AFF Tries New Date Venues Thompson Speaks

Editorial Opinion
This editorial isn’t about the film and video industry,
or even about Southern Screen Report. Just before I
started laying out this edition, the most tedious task of
production, my father died. It wasn’t unexpected; he was 89 and
had been at Piedmont Hospital for 21 days. And it wasn’t unusual;
everyone’s father dies eventually. But it sure stopped my
presses. So, please forgive me if there are a few extra typos and
tearstains in this issue.
Clyde Cole was born in Ellijay, Georgia in 1918. At 16, he
joined the U.S. Army instead of becoming a moonshiner, he said.
(Those Gilmer County apples, which he so loved, were good for
lots of things. They’re not called “winesap” for nothing!)
During WWII, he was captured by the Japanese in the Philippines
and spent
I couldn’t bring myself to
watch Letters from Iwo Jima,
Clint Eastwood’s best picture-nominated
film, because
of its sympathetic portrayal
of Japanese soldiers. I don’t
have anything against the
Japanese, but my dad sure did.
1,358 days as a
POW. He survived
the Death March
of Bataan and was
shipped to Japan to
work as a slave in
the coal mines. He
witnessed the dropping
of the second
atomic bomb on Nagasaki,
just 35 miles
from where he was
imprisoned. It was raining that day, he said. A light, misting rain.
(Interestingly, I couldn’t bring myself to watch Letters from
Iwo Jima, Clint Eastwood’s best picture-nominated film, because
of its sympathetic portrayal of Japanese soldiers. I don’t have
anything against the Japanese, but my dad sure did. Watching the
film would have felt like a betrayal.)
In later years, my dad spoke about being a POW more often,
and I wrote a screenplay based on his experiences. It won a minor
award in a major screenplay competition, but it’s probably unproducible,
because no actor would ever undergo the transformation
needed to portray what my father endured. But at least it’s written
down, to be remembered.
He was a simple man with little education, but he was a voracious
reader and could often be found slumped in his recliner
with a good book. Westerns were his favorite; he read every
Louis L’Amour novel. I found his library card in his wallet after
he died; it was still current.
He also loved fishing, Braves baseball, me, and life—to the
very last breath, he didn’t want to go.
Thanks for letting me get that out.
Pamela Cole, Editor
on-camera acting classes
Film
FESTival!
Thursday, May 24
Saturday, May 26
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
Be a
part
of it!
Southern Screen Report
Editor-in-Chief, Pamela Cole, editor@screenreport.com
Associate Editor, Ruksana Hussain, ruksana@screenreport.com
Senior Advertising Executive, Melissa Randle,
melissa@screenreport.com
Marketing & Advertising, Paula Martinez
paula@screenreport.com
Festival
Highlights
Fine Arts Exhibition
Opening • May 22, 5-7 pm
ArtWalk • May 25, 5-10 pm
Artists Market • May 26-27
bandstand
PeRformers
Saturday, May 26
Noon • The Dappled Greys
1 pm • Doria Roberts
2 pm • Nicole Chillemi
3 pm • Kristin Markiton
4 pm • Geoff Achison
Sunday, May 27
11:30 am • Conundrum
Noon • Kemba Cofield
1 pm • KUKU
2 pm • Morgan Rowe
3 pm • Bonaventure Quartet
4 pm • Delta Moon
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Published by Front Runner Communications, Inc.
Atlanta, GA 30324, 404-806-7044
Editorial Policy: Southern Screen Report covers news, reviews, and
production listings of the film and video industry in the Southeastern
United States. The views represented here do not necessarily represent
the views of the publisher.
t h e f o c u s i s o n y o u.
www.youract.tv
Issue 3, No. 2 © 2007 Front Runner Communications, Inc. All Rights
Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any
retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic,
mechanical photocopying, recording or otherwise—without the prior written
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Page 2 March 2007 www.screenreport.com