We’re back from Tahlequah, Oklahoma, where “The Dead Can’t Dance” screened at the National Symposium of the American Indian film series, and it was quite an adventure. My 2nd A.D. Craig, great friend Daniel and still photographer Marcus went with me.

First, we got to Tulsa (about an hour from Tahlequah) and pulled off to get gas. Then we noticed smoke coming from behind us as I waited to make a right turn. THEN we realized that we were the ones causing the smoke!!!

So we pulled into QuikTrip and got gas and inspected what was going on. At first, we thought the car was leaking oil, but a nice mechanic was getting gas next to us and came over to help. Then he said, “Oh, man! I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this is really bad.”

Turns out that the seal on my transmission had busted, and he recommended we not drive any further or it would cause even greater damage. Crap.

So we parked in a faraway spot in the QT lot, and I had Craig start calling for a rental car to come pick us up while Daniel and I went to a nearby auto store to ask about a garage. It was about 5 p.m. at this point, and the film was screening at 7. We had a little time, but not much. And I didn’t have contact information for anyone at the venue.

Finally, Craig got us a car, but the guy could only pick up three of us, because the only car they had available was a bright yellow VW bug (!). So Daniel and Marcus stayed while Craig and I went with the guy back to the rental place.

I was starting to stress A LOT, and to make things even weirder, our driver started telling racist jokes!

“You know why they always put MLK Boulevard in the middle of town?” he asked us, chortling. “So everyone can find good barbecue!”

My jaw dropped, and I shot Craig a glance of disbelief. And the driver kept going with more! Insane.

Anyway, we finally got back to the rental place, and it turned out that another vehicle had just been dropped off, so they gave us that one. A Chevy HHR, which was nice and roomy. Awesome.

So we blazed back to get Daniel and Marcus, and it was close to 6:15 at this point. We picked them up, threw everything in the new vehicle, and just tabled the whole garage thing, I’d deal with it in the morning (Daniel had the good idea to hide the key somewhere so we wouldn’t have to come back).

Then my Aunt Edie called, who teaches at the university and was on the symposium board. Turns out she was worried I hadn’t shown up yet so she called my work phone and they gave her my cell number. Thank goodness! I explained the situation, and she still had the previous copy of the movie that I had sent to the screening committee, so she said she would just start that at 7, then I can just come as quickly as I could.

So that was some stress relieved, but everything was still really frantic, especially since Tulsa is completely ripped up with construction everywhere and we got lost and did a complete circle almost to the same point where we started out. Grrr.

But we finally, finally made it out of town and to Tahlequah, and were only about an hour late, so we still got to enjoy some of the film with the audience.

And it was cool to see it with a different, almost all-Native crowd. The laughed at some things that didn’t get big laughs at the premiere (they loved the powwow songs being used to distract the zombies). Cool.

Then we had a nice Q&A session, which was mostly me talking about the production (favorite question: “Was it scary having those zombies around you all the time?” My reply: “Uh, you know they weren’t real zombies, right?”).

So the night ended up good, and there were even some nice surprises. Two of my closest people in the world (Troy and Claudia) showed up unexpectedly, and our buddy James also showed up. Afterward, I got to talk to them all briefly, and take nice comments from several people and take some pictures, while Craig manned T-shirt sales. Pretty cool.

The next day was frantic, also, as we all worked the phones trying to get the car towed to the right garage, dealing with mechanics and logistics and nothing was going right. I felt like I was spitting up stomach acid.

But we finally got all that stuff figured out and set, went back to the hotel to clean up, then had a nice dinner and went to the symposium powwow for a bit before heading out to some of the bars near the university. It ended up being really fun, and everyone was so nice, asking why we were there, and everyone was very intrigued by the movie (Marcus and Craig wore their “Dead Can’t Dance” T-shirts, which was a stroke of genius).

It was nice just to finally settle in and relax a little. Oy.

Now, I’ll get a call tomorrow about my car, which is still in Tulsa, then I’ll probably have to drive back down and pick it up on Tuesday. Then we leave for New Mexico on Thursday to go to the Gathering of Nations powwow in Albuquerque and visit Guy and Jodie. This is turning out to be a pretty wild, action-packed month.

But that’s how we roll, I guess. If nothing else, we always have an adventure.
-r.

Our world premiere of “The Dead Can’t Dance” last Saturday, April 10, was an overwhelming success and absolute blast! We had almost 700 people packed into the Orpheum Theatre, and it was a lively, excited, fun crowd (with many people dressed up as zombies).

My dear friend Ann came through on a limo for us (thanks to the graciousness of her boss, Janet), and it turned out to be a huge asset, shuttling people from the pre-party to the screening to the after-party. And it was just pretty cool to arrive at the premiere in a limo!

The key cast and crew met at Caffe Moderne to eat appetizers and have a drink before the show, and it was a nice moment to see everyone and reflect on the moment.

As the limo started taking loads of people over, though, the butterflies were starting to multiply in my stomach. When Daniel returned after taking the first load of people, he said, “There’s a line down the street.”

WOW. That was very cool — but it made me even more nervous.

“You’re pacing,” Jerod told me at one point. I was chain-smoking, too. I popped another Tums.

Then I went off by myself away from everyone for a moment. I closed my eyes. I felt the cool breeze around me and the sun warming my skin. I could faintly hear everyone talking about the film and how excited they were.

I breathed deeply and exhaled. And I knew then that everything was going to be OK, no matter what. I had worked for so long and so hard to be at this particular moment. I just wanted to take it all in, and revel in it.

The main cast was the last to arrive in the limo, and we popped a bottle of champagne as we rode over.

When we got to the theater, it was buzzing. People were still standing in line to get tickets or just standing outside the theater chatting. Inside, my beautiful nieces Ashley and Allie were waiting to wish me good luck one last time.

I made my way to the seating area, and saw the Marine guys standing around in character (which really added to the mood) and a few zombies walking around. But the place was packed!

Finally, we went backstage to discuss the order of events. First, an Orpheum representative would come out to talk about their upcoming events. Then Mike Marlett, director of the Tallgrass Film Festival, would come out to plug their events and introduce me.

Standing backstage listening to them, my heart was beating wildly. But I wasn’t nervous anymore. I just couldn’t wait to share the movie. I was ready.

When Mike announced my name, I came out on stage to roaring applause. I started to talk but then had to stop because the applause kept going. Unbelievable.

I fumbled my way through an intro and had the extras stand and then the key cast and crew, and then the film began.

And people started laughing at all the right spots. I knew it was going to go great.

And it did. As the title sequence began, people cheered (Wade brought the house down). Later on, people applauded when they saw themselves onscreen. The Marines were particularly cool when their scenes came.

I was too nervous to sit, but stood at the back of the theater and really enjoyed watching the audience reaction. The things that I thought would get big laughs did. And people seemed to laugh a lot.

Afterward, we had a nice Q&A then headed to the after-party. Someone shuffled me through the doors and into the limo, and we were off. My head was still buzzing from the screening. People really seemed to enjoy the film.

We partied way into the night (some stayed up all night), and it was a marvelous cap on an incredible experience.

The next day, we had my mom’s birthday party, then my brother and his fiancee flew back to Albuquerque on Monday.

Now, I’m still trying to catch my breath and get caught up on everything. But I don’t really have too much time to spare. On Thursday, we’ll be screening at the National Symposium of the American Indian in Tahlequah, OK, which should be a blast, too (and interesting, because the audience there will be more Native-heavy).

And seeing the film again, blown up on a huge screen, there are still a few tweaks I want to do. But not too much. Gotta move on at some point.

Our Facebook pages have been overflowing with positive comments, and the Wichita State University newspaper, The Sunflower, gave us a glowing review.

All in all, an unforgettable, magical experience. Thank you to everyone involved for a phenomenal night.

Hopefully, it’s just the beginning.
-r.

Five shorts hours until the premiere of “The Dead Can’t Dance,” and I simply can’t believe it.

Everything is all set up. We’ve spread the word as much as we can. We’ve talked it up, we’ve hung fliers everywhere. Now we just have to show up and it just has to happen.

I remember being little, and my mom would drop me off at the movie theater on a Saturday afternoon while all the other kids wanted to go to the park. I just loved going to the movies. I loved the lights on the marquee, the buzz as people talked as they walked in, wondering what was in store. I loved the smell of popcorn, and I got a thrill as the lights dimmed.

And I’m going to experience that tonight. With my very own movie. Simply amazing.

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine that this could be possible (and with my third movie, even). And looking back on this movie now, with its huge scope and all the extras and special effects and crew members, it’s just incredible that we somehow have a movie to show for all the hundreds of hours of work. Somehow, you just chip a away a little bit at a time, and eventually, you’ve built Mount Rushmore.

Here’s to dreaming big, because sometimes, somehow, some way, if you’re lucky, those dreams come true.

Heading to the theater,
-r.

This week has flown by!! Been busy finalizing last-minute details for our screening at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the grand Orpheum Theatre.

Just a few last things to set in place, but for the most part we’re ready. I just really can’t believe it. Hopefully we’ll have a great crowd.

I am true living proof that anything is possible. It’s amazing to be at this point, simply amazing.

Lotsa love,
-r.

I can’t believe we’re into the single digits now. After almost two years of hard work, we’re 8 amazing days away from the premiere of “The Dead Can’t Dance,” and I’m ecstatic.

Today I got the final audio mix from Sergio in the mail, so I’ll sync that up with the film, make a few teensy color tweaks, and then the movie will be finished. Hallelujah!

We’re hitting publicity really hard right now. Look for us on some radio spots next week and hopefully TV news, as well (KSN channel 3 is already showing scenes from the flick during their events promos). The new issue of Naked City magazine also has a nice article about us.

Have a zomb-tastic weekend!
-r.