WORD! 2009 POETS & SONGWRITERS MOVIE PROGRAM
I love the concept behind the WORD film festival at The Guild Cinema. Celebrating poetry through film is a great way to educate and entertain the masses, myself included, about poetry and poets.
I especially enjoyed the films by Stavros as well as Red Poet, a biographical doc that reveals the eccentricities and politics of Jack Hirschman. The hilarious mockumentary The Humberville Poetry Slam sheds just as much insight on a person’s need to express him (or her) self as it does at poke fun at the concept.
I'm just going to state the obvious here: poets can’t fake a good poem. They can't. And a city can't fake being authentic. This is why I think that poetry and Albuquerque go together so well. Albuquerque’s poetry scene is alive, fresh, exciting and provocative. They have a superior slam poetry scene and a variety of unpretentious artistic offerings.
While I was there, Albuquerque and its poetry had a way of opening my mind and relaxing my notions. When I returned home from Albuquerque, I simply didn’t have much to say. I felt the way I do after a good yoga session: awake, quiet and open. I highly recommend visiting (or even living in) Albuquerque just to soak up the essence of wide open spaces, a riveting poetry scene and sensational chile.
The film festival inspired, amused and rejuvenated me. I am so proud to have been a part of it. Our film DLIPS fit in nicely with the entire program and thank you so much to everyone who contributed to the film especially Bill Nevins, Richard Arlington Briggs, Jr., Angel R. Cosme, Rosangela C. Taylor, Dr. Susie Briggs and the poet responsible for The KFFM being involved in the film festival in the first place, Richard Vargas.
COMING SOON: MY DAY WITH RICHARD VARGAS. My next blog will be a bit more personal as I share with you what I learned about this poet after spending a full day with him.
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