Documentary Film Making 101 and our waves…
I know it’s been a while, since I’ve written in my diary, but the world of production, while still on the road has proved a bit challenging. Now, I said, challenging, but not impossible. In fact, we have taken an idea. An idea that was conceived in September of 2011, and turned it into a feature documentary in less than 11 months. I am realizing more and more how crazy fast that is. But it’s real. I wake up every morning with a smile on my face as I love what I’m doing. I think of the number of people that said a quality product couldn’t be produced in that amount of time. But I don’t think they live in the world us girls do.
We are used to making things happen and doing the impossible. That’s so often how we survive. And we have an underground of support that the normal world goes without. While they spend their time working away on paper work and hitting brick walls. We put out a email or two, a feeler or two on the boards and the doors are opened. In support of this project, people stepped forward, even if it was behind the scenes to make sure we accomplished our goal. The film is out of composing, and Jeff Tolbert our composer (he did the trailer too… www.americancourtesans.com), has done a stellar job. We are in the last days of color, and the film started in sound mix yesterday. The eta? We are pegging that the film will be uploading in its entirety and ready to submit to Sundance on August 25, and I am counting down the days. I will let you know if anything derails this time schedule, but right now it is so looking good.
We will be doing two private screenings. One in at a theater in NYC and one at a theater in LA. I’ve spoken to others about this, who work in the industry and was told that this was a risky move before the festivals. What if you get bad press? What if the reviewers don’t like it and then it will hamper you chances of getting into Sundance or the other big festivals… So let me tell you my take on it…
American Courtesans will only be accepted into Sundance if it is good, and if it is good…the reviews will state just that. I usually live my life standing by what I’ve done and who I am. For better or worse, it’s best to find out now. I try my best each day to live with out fear and not be a hinderance to my own well being. I have to do what I feel is best, and I know when the word gets out… well, it’ll be our ball game. (we have been approached already by both distributors and festivals) I’m not one for settling, and those who did help with this…well, they do know what they’re doing, even if their names can’t be on this project! … And as for the downside…well, I’m not even thinking about it, because the reviews will be good. I’ve have listened to our test audiences, and I see their eyes and listen to them afterwards…. the one word that comes up over and over and over is “Powerful”… which is music to my ears….
So sit back and watch as a small group of us women from across the US make a wave that you won’t soon forget with the feature documentary “American Courtesans”. A different kind of American story…
