HEMET FILM FESTIVAL 2024
Mark your calenders for November 8-10, 2024. The Hemet Film Festival will return to the Historic Hemet Theater! The festivities have now expanded to 2.5 days. Gabe and I made this video inviting local students to submit work for the Student Showcase on November 9th. AND Students get in for FREE!
THE BIG BOOK - PORTRAIT SESSION
The very talented Nathan San Filippo (of DeNoche Films) came to my house and took portraits of me inspired by our newest short, THE BIG BOOK. We met at the Hemet Film Festival and his film STRAIGHT TO THE MOON! screened during the MADE IN HEMET block. All pictures shot on film, he used a light meter and everything.
NIAMH REGAN - MADONNA
Happy to have re-arranged my entire living room to create this video experiment for Niamh Regan’s new single “MADONNA.” Her 2nd album, COME AS YOU ARE, will be released in May 2024. Here’s the final video and a little diagram of how I did it.
EYEBALL SOUP
Hippie Cream’s 19th Studio Album (and my 6th as Producer) has finally been unleashed to the world. The initial tracks were recorded in Dagget, CA back in October of 2021. This town is famous because it’s the home of the very first Del Taco. You can hear our epic tribute to this inane fact HERE. Album is now streaming everywhere.
EARTHBOUND, USA AVAILABLE NOW
You can now rent or own Earthbound USA! Available through the Fangamer Store.
THE INAUGURAL HEMET FILM FESTIVAL!
Was it all a dream? No. It ACTUALLY happen! There are photos to prove it! The Inaugural Hemet Film Festival went off WITHOUT A HITCH at the Historic Hemet Theater on November 10th and 11th, 2023. We had over 150 people come out for the festivities: many of them filmmakers with movies being show at the festival, many of them curious members of the local community. We showed 49 short films in 6 different blocks (Documentary, Narrative, Animation/Experimental, So Cal Filmmakers, Student Showcase, and Made in Hemet). It was an overwhelmingly positive and uplifting event. There are so many talented and interesting filmmakers in the area. We can’t wait for next year.
EARTHBOUND, USA PREMIERE(S)
The long-awaited feature length documentary, Earthbound USA, premiered at the Loft Film Festival in Tucson on October 16th, 2923. The film received a warm reception from the audience, followed by a 30 minute Q&A with the team. The following week, the kickstarter backers were given an exclusive online premiere. The broadcast was produced at the Fangamer Headquarters in Tucson. What an insanely talented group of people, the film was a true labor of love.
HEMET FILM FESTIVAL PODCAST
The Hemet Film Festival is just around the corner! The inaugural event will be held on November 10th and 11th at the Historic Hemet Theatre. Gabe Diaz (my oldest friend and one of the co-founders of the festival) had the awesome idea of starting a podcast so we can talk to filmmakers in the area. With each guest, we’ll be hosting one of their short films on the website for a limited time. Gabe wanted to interview each of the founders as we gear up for the festival. In this episode, I talk about my early days making movies in Hemet and how I met the band Hippie Cream.
TEASER TRAILER FOR EARTHBOUND USA
Here comes EarthBound USA! An incredibly epic documentary about the cult following behind the cult classic Nintendo game. I spent pretty much all of 2022 living in Tucson working with Jazzy Benson and the insanely talented team at Fangamer. The wait is almost over and couldn’t be more proud of the result. AND I FINALLY PLAYED EARTHBOUND THIS YEAR! What a beautiful game, I finally get why people are so obsessed with it! Learn more about the film HERE.
HEMET’S OLDEST BAND AT HEMET’S OLDEST THEATER
Hippie Cream FINALLY got to play at the Historic Hemet Theater, our hometown 100 year old movie palace and performance venue. To celebrate the local premiere of our documentary Radical Parade: The Story of Hippie Cream, the band performed for the first time in 3 years. We played a career spanning set including Cuddles the Vampire, Mystery Bus, and Cannibal Stewardess 2. We even had guest appearances from some of the Hippie Kids! Watch the full set below ↓
SPLIFF FILM FESTIVAL
The Great American Short Story is a short film collaboration I did with Michael Haight (a fellow Hemet-Born Artist living in LA). Shot in Idyllwild, the film was made for the SPLIFF film festival in Seattle (from the fine folks who run the HUMP! Film Fest). We attended the premiere in Seattle and the film is currently in consideration for other film festivals. Do you have what it takes to write the Great American Short Story? Yes!
HIPPIE CREAM MEETS GOOBY!
For Hippie Cream’s 18th Studio Album, the band decided to explore the cult-classic family film, GOOBY. It started out as an old-school lo-fi concept album, but ended up being our most epic production yet. We started in November of 2020 and finished in December of 2021. Each band member was recorded individually at their homes during various stages of quarantine. Wesley and Niamh self-recorded their parts in Ireland. Other contributors include Judy Kang (Cello) and Robbie Benson (Keys.)
What’s even MORE cool is that an 8th grader named Caleb made a GOOBY video project for his multimedia class. He cut together footage from the movie with select tracks from the album, Still the Goob. It makes a really nice sampler of both projects. I’ve convinced you don’t need to listen to the album OR watch the movie, just check out what Caleb did. It’s really impressive for an 8th grader!
HISTORIC HEMET THEATER CELEBRATES 100 YEARS!
In honor of the Historic Hemet Theater’s 100th birthday, two of our films screened on November 13th 2021. Remembering When: The Story of Mr. Whittier’s Hemet is about the founding of the city (based on the original play by Michael Tennant) and Kesi was filmed in Hemet during the winter of 2019. Two films about Hemet, 100 years apart. Following the screening was a Q&A with cast/crew from both projects (a few actors are in both movies!) Special thanks to Beaker for the photos.
BAD BEAR IN BIG BEAR
Kesi had its in-person premiere at the Big Bear Film Summit in June of 2021. The film received an Honorable Mention award and played to a packed crowd at the Big Bear Performing Arts Center. Thanks to friends, family, cast, and crew for coming to the festival. Bad Bear made a friend.
“Kesi” premiered in the Comedy Shorts Block with fellow puppet-driven short “Dr. Penelope” which ALSO featured a dead Mother character. What are the odds?
KNOCKING ON HEMET’S DOOR
The Hippie Cream family contributed 4 tracks to the Bob Dylan Covers Project. To celebrate his 80th Birthday, Harvard Street Music Exchange asked Hemet musicians to record a cover of their choice in honor of the great songwriter. Visit the Band Camp or YouTube Channel to hear them all. Here is Hippie Cream’s version of “Country Pie” from the album NASHVILLE SKYLINE.
HIPPIE CREAM GOES TO IDYLLWILD!
Radical Parade: The Story of Hippie Cream is traveling up the hill for this year’s film festival
KESI PREMIERES AT CULVER CITY FILM FESTIVAL
MUSEUM OF MAGAZINES OUT NOW!
The 17th Album from Hippie Cream is now available on all streaming platforms.
WHAT IS HEMET?
Ever since Niamh announced that her debut album was called “Hemet,” it sparked a lot of questions. For those who STILL don’t know what Hemet is, this video was made for you. The YouTube comments are pretty awesome as well. Her album is now available for purchase and streaming.
UNCLE CORY IN QUARANTINE
Acoustic Sessions with Uncle Cory from Hippie Cream. Recorded at his new pad in Paso Robles, CA.
HIPPIE CREAM DOCUMENTARY ACCEPTED TO FIRST FILM FESTIVAL
Very fitting as Cory’s Grandfather (Ray) grew up in Pawnee Rock, Kansas
NEW WEBSERIES “THE PARLOR WITH JEFF + COSGROVE” IS LIVE
Press Release for series - Click on image to go to YouTube Channel
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, COSGROVE
Finally made you that acting reel, buddy!
HIPPIE CREAM COVERS DANIEL JOHNSTON
Filmed on January 5th, 2019 for "Hi, How Are you Day." Learn more at HiHowAreYou.org
GUEST BLOGGER - TOP 10 OF THE 2010’S
Excited to be a guest blogger for Marissa the Cinephile, going over my top 10 film phenomena of the past decade.
Click on image to read the full article
NIAMH REGAN - WHAT TO DO
Using footage from Kilreekil (Niamh’s Home) and Hemet (Wesley’s Home), this music video was created for her new single.
Shot & Edited by Daniel Maggio - Voted No. 9 for Top Videos of 2020 by Sawdust and Gin
GOODBYE SUPER STAR VIDEO!
Hemet’s last Video Store finally closed its doors in December of 2019. At one point, 3 of our Marty Fishman Productions were available for rent in the store. Pictured below is Wesley holding the 3 titles. Before they closed the store, they sold all of their inventory. I walked out with about 60 movies. Apparently Junior was always checked out.
