Off to Paris to shoot!
I want more footage as I move forward with the film.
It has been a difficult time.
But I am moving forward and will complete the Debussy and Tokyo films.
I never met my father.
Easter Day 2008 a woman contacted me about him, and I decided to try to find him. We spoke for the first time the day I learned the friend in this video was killed in a car accident. Tony Hilfer
After this I had a few phone calls and some letters and gifts from my father. July 2008 I drove to the remote area in the Catskills to meet him, but I could not find him.
We were never in the same room, face to face. We never touched or saw each other’s expression.
I had not heard from him in about 3 months and we had not spoken in about 6.
I never learned much about him and had many questions.
I still do. I learned yesterday he died sometime in the last 2 weeks.
1/12/10
He lived in a very remote area, in a 12 by 5 foot trailer with no electricity, a battery powered radio, and a propane heater. He was last seen Dec 22, and had probably been dead since around Christmas. I am waiting for the coroner’s report, a few of my father’s things, and his ashes.
I am used to the idea, though sad, and full of questions. He obviously chose to be alone. He was free, and lived out the consequences of his actions.
1/20/10 a box with some of his belongings arrived. The smell was horrible.
I have salvaged a few documents and a xylophone. It is strange to see the remnants of a life.
1/25/10 His ashes and a letter from Veterans Affairs offering burial stones and services arrived today. I am relieved to have them and hope to spread some of them in Kamakura. He was stationed for a time in Yokohama.
2/1///10 The coroner put the wrong date of death so I will not be able to collect any of the insurance he took out for me.
Posted in Uncategorized at 9:34 pm by anthonytobin
Michael Cooper has invited me to screen “The World Will Change in His Sound” about Claude Debussy for his class at Southwestern University in Georgetown.
Posted in Uncategorized at 9:29 pm by anthonytobin
New title for the film.
New clip up:
I am in negotiations for an introduction at the beginning of the film.
I am excited and hope it works out!
I also hope it will be chosen for the Austin Film Societies’ Doc’s In Progress program.
Posted in Uncategorized at 9:49 am by anthonytobin
The film is now 42 minutes and counting. My goal is around 50 minutes so it can be shown on TV and film festivals.
This is the first 11 minutes of the film as it was on 8.15.2009. I hope to have about 45 minutes in this shape before I go to San Diego on the 26th, the day after my birthday.
I launched a new website devoted to this film and future Claude Debussy film endeavors: www.debussyfilm.com
I would like to show the film to test audiences by the second week of September. Let me know!
Posted in Uncategorized at 6:10 pm by anthonytobin
I have about 30 minutes of the documentary on Claude Debussy on the timeline and am working on a length of about 52 minutes.
I will want sample audiences by the end of August.
No one reads this blog so I will stop posting updates.
All the best and let me know if you want more posts.
Posted in Uncategorized at 4:23 pm by anthonytobin
Imke has put together a great page for our project and my tour in November: Mimages
Also, Kiyoshi Tamagawa of Southwestern University contacted me about a very interesting project dealing with several of Debussy’s work in late January and early February 2010: Bilitis, Revisited
I will play with him in Debussy’s 6 four-hand work “Epigraphes antiques”.
In the meantime I am choosing parts of the interviews I will include in the Debussy film. It is a bit overwhelming but moving forward.
