CIFVF News, Exxon Mobil is stinky, and my new support group

Hey Everyone!

Very exciting week. It looks like the CIFVF (www.cifvf.ca) grant is finally going to come through. That will mean $5933.00 dollars for development. Woooo Hooooo!!!! For any of you filmmakers out there, their next application deadline is March 16th, 2006.

We're not sure how to best spend this money yet. I do know that I want to spend part of it expanding our search for subjects. Particularly in search of business students trying to get ethics, social responsibility courses in their schools. About 50% of business schools now have some type of ethics course. We're looking for stories from the schools that don't have them. These students are caught between two worlds. Between the past and the future of profit. They are on the front lines of the battle over the future of capitalism. Their quest to be taught the business case behind sustainability is both an ethical and a financial one.

I'd also like to actually pay a writer. In general, this money is not for me, but to hire other talented people to help further the film.

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Did any of you notice that Exxon Mobil set a record recently? Their 2005 fourth quarter earning of $10.3 Billion and overall earning of $36.1 Billion is the largest in US history. They made $1,146.00 per second. So while poor people in Newfoundland are relying on government support to keep their furnaces going and not freeze to death, some guys in Texas are getting unbelievably rich.

Something about all this has never seemed quite right to me. And I don't mean the ethical or moral crime of Exxon (although, that is there too). No, it just seems all kind of inflated and imaginary. How can there be SO MUCH money flying around when all the natural capital that created the money in the first place is almost gone. It kind of feels like a party at its peak. Everyone is loaded, the music is pumping, people are screwing behind the couch, and the moment seems infinite. Our civilization is at the moment of perfect intoxication. But I think the party is almost over. I can't prove it yet, but it seems to me that the global economy is set for a major setback or collapse. It's just not based in reality anymore. The hangover and post party clean up are going to be painful. If anyone reading this has any thoughts on this please send them my way.

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In light of my recent burnout and lessons earned, my friend Maia and I have decided to start a social-mission focused filmmakers support group! All the details are below, our first meeting is next Sunday, February 19th at 5:00 pm. Maia is the very talented artist behind the film Grass Through Concrete: The Struggle to Protect the Red Hill Valley (www.grassthroughconcrete.com). Maia is an artist of the highest order, her film is excellent, and I recommend checking it out.

Here are the details of the meeting:

TALK IS GOOD, ACTION IS BETTER

What: Monthly jam/action support meeting for social & environmental mission focused Filmmakers and Artists

When: The 3rd Sunday of every month (first meeting,
Sunday, February
19th, 5:00 pm. First Meeting will be at the Grind
Coffee Shop on Main and 25th.

Why: Talk is good, but action is better!

This is for you creative souls out there. The road of the socially and environmentally conscious person can be a lonely and difficult one. On top of that, if you are an independent filmmaker and artist things can get even bumpier and disheartening, but non-the less EXCITING. We thought it would be great to share our tears and excitements while becoming part of a creative network in a film/art jam group for filmmakers/artists who play with a social and environmental twist. The group will meet the third Sunday of each month and everyone is welcome. The meeting will provide us with a network and support group of people who work in the same sphere and face similar issues. While we will do talking, discussing ideas and our projects, the emphasis will be on ACTION. That could be helping each other figure out the next step that we need to take to move our
projects and ideas along and checking back to see if we have followed through, spontaneous collaborations, or bringing an experimental idea you have and we help you do it. So if you are up for a little push and creative inspiration you should come to the first meeting help decide on a name, mission and possible first project.

Please call or e-mail Maia or Adam for more information and feel free to forward this to your peeps!
info@grassthroughconcrete.com
or
adam@fixingcapitalism.ca

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All right! That's it for now. I’ll update you on the plans for the CIFVF money soon. Please send advice.

Oh and since I was ranting about parties, my roommates and I are having a party on Saturday night, the 18th. Feel free to e-mail me and identify yourself for an invite.

Keep on rocking in the free world

Adam

P.S. Our party will be disposable free and the leftovers will be composted into our rooftop garden. Heck, you can come and plant a bean seed if you want!