Today marks the one-year anniversary of the launch of The Evening Class with my first post reporting from the 4th San Francisco Korean American Film Festival. What a long, strange trip it's been. Intended originally to help me manage my boredom and depression while recuperating from a series of hospitalizations, The Evening Class has become so much more for me and promises to evolve even further.
I want to thank each and every link on my blogroll for creating the unique sociality that characterizes film writing on line. Being mentioned and referenced elsewhere has bolstered confidence and granted credence. I also want to thank every publicist I have worked with this year—primarily Karen Larsen and her crew at Larsen Associates—for giving a nobody his first press pass and starting a chain of events that has been nothing but exciting and wonderful. I'm also grateful to Shelley Spicer, John Weaver and Dierdre Kennedy at Terry Hines & Associates for providing so many opportunities to participate in Bay Area press junkets. Gary Meyer at the Balboa Theatre, Joel Shepard at the Center for the Arts, Shelley Diekman at the Pacific Film Archives, and the many programmers of the Bay Area's numerous film festivals are likewise to blame for the movie monster I've become. Of special note is Hilary Hart and her staff at the San Francisco Film Society who really gave me a chance to test my chops at last year's International Film Festival and with whom I am looking forward to working with for this year's landmark 50th.
Writing means nothing if it isn't read and I am so grateful for the various venues that have allowed me to self-publish my work. Todd Brown at Twitch has armed me with powerful cachet, frequently writing me letters of assignment to festivals outside of the Bay Area. Attending the Toronto International was a revelation. Cecilia Tsai at Entertainment Today has provided a Los Angeles exposure and necessary lessons in compression and focus. Jonathan Marlow and David Hudson at Greencine have provided just enough financial compensation to inspire me to consider that I can supplement a meager disability income after all.
Most recently I have been gifted by editor Susan Gerhard with being asked to be part of the SF360 team and look forward to working with them in the near future.
I had no idea when I started out a year ago that I would enjoy interviewing talent as much as I do. Over 60 interviews in one year! I almost wonder who the heck is doing this? Is it really me? Do I really get to sit down and talk to this broad variety of creative and intelligent, impassioned talent just because I have a question or two? It still boggles my mind. I want so much to contribute to the online world of film reportage and am grateful I have found a niche that works for me, and seems to be of service to others.
As I begin my second year, I look forward to taking one more turn 'round the dance floor.
Thank you all for making The Evening Class such a fun and rewarding experience.
Photograph courtesy of Steve Rhodes.
