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I miss the girls!
By Dawn | April 30, 2008
So if you have been reading our postings since the beginning you may have noticed that I have not posted yet. I have been here a week and have been enjoying myself completely. Writing about it means I have to process all that has gone on and I am really not ready for that yet but Kristy keeps bugging me so here it goes. I have to do this chronologically:
day one 4/23 (actually as Harolina says day one started the moment we got to the airport on 4/22):
I convinced everyone to take the redeye to NYC so we’d have a full day to rest and acclimate. Unfortunately Kristy couldn’t come with us because she had to teach. The Tribeca Film Festival hosted my ticket on Delta and Joe our great transportation coordinator booked tickets for Rosie and Ariana. When Harolina (Ariana’s mom) decided to come with us she joined us on that flight. Rob and Myariah from BUMP Records flew Jet Blue (which actually gives you a bit of food included in the proce of the flight) and mi comadre Laurene Dominguez flew outta San Joe airport on Jet Blue. We micraculously all arrived at the same time at JFK! I don’t think Rosie slept a wink and was bouncing outta her seat when she finally saw the NYC skyline.
We were met by another comadre Carolina Gonzalez (The Nueva York Guide to all things Latino) who brought us bagels and juice and let us into our great apartment. Purcell Carson (Green Bananas) is away on a shoot and has allowed us to stay at her place while she’s gone. Jackie Ochs another amzing film maker shared her studio so that we’d have enough room for all of us (8 in all!! wow!)
The entourage rested. Sara Porto Nolan our amazing Associate Producer (who has lived in NYC for many years) was our ground logisitcs person and really helped to orient us and gave us a great ideas for what to do during our stay. We made our way on the subway to Brooklyn to have a BBQ with Carolina and friends! The girls did not realize how much walking was required in a visit to NYC and the blisters on their feet was their initiation to the Big Apple. We survived and planned our next adventure. I think we all slept well that night, even Rosie!
Day two 4/24:
SHOPPING! I don’t think we did anything but shop that day. Canal Street, SOHO, the Lower East Side. Rob said that before he had even paid for the cab to Canal Street Ariana and Myariah had already made their first purchases!
We were excited to finally meet up with Kristy. She was tired! We had all made it to NYC. What an accomplishment! My friend (yes, another comadre, I had to have my peeps with me to help us get through this!), Sue McDonough (stylist, artist, mother at Level 5 Salon in San Leandro) joined us and worked on our hair and make up before the first screening. We were all hesitant at first but then got into it. She did an awesome job making us more beautiful! The pictures of the first screening are a testament to that.
The screening was great and I think Kristy has done a great job describing that below. Corey Ohama our amazing editor was there too. Almost our whole family that made this film happen showed up to support the project and share it with the world. Let me just say that after feeling anxious about the reception for the film I was relieved, amazed and deeply moved by the welcome and the response. Sara coordinated the best PIZZA party ever. We slept well that night!
day three: 4/25
Another friend and film maker, Shawn Batey met a few of us for breakfast in Harlem at Amy Ruth’s (YUM! Waffles and Chicken!). She had to run to work but gave us a brief overview of the history of Harlem and the must-see’s. After filling our bellys we walked around the neighborhood and learned a lot about this historic neighborhood. Many people are working to protect the historic buildings and at the same time protect the families that have lived there for generations. Check out Shawn’s film for more info on this controversial subject.
Shawn invited us to visit her at work. In addition to being an independent film maker she works as a props person for film and TV. We joined her at the set of the new (enter “big Hip-Hop artist from NYC who died tragically” name here) movie! I went back stage to check out the props and crew. Myariah, Ariana, Rob and Harolina were recruited to be extras in the film!!
That evening we went to a great party hosted by one of our funders, Chicken and Egg Pictures. Judith Helfand, Julie Benello Parker and Wendy Ettinger (and the working films crew). It was a sweet party celebrating our film and Lioness and Hotel Gramercy… Thank you!!
…to be continued…
I have to get my day started. Blogging is a lot of work! I’ll post pictures soon. Today 4/30 we have our 3rd screening, an interview with NBC and a press meet and greet. I miss the girls, Harolina and Rob!! You all were super awesome (don’t make fun of me for my enthusiasm! it is sincere) and I really, really miss you!
I am deeply grateful to ALL of our friends, loved ones, the film festival crew, the girls and their families and countless others who have made this film happen and this incredible trip a success. You know who you are that have helped us! Muchisimas gracias!
Topics: Nueva York!, festivals, food!, friends, ohmygawd, premier, shopping, youth |
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