A Pat on the Back and a Slap in the Face - TDS Photo Podcast

This is The Digital Story Podcast #836, March 29, 2022. Today's theme is "A Pat on the Back and a Slap in the Face." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

The four days leading up to Sunday's Academy Awards was a deep dive into great filmmaking as I covered the Sonoma International Film Festive as a photographer for SIFF. In what should have been the crowning finish to the week sank awkwardly to the bottom with a sad display of toxic male behavior. Here's more about the people I met in Sonoma and my thoughts there after.

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A Pat on the Back and a Slap in the Face

Before I take you back to Thursday morning with my first assignment of covering the now award-winning film, Rosie and Frank, I want to say that my understanding of the law is that it is not justifiable to assault another person based on something they say. So, do not count me among those standing in ovation of Will Smith.

OK, let's get to the other side of the coin.

Rosie and Frank

I arrived at Andrews Hall at 9:15 Thursday morning to cover my first film of the festival, Rosie and Frank. In attendance was co-director Peter Murphy and the lead actress. For the next 115 minutes I was transported to a small town in Ireland where a grieving widow (Rosie) finds her footing again with the help of a stray dog (Frank).

The movie provides insights about community, loss, inner strength, compassion, pettiness, and sacrifice. Afterward, the filmmakers shared their insights about the challenges of the project.

And as I left the theater, my faith in humanity and respect for independent filmmaking were glowing. On Sunday afternoon, Rosie and Frank earned the audience award for Best Feature.

Blind Ambition

I saw four more films before returning to Andrews Hall on Friday morning for the screening of the documentary, Blind Ambition, where a team of Zimbabwean refugees turned sommeliers shake up the international wine establishment when they compete in the World Wine Tasting Championships.

Directors Warwick Ross and Rob Coe show us the grit determination, undying optimism, and ultimate triumph of four young men who reinvent themselves before our very eyes. There are no excuses in Blind Ambition. But there is ample display of belief in self and emotional intelligence as these men build a new life for them and their families.

After the movie, co-director Warwick Ross clearly communicated his respect for his film stars and his love of the project.

Blind Ambition went on to win the Audience Award for Best Documentary.

Pretty Problems

Five more movies at different venues before I returned to Andrews Hall on Saturday afte...