Education and Community Programs

We all know that summer in Minneapolis is like heaven on earth, and while this may have something to do with it's relativity to the soulless, nadir that is our 9 month winter, it has equally as much to do with the wealth of awesome outdoor film opportunities that pop up like the crocuses we should have seen in April. You've got your Summer Music and Movies, your Solera rooftop delights , and your Chambers' constant stream of courtyard video art. But, if you're itching to create a film of your own and see it on the silver screen, then you've got your Ten Second Film Festival.

The Soap Factory's Ten Second Film Festival, which takes place after the St. Anthony Main fireworks on the 4th of July, features not only music, beer, food, and even tiki torches, but it also shuns the often pretentious, mind-numbingly arty fare you might expect from a gallery. Pourquoi?

1) Because this film fest is the brain child of Walker on the Green: Artist-Designed Mini Golf and Haunted Basement artist extraordinaire, Chris Pennington.

2) Because all the films are shot by people like you, using alternate video technologies (like cell phones or cameras with a video function). The result is a film fest that assaults you with some of the funniest, weirdest, campiest, and even thought-provoking ten second-long films you've ever seen.

If this tickles your fancy, then you have until midnight on Monday, June 23 to submit up to six, ten second films of your own. Check out www.tensecondfilmfest.org for submission info and do your bit to shake up the Twin Cities summer film scene.

Bill Mech for his joke:

Every good stand-up comic knows when to ignore hecklers: when they’re right.

That’s the first variation. The second one, although not far off, is this:

Every good-stand up comedian knows when to ignore hecklers: especially when they’re right.

According to Joseph, Mr. Mech was the one who followed the rules a little closer than the rest. It was indeed a joke about a joke, and it also won points because had a variation. Adding to the image that most comedians are perfectionist types. Also, the joke is self- deprecating, which is a trait of many classic comedians (Joseph talked about that on Thursday). Think Rodney Dangerfield going on about the lack of respect he receives from various family members, pets, and fellow community members.

Bill shared with me his motivation:

“When I saw the concert was sold out, and the only way to get in was the joke contest, I had to try for it, even though I’m not a natural jokester. The rules asked for a one-liner that was about jokes, so I thought: ‘what do standup comedians do under pressure? They often use self-deprecating humor to break the ice.’ And, having gotten teased a lot as a kid, I’ve had a lot of practice with self-deprecation, so.. it was pretty easy. When you agree with your critics in a gently funny way, you deflect their criticism - and often they back off. Try it, it works!”

Good anti-bullying tactics! Maybe this can be put to use in a state wide anti-bullying campaign in Minnesota schools.

Runner up comes from Natalie Tranchilla, who sent us this funny, but kind of dirty joke. Be carefule Natalie, Richard Prince might steal this and you could end up earning more than a chance for concert tickets! Also, I hope this is appropriate for the Walker blog! Here goes:

Did you hear about the comedian who was arrested for sexual assault due to his literal translation of “tongue-in-cheek” humor?

I do have to give honorable mention to the Walker development staff’s Scott Winter. His joke is:

When I first met my colleague Joe King I said, "You've got to be Joe King."

I’m still awaiting a reply from Joe King, who works in registration here at the Walker.

Her are my favorites:

How many indie rockers does it take to unscrew a light bulb? What you haven’t heard?

I tried to do a play on words but a book is such a small stage.

I’ve always heard when God gives you lemons, make lemonade. God gave me iced tea. What the f*&$ am I supposed to do?

My financial situation

Thanks to everyone who entered! Drop by on Thursday or any other time to see the Richard Prince show. I hope some of you get lucky and get a ticket or two to the show.

Allison Herrera

R.E.M. was my first concert. I remember gushing tears when I first hear heard Everybody Hurts and a number of times afterwards. In high school a boy once wrote out all the lyrics to Crush with Eyeliner in a Valentine’s
Day card for me. I have most of their albums in my car. Since it’s the summer season and we are in the land of 10,000 lakes Nightswimming will finds its way to play list regularly. And yesterday when I was trying to focus on my work I played E-bow the letter almost nonstop for an hour.

So it should not be a surprise that when someone told me Michael Stipe was eating in Gallery 8 Cafe, I dashed out of the office with a few coworkers in tow. I was horribly frightened of being obnoxious, so I stood there wondering, should I or shouldn’t I? Then I thought “Michael Stipe is at the Walker so he must think its cool, and I work at the Walker, therefore I can approach greatness because I am cool by association.” Behold the results.

R.E.M. will be at the XCEL Energy Center tonight with Modest Mouse. And if we’re lucky enough they’ll play Let Me In!

Do you want to go see Andrew Bird (who wouldn’t after seeing the cute photo taken of him by the Walker’s own Cameron Wittig!)

Well, pony up a funny and original one line joke and submit it. The clock is ticking!!

You have until Wednesday to come up with something that will make our gallery speaker Joseph Scrimshaw laugh. He will announce the winner on Thursday at the last Richard Prince gallery talk that is all about, what else, jokes! The talk starts at 7pm.

You don’t have to be present to win, although I would like to meet some of you who submitted some very witty missives. Also, being there means you will learn all about the history of jokes, what makes a joke funny, and what exactly borscht belt style humor is. Just think Rodney Dangerfield, but Walker style.

First place winner will receive two tickets to Rock the Garden, plus two tickets to Adventures in Mating, Joseph Scrimshaw’s show at the Bryant Lake Bowl (playing until someone makes them stop!). Second place is two free tickets to Walker on the Green: Artist-Designed Mini Golf and a salty dog from the Walker shop. How’s that for Caddyshack!

Good luck!