Treading water a bit this week.... how about you? I have barely had time to look at my media feeds, but it was hard not to notice all of the Brangelina news mixed in with a million pundits speculating about the big US presidential debate tomorrow night (yes, I will be watching!). I did get out at the beginning of last week to see Oliver Stone's Snowden and I spent most of the film, which in true Oliver Stone style delivered on many visual techniques that incorporated multiple film stocks, odd angles, and genius editing, trying to figure out how he was able to get the film financed and made (researching later, I learned that he had received funding through French and German production companies). Looking ahead next week to the opening of the Vancouver International Film Festival, I am excited once again to note the diversity of filmmakers and controversial topics and themes that will be featured. Whether I have any time to attend more than a few screenings is another question, but I am offering all of my students a bonus assignment to attend and report back to me on what they have seen. Reading these reports is honestly one of the highlights of my fall semester-- the power of film cannot be underestimated, ever. Happy reading and linking!