That's A Wrap!

What a great weekend! The WCFF was everything I expected it to be. Most of it was good, some of it was a tad disappointing. But overall, with family present, good weather overhead and my documentary on the screen at two venues on Saturday...I couldn't ask for anything more. It was a tremendous first time out for me. I am delighted that my first acceptance and screening at a film festival happened in my hometown!

The festival venues were at the Chester County Historical Society and the Masonic Lodge's local chapter headquarters. Movies were screened in "film blocks" of eight and rotated between the two locations over the three day event. Hi8 1/2 first screened at 3 pm at the Masonic Lodge, and then later that evening at 9:30 at CCHS. I was at both screenings, but clearly the most memorable was when ten or so of my family members came to the afternoon screening. It was very special. Not only did they increase the attendance at this particular screening by 3x, but it was the first time any of them saw the doc, so no one knew exactly what to expect! Needless to say, they loved it!

After the screening there was a "meet and greet" the filmmakers event at a local restaurant. We all went back there and I spoke with the event organizers and a couple other filmmakers. Very small affair.

Unfortunately for the festival, most of the events held were lightly attended. The screening blocks I watched had no more than 25 people. The meet and greet was, as mentioned, smallish with less than 20 folks (not including the Hobans who clustered in a self imposed (I think) exile in an adjacent garden area outside).

The movies, themselves, ranged in quality from the very good to the questionably considered. I find it amazing that certain shorts gain acceptance into festivals. In my experience I've seen some real duds make it to the screen. Stories that start off great, that really engage the audience early on...only to fizzle out well before the third act. The weakest part of independent filmmaking, I feel, is the level to which many "makers" cannot tell a good, solid story. It's painful to sit through some of the offerings. And I'm not just talking about this most recent festival, but many others.

Don't get me wrong, there were some very, very good works this weekend. Eye Contact, a simple yet powerful "horror" story was well executed: locations, production, acting, editing and above all the music...all of it made for a very well polished, tense and tight thriller. I liked the style of Magritte Moment, and though it won for best "experimental film" in the festival, the narrative fell to pieces, I think, midway through the story. Flowers of Rwanda got my pick for best documentary, and I believe it won that award during the closing night festivities at The Note--West Chester's latest bar/restaurant, supposedly owned by Bam Margera of MTV/Jackass infamy.

As for Hi8 1/2, t succeeded in doing its job. It was accepted!! That's all I wanted. My first documentary to be accepted, since entering early work some fifteen years ago into area festivals. I was interested in examining the public's reaction to the short, but was not really able to get a large enough sample of reactions due to the overall low attendance numbers at the two venues. My family certainly enjoyed my antics with my students and the expected laughs were experienced, i.e. the Prank kids kissing, my line "...or I'll change your nationality", and best of all Ren Gates's reaction of "you only take three classes" after listening to Robert Livingston's post-production related offer. These and many other laughs were sprinkled throughout, but due to the lack of audience I wasn't able to get a large enough "sample number". Maybe there will be another festival.

But...great, great experience! I'd love to do it again somewhere else!!

Now, I must get back to my "life getting in the way" moments and write up some progress reports for current students.

thanks...