Festivals and Cider

Today, at the ungodly hour of 12pm on a Saturday morning when I went out until 3am the night before, I went to see my short film, Conversations with Id, at The Imagenation Film Festival in Harlem. Id was a short film that I made as my non-thesis film for a penny and a quarter. (OK, not that little but it felt like it.) The film is surrounded with drama for many reasons that I am too discreet to mention but I always had mixed feelings about it. I guess, rather I know, it didn't turn out exactly the way I wanted it to. It hasn't had too much of a festival life but that is partially due to the fact that I haven't submitted it to that many festivals, only the huge ones that no one gets into.

I did submit to this one because I was excited to be in a festival that was based in Harlem and the programmers was so into it after they saw it The Women of Color Film Festival. I went by myself mainly because I just felt like it. It was cool to be in my old neighborhood. I ate at Manna, a kick ass buffet spot that costs next to nothing, and walked around The Schomberg while on my cell with my friend, Sharon, in LA who I have not spoken to for the longest. She like many of my other friends wanted to know who was the guy I mentioned a few entries ago who got married. He honestly is someone I don't know AT ALL. She made reference to the new pairing of Derek Jeter and Jessica Alba as another upsetting pairing. I would agree if I didn't have a crush on Jessica Alba myself. I mean, I know she's not a rocket scientist but I can't help it.

The crowd was primarily African-American but filled with teenagers who had made a video that was in the featival. It was cool to be around teenagers again. I had never done a Q and A for this film before and I had to strain my brain to remember why I actually made the decisions I made. It was nice to be able to talk about my work and have people respond positively to it. I am trying to enjoy things a bit more. Trying to acknowledge good moments when they happen.

The other nice thing is to talk to non-filmmakers who are just so supportive. Sometimes it feels like, because I am a part of the filmmaking community, I am surrounded by people who aren't really impressed about anything. Everyone wants to do more than they've done and you get no points for accomplishing anything. Maybe that's how I make myself feel. I'm not sure. This is a girl who has just had a cider and is listening to Cassandra Wilson so maybe my sense of perspective is off. Plus, it is hotter than hell tonight in New York. I feel like I am in a Tennesee Williams play.