Indie press in film, indie press on tables

Over the past few years, I've grown to love watching documentaries, and this year I treated myself to a Hot Docs festival pass, so I'll be seeing about ten films over the next couple weeks. Meanwhile, I've been watching a lot of documentaries at home lately, from the public library's collection of melodramatic A&E serial killer episodes, to a fascinating film on Newsworld about a women's prison in Ecuador called Pack, Strap, Swallow. I also saw a doc about the popularity of Bingo, which was rather depressing and superficial; it could have delved much deeper into the sociological phenomenon of this strange social and gambling addicition.

Last night was Horns and Halos, about Soft Skull's publication of J. H. Hatfield's book The Fortunate Son about George W. Bush. I didn't know too much about this contraversy, and this extensive film was by turns riveting, heartbreaking and inspiring. The film wasn't interested in investigating whether or not George W. was or was not busted for coke possession in 1972, but explored the processes and crises of publishing this book, and its impact on writer Jim Hatfield and publisher Sander Hicks. Writer Hatfield had a fascinating life before The Fortunate Son's republication, and things certainly intensified after. For me, the footage shot in the Soft Skull basement offices was most inspiring, as a small press publishing afficianado. Anyone have a contraversial manuscript to send me? Just don't fudge your sources, okay? You can get this film from the library, and I highly recommend it, both for political intrigue and for publishing insights.

Speaking of the small press, the eleventh issue of dig. is coming along really well, and I'm looking forward to getting it out there. The Toronto Small Press Book Press Fair is coming up on June 3, 2006, and I'll have copies available there. Unfortunatley I'm not sure I'll be able to host a typical launch party for the issue. It's been almost impossible to get a venue on a night that isn't competing with other literary endeavors or bands, as well as a date that all involved are available, and so on. I know from experience that attendance to such events dramatically declines in the summer, and I refuse to risk an under-attended launch party by pushing it later into the summer. I've learned that the hard way... However, I'm investigating some creative alternatives to a physical launch instead. Regardless, the issue itself is full of solid, compelling poetry and fiction and you will love it.

The week prior to the press fair, on Saturday, May 27, I'll be participating in the second-ever Crafternoon Tea sale and fundraiser. I had a table for my soap and for dig. at the first Crafternoon Tea in November, 2005 and did really well. People loved the soap, I had a great time and met lots of creative and kind people, and even sold a couple of copies of dig.! I'm really looking forward to doing this again on Saturday, May 27 in the Beaches. There are all sorts of cool DIY goods at affordable prices, and proceeds from the door and from the food go to a good cause, The Scarborough Women's Centre.


Song:
REBELLION (LIES) by Arcade Fire

Cheers.