project updates and spam

Being a Minnesota based company...you may be thinking the Spam I refer to is that delicious spiced ham treat...but no I'm talking the kind all computer users hate. As we launched the blog we were suddenly blocked as potential spam. Apparently adding a link from a website trips a wire for them to put a human eyeball on the situation. Good to know the folks at blog spot are on it. After passing the "not spam" test, we're up and running. Really this time.

Project update: I spent all day Saturday at the Minnesota Historical Society reading through the Aitkin Independent Age, newspaper for Aitkin Minnesota and the surrounding areas. Relatively small town, where 4 brothers of the Lemke family grew up and went away to war from. It was amazing to see how much of the world you could get a sense of just from the reports from families of their sons & daughters overseas. I'm hoping to spend more time there tomorrow if schedules allow. I'm working my way backwards from 1946 and have so far read through 3 months of 1946 and 10 months of 1945. Lots more to see! I will also be planning the trip to Nebraska near the end of July to put Albert on tape regarding his memories.

All other projects have been on hold the past few weeks. More soon.

Recent Theatrical jaunt-Daywatch, sequel to Nightwatch (the highest grossing Russian film to date). Quite good, more money for the production means more special effects but they didn't lose the characters or story in the blowing up of things. Bravo!

Recent Netflix viewings-Band of Brothers: Fantastic, not sure what took me so long to get to it. Breaking and Entering: Quite good. Anthony Minghella film so shot beautifully, multi layered and smart. I love that he trusts an audience to have a brain. Smoking Aces. Clearly I wasn't the demographic they were looking for, alas. Good cast, nice camera work...but not for me.

Welcome to the blog-come on in

Hey folks!

I will be doing my best to update at least once a week.

Projects and other updates:

-Ben's added that wonderful Lukewarm touch to the blog as well as the website. As always a pleasure to work with!

-web traffic...sorry about the glitch early on. We were a bit surprised by the number of you visiting and viewing the clips! We've switched servers so hopefully no more "not availables"!

-We're adding a mini documentary (may only be posted on this website) this summer/fall that is coming out of a lot of research I've done for my Father recently around his ancestry. I'm busy chasing down newspaper articles and reconnecting with distant family to track down photos and memories. My Father and I are travelling to Nebraska in July to put 83 year old Albert on camera. If his character filled letters are any indication, this will not be your average "war stories" project!

-The Dakota project is moving a little slower which is what it needs to do right now. We're still fundraising and researching. It will happen when the time is right. This is going to be a large and complex documentary which I want done right even if it takes 30 years to do that. Okay maybe not 30 years but I am not going to rush it! We're currently spending a lot of time at the historical society...which is a place of wonder to history geeks like me!

-Colin Devlin epk, hoping for an update for you soon.

RANDOM UNRELATED THOUGHTS...this week movies:

-latest movie seen in a theater? "Once" which I quite enjoyed. A simple story that works! I highly recommend it.

-favorite movie from last year coming out in July on dvd..."Sweet Land". Don't just rent it...you should own it...support truely independent cinema and show the studios story does matter!

-current Netflix stack..."Band of Brothers" which I've seen bits and pieces of via HBO and A&E and now just need to sit down and give it my full attention!

Have a great week everyone!
Sherece