FROM ZEV ROBINSON - LIFE ON THE DOURO

[Roy Hersh]

From Zev Robinson:

Life on the Douro http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFeEJllDJ-I will be screening in LA and San Francisco on November 15 and 17, followed by a tasting of some the best Port and still wines produced in the region. Doors open at 6 PM, the film will start at 6:30, presented by director Zev Robinson, followed by a Q&A, and a wine tasting presented by Oscar Quevedo, marketing director for the Quevedo winery http://quevedoportwine.com and Roy Hersh of http://www.fortheloveofport.com.

The venues are:

IN LA:
Chaplin Theater and Raleigh Cafe,
Raleigh Studios
5300 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles CA 90038
Tickets are $32.00 and can be purchased here - http://lifeonthedouroinla.eventbrite.com/


IN SF:
Delancey Street San Francisco
Screening Room and Private Club
600 Embarcadero
San Francisco, CA 94107
Tickets are $32.00 and can be purchased here -
http://lifeonthedouroinsanfrancisco.eventbrite.com/


Just before that, on Saturday, November 12, Life on the Douro will be showing at the Toronto International Portuguese Film Festival
http://www.portuguesefilmfestival.com/en/synopsis.html


The following Saturday, November 19, we will be at the Paso Robles Film Festival (exact time TBA) - http://www.pasoroblesfilmfestival.com/
I'll be attending the Paso Robles Film Festival with Roy Hersh, but unfortunately, I won't be able to make it to Toronto.

Looking ahead, there will be events in Cologne on December 4, in Fontainebleau on December 7, and more are being arranged. Directing this film has been one of the great experiences of my life, the Douro is one of the wonders of the world that should be seen at least once in a lifetime, and Portugal is a country that deserves to be much better known

[David Spriggs]

Awesome! I'll try and be there!

[Jim R.]

Will there be a Port tasting at the Paso Robles event too? Thanks

[Roy Hersh]

I believe that is part of the plan, but Zev will have to weigh in here as he's organizing these events. I am there for moral support and to do some speaking and meeting guests. I am sure he will stop by to respond at some point.

[John M.]

Wish he was coming to NYC

[Roy Hersh]

John,

Good news!

We will be doing NYC and the east coast of the USA in the late winter or early spring.

[Andy Velebil]

I should be at the L.A. one.

[John M.]

Excellent on the NYC area news. I am going to try my best to be there!!!

[Andy Velebil]

Got my ticket for L.A. show. Who else is coming?

[Eric Menchen]

I won't make it to the west coast as I just got back from a vacation. But keep us posted on the east coast days. I have friends that way and might be able to swing a trip.

[Ronald Wortel]

Is there a way to order this film for people like me who live in a faraway place, with no chance whatsoever to attend one of these events? I would very much love to see it.

[Zev R]

Hi, I'm the director of Life on the Douro, thanks for all your comments and apologies for the late reply. It has been a very busy couple of weeks arranging things and getting everything ready for the California screening and tasting events.

Just a quick run down for the future of the film -

There will be an event on Dec 4 in Cologne, and possibly an event in Amsterdam on Dec 5, we're waiting to hear back from the cinema and should know something soon. An event or two in Denmark is being planned for the end of March, and there should be one in London around the same time, and possibly other European dates. I'll be talking to Roy about that when we meet in California in a couple of days. Other European and North American events will also be planned.

A dvd will be published shortly, there were a few technical delays in post-production, and then it took a well known courier service 9 days (instead of three) to deliver the files. So instead of having them ready for California, they should be ready by the end of the month.

Please feel free to contact me at zevrobinson (at) gmail (dot) com for any more details.

[Ronald Wortel]

Hi Zev, thanks very much for the reply. I'll shoot you an email, as I'm interested in buying the DVD.

[Roy Hersh]

What a great turn out tonight by FTLOP'ers, both Forumites and people who've joined us on our tours. Great to see everyone!

We were at Charlie Chaplin's old private screening room which was amazing and had a fun discussion on Ports and drank some fine Douro wine and Port too. In addition to Zev, Luis G. Alberto, Andy Velebil, Oscar Quevedo and Marc Jackson showed up ... amongst the 50 or more people who attended.

I hopw to see more of you at the upcoming events!

[Roy Hersh]

On Thursday night we had close to 75 people for LOTD, in San Francisco. Nice private screening area that is used predominantly for pre-Oscar nominated films to be reviewed by the press. Enjoyable Ports and fun to have 10-20-30-40 year old Sandeman Tawnies in addition to Niepoort, Graham's, Quevedo, Dow, Portal etc.

Reaction to the movie seemed more positive in the Bay area than LA. Just my impression from speaking to both crowds.

This afternoon, we will be showing the film here at the Paso Robles Film Festival, which should be much smaller but a lot of fun. The author of Sideways was here last night signing his new book, "Vertical" and Johnny Depp is rumored to be here, FWIW. Looking forward to this event and then heading off to visit two local port producers.

[Roy Hersh]

There was a nice turn out yesterday at the Film Festival in Paso Robles. I can only imagine that if the local wineries/restaurants had been made aware of this film and had any kind of tie in, it would have been amazing how many would have shown up. We wound up pouring wine DURING the movie which the guests loved. Great Q&A afterwards, which really was just a moments worth in LA and non-existent in SF. So there was really good dialogue here by participants who had VERY little experience with Douro wine or knowledge of Port. I think we won over some converts with Six Grapes which they seemed to love!

[Tom D.]

So....for those of us who won't be seeing a screening of this film in our town, will we at some point have an opportunity to see it in some other form (DVD, local indie theater, etc?).

[Eric Menchen]

If/when it comes out in a form I can watch at home, I'd get it. I can't know for sure until I see it, but it seems to me it might be fun to watch this with a bunch of friends while drinking Port. "Whenever Zev says <need to watch movie to pick a word or phrase>, you have to drink."

[Roy Hersh]

Having seen this many times now, I can assure you that anyone here who is remotely serious about Port and/or Douro wines ... no less knows the key players of the trade from reading or personal visits ... will love this film. Yes, a glass of Port or wine in hand will enhance the viewing but it is certainly not needed.

Popcorn on the other hand ... ... can you pair it with Port?

Anyway, discussions are taking place with production companies that are considering taking this to a "next level" and possibly a run on TV as an expanded series, which would have Zev coming back for another FTLOP tour to add some more content. There will be DVD's eventually sold too, although Zev has also considered doing a pay-for-play on-line version too. Possibly all of the above. Nothing more will be said until 2012, while developments continue behind the scenes. The film just played in Cologne and was loved by throngs of wine enthusiasts.