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Reel World Film Festival Toronto, Canada - April 2006

Down Low on the Reel World

Yup ñ weíre back, and after an inauspicious start, things turned out wonderfully.

By the time I arrived in Toronto on Thursday evening, Rachael and Ayo had already spread the word on Rag Tag, and most people I met had either had one of our snazzy post cards or our 9.45 pm show time tatooed on something.

Come Friday night jet lag caught up with us so we each decided to have a brief power nap so weíd be fresh for the screening screening. Rachael and I woke up at 9.25 ñ screamed, dressed and made a mad taxi dash, managing to get there at 9.43!

There was a long queue, which we were told was a good sign ñ and the theatre of about 100 seats was almost full.

Then the film began. After much drama with the Beta SP NTSC formats in London and Toronto, weíd had a meeting with the projectionist that afternoon and finally decided to screen off a DVD instead. When things began, we were quite happy with our decision. But about 5 minutes in, a strange static started to come from the speakers. 10 minutes later, it was like someone was fighting a small war in stereo. Before the 20th minute, the entire film just stopped showing.

By then Iíd run out, pow-wowed with the programmer and projectionist and taken the decision to go with the dodgy BETA tape, since it had to be better than the madness inside the theatre.

I went back in with trepidation, to find that only a small number of people had left, and everyone else sat patiently as everything was re-set and re-started.

From then on, things took off. The audience were laughing and gasping, and complaining and silent at all the right bits. I was surprised by how well they got the humour too ñ especially things Iíd forgotten were even funny. On the other hand, I was also surprised by how many of them seemed completely surprised when Rag and Tag first kissed. Regardless, everyone seemed to be very into it all the way through, even the person who was shouting ëCut, Cut!í during the love scene found himself silenced by the supporters around him. And we got our resounding round of applause at the end, even though it was well past midnight.

For the remaining days after the film I was constantly introduced as the maker of Rag Tag or ëThat filmí and would come across people who wanted to debate it, or were eager to tell me that they had just been discussing it ñ good and bad. A particular highlight was the 3 day discourse I had with the festival founderís mother over the morality of the themes depicted. She managed to find me at every venue, and by the end I was actually looking forward to her spry arguments.

I have also since been approached by several festival organisers inviting us to submit Rag Tag to their events.

Furthermore, there has been what appears to be serious interest from a buyer/publicist, who wants Canadian theatrical rights, and a say in our strategy. He wants to save our proper premiere for Sundance. Thanks to the dodginess of the BETA tape we can pass off prior screenings as ëWork in Progressí ñ thus eating our cake and having it.

Dunno ñ still a bit jetlagged and overwhelmed by the response. Right now Iíve just committed to NEWFEST ñ the New York Lesbian and Gay film festival early June (small and new), and will probably be committing to the Frameline San Francisco International Film Festival (huge and old). Iím buying time with everyone else while I sort out our bigger, brighter options.

Adaora x