rescue me screening
Rescue Me screened at Jo's coffee shop last night, as a benefit for German Shepard Rescue, Emancipet and Rescuties. They made over $200 dollars, at least one dog was adopted and perhaps a few minds were changed.
I'm happy to report that since I made the film, Emancipet has gone from having a single surgery van and one vet, to having several vans, a clinic and 5 staff veterinarians. There are still animals being euthanized in Austin for being "extra", there still aren't any breeding regulations, no regulations on mandatory spay/neuter and still animals are released from the shelter without being spayed or neutered. Change happens slowly.
As I watched the film again I was less judgmental about the roughness of it, the audio problems, the lack of finesse. It was my first full length project, and I shot it "one-armed" and with more of a desire to document what I was seeing than a desire for perfection. I still believe that is how documentaries should be made. I don't like glossy, glitzy, documentaries. I don't like reenactments. I like it when I can pick up the camera when someone calls and says, "can we talk, now".
I also thought again about including the euthanasia in the film. The truth is that most of the people who see the film are already aware and seeing a euthanasia won't change anything for them. One festival told me they were going to show it, without the euthanasia. I nixed that. Yet seeing it again, watching the audience react to it, I wonder if it's too much. It has always seemed more honest to show the reality of what happens to the extra animals, not to just talk about what happens to them. I wanted to show that it happens even to puppies. I don't know.
The best part of the evening came after the screening when Beverly and Gordon each got up to speak about their rescue work and what it means to them. These were fine moments and as I watched them I realized they are why I made the film. In spite of the difficulties, the heartbreaks and the expense each of them makes a huge impact on the number of animals in Austin who are taken out of the shelter and found homes, each of them stays true to their values, they walk their talk.
All in all a good screening.
I'm happy to report that since I made the film, Emancipet has gone from having a single surgery van and one vet, to having several vans, a clinic and 5 staff veterinarians. There are still animals being euthanized in Austin for being "extra", there still aren't any breeding regulations, no regulations on mandatory spay/neuter and still animals are released from the shelter without being spayed or neutered. Change happens slowly.
As I watched the film again I was less judgmental about the roughness of it, the audio problems, the lack of finesse. It was my first full length project, and I shot it "one-armed" and with more of a desire to document what I was seeing than a desire for perfection. I still believe that is how documentaries should be made. I don't like glossy, glitzy, documentaries. I don't like reenactments. I like it when I can pick up the camera when someone calls and says, "can we talk, now".
I also thought again about including the euthanasia in the film. The truth is that most of the people who see the film are already aware and seeing a euthanasia won't change anything for them. One festival told me they were going to show it, without the euthanasia. I nixed that. Yet seeing it again, watching the audience react to it, I wonder if it's too much. It has always seemed more honest to show the reality of what happens to the extra animals, not to just talk about what happens to them. I wanted to show that it happens even to puppies. I don't know.
The best part of the evening came after the screening when Beverly and Gordon each got up to speak about their rescue work and what it means to them. These were fine moments and as I watched them I realized they are why I made the film. In spite of the difficulties, the heartbreaks and the expense each of them makes a huge impact on the number of animals in Austin who are taken out of the shelter and found homes, each of them stays true to their values, they walk their talk.
All in all a good screening.
Labels: film
1 Comments:
There's nothing better than feeling like what you're doing is actually making a difference, even if it's a small one. Congratulations.
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