Travels With Brendo - IFFBoston (Part 2)
After my harrowing journey to get back home to Boston, it was finally time for the main event: the screening of TALLYWACKER at Independent Film Festival Boston!
Now, I know the main angle around these parts is when I share my foibles and travails so people you can laugh at my misery. I, as the Rock says, know my role. But I’ve got to say - the whole experience at IFFBoston was absolutely fantastic. Beginning to end, just an amazing time. So sorry! No Brendan failures for you to point and laugh at this time!
Getting accepted into IFFBoston was sort of a “life bucket list” thing for me. For years, I was one of the throngs in the film nerd audiences at the Somerville, Brattle, and Coolidge Corner theaters, watching movies and getting a taste of what was possible with indie film. It was always a goal of mine to screen at IFFBoston, but things with the last few movies didn’t work out. So I was over the moon when TALLYWACKER was accepted in this year’s fest. (I know - this last paragraph wasn’t funny at all!)
When I arrived at the fest, I was welcomed with open arms by the amazing staff and volunteers. As you may be aware, Boston has a reputation for being a bit prickly. Not under the IFFBoston umbrella. To a person, every staff member, volunteer, and audience member I encountered was warm and enthusiastic. It was a great reception… but not a funny story at all! And I can only apologize for that!
On Sunday afternoon, it was time for our screening. We were in the big room of the Somerville Theatre, which was a little intimidating. Even with a healthy crowd, it can look a little empty. But my Boston folks turned the fuck out. I had cast and crew and family and friends. It was overwhelming how much love I felt. Here are a bunch of photos that aren’t hilarious at all:
See? Just people enjoying a great time! Nothing worth laughing at at all! I’m so sorry!
Once the movie started rolling, the crowd was just amazing. I’ve screened at dozens of fests over four features in my career and this was the hottest crowd I’ve ever experienced. They laughed at every single funny part and were rapt with the emotional and serious parts. I get a little nervous before screenings, but a few minutes in I thought to myself “Oh, right. Boston really gets me.” It was amazing. A dream screening all around. (People, I wish I could come up with some way for you to laugh at me at this point, but I can’t. I just can’t!)
The icing on the cake: we won the festival’s Special Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature!
Big thanks to IFFBoston and all the folks who made a hometown boy feel truly seen. It was great to celebrate with the incredible cast and crew who made the screening. And LA folks - we’ve got an announcement coming up soon just for you. But it won’t be hilarious!
In conclusion, there’s nothing funny about me expressing the joy and gratitude of having one of my dreams come true. I mean, I get that it’s probably vaguely satisfying for you to read about good thing happening to me. If you’re reading this, you probably have at least cordial feelings toward me. But what does it say about me that I can’t celebrate my victories without apologizing for not giving you enough self-effacing failure stories? I’m a haunted house, people. .
Boogie Writes is a completely independent endeavor by one hard-working funnyman trying to make his way in the world today (which takes everything you’ve got.) If you like what you read, please subscribe, support, and tell a friend! Also - do you need advice? Of course you do! Send your queries to brendan@brendanboogie.com with “Dear Boogie” in the subject and get some solid or at least passable advice!