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Feb
3
1

Promoting the Film

Here’s a clip from Monday’s Satellite Media Tour with Seattle Fox TV Channel 13:

FILED UNDER: General
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Jan
25
4

The Countdown is On

I’ve been working like crazy on getting the film seen by a mainstream audience. I’m happy to say that February 1st is the launch date. Big announcement to come at the end of the week. And then I will spill all!

FILED UNDER: General
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Nov
24
3

Thanksgiving

It’s been an amazing year. I finished my film. Released it theatrically and on DVD. And just closed the biggest deal yet which will get the movie into the mainstream. Announcement to come soon, I promise.

So much to be grateful for. Especially the supporters who believed in the film from the start (before they even saw it) and stood by it despite the naysayers. A big thanks to (in no particular order):
Read the rest of this entry »

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Sep
4
0

2 Thumbs Up

I like the company we’re keeping… My turn to see Inglourious Basterds this weekend.

From today’s USA Today “Pop Candy”:

Best movie I watched: The last couple weeks have been a wonderful blur because of my vacation, but I thought Inglourious Basterds was just fantastic. I also saw Beer Wars, the documentary about independent breweries. I’ve always been pretty picky about what I drink, but this film really makes you think about the industry.

FILED UNDER: General
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Aug
27
7

Filmmaker as Enforcer

Social media means no more secrets. I was surprised to see a screening of my film advertised and retweeted over the past few days. It was happening at a bar in San Diego. One problem. I knew nothing about it. No one contacted me. Or asked for permission. Read the rest of this entry »

FILED UNDER: DVD, General
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Aug
5
13

Craft Beer on TV

On Friday I met with yet another craft beer enthusiast who wants his own craft beer show on TV. Since I starting making the film, I’ve been approached by at least a dozen folks who want to do the same. What surprises me isn’t that everyone has the same idea (a TV show about travels to breweries and bars in search of great beers) or that no one has any TV experience but that there is no forethought about why a TV network would be interested. Read the rest of this entry »

FILED UNDER: General
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Jul
31
1

What I learned from the White House Beer Summit

  1. The mainstream media knows absolutely nothing about who makes what beer.
  2. The same media didn’t understand why craft brewers were upset over the beer choices, especially Bud Light (see #1).
  3. Most Americans didn’t care about the beers themselves.
  4. Some Americans did care about who made the beers.
  5. Many of the small brewers who made media appearances used it as an opportunity to promote their own breweries as opposed to the community.
  6. There wasn’t much opposition to the idea of the BEER Summit from the anti-alcohol folks.
  7. The story was played out as soon as the beer choices were revealed.
  8. It was a one-note story that didn’t lead to a bigger conversation. Yawn.
FILED UNDER: General, News
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Jun
26
9

Does Size Matter?

I just read this comment about the trailer on YouTube : “This is such propaganda! Why is Jim Koch talking about his products when everyone knows that most of the Sam Adams line is contract brewed by Miller. In addition, he is one of the largest brewers in the country. I personally like a lot of different styles of beer, and I think it is up to the consumer as to what they drink. You can’t sit here and tell me that every micro brew out there would not like to sell more of their product! The elitist attitudes will destroy the craft beer movement.”

Wow. This guy is certainly passionate. And some of his comments were echoed by people I met at screenings and panels over the past few weeks.

One thing is certain. There is no singular craft beer enthusiast. And perceptions vary widely.
Read the rest of this entry »

FILED UNDER: Community, Events, General
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Apr
12
20

The End of the Beginning

I’m on a plane to New York to promote the event (which is only 4 days away) on television. I’ve waited a long time for this moment and I’m trying to take it all in.

This adventure began in September 2005 and will culminate on April 16th, 2009. It’s been a long journey on so many levels. Personally, I’m celebrating completing and releasing a feature length independent film. Not a small feat in today’s crowded market. Professionally, I’m hoping that audiences show up to see it. As a filmmaker, that’s the holy grail. We make films because we have something to say, a story that must be told. And after the filming and editing and endless rough cut screenings, we want to share it with the world. Read the rest of this entry »

FILED UNDER: General
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Apr
9
10

The good, the bad and the ugly

I’ve been getting lots of emails and press clips. And people have a lot of opinions. Some pretty negative. Which is especially surprising since no one has seen the film. I mean, not even my mother. I’ve developed fairly thick skin but it’s always nice to hear something positive. Especially when it’s unsolicited. So it was great to get the following email today from someone named Brandon:

Now why would I want to pay $15 to go sit in a movie theater to watch a film about people brewing and drinking beer??? Why? Because I LOVE BEER!!!! Site looks excellent, can’t wait to see this next Thursday!!

FILED UNDER: General
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Previous
Oenophiles have SIDEWAYS and BOTTLE SHOCK; now their beer-loving counterparts can claim a film as their own.
- Rotten Tomatoes
A David and Goliath story pitting the country's smallest brewers against the largest.
- CNN
Beer Wars: Brewed in America, is an eye-opening, funny and righteosly infuriating documentary by first-time filmaker Anat Baron. Her film (think of it as Suds: A Love Story) is also a pretty damning idictment of not just the beer industry but contemporary unfettered unregulated capitalism's disturbing excesses.
- Box Office Magazine
In Beer Wars, entrepreneurialism and opportunity go awry when tainted by greed and a thirst for power.
- Los Angeles Times
Beer Wars certainly raises some interesting questions, the most potent of which is, is this what capitalism is meant to be?
- New Times
For those who are keeping the American dream alive, this spirited documentary raises a toast.
- St Louis Post-Dispatch
A trenchant analysis unapologetic in its rebuke of Big Beer, Beer Wars is heartily recommended for patrons already inclined to opt for the local brew at every tap. It will also appeal to patrons interested in craft foods as well as homebrewed beer and wine and others particular about quality.
- Library Journal