John Bintz came by tonight and we (he) continued cutting still photos of Judy for motion manipulation (an effect John lovingly and fashionably calls “Ken Burns”. I just agree with the idea of exploring a photo). While John cut photos, I continued cutting the movie while working on an original score for the music track.

Now when you’re working with John and his lap top is invovled, be prepared for the occasional outburst of Napoleon Dynamite lines which he has somehow downloaded onto his computer.

“We made one-hundred and twenty-five dollars today.”
“So what! I can make that in five seconds!”

It makes for a fun work environment.

After a dinner break courtesy of the local pizza delivery place (“Tina, you fat lard, come get some DINNER!... Tina, eat. Food. Eat the FOOD!”), I received an email from Bryan Dawson at the American Hungarian Federation. Apparently, the publisher at Crabtree Publishing in New York emailed him asking advice on obtaining photos of the 1956 Revolution for a true-to-life book they are releasing.

Bryan wrote back with some advice and copied me on the reply. He included a line to the publisher that there was this Emmy-nominated producer in town making a movie that took place during the Revolution and he might be able to help in her search.

I was happy to be included. A new door to open. A new avenue to explore. So while John sat at one end of the desk cutting photos on his lap top, I sat at the other end composing an email of my own, which I immediately sent to the publisher, introducing myself and Freedom Dance and offering whatever assistance I could.

I ended the email listing the Freedom Dance web address and my phone number. And about an hour later (remember this is about 8 pm on a Friday night) the phone rang. It was the publisher herself!

By this time I was in the kitchen mixing a batch of chocolate chip cookies for lunch at friend’s house tomorrow. With much excitement the publisher tells me shes just read my email and was interested in learning more about the Hilberts and their escape story, as she too escaped in 1956 (as a young child).

Actually, we first discovered a mutual interest in metaphysics, which dominated the first part of the conversation. Then we shared our two stories. I found the conversation delightful and exciting, and I’m curious to see where it all leads.

Occasionally the oven buzzer would ring. “What’s that?” the publisher would ask. “I’m baking cookies. We’re working on the movie downstairs and I’m making cookies up here.”

She laughed approvingly. Meanwhile, I’m balancing a cookie tray in one hand and a cell phone in the other. Thank God for head sets.

It’s the way to do business, I believe. There’s no reason why a person can’t enjoy the work they do, accomplish the business at hand and still have time for chocolate chip cookies. It brightens the agenda.

“What are you gonna do today, Napoleon?”
“Whatever I feel like I wanna do. Gosh! ”

Meanwhile, we’ll see where the contact with Crabtree Publishing leads. The publisher is to be in DC this spring at a book expo and she is interested in meeting the Hilberts then. I hope it works out that way.

Tired. Exhausted, actually, but extremely satisfied.

~Steven