“Out of the Fire” to Screen at Driftless Film Festival

LOS ANGELES - Oct. 22, 2013 - PRLog -- “Out of the Fire,” a documentary film by Courtenay Singer that examines the risks and rewards of being an artist, has been selected as the closing night film at the Driftless Film Festival (http://www.driftlessfilmfestival.org/). The film will screen Sunday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m., at the Mineral Point Opera House (http://www.mpoh.org/Mineral_Point_Opera_House/Home.html) in Mineral Point, Wisconsin.

The documentary follows potter Kevin Crowe (http://www.kevincrowepottery.com/index.htm), his apprentice Krista Loomans and others during a four-day firing of Crowe’s Japanese-style wood-fired kiln at Tye River Pottery in Amherst, Virginia. Crowe produces wood-fired, functional pottery, and fires his kiln twice yearly. The kiln’s contents represent many months worth of work and potential income. Maintaining a constant high temperature over four days requires intense labor, many hands and much patience. And temperature fluctuations or other mishaps could lead to broken pots. Along with portraying the camaraderie, techniques, and inherent drama of the firing, the film explores the drive to create, the importance of mentorship and community, and the roles of risk-taking and authenticity in creating the best possible work - and living life to the fullest.

“This film explores the risks and rewards in choosing a creative life path, which can be a challenging path to follow,” says Singer. “‘The film also highlights the importance of community, and mentorship, as shown by Kevin’s mentoring of his apprentice, Krista, a young potter just starting out and still finding her way in her chosen vocation.”

The Driftless Film Festival is a regional film festival with a focus on independent films from around the world. The Festival aims not only to bring unique cinema to Driftless residents, but to encourage people from outside the Driftless area to discover its many historic theaters and venues in this unique and beautiful region of the Midwest.  DFF will take place in Mineral Point, Platteville, Richland Center and Spring Green, Wisconsin.

“Out of the Fire” is Singer’s first feature film and had its world premiere at the Breckenridge Festival of Film (http://www.breckfilmfest.com/).​ Upcoming additional screenings will take place at the Ojai Film Festival (http://www.ojaifilmfestival.com/) (California) and the Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival (http://www.rehobothfilm.com/festival_film_schedule_descri...). Learn moreatwww.outofthefirefilms.com or www.facebook.com/outofthefirethefilm. Watch the trailer of “Out of the Fire” at https://vimeo.com/63294383.



​About Courtenay Singer

Courtenay Singer is an award-winning producer, director and writer of non-fiction films and television programs. She has worked on shows for the Public Broadcasting Service, National Geographic, HGTV and Animal Planet, and has contributed to several independent films. She recently received an LA Area Emmy Award for the documentary special “Imagine: A Celebration of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.” In addition, Courtenay has managed international health communications projects for the World Health Organization, the South African Department of Health and the USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center.