MountainFilm on Tour at WaterColor

[waday]

St. Joe Presents the 7th Annual MountainFilm Festival Under the Stars

Telluride MountainFilm returns to WaterColor on the big screen.

WaterColor, Fla. (August 28, 2007) - Blankets and lawn chairs will adorn the Marina Park Amphitheater at WaterColor as The St. Joe Company and Telluride MountainFilm Festival celebrate its 7th annual festival under the stars on Friday, Nov. 2 and Saturday, Nov. 3 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m during the Autumn Tides Festival in Beaches of South Walton.

The MountainFilm Festival gathers some of the most extraordinary films from around the world to share and celebrate their real, and metaphorical, mountains. MountainFilm is based out of Telluride, Colo. and tells of a world where adventure is alive, history is important, and people are passionate about what they believe. It is about environmental integrity and a rich spirit of celebration and is founded on the power of geography to shape our view of the world. The films and ideas featured produce new thoughts, even new insights, for those who view them.

Admission for one evening is $25, and for both evenings $40. The event is open to the public, and a menu of delicious treats will be available along with hot and cold beverages and a full bar. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets. Special weekend packages are available at WaterColor Inn and Resort. Please call our reservations department at 850.534.5000 or 866.426.2656.

For more information, call 850.534.5008 or visit www.mountainfilmfl.com .

[Miss Kitty]

...I heard a wonderful radio ad about MtFlm on the way back from the airport. Really well done.

[John R]

I'm really looking forward to attending this event.

[grace]

Can't wait! One of my favorite events of the year.

[John R]

http://www.feltsoulmedia.com/main.html

[John R]

check out felt soul's blog about their next film Red Gold, hilarious and with some insight about what it takes to make a film.

http://feltsoulmedia.wordpress.com/

[John R]

We need some volunteers for Saturday night to take tickets at the front door. 5:15-8:30p Gets you a ticket and t-shirt. call and ask for Jessica Lewis. 850 534 5000

[Miss Kitty]

I spied wires on the ground in Marina Park.

[scooterbug44]

woo-hoo Mountain Film!

Does anyone have a link to my fave "The lost people of Mountain village" ?

[Arkiehawg]

This will be our first time at the event and we're looking forward to a wonderful evening. A question though.....let's talk parking....?

[Beachbummett]

WOOT! WOOT! We can't wait!

JohnR see if FFF will take tickets! that way he will be there in plenty of time to save us a seat!

[John R]

This will be our first time at the event and we're looking forward to a wonderful evening. A question though.....let's talk parking....?

inn, streets, TDC lot. signs will be posted by WC

[Jdarg]

inn, streets, TDC lot. signs will be posted by WC

Uhh..I think there is something being constructed on the TDC lot- it is all blocked off?

[John R]

Uhh..I think there is something being constructed on the TDC lot- it is all blocked off?

i agree that it is being constructed. it was mentioned in an organizational meeting today that they would be using it. figure they'll be needing it for seeing red also. i guess we'll know on friday.

[peapod1980]

We need some volunteers for Saturday night to take tickets at the front door. 5:15-8:30p Gets you a ticket and t-shirt. call and ask for Jessica Lewis. 850 534 5000

For the full 3 hours, or sign up for shifts?

[John R]

For the full 3 hours, or sign up for shifts?

not sure, jess will be able to shed some light.

[truluv]

park where? and is my standard take everywhere chair not a low back chair? and is saturdays movie different from fridays?

[Jdarg]

Need low-back chair specifications. I have beach chairs, which have low to the ground seats, but the backs are high enough to support heads. Are these too high?

I need a wagon to haul stuff. Is anybody selling a wagon?

[peapod1980]

park where? and is my standard take everywhere chair not a low back chair? and is saturdays movie different from fridays?

Need low-back chair specifications. I have beach chairs, which have low to the ground seats, but the backs are high enough to support heads. Are these too high?

I need a wagon to haul stuff. Is anybody selling a wagon?

truluv, different movies each night.
OK, about the chairs--I've been assuming a high back chair would have to be at a level near or above my head, but now I'm wondering if it means above the shoulders (back)...?
jdarg, maybe the Steele clan would shuttle people and gear to the site in the beach wagon. Just a thought.

[Jdarg]

truluv, different movies each night.
OK, about the chairs--I've been assuming a high back chair would have to be at a level near or above my head, but now I'm wondering if it means above the shoulders (back)...?
jdarg, maybe the Steele clan would shuttle people and gear to the site in the beach wagon. Just a thought.

John- we really need a Mt. Film Chair Tutorial.

I need a wagon for blankets, chairs, coats, sleeping bags, etc. Maybe we will just "make camp" and stay through the Saturday night show.

Oh yeah- that means I would have to camp.

[John R]

a low back chair would be a chair low enough to keep the people behind you from having to strain/crane their necks to see around you to the image on the screen. a blanket, a crazy creek, a sand chair, an air mattress, your elbow would all fall into this category...

[scooterbug44]

I had to retire my blanket & crazy creek and buy a folding chair just for Mountain Film because I couldn't see over the folks in front of me!

[Smiling JOe]

Some high back chairs are also low-seat chairs, and can work pretty good. I recommend that if you bring one of those tall chairs, set it up in the very back so that others can see.

The John R crew began setting up yesterday afternoon. Let's get ready for to see the stars and some movies! The temps are supposed to get cold tonight, in the mid 50's, so bring a sleeping bag to keep you warm -- my best advice for this event.

[Miss Kitty]

We are all set up with our low back chairs, with some high back chairs in front of us. Wonder who will win this battle of wit? It is a beautiful night...off for a sunset cocktail and on to the most wonderful night under the stars...Mountain Film '07! I just pray there are no thongs when I get up tonight.

[Jdarg]

The high back chair people were very gracious when asked to relocate behind the low back chair crowd. to them!


Great night at Mt. Film. Kate and I loved the Merganser Ducks the best. Every film was engaging in a completely different way.

Will and his age group (teens) seemed to be moved by the film about the Ugandan AIDS orphan named Emmy- I don't think there was a dry eye in the place when it was running. Later he told us that it made him want to go to Africa and help these people that are so affected by war, poverty, disease, and sadness. Which is exactly the reaction that the filmmakers were looking for- the films make us aware of problems and inspire us to want to fix them.

Icing on the evening's cake was the giant shooting star that shot across the sky right above the screen!

[Santiago]

I totally agree Jdarg. Emmy was very moving and definitely puts our "problems" in proper perspective. My take on some other favorites are as follows: "Learning to Fly", Chirs McNamara is a total nut. " Running Down the Man" about a few guys in an unknown place sight fishing for roosterfish on the surf. This film was awesome and made want to go there. "Papa Tortuga" about one man's mission to bring the leatherback sea turtle back from near extinction. It make's you realize that nothing is more important than passion. We were totally blown away. "Celebrating Indomitable Spirit", the mission statement or motto of MountainFilm, could not be more fitting. Kudos to JohnR and anyone else involved in putting together this magical evening.

[steele mama]

I was so happy to make it down for the event last night. Have never been before and was very impressed. The films were awesome and the crowd! Where did they all come from? It was a great showing all the way around. AND I got to see some very special sowallers. Loved Emmy, the turtles and the ducks. The rest were great too.

[John R]

Thanks for coming.

[grace]

What a great show! What was the deal with the impromptu fence across the foot bridge? We have a couple of houses in Phase III and lugged all of our stuff across only to run into a fence at the very end. Didn't actually run into it, like the older couple on bikes did in front of us, but....

[Jdarg]

Thanks for coming.

Thanks for your hard work!

[Jdarg]

www.grannyd.com

I loved the film about Granny D- check her out!

http://myspace.com/rungrannyrun

And she has a myspace page!

[kathydwells]

Are these films available to purchase? I would love to see the turtle movie, and I would love for my sister to be able to see it. Or, can they be rented?

[John R]

Are these films available to purchase?

Some are, most are not. Many are on the circuit, hoping to get picked up. Many are made for festivals and wait to see how they fare, to then see if they can get a few thousand pressed. Best bet is to google the title, it will typically lead you toward the producer's page.

For all: which film did you like the most? the least?

[scooterbug44]

I was not a fan of the first nature film - some of the bugs looked a little too cockroachy for me, but loved the frogs and lizards!

Many great films as usual, though I decided that subtitles should go on the top instead of the bottom (my spanish skills got a refresher course during the tortuga film).

The lawn movie was hilarious. I now can't look at a lawn service mower w/o thinking sloppy seconds!

[Jennifer Steele]

I was only there on Friday, but my favorite was "Emmy."
I really enjoyed the base-jumping film, too. Nothing I didn't like, but I got a little squeamish with the bug close-ups.

Still my favorite 30-A Event!

[Jdarg]

My favorite was Emmy- uplifting and heartbreaking in one movie. Wow. Second was the Merganser ducks, then GrannyD.

Least favorite- the climbing movie on Saturday night. Probably because I am not really interested in climbing, and thought the climbing dude/guru came off as a prick. The scenery was beautiful though-

[steele mama]

Only saw Friday's movies:
Emmy and Papa Totuga. Really touch the heart strings!

Have to pick one you say............Emmy!

[grace]

I loved the mountain biking film on Friday. Moab is such a magical place. Also loved the turtle flick. What an amazing man. It took a lot of courage to go against the traditions and beliefs of his village.

[Jennifer Steele]

I loved the mountain biking film on Friday. Moab is such a magical place. Also loved the turtle flick. What an amazing man. It took a lot of courage to go against the traditions and beliefs of his village.

Now...about that tar?

[BayouBelle]

I thought all of the films were really interesting - some humorous, some heartwrenching, some inspiring. But most importantly, each film made me think about something - a person, a situation, a process - in a different way.

From a sheer entertaiment perspective, I really liked the film showcasing Ryan Leech and his mountain bike skills on that trail/course. He was amazing.

[cp]

Now...about that tar?

please?!

[grace]

Now...about that tar?

Yaeh, yeah...
I promised I would change it after LSU pouded on 'Bama.
Just as soon as I get home I will remove that most diturbing image and replace it with an equally offensive 'tar

[Miss Kitty]

I am having Mountain Film withdrawal.

[kathydwells]

Yaeh, yeah...
I promised I would change it after LSU pouded on 'Bama.
Just as soon as I get home I will remove that most diturbing image and replace it with an equally offensive 'tar

Just for the record....they didn't pound us, they beat us, but they didn't pound us.

[kathydwells]

Some are, most are not. Many are on the circuit, hoping to get picked up. Many are made for festivals and wait to see how they fare, to then see if they can get a few thousand pressed. Best bet is to google the title, it will typically lead you toward the producer's page.

For all: which film did you like the most? the least?

Thanks for the info John R. Wish I could have been there.

[grace]

Just for the record....they didn't pound us, they beat us, but they didn't pound us.

Hey, a win is a win, and we won! (OK so pound was a stretch, how about woopin')

[Chickpea]

Loved it all!!! Loved the movies, the commentary, the company, friends and hot chocolate!! Loved staring at the amazing stars in the sky and wish I had tried those brownies!!!!!

[Seabreeze]

MountainFilm was great (as usual) this year though it seemed like the array of films was more limited than in past years. I miss the mix of light humor entries alongside extreme sports/challenges and eco-based and social-issues-based entries. I felt like it was mostly eco and social this year. Still a great event, though. The higher temps this year made it more pleasurable than last. No need for a sleeping bag and ski cap.

One thing I could've done without was the pontificating from the podium on Saturday night. The dude who served as MC made his point ... expounded ... repeated his point ... expounded some more ... re-re-made his point ... ad nauseum. Enough already! People around me started saying, "Just show the damn film!" I agree. The films are expertly designed and produced. Let them stand on their own merit.

Looking forward to next year's MF, er, MountainFilm.

[scooterbug44]

MountainFilm was great (as usual) this year though it seemed like the array of films was more limited than in past years. I miss the mix of light humor entries alongside extreme sports/challenges and eco-based and social-issues-based entries. I felt like it was mostly eco and social this year. Still a great event, though. The higher temps this year made it more pleasurable than last. No need for a sleeping bag and ski cap.

One thing I could've done without was the pontificating from the podium on Saturday night. The dude who served as MC made his point ... expounded ... repeated his point ... expounded some more ... re-re-made his point ... ad nauseum. Enough already! People around me started saying, "Just show the damn film!" I agree. The films are expertly designed and produced. Let them stand on their own merit.

Glad someone else thought so too! Thought I was just being cranky about the repetitive and boring announcers and figured the claymation film we missed just before intermission friday (we wanted to get a jump on the women's restroom line) was the really funny one.

[Margarita]

Couldn't agree more about the announcers!! I missed Jim Pettigrew - he always did a great job announcing the films.

We had our minister from our church in Lexington, Ky as our guest for the film festival. Every Monday he sends out a fax to the business community in Lexington. This is what he wrote for this weeks fax.

Fax of Life/LIFemail

A Monday Morning Service to the Business Community from Glen Schneiders



Celebrating Indomitable Spirit

November 5, 2007



Friday and Saturday, my wife and I attended the Mountainfilm Festival appearing at Watercolor, Florida. The festival, which originates in Telluride, Colorado, tours the country with new releases by private film entrepreneurs. Watercolor was one of 94 showings this season.



Two short films underscored the theme of Mountainfilm: “Celebrating Indomitable Spirit.”



One was “Emmy: The Story of an Orphan” and the other was “Granny D Goes to Washington.” Kenny is an eighteen-year-old young man that found himself drawn to a young Ugandan named Emmy. Emmy’s mother dies of AIDS and his father was a victim of the Lord Risistance Army’s reign of terror over Northern Uganda. The story is about Emmy and his cruel circumstances, but I was drawn to Kenny. He went to Uganda because of some friends, but he returned to the United States determined to make a difference as part of the Invisible Children Movement.



Doris “Granny D” Haddock found herself so frustrated by political campaign finance inequities that she walked 3200 miles across America to draw attention to her cause - at eighty-nine years of age! It took her fourteen months, and a stay in the hospital for dehydration in the Mojave Desert, but she completed the walk.



Two very different settings, two distinctly different generations, but both are living their lives fully. Have you noticed the groundswell among younger people to make a difference with their lives? It should encourage us all.



Since I am closer in age to Granny D than Kenny, I found her story even more challenging. At a time when she has every right to coast, she is living life fully. Granny D did indeed influence campaign finance reform laws passed by Congress. She then ran for the Senate in her home state of New Hampshire at ninety-four years of age (when a candidate dropped out from her political party). She received 34% of the electoral vote.



So, as I come back from a relaxing time away, I have to ask myself, “What am I doing with my one and only life? Will I leave the world better than I found it?”



It was said of Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation, “Abraham breathed his last and died in a ripe old age, an old man and satisfied with life…” Genesis 25:8 (New American Standard Version)



Are you satisfied with how you are investing your one and only life? Whether you are eighteen or eighty-nine, make the world a better place today.



Until next Monday, Glen



Crossroads Christian Church

4128 Todds Road Lexington, KY 40509

phone 859.263.4633 fax 859.263-4074