When I agreed to help friends organize a mini-filmfest of locally-made LGBT-themed films this February, I knew it’ll be difficult. Mostly because we all have regular jobs with incompatible working hours. At the very least, discussing about a non-profit project in between work, relationships and other personal responsibilities will take a lot of careful time management. One of us is not even currently living in the country and it was he who came up with the idea in the first place. But somehow, we’re able to plan, brainstorm, and argue over various details of the project.
It’s still too early to tell if the Sine Bahaghari project will be successful or not, but already there have been a few small, but not insignificant, miracles. We are able to secure at least 3 venues with minimal difficulty. And there are some film directors and producers who have given us support this early by graciously agreeing to have their film included in our program. So many people complain how the local film industry is pervaded with shallow and idiotic movies and is run by money-making studios who do not care for original ideas. But there is a mostly unseen side in the industry made up of people who truly love cinema. And there are so many of them.
It’s times like these when I really, REALLY value the help from many friends who graciously share ideas when I ask them, out of the blue, questions like, “Do you know where we could hold film screening on a minimal budget?” It’s just wonderful to have people like them to help us out.
The other day, I woke up too early after barely three hours of sleep to check my emails and see the updates we have for Sine Bahaghari. Bern woke up soon after when he felt I left the bedroom. When I got a response from one of the directors I sent a message to, I went back to our bedroom and told him about it.
I asked him how he could tolerate me and my manic moments. But you know, I’m really glad he does.
