Monday, December 01, 2003
First day on the job here at the East Finland Film Commission (EFFC) and I have this to say, "Gambling is legal in Finland!" Last Friday night I went to a party that was sponsored by the studio here; we hung out a while at the studio, went to a bar and then on to a night club, where there were blackjack tables and roulette tables gallery. I could not believe it, a little Reno in my own town. Certainly not Atlantic City and a far cry from Vegas, unless a new casino opens up there called, "Not much to see here in this cold as shit place, but hey look, here's a blackjack table. Come one and all, losing money keeps you warm."
Well after several drinks and perusing this extraordinarily unique nightclub, a few hands of blackjack was a welcome diversion. I made a couple of friends, as always happens when a group of guys is sitting around a table throwing their money away. Some of the guys asked me what I do here and when I told them I am working to bring some films to the region, they laughed, bought me some beers and told me that I was lying. After explaining to them that I was not, they couldn't believe that this was in fact a job, let alone my job - this guy from New York in Northern Karelia is going to be bringing movies here? They worked at the lock making factory, ABLOY and told me how that is a real job. Of course it is, buddy, keep passing the beer and make your locks.
The nightclub was hysterical. Top floor was rather subdued with the older folks dancing the Finnish humpa - which is a cross between polka, tango and classic ball-room dancing. People were all dressed in evening wear, and looking as done up as possible. Whereas downstairs, the kids were partying to house music, dressed like crap and getting crazy.
One of the older folks that was with the group at the party, he did not go to the night club with us, was the Mayor of Joensuu. It turns out that we have befriended some rather influential people here in the city. The party we threw last week had 3 members of the city board in attendance, which shocked everyone including K and I. was just talking with this nice couple about nothing in particular and when they left, someone came up to me and said, "So, you have met the Mayor." I guess I did.
LIke I said, first day on the job. Fairly regular, except for the fact that my computer is in the Finnish language, so all the commands I try are accomplished through trial and error.
I have a meeting tomorrow with the director. I will be going over my new ideas and then I will try to convince her to send me to Texas in March for SXSW, to Santa Monica in April for a Locations Scouting convention, London in May for a Production Conference and later that month to Cannes for the festival. I will be lucky if I get 1 out of 4. I'm not going to ask for anything, I will simply plant the seed in her head and work it from there.
Ideas are coming fast and furious and if I can generate some excitement for them, I can use that as a means to get sent to these conventions and festivals.
Good news. I will be sending pictures this week, next week at the latest when I get some time here at the office and when I get a permanent computer, which should be quite soon.
Gotta run. 4pm and time to go home. How bout that? I will be home by 4:30 at the latest which is a far cry from the 7:30 timeframe I was so used to in NYC.
Well after several drinks and perusing this extraordinarily unique nightclub, a few hands of blackjack was a welcome diversion. I made a couple of friends, as always happens when a group of guys is sitting around a table throwing their money away. Some of the guys asked me what I do here and when I told them I am working to bring some films to the region, they laughed, bought me some beers and told me that I was lying. After explaining to them that I was not, they couldn't believe that this was in fact a job, let alone my job - this guy from New York in Northern Karelia is going to be bringing movies here? They worked at the lock making factory, ABLOY and told me how that is a real job. Of course it is, buddy, keep passing the beer and make your locks.
The nightclub was hysterical. Top floor was rather subdued with the older folks dancing the Finnish humpa - which is a cross between polka, tango and classic ball-room dancing. People were all dressed in evening wear, and looking as done up as possible. Whereas downstairs, the kids were partying to house music, dressed like crap and getting crazy.
One of the older folks that was with the group at the party, he did not go to the night club with us, was the Mayor of Joensuu. It turns out that we have befriended some rather influential people here in the city. The party we threw last week had 3 members of the city board in attendance, which shocked everyone including K and I. was just talking with this nice couple about nothing in particular and when they left, someone came up to me and said, "So, you have met the Mayor." I guess I did.
LIke I said, first day on the job. Fairly regular, except for the fact that my computer is in the Finnish language, so all the commands I try are accomplished through trial and error.
I have a meeting tomorrow with the director. I will be going over my new ideas and then I will try to convince her to send me to Texas in March for SXSW, to Santa Monica in April for a Locations Scouting convention, London in May for a Production Conference and later that month to Cannes for the festival. I will be lucky if I get 1 out of 4. I'm not going to ask for anything, I will simply plant the seed in her head and work it from there.
Ideas are coming fast and furious and if I can generate some excitement for them, I can use that as a means to get sent to these conventions and festivals.
Good news. I will be sending pictures this week, next week at the latest when I get some time here at the office and when I get a permanent computer, which should be quite soon.
Gotta run. 4pm and time to go home. How bout that? I will be home by 4:30 at the latest which is a far cry from the 7:30 timeframe I was so used to in NYC.
// posted by Howard @ 3:47 PM 
