Curious...What’s this other shoe people talk about?

I always use shoe analogies to describe people and situations in my life. Some relationships are like wearing shoes that are too tight. An annoying person feels like a pebble in your shoe. Some people need to be resoled or are too stiff.

Shoes are at our base. They are part of our foundation. They protect our feet and keep us warm. They carry us far. Nowadays, shoes are hi-tech. They can make us fast, slow, track the number of steps and calories burned, correct our posture, shape our legs, make us taller and make a statement. So, I get it but what’s this “other shoe” and why are people waiting for it to drop? It sounds ominous like a storm coming. Are we bugs and the other shoe is dropping to smash us? Do we know for sure it’s going to drop? Who’s dropping it? I have to say it’s so absurd I can’t wrap my head around it. It reminds me of the story of Chicken Little and the sky falling.

I did some research and found the following. It actually means to wait for the unexpected. Its source is said to come from the following story.

In the late 18th century during the manufacturing boom in NYC a man comes in late at night to a lodging house, rather the worse for wear. He sits on his bed, drags one shoe off and drops it on the floor. Guiltily remembering everyone around him is trying to sleep, he takes the other one off much more carefully and quietly puts it on the floor. He then finishes undressing and gets into bed. Just as he is drifting off to sleep, a shout comes from the man in the room below: “Well, drop the other one then! I can’t sleep, waiting for you to drop the other shoe!” This may come from music hall or vaudeville, though it would seem that nobody has been able to tie it down more precisely.

So, for those waiting for the other shoe to drop…just turn it into a flip-flop and when it drops it won’t hurt or better yet forget the other shoe. You’ve got two shoes on your feet. Spend time walking somewhere fabulous and anticipate something wonderful in the unexpected.

Change: Welcome to the new IndieFlix website.

Hallelujah we did it!

Change is always a bit of a challenge. While we crave it, need it and struggle with it, we cannot stop it; so we must embrace it. Welcome to the new IndieFlix website

The new site is only the tip of the iceberg. We have several roll-outs planned with fun ways to interact with the filmmakers, the content and each other while ultimately contributing to the greater good of the filmmaking community. Soon you will be able to do things like give films as gifts, create your own branded channels and support filmmakers’ current and future projects. Mostly you will be able to find movies that are engaging, controversial and worth talking about. We’re going to make this easy for you. Keep your Netflix account but add IndieFlix. Then you’ll have access to Hollywood content and the world’s favorite independent movies. Plus, you’ll be supporting filmmakers because every minute watched on IndieFlix the filmmaker gets paid.

With more and more films being released every year it’s getting harder and harder to figure out what to watch. I search and discover to the point of exhaustion and end up watching a re-run of Law & Order.

As our library grows I’m constantly banging my head against the wall trying to figure out how to navigate an ocean of independent movies and answer the number one asked question, “What should I watch?”. After all, Jennifer Lawrence and Johnny Depp aren’t always featured in indie films. So, to get the ball rolling, we have just launched our new site with an editorial section that will grow a lot over the coming months. We will feature filmmakers and tell their stories. We’ll point out extremely controversial films where filmmakers risked their lives or spent years to make, and we’ll share some of the most magical, funny and treasured gems in our library. We want you to know why you should watch these movies, beyond the fact that they have won awards or played at a hundred film festivals.

Think about it…. there are over 50,000 films made every year around the world. Hollywood releases roughly 600 of them in a good year. Yes, there are some serious turds out there but there are also a ton of wonderful films that should be experienced. We accept about 3-5% of all submissions. Our job is to find the favorite independent movies, shorts, documentaries and web-series in the world and share them with you.

We’re going to be pushing a lot of new functionality out very quickly, so please give us feedback and we’ll do our best to address it as quickly as possible. We are a very small team with BIG aspirations. We are inspired by our industry. We are up for the task. We welcome you to join us!

Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a wonderfully, bumpy ride!

Thank you,

Scilla Andreen

CEO & Co-Founder IndieFlix

Croaked, what will be engraved on your tombstone?

I wonder what will be engraved on my tombstone? it's always someone else who makes that decision. And when the responsibility seems too grave, (no pun intended) they opt for the standard, socially accepted list of "Loving mother", "Devoted Husband", "Dearest Wife" etc..

My friends and family will probably opt for "Fortune Cookie" but at the end of the day it should probably read, "I'll be there in 5 minutes..."

What will your tombstone read?

Calm in the face of constant change

My son, Ian and I arrived at the airport bound for SF at 5pm only to learn that our flight was delayed til 10pm due to fog. It wasn't enough time to go home and come back. So, we made the best of it. Seattle has a pretty decent airport. We got massages, ate an okay meal, walked around, changed our seats a few times and finally boarded. We had a row to ourselves but it was next to the bathrooms and the stench was awful. Regardless, we buckled up only to be delayed again due to a hydraulic leak. It took 45 min to fix and do the paperwork. Then they discovered peeling paint on the side of the plane and that took another 30 min to take a picture and send to SFO for approval. Finally we were off. Upon landing we learned that our gate was occupied so we sat on the tarmac for another 15 minutes. We finally deplaned at 1:15am. I am happy we are safe. My patient son is a saint and I am grateful we were able to remain calm throughout this whole process. That old saying of Buddha's... "Wherever you are is exactly where you are supposed to be" helped me keep it together. Yes there are much worse case scenarios but delays are delays and travel is certainly one area where we can practice patience and kindness with ourselves and with those around us. We missed our late night supper in SF but we had quality time at the airport. Everything happens for a good reason. Thank you to Virgin America for trying to make the whole experience as tolerable as possible. I realize I need to make friends with someone who works at the FAA. Safe travels to all!

Calculating is critical

Calculating and being prepared is critical. My work life is about managing expectations and delivering on my word, oh and marketing, marketing, marketing. There's really no point in doing anything if you don't have a marketing strategy. You can change it as the days go by but you must have some kind of a plan in place at the get go. Think of it as having an itinerary and road map you create before heading out on a journey through territories unknown. Wouldn't you do a little research? Wouldn't you make some sort of financial plan and calculate exactly how much time and money you need? Wouldn't you do whatever it takes to be prepared so you have a fun, safe, trek and arrive safely at your destination?

Well?

Cash for Cannes

Cash was critical at the Cannes film festival, well it’s critical everywhere. But let's just talk about Cannes for a minute. How much do you really need for the film festival? If you had Euros life was easy you could negotiate taxi’s to t-shirts. American money was not as easily accepted and credit cards meant you were charged up to 25% more in many places. But how much cash do you really need? I made daily visits to my ATM to pull out Euros and then had the task of spending the remainder in the airport at 6am, which by the way only food carts were open. I boarded the plane with a food baby from the many pain au chocolate. I reviewed my MINT app which showed how I averaged 50 Euros per day, that's not too bad but it is tight. I found free espressos, sponsored drinks at gatherings and protein bars everywhere. Walking saves on taxi's which take too long anyway and meals can be reasonable throughout the city other than in the hotels. Cannes is doable. Don't think you need a lot of money to go to Cannes. You can be creative and go, so go! There's no other festival like it in the world.

Content - short films

I just returned from the Palm Springs Shortsfest where I had the privilege of meeting dozens of filmmakers, distributors, festival directors and press. It is a week long love affair of some of the best short films in the world. We gather in Palm Springs under the wonderful guidance and cruation of Kathleen McInnis and Daryl McDonald to experience stories from around the world. I love this festival. It's super cool for such a hot place. There is an openness and transparency that can't be found at other festivals maybe because short form filmmakers expectations are much more realistic. The conversations are honest and less pretentious. We talk about budgets and ROI. We share information. I love a strong dose of reality. It's just so refreshing.

IndieFlix CEO, Scilla Andreen & COO, Kristie Lanum at the Sundance Film Festival

COO Kristie Lanum and why we're going to win.

I love the weekdays. I look forward to going to the office and working side by side with IndieFlix COO, Kristie Lanum. She epitomizes dedication, commitment and forward thinking. We are so in synch. It's scary. It's a blessing and a privilege to work with people you trust. Kristie and I have been through a lot running IndieFlix. We've learned a ton and we are excited to experience more. Knowing I have Kristie and others like her at IndieFlix reassures me that we will make it across the goal line not just once but several times over and win this game; for us, the investors, the audience and the filmmakers. We're in it to win it. Thank you Kristie for your nurturing leadership, great attitude and unwavering, dedication. Thank you for all that you do every day. You are truly one of the best things about IndieFlix.

Cannes

The Cannes Film Festival is the most prestigious festival in the world. If you love movies you must go just once. There’s no other festival in the world like it. I actually started speaking and dressing differently. I ate more bread than ever and met incredible people from all over the world. The festival is one big water cooler moment that runs for about 10 days. Everyone is talking film, from the actors to the money to the distribution and of course the story. If you love movies you will love Cannes, just don’t stay too long. Too much of a good thing does wear on you. As much as I loved it and accomplished a lot I am happy to be heading home. Jusqu'à l'année prochaine!

Connectivity

Connectivity is a bipolar affair at the Cannes Film Festival. Everyone seems to share the same challenges. Upon arrival at Cannes it’s a struggle to find free WiFi, which is a must since those of us outside of France must turn off our roaming or pay dearly. Managing the different passwords for the almost 100 international tents, the Marche, the Riveria and our own hotels or apartments all become basically meaningless because at the end of the day even with a back up battery e.g. Mophie we all run out of power long before anticipated. The other aspect to the connectivity challenge is finding power for our phones and laptops. It’s a daily struggle. If I had 38% I felt rich. I felt like I was going to have a good day, receive texts, take pictures and make calls to my next meetings to inform them I would be late due to the red carpet closures and crowded streets or pouring rain. I had 52 meetings and was only late for a few. Everyone was late for everything. But despite it all the real connecting was not in our devices but in the people. I met incredible people and formed meaningful connections. We talked about our shared missions and challenges in this rapidly changing film industry. It was a privilege to be immersed in a sea of filmmakers and film lovers. I was grateful to be on panels. I learned from each of them. It thrills me to see the film industry stepping up and changing. A major shift is underfoot and its because we are sharing and truly connecting but is it an evolution or a revolution?

Cannes on a Carry On

Two very dear, fashion, savvy friends of mine started a company called ClosetRx and insisted I travel to the Cannes Film Festival and fit my entire wardrobe in a carry on. I informed them I had 3 panels, 4 lunches, 5 dinners. 6 parties and 52 meetings to attend over the course of 7 days. Impossible! Well, I did it. In fact I had clothes I never wore and could have stayed another week with a new outfit every day. I am amazed. Less is more. Merci!

I'm now headed out of town for two days of wedding festivities. I'm thinking I could fit everything into my purse... :-)

COURAGE

One of my favorite quotes is from Joseph Campbell:

“We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.”

— Joseph Campbell

When I started IndieFlix with my co-founder Carlo Scandiuzzi people called us crazy and thought we’d never make it. But we were deeply passionate about the existence of the IndieFlix mission and the important role it would play in the film industry. Over time, seven years to be exact, the model has changed dramatically in accordance with the ever-changing landscape and I find myself more passionate than I thought humanly possible. It’s no longer my company or my idea. it’s the culmination of several years of observing, learning, listening and fearlessly experimenting. It’s the contribution of talented filmmakers, smart, caring advisors, a team that dedicates themselves to making IndieFlix the best it can be and a courageous and committed board and investors who have stood by me, the model and the mission every step of the way. I now look forward to reading the headlines and hearing the stories of filmmakers making money and the audience finally seeing films that never got their due. Grateful is an understatement. It's our time.

Living on the Letter C

I was one of those kids that would think, if I had to choose one...would I rather be deaf or blind or would I rather lose a finger or a toe? I also make words out of other words. I can't tell you how many times I've sat on the plane and made other words out of "Emergency Exit".

I also thought if you could only live your life on one letter which would it be? I was really into "S for a while but quickly realized "C" was far superior. When I was younger a life lived on the letter C afforded me Cash, Chauffeurs, Credit, California, Champagne, Caviar, Cocktails, Chocolate, Chicken, Carats (as in diamonds) and the list went on and on. As I have matured, I now love Community, Choice, Collaboration, Clear, Conscientious. Care, Cure, Coping, Charisma, Charity, Challenge and Capable.

So, in that spirit I have decided to call my blog Living on the Letter C. I hope you will join in by challenging me to write posts starting with C words you suggest and to have fun thinking outside the box with me on so many of aspects of our lives. Thank you for reading.