Film Makers

 How important are the arts?  Could we live whole, healthy lives without the arts?  I don't think so.  Despite our need as humans to receive this,  it's hard to make a living in the arts.  

I've occasionally crushed some young peoples' dreams by reminding them "It's hard to make a living in the arts."  Believe me, I know.

Film makers are a special kind of storytellers. I have a couple of film makers in my life so I have great appreciation for this gift and skill.  I recently read an article in my AARP Bulletin  about film makers, Tefta Bejko and Bujar Alimani.  

The struggle they had to get out of their native land, Albania, and finally land in New York City, would make a triumphant film itself.  Bujar started on foot, climbing mountains and crossing rivers until he reached Greece.  Tefta joined him later, and they had a child. 

They started making films.  Bujar wrote and directed, Tefta handled production. Their work was honored.  Albania chose their first feature, Amnistia, as it's entry for the 2012 Oscars. Later, two other films were put up for Academy Awards. 

Now, years later,  here comes the most interesting part of the article.  Both Tefta and Bujar have full time working class jobs.  Tefta is a cashier in a supermarket.  Bujar works an eight hour construction job.  

As Bujar says, "We don't get paid much for our film work.  Nearly every dollar we earn or raise goes to pay our actors, crew and expenses."  

Additionally he says, "I must document these memories.  I am an artist....My mission is to tell not just the story, but the truth."

Amen, Bujar. 

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Cheers!

 

These last few years my son has done some interesting (and crazy) things for my birthday.  Some of them are fun, like notes from people in our community I truly admire.  Some are questionable.  Like a few years ago I received an autographed photo of Pat Boone.  

Queue the eye role.  

So this past December, when my birthday rolled around, I wasn't surprised to receive a Cameo video from George Wendt.  Cameo makes personalized videos featuring  "famous personalities."  You can chose either personal or business videos.  

When I watched my George Wendt video I was kind of doing the "eye roll" thing. Early on he mentioned Nora Ephron and Steve Martin and I had no idea what that had to do with me.  But after watching it a couple of more times I began to realize it was all about me.  

He started out saying "Happy Birthday Cecily" and he pronounced my name correctly.  That's a plus.   He congratulated me on finishing up my book, Florida, A Love Story.  He sort of bellowed "Comin' out soon!" Then he said "you gotta keep up the writing" and I took this as being a little patronizing because he'd not read anything I'd written.

But, as he continued I realized he had read many of my blog postings.  I love Nora Ephron (now deceased) and, over the years, have written several posts about her.  George's favorites seem to be the ones about food.  I wrote a few postings about Steve Martin as well.  He, like Nora, is a serious writer.  He used to write often for The New Yorker.  

George went on to discuss "Fear of Nuns."  On August, 30, 2021 I wrote a posting titled "Nuns and Clowns."  It dealt with our fears, rational or not, of these two groups.  George suggested I watch a show called "Rebel Hearts."  It's about some seriously strong nuns. 

So, I went from "eye rolling" to being impressed by and grateful for, George Wendt's greeting.  I hope you'll take a look at Cameo. What an interesting concept for both personal and corporate use. 

George never once mentioned Norm.  But he did end his video by saying, "Cheers."

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Introspection 2022

 Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.  For the first time in several years I wasn't able to get to church to have ashes placed on my forehead in the shape of a cross and being reminded that I came from dust and to dust I will return. 

I like ritual.  And I like going deep into myself during Lent.  For me it's very much a time of introspection.  

My calendar page for this morning shows Duccio di Buoniinsegna's painting, "The Healing of the Blind Man."  He painted this sometime between 1278 and 1318.  That was a while back. 

Introspection means taking a deep dive inside ourselves.  

Scary.  

What I know about myself is that I am left brained.  I'm comfortable being analytical and orderly.  I don't like surprises.  I like to know what's happening.  I don't do well with high emotion or magical thinking.  

I think this is why I love the story of the blind man in the book of John, chapter nine.  It's all about the facts.  When his neighbors asked "Isn't this the same man who used to sit and beg?'  He said "I am the man."

When the Pharisees tried to trip up Jesus by asking the blind man what, how and why Jesus had done, he didn't embellish.  He said, "He told me to go to Siloam and wash.  So I went and washed, and then I could see." 

This guy would make a great witness on Law and Order.   

When they asked the man's parents what happened they replied, "We know he is our son and we know he was born blind.  But how can he see now, or who opened his eyes, we don't know. Ask him."

It's pretty analytical but contemplating on what this scripture means to me personally makes me go deep.

Six more weeks of introspection then.....Easter!

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