Films Gone Wild

Editor’s column/daily commentary welcoming feedback and opinions.

Lisa Molomot and Jeff Bemiss’ MISSING IN BROOKS COUNTY at HOT SPRINGS DOCUMENTARY Film Fest INTERVIEW; explores immigration

By John Wildman 6 years ago

In the interview, I talk to Molomot and Bemiss about their real on-the-ground approach to filmmaking as a tandem, the challenge of finding this film’s “story,” the beauty of having an editor who has “distance” from the director(s) to add an objective eye, and Kate Spradley, one of the film’s subjects, also weighs in on what it was like to have their cameras focused on her as she tried to solve these mysteries. All of them talk about the cameras catching “human moments” and what leads to accomplishing that.

Jessica Earnshaw’s JACINTA interview at HOT SPRINGS DOCUMENTARY Film Fest; struggles to overcome addiction

By John Wildman 6 years ago

In the interview, Earnshaw and I talk about how she balanced out the time and focus on each of the trio, the filmmaker’s heartbreak of cutting down hundreds of hours of footage to an hour and a half, the times that struck her as signature moments while filming and editing, the filmmaker’s ethical decisions and the line they draw as a filmmaker versus a concerned human being regarding the subject. What is the responsibility of the filmmaker in those moments? This is a great conversation addressing that question.

Khadifa Wong’s UPROOTED: THE JOURNEY OF JAZZ DANCE interview at HOT SPRINGS DOCUMENTARY Film Festival INTERVIEW; exploration of jazz dance’s history

By John Wildman 6 years ago

In the interview, Khadifa and I talk about the insane number of people – really KEY people they got to do interviews for the film, the importance of Patrick Swayze’s mom as an influence on jazz dance in this country, and the approach of making the film via a dancer’s perspective visually, and through choreography, as well as how having an editor with a little distance from the subject can help protect filmmakers from overindulging their “favorite” parts or interests in service of the film’s whole.

Melanie Addington and the Oxford Film Festival: Regional Film Fests killing it (versus being killed) during the year of COVID

By John Wildman 6 years ago

What I learned from the lack of sleep and being available non-stop is that next year I will make sure there is more help. One major shift for us is Donna Kosloskie is now Head of Programming and we have added Greta Hagen-Richardson as our new Narrative Feature programmer and her main focus is on finding diverse voices. Our board is also looking at how to restructure in the future to not just rely on me to handle all things but to actually have some more staff roles and to grow the festival in a healthy way. It has been a great year to open some eyes on what it takes to run a successful festival.

Program Director Skye McLennan: Regional Film Fests killing it (versus being killed) during the year of COVID: San Luis Obispo International Film Festival

By John Wildman 6 years ago

Skye: Our virtual festival was just a webpage we designed very quickly. At the point of our cancellation we had very little time and funds to use a proper platform and there was not a lot out there that fit our model. I was surprised by the level of support and feedback from our audience who were just so appreciative for the opportunity to still see the films. It was a reminder that our organization is an important staple of our community and something patrons were really going to miss.

deadCenter Film’s Executive Director Alyx Picard Davis: Regional Film Fests killing it (versus being killed) during the year of COVID

By John Wildman 6 years ago

Alyx: I believe that regional film festivals are able to pivot more easily because their imprints and scale are smaller. Expectations can easily be managed and adapted to the virtual model in real time, as smaller organizations can accelerate progress and remain agile, unencumbered by a larger think tank/processes/ procedures (structure) that typically exist in the larger organization culture(s).

Women Texas Film Festival’s Justina Walford sees a benefit in film festivals going virtual that is very real

By Justina Walford 6 years ago

What I love about these films is that there are women of all ages watching these who have always settled for a protagonist kind of like them. And that is the great challenge for most of us women as we grew up with male protagonists, white female protagonsts, cis-hetero protagonists forcing us to fit our color, our identity, our queerness into those mainstream places. Nothing makes me feel better than hearing someone say, “Finally, I see me on that screen.”

FILMS GONE WILD: On this Juneteenth, Dallas International Film Festival Artistic Director James Faust gives a first person (and family) account of a life lived

By John Wildman 6 years ago

When you reach out to your friends of color and ask how they are doing…remember… you may be opening a box of systemic trauma that they don’t want to, or are ill equipped to deal with. Rancor and rage may come your way. I ask you to listen ..really listen… For every step forward…there’s a George Floyd. For every success story, there’s a Trayvon Martin. For every…you know what…it’s too much…there are too many. My mother shouldn’t have to check in on me and remind me how to act in front of cops.. I’m 50!

Co-Founders/Co-Directors Ben McCarthy and Megan Garbayo got it right with OUTstream Film Fest when it came to seeking inclusion with their debut virtual LGBTQIA+ film festival

By John Wildman 6 years ago

To quote McCarthy when the OUTstream Film Fest was first announced, “We have created OUTstream Film Fest to bring people together all across the country, of any sexual identity, to view these films, which we feel will entertain, touch, enlighten, and affect all audiences. Thanks to COVID-19, everyone in the world has received a stark reminder that we are all together and similar in many more ways than we are not. We believe this has the potential to bring people together virtually via this shared event – because art offers a rich opportunity to connect us all.”  He then added, “OUTstream Film Fest could reach people that want to have an understanding about LGBTQIA+ people or appreciation for queer cinema. It’s all about inclusivity. Films are made to tell someone’s unique story and if it’s only being seen by people that have “lived” that story, then it’s not reaching everyone that could legitimately connect with and be touched by that story.”