Cucalorus

Its a shame as I walked out my last screening at Cucalorus this year that it was going to be my last as a film student at UNCW. It was an odd feeling, I remember when I first shook my nerves and took the bold step of volunteering in order to get those free tickets which are a necessity as a college student. My expectations where low that first year and man was I blown away by the size and scope. I can proudly say that this year I walked in with three years experience and they were still able to blow me away.

As I talked about in my last post I see visions as a hybrid between the Virginia Film Festival, in their more classy, conventional take of a film festival while Cucalorus is this wonky adventure where you'll never know what you'll get next. Right in-between classy and wonky Visions lies as quirky, theres a bit of class but also immaturity that may outshine the class which is dangerous duo, a duo thats not afraid to be serious during conventions but not afraid to take a shot of pickle-back jack.

Thats what I took most from all of my experiences from Cucalorus but especially this year because I was for the first time not a volunteer, is that is possible to be serious, fun and weird all the same time, which is more a skill then a habit. For me what doesn't work is the long distance between some venues. I know they have shuttles and buses but is it really worth the trip from downtown to like Jengos Playhouse when you can simply go there for the after party. It is just downtown is so lit up, different, and weird that is difficult to separate yourself from that crowd. With the Wilmingtonians drive theres a good chance you could get in a car accident simply for wanting to see a film. Just my thought.

As for jobs I would like to have, I don't know they all seem pretty fun but I guess being apart of Visual Sound Walls animations. They really transformed Ziggys into something you would recognize and offers such a unique experience that you cannot find anywhere else. I was also lucky enough to meet Johnny Gray who was in charge of the Visual Sound Walls. I was almost lucky enough to be his assistant for the event but his buddy who normally helped him out was able to free up some time. He did say he might need help with animations another time down the line so I gave him my contact information and look forward to hearing from him soon. The job I would not want would probably be the shuttle driver because your all cooped up in this car while everyone else is free to walk wherever they please while you have route like a bus driver. Nothing against bus drivers I just doubt if you asked one when they were younger what they'd like to be when they grow up I doubt its a bus driver.

The one thing I would differently if I was Cucalorus is to hand out awards for several reasons. One, the idea to display your film with no awards or competition was a great idea in the beginning when it was just local filmmakers from Wilmington who all knew each other and really did not want to win anything but have fun making and watching movies. However, where Cucalorus is at now in the International acclaims they are preventing really good films and filmmakers to present to come to Wilmington and inspire filmmakers like at our school. What I am trying to say is that by not handing out rewards you eliminate competition and competition is good because it pushes people beyond what they think they are capable of. If a local filmmaker knows that somebody from Sundance or the TIFF winner is showing a film at Cucalorus I guarantee all us filmmakers will step up our game to show to the world and to ourselves that we belong with that Sundance crowd.

There are a few things that Visions cannot do that Cucalorus does because of our sizes for one, is that we cannot hold a multiple day festival even as much as we would like too. This would benefit us because I know some kids have class on Friday and they cannot attend. Second, we cannot have separate venues because of lack of personnel and films. However, I do think it is possible if we tried you know one at Lumina the other at Thalian it would be tough and you do not want to stretch out or small staff too thin. Which brings me to my second point and that is a large influx of volunteers especially senior citizens. I met a myriad of volunteers of all sorts of ages from young to old. This may not work for us because we are a student ran organization but I know some older students with some grey hair and I do not see why we cannot reach out to them. But receiving the local support that Cucalorus does with the amount of revenue it brings to Downtown each year it will be hard to match that kind of impact for the local economy.

Screenings

Men & Chicken
Actor for Hire
Water Warriors
Shishito Shorts
Chilaca Shorts
Collective Unconscious