ACEFEST 2009

Skatopia: 88 Acres of Anarchy is a feature documentary that follows one of skateboarding’s most infamous underground figures. Pro-skater Brewce Martin is the self-declared “dictator” of a rural Appalachian skate scene so extreme that MTV’s bad-boy Bam Margera fled the property on his first visit. The movie follows Brewce for a tumultuous year as he struggles to keep Skatopia afloat. Though he declares skating his “prime directive”, the film reveals a fiercely driven entrepreneur determined to achieve success on his own terms.

A mock animated documentary about the ecological plight of penguins in the Antarctic, possibly foretelling cataclysmic results for the rest of the world.

Have you ever wondered what magical things could happen under your Christmas tree? In the miniature village of Snowyville, Sir Evil, a power-hungry knight charges in atop his dim-witted sidekick, the Dragosaurus, only to find the village deserted. In order to find out where the villagers are, the Dragosaurus has the ridiculous idea to go in and spy. But first, he needs a title: “The Head of Intelligence.”

At Montana State University in Bozeman, between 1993 and 1997, one person was both beloved and reviled by those around him: Paddy. Class clown, Casanova, and attention-hound, even his closest friends could barely tolerate his antics. In the summer of 1997, a plan was hatched to feed Paddy a taste of his own eclectic medicine. What followed was an epic mystery that started with the theft of Paddy's most prized treasure, spanned years of clandestine taunting from across the globe, and finally culminated in the final fate of America's most honored and ridiculous canned food. A tale of love, loss, mystery, and meat, the decade-long story proves that revenge is a dish best served canned.

A stalled elevator provides the metaphoric arena for one man to express his life's crisis. Trapped alone with a beautiful woman, he becomes increasingly more claustrophobic and panic stricken. Through the release of his anxiety, he begins to open up about the personal struggles in his life, including his dreams and regrets. The woman empathizes with his fears, encouraging him to reveal his true feelings about his self image and his 'stuck' condition, and to move beyond his comfort zone. Somewhat reluctantly, he verbally begins to relate the frustrations with his work and his love life, while intercut images reflect his mind's desire to possibly pursue something more, namely the woman who shares his current space.

The music video Test is about two giant toy robots fighting over an ice cream cone in New York City. The musical score is performed by The Subterraneans (Josh Powers and Eric Collins). The two singers also star as the drivers of these mechanical beasts.

A documentary about experimental flying based on the impressions and memories of three pilots who work out of a local municipal airport. A visual treatment of the motivation and inspiration behind their continuing interest in private aviation.

In 1983, I began working with world-renowned director Federico Fellini. First as an assistant, then as an actress, and finally as a fellow filmmaker; an opportunity of a lifetime. The privilege to be invited to live and work in his inner circle, lasted over a decade. As a result of this remarkable relationship, I co-produced a one-hour documentary based on my experience working as an assistant and actress on Fellini’s final film, “The Voice of the Moon” (“La Voce Della Luna”), starring Roberto Benigni. The documentary, entitled “Towards the Moon with Fellini,” was first screened at Paramount Pictures in 2003. The following year, it won ‘Best Documentary’ at The Golden Gate Fiction and Documentary Festival, 'Best Foreign Film' at the Beverly Hills Film Festival. It screened and was nominated at other prestigious festivals; Sundance, Mumbai, Paris, Seattle, Chicago, and Tiburon in 2007. In the actual film and subsequent documentary, I play a young journalist from America who comes to Italy to try and get on the set of Fellini’s latest film, to interview the director and stars, and find out the storyline. In the end, we discover that Fellini’s film is ultimately about the unconditional love and trust he gives and receives from his adoring colleagues. It is this chore message that I feel makes the film so very poignant, and it is one I hope to share with today’s young filmmakers. Kevin Thomas of The Los Angeles Times reviewed the film and wrote,”…‘Towards the Moon’ is rewarding for anyone who has ever loved a Fellini film. Here he is in all his glory, a warm, patrician presence thriving amid a constant swirl of activity and throngs of people, knowing what he wants and how to get it while one suspects no one else really knows what’s going on.” It is for my love of Fellini and his legacy to the world of cinema that I am currently traveling universities across the country to screen the film and lecture on my experiences. These lectures also include a projection of the graphic novel, “Trip to Tulum,” which is the true story of my travels with Fellini to the Yucatan in 1984 to meet the mysterious author Carlos Castaneda. I am excited at the possibility to bring the quest for the meaning of Fellini to you. To that end, please contact me to receive a DVD screener of the documentary, along with my personal biography.