Our summer was given to the dying, death and continuing celebration of my
spectacular father-in-law, Richard Heffron, who lived on Bainbridge Island.
He was a brilliant, irresistible, complicated, courageous man. He directed,
among other things, “Fillmore”, and the TV mini- series “North and South”.

We got to spend quality time with the extended family, and are still being stretched physically, emotionally and spiritually. After having taken over one thousand of his books to the library, and countless truckloads to Goodwill, and our garage, I am questioning my attachment to all of the “things” I hang on to. It feels like a good time to purge. In fact, I’ve got a couple couches for sale…

What’s up: Here’s a favorable review you must read. Outsourced, a fine film of which I am proud to be part, made the front page of the Seattle P.I. today with an article about its maverick distribution approach. I went to the Preview Gala last night and it really does look like a hit. It’s coming to a theatre near you if you live in:

Opening Friday, September 28
SEATTLE: Majestic Bay,
TACOMA:Grand Cinemas,
BELLEVUE: Galleria,
PORTLAND: Hollywood3,
EUGENE: Bijou 2,
SAN FRANCISCO:
Opera Plaza,
AUSTIN: Dobie,
NEW YORK: NY Quad

Opening Friday, October 5
FRIDAY HARBOR: Palace,
LOS ANGELES: Sunset 5,
WEST HILLS, CA: Fallbrook 7
BERKELEY: Shattuck,
SAN JOSE: Camera 3,

Friday, October 12
BAINBRIDGE ISLAND: Lynwood Theatre
Go early!

The Pegasus Conference, an annual event influenced by the work of Peter
Senge, is in Seattle this year, and sponsored by the OSR (Organizational
Systems Renewal) Program at S.U. I’ll be leading:
Story Waves: Surfing Memory, Imagination, and Meaning
Monday, November 5,
2007—6:30-9:30pm
A relaxing evening of stories, laughter, and refreshment at Seattle University where we’ll explore the power of relationships through story telling.

I worked with Thiagi for 2 days in SF. He designs profoundly effective exercises and games for groups of all kinds. The workshop was organized by Rebecca Stockley and William Hall and attracted 25 hand chosen improv trainers, from Hong Kong to Philadelphia. His approach is to “Let the inmates run the asylum”, and he did. Especially interesting was an “auction” where the top 2 bidders both had to pay for the item that only the top bidder won. Very, very, very informative.

I went to NYC for a very nice engagement with S.I. Systems of Canada last
week, and must say that the most effective work I did with this group came
from the Thiagi workshop. Very encouraging! The next morning I attended a
fine wine auction at Christies, and it also was a fabulous, intense
experience. The auctioneer was the essence of relaxed authority; the guy in
front of me dropped a quarter million, and the free finger food, coffee and
Champagne were top notch.

I’m looking to find footage I can study of a Japanese auction, because there
are rare occasions when I could use it to engage Japanese speakers at my
events. I’ve seen the fish market auctions on Youtube, (here’s my new role
model. Check him out:) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F2TMymHpkQ
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F2TMymHpkQ> , but I’m looking for a style
accessible to normal people. Do advise if, freakishly, you can help me with
this.

Week-ender Basic Improv Workshop:
December 8th & 9th (Sat 9:30 – 3:30, Sunday 10 – 2)
At The Valley School in Madison Valley (I hope). ($125 if you pay before
Thanksgiving)
If you’re thinking about taking an improv workshop, this is a great way to
start. It’s a non-threatening way to get acquainted with the principles
that drive improvisers. No experience required. All are welcome. Call me
to sign up: 206-842-1646


In a nutshell: I’ll be doing a bit on Kevin Joyce’s “Big Night Out” variety
show on the Seattle Channel in October. Fun show. To attend:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/21369. OSR is bringing me to Pilgrim
Firs, where I’ve worked with every cohort for 17 years. I’m teaching at
Freehold this Fall, but the class is full, so Freehold gets the bum’s rush
in this newsletter. I’ve got 2 auctions in Bend Oregon (The Center
Foundation and “Snowball”), plus The Seattle Language Academy (2 trips to
Mexico for sale: talk to me if you want to proxy bid - and don’t forget my
couches), St. Cecelia’s, The Valley School (13th year), Roosevelt Drama
Program, and Pacific Crest School. I’m doing some training for Edmonds CC,
and MCM, and I hope to go to Reno with my mom. I’m working on a family
entourage for that.

Right now I’m going to load up my 1987 Silverado Chevy Truck with furniture
from Richard’s apt. Elizabeth and I will deliver it to our daughter’s
apartment in Missoula. I really hope it doesn’t snow. We’re taking the
dog. In the cab. The code to let me know that you read this newsletter all
the way to the end is: “I read that review by Casey Corr. Man, that guy
gets it.”

I’m very proud of my links this time. I am grateful that you are reading
this. Best of everything…

Matt Smith
206-842-1646