You may not know this, but a film’s “star” rating on the IMDB database is an important factor for streaming video services like Netflix and Hulu, who use it to decide what films to license and for how long.

The process is simple and you don’t even need to have an IMDB account to do it. Simply go to the film’s IMDB page and click where it says “rate this film. Here’s a screen shot to help you.

Looking at the date on that last post, I really need to catch this blog up to date. I’ll be screening Troubadour Blues Thursday, Feb. 23, at the Folk Alliance International Conference in Memphis, and Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Winter Roots and Blues Roundup in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada — and then sticking around to talk to music and filmmaking students on Monday and Tuesday.

Here’s an ad that’s running next month in Video Librarian, a magazine for media buyers at library systems and university libraries.

Erie friends, you’ll get your chance to see Troubadour Blues for the first time Friday, Oct. 28, at the Erie Art Museum, with special musical guest Mark Dignam.

Doors open at 7, and you can get a drink and look at art until Mark plays a short set at 7:30. The screening will begin at 8, with a Q&A and more music afterwards. There’s a suggested donation of $10, but we’ll let you in for whatever you can contribute. Proceeds will help put Troubadour Blues on the road to Nashville, Austin, Boston, Washington, Columbus and many more places.

“Troubadour Blues” has been selected as the Opening Night film for the 2011 Buffalo International Film Festival. This will be the world premiere of the film as well as the official DVD release date.

Two-time Grammy nominee Peter Case, one of the main subjects of the film, will be on hand for the festivities, including a 6 p.m. reception and an Opening Night party after the 7:15 p.m. screening. The event will be held at The Screening Room, 4524 Bailey Ave., Amherst, NY (enter through the Arthur Murray Dance Studio).

I’ve still got a lot of work to do editing the film, but I have to start thinking about marketing the finished product. I have a phone call scheduled next week with a distribution consultant in Los Angeles and had to get my thoughts organized. Here they are. Feel free to comment.

Troubadour Blues is a fan’s journey into the world of traveling singer-songwriters like Peter Case, Chris Smither, Dave Alvin, Mary Gauthier, Slaid Cleaves, Garrison Starr, Ray Wylie Hubbard and over a dozen more.

Filmmaker Tom Weber spent more than seven years and traveled nearly 100,000 miles gathering material for the feature-length documentary, which provides a revealing look at the hardships and triumphs of these modern-day wandering minstrels.