Lessons Learned. Don’t give advice until someone asks for it.
A gentleman contacted me on a social network last week. As a result of that contact I was led to his pending film project. The project included a logline and synopsis. I read the information…and left a comment that went something like this:
I love alien invasion films! I think you’re on to something by setting the initial invasion within the deep woods of Louisiana. In the Togline you mentioned something about a time zone and it’s not clear what the impact is. Also, remember that the synopsis should clearly identify the protagonist, the antagonist and the conflict. Good luck!
I cannot remember exactly what I wrote because the gentleman quickly deleted my comment (which is his prerogative), left a negative comment on my film project page, and sent me this exact email:
Please don’t post your bad comments on my page. I see your synopsis need a lot of work, why do black folks tries to pull other black folks down? its not COOL.
Obviously something got lost in translation. My first thought was to tear him a new asshole but then I considered the fact that my “critique” wasn’t requested and thus is pretty much like an uninvited guest: unwelcome. Oops, my bad. But why did the brother try to pull the race card on me, given the fact that we’re both striving for the same thing: an opportunity to make movies. I’m in no better position of power than he is, but suddenly I’m “trying to pull [him] down.”
I did respond. I told him him I was trying to help and that his perception that I’m “trying to pull him down” was way off base. I think I should have just directed him to my blog. If I was sincerely interested in keeping my fellow brother and sister filmmakers down, why would I share so much of my journey in my blog?
Nevertheless, it is a lesson learned.
