Day 2 in Saugatuck - Waterfront Festival
Woke early this a.m. in time to get coffee on the way to the 9 a.m. screening. Stopped at the local coffee shop and while there, a man asked if we were going to a film and if so, could he interview us? I told him we're actually going to a film I represent and of course, but he has to
come with us as we're on the way now.
He grabbed his tape recorder and walked with Maggie and I the 5 or so blocks to Saugatuck High. The air in Saugatuck is lightly fragrant, floral and herbal, the houses are all tidy, with well kept gardens and yard art. The people all smile. The wonderful thing is, it's all honest, a true, tiny village of happy people.
The three of us strolled up the hill to venue 1, Saugatuck Middle/High school. As he began the interview for Grand Rapids 77, he said, oh and you will be talking to (and he put on German accent) Heimliech. He didn't want us to think he was crazy or anything, but we would be talking with his radio persona.
Are there any movie stars in the film? (one of the stars of Lost!)
Why didn't I have a cowboy hat? ( left it at home, of course)
As we neared the high school, Heimliech complimented me on a great interview and dashed back down the hill.
At the school, there were a few cars parked outside, a healthy crew of volunteers, and despite it being 9 a.m. on Friday, a bit of a line. I saw Hal, the technical screening guy and he said all was well. They introduced the film, said the director would be there, (I was hopeful that maybe Kat was indeed flying in!)
The screening went well. The audio was very spotty, I took notes for Justin. The input was in and out,it was a DVD player with lose cables. People seemed rapt anyway.
As the movie ended, the applause came up and everyone stayed. I found my way down and was introduced as Producer. I thanked them all for coming and then the questions began. I saw between 20 and 30 people in the audience. First question, "I loved your film, you made me cry." Next question, "the film was so real, so honest, I just loved it", it continued. My coal minor documentary filmaker friends were there they asked what things we did to get the film made. I related the mayor jump story. A question about the budget, I was evasive.
More applause, then the walk back to the ship n shore with our coal friends who were just talking about the film and what they loved about it. I wished I could go for a long run along the lake, I was so happy. Back at the hotel, I grabbed my hoodie and put on a long sleeved shirt.
It was a cold cold morning.
Maggie and I got more coffee and I got some oatmeal and we made friends with the coffee shop waitress who even gave Maggie a gold star, made of paper, but gold nonetheless, for guessing the name of a Michigan tree and just for being cool.
We headed out for some town tramping and window shopping. Saugatuck has a really cool shoe store and lots of fudge and ice cream stores. Thank goodness Maggie is on a strict diet these days. We looked at, but did not taste any fudge or icecream.
We had a lovely lunch of carrot ginger soup and mango quesadillos and then headed out to see the Sasquatch Dumpling Gang, but alas, we were intercepted by our friends with the coal mining doc, who were off to see Back to Bosnia, so we joined them as we adore them.
Back to Bosnia was an excellent film. The director and producer were there and they had a warm reception and an active Q&A. It's a film about a family who goes back to Bosnia after the Serbs are supposed to leavce to reclaim their apartment, only to find a family in their apartment who doesn't want to leave. Serioulsy, the origainal families rug and juice glasses are there with the new family. Super film.
So, then we went back to the Ship N Shore and met more people. The temperature dropped even more. I found a nice warm hoodie made in Ecuador at a "fair trade" store and bought it, as I had not packed for cool weather.
I found the exec. at Roar, one of the festival sponsors, and told him I had a script for him, he sounded delighted and grinned at me. This could be good. Mr. Roar, or "Fro" as is on his name tag. I got a good feeling from him.
I also met a big group from Boston and the mom and dad of the film festival founders. This festival is a true family effort. Mom is in charge of making sure all venues have cash to make change with, Dad shuttles people around a lot. It's a sweet sweet group of people.
Maggie and I went to a Michigan film party for dinner, they had a chocolate fountain but I focused on the veggie plate. I did a pretzel dipped in chocolate, which was, I think, a little bit healthier than marshmallows dipped in chocolate. Anyway, we had planned on going to see
Small Town Gay Bar as we'd made friends with the director of the film and the short that preceded it, but it is very cold here and the film screened outdoors at a place you have to catch a shuttle bus to. Maggie rationally felt that it was way too cold to sit outside for two hours,
so we went to see Mojave Phonebooth instead, something some other new friends were going to see. The short that preceded it was hilarious, Divorce Lemonade.
What I'm hearing from people is that they are thinking of seeing our film, then they read the program and are afraid it's depressing. This is a theme that I correct as I hear it. Something to pay attention to.
The programmers all seem to love our film and thanks to Heimliech and our new friends and publicity efforts, I think we'll get a great crowd tomorrow night.
As we got back to the Ship N Shore, it was even colder and it began to rain.
I am getting up early in the a.m. for a run around Sauguatuck, a town that is beautiful and sweet and that I have come to feel quite affectionate about.
file under: jumping off bridges
come with us as we're on the way now.
He grabbed his tape recorder and walked with Maggie and I the 5 or so blocks to Saugatuck High. The air in Saugatuck is lightly fragrant, floral and herbal, the houses are all tidy, with well kept gardens and yard art. The people all smile. The wonderful thing is, it's all honest, a true, tiny village of happy people.
The three of us strolled up the hill to venue 1, Saugatuck Middle/High school. As he began the interview for Grand Rapids 77, he said, oh and you will be talking to (and he put on German accent) Heimliech. He didn't want us to think he was crazy or anything, but we would be talking with his radio persona.
Are there any movie stars in the film? (one of the stars of Lost!)
Why didn't I have a cowboy hat? ( left it at home, of course)
As we neared the high school, Heimliech complimented me on a great interview and dashed back down the hill.
At the school, there were a few cars parked outside, a healthy crew of volunteers, and despite it being 9 a.m. on Friday, a bit of a line. I saw Hal, the technical screening guy and he said all was well. They introduced the film, said the director would be there, (I was hopeful that maybe Kat was indeed flying in!)
The screening went well. The audio was very spotty, I took notes for Justin. The input was in and out,it was a DVD player with lose cables. People seemed rapt anyway.
As the movie ended, the applause came up and everyone stayed. I found my way down and was introduced as Producer. I thanked them all for coming and then the questions began. I saw between 20 and 30 people in the audience. First question, "I loved your film, you made me cry." Next question, "the film was so real, so honest, I just loved it", it continued. My coal minor documentary filmaker friends were there they asked what things we did to get the film made. I related the mayor jump story. A question about the budget, I was evasive.
More applause, then the walk back to the ship n shore with our coal friends who were just talking about the film and what they loved about it. I wished I could go for a long run along the lake, I was so happy. Back at the hotel, I grabbed my hoodie and put on a long sleeved shirt.
It was a cold cold morning.
Maggie and I got more coffee and I got some oatmeal and we made friends with the coffee shop waitress who even gave Maggie a gold star, made of paper, but gold nonetheless, for guessing the name of a Michigan tree and just for being cool.
We headed out for some town tramping and window shopping. Saugatuck has a really cool shoe store and lots of fudge and ice cream stores. Thank goodness Maggie is on a strict diet these days. We looked at, but did not taste any fudge or icecream.
We had a lovely lunch of carrot ginger soup and mango quesadillos and then headed out to see the Sasquatch Dumpling Gang, but alas, we were intercepted by our friends with the coal mining doc, who were off to see Back to Bosnia, so we joined them as we adore them.
Back to Bosnia was an excellent film. The director and producer were there and they had a warm reception and an active Q&A. It's a film about a family who goes back to Bosnia after the Serbs are supposed to leavce to reclaim their apartment, only to find a family in their apartment who doesn't want to leave. Serioulsy, the origainal families rug and juice glasses are there with the new family. Super film.
So, then we went back to the Ship N Shore and met more people. The temperature dropped even more. I found a nice warm hoodie made in Ecuador at a "fair trade" store and bought it, as I had not packed for cool weather.
I found the exec. at Roar, one of the festival sponsors, and told him I had a script for him, he sounded delighted and grinned at me. This could be good. Mr. Roar, or "Fro" as is on his name tag. I got a good feeling from him.
I also met a big group from Boston and the mom and dad of the film festival founders. This festival is a true family effort. Mom is in charge of making sure all venues have cash to make change with, Dad shuttles people around a lot. It's a sweet sweet group of people.
Maggie and I went to a Michigan film party for dinner, they had a chocolate fountain but I focused on the veggie plate. I did a pretzel dipped in chocolate, which was, I think, a little bit healthier than marshmallows dipped in chocolate. Anyway, we had planned on going to see
Small Town Gay Bar as we'd made friends with the director of the film and the short that preceded it, but it is very cold here and the film screened outdoors at a place you have to catch a shuttle bus to. Maggie rationally felt that it was way too cold to sit outside for two hours,
so we went to see Mojave Phonebooth instead, something some other new friends were going to see. The short that preceded it was hilarious, Divorce Lemonade.
What I'm hearing from people is that they are thinking of seeing our film, then they read the program and are afraid it's depressing. This is a theme that I correct as I hear it. Something to pay attention to.
The programmers all seem to love our film and thanks to Heimliech and our new friends and publicity efforts, I think we'll get a great crowd tomorrow night.
As we got back to the Ship N Shore, it was even colder and it began to rain.
I am getting up early in the a.m. for a run around Sauguatuck, a town that is beautiful and sweet and that I have come to feel quite affectionate about.
file under: jumping off bridges
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