It was all a blur…
Okay, not really. But the picture I took of the audience this year (as you can see) came out looking quite terrible. But that’s what you get with my signature attention to detail.
New this Year: Posters & Trailers
Before the screening of the films, we were treated to a display of 11 posters and 5 trailers that had been created across the 14 teams. This was a great addition to the program, as some teams really make an effort to have good support materials. It was good to see that work rewarded.
We had both (see the article here), including an updated trailer (which is not the one on YouTube, but you can view it here). Naturally, I could not be more biased, but I think our materials held their own. The audience voted for the best of each via QR Codes, so we’ll just have to wait and see what happens there.
The Screenings
As cool and fun as that was, the main attraction was, of course, the films.
There were 14 teams and all but one turned the film in on time (late films are eligible for Audience Choice, but no other awards). It is always interesting to see what the teams come up with. And after watching 14 short films, it is really hard to remember all of them, but some stand out–for reasons both good and bad.
The team was represented by Terry D. Coates, Tammy Coates, Jackson Coates, Alex Wey, Julia Brown, Thad Bauer, Joye Bauer, and Nicole Bauer. A few friends and family brought our total to 12! There were over 100 people in attendance over all.
How Did We Fare?
It’s not just difficult, it’s nearly impossible to be objective. This is partly because “everyone thinks their baby is cute”, but also we become so close to the film writing, filming, and editing it, that we lose perspective. That’s why it’s so much fun to screen it for people who haven’t seen it before.
This Year was Different
This year was different partly because we simply made a better film. The story, sound, and transitions were all noticeably better than previous films. The writing, acting, and some of the cinematography were arguably, better, too. But that’s still pretty much my opinion.
But the other thing that felt different was the audience engagement and reactions. We’ve always managed to get a laugh here or there, but with this film we had consistent, audible reactions from the audience. Beyond the jokes, there was a slight gasp at the plot twist. There was a groan when a bad thing happened. This was new. And promising. But…
What’s Next?
It’s in the hands of the judges. Nominations for the various awards will be announced on July 3rd. The awards screening is on July 10th. It will be a shock if we aren’t nominated for anything. Awards, though, are altogether different.
We think we have a film worthy of awards this year. But we have been shut out of awards for two years running. So, for us, “cautiously optimistic” couldn’t be more accurate.
We’ll know more the evening of July 10th. Stay tuned.
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