I've decided to ask myself three questions that I've been asking others involved in the NHFF, for the past few days. You can see what the contributors think, in the press(including this really cool newspaper headline), whether it be on the NHFF blog (where I helped contribute content Thursday/Friday), or in other outlets.
This way, you can see what it's like for someone on the inside. How often do press members get interviewed? I think this should happen occasionally, as well, because they're right there in the experience as it is happening, and have some wonderful insight as well as personal experiences!
This way, you can see what it's like for someone on the inside. How often do press members get interviewed? I think this should happen occasionally, as well, because they're right there in the experience as it is happening, and have some wonderful insight as well as personal experiences!
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What has been my favourite part of the NHFF? It has been an almost surreal experience, although I've had to keep my head in the game- gathering bits to Tweet, photos to share, and Q&A snippets, of course(also very fun, giving airs to my own self-importance, with that fancy Pass). Press aside, I love the ambiance of being part of a crowd that sits nearly on the edge of their seat, to enjoy the presentation of the film that is set before them. It is QUITE an honour to be a witness of these key moments for film producers, directors, actors, and writers. It is crucial for them, and a delight to us!! Most of these films had never been seen before, and I was very excited to experience the very first reactions of a crowd, and be part of it, when the moments of the screen overturned me. There's just something about the focus of an entire room, or hall, full of people, being on a screen and actively becoming mesmerized by those events. Being a movie addict, I just love to see what happens onscreen, but the NHFF makes it SO exceedingly special. It's something you just don't want to miss! It is always a once in a lifetime opportunity. Plus, the Music Hall venue is just so gorgeous... it's hard to intentionally miss a screening, there.
The free food is wonderful, but my two favourite things about the Film Festival are the actual film experiences, and interacting with the people who surround them.
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I would just like to thank every film's crew for all their hard work!! It did pay off, and all of them should be exceedingly proud and filled with gratefulness and joy! They have a right to it.
_
Not press aside, I loved having a "headquarters" to come back to, at any point in the day or night, to come and sit down with my fellow team members and compile our notes for the web. It was amazing, and I am ever-abundantly grateful for this opportunity to share with Vital's Social Media director Doug Ridley and the other volunteers(scroll down). It made me feel like a professional, and I felt very welcome and a part of everything... dare I say ... I felt like I was a vital part of the team?... Hm.
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Who is the most interesting person I have met at NHFF? I'm sure it would be typical to say Tom Bergeron. Technically, I didn't meet him, I was in the same room of his press conference. I really enjoyed hearing what he had to say! I didn't much grow up on TV, so I actually had no clue who he was until the week leading up to the Festival, when my sister said he'd be there. He seems very cool! It's always great to have a celebrity from the area; that alone, made me excited that one of us had reached the big time....
While standing inside The Loft one evening, waiting to view some shorts, I had bumped into a couple and another gentleman. As they asked me what I do, I was explaining what my role was to them, and that I'd been tweeting about the goings on, if they wanted to track me. The gentleman's name was Jesse Kalfel, and he explained to me that in addition to also being on Twitter, he had written a book about 50(actually over 100) different ways you could dispose of your ashes!! I cracked up, and we held a short but delightful conversation. I Twitter-followed him and immediately took a photo to mark the occasion. He's a pretty cool guy, and I'm sure now, you are dying to read his book. Seriously, check out his site, at least!! You might even have already seen it, I don't believe I had, before.
______
What films am I most excited to see? At this point, I have pretty much wrapped up my film-seeing part of the journey. I will tell you what films I most enjoyed, and how they were least what I expected (in no particular order).
_
First-off, I don't know how commercial this is, but Austenland. Only having briefly skimmed the premise as I was switching the tabs of my browser, I expected it to be as yet another Pride and Prejudice film. This I could not abide the thought of, but still I wanted to see it. Why? Keri Russell. Also, the fact that it looked like it was really beautifully shot. And it was! As I came careening up the Music Hall stairs, I just missed the very first few seconds as I took my seat, and ALREADY the audience was laughing!!! I was so surprised by this! I had not expected a comedy(blast paying attention to the description!!)! But I was more than pleasantly surprised by this, as I added my own laughter into the air of the Music Hall dome. Nearly every second of the film was laughter-ridden, as Jennifer Coolidge graced the screen! I tell you, she knows how to get 'em rolling in the isles!! "Jennifer Coolidge could read a phone book, and be funny." -Crystal Paradis. So true. I enjoyed it immensely, and loved the unique way in which the film seemed to be made. I was so glad I saw it, and even more grateful that I was one of the few in the world to see it before its US theater open. What a grand experience!
_
In addition to Austenland, I did not expect to be immensely enjoying any documentaries; but as I mentioned in my first article, "The People's Forest..." really grabbed me. I know that was exactly their intention, and I am sure both I and the filmmakers are glad they succeeded. If ever this becomes widely available, I sure hope you will see it. More so, if you're from or a part of the White Mountains of New Hampshire, but it's great insight to other people about what goes on when the environment goes downhill, and it gives some precedent on how to deal with that situation. It's just a great documentary!
_
Short films. Okay!! Tech Roulette. Because technology really just makes you feel like shooting yourself in the face. Seriously, my friend Dan Deering made this film- you can see him talking about it in the Music Hall lobby, here! I made a special breakaway from the Vital content team headquarters, to go and see this nine-minute film, specifically. And then I had to eat lunch, but I was very glad I got to see it. It was a humourous little bit about two sides of the same story: a man in need of tech support, and the tech-support team.
Lastly, Tom Rush: No Regrets. Sadly, I do not believe I had ever heard of his music, before. It was such a great story about his life, so engrossing, and for someone like me- who did not know who he was,- that is a testament to who he is and the filmmakers who pulled it off, brilliantly. It was amazing to see the history surrounding this one man!! I was blown away how much depth there was to his musical journey(importantly, he was also a New Englander!! YAY!). The illustrated story-bits had everyone laughing at how he would get into such comical predicaments. Rob Stegman explained that they had no video footage of these events, so they had to come up with a way to explain what was going on in Rush's stories. See it on Sunday, 12:40 at the KBW Financial Screening Room in the Seacoast Rep!! He will be there.
_____
And that, concludes my personal interview. Please give me responses in comments or on Twitter!! I would love to hear your thoughts. Thank you, and good night!
What has been my favourite part of the NHFF? It has been an almost surreal experience, although I've had to keep my head in the game- gathering bits to Tweet, photos to share, and Q&A snippets, of course(also very fun, giving airs to my own self-importance, with that fancy Pass). Press aside, I love the ambiance of being part of a crowd that sits nearly on the edge of their seat, to enjoy the presentation of the film that is set before them. It is QUITE an honour to be a witness of these key moments for film producers, directors, actors, and writers. It is crucial for them, and a delight to us!! Most of these films had never been seen before, and I was very excited to experience the very first reactions of a crowd, and be part of it, when the moments of the screen overturned me. There's just something about the focus of an entire room, or hall, full of people, being on a screen and actively becoming mesmerized by those events. Being a movie addict, I just love to see what happens onscreen, but the NHFF makes it SO exceedingly special. It's something you just don't want to miss! It is always a once in a lifetime opportunity. Plus, the Music Hall venue is just so gorgeous... it's hard to intentionally miss a screening, there.
The free food is wonderful, but my two favourite things about the Film Festival are the actual film experiences, and interacting with the people who surround them.
_
I would just like to thank every film's crew for all their hard work!! It did pay off, and all of them should be exceedingly proud and filled with gratefulness and joy! They have a right to it.
_
Not press aside, I loved having a "headquarters" to come back to, at any point in the day or night, to come and sit down with my fellow team members and compile our notes for the web. It was amazing, and I am ever-abundantly grateful for this opportunity to share with Vital's Social Media director Doug Ridley and the other volunteers(scroll down). It made me feel like a professional, and I felt very welcome and a part of everything... dare I say ... I felt like I was a vital part of the team?... Hm.
______
Who is the most interesting person I have met at NHFF? I'm sure it would be typical to say Tom Bergeron. Technically, I didn't meet him, I was in the same room of his press conference. I really enjoyed hearing what he had to say! I didn't much grow up on TV, so I actually had no clue who he was until the week leading up to the Festival, when my sister said he'd be there. He seems very cool! It's always great to have a celebrity from the area; that alone, made me excited that one of us had reached the big time....
While standing inside The Loft one evening, waiting to view some shorts, I had bumped into a couple and another gentleman. As they asked me what I do, I was explaining what my role was to them, and that I'd been tweeting about the goings on, if they wanted to track me. The gentleman's name was Jesse Kalfel, and he explained to me that in addition to also being on Twitter, he had written a book about 50(actually over 100) different ways you could dispose of your ashes!! I cracked up, and we held a short but delightful conversation. I Twitter-followed him and immediately took a photo to mark the occasion. He's a pretty cool guy, and I'm sure now, you are dying to read his book. Seriously, check out his site, at least!! You might even have already seen it, I don't believe I had, before.
______
What films am I most excited to see? At this point, I have pretty much wrapped up my film-seeing part of the journey. I will tell you what films I most enjoyed, and how they were least what I expected (in no particular order).
_
First-off, I don't know how commercial this is, but Austenland. Only having briefly skimmed the premise as I was switching the tabs of my browser, I expected it to be as yet another Pride and Prejudice film. This I could not abide the thought of, but still I wanted to see it. Why? Keri Russell. Also, the fact that it looked like it was really beautifully shot. And it was! As I came careening up the Music Hall stairs, I just missed the very first few seconds as I took my seat, and ALREADY the audience was laughing!!! I was so surprised by this! I had not expected a comedy(blast paying attention to the description!!)! But I was more than pleasantly surprised by this, as I added my own laughter into the air of the Music Hall dome. Nearly every second of the film was laughter-ridden, as Jennifer Coolidge graced the screen! I tell you, she knows how to get 'em rolling in the isles!! "Jennifer Coolidge could read a phone book, and be funny." -Crystal Paradis. So true. I enjoyed it immensely, and loved the unique way in which the film seemed to be made. I was so glad I saw it, and even more grateful that I was one of the few in the world to see it before its US theater open. What a grand experience!
_
In addition to Austenland, I did not expect to be immensely enjoying any documentaries; but as I mentioned in my first article, "The People's Forest..." really grabbed me. I know that was exactly their intention, and I am sure both I and the filmmakers are glad they succeeded. If ever this becomes widely available, I sure hope you will see it. More so, if you're from or a part of the White Mountains of New Hampshire, but it's great insight to other people about what goes on when the environment goes downhill, and it gives some precedent on how to deal with that situation. It's just a great documentary!
_
Short films. Okay!! Tech Roulette. Because technology really just makes you feel like shooting yourself in the face. Seriously, my friend Dan Deering made this film- you can see him talking about it in the Music Hall lobby, here! I made a special breakaway from the Vital content team headquarters, to go and see this nine-minute film, specifically. And then I had to eat lunch, but I was very glad I got to see it. It was a humourous little bit about two sides of the same story: a man in need of tech support, and the tech-support team.
Lastly, Tom Rush: No Regrets. Sadly, I do not believe I had ever heard of his music, before. It was such a great story about his life, so engrossing, and for someone like me- who did not know who he was,- that is a testament to who he is and the filmmakers who pulled it off, brilliantly. It was amazing to see the history surrounding this one man!! I was blown away how much depth there was to his musical journey(importantly, he was also a New Englander!! YAY!). The illustrated story-bits had everyone laughing at how he would get into such comical predicaments. Rob Stegman explained that they had no video footage of these events, so they had to come up with a way to explain what was going on in Rush's stories. See it on Sunday, 12:40 at the KBW Financial Screening Room in the Seacoast Rep!! He will be there.
_____
And that, concludes my personal interview. Please give me responses in comments or on Twitter!! I would love to hear your thoughts. Thank you, and good night!