And it has been a fun, hard, sometimes tiring trip -

But we are getting the footage we need so far. Yesterday, we went to see the PM speak and we are still hoping he will do an interview. I think it will happen.

We have talked to people all over the region about their hopes, their dreams, their frustrations and their outlook on the future.

We also ran into four young Germans who are touring the whole region in a couple of camper vans. They might be the first motor tourists in years here. They said when they came to the the border and we're asked what they were doing they said "Holiday" and the border agents were dumbfounded.We had a lot of fun with them the other day, and will probably see them agaion before they go back.

I wish we were able to blog more but we have been so busy and the internet hasn't always been available so we're are doing the best we can.

Much love to all - and we'll be home soon!

Bill

Hello,

Long time no blog on our film site - but let's start again.

Simone and I are in Iraqi Kurdistan finishing (hopefully) the filming of our long time project Thank You For My Eyes. And we are much better equiped this time, getting interviews we need and actually filming the shots we want.

Simone's brother Shaylan was with us and they all think he's Jack Bauer which is a good thing.

We have also been blogging at our new Blogger.com blogs. I am frommyeyestoo and Simone got SimoneAllmen - check us out if you can - we have a video blog but we've had trouble getting it uploaded with the Internet over here.

Kepp safe everyone and remember that there is a lot going on in the world - and it's all happening.

Here’s the story. My partner and I have been working on a film for two and a half years now. Originally it was our journey to Kurdistan to see the Constitutional Referendum take place. The film turned out good, and we had interest from a TV Channel and one of the board members at the International Documentary Association said it was one of the best docs he saw that year out of 1000 he had seen.

BUT - it wasn’t finished. Now we know how to finish it. We needed to show the whole Kurdish experience and we are on our way to doing that. I taught a film workshop in southern Kurdistan last summer and filmed that. Simone went to Diyarbakir for Nerouz. Those are all parts of the story.

We have gotten interest from the top festivals finally as they are starting to realize that the Kurdish situation is an important one. As important as Darfur, Tibet or any other people who have been denied their cultural freedom.

IF you know of any funding possibilities to finish our film all the way, grants especially, send them our way.

We have transportation, food and lodging for on more trip back to Kurdistan but we need stipends for our crew, some more equipment and a top editor to pull it all together.

Let us know your ideas. (There is also a donation button on the front of the page but we know this is a cautious time for most people.) Tell your friends. Add a link to our page.

There have been multiple films about other countries and their plights, its time now for people to know more about the Kurds.

Bill

Love to all!

Here is an article on a Meat Puppets Sonic Youth show written by Bill -

MeatPuppetsSonicYouthArticle

Good blog about the makers of Thank You For My Eyes -

http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/09/ivy_clay

This blog has nothing to do with Kurdistan. It is about a good person who is having a difficult time.

A couple of years ago a friend of mine had a cousin who took his daughter to a concert in Dallas, TX. That night my friend's relative was beaten unconcious in front of his daughter in one of the most brutal and senseless acts of violence that Dallas has ever seen. He was in the hospital clinging to his life for several days after the incident.

During that time he was got a visit out of the blue from Owen Wilson. Owen had read about the incident in the papers and took it upon himself to visit the injured man while he was recuperating. No fanfare, no press just a concerned citizen stopping by to say hello. It was a gesture that meant a lot to my friend and her family.

I don't know what is going on with Owen right now. What happened or how he's feeling. I just hope he gets better.

Bill

Simone was supposed to be on the jury at the film festival this weekend, her flight was cancelled. But, it's like Crowded House says, "Don't let them win."

New York Times


i am so MAD!!!!!!!!
mixed with feelings of frustration, anger, sadness,
powerlessness!
my flight into hawler (erbil) was cancelled because of
these bombings.
there was the option of flying into istanbul then onto
dyabikir where i would then take a taxi into
kurdistan. my heart and my guts told me not to. not
exactly the safest route.
i must admit that i considered it and really why let
terrorism scare me? i thought better. i stopped myself
and made a clear decision to be here now so that in
the future i can be there.
i am so sad. there isn't going to be any american
representation at the festival.
i am so angry at this sort of half ass fighting
because it has made it dangerous to travel in the
middle east. in a country filled with history and full
of beautiful amazing people.
*sigh*
anyways, i feel sick. i am sooooo bummed.
i wish you guys could meet these people.
i don't know what it is that draws me to them.
truly lovely.


on with my day.
thank you all for being so supportive. you are
AWESOME!
this is NOT over.
there is still much to be done.
much love.
xxxooo

This weekend will be the second Iraqi Short Film Festival will take place in Hawler, Kurdistan. It will feature the films that the students made at the recent film workshop that has been featured on our blog.

There will also be many short films from all over the world as well as panels about filmmaking in Kurdistan and Iraq. It will be a celebration of film!

Bill will be appearing on the show Hollywood Pitch on the on-line radio broadcast today at 6 PM -

HOW DO YOUR FANS LISTEN-IN OR CALL-IN? Click the Hollywood Pitch link on letstalkrecovery.com ; call 1-866-LTR-LTR2 (1-866-587-5872).

Check it out.