Film Festival Confessional: The Sarasota Film Festival Day One

Last night, I went to the opening night film and party for the Sarasota Film Festival. I got there a little early, rolling up in my boldly emblazoned taxicab (the venue where the event was held is within walking distance, but oi with the sweating and the nice clothes, so no thank you) and I took a deep, fortifying breath before walking up to a volunteer to ask about doing the red carpet. They didn't know so they asked another volunteer who said that I couldn't walk the red carpet.

I asked this volunteer: "Even though I'm an artist with a film in the festival, I can't walk the red carpet?"

"No."

"So it's reserved for the big names like Frank Langella?" (Who is very nice, by the way, at least in my limited interaction with him.)

"Yes."

Welcome to the Sarasota Film Festival!

After that, I got in line to get into the venue to watch Robot and Frank starring Frank Langella and Susan Sarandon (unfortunately, either she said no, the festival couldn't afford her, or they didn't try to get her because she wasn't there...though there was one woman in the audience who resembled her.) It was a cute flick, though it felt a little long. And needed more Susan Sarandon (but I'm biased as I love her like whoa.)

Afterwards was the opening night party replete with fog and lasers and a video D.J. playing music by the Black Eyed Peas, but the volume was at a reasonable level since the doors were open. I said a few hellos, I was interviewed by SRQ Magazine (it's not up yet and lord knows if they'll put it up), I met Frank Langella, and I had a chocolate cake pop, then I walked my ass home.

All told, it was an okay night. Let's see what tonight holds!

More Kimyoo Films screenings!

JUSTUS screens this week in Sarasota, Florida, at the Sarasota Film Festival, April 19 at 1:30 pm and April 22 at 11:45 am! AND I WILL BE THERE! :D I'd better be, I live there, dammit (Janet)!

JUSTUS also screens this week at the Bare Bones Film Festival in Muskogee, Oklahoma (I'm unsure about exact times and their website doesn't list the times independently.)

Next week, JUSTUS screens at the Motor City Nightmares Film Festival in Novi, Michigan, Saturday, April 28, in the 1:30 shorts block and Sunday, April 29, in the 11:30 am shorts block!

AFTERSHOCK plays in Toronto May 15 as part of the Viscera Film Festival and Fangoria's Fright Nights at the Projection Booth! My soul sister Karen Lam's feature film Stained plays first so if you're going to see the Viscera films, you should definitely go early enough to watch Stained, too!

My film JustUs has been accepted to the Sarasota Film Festival!

Geez louise...I haven't posted since late last year! I wanted to start blogging more and maybe now is a good time to start as I have some cool news to share.

JustUs has been accepted to the Sarasota Film Festival!

As I said on my Tumblr (yeah, I have a Tumblr): If you're a filmmaker who doesn't live in New York City or Los Angeles, chances are that you know what it's like to have the hometown film festival reject your film. You could be accepted to every festival you applied to, but when the hometown rejects it, you feel like a pariah of some sort. I've sent my work to the Sarasota Film Festival three times now and apparently the third time is the charm because this year, JustUs has been accepted to the Sarasota Film Festival! They're not big on horror here, this is mainly a community for retirees, but the ones that make waves at Sundance and Toronto tend to make their way to this festival.

Now, I still feel like a pariah here because I work in horror and don't give a crap about being famous or most of the stuff that seems to drive our local "film industry." And some interactions I've already had about the festival leave me un-encouraged about staying here. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to live in L.A. either. I always have a great time when I'm there and I love (and miss) my L.A. family, but I don't think I could live there (and maintain what's left of my sanity.) And I haven't even gotten into how expensive it is to live there.

However, I live here right now and I'm going to continue to make the best of it, and complain about it as well, until I'm no longer a resident. :D

Okay, now, the reason I have a Tumblr: I originally wasn't going to get one. I mean, let's be realistic, I haven't been keeping up on this blog very well as it is. But, I was asked by the heads of Curio Media, Inc. to post relevant news to their Tumblr and I had to start learning somewhere, right? So I got one for myself. My prose work has never been particularly flowery unless I'm going for a certain effect -- I think this is due to the economy of words necessary to write screenplays -- and Tumblr isn't designed for long rambly posts so it fits me and my style; however, I will work on posting here more.

I've been interviewed by Dread Central's HorrorChick and Mangled Matters' Justin Hamelin recently. My interview with TheHorrorChick was for Dread Central's Indie Horror Month. And my interview with Justin Hamelin is for his Women in Horror blog.

Here's the teaser for JustUs:


I have a lot more to post, but I think this is good for now. :D