The HIFF is truly an international film festival. With more than 200 films coming in from points all across the globe, it was indeed significant to see my film Chasing Rainbows play twice in a festival of this size and caliber.
Also seeing the film projected for the first time in super high 4K resolution, will all of those millions of pixels on a true size movie screen is very satisfying and rewarding. Many folks even asked if we had shot the film on 35mmm, which we had not. We shot it in digital high definition video, but with all of the care that the team took over the product, the results were beautiful – we met the Hollywood standards.
The opening night of the HIFF at the Halekulani Hotel was a fun event rubbing elbows with Zhang Yimou, China’s top film director and meeting many fans we didn’t even know that we had.
Chasing Rainbows Director Greg Andermann with Wife Fawn Andermann and Chinese Director Zhang Yimou
At our World Premiere first screening on a Saturday night, the house was packed. Every filmmaker knows those points in his or her film where one expects the audience to respond. And of course the usual reaction would be why didn’t they react here or there? But this first large audience on the World Premiere of Chasing Rainbows was much different than I expected. This audience actually responded to every single anticipated cue in the film, in fact so much so, I was surprised. Happy, delighted and yes more and more surprised every time they reacted. It meant that they got the message of the film; it moved them as we had hoped it would.
Director Greg Andermann & Cinematographer Peter Tang with a few of the cast members
I kept looking around, everyone was glued to the screen, no one left or ran away or found any of the film intolerable: as those are all of the thoughts, doubts and fears that every filmmaker wonders about and goes through. They hung in all the way, and when the credits rolled and my name as director came up the applause and cheers were thunderous – the whole room erupted. It took me a few moments to compose myself, wipe my eyes and take a big breath, cause I knew that the film would soon end and that I would have to go down in front for the after-film commentary and Q&A.
And just like the small showings we’ve had with the film, after seeing Chasing Rainbows everyone has questions, comments and just doesn’t want to leave the theater until they’ve had a chance to say something – to share their own perspective. To me that’s the most satisfying part, because I know that the film has really done it’s job: it’s made people think, it’s encouraged dialog and that means we’re on the way to launching a new movement across the nation. We are sparking a movement that can pull the divisions over this issue together to seek peace, reconciliation and in the end some kind of larger understanding and unity. It was obvious that the audience would have stayed all night to talk if the HIFF had allowed for the time and space.
Greg Andermann Commentary to Audience at HIFF
Our second showing at the HIFF was in the middle of a workday afternoon on a Thursday at 3:30, yet the house was nearly filled. It was a different audience and a different experience altogether. Their responses were also on cue but more subtle. I could sense that we had perhaps a differing mix of political ideology at play in this second showing. This group waited for the whole film to end, (which has a long credit roll) and then came a nice solid resounding applause. And they all stuck around to ask questions, some even to challenge what people said in the film. Again our hosts at the HIFF had to wrap up the Q&A and commentary as there was another film following ours
The one thing that’s been consistent in most all of the press we we’ve received, which has been seriously good (newspapers, magazines, web, radio and TV) is that they recognize the neutrality that we’ve taken in the film. And almost always everyone has to ask: “Whose side are you on? Are you for or against Civil Unions or Gay Marriage? Has your position changed after making the film?” My answer was, is and shall be basically the same. I’m remaining neutral because I choose to be. Yes, I have tremendous and serious compassion for all people on every side of this issue. And I believe that whenever there is someone whose disadvantaged or being oppressed, God is ready to intervene. I also know that my role is not to judge anyone, no matter what they do or say. Because in the end, it will be all of us, every single person who has walked and breathed on this earth, that shall be judged. I think it’s all about finding the love and the peace and dispelling all of the fears in our lives.
The other issue that repeatedly comes up was “Who paid for your film? How did you finance it? Is it true that you took money from Hawaii’s largest evangelical church?” The answers to all of those questions are really quite simple. I paid for and am still paying for about 98% of the costs in the making Chasing Rainbows and thus far the marketing and distribution of the film. This has been mainly via lines of credit and bank loans. The infinitesimally small amount that came from a particular church does not in any way reflect the outcome of the film. And I must say that being neutral, remaining objective is not an easy task. It means taking the higher moral ground and not taking sides, it means constantly every waking moment striving to be a peacemaker. I believe that’s the highest ideal that anyone could strive to achieve, and I know that’s why I’ve made Chasing Rainbows.
What’s next? Forums and more screenings, more festivals, more meetings with entrainment moguls in LA and ultimately major distribution across the U.S. Every day is a challenge and every day is a joy, that’s what its all about. Be sure and see us at the upcoming forum on October 29th. Go to fro more details: http://chasingrainbowsfilm.com/category/events/upcoming