Michael Graziano of Resistance visits Madison, GA

From Filmmaker Michael Graziano of Resistance:

 My tour started last night in the picturesque town of Madison, GA.  There was a great turnout and lively discussion that continued for some time in the reception room after the screening.

The highlight of the stop, apart from the kind and hospitable people, was the building where the screening was held. The structure is a striking 19th century red brick affair that used to be a school house - side note and interesting connection to film history: Oliver Hardy began school there in first grade, and continued for some time before Stan Laurel's became the lanky, hapless counterpoint to Hardy's rotund malcontentment. The dark-polished wood paneling and chandelier (all 19th C. originals) of the auditorium were equal to the building's exterior. The camera on my phone doesn't do the space justice.

I got to Madison early and spent a couple hours killing time. Nearly everything in the sleepy town center closed by 5pm, so instead of working at a cafe or lunch counter like I'd planned, I had the good fortune of wandering onto the town's "Wellness Trail". A lovely path lined by a creek on one side, and carefully labeled trees and other plants throughout. I made it about halfway around the trail when I arrived at the "Old Cemetery". The cemetery was full of former Confederate soldiers, including a not insignificant plot of "Unknowns". The day was warm and breezy and the small rebel flags that someone or a group had placed to mark each confederate grave, never billowed but shrugged and drooped beside the weathered headstones. I couldn't help but think of Faulkner's admonition that, "The past is never dead. It's not even past". The scene offered a poignant frame for thinking about lots of things, not least of which is the Southern Circuit tour of Independent Films, and my good fortune for being invited to join it.  

Chris Simon and Maureen Gosling of THIS AIN’T NO MOUSE MUSIC! - Madison-Cultural Center, The City of Hapeville, & The Tennessee Valley Art Association

From filmmakers Chris Simon and Maureen Gosling of THIS AIN’T NO MOUSE MUSIC!:

According to weather reports, we expected non-stop rain to greet us in Georgia and Alabama, but we met with just gray skies and pleasantly cool weather. We launched our Southern Circuit Tour for THIS AIN’T NO MOUSE MUSIC! after lunch in Atlanta with Teresa Hollingsworth at the appropriately folk art-filled restaurant R Thomas. The first stop of our Tour was just an hour away in the historic town of Madison. The screening was held in the beautiful and carefully preserved heritage grade school that now serves as the Madison-Cultural Center. We were particularly impressed with the theater. The Q & A needed no prompting, as people peppered us with questions after the film. Many of them stuck around for the reception after.

Madison-Morgan Cultural Center

Maureen at Madison-Morgan Cultural Center

Southern Circuit THIS AIN'T NO MOUSE MUSIC! Poster in Madison

Madison Theatre

Stop Two was Hapeville, GA, just an hour back down the road, a town whose economy serves the huge Atlanta airport nearby. The screening venue was a re-purposed charming white wooden church. A couple of local restaurants provided snacks and wine before the film. One woman walked in wearing an Arhoolie hoodie. A man told us he’d spent probably $1000 at Chris Strachwitz’ Down Home Music store back in El Cerrito, CA. By the end of the reception, the place was packed and required extra chairs to accommodate the very diverse audience. We were met afterwards by a standing ovation. Regulars kept saying it was the best film they’d seen and the first time they’d witnessed a standing ovation at one of their screenings. Needless to say we were delighted. A lot of people bought the DVD, as well. We got a downpour of rain that night, but it didn’t last too long.

Church in Hapeville

Audience at Hapeville

Audience members wearing Arhoolie hoodie

Hapeville audience members

Next day we drove four hours to the town of Sheffield, AL, right next door to both Tuscumbia, the birthplace of Helen Keller, and Muscle Shoals, the site of the legendary Fame and Muscle Shoals Sounds recording studios. We visited both before the screening at the beautifully restored Ritz Theater in downtown Sheffield. The hors d’hoevres at the reception were especially delicious. There was time to have good conversations with folks before the film. The BluRay looked particularly good on their nice big screen. The theater board members commented that even though some of their crowds have been small, the Southern Circuit Tour films have had a big impact on their audiences.

Helen Keller Water Pump

Anne Sullivan and Helen Keller

Fame Recording Studios in Muscle Shoals

Maureen outside Muscle Shoals Sounds

Chris finds a Southern Circuit Poster

Maureen outside the Ritz Theatre

Sound check at Ritz Theatre

Cynthia Hill from Private Violence - Madison-Morgan Cultural Center & City of Hapeville

From Cynthia Hill of Private Violence:

As a North Carolinian, I always feel pretty welcome in Georgia. In fact, my Southern Circuit tour screenings there this month allowed me to combine two of my greatest passions: film and food. As the director of “A Chef’s Life” on PBS, I had to make two extra stops for Georgia eats based on recommendations from Chef Vivian Howard (see photos on twitter @docusouth). But this trip was about showing Private Violence and engaging communities in conversation about a very complex societal problem - domestic violence. I was renewed and energized by the screenings in Madison and Hapeville, and both locales were warm and welcoming. For me, the unique part of these particular screening events was the bonus of seeing the domestic violence advocacy community come out and have a chance to share what they do with their community members. I think many people could go their whole life without even knowing that domestic violence advocates are out there fighting every day. I got to know this reality very well while making the film.

What also gets me every time I screen Private Violence is how engaged people are, especially once that light bulb goes off - that moment when they realize that the “Why didn’t she just leave?” mentality is not where to start unpacking this issue. And, when that happens, and people feel safe to ask questions, they want to know what they can do, how they can help, where we can go from here. They want to know how to volunteer in their local community. It’s not just batterers who need to change – it is our culture, our justice system. They want to hear perspective on why abusers aren’t held accountable (answer: because they CAN and DO get away with this). But I believe this can change. And I want others to believe that, and work towards it, as well. As one attendee said, “It was truly amazing to see Deanna transform in this film. It was hard to watch, but it is something we all need to watch. She became a victor.” Thank you, South Arts, for making these conversations possible and thanks to everyone who came out in Georgia.

Cynthia Hill, director, Private Violence

Hao Wu, The Road to Fame - West Carolina University, Madison-Morgan Cultural Center, & Hapeville, Georgia

From Filmmaker Hao Wu of The Road to Fame:

I guess it could be depressing when an audience came up to you after a screening of your film, and told you that your film made him depressed. The stories of young people struggling to make it in showbiz was too close to home, he said. He was a college student studying filmmaking at West Carolina University (Cullowhee, NC) and the prospect of becoming a successful filmmaker was looking remote.

I quoted a line from the veteran musical director featured in my film - "Only those who really want this can survive" - and wished him good luck in figuring out the industry, and himself.

And then I was elated. I had done my job right, I thought, that I could move an American youth this way with a story about Chinese kids feeling the same stress in the faraway Beijing. What more could we ask for as filmmakers telling stories close to our hearts?

In Madison GA, much younger audiences watched the film. Fifth graders. They were into performing arts and couldn't stop talking about the film after the screening at the beautiful Madison-Morgan Cultural Center. They had a long road ahead of them, and their optimism was innocent, and pure.

In Hapeville, Georgia, the city held the screening at The Historic Christ Church Building & Carriage House. The atmosphere felt like a cozy community party. One audience said afterwards that The Road to Fame was his first time watching a subtitled film. Now he realized that he'd missed out on a lot of good foreign films.

The Southern Circuit Tour was an intense experience with lots of flying, driving and meeting different people from different states. But for an independent filmmaker, it was such a rare opportunity to see the beautiful land in the south, to meet curious and engaging audiences who embrace good storytelling regardless of differences in language, culture and geography. Many asked me during the tour when I could be back with my next film. I replied soon, hopefully soon.

Upward and onward on the road to storytelling!

Laurel Spellman Smith, Oil & Water - Madison & Hapeville, GA

The latest update from filmmaker Laurel Spellman Smith, touring her film Oil & Water on the Southern Circuit:

Students of Madison High School

Yesterday was the first stop on my tour in Madison, Georgia, a ridiculously adorable small town an hour drive from Atlanta where teacher Steve DeLaigle welcomed me to his Film Appreciation class. (How cool is that for a high school class??) He normally starts the school year with horror films, but he made an exception by showing Oil & Water. (I guess it could be considered an environmental horror film). After screening the film, the students were a bit shy at first but warmed-up to an interesting discussion that focused on the filmmaking challenges of our 8-year-long story.

More students of Madison High School

Bonar Hall (Alex & Betty's home)

In Madison I was invited to stay at the meticulously restored 1830's home of Betsy Wagenhauser and Alex Newton – they are supporters of the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center and they graciously offered their guest room to me and my husband/navigator extraordinaire. Their home is like a living museum of Southern architecture mixed with a an amazing collection of art and artifacts they gathered while living all around the world for three decades. You could not ask for more stimulating hosts or environment. We sat on wicker rocking chairs on the grand porch, sipping drinks and hearing about the history of the house, the town and Alex’s work with USAID – I felt like I was on the set of a movie.  So it was a very fun and productive day (ate BBQ, walked around the artsy town decorated with lots of Oil & Water posters!) before the real screening even started at the Madison-Morgan Cultural center that night. Rebecca Bonas arranged a fantastic screening for our Georgia premiere.  Gorgeous auditorium. Great audience. Lovely reception. So grateful!

Madison-Morgan Cultural Center

We could have spent many more days or a lifetime in Madison but we had to move on to our next destination, Hapeville GA.  I had another great high school visit organized by teacher Leslie Gordon at Hapeville Charter Career Academy. Students with interests in Latin America and filmmaking had already seen clips from the film so we engaged in a spirited discussion – I gotta tell you those kids kept me on my toes with fabulously thoughtful questions and deep curiosity about life in the Ecuadorian jungle. Looking forward to tonight's screening at the Christ Church & Carriage House in the center of Hapeville and meeting Mayor Alan Hallman and South Arts Senior Program Director irector Teresa Hollingsworth!

On the Road with Chris Eska & "The Retrieval'

We have a few updates from filmmaker Chris Eska, currently touring his film The Retrieval on the Southern Circuit:

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Suwanee, Georgia
My tour began with a little taste of home since the City of Suwanee partners with the Texas theater chain The Movie Tavern, which serves real food while you enjoy the film.  Toni Shrewsbury, Adam Edge, and Lynne DeWilde all greeted me at the swanky bar inside the theater, and their Suwanee hospitality woke me up from my non-stop travel daze.  After the screening, the discussion was lively--every single person in the audience asked at least one question and we actually ran out of time!  It was a perfect kick-off to the trip, and it has me excited for more.

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Madison, Georgia
The trip from Suwanee to Madison went far beyond the suburbs of Atlanta into what reminded me of the rural South of my youth.   I was compelled to stop more than once to take photos along the scenic back roads.  Driving into Madison felt like coming home since I also grew up in a Texas town of about 5,000 people full of beautiful late 19th century homes and historical markers.  The screening took place in the incredible Madison Morgan Cultural Center, which is a large converted school house from the 1890’s.  Thanks to Rebecca Bonas for coordinating and to the African American Museum for sponsoring the reception!  Over 50 people stayed for an extended Q&A that also delved deep into my previous works and what it means to be an indie filmmaker.

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Hapeville, Georgia
It seemed like I was driving back into Atlanta, but Hapeville is a unique small town that just happens to be surrounded by the sprawl of the city.  It was a beautiful spring day with blossoming trees and the city of Hapeville hosted an outdoor reception (complete with live music) that really brought out an impressive crowd—over 70 people including the mayor!  The screening was on the grounds of a beautiful city park inside a renovated church from 1895, complete with intricate woodwork and real pews.  This made me initially feel like a preacher droning on at the beginning of the post-film discussion, but once the floor was opened to questions, the audience became very engaged with curiosity and many thoughtful comments.  It was a truly wonderful end to the Georgia leg of my tour, and I hope to come back soon.

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Lake Charles, Louisiana
From the moment I stepped on the plane, it felt like I was entering another country.  When I arrived in Lafayette and began driving to Lake Charles, southern Louisiana did not disappoint:  Zydeco and swamp pop on the radio, endless marshes, French language, green as far as the eye can see, and joyous people.   Before the screening, I stopped by the Downtown Crawfish Festival to hear some live Zydeco, see a crawfish eating contest, and get my picture taken with Miss Crawfish!  The screening at Banners at McNeese was also a huge success, and I enjoyed hearing about local life and history in Lake Charles as much as the audience enjoyed hearing about filmmaking.

Jan Krawitz - Madison, GA

An update from filmmaker Jan Krawitz, touring her film Perfect Strangers on the Southern Circuit. This entry is from March 20, 2014.

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Madison is a beautiful town with a number of homes that pre-date the Civil War. I spent most of the day at the local high school where I visited two film appreciation classes. In consultation with the teacher, I decided to show my film Big Enough as its focus on dwarfs provides a great point of departure for a discussion about ostracism and difference. A few of the kids asked most of the questions about the film but I later heard from the teacher that they were quite voluble the next day – and that it provoked a lively dialogue once I was no longer present. In any case, it was a good opportunity to interact with a different population than the older set who typically attends the evening screenings. I ended the classes by showing the the trailer for Perfect Strangers. Rebecca Bonas, the Program Director at the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center distributed free tickets to the students.

After the high school visits, I made my way to Bonar Hall, a magnificent home that passed through the generations to the current owners, Alexander Newton and Betsy Wagenhauser. Alex showed me around the spectacular grounds and gardens, part of which he is restoring to their original design. They had invited me to stay overnight in a small dwelling behind the main house – a building that housed the original kitchen when the home was first built. It was a unique experience to spend the night there and a genuine example of Southern hospitality at its best.

The screening at the cultural center was well attended and the audience posed some challenging questions. One viewer shared his ambivalence about a particular scene with Ellie --  he felt like he shouldn't be there (as a viewer) but simultaneously wanted to be there longer… I used his observation as a springboard for a discussion about documentary ethics, the tacit contract between filmmaker and subject, and my own sense of responsibility to my subjects and their stories. In this audience, there again were several people who were drawn by the subject matter. One woman volunteered that her daughter was having surgery the following day – donating a kidney to a co-worker. After a lengthy question-answer period, we moved to an adjacent room in the beautiful Madison-Morgan Cultural Center – a restored building that was originally the local schoolhouse – where we continued the dialogue more informally. The evening ended back at Alex and Betsy’s home where, together with their neighbor who had also attended the film, we continued the conversation.

George Gage- Madison, GA

The latest and final update from George Gage, touring his film Bidder 70 on the Southern Circuit.

My very last screening was in Madison, GA. Madison is a beautiful and old historic town with beautiful buildings everywhere. The venue that we screened in was as beautiful as the rest of the building in town. The audience at the screening was nicely attended. They had a nice little party afterwards, a nice hosting of the filmmaker and the film and the people that were in attendance. Since I still had a lot of my hats left and didn't want to carry them all home,  I really made an effort to sell the rest of the hats. I used my technique that I used the other night in Lake Charles. Instead of just putting one hat on one person's head, and then saying, "that will be twenty bucks," I put a hat on three or four people's heads. The next thing I knew, I had caused quite a little flurry and I sold about twelve Bidder 70 hats and thankfully my suitcase was a little lighter coming home. Like I mentioned before, these are Bidder 70 hat, which were favorites of and Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeroes and Robert Redford, so that makes them very sell-able. Anyway, the tour ended on a very high note. We had a good audience and got to visit a beautiful town.

Now I'm home safe and sound in Telluride, Colorado, in the middle of a snowstorm.

I'm grateful to have had the opportunity that is Southern Circuit, and it was great to end my tour in the lovely Madison, GA!

John Beck: Madison

An update from John Beck, currently touring his film Harvest:

 When I told the crowd in Madison that their post-screening 5-station wine-and-cheese tasting was more extravagant than anything we've ever done when "Harvest" screened in Sonoma County, I think they thought I was joking.

Check out the killer tasting menu in Madison

Absolutely not - you think we had Peach Mead Gouda paired with Cline Cool Climate Pinot? Think again. We were lucky to get the wineries in the film to pour when it premiered at the Sonoma Film Festival.

Big thanks to Rebecca Bonas and the staff at the beautiful circa-1895 Madison Morgan Cultural Center, and to local wine purveyor Emily Garrison and cheesemonger Christel Green.

Surprise: Immigration (which is always lurking in the shadows in "Harvest") is a super hot-button topic in Georgia! We had healthy discussions both nights, but there was a moment during a post-screening one-on-one conversation where I briefly thought - what if they run me out of town tonight? where will I sleep?

Of course, I had nothing to worry about.

One of the highlights of the evening was meeting South Arts director Teresa Hollingsworth - she is the mastermind behind the Southern Circuit and, as far as I'm concerned, she's personally responsible for the most rewarding tour I've ever taken with any film.

And lastly, next time you're in Madison, don't miss the fried green tomato & bacon sandwich at the Chop House.

Looking forward to screening in a church tonight in Hapeville!