I admit it. I thought the hometown screening in Courtenay was going to be a bit of a Gong Show. It had all the signs: a small screen and folding chairs in the Upper Legion; music emanating from the Lower Legion; a wimpering baby in the corner; a malfunctioning DVD player that would stop for a 1/2 second and start again; and the people who trickled in late, including a guy in search of a washroom. Whatever. Lesson: Relinquish control!
In the end it turned out to be a great crowd (150+) who really got the film (and all my jokes). Many stayed after for the Q&A even though my film was in the last slot of a very long day of films. And many family and friends came out - including good friend and a key Cinematographer on "The U.S. and Us" - Kim MacNaughton (also a 'Courtenay girl').
Moral of this story: Bring on life with all its curve balls - we can handle them!
