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Pre festival days often set the tone for the event and sometimes are a precursor of how a festival experience can turn out. There are pre screenings, press screenings, pre festival parties, and the double secret probation hoops you have to jump through on occasion to get on "the list." There was a time when I would try my best to get into an event - pulling all stops, at any cost - but I thought it would be better to do it the right way and I sent in an RSVP email responding that I would like to attend. I figured it was the right thing to do.

Tuesday evening the New York Filmmaker Party was going on at the Tribeca Cinemas and I thought it would be perfect to see a New York-made film at the Tribeca Cinema Theaters just prior and then attend the party. After all, I wrote several articles in Film Festival Reporter about the MADE IN NY incentive program and about independent filmmakers that come to town to make their films AND I did send in an RSVP via email. I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to meet some of the New York filmmakers and particularly WEST 32ND director Michael Kang.

I didn't know what I was in for watching WEST 32ND, a crime drama set in the New York City Korean community. It's characterized as a gritty urban experience and certainly one that kept my interest from the opening scene to the last ironic character admission. I really liked the film and noticed in the credits (I ALWAYS stay through the credits) that it was supported by the MADE IN NY program through the Mayor's Office of Film Theater and Broadcasting and supported by the New York State Governor's Office for Motion Picture and Television Development. I wanted to meet the filmmakers who were most likely at the party next door.

As I stood on line to get checked in, the young woman with headset, clipboard and THE LIST announced that I wasn't on the list. I noticed there was a second list but she didn't bother to look at that one. The conversation that ensued sounded like a "who's on first" routine:

"Really? I sent in an email RSVP"

"Not on here. This is not a Press event"

I know it's not a Press event. Why would I go to an event with a bunch of people from the press who are on the lookout for someone else interesting to talk to? I tried to explain what my motives were but it didn't make a difference. I wasn't on the list - end of story.

"Is there someone you can ask?

"They're all at the Vanity Fair party, but
I can call them. If you step aside and let
me check in the 400 people behind you -
I can deal with you then"

I looked behind me and saw a dozen people in line and wondered where the other 388 people where standing. Hmmm. I must be on double secret probation here, but that's how it goes sometimes. The music boomed and people streamed out just as quickly as those getting in. I decided it was time to find some friendlier faces that weren't on the list as well. No worries. However, it is unfortunate that this kind of segregation was so emphatically enforced. While there are some filmmakers and festivals that encourage a partying atmosphere, this is a time for filmmakers to work their tails off if they want their film to be successful beyond it's first life cycle which is the film festival circuit. Interviews and articles are what's going to get the buzz about their films out to the general public as well as the film buying sources. And while loud music and mojitos loosen up the festival jitters and promote a celebratory mood, the filmmaker's primary focus should be to get their film seen by as many people as possible and sometimes a good word starts the ball rolling.