Yes, Newport has wrapped and I am happily, and sleepily, ensconced in my own bed once again. I managed to get out my post-fest messages and have received a few in return. Danielle DiGiacomo (pictured lower right with Nick Poppy, Zombie American) wrote a fun wrap-up on Indiepix (I’m the ‘jackass’ of all trades apparently). All in all, it was a lot of work but everyone seemed to enjoy the party, so that makes the hosting duties easier to bear. With the slow internet connection, late nights and early mornings, I didn’t blog as much as I had hoped and much has fallen through my memory’s cracks. Check out the Flickr pics for the most reliable memory of the event. Danielle posted a few also, and if there are more, I’ll call attention to them.

The one thing I will write about, that was the talk of the town on Sat. and Sun., is one of my panels! I put together a panel of women to talk about women in the media biz. For anyone who is asleep at the wheel, though there are many talented, powerful women in media, it is also one of the slowest industries to accept women, as evidenced by the few numbers as directors, producers, DPs, etc. Yes, it gets better every day, but as a (lapsed) member of Women in Film & Video in DC, I can affirm that it helps to have a support system of women who look out for those of us coming up.

Well, as our panelists, Nisha Ganatra (writer/director), Lucia Small (doc producer/director), Dallas Brennan Rexer (doc producer) and Joanna Going (actress) moderated by Andrea Meyer (writer), talked about their work and challenges, actor Joe Pantoliano decided to grace us with his presence. In his overbearing, I’m-a-white-guy-who-knows-it-all-way, he commented that talent rises to the top and he believes there is no gender gap. Mind you, I love the red meat scene in The Matrix as much as anyone, attesting to Joe’s talent, and certainly “Joey Pants” has had the opportunity to work with talented women at many levels (as he informed us), but since when does a guy such as he get to tell a group of talented successful women what their experiences are? If they tell you that they have to work harder than a man to achieve the same success, how can that be so easily discounted?

It was a bit tense for a few moments, as he waxed on and the women in the room were too polite to cut him off (though he felt at ease cutting off women who were trying to comment after him). But, with poise and grace, the panelists said their piece and Joey decided to remain quiet after that and listen. It really was a nice lesson in how different people see the world and how discussion is stunted when one side feels unheard. It takes a brave soul to stand up to someone like J.P. and let him know that while he is entitled to his opinion, it doesn’t make him right.

I think the panelists left feeling ok and I know Joe had a good time (he stuck around afterward to chat), and I can’t help but smile that one of the fun stories from the fest came out of one of my events!