Into Sedona

February 26, 2014

We arrived late in Phoenix. So late that the rental clerk was doing double duty handing out cars and running clearly across the lot to open the gate and go back to his post again.

I was traveling with my friend, Johnny, who had a film at the Sedona Film Festival and we were determined to get to our noon screening the next day. That meant I was chugging back Pepsi, weaving in and out of lanes on a dimly lit Arizona highway. In a fog (not literal fog thankfully!) of mountains, stars, and roundabouts, we crawled into Sedona and found our beds.

After a serene breakfast at our Resort (Poco Diablo), we made our way to the screening. Sedona Film Fest goes out of their way to help filmmakers enjoy their experience. Our resort was paid for, there was free lunch and dinner selections from local restaurants in the VIP Lounge and free tickets to the films. Of course, Sedona scenery itself is amazing, the red rocks tower over the sky of this town, like looking at a picture from a National Geographic Magazine.

The screening theatre was packed for our double bill, Johnny's film- The Marvelous Girl followed by the feature length documentary, Dancing in Jaffa. The audience was predominantly in their 50s and 60s but its Sedona- at noon- on a Wednesday. In between screenings, Johnny took the mic for a Q&A with the audience with his nerves going. In the end, the audience was appreciative and he held his own.

This screening seemed to be the most fulfilling one yet, something was different this time, there was a sincerity in their love of the film. As we walked the streets of Sedona, people would stop him to tell them how much he liked the movie. I think it was more than Sedona's mystical energy that was giving everyone good vibrations.

After exploring the downtown, grabbing some late dinner at the VIP lounge, we went to the theatre watch the critically acclaimed documentary The Act of Killing. Admittedly probably not the best film to watch before going to sleep. The night ended much the way the previous one did- driving the dark streets trying to find our resort.

Next blog... "Of Grander Things"...