Sheila Dvorak - Sheila falls in love with the Mississippi Delta

When I flew into the Mississippi Delta, I was captivated by the patchwork created by the fields below me. The magic of the place had just started to wash over me. After I landed, I drove across the Mississippi river and strolled by Lake Chicot in Arkansas, just so I could say I had been there too. It was beautiful and peaceful.

The next day I was off to the B.B. King Museum in Indianola. While the audience of local film makers, film lovers, and students enjoyed the film in the auditorium, I walked through the B.B..King Museum exhibits, and got caught up in learning the story of the legendary musician. The hour and a half film wasn't even enough time to soak in the whole exhibit, but duty called. Another engaging Q&A unfolded, and then our evening of Mississippi Delta blues fun began. A group from the audience joined me for a post film dinner with Erin and Laura who work for the museum at the Gin Mill restaurant, and then we all strolled over to the original juke joint, Club Ebony. There was a huge welcome banner for the Teach For America students to work in the area. Then we finished our evening at the Blue Biscuit where Stan Street, who I was surprised to learn is from Rochester, NY, and his blues band with Alfonso on Flute, Soprano Sax and "Big Dave" on guitar were tearing it up. As usual, I couldn't keep myself off the dance floor, and at one point I joined the band, rocking out on the fugal horn. My night in the Mississippi Delta was full of energy, enthusiasm, and local film maker Landry joined me the following day as I conducted an interview for my next film project, a documentary, with new friends Tiffany and Mark fans of Children of Invention I had made friends with the night before.

All in all, Mississippi exceeded my expectations in every way, and I am eagerly awaiting the next time I get to go back.

Sheila Dvorak - Lights, Camera, and a Moderated Q&A in Gainesville GA

When I arrived at the Arts Council in Gainesville Georgia, I was struck by the beautiful building and excited by the platter of Petit fours set out for the reception. After the film, while the audience milled in the atrium with the goodies, I was wired up for the Q&A. The Film Club at Gainesville State College works in partnership with the Arts Council, and they were going to film the moderated Q&A and create an edit of the interview. Sounded good to me!

Dr. Jeff Marker, a professor in the Media Studies department was the moderator, and had prepared a lot of great questions. His colleague David Smith was one of the two camera operators. Dr. Marker blew my mind when he said that he has watched my short film Vacation Bible Lemonade in preparation for the interview, and that he found many similar themes in that film, which I wrote and directed, and Children of Invention. He asked if I was drawn to stories about industrious children. It was a very unique question, and I was flattered he had taken the time to watch my film, which is available on IMDB. (Click the link to watch the movie)

He said that the performance by Adamina Giselle Smith was another one of those that blow you away. Thanks Jeff! I'll be sure to let her know. Adamina is my niece, and I wrote that part in order to showcase her talents. Great job!

I really enjoyed the Q&A because it was an excellent opportunity to discuss the state of independent film and encourage the film students to work hard if they want to succeed. I shared that Tze and I made twelve short films before Windowbreaker got into the Sundance Film Festival, so it's important not to get discouraged, and to keep exploring your art form until your craft meets your expectations.

Tonight I am off to the BB King Museum in Indianola Mississippi for the third screening in the series. Very excited. Thank you South Arts!

Ryan White - Auburn

After my jaunt to New Orleans, I ended my portion of the Circuit at a screening at Auburn University’s Jule Collins Smith Museum of Art. My grandfather was trained down here during WWII to operate the radio on his battleship. We went to the drugstore where they served lemonade to him in the 1940’s, and where they still serve lemonade today.

The movie screened in a beautiful, modern auditorium with great sound and a blu-ray projector. Sometimes it’s nice to see the film play exactly the way you intended it to sound and hear. The crowd was a lot of college students and kids, so there was a lot of energy in the room. A wonderful way to wrap up my portion of the screenings – my co-director Gwendolyn has the final three covered!

Thanks to all the AMAZING hospitality of my Southern Circuit venues and hosts - and to the flawless organization of South Arts. I enjoyed every minute (minus the sickness.)

Ryan White - Orangeburg

When I asked how to get to Orangeburg, SC from Augusta, a guy with a handlebar moustache told me to take the country roads instead of I-20. I think when a guy with a handlebar moustache tells you to do something, you do it. So I did it. And I regretted that philosophy three minutes later when I got stopped at a railroad crossing for the Longest. Train. Ever. I didn’t know how long these country roads would take, so I was stressed about how late it might make me. But once it passed, it was all smooth sailing after that. I passed lots of cotton fields and churches, and the radios played sermons so I listened to that. I passed through Beech Island where James Brown lived.

I arrived in Orangeburg and went to the IP Steinbeck Museum on South Carolina State University’s campus. There I met the museum’s staff, who have to be one of the nicest staffs ever in the history of staffs. When I asked where the screening would be, someone said, “In the planetarium.” I ducked around the corner and checked it out. So cool! The movie played on the curved ceiling where the stars normally play. Definitely the most unique venue we’ve ever (and probably will ever) play.

During the screening the head of the museum, Ellen Zisholtz, gave me a tour of the exhibits. They’re currently putting one together on Jim Crow and the Holocaust which looks amazing – apparently historically black colleges were some of the only places to hire Jewish professors who fled Europe during the Holocaust. Then Ellen took me to the museum vaults and surprised me with their previous exhibit, which is now in mechanized stacked shelves: James Brown’s wardrobe. When he died a few years ago his family donated his wardrobe to the museum, so there were just rows and rows of mink fur coats and bedazzled sombreros.

SCSU has some great students who stuck around after the screening to ask questions and chit chat during a taco reception. This museum is a really warm place, so I recommend going out of your way to find it if you’re passing through SC.

Sheila Dvorak - Madison, GA - A Picturesque town for our film

When I arrived in Madison, GA, I was immediately struck by the beauty of the place. It is the Southern City that was too perfect for Sherman to burn, so there were historical homes and buildings everywhere I turned.

The auditorium where we held the screening made me feel like I was going back in time. It was once an old school house, and it just has the best energy.

The screening was very exciting, and I got a lot of interesting questions asked of me during the Q&A. We had a reception afterward, and I had these some soft home made molasses cookies I won't soon forget.

The next day I went to the middle school and told the drama and production classes that our cast had never acted on camera before, and that explained how they could get a chance to be a part of a film if they looked out for the right opportunities. I loved my time in Madison, especially the hospitality of the Cultural Center staff and volunteers. I suggest everyone find the time to stop here and take a walk back in time.

Meet Gwendolyn Oxenham

Gwendolyn Oxenham's first screening will be hosted by the Tupelo Film Commission Thursday, October 21, 2010 at 6:30 PM. Gwendolyn is the director of Pelada.

Gwendolyn Oxenham received her M.F.A in Creative Writing from the University of Notre Dame, where she won the Nicholas Sparks Prize. A 2004 graduate of Duke University's programs in English and Documentary Studies, she directed Essence Game and DWS, two short films centered on identity in sports. At sixteen, Oxenham was the youngest Division I athlete in the history of the NCAA. A Duke captain, she made two All-ACC teams. She also played professionally for Santos FC in Brazil in 2005.

Meet Sheila Dvorak

Welcome Sheila Dvorak to the Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers! Sheila is the producer of Children of Invention. Her first screening will be hosted by the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center Tuesday, October 19, 2010 at 7:00 P.M.

Sheila Dvorak began working in independent film in 2003 when she and Tze Chun joined forces as "The Complications." They produced twelve short films, including Document, which premiered as part of the New Directors-New Films series at Anthology Film Archives, and Windowbreaker, which appeared at Sundance in 2007. Sheila also worked on Sundance NEXT feature "Armless" and the documentary See What I’m Saying: The Deaf Entertainers Documentary. She is currently writing and producing a documentary about the United States Postal Service and working on preparations for her first directorial effort, Artificial Dissemination.

Sheila Dvorak - Just Starting Out!

Hello Southern Circuit Tour!

I am very excited about all of the screenings of Children Of Invention. I feel very honored to be traveling with the film, and with such style! Today I got into my red Ford Mustang and felt like the grueling life on an independent film maker is finally paying some style dividends. My first screening is tonight in Madison Georgia, so I had better go and start getting ready!

Tina Mabry - Capri Theatre - Montgomery, AL

It seems like the Film Gods really had a hand in the screening schedule because the film got a chance to screen at a location where another member of the cast and crew resided. Dr. Tonea Stewart (who played the grandmother character in the film) teaches at Alabama State University and I looked forward to her being able to show the film to her family and friends. I was housed at one of the best B&Bs I've ever stayed - The Lattice Inn. When the innkeeper, Jim, alerted me to the hot tub in the back. Boy was I tempted to go in, but I hadn't packed for it.

I rested for the first night at the inn, trying to stockpile sleep for the rest of the tour if one can even do such a thing. The next day, Martin McCaffery (the Director of the theatre) took me on a tour of Montgomery. I've spent time in Birmingham and Mobile, but sadly I'd never been to Montgomery. It was an honor to see the Rosa Parks museum and to view where she boarded the bus and where she was detained.

Montgomery is steeped in history and to listen to Martin's extensive knowledge about the city was a delight. We even went to Hank Williams' grave. I've got to say my knowledge on Hank Williams is limited; I knew he sung country and that he had a son. To discover that he passed away at the young age of thirty was a bit of a shock. Martin asked me to read the inscription on the back of Hank Williams' tombstone. As I read it, I discovered a typo. Martin says he doesn't know how they missed that.

At the screening, I greeted several of the guests and as usual, I passed out an email sign-up sheet for the film. When I pasted it around, two people asked me, "There's a email list for a Joan Rivers' film?" "Uh-oh," I thought; they're about to attend the wrong movie. Even though Martin was careful to let all of the incoming viewers know that Mississippi Damned would be showing that night, these two must've slid past him. I told them what they were about to see and that sadly, Joan Rivers would not be making an appearance. We shared a laugh and they said they'd stay and watch the film anyway.

Prior to introducing the film, I was met with a surprise. Dr. Stewart and I are members of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.; the ASU chapter graciously presented me with a gift. This was completely unexpected and I truly appreciated the welcome bestowed upon me.

Martin and I went to dinner during the screening and had a great time discussing not only film, but our families. Once the screening was over, plenty of questions were asked at the screening. The two Joan Rivers audience members stopped to tell me that this was one the best mistakes they ever made and that the film was truly a delight.

I gave out plenty of hugs after the Q&A and had a chance to talk to a few of the audience members; some were aspiring screenwriters who asked for my advice. One young lady stood out in particular, she approached me and made it clear that she has never cried at a movie and she has never been more moved by a film than ours. Her eyes started to water as she talked to me and I could tell she was trying to hold back the tears; I started tearing up as well. She said while the film had moments of despair, there was a lot of hope in the film. She said seeing work like Mississippi Damned inspires her not only as a creative artist, but also as a person; it was comforting to know that someone can overcome what seems to be insurmountable odds. I told her that the reception I received from the audience was inspirational to me as well. I told her the business side of filmmaking at times completely overshadows the creative aspect of it, which can discourage you; for me to hear her kind words helped push me to overcome the difficulties.

The next day, I was off to Baton Rouge but while waiting for my connection in the Atlanta airport, I got an email from Martin. He told me what we grossed for the night and said one more ticket would've outgrossed the Carmike 8. As it stands, we beat out 30 of the 34 local theater chains. He also went on to say that this was the first screening at the theater in which the audience hugged the director. I've got to say that I was humbled by this experience.

Tina Mabry - Center for Documentary Studies @ Duke - Durham, NC

After dodging the NASCAR traffic in Charlotte, I finally arrive in Durham. I've been anticipating this screening since I learned it was on the schedule. I've got family in the Raleigh/Durham area so this was practically like coming home. One of the producers of the film, Lee V. Stiff, lives in Raleigh so I knew a nice number of people would be at the screening.

I arrived at the screening location and attended the reception prior to the showing. Nervous as always, I walked around the reception anonymously and talked with several of the guests. Even though my picture was located on the poster advertising the event, most people don't really look at it so they have no idea I'm the writer/director. I actually like this because I get a chance to listen to people describe what they expect the film to be like. Some discuss the intensity of the trailer and how that hooked them to come see the film while others have been long time viewers of films on the South Arts tour. My anonymity was short-lived because several of the guests were invited by the producer, so the other viewers quickly discovered I was with the film.

The screening took place in a small intimate location inside of the Center; the screening was virtually packed. I had intentions to sit in this screening but I skirted out immediately to attend to a small technical hiccup that was resolved in less than a minute. Now that I was out of the theater and other viewers were still arriving, I decided to stay out of the screening because I didn't want to occupy a seat.

With two hours to kill, I spent a great deal of time looking at the photography exhibited on the walls. It was a series of photos of an old theater in India. I looked at the old projectors and had a bittersweet feeling about where we currently stand technologically in theaters. While digital projections are fantastic, showing a 35mm print is a beauty to behold.

Now that I'd finished viewing the exhibition, I still had an hour until the film ended. Thankfully, one of the staff members allowed me to enter the computer library. I went through my usual pattern of browsing (email, facebook, cnn...), but stopped when one of the audience members sat down at the computer next to me. Naturally, showing a fiction film at the Center for Documentary Studies isn't the norm, so a few thought the film would be a doc. This lady was one of these people. She had no idea I was with the film and she candidly told me that while the film was good, she thought it was going to be a doc and she just can't watch fiction films anymore. Yeah, I have to admit having an audience member walk out of your film is a mini blow to the gut, but a filmmaker has to be able to withstand this because it's the norm for indie films and blockbuster films (some people just cannot stay for an entire film). Because she came with someone else (who decided to watch the film), she said she would duck back in at the end. I started to tell her I was the director, but I decided to let her find out at the Q&A.

The film ends and the Q&A starts, the woman turns a tad red in the face but I give her an assuring smile to let her know there were no hard feelings. The Q&A runs smoothly and I got a few questions I'd never gotten before. When you hear the same questions repeatedly, you're sort of on auto-pilot with the answers, but when a new question emerges it's nice to be able to truly process a question and manually fly the plane so to speak.

After the Q&A, the producer and I stood outside of our cars and talked. Suddenly, a car stops in the middle of the street and a woman climbs out. She said she just had to stop to tell us how much of an impact the film had on her. We thanked her for her kind words while constantly looking both ways down the street to make sure she wasn't going to be hit by a car. We didn't want her to turn into a literal die-hard fan :)

I've got to say the screening was a success and I can't wait to screen in Durham again. To top off the visit, I discovered another city was being added to the tour - New Orleans.

Tina Mabry - Clemson, SC - Clemson University

It was a beautiful drive through the mountains from Johnson City, TN to Clemson, SC. I've been lucky to make good time on my drives, so I arrived several hours before the screening.

The host, Will Stockton, took me out of dinner at a local Mexican restaurant. He described it as a dive, but with excellent food. It didn't disappoint.

I've never been to Clemson, so I was looking forward to seeing the campus. After the technical check, I went for a walk around campus. It was nice to just get a chance to leisurely walk and gather my thoughts. I'm currently working on a new script, County Line, so it was great to be able to brainstorm over certain directions I intend to take with the script.

After my brainstorming session and a brief, yet successful bout with a spider (I'm scared of them), I went back to the screening. There were not a lot of questions at this screening, which the host attributed to South Carolinians' reluctance to pry into one's personal affairs (at least publicly anyway). Being that I made a movie about my life, I told them I was an open book so feel free to ask away. I got several compliments, but only a few questions which is new for me. Instead, I asked them questions. Most were English majors who were aiming to become professors. I told them about the influential professors and teachers I had in my life, so I really both appreciated and admired their dedication to their craft. One of the guys in the audience spoke with me briefly after the Q&A expressing his desire to become a filmmaker. He said the film was inspirational and he thanked me for making such a powerful movie.

Tina Mabry - Johnson City, TN - East Tennessee State University

It was a good indication this would be a nice visit when I was unexpectedly upgraded to the McKinley Suite at the Carnegie Hotel located across from the university. After a few days of nothing but fast food, I was looking forward to the dinner invitation from my host, Anita DeAngelis; Anita and her husband, Steve, had graciously prepared a wonderful Southern dinner for me. We discussed the current state of the creative arts and how the recession has not exactly been kind to our respective fields. I had a lot to say about independent films' struggle to find adequate distribution especially after our prior experiences with Mississippi Damned.

The next day two professors, Shara Lange and Tammy Hayes, had extended invitations to speak to two of their classes, the Video-Film Techniques class and Survey of Broadcasting. I vividly remember being an undergraduate and I have to admit I wasn't always fond of our guest speakers, so I knew I had to avoid the pitfalls of the lackluster guest speakers I had previously encountered. Despite my limited sleep, I was all pumped and ready to go. As undergrads are, they were a little hesitant to start asking questions, but one question opened the floodgates. I always try to be optimistic yet candid when discussing the film industry. I aim to tell students the things I wished someone had told me before getting into film. After all, I feel it's our duty to let up and coming filmmakers know what to expect so they can be prepared as possible.

I grew up in Tupelo, MS where being a filmmaker seemed far-fetched when I lived there; both the professors and students at ETSU echoed similar thoughts. Because film and television were my connections to the outside world, I knew the power cinema can have on a person and I wanted to be apart of that regardless of the uncertainty of entering an artistic field. I attempted to relay this to the students and let them know that just because Johnson City, TN was the hub of filmmaking didn't mean they couldn't become filmmakers. My message seemed to go over well and I even managed to get a few laughs which is always nice.

"Lunch with the Filmmaker" was next on the agenda. Students from a few organizations, Anita's secretary, Heidi, and the Film Studies director, Jennifer Barker, came by and what started off as conversations about film quickly expanded. We talked about relationships, our hometowns, hair (which I guess is a little film related because we started off talking about the doc "Good Hair."), the dynamics between men and women, and a range of other topics. I'm telling you, we had a GREAT time!

I managed to sneak in a mini-nap before the screening (in addition to befriending some of the students on Facebook) and soon after went to eat dinner at the Firehouse with Shara and Tammy. After Tammy and I discovered our dogs are practically twins, we headed to the theater to see the space. It looked excellent. I opted to go back to the hotel instead of attending the screening.

I come back a little early for the Q&A, so I stand on my tiptoes to peak through the door window into the theater (yeah, I'm short :). "Wow," was the first word that came to mind when I saw a lot of people inside.

There was a nice applause at the end of the field and I took my place in front ready to answer questions. The Q&A had to go on for thirty minutes. I started to talk about how my family was shocked that I had remembered so many events from our past because I was just a kid. However, I told the audience the same thing I told my family, "Kids see and hear almost everything you do. It's when we get a little bit older that we can actually process what it was we really saw." One of the audience members said she could completely relate. She admitted that she had to text her mother during the film (which I poked fun at her about) because she thought back to things that occurred during her childhood. Like me, she was young when some traumatic events happened to her and vividly remembered all of them to her mother's surprise.

For some reason, it always happens that the filmmaker misses out on the reception because we're always running our mouths by talking too much :). Shara set aside a piece of cake for me which I greatly appreciated. After I finished speaking with some members of the audience, Anita told me that 133 people attended the screening. She said it was a new high for a South Arts screening. It seemed like a good time to celebrate, but I had to call it an early night because I had to speak to Shara's class in the morning before heading off to Clemson, SC.

The talk in the second class went just as well as the first. I had such a good time in Johnson City that I actually wanted to stay a few more days. They were fantastic hosts and I told them if they are ever on the West Coast give me a call.

Ryan White - Madison and Augusta

I made the drive from Hapeville, GA to Madison, GA in about two hours. Madison sprung out of nowhere – a beautiful town with a courthouse square and red brick buildings low to the ground. I got there early so ate chopped beef and turnip greens at the “Ye Olde Colonial House,” a converted old bank vault. Afterward I drove down tree-lined Main Street until I found the Cultural Center. It was a towering dark burgundy building with massive sculptures in the front yard. Turns out it’s a converted schoolhouse built in 1895. The screening room was the actual school auditorium, originally preserved from 1895 –with a wooden balcony, wooden shutters, wooden floor, wooden ceiling, and about 300 wooden seats kept since 1895. It made for amazing acoustics for the film. This crowd had a lot of soccer players – many local coaches apparently ended practice so their teams could come. I met one 16 year-old player who had already seen Pelada three times and told me it was the “best movie ever made.” I thanked him and asked, “Better than Citizen Kane?” But he didn’t know what that was and said “Yes,” and I realized I am not funny to teenagers.

I met about ten women who all work at the cultural center or volunteer there, and they couldn’t have been nicer. They also had a huge spread of cookies and desserts for a reception afterward, which only made them seem nicer. I’ve realized how hard these organizations have worked to turn out crowds in their town for our films, and it’s overwhelming. We know how hard it is to get people to come to see your movie regardless of reviews or festival accolades, so I have utmost respect for these people who are able to turn out large crowds in small towns. The reception was really fun – I met three government workers (two work for USAID and one works for the embassy in Mali) who told me that if only we had known them before we filmed, we would have had a place to stay anywhere we visited. Too bad we didn’t meet them before our trip to Cairo, where all wanted to/almost did die in our abandoned apartment. Thanks to Dina and Patricia and everyone else in Madison who made this screening so special.

From Madison I headed to Augusta, GA, home of the Masters. The screening was held at the Morris Museum of Art, alongside the river in downtown Augusta. It’s the first museum dedicated to artists of the American South, and has over 5,000 pieces. The screening was small – but sometimes small audiences can be the most passionate. Before the screening began I heard one couple ask an older woman, “So are you a soccer fan?” She said she was not, and when they explained the reasoning for their question – that the movie was about soccer – she said, “I thought it was about women’s issues.” I wanted to pipe in and say gender issues are a large part of the film, “Don’t leave!,” but then it would have been obvious I was eavesdropping, so I just stayed quiet. Luckily she did not leave and she smiled a lot during the movie, so I think she was appeased.

Thanks to David Tucker and Nicole McLeod for the great hospitality.

On to South Carolina and Louisiana tomorrow…

Ryan White - ECU and Hapeville, GA

Two wonderful Pelada screenings so far…

As a graduate of Duke I’d heard a lot about ECU but I’d never actually made the two-hour trek out to Greenville, NC. I’m glad I have now – it was a beautiful little college town and the drive out there I only passed a handful of cars. So nice to be out of LA and back in NC. I miss the trees and the accents.

The screening was fantastic – a self-anointed "super-senior" film student named Morgan introduced me and she couldn’t have been lovelier. The crowd was about 150 which was awesome - Michael Crane had done an amazing job getting the word out to the ECU community and also greater Greenville. The film department took me out afterwards for a couple drinks – wonderful people. If anyone is looking into undergrad courses in film and communications, I recommend ECU – these guys are passionate about their students. One professor told me he never makes it to graduation because he cries too hard on the drive there – we need more teachers like this.

I made the drive back to Durham and then a flight down to Atlanta’s airport. Hapeville is a little town right next to Atlanta’s airport. It used to hold a Ford factory, and now it’s also headquarters for Wachovia and Delta. The population is 65,000 during the day – and 6,000 at night. The town was gorgeous – I grew up in Atlanta so it made a little nostalgic for that old school Southern aesthetic.

We went to a reception beforehand at the town’s train depot. The Mayor (!) introduced me, and I got to meet a very interesting crowd of people. One guy, Ellis, has been collecting 16mm films and TV shows for the past 40 years that he takes around to local nursing homes for free screenings. Another was the local pastor and her grandson was one of the child actors in Cheaper by the Dozen. I am a closeted fan of Cheaper by the Dozen (Cheaper 2 was also good, but not as good. Maybe that’s because I saw it on airplane though.) I made her tell me Bonnie Hunt is as nice as she looks, which she is (duh). I also told her I was recently on a plane w/ Hillary Duff, and I’m pretty sure she’s the only person that’s ever cared about that story.

The screening was one of the most unique venues we’ve had yet in the 50 or so public screenings we’ve had of Pelada. It was in a Methodist church. Like the actual church – people sat in the pews and the movie played on screens that normally play the hymnal lyrics. My Q&A was on an altar. I LOVED this screening. At least half of the audience was over the age of 65 – besides my affinity for senior citizens, it’s my favorite test for Pelada when we have an older crowd watching a film about soccer. I was a little nervous about what the reaction would be, but I was thrilled when it was over. The Q&A lasted longer than ever, and I received more hugs after a screening than I think I ever have.

If you’re in Georgia, go to Hapeville… Charlotte Rentz (the perfect combination of southern sophistication and friendliness) is working hard to put this place on the map, and it’s well worth the visit.

Tina Mabry - Savannah, GA - Lucas Theatre

After a nice two hour drive from Charleston, I got to Savannah. The theatre is located downtown Savannah where tourists crowd the streets. Carefully maneuvering through the pedestrians and navigating down the busy one way streets, I arrived at the theater. I got a few chills when I saw Mississippi Damned on the marquee. I parked my car and as I waited to cross the street I heard someone call out my name. A young lady on the other side of the street said she saw the film last year when it screened in Atlanta and when she heard it was screening in Savannah she had to see it again. Atlanta is a three to four hour drive from Savannah. Our screening started at 8pm and it's a 2 hour movie. I was completely blown away.

Lucas Theatre is a landmark in Savannah and it does not disappointment. The architecture is simply beautiful and it was only surmounted by the hospitality of the hosts. I chose to sit in on this screening to see how the audience would react. You know immediately if it's going well or not and from what I was seeing it was right on track.

I got a warm reception from the audience when I came out on the stage for the Q&A. Usually I receive similar questions at every screening, but this screening gave me some new ones. They were curious about the actors' personal methods of having to disengage from their characters when they were off set; they wanted to know what I think people should do to help others break the cycles of destruction faced by the characters in the film. The dialogue that commenced was beautiful. I expressed my own hesitancy to tell this story because of the shame I harbored for the majority of my life from being molested. However, I feel the only way to start ending these dysfunctional cycles is to start coming clean about them. Sweeping it under the rug is an ephemeral solution that only causes more destruction.

After the Q&A, a nice couple informed me that they won tickets to the screening and they said seeing the film was the best gift they ever received. Before the couple left, the lady gave me a long hug and whispered in my ear, "I was molested too."

I signed a few autographs (I'm a tad shy and this was totally new for me) and took several pictures before heading to the reception, which was at a gorgeous restaurant. It was nice to sit down with some members of the audience over a meal complete with fried green tomatoes. God knows I've been craving good fried green tomatoes for a while. I learned that more people had driven from Atlanta. The hosts told me that no one has ever driven from Atlanta to attend one of the screenings. Another successful screening down, hopefully eight more to go.

Tina Mabry - Charleston, SC - College of Charleston

I left forty degree weather in Cullowhee and was thrown into a mild roast in Charleston. I've been looking forward to this screening since the tour schedule was released. The key hairstylist, her assistant stylist, and one of the actors live in the city. It's always nice to have cast and crew at a screening because not only do we get a mini-reunion, but they also get a chance to share the film with their family and friends.

I have a total of eleven screenings in twenty days and while I truly love my film, I can't see it that many times in such a short period of time. Because I had some Mississippi Damned family in the audience, I felt it I could sit out the screening and let them report the reactions back to me.

There was no silence to start the Q&A for this screening. Hands went up immediately. I had a gentlemen who is a social worker approach me after the official Q&A. He has four female clients who are going through the same situations as some of the characters in the film. He went on to say that this film would not only give them hope that they could overcome their hardships, but would also be a teaching tool to others in the field of social work. As he put it, "This film will say more than I ever could tell them."

After giving out more hugs, which I like giving by the way, it was time to celebrate with a nice dinner. I got details on the audience's reaction. Every laugh, every gasp, every sniffle was happily reported. Good news, good company, and a good dinner. Can't get much better than that.

Tina Mabry - Cullowhee, NC - Western Carolina University

While I've been to North Carolina many times I've never been to the mountain area, so I have to admit I was a tad scared to make the long night, dim light drive through the mountains from Asheville to Cullowhee. When I finally got the Cullowhee I was immediately reminded of the small town where we shot Mississippi Damned, Ahoskie, NC. Being the southern girl that I am, I've been looking forward to bringing the film to the south and I felt screening in Cullowhee was the perfect place to start.

Prior to the screening I had a chance to take a look around the campus and I couldn't help but to have a flashback about my old stomping ground at Ole Miss. It was homecoming weekend for WCU and I got a chance to sing the fight song with the students prior to their march around campus. Thank God they handed out cheat sheets. While I know quite a few members of the Felidae family, WCU's mascot threw me for a loop. They're the Catamounts. Lori Davis, my contact at WCU, saw my confusion when she said the name and immediately told me most newcomers to the university have never heard of a catamount.

I'm usually a little nervous before every screening; I think most filmmakers experience some form of mild neurosis when showing their film. To my surprise the homecoming hype got me emotionally ready to show the film. I sat back and watched the audience come into the theatre while trying to decide whether or not I would sit in and watch the film. In the end, I chose not to and spent time with Lori instead where we talked about her upcoming marathon in Chicago and her work as a photographer.

After some good conversation and much needed relaxation time, I looked down at my watch and saw it was close to the end of the film. We walked in during the final scene and I could hear a few sniffles in the audience, which has become the norm at the end of our screenings.

When the lights came up and I held the mic ready for questions I was met with silence. Inside, I was afraid the film didn't go over well with the audience. Finally a voice came from the crowd and a female student said, "I think we're so moved by the film that we have to get our thoughts together." After this, the questions started and I could tell the screening went well. Halfway through the Q&A and after I let them know the film was based on my life, a few students continued crying. I offered to give hugs at the end of the screening, which they gladly accepted.

At the reception, I got a chance to have some real in depth talks with the students and professors. Some shared similar experiences shown in the film and were appreciative of the film because it told something they were personally unable to vocalize due to shame. This is the gratifying part of being a filmmaker and these are the moments I remember when I at times become discouraged. After around an hour or so, I finally found my way back to the alumni house. Grateful for the warm reception, I was excited the first screening was nothing short of a success.

Meet Ryan White

Ryan White's first screening on the Southern Circuit Tour will be hosted by East Carolina University October 7, 2010 at 8:00PM. Ryan is the producer of Pelada.


Ryan White has worked as associate producer for eight-time Emmy winner Sherry Jones. He is a graduate of Duke University's programs in Documentary Studies, Film & Video and Literature. His screen credits include Capitol Crimes, a 90-minute documentary untangling the web of money and corruption surrounding lobbyist Jack Abramoff, and Country Boys, a profile following two boys from rural Kentucky through their high school years.

Meet Tina Mabry

Western Carolina University will host Tina Mabry's first screening of Mississippi Damned on Wednesday, October 6, 2010 at 7:30 PM. Tina is the writer and director of the film.
Tina Mabry is a native of Tupelo, Mississippi and graduated from the University of Southern California with a M.F.A. in Film Production in 2005. She co-wrote a feature screenplay, Itty Bitty Titty Committee, which won Best Narrative Feature at SXSW in 2007. Tina participated in the FIND Director’s Lab with Mississippi Damned and was awarded the Kodak Film Grant.