In the spirit of the pun on "Gunsmoke", I offer these words on the Pun-Off
documentary, "Pun-Smoke".

"Pun-Smoke" Arnesses the spirit and the energy of the O. Henry World
Championship Pun-Off. It met and exceeded my expectations as a punster and
a contestant in this annual event. Pun-smoke allows the viewer to get
caught up in the action as contestants Dodge witty punplay and prove they
are the Festus punslingers in the West.

--Tiff Wimberly
1999 3rd Place Winner in Punniest of Show
2000 1st Place Winner in Punniest of Show
2001 3rd Place Winner in Punniest of Show
2002 2nd Place Winner in Punniest of Show

Re viewing the movie PUN-SMOKE - "It's the next worst thing to actually being there".

"Even if you can't see the hole shootin' match, you'll be sure to
catch these guys with a smoking pun." both barrels by by Gary Hallock

AND THIS TOO...

For Immediate Release

PUN-SMOKE:

Austin Filmmakers Debut Documentary on Annual O. Henry Pun-Off

See more at http://www.openroadmovies.com

Austin, TX (April 6, 2003) - Every spring, people travel to Austin from far and wide to compete in a sophisticated clash of wits known as the "O. Henry Pun Off." The event is host to some of the world's most accomplished manipulators of the English language, as well a fascinating cast of characters whose minds are often as twisted as their use of language. On Thursday, May 1^st at The Alamo Drafthouse, Austin filmmakers Mark Morgan and Cameron Burr will host the world premiere of Pun-Smoke, their documentary of this annual celebration of the lowest form of humor.

Pun-Smoke, shot last spring in Austin, follows contenders through the arduous competition as they battle head to head in their quest to claim the world championship. There are no cash prizes at stake - the punsters compete solely to be known as the best of the worst.

"We had no idea what we were getting into when we decided to make this movie," says Morgan. "The concept of competitive punning seemed pretty absurd to us, but we were blown away when we discovered how scientific and strategic the event was. I don't think my brain will ever fully recover from this experience."

The film was independently funded and shot by a four-man crew of Morgan, Burr, and fellow filmmakers Casey Bruce and Charles Bujan; all of whom were students or graduates of The Evergreen State College at the time. The crew spent two weeks in Austin, getting to know the competitors and delving into the background and mindset of the competition. Morgan and Burr became so enamored of the city during their stay, that they relocated to Austin in January.

"We spent four months editing in Casey's garage surrounded by boxes, dust, and poor lighting. We all went a little crazy from balancing our work on Pun-Smoke with our day jobs, but it was worth it. We're really proud of the final product. Pun-Smoke is infectious. We had a party after our test screening where everyone wound up punning until dawn. I was really happy to see that effect on our audience," says Burr.

Don't miss this hilarious look at the annual celebration of punning that is sure to elicit as many groans as it does laughs. The screening will include a Q&A with the filmmakers, live punning demonstrations, and an opportunity for audience members to challenge veteran punsters. This event coincides with the 26^th Annual O. Henry Pun-Off World Championships, which will be held on the following Saturday, May 3^rd, at Wooldridge Park (www.punpnupun.com).

The Pun-Smoke World-Premiere Screening: The Alamo Drafthouse at 409 Colorado St., Thursday, May 1st at 9:30 PM. Admission is $6. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the O. Henry Museum (www.drafthouse.com).

About Open Road Media
Open Road Media is a production company based in Austin, Texas that specializes in documentaries dealing with cultural and historical subjects. The company's first film, a documentary on the eccentric world of Nascar fans called Me & God & Red Farmer, was selected for screening at The Nashville Independent Film Festival and The Atlanta Film and Video Festival. Open Road's next project will be a documentary about the history and legacy of "Hambone." For more information,