Jenna Edwards and Tineil Lewis, Coordinator of Student Activites for UT Dallas in Richardson
Hello all! Thank you for taking the time to read this little blog post of mine. I am feeling a bit of pressure as I have never written a blog and on top of that, this is the first blog post about IndieFlix’s new educational program that sends filmmakers to universities and colleges to talk about their work. I have to say that this program allowed for a dream of mine to come to fruition. Ever since I was a junior high school student I have wanted to travel around and speak to people in the hopes that it may inspire them to reach their full potential and to follow their dreams.
Growing up in a small town in Minnesota I dreamed of coming to “Hollywood” and working in the entertainment business. I am one of the lucky few that actually got an opportunity to make her dreams a reality. In making the film April Showers, I have had so many wonderful opportunities but none have been more special to me then being able to speak with students.
Through IndieFlix’ new program, I hope to do this more often. Here is what it was like on this first trip.
Andrew was booked to be the speaker in Dallas but due to a family emergency, he was unable. So, I got to go. This was met with mixed feelings, as I know that Andrew really wanted to attend and I was worried about his situation but at the same time I was so excited to visit Dallas and fulfill this dream.
I boarded the plane in Burbank full of anticipation. I arrived in Dallas (where, as luck would have it, a great friend of mine relocated to about a year ago) to be picked up at the airport by my friend. We went to her house to visit, the whole time; I am fighting all these butterflies. Will the audience be receptive, will they ask questions, will they like the film? Then it hit me, this is NOT the type of film people typically want to talk immediately after. Oh, panic starts to creep up. Then I remember the supportive words of Scilla and Andrew, “just go and talk to them.”
So, that’s what I did. I was met by the wonderful Coordinator of Student Activities, Tineil Lewis. She was so nice. She showed me into the auditorium and explained the program at University of Texas – Dallas a little more to me. I had originally thought that they were showing the film to a film studies class at the school. I was told that was not the case. The program was designed as a student activity and the audience was open to all who wanted to attend.
After doing a sound check (which had a few bumps) we were set to go. I waited in the room with eager anticipation. People started to trickle in. Then a lovely young lady named Elizabeth Buell, the president of student activities, introduced me. I have to say it was a little embarrassing having her read my bio.
Then I introduced the movie.
After the movie was finished I got back up on stage for a Q&A to be met with what I already new… April Showers in NOT the type of movie people want to talk immediately after. The audience was just still, staring at me. I remembered what it was like the first time I saw the film and how it felt, and I already knew everything about it. So, I talked for a bit to let them process what they had just seen. It was awkward at first, but then the audience started to come back to the here and now and they asked really interesting questions, challenging questions.
“Are you afraid that putting this movie out into the world will cause more violence?” was the first question. “Well, don’t be shy” I thought. I answered it as best I could. I told her that our goal with the project was to start a conversation not to encourage any type of violence. Sure, there is always a level of worry when you are working with controversial subject matter, but that we hoped the message from the movie would be a positive one.
“Will you be doing more films about the subject of violence?” “Particularly violence overseas?” Was another particularly good question posed by a gentlemen who stayed after to discuss the subject further with a group of people.
I hope there are many more conversations like that one.
I also got the typical “how did you find the project?” “What was your budget?” questions, which I am always happy to answer. But, I was so excited that the majority of questions came back to having a real conversation about the state of our world.
Andrew, myself, and our entire team are always hoping the movie would do just that: start a conversation!
Jenna Edwards and Elizabeth Buell, President of Student Activites at UT Dallas in Richardson
After answering all their questions and being politely asked to leave so they could close up, we moved the conversation into the hall. It was so wonderful to be involved in such an exciting exchange of ideas and opinions. I wish I could have stayed longer but alas my ride had to get home. So, off to the hotel, I went thinking about how gratifying it was to show a film we worked so hard on to an incredible group of people with wonderful ideas. I really hope that they will continue to talk with each other and others about the film and spread the message that we are all more alike than we are different and tragedies like Columbine, Virginia Tech and 911 do not have to be a part of our world.
I am so proud of this film and so honored to be the first speaker with the IndieFlix filmmaker school program. It was a wonderful experience and I hope to do it again.
Hugs,
Jenna
