Putty Hill / The Little Picture That Could

by Matt Porterfield on February 25, 2011 in Audience Building

After a successful opening weekend in New York, I’m happy to say that PUTTY HILL will stay another week at Cinema Village through the end of February and into March. If you haven’t had a chance to see it, please come out and support this little-picture-that-could as it begins its rollout nationwide.

For the theatrical premiere of PUTTY HILL last week, we decided to try something a little different. Each weekend night, Cinema Village hosted three post-screening discussions with the filmmakers and some very special guests, friends of the film from inside and outside the industry. The idea was to join new audiences in conversation with audiences we’ve found along the way. Our hope, to cultivate the dialogue that’s taking place around the film and carry it into the theatre.

The guests that presented the film were Yancey Strickler (Kickstarter), Jonathan Couette (TARNATION), Yance Ford (POV), Esther Robinson (ArtHome, DANNY WILLIAMS: A WALK IN THE SEA), Ross Kauffman (BORN INTO BROTHELS), Jeronimo Rodriguez (NY1 News), Richard Brody (The New Yorker), Amos Poe, Amy Dotson (IFP), Chris Keating (Yeasayer), and filmmaker Jem Cohen.

In addition to these discussions, we installed a temporary show in the back room of Café Select (which is still up — if you care to check it out, it’s through the kitchen) featuring behind-the-scenes photo and video from the film. The reception opening night was packed, but we all squeezed in and danced to the sounds of Co La and blackmoth till it was time to go home.

The weekend ended with a great party at Lit Lounge, featuring four bands and some of the best musicians out of Baltimore: Roomrunner, Matt Papich, Dustin Wong, Spank Rock, and Dope Body. It felt right to end the weekend with friends, old and new. I’m so proud of what’s happening in Baltimore right now. Importing some of that talent to rep the city and our film was an honor and a privilege.

On March 4th, PUTTY HILL opens in Washington, DC and Baltimore simultaneously. After, I’m off to the Wexner Center in Ohio, for screenings on March 11th and 12th. Our schedule through April will be announced on our website mid-March.

Keep your eyes open. And tell your friends!