Montreal Tales

notredame church @ montreal
Originally uploaded by mariana_dias.

It is not as cold as people say. I mean, it is cold but it's cold in New York so it's not a shock to the system or anything.

I have been before but I always went with a friend of mine to visit her family. I did not go out to that many restaurants. This time I went to a bunch of restaurants.

I went for a market. These are kind of hard to explain. Basically, broadcasters and producers from around the world, in this case mainly France and Canada, come together to sit through panels and pitchs of new documentaries. The goal is to get broadcasters to come in early on your film. The US never does. They want to see the finished product. Our government does not give enough money for the arts. I could rant about this for hours!! Some countries are into really nebullous topics. A made up example: "I want to make a documentary about wicker. People who use wicker. What is wicker?" There are bidding wars for films like this.

I really earned my producer stripes this trip. I had to pitch in front of about 300 people. They had little earphones because most of the folks were French and had to listen to the translators, who were in the room with you. It was like the UN. We pitched an idea about a documentary version of a book we optioned called The Cheating Culture. The idea is that cheating is on the rise. And by cheating, we mean cheating professionally, academically, financially. But why? We would explore that idea through interviews with various cheaters, experts. I could write a bit more specifically but you get the point.

I tried to engage the audience by putting them into various situations and seeing whether they would cheat or not. Would you steal cable? If your daughter was sick and you had no health insurance, would you use someone else's insurance if it was offered to you, even though it is illegal? Most people would do both of these things. (I am not saying these two situations are the same by the way. They are different.) I had some good meetings. I have a lot of follow up to do. This business is all about meetings. The real work is making something concrete and real out of it.

I think the same can be said of relationships. I had a flirtation in Montreal. Just a flirtation.

I visited my friend's parents and went to this church. It was so beautiful. I am sad I did not bring my camera. Luckily someone else did. It was good to see them.

Finally, and this is not related, I have no problems with Valentine's Day, even though I'm single. I mean, whatever. It's never really been my "thing" when I am in a relationship. It is a day of too much pressure. But as an overall concept, it is fine. There is chocolate.

Valentine's Day is actually the holiday that I miss my brother and my Dad the most. Not Christmas or Thanksgiving. They would both give me flowers, candy and cards every year. My Dad, like me, was pretty unsentimental about most things but Valentine's Day he would buy me some cheesy card. I would just laugh at what a goofball he was but now I miss it. I have most of the cards they gave me. I kept them and for longest thought that I should throw them away because I have way too many papers in my closet. Now I am glad I did not do that. Maybe subconsciously I knew that I would want them someday. Who knows?

Comments

[L. Britt]

Your V-Day memories are the best I've heard.

[m.]

1. That sounds like a wonderful trip on so many counts.
2. I'd like to see that documentary!
3. I'm so glad you kept the cards. If I see anything with my father's handwriting on it, time stops. Now I want to go see if I have any cards...
4. My aunt has a recording of her father, who is now passed. He recorded a song a cappella just for her. She played it for me, last time I was in Dublin. It was one of the most touching things I'd ever experienced. I love the fact that people can be immortalized in these ways. handwriting, voice, photographs...