Today's Film Festival--A HUGE TURNOUT

I was very nervous going into today's film festival (Unheard Voices: 1st Annual Digital Shorts Film Festival) at our clinic. But so many of my colleagues stepped in and helped out tremendously with the logistics--anywhere from rearranging furniture to ushering and regulating the line that formed outside our clinic. In fact, one of my colleagues reported that our clinic resembled a club as lines formed outside and clusters of people swarmed into our building, quickly overcrowding our cafe and viewing area. 

Once the screening got going, I was relieved and tried to enjoy every moment of the 30 minutes of screen time. I glanced back and forth between the screen and the look on the faces of the audience. Most of the responses were on target as intended. They laughed, smiles, and even cried at the right moment. The truth is, while the people were watching the film, I was watching the people with just as much interest.

One of the most fulfilling moments came immediately following the screening as Bonnie (MC)  invited the clients involved in the movie to step up into the front. As they came to the front, they were generously (and well deservedly) given a standing ovation by the crowd. The look on their faces, the subtle smile behind their obvious intimidation, their momentary pride in recognizing that they are now the subject of adoration...these were moments that made me feel that all of this work was well worth it.