Milwaukee Film Festival 2011, A Recap

Milwaukee Film Festival 2011, A Recap

For me, I began the festival with one goal in mind. Make this MY Film Festival.

Based for me at the Ridge – it was different than if I spent the days at the Oriental (Film Festival Central). But this was what was convenient for me and allowed me to not only see movies, but also be the man my family deserved during the festival.

I came up short on what I had hoped to see, but still ended with 15 films/packages at the theater. (Got Milwaukee Brewers tickets on the last day of the fest – thanks Bob and we had a dance class and Creek Crawl to deal with during the fest.)

That said, what did I see?

Make Believe, The Human Resources Manager, Give Up Tomorrow, Shorts: World’s Best Commercials, When the Drum is Beating, The Interrupters, Somewhere Between, Wish Me Away, The Redemption of General Butt Naked, The Last Mountain, Bhopali, Page One: Inside the New York Times, The Flaw, Breaking and Entering, How Much Does Your Building Weigh Mr. Foster

So after spending nearly 30 hours of my last week or so at the theaters what did I learn.

Chicago has a great group of individuals trying to make a difference in the violence of our neighbor to the south. (The Interrupters)

Paco needs to be freed. (Give Up Tomorrow)

Chely Wright is extremely talented, no matter what her sexual orientation is! (Wish Me Away)

If there is a record to be broken, there will be someone to break it. (Breaking and Entering)

Haitians are an extremely resilient group of people even when you don’t count the Earthquake impact. (When the Drum is Beating)

Magic is alive and well with the youth of the world. (Make Believe)

Despite it’s title, The Redemption of General Butt Naked is not a comedy. (The Redemption of General Butt Naked)

Love him or hate him, David Carr is tenacious! (Page One: Inside the New York Times)

Films can be projected poorly at film festivals. (The Flawat Ridge)

People will complain about anything and everything. (Rumblings in the crowd about having to drive all the way to New Berlin for one of the films)

Directors and producers of even the smallest of films are passionate about filmmaking and are fascinating to listen to at film festivals (Directors/Producers from Make Believe, Give up Tomorrow, When the Drum is Beating, Wish Me Away, Breaking and Entering all did Q & A sessions after their films at the Ridge)

Sure there are things that could be done better – but I’m not here to focus on those right now…but if the Milwaukee Film Festival crew wants my ideas – I’m here! :-)

Overall, Milwaukee Film Festival was a real success. Attendance up 17%, 22 sell-outs and over 35,000 people took in a film. Plus members of Milwaukee Film more than doubled.

Actual festival winners were included in a previous post but here are my picks from what I saw.

Best Film: The Interrupters

I mean it when I say this is the bar for all other documentaries I’ll view before the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards gets my vote.

Most FUN film: Page One: Inside the New York Times, Make Believe (TIE)

Quite frankly, David Carr is the reason, but this film just had a smile on my face throughout. And I just had a smile on my face throughout the magic film Make Believe.

Cause I didn’t know about, but am appalled now that I do:Give Up Tomorrow

Sure with films it takes a side, but the blatant difference between the passion we fight Casey Anthony and others could be used to help Paco get freed with the ACTUAL evidence in his case.

Craziest Title: The Redemption of General Butt Naked

He really is naked at points in here…and he’s now a Christian…but he had impacts in 20,000 deaths (by his admission).

Surprising Moment: Wish Me Away (Chely’s prayers)

I know Christians that would condemn Chely for no other reason than her personal life that don’t pray as well as she admits to in this film. To ask the Lord for peace is so much more effective than wanting a new car, or a job to pay them more money.

Film I Missed that I Really Wanted to See: We Need To Talk About Kevin

Wanted to see this Tilda Swinton film but unfortunately, schedules wouldn’t allow it.

Milwaukee Film Festival - Day 6 (Wish Me Away, The Redemption of General Butt Naked)

Ahh…Day 6 of MY FILM FESTIVAL – That’s the Milwaukee Film Festival to the rest of you.

Today, feeling good but wondering aloud how many documentaries I can take. MORE, MORE!!!!

So it’s off to the Ridge without seeing my wife and daughter to take in two films that are really different….Wish Me Away and The Redemption of General Butt Naked.

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First up on this evening -- the documentary Wish Me Away about country singer Chely Wright and her journey to come out as a gay country singer. Lucky for those of us in attendance, we’d also get a Q and A period after the show with co-directors Bobbie Birleffi and Beverly Kopf. But on to the film now.

Country music is traditionally the home for many god fearing, proud American military backing fans. Chely Wright is no different than those fans at all. But Chely has a secret that she has been hiding. She is gay.

Wish Me Away concerns itself with the days leading up to Chely’s announcement that will rock the country music world.  No one is out and performing in front of this audience. Traditionally country music fans have been a more conservative lot than in other music segments, and the future in a post announcement word is truly uncertain.

The documentary follows the fact that Chely prayed to have this taken away from her when she was young. She avoided it as she plowed herself into her career. And then she promised herself she would come clean after a hit, then after a top 10 hit, then after a number one; but she just couldn’t do it.

The journey has all led to this point. And while some may question whether this is a publicity stunt, others know that in this genre of music it will hurt more than it will help on a professional level.

Filmmakers Bobbie and Beverly give you those intimate videos with Chely wondering if she can go through with it. They give you some of Chely’s family and how they handled the announcement. And you’ll get a look at … at least one of the members of the country music community having comments.

The country music community hasn’t embraced Chely, the gay community has embraced Chely somewhat – they endorse her person, even if they don’t quite get the musical format.

What does the future hold for Chely? Only time will tell. Personally she seems like a happier person, but professionally she’s still trying to find her new niche.

From a personal note…she is still Chely. Gay, straight, white, black or whatever that doesn’t change her talent. She was always gay; people just didn’t know it! If you are a fan of her music, why should it matter? Everyone deserves to be loved.

http://www.wishmeawaydoc.com

Remaining screenings for the festival – Thursday, 9/29 9:30PM at North Shore and Saturday, 10/1 at 9:45PM at the Oriental.

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Funny, true story – as Wish Me Away was letting out…some of the crowd was talking about how FAR out in the sticks New Berlin (where the theater is) was.  As a resident of the fair city…I just say…really?

Anyway, I digress – On to the next film….The Redemption of General Butt Naked.

Yes – I giggled when I saw the title too.

Two TOTALLY different films, back to back, Butt Naked is NOT a comedy.

It’s the story of a General who was in charge of a group that fought, butt naked. Now years after the civil unrest in Liberia, Butt Naked has become a Christian and is trying to make amends to many of those whose lives he ruined.

We follow the newly known “Joshua” as he goes preaching the gospel to many of his victims. The uncomfortable moments where he recounts having a role in 20,000 deaths in the country are mind boggling.

Not everyone buys the new Joshua; he’s still the mass murderer to some of the crowd. And folks want justice against him, to the point where he exiles himself from family to keep preaching.

While stories of redemption are nothing new – here it is hard to feel sympathy for a man with such a brutal past. While as a Christian, I am happy he has found God and the love he promises, I still can’t get by the past. Forgiveness is important in the Christian religion. But there is never a place where it says that also has to mean no punishment for your actions. Startling and graphic at times, The Redemption of General Butt Naked will leave you conflicted no matter what your beliefs are.

http://www.generalbuttnakedmovie.com

No more showings during the festival.

And the night was over – headed home late but satisfied with two more solid docs at the Milwaukee Film Festival. (Thank goodness home is only 3-5 mins away!)

Milwaukee Film Festival - Day 5 (a Day Off)

Ok, Day 5 turns into a rest day for me. But simply because I had to spend some time taking my daughter to her dance class in the middle of the shows. So instead of talking about specific movies today I wanted to focus on something a bit different.

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Participating in a festival on your home turf makes things easy in some ways. You can run home for a bite to eat and aren’t relegated to a hotel room. But you are also tied to responsibilities at home. You can have a home cooked meal, but don’t do so much of the after party things.

It’s easy and quick to get to a film, but you also find yourself running it at the last minute from time to time just because you can.

The Milwaukee Film Festival has done a great thing by including a full lineup of films at the Ridge Cinema. Although it seems like the crowds are a bit smaller than down on the East Side of Milwaukee they are well behaved and are full of questions during the Q and A sessions.

And while I’m at it – kudos to the MFF 2011 volunteers that have worked at the Ridge. They have been kind and very helpful for the festival thus far – the Marcus staff has been wonderful as well – and so far all things considered this has been a great experience.

Now I DO have some suggestions on marketing the festival to get even bigger crowds come next year – but that’s another topic.

My Tuesday schedule – a double dip of docs at the Ridge for myself first the story of country music’s Chely Wright as she struggles with her plan to come out called Wish Me Away and followed by The Redemption of General Butt Naked a story of ruthless Liberian warlord. Sure another funny night at the movies! JIf you’re there and you see me say hi…no worries I have a name badge on so even if you don’t know me…you can find me. Save Me A Seat.