Brian Harris
Independent Filmmaker's Coalition

Steve Balderson's WAMEGO STRIKES BACK - the sequel to his controversial documentary WAMEGO: MAKING MOVIES ANYWHERE. Both films reveal the seldom considered tribulations of making an independent feature film, but WAMEGO STRIKES BACK, in my opinion, is about five times more revealing and educational than the first. Steve is a phenomenal artist who's film FIRECRACKER won awards all around the world, and even prompted renowned film critic Roger Ebert to write a feature article about it, giving the film 3 1/2 stars out of four. Ebert then proceeded to place FIRECRACKER among the best films of the year. One would think such a thing would have the director 'made in the shade.' No. Without giving anything away, I've seen the screener, and this is a must-see for any filmmaker who is of the mind to make a budget prosposal for 'investors' and plans to submit to 'film festivals' and then get 'distribution.' Steve does not dissuade anyone from shooting for any of those things, he's simply saying, ok go for it, but before you do, this is how it was for me. To put his experience in metaphorical terms, making his film, screening it, marketing it and sealing a distribution contract was like watching an awesome athlete win a marathon, and then watching a pack of Dobermans attack them at the finish line. It's not the happiest, but it might be one of the most informative films about do-it-yourself filmmaking you'll ever see.

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