Coffee black and egg white

Today i went to Kent to shoot an event organized by Medway Council and their respective sub divisions. There was football, food and a stage in which youth performed their talents. There was some good stuff and not so good stuff. There was a set by a pair of beat boxers who were very good. But who impressed me the most was a young woman called Rose. She did covers of Alanis Morrisette, Norah Jones, Counting Crows, The Beatles and also a track written by herself. Her voice although not fully formed has great potential. I don't know how I can tell but first there's the clarity of her voice and then the indentations of melody and tone. I spoke to her after as I am interested in helping her out, perhaps to record a demo and to do a music video. I had never heard the track Colour Blind by Counting Crows but she did a beautiful rendition. She has the potential to be a major singer songwriter.

Yesterday at the screening 1 out of 30 people i invited turned up. And the person who did turn up was someone i don't really know that well. The turnout was good though. I got kind of stuck listening to the director's (Rob) old DP who is about the same age. For some reason he felt obliged to depart information and advice about how to 'get on the ladder'. He talked almost incessantly with me barely saying anything. He was helpful though which i appreciated. Though i wasn't particualarly interested in a lot of what he had to say. The screening went down well despite the projection being very saturated and the wrong aspect ratio. I even got to say something at the Q&A after. Funnily enough, the other film was directed by a guy who i met 2 years ago when i went to his house to buy some old film stock from.

More than anything, I find it unfortunate that despite me saying in the invite for the screening that indie film makers get little support, a large majority of people who i did invite simply didn't RSVP. It is a simple email of courtesy in reply to an invatation. I don't mind if people can't come, to simply not reply is simple rude. Despite having a good time and the film being well received, it has no reflection upon the lack of courtesy shown from those invited.

In my last entry I wrote of living in London and the monotomy. This monotomy is largely the monotomy of 'expectating' so little from people that the bar of manners and humanity is set so low I can't bare to look at it any more. It reveals that the giving of insight, kindness and warmth is a rare and special occurance.

- J