Hello Film Annex - it's good to be back.  I was away for awhile to finish my film HELL (trailer is here: http://www.filmannex.com/movie/hell-trailer/36963) and get my head back into the world of PERSEPHONE.  The next two episodes of the web series will be online by the end of the month!

One night during my hiatus a friend came into town. She's a well known actress/comedienne, and was doing a few nights stand-up at a local comedy club. I went out to see her, and while hanging backstage was welcomed like a member of the family by the other performers. Of course, comedians are funny - but they're also generous and really kind to each other. In between shows, this group even went out and helped bus tables and put chairs back where they belonged.  I said something about it and my friend replied "Yeah, we're all on the same side."

Now, I love my corner of the entertainment industry, and the people I work with - but I don't know if I can always say the same thing. It seems, in the ever growing world of indie filmmaking, there are less people on the side of fellow filmmakers and more on the side of themselves. You can't blame them, I guess, but I think a lot of really great filmmakers get looked over because they aren't supported by their peers. And I think more filmmakers are trying to do everything themselves rather than bring on another ego or "committee" to contend with.  By nature filmmaking is collaborative (HELL was shot with crews and actresses in three different countries, three different hemispheres, and six different cities - MAJOR collaborative effort), and being a stand-up comedian is by it's nature a solitary undertaking.  But behind the scenes, you still have a support network and that's where I'm seeing something lacking in indie film.  It's rare that I'll come across another indie filmmaker I know touting the work of someone else.  I don't mean the well-known indie filmmakers, I mean the ones like you and me who are trying to get our names out there.  Maybe we are working so hard to get ourselves out of oblivion that we can't find room for someone else's film in our posts, would it be too distracting or confusing to social media skimmers? Maybe it's because we work for months on end to create one of our films and therefore the "constructive criticism" seems more profound and heavy-handed to make a difference?  Maybe actors think we have a whole department for publicity and therefore they don't need to post or help promote the film?  Maybe we're all so deeply ingrained in our own films, we haven't had time to even take note of the work of others?  (I'm certainly guilt of that)  

Whatever it is, I'm glad Film Annex is encouraging the opposite.  The way it's set up here, you can easily find the work of others, and repost, retweet, support what you like. From there, we can find each other on social media and keep up with each other's work.  I know that when I see a fellow Film Annex member pop up on Twitter, I'll stop and read what they have to say.  The spirit of inclusiveness and the appreciation for how hard it is to make a film, is central here - and that carries over to the people I've met on Film Annex, and has made me a better Indie film viewer in return.  When I'm here, I feel like I did backstage at my friend's show. I'm among people who will support me, tell me the truth, and respect my work.  And laugh at my jokes.  ;)   It's good sportsman-like conduct. And I think it will carry out beyond this webpage.  To me this is one more way that Film Annex is positively affecting the world of film.  And did I say, it was good to be back?

Lisa

(from PERSEPHONE episode 2)