The D-Word's life is one of glamour and riches, as only a documentary filmmaker can live it

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Spoke with Michael Phillips from Avid last Friday to pitch him on the idea of a "mutually beneficial arrangement" between Avid and the film.

Pretty much of a cold call. Someone from the Independent Feature Project told me Michael was the person to call there.

He didn't seem familiar with my track record of unsurpassed brilliance, but was interested enough to set up a conference call with him, the product manager for film and the marketing manager for sometime this week. A good sign.

Prepared for the call by listing all of the ways being associated with Home Page could help Avid, but I didn't really need to refer to it when we spoke.

Based on the reaction the 15-minute sample's been getting, the involvement of HBO/Cinemax, the fact that my previous works have gotten out widely theatrically, been broadcast on television throughout the world, and won mucho awards and critical hosannas (aw, shucks), it's not a real stretch to think they might be associating themselves with a project of some merit.

Then there's the subject matter itself: a story about youth, sex and the internet. Hey, sounds like fun, don't it?

Then there's the web site. I mean, this web site. The D-Word. I mean, is this a glamourous place to hang your shingle out for linking, or what? Like, right in that distinguished corporate gray column to my left here.

Told Michael I'm writing an ongoing journal about the making of the film, and since I'll be spending the next 6 months or so editing, guess what I'll be writing a whole lot about?

That's right, my new buddy, the Avid Media Composer.

"Yeah, right," says Debbie, my intrepid editor. "You mean, they'll be reading about you bitching and moaning about their product!"

"Oh, no," I reply. That's Justin. I, on the other hand, would never moan about my buddies in public.

Fact is, I'm not too worried. I researched non-linear editing systems for weeks and weeks, strongly considered D-Vision and the Media 100, and had so many producers and editors tell me to stay with the Avid that I'm convinced they have the best system.

Naturally, being a documentary purist, role model to countless docu aspirants, and person of the highest artistic integrity, I'm above pandering to any company just to get, say, a loaner or, even, what the heck, a brand-spanking-new, hot-off-the-press, top-of-the-line system for keeps.

Never. The D-Word is too avid an admirer of documentary tradition to ever stoop to that level!

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