2016 was Motivational

Like you, I felt the loss of various icons of my youth (which is ongoing). David Bowie, Prince, George Michael, Carrie Fisher and a pile more. It matters because they impacted our lives and though the reverberations of their being will still be there, their demise reminds us that ours is just a bit further down the string.

Pieces of all of us.

There’s something else about 2016: I sold a movie, released two well-received web-series and got the green light to shoot a music video for a band that is one of the MANY remaining icons from my life.

My grandmother went from death’s door with incurable cancer to a nearly unheard of state of recovery from a treatment that was only meant to ease her suffering. I guarantee the word miracle crossed the lips of a few people in white coats who prefer to avoid the term. Like any of us, she won’t live forever, but I’m SO thankful for the added time with her here.

I’ve worked with incredible, generous people, traveled all over the place, grown closer to understanding myself, and re-focused my energy expenditures on those things that matter most: my wife and kids tower above everything else, as they should.

Simcoe Lights with my favourite humans.

Mostly, 2016 was a startlingly clear glimpse of what can happen in a year. I’m using the lessons learned, some discovered through research and intention, some through agony, and some completely by surprise, as rocket fuel.

There will be more stories written, told and put to music. There will be more travel. Life will be lived with curiousity and confidence, when available.

No mistakes, just happy accidents.

We lost a lot a lot in 2016, but we won’t let it drag us down. Those who left, left a mark and many of them would be appalled if we threw away the opportunity to do the same.

Happy New Year. See ya’ on the other side.

J

Well, THAT Sucked… (not the festival)

This past weekend was the World Premiere of Inspiration at The Blood in the Snow Canadian Film Festival. And boy, if it wasn’t one of the most heart-breaking experiences ever.

Just prior to the screening, we tested the DCP (the digital format of the film the theatre uses) and the projector was out of focus. The projectionist, an employee of the cinema, couldn’t figure it out. Luckily an attendee who neither works for the festival or Cineplex was able to fix it.

The crowd gathers.

After a 15 minute delay, we were able to open the doors of the packed lobby and let everyone in. My nerves were frazzled, but at least I felt confident everything looked great.

If you read this blog regularly, you’ll know I live with an anxiety disorder. Amazingly, it was in check as I sat down beside my wife in the gallery.

Kelly, the host of the event got things started and did a quick Q&A with Peter Campbell, whose short film “Taking Possession” would open the afternoon. Warm-up the crowd, so to speak.

Then Peter’s film came up. Looked and sounded great and the audience was suitably set in motion for the feature presentation.

Grinning Charlie was there.

Inspiration begins with a record crackle and our production logos. So far, so good. Hand squeeze from my amazing wife and we were off to the races.

Within the first minute of the film, the dialog begins. Only it didn’t, really. It was difficult to hear. Muddy and quiet. I immediately got up and exited to see what was going on.

Turns out the centre speaker, where the dialogue lives in a 5.1 mix, was either blown or somehow not functioning.

Neither the fest nor Cineplex had any solutions (let me be clear, this is squarely on Cineplex) and despite numerous attempts to fix it and even an intermission, nothing could be done.

The agonizing decision about whether to let it finish or not needed to be made. I didn’t want anyone to experience the movie like this, but some very important people in my life had driven a good distance and waited a long time for this moment. So we explained and let it play. The Q&A was scrapped (my decision).

Plot points aplenty were missed. Nuance was erased. Performances ruined. The final moments were muddy and nonsensical. The audience applauded politely and Cineplex gave out free passes to their establishment as viewers exited.

I mostly stayed away from the crowd, but a few cast and fellow filmmakers found me and offered their condolences. A moment so long in the making was a dud because of a third party situation we could never have anticipated.

The film ad rolls prior to another film.

I scrapped my plans to see the closing film and support some great people because I was so upset and didn’t want to have to keep nodding and smiling.

Cineplex is making it up to us, by hosting another screening in January. Our rad promotional geniuses will get that info out when the time comes.

But I don’t imagine the crack in my heart and extensive cynicism will go away. Still, the World Premiere: Redux will be an epic moment in time with exclusive features, a Q&A and a great set up for a killer year to come in 2017.