Let me explain.
Back in November of 2020 I received this note from someone I don’t know, let’s call him J.D. We both belong to a documentary listserv. (Do people still call them that?) I was pretty much a skulker in that group so I doubt I had an exchange with him.
Hi David–
Just came across a post from you on [the listerv]. Went to your “A Life’s Work” site. What an interesting concept. I’m also a doc filmmaker, and am actually quite connected to and proud of my track record in finishing my films. That said, I have a book I’m writing (autobiographical), and I’ve started to worry that I will not finish it in my lifetime. I really want to for my son, if nothing else.
Love to see your film sometime.
Fantastic. This kind of note makes my day. I asked him if I could add him to my mailing list and he gave me the A-OK.
On January 28, 2021, I sent out my announcement about ALW screening at the San Francisco Independent Film Festival.
On March 17, 2021, I received this from J.D. in response to my January blast.
David, it would’ve helped me if I had a little bit more of an idea what this film is about. I read what you wrote, and find myself not interested enough to go any further.
I have no idea what’s going on in J.D.’s head, and I’m not going to create a list of reasons why I think he might have sent me that second message.
But I can say that I would have been devastated by this email if I had received it two years ago, before the film screened at a good festival, before it won any awards, before First Run Features decided to distribute it. But thankfully the timing gods decided I was not to receive this email when I was feeling extremely vulnerable and riddled with doubt; instead, they decided I’d receive it when I was feeling very confident about the film.
The final thing I’ll say about this is, J.D. next time you feel compelled to write an email like the second one, to anyone, about anything, at anytime, before you click the send button try taking a breath and counting to 10, or 100, or 1,000,000,000,000,000.
Final, final thing. The next two blasts I emailed included the elevator description of the film in a box in the sidebar, top right.
Final Final 4 Realz Final Thing. I no longer include that box, because if someone subscribed to the newsletter (I don’t phish for email addresses), it’s a safe bet that they know what the film is about. That was why I didn’t include the description in the first place