Bridges

For complete Bridges’ Coverage and Photos of RiverRun fun, click here.

Film Festival Post #3 below: Celebrities, Country Queens and 3-Days of Non-Stop Movie Adventures

…….       …..      ……

Wow, what a whirlwind!  The first weekend of the RiverRun International Film Festival has passed. Three days  filled with movies, events, conversations with directors, writers, and actors. I’m blown away by the quality of talent present and by the generosity demonstrated by the creative guests visiting us in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Photo montage here.

Today I’m taking a break from movies to reflect and catch up on “real life” things like paying bills and answering emails. Truly, the past three days have felt dream-like. During my movie adventures, I’ve visited different worlds and cultures, experiencing myself in myriad ways.

The opening night movie, One Night Stand drew me into the creative chaos of musical theater. I was awed by the brilliance of the composers and actors who created new worlds on stage. Seeing the film reminded me of my own childhood dreams of being an actor, how fun it was to put on backyard plays for my parents and friends. That creative spirit is innate to all of us, and so easily accessible.

Detropia showed me the world of gritty urban decay in Detroit, Michigan. Visually stunning and emotionally raw, the film reminds us that what happened (and is happening) in Detroit can happen anywhere. That the rules of industry and are changing and while the US once ruled the world in manufacturing, we now are a country of imports, not exports.

See Girl Run reminded me of my own lost loves, and the adolescent dreams for romance that linger. This romantic comedy surprised me with its depth and complexity. Even those of us with perfect seeming lives can find ourselves existentially lost, seeking wholeness from the past.

Found Memories transported me to rural Brazil, to a culture that moves slowly, patiently, with intention and grace. This simple yet complex movie caused me to think deeply about my own life and the eventuality of death, and how important it is to appreciate beauty in the meantime. (Click here to read Cheryl’s altered-state experience at this gem of a film.)

Finally, Queens of Country was a wide-open full-on romp of a movie, hilariously side-splitting with stunning costumes and music, while tackling complex social issues along the way. A movie about falling in love with yourself, I left the theater reminded that wholeness lies not in another, but within our own hearts.

After three days at RiverRun, I felt like I’d entered another world. I had a hard time falling asleep last night, my mind so full of new ideas and images. The weekend changed me, broadened my imagination and my vision for how my own life might unfold.

The cherry on the sundae of all this creative goodness? Meeting Ron Livingston last night after watching Queens of Country (in which he stars). I’m a huge Sex and the City fan, so I spent about five minutes reminding myself not to call him Jack Berger. I got my minute with Ron, who seems like the nicest guy in the world, and went home giddy and satisfied.

One more glorious week to go! I can hardly wait to see what will happen next.

Drop by this space often between now and April 22 to follow Cheryl and I as we blog our way through 10 films in 10 days.

For complete Bridges’ Coverage and Photos of 2012 RiverRun fun, click here.

This Bridges’ Blog Post was written by Dr. Cyndi Briggs a writer, educator, and consultant who lives and works in Winston-Salem, NC. You can read more of her writing on her blog, The Sophia Project and in Skirt! Magazine. When she’s not watching movies or writing, you can find Cyndi out salsa dancing.