Ch-ch-changes

I put off writing a post because I had to tell the (two) people who read this blog that I would not be returning to Chicago after my stint working with the Denver Film Festival, but then once all those folks (all two of them) found out, I totally forgot I even had a blog.

On November 15th, I finished my work with the Denver Film Society. It was the first job I ever felt I really belonged in, apart from my work I did at NYU while going to school. The festival itself was super intense for me and affected me physically and emotionally in ways I did not expect. I kept telling people, “I don’t get this. I introduce a film, sit for three hours, introduce a film, sit for three hours, and so on, but I am spent every day.” And this started happening on day four out of twelve of the festival. I also got a cold on day five of the festival, which did not make matters any better. My introverted side came out a lot more than I am used to lately and I frequented Barnes & Noble’s quiet corners much more often than our Filmmaker’s Lounge filled with coworkers and filmmakers. A part of me wishes I had pushed myself to participate for networking purposes, but I know I showed up to do the job I was asked to do each day and that is what counts. Someone reminded me if I were to do another festival, it would be a totally different experience – I’d react differently, act differently, and feel differently about it, which I am sure is true. I doubt this is my last one, but for now it is because…

I started a full-time job Wednesday. Mid-way through October I interviewed for a position with HDNet Movies here in Denver and they wanted me, even though they had to wait over a month for me to begin. It’s a different path than I expected to take, choosing the stable work over the vagabond festival lifestyle, but I want to try this out and am hoping it works for me.

So, I will now be in Denver indefinitely. I woke up today and walked outside around 8:30am, greeted by the warm sun shining bright, temperatures that felt near 50, a lack of wind, and I thought, “I love this place.” Then as I drove to Safeway with my smart, lovely, generous, and super interesting sister (aka my favorite person ever), I looked out at the mountains and said, “Man, do we really live here?” It’s unbelievable here and thank God I never liked lakes in the first place, which is the one complaint I hear about here. Oh, and lack of good food at restaurants, which again doesn’t matter to me since I rarely ever go out.

I’m watching Wizard of Oz with my gorgeous, caring, and fabulous sister (aka my roommate for life) and am just really happy. Oh wait, she just changed it to Sweet Home Alabama. Either way, I get to watch whatever I want now because the festival is over – yay! Time to go spend my whole paycheck at the theater. Like I heard someone recently say, as a film programmer, you know you are in the right position when your ideal time off involves going to the movies.