Lots of email and such to deal with the next few days. In the meantime, I’ll post pics from the Barcelona trip throughout the week over at the flickr account. Trying to get them all chronological but it’s not easy. The above is taken backstage at raum.es where we talked to Anja Schneider of Mobilee Records. Thanks to Anja and Philip and everyone for setting it up. Later on Thursday night, the duo Exercise One did a good job of getting people moving.

All this is being done of course when Europe is enthralled by the world cup. We were too honestly and from what we understand, two of the roughest teams (and fans) are descending upon our beloved city of Cologne. England and Germany will play in the round of 16 at the home of Kompakt. More soon.

Not a tremendous amount of time to post this (leaving in less than 12 hours!), but wanted to say thanks very much to everyone who came to the screening of our early cuts from Speaking In Code. While we didn’t reach the goal for the night, we came pretty close and garnered a lot of interest from early fans.

We also were rejuvinated by the crowd response. Before Director Amy Grill and I spoke to the audience, I was as nervous as I have ever been in my life. What if they didn’t think Modeselektor was funny? (They did). What if the crowd didn’t think Robag Whrume was as charasmatic as we did? (They did). What if they didn’t understand what Bryan Kasenic was trying to do in NYC? (They did). Juan MacLean? unlockedgroove? Kompakt? All very effective segments. Most importantly people got it instantly, it’s not a movie about the history of electronic dance music. It’s a movie about what’s going on right now and the people of now.

What a relief. I walked out of there (more photos if you click here) believing this was going to be a great film, and it will be. The Director’s vision is complete, the Director of Photography is amazing, our Producer put in some hours, our promoter, our doorman, and the characters really came to life on the screen. I have my Sundance speech prepared no joke.

The feedback from our fans and friends was totally invaluable as well. Thank you again to everyone who came, truly, and of course everyone who gave us money that may not have made it.

This money is to fund the trip we are about to embark on to document the European characters in the next month. You can join the $50 Army to get a “Special Thanks” credit or by all means give more. We will be on an intensive month-long worktrip to pack as much action and character in as we can. You see, this is the techno movie that’s not about techno. It’s about people — so the more footage we have, the better. (Also worth noting we have only logged 15% of our tapes so far, so if you want to log some tape, and are in the Boston area, drop us a line!).

Just to get through the barebones of our European shoot, we need a little more money (I know, broken record). If you have yet to contribute, how about this: give $100 (or an extra $50 to those of you who have already given $50) and we’ll send you the DVD we screened Sunday night. It not only has the 6 segments that blew people away, it has extended, uncut interviews with Forced Exposure General Director Jimmy Johnson, journalist and co-Producer Philip Sherburne, co-producer me and local techno DJ/producer Mike Uzzi. For what it’s worth, I don’t think we’re going to Google Video or YouTube these segments.

Mike DJed the night, alongside local minimal master Jon Schmidt and DJ/SiC character Six Million Dollar Dan. Here’s his set from just after the screening, when he dropped a number of niceites which characterize what some of the people in the movie are trying to do. Thanks again everyone, it was quite a nice evening.

Mike Uzzi - “Speaking In Code Post-Screening DJ Set”

Way more when I get back, but Amy and Scott are gone for a month. Wish them luck! Love, sQuare

If you plan on attending tonight’s event and are buying your ticket(s) after 4pm, please print out your PayPal confirmation and bring it with you. Thank you.

We sent out a message to the list, but we want everyone to be able to make the benefit and will accept a $10 admission at the door for tomorrow’s Speaking in Code benefit. Seems many of our friends aren’t exactly rolling in it (we know the feeling) and were bummed out by the fee. OK. Not a problem. We’ll have to keep the drinks to a minimum for the $10 people and there won’t be any special thanks credit or the other schwag we had in mind.

Either way, we’d love to see everyone who can make it to make it. This footage is dying to be seen!

We should also point out that a last-minute addition to the DJ bill includes Dan Paluska (aka Six Million Dollar Dan). Paulska is featured in our Boston clip, alongside Mike Uzzi, who is also DJing. Also DJing: Erik Pearson, co-producer David Day and Jon Schmidt from Robot Love Songs.

The trailer invite is here.

They also wrote about it over at the Phoenix. (Thanks guys!)

One of the clips we’ll watch comes from the Kompakt Total 6 party. Once a year the people of Kompakt Records in Koln gets together and throw a party celebrating the year in Kompakt. In the scene, we watch as Kompakt blows up before their own eyes. Turns out the venue, their hometown, home spun Stadtgarten, is a bit too small for the guest list, which is increasing rapidly. So the crew, the publicist and everyone, has to pitch in to pair it down. And one of the reasons for Komapakt’s success is the pure genius of DJ Koze (a k a Stefan Kozalla).

Koze grew up as a hip-hop DJ but transformed into a kind of pop prodigy: producing tracks, remixing, even singing. He’s consistently voted one of the best DJs in all of Germany and at Total 6 we found out why. He makes an appearance at the end of the Kompakt clip, which is an amazing wide shot of the entire dance floor, shot from the catwalk by our brilliant Director of Photography, Scott Sans.

Here’s the track from the same release: Total 6, wherein our hero, tongue in cheek, drops his approriately-named track “Hicc Up”. There’s much more the guy has done, seek out the Kompakt label and everything they do. Oh, and Total 7 should be coming before the end of the year. Yow-za.

DJ Koze - “Hicc Up”

So $10 tomorrow at the Enormous Room 6pm and beyond (the screening will happen after 7pm, fwiw)? Do-able?

The more we work with our movie, Speaking in Code, the more we are finding a stigma about techno documentaries, or, at least, movie that document electronic music.

We’re having fundraiser this Sunday for the film, where people who pay $50 will get their name in the credits, have some drinks and food and hear some quality techno music. But more importantly, will get the chance to see what this movie is really all about.

SiC is not a film about why techno is so cool and contemporary. SiC is not a movie about superstar DJs, backstage access and partying. Most importantly, SiC is not a lesson in why techno and trance is so essential and life-givingly superb.

What Speaking in Code is about is people. Extraordinary people who make their way in the world independently. Or a network of producers, promoters and musicians who are quite human. Most people think techno documentary and they think hype, clubs and outrageous camera angles. Well, that’s not SiC. The film is wonderfully shot with a steady hand and the characters we have been following deserve the attention because they are steady and simple, not garish and silly.

What I mean to say is that Speaking in Code is unlike any movie that has ever been made before. No one has ever approached electronic producers and promoters as people. It’s always flash, VIP access and tilted club shots. If you come to the benefit or otherwise support the film, you’ll get an exclusive chance to see what we mean. And you’ll feel good about the film, you have my word.

Consider the Wighnomy Brothers. We can’t get enough of these guys because they are affable, ideological and live this kind of idyllic life in a secluded old East German mountain town. Their music, a combination of funky hip-hop and techno, is secondary to their attitude: one of common space, of hope, of trust, and… sausage.

Their clip (one of the six we’ll show Sunday) is one of my favorites. We are planning to go shoot more of their world and to follow them to some gigs in Amsterdam, as they become more popular and are challenged with the notion of success. In order to do this, we need your help. (I’m starting to feel like a telethon, but it’s true. We need tape stock, camera rentals, plane tickets for camera people, editing and logging, etc. We want to avoid corporate sponsorship if possible, also. I mean to make this film as wonderful as it can be — and, honestly, this could be an incredible, award-winning film — we are reaching out to our friends, acquaintances and whoever believes). We have 120 hours in the can, we need an essential 100 more.

Our first encounter with the music of the Wighnomy Brothers was Robag Whrume’s (aka Gabor Schablitzki) astonishing Wuzzelbud “KK” album. And now he’s become a character in the film. They are mainly influenced by hip-hop movies and techno. They live in Jena, Germany, have a child named Pele, drink quite a bit of vodka and make amazing music.

When we Googled the lyrics to the title song: Wuzzelbud KK, we were amazed to find excerpts from Shakespeare’s Hamlet — but we shouldn’t have been.

“Well, God ‘ild you! They say the owl was a baker’s daughter. Lord, we know what we are, but know not what we may be. God be at your table!”

Robag Wruhme - “Wuzzlebud “KK”

Hope to see you Sunday