Follow the Yellow Brick Road

Picked up my volunteer credentials yesterday.  I think they restarted the old wind turbine west of town and channeled that energy right into the Lake Room of the Park Place Hotel.  There's nothing like a room full of excited volunteers ready to go forth and conquer!

OZ  does look pretty fine!

OZ:  Er . . . excuse me, OZZY here.  Ah . . . Can I model the T-shirt?

J: I have one of the volunteers modeling the T-shirt, OZ. The shirts are for the volunteers.

OZ: I'm a volunteer (whimper, whine).

J: Ok, go ahead, get it on, and I'll take your picture.
Hummm, not bad.

OZ: Told you so.  I'm what they call a stud muffin, emphasis on the muffin.


I talked to three volunteers on Friday who were also picking up their stuff at the Park Place.

I talked to Carolyn Wilson first.  She's a five year veteran. She and her husband, Adam, met in movie circles around town.  They both love movies and that was the beginning of their romance.  For their first date, Carolyn and Adam went to the State Theatre to see Son of Rambow, 2007 (a Sundance and Toronto FF winner). Darn, I missed this one first time around.  Carolyn gives it a thumbs up!

Carolyn says the best thing about being a volunteer is meeting and working with people of like mind, folks who love movies!  She's been surfing the TCFF website building on her excitement for next week. I tell  you this girl is pumped up!

My second victim was Clark Etterman from Lake City.  Clark, like Carolyn, was shy about getting his picture taken, but it didn't take him long to start chatting about volunteering for the TCFF.  Clark drove over from Lake City to "wing it" at the volunteer site.  Lo and behold, he got one of the Information Ambassador positions (I'm jealous).  He wasn't complaining, but that means he'll have to drive over again for a training session soon.

Clark, who happens to be a Vietnam Vet, says he has met many new acquaintances and friends through volunteering.  He is one of those give-back people who likes to volunteer for other things as well.  For the TCFF he is willing to drive an hour each way.  He'll be over here several times during the next week, and he's looking forward to it!

Clark has a State Theatre story also.  In l960, he and his high school buddy drove to TC from Lake City to see Porgy and Bess. The area was mostly fields and open spaces then.  Heads up, TCFF, Clark would like to see Porgy and Bess at the State again.

My third chat was with Stephanie Wilkins, and thank the goddess of visual images, she wasn't afraid to have her picture taken.  She and Ozzy might end up in a T-shirt competition. Stephanie is a newbie at the TCFF.  She just recently moved here from Key West where she taught sailing for eight years. Now she's teaching sailing with TACS on Boardman Lake.

Stephanie is jumping right into the TCFF with both feet.  She's signed up for three volunteer gigs, Bus Ambassador, Filmmaker's Party, and Opera House venue.  On top of that she's one of the videographers for the TCFF.

Stephanie says she's here to learn.  She wants to immerse herself in the experience of the Film Festival and come out changed.  It appears she's at the start of a life transition.  She's always loved photography, writing and film.  She's following a new path, whether it's acting, directing, or becoming a filmmaker.  Stephanie has simplified her life, freeing her up to follow her dreams.

Thanks, Carolyn, Clark, and Stephanie for making my day!