This is a four-part series recapping the events of the True False Film Fest (March 5-8). If you'd like to start the story from the beginning, read Part 1: Thursday.
Friday
8:30 AM : DIY Day Set Up
For the first time, Columbia Public Schools and True/False worked together to create a field trip for all of the 10th graders in the district. The sophomores were bused from their respective schools downtown to the Missouri Theatre for a free showing of a documentary. This was such a unique opportunity for the students and it opened their eyes to not only what True/False has to offer them, but how documentaries can be experienced in a different way.
9:30 AM : What Happened, Miss Simone?
At the end of the film, director Liz Garbus Skyped in for a video Q&A session. One student asked Garbus if she felt like Nina would have been better off if her Bipolar Disorder would have been diagnosed earlier on. Her response was intriguing. She said she believed her quality of life would have been better - free from all of the depression, and emotional grievances - but she said she thought her music career would have suffered. She believed that the emotional roller coaster and impassioned responses to events in Nina's life gave her the ammunition to create.
I've thought about this before: how artistry and emotional/psychological experiences are so closely intertwined. I believe that artists tend to be more emotional in nature, or experience psychological distress, because art is a manifestation of those emotions. Our brains are already right-heavy where the creative characteristics lie, but also where emotion lies. Maybe I'm making excuses for myself, other than being a woman, but I believe this adds to my emotional experiences and reactions in life - my artsy, right-brained self just feels so deeply.
1:00 PM : DIY Day
Aside from the hilarious found pieces Davy shared with us, he also took a moment to add a bit of a motivational speech to inspire the aspiring creators in the crowd - myself included. He encouraged the students to continue making things for themselves, and to not place too much stress or emphasis on where it will lead or how much success or fortune it will bring. He went on to say that he started FOUND to share with just friends and family who he thought would find it just as interesting, and for some reason it stuck and resonated with a lot of people. But it all began with something he enjoyed doing and creating, not as a business venture.
This struck a chord with me as I am embarking on a new chapter of making and creating. I'm blogging for the first time and considering how to expand my art and designs into products I can sell. It's difficult not to consider the potential readership numbers or the design that will be the most popular among buyers, but it's not the point. I need to hold true to myself; to write for me; to make for me.
1:45 PM : Art Station Goodness
5:15 PM : March March
7:30 PM : Finders Keepers
Where to begin with this film? Obviously based on the overarching storyline and the main characters involved, it was hilariously funny. Aside from that, it was odd, sad, and a true human experience. On the surface, the film seems to poke fun at the hilly billy characters and their backwoods lifestyles, but in reality it reminds us of the deep emotional histories and struggles we all experience. It was comical, yet honest. And it was a great ending to an awesome day.
Read Part 3: Saturday