Last night’s screening in Birmingham went very well. A good turnout, laughs in all the right places, and a few people asked me for my autograph – normally only my mum’s friends do that. The cause was undoubtedly helped by the Midlands Today report, which ultimately went out yesterday, on the breakfast and lunchtime bulletins as well as the evening programme. The Birmingham Post ran a big article and a review – the worst one so far, but it still gave the film three stars.

A friend of AJ’s gave a copy of Soul Searcher to Jonathan Ross the other day. The Sharply-Suited One had already heard of the film.

By the way, Herefordians – don’t try to buy Impact from that newsagent on Commerical Road; they don’t stock it any more.

Over the last couple of weeks I’ve been shooting the cast and crew interviews for the Going To Hell documentary. Tonight I did Chris Hatherall’s. When we’d fiinished I turned my mobile back on and discovered that Aimee had called me from New York. I knew immediately it had to be good news because we normally only communicate by e-mail. Unlike Richard Herring, my expectations were not confounded. Aimee was calling to tell me that a lady in Acqusitions at a major Hollywood Studio (I’m not saying which one for now) totally loved Soul Searcher. Apparently she spent half an hour telling Aimee how much she loved the script, the acting, the cinematography – everything. She read the press kit twice, cover to cover. She wanted to know all about me, who represents me, where I’m based, what I’d done before. (I’m sending her a copy of The Beacon…. not really, of course.) The upshot is, she’s going to pass the film on up the chain to the Acquisitions Manager.

On a slightly less fantastic level, Soul Searcher‘s going to be on BBC Midlands Today on Thursday night.

I just found out that the Malvern Gazette reviewed Soul Searcher last week. Again very positive, describing the film as “a remarkable achievement” with a “well observed script”. By the way, the Press section now contains a page listing all the articles and reviews of the film.

Saturday’s Hereford screenings were very poorly publicised and equally poorly attended. Two local radio stations called me up today – thanks to Neon, the PR agency for the Ideas Factory Creative Class, jogging them along – so perhaps more people will go tonight.

In the last week, sales agents that I was dealing with prior to Cannes have started to contact me to discuss offers, which gives you an idea of how slowly this part of the process moves.

I just saw a preview of next month’s three-page Impact article on Soul Searcher – Chris Jone’s interview with myself and Ray. It’s out on the 23rd. Some people said they had trouble finding it last time. If you’re in London you can get it from the Cinema Store on Upper St. Martin’s Lane. If you’re in Hereford, try the newsagent on Commercial Road halfway between the Model Centre and the BP garage

You can read more interviews with me on Wideshot, part of the Shooting People website, and in July’s Disorder magazine, which presumably comes out towards the end of this month.

I just found out Soul Searcher‘s out on pirate DVD in Hong Kong. I feel like I’ve been mugged.

First off, the screening in Birmingham is at 9pm, not 8:30 as previously stated. Secondly, there is a Back To The Future reference in this entry, since I notice they have been sadly lacking of late.

Neon, the PR agency working for the Ideas Factory Creative Class, has offered to do a lot of press for the screening, since they’re based in Birmingham and they have contacts there. They’re going to try to get Midlands Today to cover it and encourage some reviewers to attend.

Today I had a meeting with Daud (he of the Kodak Pavillion) in Soho. We discussed DV-to-film transfers, DVD release strategies and the problem of piracy. Daud seemed to think piracy was a real issue for unheard-of films just as it is for blockbusters. He said the problem with me having these screenings in Hereford and Birmingham is that a distributor could say, “How do you know that no-one snuck a camcorder in and pirated it? I’m not buying your film because you screened it, thus running the risk of piracy which reduces my potential earnings from distribution.” Hmm, wish I’d thought of that earlier. I can’t honestly believe anyone is going to pirate a film no-one’s ever heard of, but if anyone does then rest assured I will HUNT YOU DOWN AND SHOOT YOU LIKE A DUCK. (It’s “dog”, Buford.)

Oh, and rather impolitely I decided not to call the New York Festival back. I’m sure it’s a great event, but if I screen it there that’s my North American premiere gone, meaning I’m inelligible for Sundance, Telluride, Toronto and so on.

I had an idea for a movie called The Black Donald. It’s basically Ghostbusters in Scotland. Who ya gonna call, laddy?