In many ways, Metal Gods promises to be more expansive than Hamilton. For one, it follows its characters over the course of a week, not just a couple of days. For another, it has a considerably bigger budget, between $350,000 and $400,000 (Hamilton cost about $80,000). All that, and Porterfield promises "a considerably more complex structure. It's got a car crash, a lot of action.
"We're trying to appeal to that demographic of teenage boys, between the ages of 15 and 22," he says with deadpan humor, then pauses before adding, "I'm half-joking about that."
Still, he says, one of the "minor themes" in the film involves street-racing, which certainly sounds far more energizing than anything in the purposefully languid and thoughtful Hamilton.
Kolaja, whose earlier film ended with a transplanted barn standing on his Chestertown property, remains true to his newfound Eastern Shore roots with Band Together. The documentary, which he has just started to put together after spending much of the past year filming, focuses on the 90-member-strong Kent County Community Marching Band.
"There are so many stories in this group," says Kolaja. "The drum major is the clerk of court, there's a science teacher, there's a husband-and-wife team who bang the cymbals, there are a couple of guys who drive up from D.C. The newest member, she just joined up. Her job is to carry a crab net with the band. She's 4 years old."
Kolaja will be at the festival armed with a "five- or six-minute teaser" from the still-to-be-edited film.
"It's all-Americana type stuff," he says. "It's all good."
Diaz's new film represents another return to her native Philippines (where Imelda was banned by government censors). Don't Stop Believing: Everyman's Journey focuses on Manila's Arnel Pineda, who became lead singer a year ago for the one-time '80s super group Journey.
"I did a one-day shoot with him in San Francisco, and I thought, 'Oh my God, what a wonderful character he would make,' " says Diaz, who just returned to Baltimore Monday after finishing production on the documentary. "He was articulate about his inner life, which was rich. He's very charismatic. He doesn't censor himself very much; he's very truthful."
Her filming included a concert in Manila. "It was incredible," Diaz says. "It was like a hometown performance. Here's this classic rock-and-roll American band, performing in the Philippines and considering it their home."
