Since the past few months have been a bit of a whirlwind for me, I’m still processing everything. That includes processing the delight and excitement that came with attending the 2013 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival last month. I served as a social media volunteer this year and loved every minute of it.
The Speakeasy Conversations have become one of my favorite parts of the fest. I try to make as many of them as I can because the conversations are so interesting. I love hearing filmmakers talk about their work, what’s happening in the industry, and how everything is so quickly / constantly changing. I’m absolutely fascinated by it.
The first Speakeasy Conversation for the 2013 festival was one I definitely wanted to cover via social media channels. I got there early to get a good seat; one really close to the stage. It would make it easier to take photos — and be as subtle as possible — during the panel discussion.
I found a spot next to a kind gentleman at the front of the room. I asked him if anyone was sitting with him. He said no, so I settled in and started preparing my phone and notes so I could tweet accurately.
So caught up in my nervous preparations, I failed to recognize that the guy sitting with me on the couch was D.A. Pennebaker. He just looked like a quiet, kind fella there to enjoy the panel discussion. Ohhhhhh, silly me.
Sidebar: For the uninitiated, D.A. Pennebaker is a seriously prolific filmmaker who totally changed the game of documentary filmmaking. He was awarded a lifetime Oscar in 2012 (IMDB). Full Frame recently posted a link to an interview with Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus at Society Vernacular, which inspired me to share this story with ya. Read that to get more info about Pennebaker’s work when you’ve got a moment.
At the Speakeasy Conversation the panelists discussed their work, inspiration, and the changing documentary film industry. They all nodded at Pennebaker casually to show respect whenever appropriate. I felt like everyone in the room was nodding to the guy sitting next to me.
After the Speakeasy ended, folks came up to meet Pennebaker. I was asked to take pictures of them together. Their hands shook nervously when they handed me their iPhones for the pictures.
Here I was, a noobie filmmaker sitting next to this incredibly quiet and humble Game Changer the entire time. What luck. I am constantly reminded that anything can happen.
It took me two days to work up enough courage to ask him for my own photo. We sat at the same table at the awards ceremony on Sunday, so I felt a “now or never moment” and finally worked up the nerve. One of the journalists that was sitting with me took the picture.
I was laughing pretty hard in that photo because “Penny” made a joke about how we used to play basketball together. He said I was a mean forward. I absolutely loved it.
What a cool guy.