Tyler Gibb – Writer, Director, Editor, Filmmaker

For a couple weeks now I’ve been meaning to post some manner of reflection on Refrain‘s recent premiere and tiny three day run at the World Film Festival. I’d hoped the hornets’ nest of swarming thoughts that is my mind would eventually have quieted down by now but it has not. So in lieu of some sober analysis of my recent experience I’m going to try some free form word association to purge consciousness. Here goes:

Film festivals – money pit

Film critics – love ’em

Rejection – state of mind

Acceptance – grain of salt

Audience – satisfaction

Digibeta – nightmare

Blueray – the future

Filmmaking – compulsion

Ah… That felt pretty good actually. There’s only one real concrete thought I can muster on the subject but I’m not entirely sure what to make of it. Such is living and learning, I guess. The thought is this: Refrain was widely rejected by film festivals however when it did premiere it was very well received by critics and audiences alike. So well in fact that I have to admit, I’m a little nervous about having set some expectations. It all makes me wonder why the people we, as filmmakers, pay to watch our movies (film fest submission fees run as high as $175) seem more discriminating than people who throw down their own hard earned cash to watch our movies? You’d think it would be the opposite.

I’m being coy. I don’t really wonder why. I know why. And I won’t forget it. I’ve paid my last submission fee. Power to the people. Live and learn.

T

I’ve been meaning to poke in here and report on the recent goings-on surrounding Refrain and our recent premiere at the World Film Fest but playing catch-up on a bunch of work has been taking precedence.

However, I did just receive the artwork below and wanted to share it as soon as possible. It’s from a fellow animator and fan of my movie Minushi by the name of Gemma. She has a number of her own projects in the works which you can check out on her website, NiftiHaloStudios.com .

Having this show up in my inbox was a great surprise. Moreover it was a reminder to me why I keep trying to tell stories.

Never stop, Gemma!

Below are Refrain’s screening dates as part of the Montreal World Film Festival.

Friday August 28th, 5 pm<- click for tickets – (Festival Code: L16.28.4 .*FFM)
Saturday August 29th, 10 am<- click for tickets – (Festival Code: L16.29.1 .*FFM)
Sunday August 30th, 7:10 pm<- click for tickets – (Festival Code: L16.30.5 .*FFM)

Cinema Quartier Latin, (theatre #16), 350 Emery, Montreal. (514-849-2244).

Tickets will go on sale at the cinema’s box office as well as through admission.com (english button is on the right side of the page) as of August 22nd.

 So, it’s finally here!

The songs from Refrain have been turned loose to anyone who wants to put their spin on them.

Beautiful, honest music with a message of non-violence available for anyone to download and share. And it’s free! And you’ll discover new musicians! And it’s just plain cool.

Can you tell I’m excited?

I hope you dig it as much as I do: http://tylergibb.com/refrain/sideproject

I once heard about this thing called a “vakayshun” – not sure if I’ve got the spelling right – but the concept sounded pretty radical. Anyway, I’m sure why that’s on my mind, I’ve just been so pretty busy.

Busy doing what, Tyler?

I’m glad you asked.

Refrain has a brand new website and it didn’t build itself.

Also, Vidya and I have been hard at work on a complete re-recording and revamping of all the songs from Refrain. It took a while, there may have been some severe ear-bleeding involved, but I think we got exactly what we set out to get. You can hear the new versions of the tracks on the new website as well as on the Refrain MySpace music page.

There’s also a new song that we’ve never released before called “Quiet Storm” that rocks the casbah. Well maybe not the casbah, but it’s a toe tapper.

So I’ll break things down here for the record:

You’ve got your music from the movie.

Your re-vamped “studio” editions of the songs from the movie.

And coming shortly, your covers/reinventions of the songs from the movie a.k.a. the Refrain Side Project.

So much music. So very tired.

On the plus side, the weather is beautiful around Montreal this summer. Overcast and chilly. Very easy to work in.

Side Project is coming next so stay tuned for free music!

Tyler