DON'T CALL THEM "REJECTIONS"
If you've done the research and really understood how political Film Festivals can be and the number of variables there are, it's easier to deal with not getting accepted. Big places like to deal with people who they've worked with before or big names, some festivals wind up with a "theme," some just have too many submissions and your movie got in after they'd programmed all of the slots... In fact, the reasons are so varied, that not getting into a Festival isn't necessarily a Rejection of the work so much as your film not "fitting" that year or in that particular Fest.
I bring this up, of course, because we just got our first refusal - from LIFT-OFF LOS ANGELES FESTIVAL - one of a series of "LIFT-OFF" Festivals around the world. If this was the very first place to get back to us, I'd maybe be taking it hard, but I'm pretty okay with the movie, so I'm chalking this up to "Millions of movies, specific criteria, fifty slots" kind of thing. They sent a well-worded form email being generally supportive, and you could always pay for specific feedback if you wanted it, but no.
And call it schadenfreude or even thinking too much, but I watched AMERICAN MOVIE again today and wow..... wow. There's a lot to be impressed by in that movie and a lot to pity. Most of all, keeping that passionate energy and drive and determination will get anything completed - as long as you're working with supportive people and, honestly, know what you're doing in terms of telling story. Mark Borchardt is a guy who really knew how to shoot film and frame some shots, but in terms of storytelling, he's a mess. But who cares? The fact is, he talked a great game, and was ultimately really supportive of people (unless that was part of the great game, but I doubt it).
I've been thinking about what to do next, in terms of shooting a film. Between some small ideas and some big ideas, I found that I'm not passionate enough about anything yet. I have more than enough on my plate right now with two short plays and directing "This Is Our Youth" for the NoHo Fringe in October, but I always want to have the answer to "what are you working on?"
"Getting sleep" is the current answer.
I bring this up, of course, because we just got our first refusal - from LIFT-OFF LOS ANGELES FESTIVAL - one of a series of "LIFT-OFF" Festivals around the world. If this was the very first place to get back to us, I'd maybe be taking it hard, but I'm pretty okay with the movie, so I'm chalking this up to "Millions of movies, specific criteria, fifty slots" kind of thing. They sent a well-worded form email being generally supportive, and you could always pay for specific feedback if you wanted it, but no.
And call it schadenfreude or even thinking too much, but I watched AMERICAN MOVIE again today and wow..... wow. There's a lot to be impressed by in that movie and a lot to pity. Most of all, keeping that passionate energy and drive and determination will get anything completed - as long as you're working with supportive people and, honestly, know what you're doing in terms of telling story. Mark Borchardt is a guy who really knew how to shoot film and frame some shots, but in terms of storytelling, he's a mess. But who cares? The fact is, he talked a great game, and was ultimately really supportive of people (unless that was part of the great game, but I doubt it).
I've been thinking about what to do next, in terms of shooting a film. Between some small ideas and some big ideas, I found that I'm not passionate enough about anything yet. I have more than enough on my plate right now with two short plays and directing "This Is Our Youth" for the NoHo Fringe in October, but I always want to have the answer to "what are you working on?"
"Getting sleep" is the current answer.
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