Crawford filmmakers promote “Farewell to W.” 50-state screening parties

In Dallas, we'll have to call it something else.

by John P. Meyer

David Modigliani may be a first-time filmmaker, but he sure knows how to keep the promotional buzz going. (And going, and going...)

His documentary about George W. Bush's adopted home town, Crawford, premiered at the SXSW Film Festival early in 2008, then played AFI Dallas a few weeks later. This Fall, rights to the documentary were acquired by B-Side Entertainment, whose new-fangled distribution channels include Hulu.

Now, with George W. preparing to leave office, the B-Side folks are spreading the word that anyone in the U.S. of A. (or Canada) who buys five copies of the Crawford DVD (at $10 apiece) is eligible - nay, encouraged - to host their own "Farewell to W." screening party, and is welcome to charge whatever they want for both admission and/or resale of the DVDs. (With 100% of the proceeds going to whoever they please.)

One's options for venue run the gamut from the living room's bigscreen TV, to the wall of an auditorium (with the DVD player hooked up to a projector and sound system) to an actual movie theater - the sky's the limit, and so is the ground.

Here's the specifics:

1. Screening Party kits start at $50 and include 5 double-disc DVDs. You may charge admission, sell concessions, as well as sell the DVDs in your kit — and keep 100% of the proceeds.

2. Events can be held January 1– 19, 2009.

3. Screenings are limited to the US and Canada. If you are overseas and want to see the movie, sign up for our mailing list, and we’ll let you know as soon as the details are available.

One problem, for those of us living in Dallas: we can't rightly call it a "Farewell to W." party. Maybe "Welcome W. to Dallas"? I'm sure folks will come up with something appropriate.