power music couple Mae Moore and Lester Quitzau. So stay tuned for more news on the website.

What a week for great music!

True Statement...First off "For the Record-Featuring Bill Bourne" is just soaring ahead...wahoo! The first video and what will be the opening for the documentary is now done and we will be releasing it on YouTube and Facebook and the like on Thursday. I hope you guys like it and hey let me know what you think. I went with a rock and roll grungy kind of style and really dig it.

Next up for the week...Tomorrow Folk Festival tickets are going on sale and I will standing in line...I mean how many chances will there be to see Levon Helm...the lineup is incredible. And then they top it...great lineup, how can it get better...two words VAN MORRISON. He is a god as far as I am concerned.

Thirdly I have decided I really enjoy creating music videos and have decided to start pursuing new clients aggressivley. I have designed the Starter Music Video Package. It is a production of a performance style video that will be perfect for YouTube, Vimeo, Much Music, MTV, CMT and like. The best part is that you can get this package for literally 1/4 of its true value. So if your interested in hearing more contact me at ben@hiredgunfilms.com

"Deep Dark Woods"

Just finished, tonight...the first music video from my new documentary series "For the Record Featuring Bill Bourne". It is a song from Bill's new album called "Deep Dark Woods". Personally I think it is a kick ass piece.

It will be released on YouTube, and I will spread the link on June 3rd. It is Bill Bourne Rock and Roll, and it is hot.

I've been away in Saskatchewan. There was no cell service or internet and I couldn't post to my blog. So sorry for the delay but now I am back.

Wow, whirl wind trip, Edmonton-Saskatchewan and back in 6 days. Visiting family. Really old people I needed to touch base with. It was good. It was strange. It seems weird going back to one's roots. I was in my hometown and I tried to place myself there and couldn't. If I could go back in time and look at me now I would probably just walk by because I don't believe my younger self would recognize who I have become. I guess the question to ask is "Am I not recognizing myself because I exceeded my expectations or...not? Man this is getting maudlin.

Enough, the first music video/trailer for "For the Record-Featuring Bill Bourne" is almost done and we will be releasing it soon. Yeah, it looks grand. Lisa Read is one heck of an editor. Okay everyone did a great job...but she finished it and consequently gets all the credit...well no, that isn't true, I get all the credit. After all I did pick these people. Enough talk...watch for the trailer and watch for the launch of my new website.