Back in February, I learned about a week-long film festival that was being planned in Albuquerque in July. While most film festivals involve watching a bunch of obscure movies that don't make it to the neighborhood cineplex, this one had an intriguing twist. They wanted to MAKE movies. Being the movie junkie that I am, I was very interested.

The plan was to have ten 10-minute digital movies shot, edited and shown in one week's time. Writers had to submit scripts (and a thirty-five dollar entry fee), and a committee would select the winners by May 15th. I went to work on a brief screenplay called Candidate Steve Spears. It was a comedy about a bum running for president. A cross between Don Quixote and Bob Roberts.

I've always wanted something I wrote to be made into a movie. Even a 10-minute one. Movies can reach people in a way that other mediums can't. I give my good friends a five page short story, and it takes anywhere from a week to a month for them to get around to reading it. But a movie! Everyone has time for a ten minute movie. All of the stimuli is provided for, and all viewers have to do is keep their eyes open.

Figuring having a great script wasn't enough, I got to know the main organizers of the Wild West Digital Shoot-out 2000 (good name, huh?). I sat through three hour meetings, committed to help them get local music into the films, and tried to help out however I could. My anticipation grew as May 15th approached. I knew my script would be picked. I was a local boy, I was helping out the festival on the side, and it was a damn good script. On the inevitable day, I checked the Flick on 66 web site to see the winners. No Candidate Steve Spears. Just ten other scripts that had nothing to do with me (only two from Albuquerque).

After a week of silence, the main organizer called me up to do damage control. He said my script was great, but there was one similar to mine and that guy had "a better ear" (theater talk). To make me feel better, he said that Candidate Steve Spears was the first alternate. This gave me little comfort. The worst script entered gets to make a movie as much as the first alternate.

After some more moping, I decided I would still do what I promised. I would try to get local music into the movies. If I couldn't make my own movie, I could at least get some good songs from Albuquerque in the festival. I received copies of the ten winning scripts, talked to the directors and went to work compiling mixed tapes for directors. Usually 30-45 minutes of songs. Most of the directors did not get back to me or said they had their music end covered. By the time the festival was near, only four to seven songs were being considered and in only two of the ten movies. I went out and got permission from the bands, having them all sign a release. Every band was more than willing. I burned CDs for the two directors. Mission accomplished, I figured.

Two days before the festival, the producer of Stringers (one of the movies) asked if I'd like to be on her crew. Since that movie was the only one to consider more than one local song, I volunteered. I was a production assistant (a.k.a. movie grunt) for a 14-hour shoot on Sunday and a 6-hour shoot on Monday. I ran errands, hauled gear, set up equipment, bullshitted with everyone, and sat around when they didn't need me. The main reason I wanted to be on the crew was to see if I could have actually pulled off Candidate Steve Spears. I concluded that I still would have made a great quick flick.

The night of the film screenings was last night, and I watched nine 10-minute movies with a couple buddies I snuck into the packed house event. Nine movies? That's right. The only movie that did not complete its editing and turn in its movie was Stringers. To top it off, the other director that expressed interest in using local music flaked out on using the song he picked. So no Candidate Steve Spears, no Stringers, no local music. Despite my best efforts, I made no lasting contribution to the film festival. A very surreal ending to my six month involvement.

Am I distraught? Not really. I took a week off work, I met some good local contacts (the same people that screw you over now are the same people who can help you out later), I got into everything for free, I learned about a bunch more local bands, and I did everything I said I would do.

I've learned the film industry is a strange beast that will step on me more times than not, but that's not going to stop me from attempting to do the entire process again next year. Because, you know, I still want to make a movie.

Chris Jungle continues to work on projects no one will ever see.