synopsis of whirlygig farm

an outsider look into the myths and legend surrounding a peculiar plot of land located at the intersection of simpson road and wiggins mill road in lucama north carolina. this film is presented in varying examples of person to person myth of parties that have had interactions and experiences on or near this piece of land. these accounts are the spine and the images the body as the whirlygigs, the metal shop, the road, and the abandoned car and the abandoned house near this property are presented in experimental fashion as the audience is bombarded with spectacular images, new and old, actual and modified, of the farm and surrounding landmarks. this roadside attraction asks us are the stories true or false, if so, who or what is behind this mystery? not far from i-95, this farm, called whirlygig farm or acid park (depending on whose telling you about it) is more than meets the eye.

jm

links that didnt show

http://www.myspace.com/ruralroutefilmfestival

http://www.ruralroutefilms.com

http://www.anthologyfilmarchives.org

rural route film festival

rural route film festival report.

well once i got over the wrong name written down (i heard rule route)i began my research on this very unique festival. i have been waiting for a response from my email and may eventually hear back from them. however there is no contact info except for email. i pursued one of their many venues, the anthology film archive in nyc and spoke to jed. he was very helpful but could also not supply their phone numbers. anyway here is what i found out through crazy research. jm

this is a newer festival, started in 2003 by a couple of brash young men (Alan Webber and Mike Schmidt) who wanted to create a different kind of festival. through their own experience with festivals, they found their niche, the rural route film festival

their mission statement is simple, most festivals seem to lack any real personality and tend to dwell on the name of the city, etc. rural route was created with the intent of bringing country living to nyc (its main stage)

the main fest was listed as july 28 - 30 and also july 20-22 i did not find out what venue the 20-22 dates were listed but the 28-30 dates were at the Anthology Film Archives, 32 Second Ave, NYC, NY
these are the listed main dates but this is also a traveling festival and here are a sample of some of the latest upcoming dates:

oct 27 2007 8:00 pm fifth avenue cinema portland oregon
nov 9 2007 7:00 pm rural route tour program silver city,new mexico@realwestcinema
nov 15 2007 7:00 pm festivalde todometrajes rurales-arica, chile @ arica
nov 16 2007 8:00 pm westfest @ alpine, texas

the submission period is now closed as the fest gears up for a best of 2008 tour but their criteria was simple: rural route accepts all films and videos that can lay claim to a ...rural theme. the primary setting for the work should be rural or within an ag-based city of 200,000 people or less. works can be completed in any year, in any country, at any length



some of the types of films

docs: agricultural themed, music, profiles, international
shorts: experimental (shannon silva film), doc, and animation
features: narrative and doc
historical: music, portrait
length: 3min to 35 min (this is just a sample, there are other lengths)
global: films from ukraine, lithuania, canada, and even sweden
sexuality: some but not major focus
race: not so much
gender: both are represented well here but not a major focus

all in all a very down home feel to this festival, which is their focus. i wish i could have talked to someone, but since this is a travelling fest, i imagine that i will be able to update more later as they become available.




jm

well here we go, this is the weekend of the whirlygig festival, it should be alot of fun. we have got our equipment checked off, just waiting to get it from tony. i feel a bit sad about the whole deal. if all goes well, this is the last journey for a while to acid park. the weather should be beautiful and i believe i feel a stiff cold wind in the air. the fact that it is halloween week helps add to the mood. me and my pals hope to wrap up principal photography after this weekend. i hope to capture the ambient sound of whirlygigs with the stereo mic i reserved. there are a few establishing shots i thought of as i have been reflecting all week what it is that i am missing. we hope to use the banquet as a spring board to make all final contacts. i still wish to put an ad of some kind in the paper so i can find some older photographs of vollis' work and hopefully of the car. we will have more than enough tape to cover the legend. my big hope is to get into the town of wilson and get my vox pop that is so crucial to this story. the word of folks is critical and i look forward to hear what they have to say about vollis simpson and his infamous park.

the wind, yes the wind will blow kindly upon our supject this weekend, the weather seems to have finally turned the corner into fall. i am going to make a phone call to the simpsons before i head up to make sure that the gigs arent tied down like the las time i went. i cant imagine on such a big weekend how vollis could possibly not show them babies off. i expect a lot of traffic at the park, there should be moments for vox pop there as well. i plan on a series of 3-4 questions, that should get people excited to talk about vollis' work as well as gut level reaction and hopefully some more stories to tell. so while wilmington prepares for cucalorus, me and my merry band will be swimming into the mystery which is acid park-jm

whirlygig festivalamagig

here is an overview of the whirlygig festival coming up this weekend-jm



Date: 10/26/2007
This year’s Whirligig Festival will be the largest yet with more than 120 booths including handmade arts and crafts, food and a variety of other attractions.

Music

Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes will headline the festival. The group is most widely known for the hit, “If You Don’t Know Me By Now.” They take the stage at 3:30pm on Saturday. The Embers will pick up the headliner spot on Sunday beginning at 1:30pm.

This year’s festival features 11 bands on three different stages playing a wide variety of music. Performances include: The Wallers, performing a variety of 70s-90s favorite dance tunes; Bombadil, mixing mainstream with an indie sound; Healing Force, an African-tribal performance band, Spare Change, mixing rock, country, soul and beach; The Winstons bring jazz and dance; Sajaso plays Latin dance, Russ Varnell and His Too Country band bring bluegrass and Grand Ole Opry style country; The Ramonas, a tribute band to the Ramones; wrapping up the lineup is MoJoe, a soulful hip-hop band.

“We are so proud of the lineup the Entertainment Committee has put together,” says Judi Thurston, festival coordinator. “All three stages will have music all day. People can stroll up and down Nash Street and hear a wide variety of music.”

The music continues Sunday afternoon from 1-5 pm with community church choirs and school chorus groups. Fike, Hunt and Beddingfield High Schools’ award winning choral groups will perform on the courthouse steps, along with Sallie B. Howard and the Barton College Gospel Choir and Sign Choir. Church choirs will be on the middle stage in at various intervals to allow attendees to hear all the music. Church groups include Wilson Community Church, 1st Free Will Baptist Church Youth Choir, Jackson Chapel First Baptist Church and the Wilson Praise and Worship choir.

Food

The area’s favorite food vendors have returned. The Elks Club will hold its big BBQ cook off again this year. Competitors drive in (from several hours away in some cases) and set up camp for the night on Friday. They’ll cook all night, then make the succulent pork BBQ available for sale to the crowd. Judging begins Saturday morning for the best BBQ prize and bragging rights.

Olde Time Concessions will impress festival goers again this year with their "Cruzin’ Diner". This 50’s style diner offers sirloin burgers and milkshakes; perfect food for a NC autumn afternoon. You could also try a sample of their gator bites.

This year’s festival also includes corn on the cob, funnel cakes, hamburgers, hot dogs and loads of other choices.

Children

The Arts Council is sponsoring the Whirli-Kids area again this year – historically one of the most popular places at the festival. Free children’s activities including inflatable bounce houses, bungee jump, and arts & crafts will be available in the Barnes Street parking lot. The Arts Council is also sponsoring the Whirli-Kids Choir and concert. After weeks of practicing, the children will perform a community concert at 3 pm. The Arts Council outdoor stage will also feature local talent performance groups including Megan’s Academy of Dance, East Coast Country Hoedowners, Unique Steppers, Real Dance Studio and Sallie B. Howard’s Hip Hop and Mime groups. You’ll even see some swashbuckling pirates dueling it out for the crowd. Want a sneak peak at them? Go to http://www.shadowcombat.com/.

International

The popular Around the World in Wilson tent will be at the center of the action with a new approach to cultural awareness. Ambassadors from 20 nations will lead 30-minute interactive sessions ranging from story sharing, to sports, arts, music and even dance lessons. The newest addition to the committee’s cultural celebration is a children’s Parade of Nations. Classrooms from around the county are adopting a country, creating flags and preparing to march in a parade from the heart of the festival to the main stage leading to up to an international presentation by the committee at 12 noon. Children, teachers and classes are encouraged to sign up to participate in the Parade of Nations through the City of Wilson’s Human Relations Office at 399.2308.

Bike Ride

Festivities will begin very early for the participants in the Cyclist of Wilson’s annual bike ride. The bike ride begins at 8 am on the library lawn and will weave through city streets and county roads. Participants can select from a 10 mile ride or the longest stretch – 60 mile ride.
“With all this activity going on, the community can see we need many volunteers,” says Thurston. Any citizen that would like to get involved with the festival or volunteer to help on Saturday or Sunday can contact the Volunteer Action Center at 237-7411. More information about the festival can be found on the festival website at: www.wilsonnc.org/whirligig.