Return From Magfest: Planes, Bus, Taxi, And Car

I know, sounds like the title of an unbelievable Movie, but this was Sunday's reality, blending into early Monday morning. The day seemed to be starting off like any other day, of course I was still in West Point, Mississippi, at The Old Waverly Cottages. And that was somewhat normal for the last few days, while I attended the Magnolia Film Festival, where I served as Judge for the Film Competitions. The only difference today was that the Festival was OVER and we concluded the festivities with a closing party which ran into early this morning.

Anyway, I woke up early, knowing I was being picked up at 9am for a shuttle to the airport and my final destination: home! I showered, packed, and headed to the Clubhouse for one more Southern feeding, where I joined Elizabeth who was getting a coffee before her drive to Jackson Airport (at the time I was clueless to the fact that I too would be spending time today in Jackson's Airport). We said a brief goodbye and I headed back to the Cottage to prep for my shuttle.

Today's shuttle was provided by Melanie, who has been the "Volunteer Extraordinaire" during my stay here in West Point. If there's a task that needed attention, Melanie was the person to ask. She was right on time, and quickly gathered myself, Elizabeth, and Rudy for our shuttle to the Columbus Airport (Golden Triangle GTR). We were soon off and on the road en route to today's adventure. We didn't really anticipate an adventure, but thought we had a simple itinerary of flights and connections, ending in a timely return to our respective homes. Yeah right... when pigs fly! An author's note, judging by the number of backyard BBQ pits and vendors I've seen down here, I'm sure there IS occasion when a pig or two does take flight.

Let the games begin... we were whisked to the airport by our gracious and reliable shuttle provider, Melanie. we all said our goodbye to Melanie, and were soon inside checking in with the Airline. Did I mention this is a small airport, with just one gate, and only 3 scheduled arrivals and 3 scheduled departures per day, all with Delta Connections. All was well, and with the plane on time we were soon on our way to Atlanta (or were we...). As we took off we soon received a warning from the flight attendant and then soon after from the captain "ladies and gentlemen, we apologize for the inconvenience, but we seem to be having a minor mechanical failure of a left wing flap and we will be returning to Columbus/GTR for a quick check". Then soon it was: "ladies and gentlemen, again this is the pilot, and we have been asked to reroute to Jackson or possibly Meridian, where they are better equipped to handle any issue, and have a longer runway as our mechanical failure affects our ability to slow quickly after landing. We'll keep you informed". Soon there was the doomed "ladies and gentlemen, we will be diverting to Meridian, where the runway can handle our problem and a staff of mechanics can take a look at our problem". Soon we're on the ground in Meridian.

There we sat in Meridian, another airport as large as GTR, and yet we sat without anybody taking action: no mechanics in sight, no deboarding, no answers, no announcements. And then the silence was cut after 30+ minutes: "ladies and gentlemen, this is the captain, we are still waiting on a crew and it may be the better part of an hour before anything... hsssssss". "Anything" what????? Soon after a decision was made, and we were instructed to leave the plane, taking all our items, and we would be transferred once inside the terminal. Okay so we were being put on another plane... but there WERE no other planes, this was a one-plane airport. Another airport with only 3 flights each day 3 in and 3 out, with no reserves on hand, no spare airplane in some hidden hangar. things were looking grim.

We all moved from the plane to the terminal, standing around cluelessly, wandering aimlessly, some of us calling loved ones to explain our current situation. I followed suit, and called my wife Wendy. Funny, but when I called her, she already knew that I had some sort of plane trouble. Turns out the airline called my house, looking for me, to tell me that my connection to and from Atlanta had been delayed/postponed, with no further information. Now wait, so the airline is calling ME at HOME, while I'm in the middle of a trip on THEIR airline involving the mentioned itinerary which has been affected.... HUH??? Okay, somebody is not communicating with somebody. So I get off the phone with Wendy, after she relays the rest of the airline's message: I will be traveling to Atlanta where I'll be staying overnight and taking a 10am flight back home on Monday. No clue how I'm getting to Atlanta, which really gets good, just WAIT...

So I hang up with Wendy and head to a ticket counter, which by now is backed up with MANY dissatisfied passengers looking for answers, and I notice some of them reticketing. Soon there's an announcement that we will ALL be getting on a bus that will take us to Jackson Airport (where we were originally scheduled to land due to this problem). Oh, it gets better. So I get in line, and without any assurance as to WHEN this mysterious BUS might arrive, the counter starts reticketing passengers, and soon it's my turn. I ask all the right questions, restraining from throwing a fit because I realize that the incompetent counter people helping us have little to do with our dilemma, except for their tortoise speed engagement and resolution. Can I NOT be booked through Atlanta? Can I NOT have to stay overnight in ATLANTA? Did I mention it's my birthday, and damn it, I deserve to be treated better. SHIT!!!! This canNOT be happening. Remember that gremlin on the plane in the Bugs Bunny cartoon? We'd have been blessed with one of those, we have to deal with the incompetence of an Airline and the inexperience of some overstressed, underpaid, and under-concerned counter help.

Finally I'm rebooked and slowly all the other passengers receive temporary satisfaction and a new resolution. But still... NO BUS!!! Then there's an announcement... "ladies and gentlemen from flight **** we have just received word that the bus is on the way, and should be arriving within the hour". Within the hour? Are we all going to make our newly booked flights? Our connections in Atlanta? Will we ever see our loved ones again? So we all WAIT, pacing around in an airport with empty vending machines and a closed snack bar, with nothing in sight of the airport's doors and no way to get anywhere anyway. Even the evening flight out of this tiny postcard of an airport is soon cancelled. is this our evening stop? Is this a twilight zone episode? We will step outside to realize that earth is no more, dinosaurs roam the earth, or the apes have taken over and somewhere Charlton Heston curses at the arm from the Statue of Liberty peering out from a sandy shoreline.

Ladies and gentlemen, the bus arrives, and the confusion is about to continue. So we have all realized that we needed to pick up our checked baggage and each will be responsible for loading all items on the bus. We all manage to make this happen and we are all aboard our faithful coach. HOWEVER... soon it is announced that all passengers who have been confirmed for an overnight in Atlanta shall leave the bus and stay behind. Is it a Communist plot to divide and conquer? A Governmental plan to reassign us a new identity? In any case, after some more confusion, the "overnighters" are removed from the bus and retrieve their stowed belongings. Soon the bus is off. Hurray for the bus driver, the sanest so far.

Unsure of how long our ride, or what we'd find when we arrived, we all settled back and enjoyed the hour+ bus ride to Jackson. If only this were the end of our drama, but alas there is more. So once at Jackson's airport we unload the bus and head to our respective ticket counters where we are to check in and make our connecting flights to...? If only things could be that simple. Upon arrival we al realize that most flights are cancelled, late, or on hold, and most of our newly arranged travel plans are VOID, leaving us all to scramble for new solutions and more headaches. We’re all given $7 meal vouchers for our trouble and we head to the “On Stage” dinner option (only option in airport), where we are faced with a limited menu, with MORE limitations as they’re out of half of their already limited menu. We do manage to grab some burgers and sides and relax. The we I speak of is still the group of 3 (Julia, Rudy, and myself) who left the peace that was Waverly Resorts and our visit to West Point and Starkville After dinner we part ways, as Rudy is headed on another airline en route to Dallas, and Julia and I are destined for Atlanta, where air traffic has somewhat screeched to a sudden halt. Julia and I sit at the gate. watching our flight continually being delayed later and later, until I finally realize that I may NOT make my connection in Atlanta. This would again have me facing an overnight in some unwelcoming hotel in Atlanta. Which is already Julia’s only option.

So our flight finally boards in Jackson and we’re soon taking off for Atlanta. At this point we’ve been travelling more than 12 hours, and I still have a bit to go yet. Finally we arrive in Atlanta, and I find that my connection to Newark is also on a delay, which means I have time to get to the gate. I dash through the airport, gasping for air, but with the knowledge that I may still get home without a hotel stay. Fingers crossed I reach the gate and boarding is just beginning. And finally it’s time for me to board the plane. Could this be? I made it through one airport without a reschedule? Without a cancellation? Without any more delays? It’s TRUE!!! And soon I’m in my seat and the plane begins preparation for departure. And this all happens, and we finally lift off for Newark, where we are scheduled to arrive at 1:45am. Uneventfully we arrive in Newark. I claim my baggage and have only one more leg of the journey.

At 2am I find the taxi stand and present my airline voucher for a paid taxi back to my car at Allentown’s ABE Airport. Everything runs smooth at this point and I am soon presented with my loyal coach, a yellow taxi van which will return me to Allentown. And lo and behold, two hours later I’m standing at my car in the airport lot in Allentown. All that’s left is the car ride back home. I get in the car and my loving wife had cued up the Beatle’s White Album to “Birthday”. Remember... Sunday WAS my Birthday. And originally I was flying into Allentown at 5pm and My wife was flying out at 7pm. We were planning a brief rendezvous while both in the airport, but because of a faulty left wing flap, that didn’t quite materialize.

So to recap my personal “Planes, Trains” and Automobiles” story; there were no “trains”, but there were planes, buses, taxis, and two automobiles. I visited SIX different Airports, had car rides at both ends, a bus ride from Meridian to Jackson, and a taxi ride from Newark to ABE. And all this in a mere 17+ hours of travel. And I thought my four flights on the trip down were alot of transfers! This experience though, does not in any way diminish my great experience at the Magnolia Film Festival.

I will always remember the wonderful Southern Hospitality, the constant feeding frenzy that WAS the MagFest, the fun, the excitement, and the fellowship. I will always be grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful Festival, meeting new friends and building new relationships. Who will ever forget the luxurious Cottages at Waverly? The meals at the Clubhouse? The group adventures? Did I mention the food? From the moment I arrived on Tuesday I felt like a part of a family. Charlotte had graciously opened her home to our every need, whether it was morning breakfast, a hard to find good cup of coffee, use of her laundry room, her laptop, her daughter's car, and I would be remiss if I didn't mention my personal tour of the Waverly grounds while scooting around the golf course in Charlotte's personal golf cart. It was a VERY good time, and no silly 17+ hour travel nightmare would diminish the memories.

There are so many people who helped make this trip memorable: First there is my supportive SouthSide Film Festival Board, who encourage my attendance and participation at various Film Festivals. Second, there is my wife Wendy, who sacrificed our Valentine's Day to wake up at 4am to take me to the Airport. There is Charlotte Magnussen, the Festival President, who was so kind as to invite me to be a part of her MagFest. I must also thank Bruce Bennett, my roommate at the Waverly, but more important a new friend, a fellow filmmaker, and a font of knowledge with regards to the Film Industry, filmmaking, and his previous experiences while attending the Mag. Then there are the tireless volunteers who help make this Festival possible, including our "Volunteer Extraordinaire": Melanie Greene, Alec and Hailey Hawkins, and Danielle. There are the countless businesses who provided financial support, catered our meals, opened their doors, and just made us all feel like we were part of their communal family. Thanks to Arma Del a Cruz, who organized alot of the business support. Doug and Andy who handled all our projections. Thanks to the communities of Starkville, West Point, and Columbus for hosting such a fine event.

I should also thank my fellow jurists: Ferrell Tadlock, Jack Barbera, and Bruce Bennett. I really enjoyed the jury process and having 3 others to use as a sounding board, where we were able to state our opinions, express our reasoning and enjoy a constructive dialog which led up to the official awards selections. It was a pleasure serving along side such a competent group of film aficionados. Thank you gentlemen, it was truly my pleasure.

And what would a Film Festival be without Filmmakers? It would just be another night at the movies. The Magnolia is truly unique to the Festival circuit, here the filmmaker is NOT forgotten or left to wait in the ticket lines, here they ARE the kings and queens, the "royalty" of the Festival. They are treated in a very grande scale, and that's how Ron Tibbett always envisioned his Festival. It was to be a venue to nurture promising new talent, a place to encourage the young filmmaker, and a place where the small and the mighty stand side by side at the same podium. It is a once in a lifetime experience for many of these filmmakers, and heaven knows how quickly you are forgotten when you reach the "big boys" of the Festival circuit. If there is one ultimate lesson I learned while at the Mag, it's that the filmmaker is the reason we present our Film Festival. It's not the size of the audience, though we all want to fill the seats. It's not the star power of the films we attract, though star power sells more seats. It's not about personal gains or advancement, unless those gains involve gaining new friends and advancing our cause, which is to present the community with alternative programming, screening Classics and Indies side by side. Bottom line... without the filmmaker, there would be NO Film Festivals.

So here's to all the filmmakers I met at the Mag: Julia Radochia ("Eddies Winning Date"), Stephen Lehman ("Fresh Coffee"), Todd Tinkham ("Attaché), Will O'Loughlen (Ad Man), Kathilyn Phillips ("The Awakening"), Christie Herring ("Bodies and Souls"), Rudy Miena ("Shape Note Singing"), Meshakai Wolf ("Gussie"), and Elizabeth Willaman ("On Oak Island"). Here's to your ambitions, your futures, and your next film project. May we always remember the days of MagFest 2006. May you still talk to me even if you were not an award recipient. The bottom line for me is that ANY filmmaker who has been accepted at a Festival is already a winner and you should all hang your heads high with pride. Picture follows... A complete list of the Festival Award Winners can be found on the Mag's website: http://magfilmfest.com







And most important, thanks to the memory of Ron Tibbett, a gentleman who did SO much for Independent Filmmaking, Independent Filmmakers, and Film Festivals in Mississippi. I am truly sad that I was not fortunate enough to have met Ron while he was on this Earth, but after visiting the Mag, I am sure that there is a part of Ron in EVERY one of those involved with The Mag. If you knew Ron, you apparently couldn't help but get excited and catch his spirit. His influence is far reaching and I certainly hope that they can manage to keep this memory of Ron burning bright for another nine years. Here's to the Mag 2007, celebrating 10 years of Ron's realized vision.

Thank you all for the memories. See you at the movies. Now DOWN IN FRONT!!!


jeff