Rantings of a Creole Princess

Let's Get It Started! - "The Coalition"

Well guys...we had the first focus group screening of "The Coalition" last night at the Landmark Baltimore East Harbor theater. 

I was nervous all day and couldn't eat even though I was hungry.  I just felt like if I put something in my tummy...it would be ALL.OVER!

So...I got there and people were already there waiting.  We set up quickly and worked it out.  Folks were surprised to find that we were actually at the door checking people in.  ROFL!  I'm like...this is independent filmmaking at it's FINEST people!

I thought that was cute though.

The audience was filled with just the loveliest people and, even though we had to restart the film because I was unhappy with the aspect ratio I looked up and saw...they were really good sports about it.

Remember that nightmare I had about my being at our premier and everyone was dressed to the nines except me and I ended up in the projection room handling stuff? 

Yes...that happened except, thank goodness...this was a focus group viewing of a work in progress and folks knew there were going to probably be some glitches.

We moved on.

So...you know how you get REALLY annoyed when people talk to the screen or when they laugh too long and then you can't hear what happened next in the movie?  Well...that doesn't bother you so much when you're a filmmaker in the audience.  LOL!  That means the audience is really engaged in the story and is enjoying the film.  They "got" all the parts we meant to be funny.  The jokes, the looks, etc. 

We got some AMAZING feedback which was already in line with what we were thinking and, having the opportunity to see it on the big screen was soooooooooooooo helpful to us!  Like...at one point I saw a light on an actress's face that we've NEVER, EVER, EVER seen!  AND I SEE EVERY.SINGLE.THING!!!!!  LOL!    I was taking notes thinking...wow...where'd that light come from?

All-in-all I was so happy with the response that I will admit to having a moment.  Yall have no idea what it means to have people watch it and enjoy it.  Like...just...wow.

Thank you all for your lovely wishes and, for those of you who showed up, and CONTINUE to show up to support us...thank you so very much.  You have no idea how much it means to have framily surrounding you when you're dealing with something SO.SCARY.  When I looked into the audience and my eyes would light on my people...it would calm a GAMILLION butterflies. IT MEANS THE WORLD WHEN YOU GUYS SHOW UP!  THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!!

I simply can't thank you guys enough for being on this journey with us and for being so amazingly lovely.

We've made a movie folks.  Can you BELIEVE that?  Sure...there is still a lot of work to do in order to get it to look EXACTLY as we want it and to tell the story EXACTLY as we want it told and to incorporate the feedback we got last night into it...but yeah...we've ACTUALLY made a movie. 

This is going to be the start of something HUGE!

From a Future Filmmaker:

Hi Monica, I've been trying to work on a screenplay and for some reason I just feel down & discouraged and not really sure how to go about my dream. Do you write as well as direct? Do you know how I can go about finding a mentor? Maybe getting older and just feel scared of failure. I need to be uplifted in some sort of way.

JL

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Black Men in Movies

I don't like seeing Black men in movies all the time where they are gang bangers, drug dealers and king pins or just criminals and thugs in general.

It irks me.

Why?

Because Black men never seem to have a chance to evolve in the majority of the movies that feature them. 

Maybe it's just me...

Me hurt...

Dear Monica:

 
Thanks so much for submitting *your script to the 2010 January Screenwriters Lab.  With regrets, I am writing to let you know that we did not select your project for the Lab.  Because of the wealth of original and compelling material submitted, we had to be extremely selective.  The material submitted this year was especially strong, which made our decision particularly difficult.
 
Unfortunately, because of the large volume of submissions received, we do not have the resources to give individual feedback.  We wish you all the best with moving your project forward and encourage you to consider submitting future work to the Program.
 
Sincerely,
 

Sundance Representative

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This is the first big thing I tried for and didn't get.  I cried like a baby when I opened this email tonight.  I've had an emotionally charged rough day today so it was just the worst icing there ever could be on my Thursday cake.

Me hurt.

And me cry really, really ugly.  Yup...tomorrow will DEFINITELY be a big sunglass day.  I shall wear my new Tom Ford glasses I thought I'd lost.  Yup.

And I'll wear lipstick.

No mascara.  Why?  Cuz I'll prolly cry again.

It really broke my heart and hurt really, really badly.

Maybe next year huh?