Opening night
For me. After a day of waiting and failing to setup the audio and visual….. I went home to shave and shower up. I was running late due to last minute everything at the space. As soon as I got home there was a visitor. It was one of the filmmakers, from Spain. I corresponded with her that she can stay in our house for the festival. Didn’t hear anything for a month, knew she and another filmmaker were coming, but did not do the setup. So now rushing to get ready I had to rush around the house and figure out where she could stay without being in a spot where I would constantly bother her, I changed my mind at least three times. Then after the final decision, I had to go in he room and bother her, so I could get my clothes. Did I mention she doesn’t speak very good English?! I finally got a chance to get ready and left.
Oops, I almost forgot my camera and cash to pay the people who were promised. Whew! Good thing I was only at the end of the block!
I walked nice and casually to the space, getting into a zen mode for the hosting. Once there everything seemed great. Then I heard someone say “oh, there is only wine and beer.” Oops, I forgot that I was supposed to pickup the vodka.
So I jumped in the elevator, down 48 flights and across the street to the conveniently placed restaurant of our sponsor. Got the 2 cases of Russian standard and carried them back to the space. Coming back I had to go in the freight elevator. The first guy I saw didn’t recognize me, so he started asking me a million questions, then someone who knew me, let me go in…. Waited in the freight area for about 15 mins, then on the elevator down and up a few times before they could take me to the top. Yey! I made it, saved the day!
Then the camera guy reminded me he needed my audio equipment for the interviews plus my tripod. Nobody else knows where it would be, so… I ran back to my house about a mile away and came back, ready to roll!
Guests started coming in and I was greeting and talking it up. When one of the guys who was answering questions after the film was talking about the subject, I suddenly realized that the movie, might not be there, because I didn’t make sure it was.
So I asked the space manager if she received it from one of my colleagues, no. What!!!!? Oh sh.. I gotta goto the other space a mile and a half away. I go down the elevator. Oh shit. I don’t have the key. I call my intern, “where are you? Are you the the venue yet?” “yes, I’m over by the tables….” “ok. I’ll be right up!” got the keys and ran, in my fancy boots. All the while, on the phone, trying to get my friend to pick me up, who was in the area. Got the disc!
On my way back, I told him to forget it, I’d get back faster running.
Now I’m back on the 48fl, sweating, as soon as I walk in I’m introduced to a guest, trying to catch my breath, one of them hands me a napkin to wipe it. “thank you”.
Talked to a couple people, then I was approached by the space manager, “the sound is really low, we are not going to be able to hear it. We need an adapter so I can plug it into my amp system. Do you know where I could get one?” “I have those at my house!”…..
Again I start running, my friend yells at me from a distance “hey Rick!” So I decide to jump in the car and go. He started driving slow, so I say “ok, let me drive!” “what you want to run over the people?” “no I’ll honk and make them afraid then get out of here” he finally pulled out and zipped down the street to my house. I told him to meet me on 42nd and 9th and we will fly.
I zoomed into my house, got the stuff plus extras and got back there in a flash. Whoo hoo! Let’s start this show! We do our intros, i posed the question ” what if cannabis cured cancer? What would have to happen, what would that mean? I engaged the audience and explained why this movie fully envelops our theme, chaos theory: the rise and fall of societies. If cannabis, a natural plant, became the norm of healing pains, instead of current practices, where would we head to as a society. After 300 years of being the medicine for patients and then 80 years of it being illegal and the brainwashing propaganda that it’s bad……
and it’s time to start the film!
Uh oh! The sound is not working!!!!!!!
After 10 mins of trying different things, we have no solution yet. We decide to have our guest host entertain the crowd with some questions, a couple filmmakers promoted their films, then it was decided to use the house bluray player, but we had to silent everyone to hear if the low volume system worked, “everyone quiet!” the movie started playing, people were quiet for a minute and viola, it worked! After that! It went smooth.
Movie was good, the discussion afterwards was good. There was a man in the audience who for some reason hated the panel and kept giving them a hard time, then people in the crowd starting ganging up on him. He comes from an old school of thinking where, if it is law, it must be right and therefore this subject shouldn’t even be argued. I wonder who pays his salary? Ha! It made it fun though.
We learned, we laughed and we argued to the fullest extent.
Then it was time to eat! The food was amazing, bbq chicken, vege lasagna, caesar salad, kale caesar salad, garlic bread, then brownies! The alcohol was flowing. We were interviewing filmmakers.
I finally got to talk to people! It turned out to be a great night!
Oh, but when it was time to leave, it was raining and I had no protection, so I walked home in the rain with all my equipment.
Life is beautiful.