Queer Film Festivals

First drafted/ written Sept 2016:

I thought I’d get back to the roots of it all – queer cinema was what started this whole blog back in 2011, so I should get back to talking about that for once (instead of talking about my feelings) especially now that I’ve been exposed to a wide range of queer films thanks to the film festivals circuit.

I have been lucky enough to have been involved with the Vancouver Queer Film Festival for the past four years. The first year I participated as an “artist” (aka filmmaker) when my short film Bill, Please! was accepted and took home all three short film awards they hand out at the festival! The second year, in 2014, I was engaged as a jury member for one of the awards. Then in 2015, they decided that I am a useful human being with a skill set adequate enough to help coordinate the tech side of things so they employed me. I must have proved myself worthy because they asked me to be part of the team again for their 28th festival this past August.

…then again in 2017! Hopefully this will continue be my stable summer activity for many years to come. 2018 is going to be Vancouver Queer Film Festival’s 30th anniversary. That means I am turning 30 years old (I am the same age as the festival!) during the festival; and this year will also mark my 5th consecutive year of involvement with the event, from artist to jury member to staff! Exciting times!

I forget what I was originally going to write – probably something about the films I saw in the festival. Which makes sense, because I wanted to go back to the ‘roots’ of this blog and discuss things that made me start it in the first place. Oh well. Maybe come August inspiration will hit again and I’ll write about the many queer films we are very fortunate to see on screen. Until then, if you are curious:

http://queerfilmfestival.ca/

Whirlwind of a Summer

Every time someone asks me “How are you?” or “How have you been?”, my reply is always, “Busy.”

Why am I so busy? And just what the hell am I busy with? Work. I am constantly swamped with work. There’s two types of work that I do: a salaried job with different AV companies/ theatres in town, or a contract position either stage managing or teching a specific show. And more often than not, I am doing both types of work at the same time.

The shift work is the practical part of my life; it provides a consistent income whereas the contract jobs are more fun, creative and nourishing for the soul (but often doesn’t pay as much as it should).

This past summer I worked the FIFA Women’s World Cup games at BC Place throughout June, then went on straight to work as site crew for Vancouver Folk Music Festival for the first time. Both were a lot of fun. Who doesn’t like live sports and music? During all that time I was also chipping away at transcoding films into DCPs for the Vancouver Queer Film Festival that was happening mid-to-late August. During the film festival I was also working as a projectionist at one of their venues, so it felt like double-duty. But I had a blast. It’s a festival that I hold very close to my heart because it was the festival that launched my film into the international festival circuit and spotlight!

After all that fun contract stuff, I babysat a show for a week at one of the theatres I work at, and things slowed down from there… I managed to get away for a week for some much needed time off. I was able to get out of the city and actually have some time to myself to think, breathe and relax!

But now that I’m back I need to focus on the next project: Wait For Me, Daddy Redux, a co-production between Brief Encounters and the Anvil Centre in New West. I am collaborating with 2 other artists and 1 storyteller in creating a short 5 minute film and a 10-minute stage production, with two performances on Oct 3rd! After that I go right into stage managing a dance show that tours Montreal! Woo-hoo! Travelling + work = fun! Can’t wait!