CineVegas Film Festival 2008

Language, communication, relationships, sex — they all get easier with practice. And they are all the elements that infuse lurid life into writer/director Kyle Alvarez's provocative film about a man who establishes a sexual relationship with someone he’s never seen. To promote his unpublished novel, Davy Mitchell sets out on a road trip with his younger brother. Yet, the initial novelty quickly wears off and the road life turns lonely and unfulfilling for Davy. Then, one night in a motel room, a random phone call from a mysterious woman named Nicole ignites a funny and intimate long-distance relationship that leaves Davy happier than he has been in years. Hoping there is more to his new reality than a voice and a phone bill, Davy decides he must meet Nicole. Ultimately, his decision means he must face not only the truth about his relationship but also the truth about himself. Based on Davey Rothbart's autobiographical article for GQ Magazine, EASIER WITH PRACTICE avoids the visual limitations of a phone relationship by fleshing out the story with inspired cinematography and three-dimensional performances. Combined, they bring to life a truly well-crafted story. Erotically charged yet intellectually stimulating, EASIER WITH PRACTICE is an enthralling love story for the cell-phone generation.

ETIENNE! is a timeless tale of friendship between two kindred spirits on a journey through life. The catch that makes this tale unique? One of the friends is a hamster. Richard is a shy and boyish college dropout who has just started a new job at a hotel. His best and only friend is his dwarf hamster, Etienne, whom he cares for very well. When he finds out his pocket pet has terminal cancer, he decides to take Etienne on a bicycle road trip along the California coast so that the hamster can see the world before it dies. Along the way, the two meet various colorful characters that teach them about life, friendship, and happiness. Evoking the spirits of films from yesteryear and enriched with a phenomenal soundtrack, ETIENNE! is a triumph of pure, innocent storytelling. Its remarkably controlled aesthetic transplants the audience to a nostalgic time free from pessimism. Richard Vallejos embodies the lovable man-child of the same name and infuses him with undeniable charm. Writer/director Jeff Mizushima's passion for cinema comes out in every frame. He has crafted a rare gem in this day and age...a G-rated art film for everyone.