Special Note: I returned from the Sundance Film Festival late Sunday night. My apologies for the lack of blog entries during that time–my internet and computer access was limited. The next four written blog entries will all be Sundance related, but then I’ll return to my standard variety of articles.
So I’m standing there at baggage claim. Tired. Wait, tired doesn’t even begin to describe it. I’m completely exhausted. For the past week I’ve slept only about three hours a night in hour and a half spurts. I’ve been at the Sundance Film Festival, and I’ve loved every second of it.
My summary blog will come soon; that isn’t the purpose of this one.
No the purpose of this one was getting to ask a variation of favorite Sundance question one last time.
“What did you like?”
I could tell the couple had been at the festival as well. They had the standard green Nalgene/Brita water bottle hanging off their carry-on.
“Winter’s Bone was my favorite,” the man replied. He went on to list some of the other films he really enjoyed. They asked about the movies I loved and we ended up talking for 3-4 minutes until my suitcases arrived and I headed on my way to the parking shuttle.
I rarely talk with people at baggage claim, and if I do, there seems to be a few moments of “is this person crazy?” that delay the initial conversation. Last night, the conversation was instantaneous. It was quickly evident that we all enjoyed film, that we had some common connection, and that we could enjoy a brief visit.
I’ve been experiencing this since January 20th. Anytime I stepped on a shuttle, waited in line at a restaurant, visited the post office, or even waited in line for the men’s room after a film, you could begin a conversation with anyone by asking:
“So what have you seen?”
“What did you like?
“Which film excites you so far?”
“What are you going to see next?”
In my position as a Crowd Liaison at the Racquet Club Theatre, I had this same conversation multiple times a day with ticket holders for the next film or people hoping to purchase a ticket through our waitlist line. It was always the instant conversation started.
Sometimes I’d end up talking with first time festival attendees hoping to see that “great” film, sometimes I’d talk with couples that had been coming for over a decade. I’d have this conversation with critics for major newspapers and magazines as well as the presidents of major studios. The question always worked–it always started a conversation.
With several people that conversation would transition out of film into regular life. I learned about high school students taking a break from class, former medical professors, a group of women celebrating their “girls weekend tradition,” or a mother and daughter taking a trip before the daughter heads to college this fall. I learned about Park City locals enjoying a Saturday matinee, or the film student hoping to get inspired again.
I was spoiled in my volunteer position, experiencing these interactions throughout my eight hour day. Often during my “off” time, I’d run into one of these faces at a film, on a shuttle, in a restaurant, and the conversation would pick up again with them initially giving me film updates and then maybe introducing me to their friends.
As I exited security at the Salt Lake Airport, I happened to run into three girls from USC who had wait listed for Blue Valentine at my theatre a few days prior. Again, that conversation picked up. They had enjoyed the Waste Land, a documentary that I recommended to them, and told me about the rest of their time in Park City. We visited for another few minutes and then headed to our respective gates.
It was interesting to live life like this for a few weeks. I know I’m a social person and do initiate conversations with others, but if I’m honest with myself, I don’t do it nearly as often as I could. I want to do it more now. I want to begin those conversations because I believe there really are cool people out there if we believe in the possibility of that interaction and that connection. No, I’m not going to talk to every person I meet. There were a bunch of people I never visited with during their time in line or during my days in Park City, but I can strike up a conversation with at least one “stranger” each day…
and I think you can too.
Let’s make the world a little bit more friendly.