Back in 2000, I was part of a really special project with some friends and people I worked with at the time. In June of 1999, I came to Chicago from Colorado to work for a internet start-up company that was supposed to do for customized apparel what Amazon.com did for ordering books, CDs & DVDs online. Starbelly.com was the company, and it led me to meet Simeon Schnapper, the Chief Technology Officer of the 'Belly, and Brett Singer, an independent web designer who worked for the company for a few months on a temporary contract.
Both gentlemen had various experiences in the local arts with film and stage work. In working with Simeon and Brett, I was offered a chance to be involved in a film project in 2000. The purpose of their film was to do a sort of mockumentary of the internet boom that we were all a part of at the time. There was no script, but rather an outline that mapped out the timeline of a fictional company led by people who decided to take a shot at riches in the WWW-dot boom that dictated the economy at the beginning of the decade. The actors who got involved in the film were asked to draw from every bit of improvisational experience they had to illustrate the absudities of companies that made millions and spent millions on nonexistent products. In other words, this movie was going to the Spinal Tap of internet company documentaries.
The end result was DOT. I worked on this fictional documentary as a production coordinator and head of continuity. I also handled some casting for the film. Upon completion, in early 2001, Sim & Brett's production company, Sneaky Kings, spent the better part of that year and the next shopping around for a deal. The movie was in the can and ready to go. One obtacle may have been that another film around the same time, Startup.com, captured a lot of attention. The difference between our film and theirs was that ours was unabashedly fake and comedic while still keeping it real. Startup.com was a straight up documentary (and yawn-inducing from what I've seen and heard). That movie may very well have stolen some of our thunder.
A big break deak never materialized, but they did get a DVD distribution deal, and Showtime started airing DOT last November. I can't tell you how cool it was to see something I did on cable TV (and my name in the credits).
Anyway, here in Chicago, DOT is getting a re-release for a week or two in a theater starting Friday, the Biograph. To celebrate the kickoff, they're having a party at the Pontiac Cafe Friday night, probably around 10:00. The Pontiac is walking distance from my place, so that's cool (I dig the Pontiac too). If any SG locals want to posse up, you know where to find me.
By the way, Starbelly.com lasted for only two years. Coulda, woulda shoulda...
Both gentlemen had various experiences in the local arts with film and stage work. In working with Simeon and Brett, I was offered a chance to be involved in a film project in 2000. The purpose of their film was to do a sort of mockumentary of the internet boom that we were all a part of at the time. There was no script, but rather an outline that mapped out the timeline of a fictional company led by people who decided to take a shot at riches in the WWW-dot boom that dictated the economy at the beginning of the decade. The actors who got involved in the film were asked to draw from every bit of improvisational experience they had to illustrate the absudities of companies that made millions and spent millions on nonexistent products. In other words, this movie was going to the Spinal Tap of internet company documentaries.
The end result was DOT. I worked on this fictional documentary as a production coordinator and head of continuity. I also handled some casting for the film. Upon completion, in early 2001, Sim & Brett's production company, Sneaky Kings, spent the better part of that year and the next shopping around for a deal. The movie was in the can and ready to go. One obtacle may have been that another film around the same time, Startup.com, captured a lot of attention. The difference between our film and theirs was that ours was unabashedly fake and comedic while still keeping it real. Startup.com was a straight up documentary (and yawn-inducing from what I've seen and heard). That movie may very well have stolen some of our thunder.
A big break deak never materialized, but they did get a DVD distribution deal, and Showtime started airing DOT last November. I can't tell you how cool it was to see something I did on cable TV (and my name in the credits).
Anyway, here in Chicago, DOT is getting a re-release for a week or two in a theater starting Friday, the Biograph. To celebrate the kickoff, they're having a party at the Pontiac Cafe Friday night, probably around 10:00. The Pontiac is walking distance from my place, so that's cool (I dig the Pontiac too). If any SG locals want to posse up, you know where to find me.
By the way, Starbelly.com lasted for only two years. Coulda, woulda shoulda...
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whats worse is that its still around. theres so much money being lost there its horrible.
although that environment led to a quite good underground scene. being in a band there was awesome as to be honest there were only maybe 20 bands that actually played shows and were serious.
and in San Francisco, a bigger cess pit for dot coms, theres a really fucking brilliant indie and also amazing folk scene there. My friend Joanna Newsom (yeah im name dropping
'pologies for the ramble i'm wicked tired.
reprazent Chi-Town by putting Roby on your friends list!