So who really cares? And why should they?

That is the real question….

As hard as it was to finish As Seen Through These Eyes for the various reasons I have discussed, my director picked the right way into subject that has been done to death.

How do I know this? We just keep winning festivals – audience choices – which means we are connecting to people who are buying the tickets. This week we won the Thessalonniki International Documentary Film Festival!

It was, in fact, such a surprise that Hilary had already left town. The festival found her in Athens… they flew her back for the occasion! In no way is it that we don’t think this film deserves the attention it is getting… it is really touching and very well made. BUT we do fall into the category of Holocaust Film. Unfortunately, a lot of people that matter, distributors, sales agents, etc, find this as a huge disadvantage and we are overlooked.

Our showings, fortunately, are proving different!

So, back to picking a great subject… if you do feel so inclined to make a film, you just have to go for it. But consider your subject fully.

When Hilary decided to make As Seen Through These Eyes, she realized that the angle of surviving art and artist was never really explored and chose to enter this door into the Holocaust. Then she had the insight to find characters that people can’t help but fall in love with. And finally, she worked and worked and worked and worked the story until it matched the rest of the pieces and, boom, a great film.

The challenge also was to not exclude people once they heard the dreaded words – this is a Holocaust Film. Our exec producer, Jerry Offsay, came up with the brilliant idea of asking Dr. Maya Angelou to narrate.

We have been asked multiple times “Why Dr. Angelou?”  Simple answer is that this film is a film about triumphing over all odds through the use of art… THIS thesis, theme, statement, makes As Seen a universal film and Dr. Angelou’s words capitalize that idea.

So bluntly, you are the filmmaker, sure. You get to push the buttons and make this happen, BUT consider!!!!!!! what you are doing. And who you are making this for!!!

The bottom line is you want your film seen, right?! You want to make a difference or impact a culture. Or at the very least… entertain.

Ask yourself the right questions… So who really cares? And why should they?