The 19th Annual Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival

In 1992 the collaboration between the film alliance and volunteers of Hot Springs formed what is now the 19th Annual Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival. Hosted in the historic Malco theatre in downtown Hot Springs, the film festival shows independent films directed and produced by people all over the world. I sat down with the director of the festival, Dan Anderson and got to know quite about the festival and films going to be shown there.

AR: What is your favorite part about working with the film festival?
DA: Getting a chance to work with all the films. Theres close to 1000 films. Most of the films are independent, so most of the time its a once in a lifetime viewing.

AR: How are the films for the festival selected?
DA: We have a screening committee of 25 members. The members are of all ages, mostly volunteers. We have several meetings and usually narrow the films from 1000 films to 110 films.

AR: Are there going to be any celebrity appearances at the festival this year?
DA: Wes Studi,(dances with wolves.)
        Mathew Lesko, (infomercial guy, wears colorful question mark suit)

AR: Any filmakers?
DA: The filmaker of Disfarmer, who is from canada. Japanese filmaker (A normal life, please) Two filmakers from New Zealand (Once was an Island and Free China Junk)

AR: Any suggestions for filmakers trying to get films into the festival?
DA: Finding a good documentary subject, putting in the time and making the subject just as if not more interesting as it is in person.

2010 HSDFF Films ( A few)

Beard Club - Visiting barbershops, religious sanctuaries, and even mens bathrooms, one woman journeys the globe examining the beard and its ties to tradition, status, gender, and power. Along the way she learns that the facial hair has many meanings, it is more a decoration, it is a window into an individual's identity.

Bouncing Cats - An inspiring story of one man's attempt to create a better life for the children of uganda using the unlikely tool of hip hop culture with the focus on break-dance.

Disfarmer - Discovers the once known portrait photographer, Mike "Disfarmer" Meyers, his influence on the modern Manhattan art world, and the legacy he left behind in his hometown of Heber Springs, Arkansas.

Dogpatch USA - chronicles the history of "Dogpatch USA" a rural theme park inspired by Al C app's comic strip, "lil abner' the park operated from 1968 until 1993 in the hills just outside Harrison, Arkansas.

Haack: The King of Techno - A look into the underground world of Bruce Haack, a genius whose pas work continues to garner recognition with time. Haack's homemade experimental electronics influenced artists such as Beck, The Eels, Mouse one Mars, and others.

Invisible Girlfriend -A man named charles rides a big red bicycle through rural Louisiana to find his invisible girlfriend, Joan od Arc.

The 2010 HSDFF will be held October 15-24th. the films showing roughly from 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.
If you are interested in volunteering at the HSDFF they do accept high school students. Just go to the Documentary film Office or Call the office at (501) 321-4747.

The Hustle and Bustle of Homecoming

The morning of October 1^st, Homecoming, students finished the final preparations on their club floats. For myself, I began at 9:45 and stayed outside all day working with my fellow LH Productions staff on our ‘Wizard of Oz’ float. Arriving, I was nervous that there wouldn’t be enough time to finish our yellow brick world and Emerald City, but throughout the day the staff worked hard, some skipping lunch, to make this a Homecoming to remember.

. Halfway through 5^th period, students began to dress in there Disney-themed costumes while on the other side of town, Homecoming maids were putting on the finishing touches to their look.

Around one thirty, students in the surrounding schools were lining up outside and high school students were hopping on their floats, getting ready to descend down

Wolf Street

  Starting at the Primary School, kindergarteners and first graders faces’ lit up as they saw all of their favorite movies portrayed larger than life on floats in front of them. Whether it be Disney classics such as Toy Story, Pocahontas, or The Jungle Book, or the action-packed epics such as Zoro, Harry Potter, or 300 the little wolves could not believe their eyes. One of the floats that took a trip to the Emerald City was, the LH Productions float. Clad with Katelynn Churches as the good witch, blowing bubbles dressed in her princess-like dress, and Kacey Westerman’s adorable Chihuahua as Toto. Myself, dressed as the Cowardly Lion, and Katelynn blew bubbles to add to the effect.

Later that night, the Homecoming court, linked by the arm to their fathers, stepfathers, or grandfathers were escorted to the middle of the field where the Queen would be announced. Karah Poole, one of the senior class maids, was named Homecoming Queen of the 2010 Football Season.

At 7:00, the LH Wolves began their fight against the Benton Panthers. During the first half of the game, Wolves upheld the scoreboard with the Panthers lagging far behind. When halftime began, Benton’s band performed music from Sweeney Todd right before “The Power Band of Arkansas” performed their perfected Star Trek theme routine. After the Steppin’ Wolves stepped, the Wolves continued their victory, and in the end, beat the Panthers a rough 48-14.

Throughout the entire Homecoming Day, students of LHHS prepped and practiced to make Homecoming of 2010 a day that would never be forgotten and seeing the primary and elementary students faces light up at every float and maid, the students of LHHS did just that.

-Kortnie W.