My professor generously joined me yesterday for the first day's festivities of Sundance and he got a real taste of exactly what it means to FESTIVAL. I think you'll have to actually ask him, but I got the feeling that he might be leaving future festivaling of this sort, the Sundance Film sort, to me. That said, he is joining me for more madness today. I can only say that it is a testament, truly, to how very much he really does love me. As he said to me very early this morning, "This is your festival, Nakedjen. I'm just here to make you happy!"
We all know that I no longer just live in Utah for this festival, but it is right there at the very top of the list of the reasons and yesterday, while we were on the bus in Park City, my professor actually said to a woman whom we met who was full of everything that makes Berkeley, California exactly what it is and always will be, my professor exclaimed that I just use him for his mailing address. I need to share that it is absolutely not true. I use him for his heart. Also for his brain. And his courage. Actually, I don't use him at all. I love him for all those things that he gives so very generously to me. Unconditionally. Loving with this man is a whole new lesson in loving. He is a professor. And maybe even a wizard, as well.
So, Sundance. It started. The professor smacked right into Robert Redford yesterday while I was guiding him to all things festival. You just don't really smack right into Robert Redford these days, so obviously it was just kismet and, well, my professor has certainly now done Sundance. He can go home.
I have lots of films on my slate. Mostly documentaries. In fact, today, I have nothing but documentaries. I saw two yesterday. I think I'm seeing nine today. That isn't a typo.
That is an extraordinary amount of individual story telling. Some of us really appreciate the people in this world who are brave enough to share the stories that need to be told. I do know that it is always just one perspective, the filmmakers. However, I appreciate their passion and the blood, the sweat, the tears, and especially the heart that it takes to bring these stories to the world.
I'll go and sit quietly and listen and try to receive them graciously.
Here we go. Festivaling.
