Sunday
I awaken surprisingly early on Sunday, nursing a headache which is the closest I ever get to a hangover. I pop several painkillers in my mouth, and follow with a long hearty gulp of regular Coke.
Oh yes, living on the edge, that's for sure. The calmness washing over me after having screened my film and not having to worry about that today is quite something. Today the festival starts later and I can only assume it's because of the Lord.
Though, further reflection suggests that it might be the fact that the festival heads and volunteers were quite likely pounding 'em back far later into the wee hours of the morning after Michelle and I had our last call. It's 8:30 AM and I'm standing in my kitchen staring into my refrigerator trying to decide on what I should have for breakfast. Then I remember the muffins and fruit and yogurt in the filmmakers' lounge and ditch my house all together after saying goodbye to Andrea and the little ones Giles and Kaylee. (They're dogs. And if right now you're going “ahhh....” knowingly after reading the names, I do the finger-nose-point-gay thing to you too. Single gayest thing I've ever done. [That is a quote, not homophobia. Really.])
The roads are lighter than they were the previous days and I arrive there just after 9:30. I hang out in the lounge and talk with the volunteers. All of which seem thrilled that it's Sunday as they're working their asses off. Luckily however, it all has seemed to go rather smoothly. That's to say nothing of what actually happened behind the scenes. I say nothing of it because I don't know if ANYTHING actually happened behind the scenes. It's all conjecture at this point. Amy Axelson comes in, coffee in hand.
“So you're gonna come see 'Why We Wax', right?” And I freeze. I'm conflicted. I want to see it. Partly because it's about the pubic region, so thus titillating (Ironic using titillating to describe a film about the pubic region. Or maybe not irony.) Partly because I'm kinda in love with those two girls because they're SO DAMNED ENTHUSIASTIC and helped drag people in to see White Out yesterday. Oh, and partly because it sounds like a pretty cool doc short. So why the freeze and the conflict and so-forth?
Barack Obama. (see fig. ab)
fig. ab
What? Yes. I'm a Barack Obama supporter. So why is this relevant. It's relevant only just barely, to be sure. There's a documentary about Barack Obama entitled Senator Obama Goes To Africa which I'm 90% sure isn't the concluding entry in the Jim Varney Ernest Goes To [FILL IN THE BLANK] series with Barack Obama playing Ernest due to Varney's sad passing. Anyway, the doc is playing at the same time as “Why We Wax” so...
Amy smiles at me. Perhaps suddenly wary of that vacant look in my eyes.
“Yes! Yes, I will! Because I promised.”
“Well, don't come because you promised.”
“No, I want to!”
“Good.” She smile again, grabs her breakfast and leaves.
I glance up at the clock. How did it get to be that time already? My shorts are starting....well...shortly. So, in an attempt to cram as much variety into my last day at the festival, I've decided to begin my day with the We Love Short Shorts collection. I've enjoyed the shorts I've seen with the films, and most of the ones I saw Thursday night, so it is with enthusiasm that I sit down for the rapid-fire shorts.
