Hello from the wilds of Vermont. My name is Tara Wray and I make documentaries. I’ve been asked to blog my Independent Film Week experiences and I just wanted to introduce myself before the blur begins.
I'll be attending IFW with a documentary work in progress called Cartoon College, a film about artists, outcasts, and nerds, and a school made especially for them where the motto is “draw comics or die.”
I’m in the Doc Spot section, which, according to IFW’s website, is geared toward “filmmakers in production or post seeking financing partners, broadcast/distribution, and festival invitations.” That’s me—actively seeking all that stuff. To that end, I have about twenty meetings scheduled with potential funders, programmers, distributors, etc., some of whom I know from the 2005 Market, which I attended with my first film, Manhattan, Kansas. To be honest, I'm pretty nervous. There's a lot of (mostly self-imposed) anxiety that comes from meeting people that can either help bring my dream to fruition or trash all hope of it ever seeing the dark light of a movie theater. But I know as long as I show up and share the passion I have for my film it will all work out the way it’s supposed to work out.
I love IFP, by the way. Just thought I’d put that out there. As organizations bent on improving the lives of independent filmmakers go, IFP’s just about tops in my book. Especially Milton Tabbot. He’s been a wonderfully patient mentor. IFP gave me my first ever grant, from the Anthony Radziwill Documentary Fund (on my second attempt), and I’ll never forget screaming into the phone—totally shedding all vestiges of professionalism—when Milton called with the good news. IFP got me a screening at Lincoln Center. IFP’s my fiscal sponsor. Basically they’ve done nothing but support me as a filmmaker. I wanted to try to repay the kindness, so in September of 2006 I volunteered to work in the Industry Video Library during that year’s Market. It was fascinating to see the process from the other side of the fence. I was especially diligent in making sure filmmakers got their attendance reports in a timely fashion, since I knew how important that info was to me in 2005.
Anyway, Milton also did me a huge favor by rejecting Cartoon College when I applied to the 2007 Market. He recognized that the project wasn’t ready and smartly told me to try for 2008. I was disappointed, but he was right (and since IFP dropped the attendance fee this year I’m even more grateful for that rejection). Now I’m in a great place with the film: shooting has wrapped and a rough cut is on its way (edited by the unbelievably talented Bret Granato) and it’s the right time to present the film.
So then, you can probably tell I’m pretty honored and thrilled to attend IFW this year. I look forward to meeting new filmmakers, reconnecting with folks from past Markets, and introducing Cartoon College to the independent film world.
Sincerely, Tara
P.S. Agnes Varnum—former Doc Spot Manager, astute blogger, and all around champion of the doc—wrote two reallyhelpful articles about attending IFW. They’re oldies but goodies.
