The UMMy Student Film Festival was tonight, and there was such a bulk of submissions that I got to sit in the uncomfortable auditorium chairs for over three hours. Despite ass numbness and some really annoying audience members (laughing inappropriately during an art film just seems disrespectful to me, as does cheering raucously for your own movie before it’s even screened), I had a really good time. The outpouring of talent and creativity present at the event has increased every year I’ve attended.

Tonight was different though, because “The On Call Office” was up for six awards (2 for Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Script, and Best Feature Film). We ended up taking away only one (Best Script) and while I’m definitely proud to have that, I can’t say that I wasn’t disappointed not to get more–I would have liked to have had our cast get more recognition, because, seriously, every single one of them worked their asses off on the project and simply rocked it.

Maybe disappointed isn’t the right word, but it’s the only word I’ve got tonight. Maybe it’s a problem with me not being used to not winning things I’m nominated for, but I really thought we had a shot to come away with the Best Feature award–and at a Festival usually dominated by theater and improv people, having a film that strong with a cast with so little formal experience (but no small amount of talent or ambition) was invigorating. And it was good–people laughed in all the right places, often laughing over lines. I was shaking through the whole screening.

So, after months of work, I can finally put “The On Call Office” to bed. I’m really glad that we did it, and I’m grateful for everyone who worked on it, everyone who made it as great as it is.

Awards or no award, we made something awesome, and I’m happy with that.


Posted by in college, movies, people, writing