Blake and Andrews "Pizza Rocket" won for best animated short film!
While S.W.A.T was nominated for 2 sewperate categories, it didn't win either, but the audience was chanting the name of the film and was bummed when it didn't win. The winner was actually VERY worthy and took a lot of awards. It was a dark film based upon a murderous ghost named "Bloody Mary." Despite the dark nature of it, it was WELL written, and the editing was fabulous, and two actresses were nominated for best actress and one of them won.
I think SWAT had a following because of one of the cast members who passed away on last Memorial Day, one year ago. If you have been hanging aroudn the Blog Biscuit for over a year, you might remember a post I did about the passing of a young man I called "David." He was at lake Shasta and he fell from the upper deck of a houseboat, hit his head and drowned. Well "David" was none other than our own dear Joel Meyer. I dared not share his real name at the time out fo respect for his family. But as time goes on we are able to more joyously celebrate the amazing person that Joel was. Anyway, When Joel passed, it rocked our town. He was a goofball freindly kid who loved and gave his all to anyone and everyone. He treated every one with love and every one who met him loved him. Joel had the gift of creating team spirit. Of creating comaraderie and the spirit of equality in every group he was apart of. he inspired and encouraged. He instructed in his own secretly charming way,. those younger than him and they looked up to him. He never lorded it over them. Anyway...Joel had ahuge part in S.W.A.T. I thank my God in heaven, that all theboys got to do that project with him. They will have it, and what they learned form him, forever intheir hearts.
It is for this reason that I think the entire audience wanted SWAT to win - because it was Joel was in it - and every body loved him. Joel's family was there tonight. Joels little brother is one of my sons best friends since 5th grade. his parents are dear freinds of ours. It was good to see them there. Joel was instrumental in conducting the Film Festival before he graduated and went off to college. It was good to see them there and especially so close to the one year mark.
So SWAT did not win out over "BLoody Mary" but it did the community good to see Joel again and remember him a year after his passing.
I think it was a healthy thing.
Well, if you gotta get beat out, it's OK to get beat by a competitor that had to work to get it.
ReplyDeleteThe really cool thing is that clips from the winners get shown in the local movie theatre right before the previews, this coming week/weekend.
ReplyDeleteNeato.
Thanks for your comments about Joel's continued impact in your community.
ReplyDeleteHe continues to leave his mark on our family and your kind words rekindle fond memories of him.
Joel's Uncle Jim
Dear Joel's Uncle Jim,
ReplyDeleteMost people don't know this, becasue there has not really been a forum for me to share it, but Joel had a MAJOR impact on my life.
He rekindled my hoe for future humans. :o)
During the re-shooting of S.W.A.T, he pretty much directed the action and script. He left the basic plot as it was and he "encouraged" some of the shooting as well as the editing. He did all fo these things by encouraging the boys to do the work. He mentored them all. I had known Joel remotely, for a few years due to Emery's and Blakes friendship. To have Joel in my house for hours/days on end, and to feed him and the rest of the cast and crew, well...I remember thinking, when it was all over...I literally remember sayign to God, "Wow God. What a neat kid! I wish there were more Joels in the world."
To know Joel was to see a loving, accepting righteous and creative God.
SO... I would say that, to sum up Joels life as I was priviledged to view it, in one sentence, I would say the over riding thought is this:
"To spend even a little time with Joel, is to see who Christ Jesus is in all of His loving friendship and understanding."
That was the Jesus that these boys needed to see.
That was the Jesus I saw.
And He showed HImself in Joels actions and attitudes.
When I first heard the news, I was like everyone else.
"NO NO NO NO!"
And then selfishness immediately set in in the next thot:
"But GOD!!! We are not through with him yet! Please make this be an error, surely We still need Joel here! My boys need Joel!!!!"
I have sinced realised that that must have been the simultaneous cry of our town to the Father.
He certainly has left a mark.
In the boys, it can be seen in the encouragement and affirmation he gave them, exhorting them to do their best, take their time, enjoy the process. "You really CAN do great things" is what he left with them.
Some men live a lifetime without making a difference.
I have a feeling that Joel made many lifetimes worth of impact in his brief years.
Thank you for writing.
I have never had an opportunity to share this part of the Joel story.
What a good good guy!
I still miss that crazy knucklehead all the time!!!!!
We all do.
mih-