I know that I am a work in progress. I have a good idea of some of my issues and what I need to work on in order to become a better person. I was reminded of one of them when I got an email from the San Francisco Black Film Festival a few weeks ago about the award finalists. I submitted my short documentary Head Designs for the festival. Several months later when I got this email about finalists for the Melvin Van Peebles Awards I almost deleted it. Something inside told me to look at the email. I was SO molded when my name was on it under the Best Short Documentary catagory. What a trip. It's my first effort making a video and I LOVE my video and am very proud of it but somehow didn't think I could be nominated for an award. Negative thinking. It's a shame. I need to work on having a more positive attitude. Or at least looking at the big picture. Hell, I just wanted to get into the festival...the award part never even entered my mind....and just like that, I am an award-nominated director! My first short is a competition finalist! Seeing the video on a large screen and with a few people I didn't know was fun and exiciting. I look forward to more festivals. I have submitted to Oakland International, Mad Cat Women's and the Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festivals. Will keep you posted. For now though, I am trying REALLY hard to work on my travelogue. I want to be going to press sometime late this summer....will keep you posted.
