At 9 AM there was an Industry Insider’s Panel Discussion at the Cordillera International Film Festival. I thought I gave myself plenty of time to get there but my first Lyft driver got lost and never picked me up. I then needed to wolf down some complimentary breakfast to last the through the day.
I got into the theater a bit late and slipped into the font row. I knew I didn’t have much time to sketch. Bill Farmer is seated 4th from the left. He is the voice talent behind Goofy and several other Disney Characters. Exiting a theater I was mistaken for Bill since I had on my John Henry Disney jacket and maybe since I have grey hair. As I was explaining that I was not Bill, he walked out and I introduced him to the adoring fan. Later I shook his hand thanking him for getting me out of the sticky situation.
The question from the audience that really got the panel fired up was a question about AI and the industry. The tech on the panel said it would be foolish to ignore AI. It would be like ignoring sound after the silent film era. How AI will creep its way into films has yet to be seem. The fact is that anything that is online is already available to the AI bots. Protecting intellectual property will be the ongoing battle going forward. Across the board the panelist flt that the human touch is needed to create meaningful heart felt stories.
Sandrene Faucher Cassidy seated on the left spoke about how she helps aspiring filmmakers who feel like they have run up against a brick wall with their films and might consider any other profession. I laughed since I am very much in that boat having produced a short film that few are willing to show, since it does not embrace the notion that life has returned to “normal”. Sandrine sat next to me in a screening after this panel and I introduced myself and thanked her for her feedback on the panel. There wasn’t much time to talk since the theater went black and the films started up. As a jury member she dutifully marked her ballot after each short film was shown. She left before the question and answer session with the filmmakers. She seems to be in charge of Festivals and Distribution Licensing, which is something I know nothing about.