Day 3 in Saugatuck - Waterfront Festival
Slept in this a.m. despite my alarm, out of bed at 10:00 a.m. It's finally settling in that I'm somewhere else, and I'm relaxing more every day. After a 3 mile run around town, compete with kids waving at me from their porches, and a brisk 50 degree morning.
After the run, back at the Ship N Shore, Maggie brought me coffee and we hung out with the gang for a "barbecue" which here means "cookout" not saucy meat. Met a lovely Frenchman who represents Nextcat a grown up version of Myspace. Signed us up.
First film of the day was a documentary Three Women and a Chateau, a slick historical doc, very nice. Then a group of shorts, with some good ones. Brining two home.
Talked the film up all day, as people said the film description sounded "depressing". Still wasn't sure what kind of turnout we'd have. Back at the ShipNShore for clean up and refresh.
Met Amy who had just shot a film in Miami. We exchanged cards and she told me all about shooting in Florida. Said the film commission was amazing and we'd have no trouble with getting approved for any funds from their program.
Met some others and talked up the film, at 8 headed for the venue. Made friends with the theatre manager, Pamela and Ross who ran the technical aspects. Told him the audio was up and down in places, etc. He assured me he'd keep it on target.
People started coming in. There was a line, a short, healthy line. More folks arrived, the venue looked about 1/2 full. I saw some faces of people I'd seen that day and given postcards too, a few filmmakers, too. I stayed in the lobby during the screening, a bit nervous and just listened to audio. Ross did an excellent job, he kept the levels spot on.
After the screening, I went in with Pamela to a clapping, stunned, quiet audience. I thanked them, gave them a moment and then the questions began. First question was whether Zak and his friends were completely apart now. I told the man that he'd have to answer that on his own, that we wanted the ending to be open. He liked that. I told him the friends seemed to be there for each other, but grief is hard and takes time. The next questions, "I only saw one stunt performer, did the kids do their own stunts?" I told the mayor/stunt/storm story. Next was a
question about where the story come from? Told them loosely based, etc. and that the story came from truth, as all good stories do. Next one was just a comment "This is a phenomenal film, thank you". Then, where will it show next? Then I thanked them and there was another group of people wanting to talk to me. One lady who works at a hospice and runs a
program for teens, wants to use it in her work. Another told me she just loved it. Out in the lobby, a lady was talking to Maggie who had been acting like just a regular person as the woman told her how much she loved the film, actually she told her that she had to keep reminding herself this was a festival because the kids were so professional in the film she just saw (jumping).
When I came out Maggie introduced me and the woman said she loved the film, but just had to take a moment before she could talk about it. Her husband then came over and said how much he loved it.
Then, I met a group from a film, "Eve of understanding". They loved the fillm and the director and I are on a panel together tomorrow. They shot part of their film in Austin and we made plans to hang out some tomorrow. A super nice group of people.
I went to the next film as the filmmakers who made it had come to ours, and it was a horror flick. A typical back from the dead/star crossed lovers story with a lot of violence and a little religion. The short before it, about a garden gnome gone mad, was terrifying.
Back to the ShipNShore, stopped at tonight's party on the way which was way too loud for us...so headed on to the hotel. Missed dinner, so we talked our night clerk at the ShipNshore out of some breakfast bananas.
Overall a good day and a great screening. I loved that our audience was small and appreciative.
Tomorrow, a walk to the dunes and then films, panel, films and perhaps another walk around this amazing town. So very tired now, off to bed.
file under: jumping off bridges
After the run, back at the Ship N Shore, Maggie brought me coffee and we hung out with the gang for a "barbecue" which here means "cookout" not saucy meat. Met a lovely Frenchman who represents Nextcat a grown up version of Myspace. Signed us up.
First film of the day was a documentary Three Women and a Chateau, a slick historical doc, very nice. Then a group of shorts, with some good ones. Brining two home.
Talked the film up all day, as people said the film description sounded "depressing". Still wasn't sure what kind of turnout we'd have. Back at the ShipNShore for clean up and refresh.
Met Amy who had just shot a film in Miami. We exchanged cards and she told me all about shooting in Florida. Said the film commission was amazing and we'd have no trouble with getting approved for any funds from their program.
Met some others and talked up the film, at 8 headed for the venue. Made friends with the theatre manager, Pamela and Ross who ran the technical aspects. Told him the audio was up and down in places, etc. He assured me he'd keep it on target.
People started coming in. There was a line, a short, healthy line. More folks arrived, the venue looked about 1/2 full. I saw some faces of people I'd seen that day and given postcards too, a few filmmakers, too. I stayed in the lobby during the screening, a bit nervous and just listened to audio. Ross did an excellent job, he kept the levels spot on.
After the screening, I went in with Pamela to a clapping, stunned, quiet audience. I thanked them, gave them a moment and then the questions began. First question was whether Zak and his friends were completely apart now. I told the man that he'd have to answer that on his own, that we wanted the ending to be open. He liked that. I told him the friends seemed to be there for each other, but grief is hard and takes time. The next questions, "I only saw one stunt performer, did the kids do their own stunts?" I told the mayor/stunt/storm story. Next was a
question about where the story come from? Told them loosely based, etc. and that the story came from truth, as all good stories do. Next one was just a comment "This is a phenomenal film, thank you". Then, where will it show next? Then I thanked them and there was another group of people wanting to talk to me. One lady who works at a hospice and runs a
program for teens, wants to use it in her work. Another told me she just loved it. Out in the lobby, a lady was talking to Maggie who had been acting like just a regular person as the woman told her how much she loved the film, actually she told her that she had to keep reminding herself this was a festival because the kids were so professional in the film she just saw (jumping).
When I came out Maggie introduced me and the woman said she loved the film, but just had to take a moment before she could talk about it. Her husband then came over and said how much he loved it.
Then, I met a group from a film, "Eve of understanding". They loved the fillm and the director and I are on a panel together tomorrow. They shot part of their film in Austin and we made plans to hang out some tomorrow. A super nice group of people.
I went to the next film as the filmmakers who made it had come to ours, and it was a horror flick. A typical back from the dead/star crossed lovers story with a lot of violence and a little religion. The short before it, about a garden gnome gone mad, was terrifying.
Back to the ShipNShore, stopped at tonight's party on the way which was way too loud for us...so headed on to the hotel. Missed dinner, so we talked our night clerk at the ShipNshore out of some breakfast bananas.
Overall a good day and a great screening. I loved that our audience was small and appreciative.
Tomorrow, a walk to the dunes and then films, panel, films and perhaps another walk around this amazing town. So very tired now, off to bed.
file under: jumping off bridges
Labels: film
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