Cynematik • Cyndi Greening

News on the internet is that Cam Gigandet (who played the evil vampire in TWILIGHT) is going to be starring in a new movie called PRIEST. Screen Gems, a division of Sony Corp will be distributing it. To be directed by Scott Stewart, PRIEST is a horror, Western, vampire flick.

The film is set in a world ravaged by centuries of war between humans and vampires. People are congregated in cities for their “safety and protection.” The skies are polluted, there is little privacy, daily religious observance is required. Only rebels and outcasts dare to live outside the city walls in the Wasteland. Gigandet will play a sheriff who is part vampire who joins the rescue team to save his niece. Michael De Luca, Josh Donen, and Mitchell Peck will be producing the film.

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We spent the last to weeks working with Autodesk Maya. This time, it was at Phoenix Country Day School with students in grades 5 through 11. I am always amazed at how quickly and easily the students adapt to the logic of the software. Within a few hours, they were modeling with polygons, NURBs and subD’s. They were applying surface textures and animating their objects using keyframe and path animation. The thing they liked the most was Learning Maya 6 | Dynamics. They were building bowling alleys, fountains, mousetraps and Rube Golberg devices. It was inspiring, simply inspiring. I’ve read hundreds of (mediocre) Maya books. It’s hard to find good books. The BEST book out there on dynamics is actually published by Alias … and amazingly it was written for version six but it works just as well with the latest versions.

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Out magazine just published their third annual list of “The Power 50: The Most Powerful Gay Men and Women in America,” which means it’s time for MOMBIAN’s third annual list of The Most Powerful Lesbian Moms in America.

“The definition of “power” is subjective, of course. For the purposes of this list, I considered it to mean someone who is known by a large cross-section of the population, within or outside the lesbian community, is at or near the top of her chosen profession, or who is in some other way a well-known personality and long-time influencer. I aimed for inclusion rather than exclusion, but tried to pick those whose impact in their fields or in the world at large is widespread and lasting. I intend this to be a fun list, not to be taken too seriously, so let me know if I’ve missed anyone you deem worthy.

I’m including the names of partners, even if one person is not as well known, in order to acknowledge the contributions of both people to their households and to each others’ achievements. (I may have missed a few partners, however, if their names are not public, and blurred matters if one partner came along when the children were older. I was not able to find last names and professions for a few others. Someday I’ll be able to hire that research staff.)

Out only has 12 women on their list, two less than last year, so I’m hoping my suggestions may help them find a better balance. If I can come up with the names of over 50 powerful people who are not only lesbians but also moms (a few less if we omit less-known partners), surely Out can add some more lesbians to its Power 50. Out gave more weight to political clout in all its picks, whereas I looked at overall clout, political or professional. And yes, the balance of power still swings male in our society, so maybe it’s not Out’s fault. But still, I can’t believe the balance is so skewed.

I’ll also add that we must each define success for ourselves. It may mean choosing to stay home with one’s children, or to forgo career advancement for the sake of one’s family. For those who strive to achieve in both career and family, however, these moms are inspirational.

Of course, the thing about motherhood is that your kids always think you’re the most powerful mom(s) in the world, and it’s their opinions that really matter.

In alphabetic, not rank, order by last name of the generally more well-known partner:

• Susan Arnold, former vice chair and president of global business units at Proctor & Gamble, and Diana Salter (profession unknown)
• Amanda Bearse, actor and director
• Elizabeth Birch, LGBT-rights advocate and former head of HRC
• Lisa Brummel, senior vice president for human resources, Microsoft
• Beth Callaghan, co-founder of Our Chart; director of Web operations, for technology site All Things D, and former editor-in-chief of PlanetOut
• Greta Cammermeyer, Colonel, Washington National Guard (ret.) and LGBT-rights activist, and Diane Divelbess, artist
• Ilene Chaiken, creator and executive producer of The L Word
• Debra Chasnoff, Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker
• Mary Cheney, public relations executive, political campaigner, and vice-presidential daughter, and Heather Poe, former U.S. Park Ranger
• Cat Cora, “Iron Chef,” and Jennifer Cora (profession unknown)
• Judy Dlugacz, founder and president of Olivia, and Rachel (last name and profession unknown)
• Karla Drenner, Georgia State Representative
• Amy Errett, partner, Maveron (a venture capital firm), former CEO of Olivia, former chief asset gathering officer, E*Trade, and Clare (last name and profession unknown)
• Melissa Etheridge, musician, and Tammy Lynn Etheridge née Michaels, actor
• Jodie Foster, actor, and Cydney Bernard, film producer (I’m adding their names with the caveat that it is debatable whether Foster’s thanking of “my beautiful Cydney” during a speech in 2008 was meant as a coming out, and whether the two split later that year per tabloid rumors. Their children bear both their names, however, which to me is indicative enough to warrant their inclusion here.)
• Jenny Fulle, executive vice president of production and executive producer of Sony Pictures Imageworks, and pioneer in opening up Little League to girls
• Sara Gilbert, actor, and Alison Adler, TV producer
• Judy Gold, stand-up comedian and two-time Emmy Award-winning writer and producer of The Rosie O’Donnell Show
• Lisa Henderson, general manager, Olivia, and partner (name and profession unknown)
• Dr. Delores A. Jacobs, chief executive officer of The San Diego LGBT Community Center, and Dr. Heather Berberet
• Nina Jacobson, film producer, currently at DreamWorks SKG, and formerly president of Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group
• Cheryl Jacques, administrative judge for the Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents, former head of HRC, and former Massachusetts State Senator, and Jennifer Chrisler, executive director of the Family Equality Council
• Jolie Justus, Missouri state senator
• Kate Kendell, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and Sandy Holmes (profession unknown)
• Honey Labrador, designer, television personality, and former model, and Nikki Flux, actor
• Annie Leibowitz, photographer
• Dr. Susan Love, president and medical director of the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation, and leader of the breast cancer advocacy movement, and Dr. Helen Cooksey, surgeon
• Del Martin (d. August 2008) and Phyllis Lyon, activists
• Mary Beth Maxwell, candidate for labor secretary and founding Executive Director of American Rights at Work
• Cynthia Nixon, actor, and Christine Marinoni, education activist
• Rosie O’Donnell, actor and television personality, and Kelli O’Donnell, founder of R Family Vacations and former Nickelodeon marketing executive
• Hilary Rosen political commentator and former head of the Recording Industry of America (RIAA)
• E. Denise Simmons, mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Mattie Hayes
• Kara Swisher, Wall Street Journal columnist, co-executive editor of technology site All Things D, and Megan Smith, vice president of new business development at Google
• Sheryl Swoopes, professional basketball player and three-time Olympic gold medalist, and Alisa Scott, former basketball player and coach
• Linda Villarosa, author, journalist, public speaker, former editor of the New York Times and former executive editor of Essence Magazine, and Jana Welch, marketing executive”

The sort of list that would be unlikely to show up on Amazon.com … stop erasing us … visibility is vital.

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Short filmmakers who are committed to being successful and catapulting their film career into motion have an amazing resource available to them. Former Sundance programmer Roberta Munroe has written a book entitled HOW NOT TO MAKE A SHORT FILM. During her five-year stint at Sundance, Roberta watched THOUSANDS of short films. She’s seen every mistake, every cliche, every bad choice beginning filmmakers make. And, she’s seen the films that shine, that stand out from the crowd, the films that launch careers.

If you’re thinking about making a short film, RUN (don’t walk) to the nearest bookstore. The book is a bible for short filmmakers. Among the things Roberta covers: how to keep your story fresh, getting your story to the right length, finding and keeping a great producer, finding the money, getting the talent, getting into an A-tier festival and using your film to launch your career. It is simply excellent. There’s even a cliche list of things to avoid. It is painful to find something you wrote on the list but infinitely better than losing a shot at a festival because you didn’t know every lame short has that cliche in it. Get the book. Read the book.

There’s even a better option for short filmmakers. Roberta offers a one-on-one consulting service. She’ll review your script, let you know if it’s worth your time and effort to make and, if it is, offer notes and detailed advice on how to strengthen it for the A-tier film circuit. If you’re working on a feature, she can help you with that as well.

I sent her a short script I’d been loving for a couple of years and the guys were wanting to shoot. Before we committed the time to do it (because we have so many other projects going on), I wanted to get her thoughts on it. She was direct and thorough in her analysis of the characters and the story. She offered concrete suggestions (without rewriting it or making it her story) to bring it up a notch. She cut to the chase and now I’m more enthused than ever about doing it. More importantly, the film will be stronger because of her input.

So, if you’re a short filmmaker, read the book and consider having Roberta read your material. It may make the difference between a tepid response and a rapid rise in the festival circuit.

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My blogging has been atrocious, of late, and I am quite disappointed in myself. I have a really good excuse this time (of course, I always think I have a really good excuse). This time it’s a really good one. I just got back from Los Angeles where I went to see Jordan Pack, a former animation student, win a student Emmy for an animated film he produced. The film was entitled KITES. The film is the story of a boy who comes to deal with his Grandfather’s death by doing something they always did together, flying kites.

Following his graduation from MCC, he was accepted in the Animation and Film program at Brigham Young University. He produced this film his senior year at BYU. He now works for Avalanche (Disney’s gaming arm) were he is a generalist (meaning he does all facets of the gaming production including design, texturing, modeling and such).

Jordan is a really terrific guy … talented, hard-working, creative, generous and kind. He even offered the director (Jed Henry, standing behind him) one-half of the prize money because of all his hard work. He’s just a really decent guy.

Anyway, the ceremony was on Saturday evening at Sony’s Culver City Studios. Fourteen awards were given out. The top three candidates in each category were in attendance. The winner was announced that evening (no one knew who would be the first prize winner). Jordan, James and Jed’s film KITES was the first place winner.

During his acceptance speech, Jordan thanked his wife, his crew and his teachers. He mentioned two professors from BYU (who were in attendance with me). He also thanked Mesa Community College professors Jim Garrison and Cyndi Greening. It was pretty cool to be called out in front of everyone.

Among the presenters were Chris O’Donnell who played Robin to George Clooney’s BATMAN, Masa Oki who plays Hiro from the television show HEROES, and Pauley Perrett who stars on NCIS. There were tons of other industry folks there. Jorge Gutierrez and Sandra Equihua (writer/producerrs of EL TIGRE: THE ADVENTURES OF MANNY RIVERA) were the presenters for the animated film category. During their speech, Jorge revealed that he had won the Student Emmy ten years earlier and it had completely changed his life.

Click on the image above to see the photos from the event.

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On my Facebook account, I’ve been updating my status frequently with the comments about my work on “the Emily and Susan” story. I’m always a bit obtuse about it because, like all writers, I have this basic fear that someone else will see the story and decide to do something similar. And I think this is a really good, really amazing story.

A bit more than two years ago, I was “in a poetry phase.” I’d recently re-watched SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE and was enamored of the written word. I started messing around with sonnets … again … almost with the same enthusiasm as when I was in college. Soon, the rigor of the form dampened creativity and the sonnet lost its appeal. So I started playing with free verse and, for inspiration, I spent time re-reading my favorite poets. I stumbled back into Emily Dickinson. Her biography was well-known to me. Unmarried, probably agoraphobic, woman dies with only ten (10!) poems published. Following her death, over 1700 (that’s one thousand, seven hundred) poems are discovered in her home in bound books she called “fasicles.” One thousand, seven hundred.

I started writing a poem a day using Dickinson as my standard bearer. I loved her imagery, her cadence, her style.

Her breast is fit for pearls,
But I was not a “Diver”–
Her brow is fit for thrones
But I have not a crest.
Her heart is fit for home–
I–a Sparrow–built there
Sweet of twigs and twine
My perennial nest.

I started noticing the tenderness and longing and eroticism in her writing. So, how does a reputed agoraphobe have these sorts of thoughts? Did she have relationships in her adolescence of which I was unaware? So, I started reading more. More on her biography and more of her poetry.

WILD nights! Wild nights!
Were I with thee,
Wild nights should be
Our luxury!

Futile the winds
To a heart in port,—
Done with the compass,
Done with the chart.

Rowing in Eden!
Ah! the sea!
Might I but moor
To-night in thee!

Who the heck is she mooring in? Wild nights with whom? Whose breasts? Doesn’t sound much like a (male) editor that she’s pining for, does it? And then I find information on Susan Gilbert Dickinson, her sister-in-law. A woman she knew from school, a woman who married her brother, Austin, and lived next door to family home for Emily’s entire adult life. About half of Emily’s correspondence was to Susan and many poems were written TO her or ABOUT her (in spite of efforts by others to obliterate Susan from Emily’s writings.

Scholar Martha Nell Smith’s wonderful books OPEN ME CAREFULLY and ROWING IN EDEN offered a more complete, richer biography of Emily. Using the poetry and correspondence of both Emily and Susan, Professor Smith brought an entirely new understanding of Emily Dickinson and her work.

Tomorrow, more about the mistress of Austin Dickinson and the writings of Susan Dickinson. If you haven’t figured it out, I’m working on a screenplay about the Dickinsons.

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Monica Mvula, Zambia

Yesterday, I had an exciting interview with Emily Dickinson scholar Martha Nell Smith. I woke up eager for the day because of an upcoming meeting with a film distributor. And, then, it all turned on a dime. An email from the director of BAD TIMING, Jabbes Mvula wrote about his younger sister, Monica.

She was wonderful when we were shooting the film. She let us use her car and her cell phone. A teacher with a shy smile, she helped us located children for several key scenes in the movie. She brought us the delightful Alisam Piri (see below). She was instrumental in completing the film.

We got word she died last week. “I wish she had seen the film screened and distributed in Zambia,” her elder brother wrote. Me, too. I suddenly felt the pressure of time, the weight of decisions, and the importance of completing creative projects. I am deeply saddened to hear of her passing.

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A post from two years ago … while we were in Africa.

BY CYNDI GREENING, PRODUCER, LUSAKA, ZAMBIA – On Friday, we had a wonderful shooting experience. The folks a ZNBC, ZNIS and ZAMNET allowed us to use a soundproof stage to shoot the classroom scenes in the film. With all of the children there, the teacher and the policeman, we really needed the space. It also allowed us to build a lot more motion into the shots. We were able to use the dolly and the glidecam. We could have used a few more area lights. Of course all of the equipment means nothing if you don’t have good actors. We had some wonderful child actors. The children are so natural on camera; they aren’t self-conscious at all. In fact, they barely seem self-aware. One of my favorites was little Alisam Piri. I learned how a Zambian child indicates he doesn’t know what to do. I asked him to write his name on a piece of paper. He quickly complied. When I asked him to write his numbers, he turned his hand palm up and waved it from side to side. Monica, his teacher, said, “He doesn’t know his numbers yet.” He was a great little actor. We even made him cry on cue.

When they were acting, Jabbes promised them each a very special present. He gave them each a brand new MCC pencil of their very own. They were very excited with that gift. I can’t imagine American actors being satisfied with a pencil. Jabbes has been doing a good job with the actors. I’m surprised how well they take direction. He tells them what he’s trying to achieve and they respond so well. Even the more seasoned actors have been really great about giving him what he wants.

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Script Doctor John Truby offers the following ten mistakes that screenwriters make:

Great Mistake 1: The story idea isn’t original.

Great Mistake 2: Writers often use the wrong genre to develop the idea, or they impose the pre-determined genre beats onto the idea instead of finding events that are original to the idea.

Great Mistake 3: They think a hit movie script is all about finding the high concept premise. But they don’t know how to extend the premise, from the two or three scenes suggested by the high concept to a 110-page script.

Great Mistake 4: They don’t know how to hang the story on the seven major story structure steps, so the plot fails to come out of character and the main character does not change.

Great Mistake 5: They think of the hero as a separate individual with a list of superficial character traits instead of as part of a web of characters, each character structurally different from the others.

Great Mistake 6: They try to create their plot using the three-act structure, which doesn’t work and causes a weak middle, instead of using the 22 building blocks of every great story that builds the plot steadily from beginning to end.

Great Mistake 7: They fail to give their hero a moral as well as an emotional weakness at the beginning of the story.

Great Mistake 8: They don’t know how to create the story world or how to connect it to the hero.

Great Mistake 9: They think the story is carried in the dialogue, or they force the dialogue to do the work that structure should do.

Great Mistake 10: They don’t know that rewriting is a set of skills, just like plot and character. So they rewrite in the wrong order, and their second draft is worse than their first.

If you’re a filmmaker and want to improve your films, you should get Truby’s Great Screenwriting: The Foundation Course … even if you DON’T want to write, you will understand the story structure sooooo much better and build a better film. Go check out the website and see what you think. There are some media links you can check out.

Interviews with John Truby about
The Anatomy of Story

	Writer’s Digest Article
	KCUR (NPR station in Kansas City)
	Part 1 and 2, Premise and Seven Steps
	Part 3, Plot
	Part 4, Opposition

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Former 3D animation and film student jordan Pack just emailed that a film he produced won the student emmy. Very cool and exciting! Another student, Steven Glauser commented on Facebook that he works with Jordan at Disney. How very cool! Just had to get it up right away.

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I’ve been tutoring a young fellow for the last year. It’s been interesting to revisit all of the things we were taught in high school. Last week, I was drilling him for a history exam. The Great Depression was the topic of study. It was fascinating to read about FDR’s New Deal, his economic stimulus package, the statistics on unemployment during the great depression. I found myself wanting to read more to compare the challenge that Barack Obama is facing as the President-Elect of the New Great Depression! I am certain he studied history and knows what was done in the past.

In the review session, Alec was talking about how Frances Perkins became the first woman cabinet member. She was FDRs Secretary of Labor for his entire tenure. Of course, I always like when we hear about the “first woman” to whatever.

A few days later, I got to thinking about the big fire in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York in 1911. I had remembered learning about that when I was in high school. I recalled that around 150 women were killed because the factory doors were locked and that the ladders on the horse-drawn fire trucks only reached as high as the sixth floor … but the women were on the eighth floor. Many jumped to their deaths rather than dying in the fire. I recalled that it lead to stricter labor laws and sweeping factory reforms.

On the Cornell University website, there’s an excellent section on U.S. Labor laws and the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. While exploring their site I notice Frances Perkins had been a young woman in the city when the fire broke out. She had witnessed the women jumping from the windows and followed the prosecution of the factory owners. Perhaps that is why Perkins helped write legislation and supported such things as Unemployment Compensation, Disability Insurance and Social Security. If is often surprising to watch the ripple of each major event that occurs in history.

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After spending two days in Boston, we had made the tour of all the significant sites related to Anne Hutchinson and Mary Dyer. We went to the Olde Meeting House and the site of Anne’s former home. We went down to the wharf and pondered how the Puritans came to the New World. We went to Boston Common to visit the site where Governor John Endicott had decreed that Mary Dyer should be hanged for being a Quaker. The irony, of course, is that the statute of Mary Dyer in front of the Boston State House overlooks where she was hanged in Boston Common. Likewise, Anne’s statue in Boston looks heavenward very near the area where she was tried and found guilty traducing the ministers. Those two statues are fairly well-known and can easily be found online. On Sunday, we followed the path the Hutchinson supporters took when they were exiled from Massachusetts. Traveling south from Quincy, Massachusetts, they travelled east of the Blue Hills, past Braintree and Brockton, near Taunton to arrive in what was then known as Pocassett. It was later renamed Portsmouth. We visited the local library (and found the librarians to be grumpy and not very helpful; they were, in fact, quite rude and unpleasant). We also found there was a local monument to Anne and Mary in Founders Brook Park. It was subtle and moving. The simple plaques were mounted on rocks that were in a circular arrangement. I liked how the two women were both honored in the same place … linked for eternity.

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We’re in New England, researching our own “CHATTY PILGRIMS” story. I wanted to come research in the dead of winter to fell more clearly what the Puritans endured during the less hospitable season. Anne Hutchinson was tried in November of 1637. She was found guilty and put under house arrest until March of 1638. At that point, she and approximately 70 of her friends, supporters and relatives packed their carts and started walking to their exile in Rhode Island. The goal of this research trip was to “feel” the environment, the weather, the atmosphere of the geographical location that is Boston’s Shawmut Peninsula. Tomorrow, we are following the path the Hutchinson party walked. We will be passing through Quincy, Braintree, Brockton, Taunton and finally arriving at Portsmouth. Since they actually left in March, our cinematographic journey is likely going to be less temperate than their journey but, given we’re in a Dodge Charger, we won’t be suffering too much.

Today, we went to THE OLD MEETING HOUSE which is now a museum in central Boston. It is an old Puritan Church, built in 1720. It has the high lecturn and stiff benches. Across the street is the property that formerly belonged to Anne Hutchinson. According to the plaque on the building, a fire in 1711 destroyed their home and a brick building was erected in the same location. We spent a great deal of time at THE BOSTON COMMONS trying to decide where they hanged Mary Dyer. Based on the written accounts, I tend to think it is up near The Old State House (since it is near the end of Court Street). Then we went down to the wharf to feel the brutal breeze off the harbor. Finally, we went to The North End of Boston to check out Paul Revere’s house and The Old North Church. Revere’s house was built in 1680 (just 20 years after they hanged Mary Dyer) but you couldn’t get near the building and you could photograph or video anything in the area. It was quite disappointing. Alec was quite vocal in his frustration.

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BY SANDY BOWE, CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI — I had the pleasure of traveling to Arizona from Wisconsin last weekend for the premiere of THE LAND OF REFUGE. It was an experience I will never forget! I arrived on Friday, the day before the premiere. I knew how busy Cyndi was because she actually encouraged me to waste some time before I went to her house! She indicated that she had a few things to accomplish and I was more than happy to spend some time with my son, Christopher. When I got the green light from Cyndi, I made my way to her house, followed by a relaxing dinner at BJ’s. Good company, good food and good conversation filled our night. I could tell that Cyndi had a lot on her mind, but she was her usual “social butterfly” self, so it was a fun night. After dinner, Cyndi, Joyce, Chris and I jumped into the Echo (or was it that wonderful upgraded Jeep?) and I recall many moments of genuine laughter as we drove home. All I can say is “crocheted hats” and “Kissyfur”.

I spent the night at Joyce’s. My own room — I can’t say I missed that mattress on the floor at Cyndi’s! Saturday morning, I dropped Cyndi off at her house so she could work on final edits with Pamela Jo, the other writer/producer. When Pam arrived at Cyndi’s, it was a Pam I’d never seen before. She looked like she was on the verge of tears. I think that’s what she looks like when she’s nervous! I did get to hear her laugh before I left to visit my mom and dad, so I knew she’d be alright. After visiting my parents, Joyce met me at the Flea Market. She had never been there before - I couldn’t believe it. She had never been to one of my “Phoenix Top Five”.

It’s Showtime … we all know how Cyndi’s clock works … way different than the standard clock most of us use. However, the night of the premiere, our clocks were running the same! Imagine three women all getting cleaned up and ready for the red carpet in less than an hour - we did it! I was quite amused watching Joyce match her blacks and she was as nervous as Cyndi. I was totally excited. Howie (a.k.a. Alec) was still on Cyndi’s clock. He wasn’t quite as speedy as us, but he looked dang sharp! Cyndi, Joyce and I were the first to arrive at the theater (that’s a fact). We even beat Pam and her family! While they tended to details, I waited for my parents to arrive with their friends from Pleasant Valley so I could direct them to the theater. When my son Chris and his wife Sara arrived, we took our seats in the theater. Sitting there watching people fill the theater was a surreal experience. After a brief introduction on how the premiere would be similar to the format used at “Sundance” and “Tribeca” (I wondered how many people in the theater had been to either or both - I wasn’t one of them), the house lights went down and the film began.

I thoroughly enjoyed the documentary. I felt it was well researched (as evidenced by the gentleman who was quite impressed by the information Pam and Cyndi were able to find, when he himself, a relative has never been able to find). The music was great. I learned so much and I couldn’t help but wonder about this lifestyle I still don’t quite understand. At the conclusion of the documentary, questions were fielded from the audience. Pam and Cyndi received flowers from the Bowman family (very sweet gesture). I got to meet many of Cyndi’s friends. Some I met years ago, but hadn’t seen in quite some time, others it was the first time I was able to put a name to a face. What a great bunch of people! Immediately following the film, many audience members made their way to the “Coffee Rush” for refreshments and conversation. I was one of them, but I was famished (as was Gina). While dreaming of solid, life-sustaining food, I was entranced by the buzz of conversation around me. I think I may have looked dazed and confused for awhile. It was a proud moment for Cyndi. The crew was there. Several other people who had put time and energy into the project were in attendance, also. I was in awe watching them interact. They were all on the same page. I tried to be, but my mind was food deprived, so I babbled non-sensical things off and on (more on than off).

We closed-up Coffee Rush and made our way back to Joyce’s. Cyndi drove through Burger King, so I filled my belly with health food! We talked a lot about the documentary and how positive we felt about the final product and the audience reaction. The team effort paid off and Cyndi and Pam can feel quite proud of their project. I am so very proud of them as well.

It was a pleasure spending the evening with everyone and I enjoyed meeting them all.

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What an exciting evening. Our documentary, THE LAND OF REFUGE, screened at the Harkins Theater at Superstition Springs this evening. The theater was almost full. I felt sorry for the people who were stuck down front. We had to go up to the screening booth and meet with the engineer to make sure the DVD worked. They had always said they’d never had a DVD fail and they continue to be infallible. It worked like a charm and, other than the engineer allowing the DVD to start playing from the previous position (rather than at the beginning) forcing a quick restart, it was a flawless presentation.

We had a Question and Answer (Q&A) afterwards. Priscilla commented on how many of the descendants of the original pioneers performed as voiceover talent for the doc. It was nice of her to notice and comment. A fellow in the back said that he was the grandson of Price William Nelson and that we had stories and images in our documentary that he had never seen. That gave me goosebumps. People asked about how to get information on where we’d found things. It was quite exciting. I got to tell everyone about how Justin had done aerial cinematography from the plane made out of a snowmobile motor. Pamela Jo was able to talk about the ten years of research that went into the making of the documentary. It was awesome to see our poster in the case outside the theater. Thanks and kudos to Jeanette for a fantastic poster. As Alec is fond of saying, our packaging was excellent. She helped us brand the film and make it instantly recognizable. I had a lot of friends in the audience. All in all, a very satisfying and wonderful experience.

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