Hey Batt, what film would you pick to be shown with “Uncle Joe’s American Odyssey” for a Midnight Movies double-feature?

Hi Pete the Poet that is an easy one. “Apocalypse Now.” Not just because it is my favorite movie, but because it showcases one of my favorite things to do. Going down rivers, roads, or trails are all very similar types of Odysseys. And we all have a Colonel Kurtz we need to ‘kill.’ Once we kill Kurtz, another one usually shows up. But, an Odyssey gives you a method to dispatch of all these Kurtz clowns in your life. I’d prefer “Uncle Joe’s American Odyssey” to be shown first though, because I often fall asleep during “Apocalypse Now” (and it carries on in a variety of really cool ways in my dreams). Especially for a midnight double-feature, “Uncle Joe’s American Odyssey” runs first!

Pete the Poet still writes poetry. He also co-edits the online poetry journal http://www.ADozenNothing.com.

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Hey Batt, “Uncle Joe’s American Odyssey” was your debut film. Any advice for would-be filmmakers?

Hi Pete the Poet, yeah probably the best advice I can give you is to not listen to anyone’s advice, unless it really resonates with you. Or unless they have been through this exact process themselves. Be fearless and stick with your vision. People will tell you all this stuff, about what to do or what to change, bla bla bla on and on. After that happens, ask them what their favorite movies are. Chances are you’ll not like any of them. So why listen to somebody, or even care in the least what they are telling you, when they don’t make movies and they like a bunch of movies you don’t?

Try to talk to somebody who has done this, and likely the most important things they’ll tell you will have nothing to do with your story ideas or draft edits. They may tell you what an incredible time commitment it is, or how it will take over your life (look at me now, 20 years later finishing this), or how much money you’ll spend, or how frustrating it can sometimes be, or how incredible it is to have simply done this. Follow your vision and forget everything about the number of people who may or may not view it. Do it exactly how you want to do it. And if you don’t do it for yourself (with your inspiration) – you’ll risk possibly tossing to the curb a good chunk of your life.

Pete the Poet still writes poetry. He also co-edits the online poetry journal http://www.ADozenNothing.com.

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Hey Batt, you’ve put a lot of time into working on the rerelease of “Uncle Joe’s American Odyssey”—what’s the best snack while editing a film?

Hi Pete the Poet, I start the day with far too much strong coffee. I didn’t drink coffee when editing in 2000-2002. So that is different. As I go through these months my diet only gets worse. It seems like I am bargaining with myself – the value of cheap unhealthy pleasures to reward what can be rounds of over-deep concentration and attention. It’s pretty awful. I’m back to Doritos, my childhood (and onward) comfort food. Too much sugar for a while. Too many quesadillas. Then too many frozen pizzas. Even too much British tea and milk. Whatever I eat goes through phases and is always too much. The best snacks I’m eating are the worst snacks!

Technically, this isn’t the rerelease, but the first release of “Uncle Joe’s American Odyssey”! First was the private screening in Seattle, next was the premiere at the 2003 John Hopkins Film Festival, and finally was a special engagement later that year in Eugene, OR.

Pete the Poet still writes poetry. He also co-edits the online poetry journal http://www.ADozenNothing.com.

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Hey Batt, of the countless people you met while filming “Uncle Joe’s American Odyssey”, whom do you wonder most about?

Hi Pete the Poet. I often think about Raymond Raymond from the Mission District in San Francisco. When you watch the movie, look for the guy with a red shirt, tie, and aviator sunglasses. I didn’t want to interview him at first. I thought maybe he’d just ramble. I finally set up a meeting time with him, and the next morning it was like he had been awake the whole night—preparing for any question imaginable. For almost half of the questions I asked, he cheered and snapped his fingers as if he anticipated that exact question! He followed through on those answers in a joyful dance of perfection.

Raymond Raymond’s interview could be its own movie from beginning to end. Maybe it will be. He also said something in one of his answers I’ve carried closely with me for the last 20 years. To my ears, it is the most solid piece of advice and philosophy I’ve heard spoken. I really wonder what Double Raymond is doing these days. I wonder what he was doing back in those days! I wish that guy the very best. I wish my best to everyone who gave me their time and heartfelt truths. I hope they all happen to find and watch this movie.

Pete the Poet still writes poetry. He also co-edits the online poetry journal http://www.ADozenNothing.com.

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Hey Batt, if you could go back and spend a year in one scene in one location in Uncle Joe’s American Odyssey where would it be?

Hi Pete the Poet, wow that is a great question. Especially since it has been 10 years since I’ve spent even 5 months in a single place anywhere.

I’ll have to cheat, because none of our brief time at Heifer International in Arkansas made the film, but it was a beautiful place with wonderful people doing amazing work. I could easily spend a year or more there. I wish our Odyssey could have volunteered there for a few weeks. Maybe I can get back one day. I recommend taking a moment to read a bit about Heifer International!

Pete the Poet still writes poetry. He also co-edits the online poetry journal http://www.ADozenNothing.com.

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Hey Batt, when you were filming Uncle Joe’s American Odyssey were there any scenes that “got away”—times that you really regret not capturing

Hi Pete the Poet, I remember that you definitely thought one scene “got away!” I didn’t agree with you at all in that case, but at the time there were hundreds of other things I was certain “got away.” Thankfully now, I don’t feel that way. When I watch Uncle Joe’s American Odyssey, it is more like there are a few dozen scenes I can’t believe I got! I can’t believe how on top of things I was 20 years ago. I’m sure as hell not as on top of doing all those detail-y little things now. I must have been possessed or something, back then. I guess I’m more of a generalist now. Does that make any damn sense? Probably not. I’m probably just in more of a burned-out phase these days. I’ve been traveling a lot this last decade and doing a lot of projects. I think maybe it all got me a bit burned out.

Pete the Poet still writes poetry. He also co-edits the online poetry journal http://www.ADozenNothing.com.

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Hey Batt, if you were making Uncle Joe’s American Odyssey today, what’s one thing you would do differently?

Hi Pete the Poet. A somewhat flat response, but I’d be using the skills I’ve learned since then to my benefit. That’s the technical part of the answer.

I’ll borrow a second ‘one’ if you don’t mind. My inexperience let me be fresh. So if I filmed Uncle Joe’s American Odyssey now, I’d probably be busy trying to make up for that fresh ‘evergreen’ feeling. The wide open eyes you have when you’ve entered a new world. Maybe more media experience would help. Or for this type of movie, maybe it would really hurt.

Pete the Poet still writes poetry. He also co-edits the online poetry journal http://www.ADozenNothing.com.

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Hey Batt, what would be the moral of Uncle Joe’s American Odyssey?

Hi Pete the Poet. Wow, what a question. Now I’m wishing I would have asked the people we met on the road in 2000—“What is the moral of your life?”

Uncle Joe’s American Odyssey was simply a practice of having open eyes and open ears. So maybe the moral of this movie is a reminder to wake up every day, and do your best to fully open both of both. -Batt

Pete the Poet still writes poetry. He also co-edits the online poetry journal http://www.ADozenNothing.com.

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Hey Batt, if you could go back and ask the people in Uncle Joe’s American Odyssey another question, what would it be?

Hi Pete the Poet, I would have asked “Is there something you wanted to do as a kid, that you haven’t done and still want to do.” The interview answers people gave in Uncle Joe’s American Odyssey were thoughtful and natural. They also branched out into an almost mycelial network of ideas, thoughts, and emotions. It wasn’t so much about the questions—it was about how people explored ideas with their answers. I can only imagine where this question might have taken them. -Batt

Pete the Poet still writes poetry. He also co-edits the online poetry journal http://www.ADozenNothing.com.

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Hey Batt, America seems a lot more divided than in did when you filmed Uncle Joe’s American Odyssey. What advice do you think people in the year 2000 would give us today if they could know how messed up things are?

Hi Pete the Poet, thank you for your question. I won’t answer it. I know I’m 2 for 2 in not directly answering your questions. But when you watch Uncle Joe’s American Odyssey, you’ll remember what is was like in 2000—and your 2000 self might give some advice and council to your 2020 self. If you were born after 1990 or so, I really want to hear what you think of year 2000 people! -Batt

Pete the Poet still writes poetry. He also co-edits the online poetry journal http://www.ADozenNothing.com.

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Hey Batt, it’s been twenty years since you filmed Uncle Joe’s American Odyssey. When you watch it now, what are some major changes you notice in our world?

Hi Pete the Poet, for the sake of the viewers I won’t answer that. I feel violated even by trailers! What makes many stories beautiful are the surprises they hold. Surprise is a story’s gift. Surprise can even deeply affect and change us. My yap yap would inject everyone with premature surprises.

I can say I noticed tremendous differences in people between 2000 and 2020, when earlier this year I re-watched Uncle Joe’s American Odyssey. Many more changes in the world and our way of relating to each other than I would have expected. Observing these changes is much of the fun of this movie. I can’t wait to hear how people experience getting back to the summer of 2000. -Batt

Pete the Poet still writes poetry. He also co-edits the online poetry journal http://www.ADozenNothing.com.

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