TAOS TALKING PICTURE FESTIVAL

As Kelly Clement, the Festival Director, introduced our first screening, I was sweating. Post-production being what it is (laborious), nobody had seen the final print until now, and we had a full house. In fact, our first two screenings were already sold out. But as the film unspooled, first relief, then joy, washed over me. The spell was woven. Nobody left. They laughed in the right places and were silent in the right places. The reels were in the right order. And in the end, the comments were amazingly positive and wonderfully gratifying. We were even interviewed twice on local radio. But best of all, we then sold out the third show, in the BIG theater on Sunday morning — which, if you’ve been to a festival party on Saturday night, is no small feat. Speaking of which, I can’t say enough good things about Kelly and staff — if you want a first-class festival experience, as a filmmaker or attendee, go to Taos next year. It’s worth the trip. Except this year was its last. Bummer. — Tony Vidmer