Introductions

Hello, again. It occurs to me that I did not introduce myself properly. My name is Tina Morris and I am going to be one of RIFF’s principal bloggers this year. Last year I served as a judge and I am very excited to contribute to this third year.  It is a pleasure to be part of a growing festival that brings so many diverse talents together. I have not researched the statistics but RIFF might well be the only independent film festival with a funky brass band to kick off the awards ceremony. Perhaps I am throwing down the gauntlet for Elby Brass to return. What can I say? They rocked. They were awesome. Seth, am I in trouble? Well, enough about them and back to me……..

First and foremost I am a film fan.  English, Speech, and Theatre were my concentrations in college and I won’t say exactly how long ago that was but, the implication is clear – I love a good story. The medium of movies keeps time weathered tales in our hearts and cements new ones in our imagination. I first became a foreign film fan through Krzysztof Kieslowski’s “Three Colors” trilogy. His panorama of post cold-war life, compositioned through the patina of color, fascinated me. “Red,” “White,” and “Blue,” were not like typical big-budget; already-guessed-the-ending Hollywood formulas and they made me reflect on the way people around the world think. My budget may not let me jet off to Paris or Berlin on a moment’s notice but I can broaden my horizons through film. The Danish Dogme films spark plugged an avant-guard movement and put a tiny countries’ filmmaking on the map. A handheld camera, the right script, and talented direction yield masterpieces like “Open Hearts” and “Festen.” These are examples of what you find at an independent film festival. Well, enough about them and back to me……

 A bio is supposed to introduce the writer and I told you why I blog for RIFF. As to the broader and essentially existential question – Who am I? – here goes:

I am a baker of awesome brownies, a poet and parallel parker extraordinaire (the parking I mean), a great clapper, decent crier, and all around art supporter. I believe in art for art’s sake. I believe in dreams, big and small. My personal philosophy is exemplified by a Frida Kahlo quote I love, “I painted my reality.” I want to be part of the color in the landscape.

Peace. See you at RIFF.

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