As I mentioned in my last post going to the Vero Beach Wine and Film Festival was going to be bittersweet because Catia wouldn’t be with us. She’d be home nursing our newly born baby. Because our first kid was born two weeks early and the festival is a week after the due date, we figured the new kid would be three weeks old. And her OBGYN says that ovens usually cook the same, so we were in the clear. I’d attend the festival and as a happy side bonus, sleep like someone who wasn’t up all night with a newborn. Win win!
Well, you know what they say about plans…
…three weeks before the festival, all quiet. No baby. Two weeks, all quiet. A week out, all quiet except for my rightfully pissed off wife who was feeling a ton of pain and aches 24/7. So the cutoff day for me to attend would be Monday. Have the baby Monday, I get on a plane Wednesday. First screening Thursday afternoon. No problem!
Monday came and went.
Tuesday came and went. Cancelled my hotel, got a voucher for my flight, and hoped the baby would be born on Wednesday so I go Friday, in time for our second screening on Saturday morning.
Wednesday came and left. Trip officially postponed.
It’s a bummer to not attend our second film festival and see the movie with a new audience, one who doesn’t know anyone involved with the movie. But I was proud that Closure would be well represented.
Beau stayed for the duration, and sent back photos:
Not pictured: intense humidity. After all, it’s Florida in June. (Photo courtesy: Beau Genot)
Also in attendance, one of our actresses, V. Lucas!
V. Lucas and Beau Genot (Photo courtesy: V. Lucas)
In addition, one of our investors/co-Producer Laurence Leonard flew down from New York just for the screening. So we were well represented.
And it went well! (So they said). The audience was engaged, stuck around for the Q and A, and came up to Beau following the screening to say how much they enjoyed the movie and how they could relate to Nina’s journey. They also vowed to spread the word. Or so they said. Catia and I were still at home. And Catia was getting LARGER.
Two days later we had our second screening, at 9:30am.
No confirmation as to whether or not Manolo Blahnik attended. (Photo courtesy: V. Lucas)
Word must have spread because this second screening was packed. More Q and A, more fans. Which is what festivals are about, meeting new people in the industry and getting festival audiences to watch the film.
Sunday afternoon the festival wrapped. And Sunday evening, Catia and I were able to introduce our latest collaboration:
Me and the little dude. (photo courtesy: Catia Ojeda… you know, the one who did all the work bringing this kid into the world)
Did I miss out on the experience? Absolutely. But ABSOLUTELY worth it for this little dude.
Mom, dad, baby and big brother are nesting and trying to get sleep when we can. In the meantime, we are under consideration for nearly 20 festivals from mid-August through the end of November. And with a little luck (and if the programming gods are in our favor) I’ll get back on the festival circuit soon.
In the meantime, I hope you all enjoy a full night’s sleep. Please tell me what that’s like!
Coming up next: more festivals? And taking steps towards distribution.
Makin' It 