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

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Our extremely expensive color correction session begins in a few hours (think of a taxi meter ticking off $10 bills) and we've been scrambling to "batch digitize" from the Media 100 to Beta SP at high resolution in time

Don't you love it when I talk tech?

Meanwhile, I'm meeting nights with Beo and Carrie to go over the music and sound design, overseeing the transcript for Doris at ZDF and getting photos and press materials together for the festivals and the IFFM.

There's absolutely no time to write an entry, but so many people have asked about the reactions to the Web98 panel and screening that I feel compelled.

Just part of the responsibility that comes with being in the public I.

Well, the panel was distinguished for me by the distinguished company I kept.

As for the screening…

Date: Sun, 28 Jun 1998 20:12:43 -0700
To: Doug Block
From: Steve Silberman
Subject: Re: Home Page reactions

Doug:

I went to the screening of Home Page expecting to see a warm, endearing portrayal of some of the luminous characters who I met around HotWired during what is increasingly looking like a distinct era of the Web. I got that, but I got more.

It's natural that so much of the film would dote on Justin. He's, a natural shit-stirrer, and he invites being doted on -- a fact that is thankfully examined in the course of the film.

Interestingly enough, the real profundity in Home Page doesn't come bubbling effortlessly out of Justin's mouth. It comes out of your wife's eyes, and out of Julie Petersen's candor and thirst for awakening, an awakening she finds -- temporarily -- in Patrick. It comes out of Jim Petersen's pained, patient and loving admission that he read the story of Julie's other love on her page... and out of Howard's grappling with the fact that he couldn't just plug Justin's puer aeternus wattage into a network and create a business or a long-lasting home for himself and his employees; and that Justin might not be able to return the love he's so
freely offered, at this stage in his life.

Home Page truly is about finding one's home in the universe -- that is, the only homes we have: the homes we build with the ones we love -- and the prices we pay to get there, which are dear, and real as it gets.

That's what makes Home Page a film for adults, not just MTV sop about Multimedia Gulch.

In any case, excellent job. I'm very glad you penetrated through the "story" to the story. It needs to be told, over and over again.

Love,
Steve Silberman

**********************************
Steve Silberman
Senior Culture Writer
WIRED News
http://www.wired.com/
***********************************

It's reactions like this that you live for as a filmmaker. Thanks, Steve.

After the screening, Jim said he was proud to be in the film. Howard called it a great work of art. Jon Lebkowsky told me it may save the personal storytelling aspect of the Web.

Saviour of the Web. Hooooohaaaaa!!!

While handing me back my beta tapes, the projectionist told me he thought the film was fantastic.

The folks at ZDTV want to help me promote the film.

Someone who saw it recommended it to his brother who heads the theatrical division of a respected distribution company.

This is encouraging, don't get me wrong. I'm thrilled.

But I've got some color correcting to do, some music cues to fix, endless work to do and no sleep for the weary. There's no time for self-congratulation.

The film works. Good. People like it. Good.

One foot in front of the other.

Forward march... straight to bed.

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