What a week, eh? Feathers ruffled and flying. Kerfuffle upon kerfuffle that had the cinetrix feeling downright relieved she was not selected to take part in this year's Moving Image Institute in Film Criticism and Feature Writing. Really.
Yeah, that's right. The cinetrix applied and was dinged,** if by dinged you mean not even a "polite" form letter in the mail. [Classy.] Thing is, she's thankful, and not in a Groucho way. Thankful she didn't have to pay out of pocket to schlep to Manhattan and back. Thankful she didn't have to stay in a midtown hotel for days on end. [Related: Siberia open these days?] Thankful she didn't then have to schlep from midtown to Queens and back each day.
Thankful most of all for the reminder of what a venal, striving, grasping little glacier-shit island New York can be. [Seriously, people. Get a life. There's a war on.]
In the application, you were asked to describe what would be a likely/hoped-for outcome of your participation in the institute. The cinetrix said "access." Ha. When she saw the list of participants, well, she's in email contact with most of them already, and the speakers she's either heard speak before [Haskell], has e-mailed with, already counts as an old friend [Peary], or they can't do a whole lot for her [most publicists] living outside a major market. Oh, and Sam Sifton, Lorne Manly, and Ann Kolson. [One degree, she's guessing, is all that would take.]
So, yeah. I don't need the magic feather to fly. Thanks, unwieldily named Institute!
But I do have two questions.
- Who was lucky number 13? As Stu posted back in February, "Twelve applicants will be selected. In order to encourage geographic diversity,*** hotel accommodations in midtown Manhattan will be provided for five nights for fellows living more than 50 miles from New York City." However, when you visit the 2008 Introduction page, it reads, "Thirteen print and on-line journalists from around the country will take part in an intensive program designed to offer an expanded appreciation of the art, business, and history of film, and a global view of the complex and rapidly evolving nature of the film and entertainment industry."
- When, if ever, will the Institute post the participants' Assignments and Conversations, the way it did last year? Again, citing the Introduction, "Each institute is supplemented with a Web site where lectures, materials, and conversations are posted. This online venue creates a place for participants and alumni of repeating institutes to exchange experiences, ideas and sources. The sites also permit journalists who are unable to attend to listen and learn."
Ahem, I resemble that remark. While she's waiting, the cinetrix will keep busy watching films, teaching films, and, yep, reading and writing about films.
*Yes, it's racist. Also not so PETA friendly. And carnies get a bad rap. Tell me something I don't know. Better still, go watch The Three Caballeros and It's All True back to back and then we can talk about something constructive, like the Good Neighbor Policy and the Global South. It's cool. I'll wait.
**The make-up of the selection committee is unknown, but do feel free to make unsupported, wild guesses as to who put the kibosh on the cinetrix's candidacy in the comments.
***Defined, apparently, as having some connection to the great state of Texas or George Mason University, as far I can can reckon.
