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	Slamdance reception in Los Angeles photo by Jeff Perrin click for larger view

The DGA hosted receptions for the 2002 Slamdance Film Festival directors in both New York and Los Angeles.

In L.A., DGA directors and Slamdance alumni Anthony Russo and Christopher Nolan, and DGA Independent Directors Committee (IDC) member Penelope Spheeris, along with Slamdance Executive Director Peter Baxter, offered some practical advice for the upcoming event for the many first-time directors.

Russo suggested that participants keep themselves open to anything while at the Festival. Spheeris stressed the importance of DGA membership to independent filmmakers, even early in their careers. "It is immaculate protection," she told the group. "The stickier the fingers of your producers and distributors, the more it makes sense to join," added DGA Assistant Executive Director Elizabeth Stanley.

Nolan, whose film, Following, premiered at Slamdance in 1999, and who is currently wrapping the Robin Williams/Al Pacino thriller, Insomnia, and is nominated for the DGA Award for Theatrical Direction for last year's Memento, suggested tempering one's expectations of the outcome of participating at a festival. "With Following's presentation, it wasn't like we turned up there, and suddenly all our dreams came true." While film-festival planners often tell first-timers, '"It's not about distribution, it's not about the business,' that's nice to hear, but it's not true," he said. "But hard work does pay off — even though it may take a long time. We did get distribution," Nolan noted, adding that "just last week we released the video, finally."

	Slamdance reception in New York photo by Elisa Haber click for larger view

Filmmakers should take every possible step to get an audience for their films. "We had a wonderful time, just going up and down Main Street, handing out leaflets," recounted Nolan, "and we got a terrific audience. People there are just desperate to see something new and different."

In New York, DGA directors Marc Levin (Slam) and Leslie Harris (Just Another Girl on the I.R.T.) shared experiences and advice with a number of filmmakers, among them Rick Derby (Rocks With Wings), Larry Fessenden (Wendigo), Josh Koury (Standing by Yourself), Rae McGrath (Lefty-Righty) and Lucia Small (My Father the Genius).