Follow the Leader in the Outer Banks

After a brief visit back to ETSU in Johnson City to say farewell to our hosts, I hit the road to Manteo, North Carolina – it's a couple of hours from the nearest airport in Norfolk, so why not drive the scenic highways? Even after a 10+ hour drive – including a 2-3 hour detour because of major repairs on the only bridge going over the Alligator River (see picture for the surprise that greeted me at its banks!) – I wasn't even doubting that decision. Open roads, a beautiful day and night, and some great pizza on the way at Pops in Chapel Hill only a mile from the highway. Both NPR stations and some great local music stations were always available – quite rare indeed for these United States. It had been a while since I'd heard “Dust in the Wind”...but for a while it seemed to be playing on repeat, which was fitting somehow as I breezed past scores of deer and was lucky enough to dodge every raccoon in my path.

Arriving in Manteo, even in the dead of night, I was struck by how charming it was. I met Fay from Dare County Arts Council, along with her husband, at their office when I arrived. They were kind enough to escort me to the accommodation they'd arranged for me...which gave me the privilege of waking up looking directly at the Atlantic (pictured)!

Our primary host Chris Sawin of the Arts Council met me the following morning, and we went to meet with an AP Government class at the local First Flight High School. It's named “First Flight” because it's right next to the famous hill from which the Wright Brothers first flew; looking at the inscription on the monument (pictured), I wondered what we had achieved more recently as a country through “dauntless resolution and unconquerable faith.” Chris's lovely sister Susan is the librarian at the school, and she met us at reception and took us where we needed to be. The students were all engaged (well, most of them, anyway) with the clips we showed, and during our discussion. Their favorite of the three characters was Ben, who they felt had great potential for future political leadership. We discussed what qualities he possesses that made them feel that way...along with what qualities none of the boys had that we also want to see in our leaders.

I spent the afternoon soaking up the local color and flavor (the yellowfin tuna steak sandwich at Tortuga's is awesome! – with thanks to Michelle, Christina and one of their fellow customers at “OBX Consign It” in nearby Nags Head for recommending it). In the evening, we screened FOLLOW THE LEADER at the Outer Banks Brewing Station, where filmgoers had the option of eating a delicious meal during the performance. I was reminded of our screening during the Republican National Convention – the film was the only one to premiere during both the 2012 RNC & DNC Conventions – at the Improv Comedy Club Theatre in Tampa, Florida. There, we had a similar dinner theater set-up, and both times we had fantastic sound, since both venues are often used for music performances. It's always nice to have 100% attention in a cinema, but it's interesting in a different way to experience the film with people in a setting more like most people see it – which, we filmmakers shouldn't kid ourselves, is either on DVD, online, or on TV. It's fascinating to see which moments hold up best, and what jokes read, in a setting where people are splitting their attention between FOLLOW THE LEADER and favorites like Shrimp and Grits...which was a terrific accompaniment for me!

After the screening we had another great Q&A – this is never a film to which people are shy to respond! And I had the pleasure of meeting more people from the local host committee including the talented silversmith Ginny, Tatum and her beau, Shelly, and Angie, who represents the Chamber of Commerce. I was touched that Susan from the high school came out with her three teen (and almost teen) boys, who all seemed to get a kick out of the film. A family vacationing from Mexico had seen some local advertising and sat right in front, along with their youngest member who fell asleep in his removable car-seat about ten minutes into the film. Following the public discussion, I spent some time with Chris and stalwart local supporters of the arts David and BJ Neal. Apart from his full-time work, David is a singer songwriter with a number of politically-themed songs to his credit. One recounts the many conspiracy theories surrounding JFK's assassination, and another details the story of Bradley Manning – I told him he should post his new music video on our Facebook page, and hope you'll go there to see if he did (and also “like” us while you're at it – it makes a difference!): www.facebook.com/followtheleaderfilm

Manteo, Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills: you're all a delight filled with the friendliest of people, and before long I hope we can spend more than 36 hours together!

 - Jonathan Goodman Levitt
@changeworxfilms

Follow the Leader heads to ETSU

Our Southern Circuit tour started off at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee. Arriving in town after spending the previous weekend getting into the Southern swing in Oak Ridge a couple hours away, the ETSU Pride signs were everywhere on arrival – this University where we'd be screening was clearly the focal point of the city, and a budding powerhouse educationally in the region. I was lucky enough to come across Cootie Brown's restaurant while driving along the highway (pictured), and when I asked the students what I should check out while in the area, they all agreed: “Go to ETSU!” That's not something I hear everywhere I go, I must say!

After checking-in at the Red Roof Inn – where the proprietor had charmingly matched his tie to both his watch and the monogrammed initials on his shift (all lime green) – I headed over to ETSU to meet our principal host Anita DeAngelis, Director of the Mary B. Martin School for the Arts. We were honored to find that we would be screening the film on what was in fact the 5th anniversary of the death of Mary B. Martin herself – who I understand was an early investors in both Microsoft and Lowes before becoming one of the most generous benefactors in the local region along with her husband, who continues to carry on their good works. Less fortunate in terms of our timing was that the screening was being held on the night of the NCAA Men's Basketball final game...while on campus, earlier in the evening there was a big meeting on campus to discuss bringing a football team to ETSU for the first time next year. I met one-on-one with students studying film production, and then enjoyed some great pizza and discussion with our local hosts at the Main Street Pizza Company in downtown Johnson City.

While sports seems to trump the arts most places most of the time, we nonetheless had a great screening with 50-60 loyal documentary fans coming out. I understand there were more students from the video production class in the audience than before, as their Professor was so kind to tell me. During the screening, I texted film participant D.J. to let him know that ETSU had included his face inside the “o” in “to” in their Spring events program, which carries the tagline “Dare to Imagine” (see pictured). The questions following the screening were all thoughtful and thought-provoking, and then an all-friendly group (see picture, photo credit Lise Cutshaw) stayed around to continue discussing the film over cheese, crackers, punch, and other assorted snacks – with enough extra fruit for me to take home for the following morning!

Everyone involved with FOLLOW THE LEADER is very grateful to our hosts Anita, Shara Lange, Heidi Ehle, Lise Cutshaw, Jeff & Joe in projection – and to everyone who came out to make it an engaging night...and a great way to start off our tour!

- Jonathan Goodman Levitt

Meet Jonathan Goodman Levitt

Welcome Jonathan Goodman Levitt and his film, Follow the Leader, to the Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers! Jonathan's first stop on the Circuit will be in Johnson City, TN at East Tennessee State University. Its sure to be a great crowd and don't forget to stick around for the Q&A with Jonathan afterwards. See where else Jonathan will be heading this month on the Southern Circuit website.

More about Jonathan: Follow the Leader is Jonathan Goodman Levitt’s first film made in the United States, after a decade working as a filmmaker based in London. His past work as director and/or producer has been shown by European broadcasters including BBC, Channel 4, Arte, DR, and SVT. Jonathan’s company Changeworx USA LLC also has films in production with international partners in Pakistan and Chile, have received support from TriBeCa Film Institute, Center for Asian American Media, and IFP. His previous feature Sunny Intervals and Showers (Director / Producer / Editor / Camera) screened at film festivals including Sheffield, Chicago and One World and aired on the BBC Storyville documentary strand. Levitt studied social psychology, political philosophy, and studio art at Stanford, and was a Fulbright Scholar studying at the UK’s National Film School (NFTS) in 1999.