Yes, I know, it’s been way too long since I have posted an entry here. Being on the film festival roller coaster has surely worn me out. And late at night, just when I think I’m going to write something, my body says, “No, we need sleep, right now!” And it’s just too easy to give in. Anyway, no more excuses …
Since we were at Cinesol in Texas last month, we have had someone attending five different festivals. Three of which I have personally attended. I wish I could have gone to all five of them, but that would have been physically impossible, unless there are portals invented I’m unaware of, or cloning humans is now possible.
The first two we went to were in Europe, one in Marbella, Spain and the other in Westgate on Sea, UK. What was fun is that they were both on the ocean, one in the warm Mediterranean and the other on the cold North Sea/English Channel.
In between we spent a little time in Paris, and after both we were in London for a bit. So not bad at all; Mediterranean Spain, Paris and London all in a two-week span. I think the best part of it all was meeting people from all over the world, and to get some feeling for what they were about. And I don’t just mean the filmmakers, but we made several new friends and fans over there. A few we even hung out with, had lunch and dinner with, and they even invited us into their homes. Plus, we even got some invitations to stay with them whenever we were in that part of the world again. Very cool.
As far as what attending the actual festivals was really like, that was mixed. I think most of these festivals have good intentions, but so much of the time they don’t really pull it off. I’m not going to harangue any particular festival, because actually we had some issues at all three of these recent ones I attended. But if I have legitimate complaints I will just contact them personally and leave it at that.
It seems they sometimes forget that the whole reason we are there is for the audience. It’s not about them, or the filmmakers; it’s always about the audience. So, if they diminish or mismanage that, well, that is a real lost opportunity. Now of course, they do need to treat the filmmakers right, so we will keep wanting to come back. As hard as starting, running and managing a film festival can certainly be, I really don’t think it’s rocket science.
And I have to say, sure it’s fun to win awards and all that, but that is so transitory and it obviously was never about that. Doing the work, working the craft, improving the art, and then hopefully having others get enjoyment from it. That is important. The other stuff, well, we appreciate the notice, but it will always be about the work.
Now, on the horizon over the next six weeks we have three more festivals, and I will be attending them all. Besides meeting the people at these events, I really enjoy doing the ‘Q & A’s’. Especially if we get to explore the spiritual issues in the film. I like to see and hear what people think about how the film handled the presented issues, and then where we can go beyond the film. Because the film was only meant as a starting point, a trigger to get the ball rolling farther down the road. On a journey I think we’re all on, one way or another. Maybe, whether we realize it or not?
JAD
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