filmaker: forrest naylor - thoughts on the 2007 mendocino film festival

my brother Kyle Burns shot "Favorite Color Pink", a short film Directed by Forrest Naylor. "Pink" premiered at the Mendocino Film Festival. I guess the MFF really screwed them over. Here are Forrest's thoughts on the whole experience.

Hi Cameron,

Thanks for the email. -- Here is what went down that led up to me bashing the festival at my screening. Feel free to post any or all of it on your blog...

My rant to the audience about the festival was a result of feeling totally disrespected and alienated by a film festival in my own community. It started when the program and website came out and discovering there wasn't one logline or synopsis about the local films. There wasn't even a mention whether they were narratives, experimental, documentaries, etc. I had to contact the festival and ask them to change the website so it included at least a logline about what the films were about. They did change it, but it was a little too late, for the programs already went out with no description. (and as you know, most people choose the films they are going to see by the programs, not by the website) I had to call the local news paper to ask them to do a write up about my film so people at least had a little info on it. I was also told by the festival that they would print out fliers with a synopsis of the local films, which they did, however I was later told only a few were passed out due to lack of man power, even though I offered to do it myself.

Another thing that really troubled me was that the local filmmakers never received badges to wear around their neck which identified them as filmmakers. Only the filmmakers in the competition were granted these badges, which identified them as filmmakers, and it also got them into screenings for free, which the local filmmakers had to pay for. I remember Keith's opening night speech when he said "You will know who the filmmakers are because they will be wearing these badges around their neck, so make sure you go up and meet them." -- It was kind of embarrassing at parties and events because I had to introduce myself as a filmmaker even though I didn't have a badge around my neck, making me feel not as credible. (maybe sounds silly, but that's how it affected me) BTW - Isn't Shyam Balse a local filmmaker? What's up with that? Why was he the exception? Was it because his film had at least a twenty thousand dollar budget? (I think I heard something that it cost around that, maybe more or less, but I can't verify that) No disrespect to Shyam, because I love this guy, and even though I didn't get to see his film, I'm sure it was beautiful and worthy of receiving an award.

Rich Aguilar (who's been in the business as a gaffer and cinematographer since the 60's, working on films such as Easy Rider, Paper Moon, Postman Always Rings Twice etc.) found out about us not having badges and how we were treated, and was absolutely appalled that the local filmmakers were treated as such. He said he didn't know that was going on, and he went on to say we should have been in the competition whether we were local or not. And honestly, my frustration doesn't stem from not being in the competition. My frustration is from being treated like a second class citizen in a community where a film festival is taking place and I happen to be a local filmmaker. I could deal with not being in the competition, but I can't deal with not getting the same treatment as the other filmmakers. I know my $500 film can't compete in production value as the films which were chosen, but all I ask is that me and the other local filmmakers are not treated as filler in a festival held in a community where we reside.

The straw that broke the camel's back was at my screening where the MC didn't announce that my film would be playing too, just one film. I had to stand up and play the jaded filmmaker and let the audience know that there would be a second film following, which totally confused the audience. They had no idea. Subsequently I ended up loosing a good third of them. When they did get around to playing my film, they never took the time to make sure it was formatted right on the screen, and it was totally off. Another sign and example of the total lack of respect they showed the local filmmakers. They couldn't even take the time to make sure it was going to screen okay. No fucking respect at all. Simply, we were filler.

I never experienced such pretentious behavior first hand as I did at the MFF. It seems to me they are trying to be Sundance in their second year of existence, and in doing so they cast aside the local filmmakers in hopes drawing in bigger fish, just to simply feed their ego.

A fucking joke it was.