The Joy

The joy that this film has brought me is insane! Struggle and stress, yes of course, but the overwhelming sense of pride, joy, accomplishment and then there is just the pure fun! Yep, it's is super hard to make a film but it has proven to be overwhelmingly worth it. The big weekend of Festivals was so much fun! I got to get all dressed up and have pictures taken on red carpets, I had interviews, met celebrities, cool people and super talented filmmakers. I made connections, I made friends and I felt inspired. Some of my favorite experiences of the "big weekend" was the Opening Night Gala event at the Garden State Film Festival. I was there with Shannon, director of Stunt Mom, and we were dressed up and mingling like pros. I never wanted that night to end. And it barely did since we stayed up until 3:00 in the morning. Ha! How often does this mama get to do that? All the while that fun was being had, people were referring to me as "Stunt Mom!" So it's not just a film, it's a nickname and I love it! My favorite screening experience so far was at the Queens World Film Festival. First of all, Stunt Mom was in a block of short films that were all Family Friendly so the whole family could go. The theater was beautiful, small but super well set up! The theater sold out, I guess it would have been nice if it was just a wee bit bigger but playing to a sold out crowd, a full house was a great experience. And the audience was so intuitive, they got every joke, every moment, even a couple things that I didn't think people would laugh at or react to. There was a Q&A afterwards and my son, Tony even answered a question so eloquently that it brought tears to my eyes!

The following week was a smaller festival in the middle of the week on a Wednesday. The experience was very different because I hadn't met any of the other filmmakers yet. But luckily, the set up allowed for plenty of mingling and I met some wonderful people. That night also proved to be filled with surprises! I was blown away when Stunt Mom took home an award from the Point Lookout Film Festival! What? It's true! It was awarded the BEST CONCEPT! This is such an honor because it was the very concept that drove me to make the film, the concept that I simply couldn't get out of my mind. The fact that it was recognized in this way is extremely flattering. There were also 2 other Nominations. Stunt Mom was nominated for Best Local Film and I was nominated for Best Actress! Yikes! That last one is pretty awesome too! We all joke about those actors who feign, "it is an honor just to be nominated!" but guess what, it is really true! I am so honored!

So there you have it! I am proud of myself! I made a film and it is getting out there in the world. People like it! It has been nominated and won an award.  AND I am Stunt Mom! 

The journey of Stunt Mom isn't over yet, I'm going to LA for the Artemis Women in Action Film Festival in a couple of weeks and there are some other fun things in the works. But right now, I just want to stop and be grateful for how far I have come because sometimes I don't see things that way. I am always looking to what comes next. Or I am just looking around at other people's successes. Or I'm just not taking in the joy that has come from this!
Joy, Pride, Accomplishment, Success, Gratitude - STUNT MOM - Janelle Tedesco (yep)