Each evening of the 16th Annual Sedona International Film Festival there was a festive gathering of some kind–always designed for food and fun–sponsored by a local business.  On the evening of the first screening of Fate Scores, I somehow found myself spending time at a most surreal table at the afterparty, seated with veteran actor James Karen and his equally-talented actor-producer wife, Alba Francesca.  James was attending the festival with the producers of the documentary in which he is featured, When the World Breaks.

As we sat at our table, nibbling on tortillas, smoked salmon, olives, hummus, and shrimp ceviche, James revealed that he and Alba had been at a film session immediately preceding the party–the session that included Fate Scores!  Moreover, of the three films in that session (two shorts and a feature), they both felt Fate Scores to be delightful and the best of the three.  (Really!  I’m not making this up!)  … Read more »

I’d like to take a moment to thank some of the wonderful people and groups that contributed to making the 2010 Sedona International Film Festival such a success in my eyes.  They are:

• Mary Fisher (a huge film fan and supporter of the Sedona International Film Festival)
• The Sedona International Film Festival Board of Directors (who knew any group could be so film savvy?!)
• The City of Sedona (so beautiful!)
• Harkins Theatres (the Harkins Sedona 6 is quite cute)
• The Zaki Gordon Institute (for hosting useful, free seminars)
• L’Auberge de Sedona (a lovely inn with to-die-for brownies)
• Heartline Cafe (tasty fare and friendly people)
• D’lish (try the grilled veggie wrap–mmm!)
• Troia’s Pizza Pasta Amore (they have a beet salad with spinach that is so yummy!)
• Dave (a.k.a. … Read more »

MAMPAP.  No, it’s not some type of gynecological exam.  It’s an acronym a very smart person taught me once which stands for: Meet As Many People As Possible.  Close friends will tell you I am not the most extroverted individual.  (Strange but true!)  So when I come to events like the Sedona International Film Festival I have to motivate my MAMPAP mindset.  The MAMPAP mindset can be rather draining but I’ve learned it can be so beneficial!  Perhaps it can be chocked up to the amiable attitudes of the Sedonans, but I have met quite a few successful individuals in “the industry” here who are also down-to-earth and friendly: production- and post-production accountants, producers, directors, consultants, distributors, actors (some quite well-known) and jacks-of-all-trades.  Some tips I’ve noticed that make the MAMPAP strategy more effective include:

• Remember names. My grandfather taught me that the sweetest name a person knows is her/his own name.
• Show interest.  Showing knowledgeable interest in a person’s product can … Read more »
  

The first few days of the Sedona International Film Festival have been nothing but great.  The festival is very well organized, the staff are pros and the volunteers are amazingly dedicated.  It’s wonderful to see how an event can unify and define a friendly Southwestern community.  And let’s not forget the beautiful environs!  (See my photo at left.)  The workshops at the Zaki Gordon Institute are a nice educational resource for filmmakers at all levels and the various networking events that are scheduled have proven fruitful meeting places where I’ve met other actors, directors, producers and film aficionados.  A few of the films I’ve been fortunate enough to see so far include: Patrick 1,5; Waking Sleeping Beauty; The Ghost Mountain Experiment.  I must dash off to another event.  More from arid Arizona … Read more »