Another Sundance, Another Earth

Sundance is kicking off and there is a definite excitement in the air compared to previous years. After going through the lineup, we're extremely curious about Another Earth, directed by Mike Cahill. From the program book:

Rhoda Williams, a bright young woman recently accepted into MIT's astrophysics program, aspires to explore the cosmos. John Burroughs, a brilliant composer, has just reached the pinnacle of his profession, and is about to have a second child with his loving wife. On the eve of the discovery of a duplicate Earth, tragedy strikes, and the lives of these strangers become irrevocably intertwined. Estranged from the world and the selves they once knew, the two outsiders begin an unlikely love affair, which reawakens them to life. But when one of them is presented with the opportunity to travel to the other Earth and embrace an alternative reality, which new life will they choose?

On a shoestring budget, Cahill shot and directed the film himself with a Sony EX-3 in his hometown. Locations included his mother's house and the high school he attended. Co-writer and actress Brit Marling is in the majority of scenes by herself. Watch this interview with the director below for his musings on thoughtful sci-fi and how they began shooting the film.

Producer An Tran will be attending the festival and no doubt checking out Another Earth. Come back for a full report.

Art of the Van

Photo courtesy of Ken Berger

There's something soulful about old conversion vans and what they say about their owners. At the same time utilitarian and expressive, these vehicles can be characters themselves like in TWM.

We recently discovered this fantastic Flickr pool titled "We're an American Van" by Los Angeles photographer Orrin Anderson. Take a look at the funky colors and solid shapes. All we know is it makes us want to buy a van.

Local blog The Eastsider recently interviewed Anderson about this fascination and the appeal of vans.