I think I’m far enough away from the initial event to blog about this dispassionately, which is my usual goal.
This past week, my producing partner Max Highsmith, called to inform me that a screenplay we submitted to Sundance’s Table Read My Screenplay competition did not win, but did finish in the Top 4% and had rated a pretty good score. Weirdly, and humorously to me, because I was unable to respond to Max in time to meet the deadline, he submitted with my name as ‘John Doe’. Some might call this presumptive, but I call that being a good partner. In our partnership, we’ve discussed how I’m the quiet one who would rather be in a cave somewhere writing while he is good with people and opportunities. I couldn’t ask for better.
It took me a while to digest this, because in a way it felt like we won, even though we didn’t. I think this is because its some validation. Frankly, top 4% in a contest like that is nothing to sneeze at, and I don’t look at it negatively at all. Don’t get me wrong, I like the criticism and positivity from friends and family, but I might just frame the email we were sent from the TRMS people. It’s a shot in the arm that comes at a time when it feels like God has been moving and further affirming my perceived call to art and film making.
We aren’t sure, but a couple of interesting things might spring out of this, so I’ll wait and see before talking about them.
Feels a bit like being Harry Potter. It doesn’t mean I’m the greatest wizard of the age, but I did get a letter inviting me to Hogwarts. I’m totally there.
- Harlan
