Lao New Year!! Year of the Rat

I am in love with the Lao People. This event was amazing. From the temple to the food!! Shooting was great on Saturday, it was about 70-75 degrees. The first thing we explored was the inside of the temple. It was filled with people sitting on the floor listening to the monks and praying. There was so much to see and learn that it was even hard to concentrate on the filming, well for me anyway.

After that we met up with the brothers and we filmed them celebrating the New Year. There was beautiful Lao Music playing all day long. The kids were running around with shaving cream all over them and of course shooting water at each other. Saturday we met Maniphone from Lao Star Media. She is a very nice lady and when we told her we were there filming a documentary on the brothers she interviewed them so they will be on TV!! Lao Star Media is broadcasted in the 50 united states and Canada!

Thai TV was also there, I gave them a DVD of Racing Heart Trailer and they said they would be contacting us because they like to help promote films that are about Asian Americans. To say the least, Saturday was an incredible day. When we got to our hotel room we were all so tired that we crashed, Chris and Mark watched a movie, I pretty much snoozed as soon as my head hit the pillow.

On Sunday, it was cold and cloudy so we didn't film much. We did find the closest whataburger and had Mark eat there for the first time. We left Texas pretty early and were back in Kansas City by midnight Sunday. Oh what a Trip!! it was a blast!

THANKS!

I want to dedicate this post to Mark and Micah. We really appreciate all the help. You guys are great to work with and hope that you can keep on this journey with us to make and finish this film.

Thanks,Gracias!!
Chris and Stephanie

Sopping Wet

Today we went and shot the brothers taking their car to get painted. Luck was on our side. Just as our shoot ended it began to rain. Minutes later is began to POUR. Stephanie had gone to get pizza for the crew. She returned just as the gushing rain commenced. The smell of pepperoni took over and we ate right in front of a gas station. Then we got gas and drove home in the rain.

And then we came home and finished the commercial we shot last weekend for a Chiropractor.

Proposal Kits - Yay!

Right now we are building Proposal Kits with slick folders and DVD's in them to prepare for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce gathering at Crown Center on May 9th. We ran into a contact on Saturday at the Foundation and she said it would be a good place to seek funding. Wow, how many times in your life does a lead like that fall into your lap! So we're jumping on it.

-C h r i s

Challenges of Indie Filmmakers

Being a filmmaker is hard, okay let me re-phrase that, being a "poor" "indie" filmmaker is tough. Since we don't have money, it is a challenge to get people interested in helping us, although we have found a great guy, his name is Mark(Director of Photography). He is truly passionate about film and has done a great deal for this movie. Thanks!!!

Another challenge that filmmakers with no money face is the lack of equipment. Luckily, we have an film organization called the IFC(Independent Film Coalition) that rents equipment to local filmmakers. We were able to rent a light kit for super cheap. Renting is good but we want to own our equipment. Yesterday Chris put in the order for equipment that will keep this movie going.
Yay for Tax Return Money!

If any of you would like to donate $$$ or equipment we would really appreciate it!!!You will be recognized in the credits!

Here is another day in the life of two filmmakers...happy earth day

Getting Ready for Lao New Year

It is Monday April 21st, 2008 Chris and I are trying to get everything ready for our shoot in Saginaw Texas this weekend. We are going to shoot the brothers as they celebrate the Lao New Year. This is going to be a huge event. Lao New Year is celebrated all throughout the United States beginning on April 13th.

Here is a little knowlege about the celebration:

*On the first day, houses are cleaned and food is prepared.
*On the second day, which is the "day of no day", prayer and gifts to the monks
*On the third day, the festival marks the manificent New Year

Water is poured on the elders,then the monks for blessings of long life and peace and lastly they pour water on each other.

The idea of water came from the legend of King Kabinlaphom, whose seven daughters kept his severed head in a cave. The daughters would visit the fathers head every year and perform a ritual to bring happiness and good weather.

If you go to Lao New Year, be prepared to get WET!!



Location**Wat Lao Thepnimit, 7105 Marvin Brown St., Saginaw, 817-238-8543 April 26 and 27th. A Miss Lao New Year pageant will be held April 26, with the winner to lead Sunday's parade.

Fundraiser for Racing Heart

I have been pondering the idea of having a fundraiser/Benefit for our Documentary Racing Heart. Today, Chris and I sat down to discuss this and will be taking the first step to make this idea a reality. As newbies to this we will be doing some research, we will have to spend some money on a venue and other things so of course it makes us nervous because we don't want to end up losing money, the purpose of this benefit is to raise money!! : ) If any of you would like to help with this or have input as to where to start when it comes to organizing a Benefit please email us, our contact information is at www.racingheartmovie.com or www.myspace.com/hydeparkpictures

Thank You to all of you that have been there for us during this journey!

KC Jubilee Party

So we went to the KC film jubilee party on April 19th at The Mutual Musicians Foundation located in the heart of Kansas City's historic jazz district. It was lots of fun. we meet filmmakers and film enthusiasts, lets not forget that we met ninja girl, kelly! : )
It is always good to have fun and network. As a hispanic filmmaker it is going to be very important that I meet some people at the 'fiesta' hosted by kansas city hispanic chamber of commerce. Right now, racing heart is in need of money to continue. We want to meet people that will give us the chance to tell them about our documentary and how successful it can be if only we had more money. This documentary is like no other, it is a documentary by definition but we have added our own touch that will make even those that hate documentaries love it!!
please check out our promotional trailer www.racingheartmovie.com and donate what you can! Money, help on shoots, equipment, spreading the word!!!