January of 2004

March On To The 3rd Show!

First off, Happy New Year. We hope everyone spent it well. As with any new year, companies like to announce several of their potential plans, actions, and moves for the future. Associated Films is no different and has announced more definite plans for the long anticipated presentation of the 3rd Annual Associated Films Show.
The Third Show has been a problem that some experts speculate to be signs of a downward slump in the budding company. Unfortunately, Associated Films has had some difficulty wrangling necessary footage for it's project, Questioning The Answers: A Story Of Seth In Jeopardy!, and is finding even more difficulty in the post-production rigors. S Dylan Kirkland, the director and executive producer, had to turn over some directing responsibility to associate director and long-time friend, James Soeffner, in order aleave the load and to expedite the wrap.
It was this move, made with some reluctance in Kirkland's part, that has been able to get the project, a major chunk of the 3rd Show, out of the tar and back on the road. Soeffner's vigor took the challenge head on and principle photography was completed before ringing in the New Year. Now the office has to face a huge editing feat in order to line up the hours of footage shot. Over Soeffner's shoulder will be Kirkland, supervising closely the formation his dream on the screen.
With the forward movement of QIA, other films left on the editing table are following closely in its wake in hopes of being able to make a proposed (and adamantly stressed) mid-March deadline. Les Marriage Du Tony is rearing its head once again and, with director Ben Johnson following through its final stages of production, should be released with the 3rd Show event.
If that isn't exciting enough, two (possibly three) of Associated Films entries to a 24-Hour Scavenger Film festival will be premiered in the Show. Finally, the sleeping giant is stirring... again. Associated Fans will have something to look forward to this March, aside from green beer and corned beef.
-AJA January 23rd, 2004

Anthony! Returns From Overseas!

Successful actor and director hopeful, Anthony! Ardisone recetly returned from an around-the-world romp that nearly cost him his life.
"I romped pretty hard," states Ardisone in a press release last Tuesday. "I was sitting on the beach in the Philippines, staring out in to the sea, and decided 'I'm romped out.'"
Ardisone began a four month overseas tour which started out as a business trip on behalf of Associated Films, but turned quickly in to a 7-Seas Romp-a-thon.
"I did get most of my business done. But, once the romping started, it was hard to stop."
Company funds alotted to him were quickly drained. After a long, three month tour in Europe, he returned to the States to get a refresh of cash and then immediately set out to start a short romp of Asia.
"I wanted to hit Asia. I wanted to romp there," Ardisone told reporters. "I started in the Philippines, but it had to end there."
It ended there because the trip nearly cost him his life. Severely romped out, Ardisone embarked on a dangerous kayaking trip. The excursion quickly turned sour as his kayak had not been properly fitted with the proper anti-leak equipment and began to sink out at sea, far from port.
"I started to realize that my kayak was really riding low to the ground. I was so romped, I didn't realize it until we were along a secluded part of this island staring in to a small bat cave. I turned to my friends and yelled, 'God damn, I'm sinking!' I immediately capsized in to the drink. With the sea and the bats... I didn't think I was going to make it."
But Ardisone was travelling in good company. His long time friend, and now current girlfriend, Siobhan Escario, had also embarked on this forsaken journey.
Escario spoke to friends about the event at a bar in the Philippines: "His kayak was properly sunk. He kept trying to get back on but would roll back in to the water. So I told him to get out of the kayak and trade with mine, since I'm lighter."
With Escario in the water-filled kayak, they paddled to make way for port which was about 30 minutes away. But, all hopes of a quick return were shatted when Escario could not navigate the vessel due to its low draft. The kayak capsized and Escario went in to the shallow water, fearful of a bat attack or injuries resulting from corals.
"I was so scared for her," Ardisone says with difficulty. "I kept telling her to swim and not to touch the bottom because I don't know what's down there. I wanted to leave the kayak. I wanted to leave that hellish place!"
Pulling the kayak along, Escario managed to swim a short distance to a small, deserted sand beach to figure out what to do. Ardisone kayaked along-side her to ensure her safety and to ward off any shallow swimming sharks.
"Once we were on dry land, I felt more solid about things. You have to remember, I was pretty romped out." The kayak had not been properly corked. The drainage hole had been taking on water since the onset of the trip. Using inginuity and some brute strength, the two tipped the near-full kayak on one end and drained it for about thirty minutes. Escario, familiar with the island method of jerry-rigging, found coconut fiber and stuffed it in to the drainage hole. The kayak was again seaworthy and the two set out to return home.
"I laugh when I look back at the situation now," laughs Ardisone. "I mean, it's easy to laugh at death once you've cheated him."
Siobhan Escario reflects on the adventure often, but comments to those that inquire, "it really wasn't a big deal. It was more of a pain in the ass than anything." But Ardisone would tell it differently. Something happened to him on those waters near that bat cave, and it's influence is obvious.
"We were there alone, the rest of our party ditched us. There were bats there, the waves kept pushing me towards them, the floor under the water was difficult to make out, hiding unknown sorts of creatures and dangerously sharp corals. And there was that bat cave, like the mouth of hell ready to gulp me whole. Suddenly, my guardian angel came from the side. It was Siobhan and she was there to help (and laugh at me). She took control of the situation and made me safe. I can't imagine being with anyone else if I can be with my guardian angel!"
-AJA January 23rd, 2004

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