creativesoulchristchurch.com

I have been struggling with how to put into words the amazing, life changing experience I have just lived. Now again I find myself mute staring at Cherry with words dancing on the tip of my tongue…

I arrived in Austin at the end of a twenty seven hour journey, three hours after I left. My newly appointed Austin family whisked me away to a yummy dinner before delivering me into my suite in their home in Lakeway, Texas. A very lovely area about forty minutes out of Austin. I rested, regrouped, went through a cold, jetlag + the symptoms associated with an excess of shopping (sore feet, dizzy head, empty wallet etc).

I spent a pampered + fabulous few days enjoying their hospitality during which I journeyed to San Marquez to go to the outlet mall in a flurry of thunder + lightening, of which the highlight was meeting Rik @ Zumez + making a life-long friend in a moment.

It was freezing here in the desert for the first week or so + I found myself bundled up + buying jackets… Little did I know two days later I would be gasping for air amidst a thrall of people, beer in hand…

Next came relocation + registration…

I moved to South Congress to stay with a lovely Austin lady named Daphne + (her wee boy) who I had met online. She has a keen eye for retro gems + we bonded immediately.

I prepared myself for Austin Downtown + all I could imagine that SXSW could have to offer… I made plans… Then… (refuelled with coffee + map in hand) I journeyed to the Austin Convention Centre to join the throbbing queue of delegates registering + gaining their badges.

In little more than half an hour I had made a new film friend, local no less, + was spat out the end with a badge that clearly stated: Jolene Parker, Christchurch, New Zealand. A Platinum Pass too! This left people guessing for most of the festival as I am sure you can imagine, considering most of the other delegates were tagged with an allegiance to some company, sponsor or band. I however was just me! It felt wonderful. It feels wonderful.

I left the ACC after a brief rendezvous with Cary, swag bags in hand + headed home to freshen up pre film night opening… I had planned to attend the premier of the film 21, then the SXSW Opening Night Party. I got pretty, organized myself a little then waited forever for a taxi. I was conned by the taxi once + once only on this trip! Of course it happened to be the one time I was running very late + that happened to be tonight!

I flew out of the taxi @ 7th + Congress right outside the theatre to flashbulbs + red carpet! Wow! Where am I?… Oh yeah I want to get into the theatre! Hmmm… Queues of people everywhere… Some with badges, some without… Guess I chose to wing it + stand here! Sweet! I am in + seated in 20mins just like that! Sorry to all the slow + silly ones that had no Kiwi keen ingenuity!

It was in a massive steep terraced theatre I had my cherry popped on true American cinema. It was enthralling. I was glued to my seat. More for the immensity of the experience than the movie.

After leaping from my seat + running for the loo, where I met the tiara wearing director (more about her later), next I left the Paramount theatre + headed to the official SXSW Film opening night party @ Buffalo Billiards. There was a swollen crowd of people inside + outside the venue + I stood chatting with locals + assessing the situation before taking the plunge + entering. I hoped to find at least one familiar face… Cary was nowhere to be found. Through the mess + mass I spotted a tall, dazzling blonde who I recognised through Myspace as being Cary’s friend Danielle (someone I knew I had to meet + so made my approach). After a brief explanation of how I recognised her she informed me that I indeed had missed Cary. She then invited me to tag along with her + co to another party. We wandered along a pulsing 6th street down to the corner of 1st + Trinity to the pure volume ranch. It was immense! I met lots of people… Drank a few free redbull + vodkas + generally observed the madness. My first overwhelming moment followed as I could not tune out the thousands of people around me… Breathe Jolene, Breathe!

Several hours later after the novelty of being the novelty wore off, my new friend Amy offered to drop me home to rest + prepare for day 2…

Up earlyish + raring to go I went to a local coffee house + waited for my truck driving Austin film glamour girl to pick me up + proceeded to the ACC to meet up with Cary + do a walkthrough of the entire Convention Centre… Today was relatively uneventful really. Lots of wide eyed moments + new experiences (as to be expected amongst such new surroundings). I was over it by the early afternoon + bussed home to have a moe, change + race back in for Helen Hunt’s film premiere. It was a confronting + delicate film. I enjoyed seeing her in the flesh. There were some terrible continuity moments however with the sound boom visible in several shots of Hunt + Midler!

Post film: I found myself loitering; shivering trying to decide where to go out or whether I should just go home + so called Danielle. Thankfully she was near with a friend + so a 6th street rendezvous was planned. This was the best choice I ever made! We met up outside a club called Iron Cactus. A brief detour was planned to obtain a scarf for her friend who was freezing in the cool Texas night. Round + round in circles in a moment we were back outside the club + bumping into Canadian friends of hers who talked us into going inside. This group made an immediate positive impression on me! Especially one…

I found myself perched at the bar, warm + content with a glass of Merlot. We three ladies shared our life information, spied talent + talked all things creative which led on to me showing my portfolio of images printed onto canvas. It was a hit! Full of a flush of pride I realised my work had caught the eye of the one. He turned out to be a phenomenal photographer who showed me a taste of his work via his iphone. (Everyone had an iphone or blackberry except me it seemed!) He captured me in a moment.

When the suggestion was made that we join the Canadians in their hotel suite in a little bit for more drinks + frivolity what could we say but Yes!

The Omni Hotel is an impressive building. It has a huge atrium with buildings within it… I was overawed! We proceeded to the 16th floor to great suite full of wonderful people from all around the world. Several of the guys were locked into playing Rock band the game on a huge flat screen in the corner. I had never seen it before! Looked like fun! Didn’t want to tell anyone I could sing though as I may get enlisted to play…

Inhale, Sip, Chuckle, Chat was the next hour or so… I found myself increasingly intrigued by this wonderful group of people, who welcomed me as if they were my long lost friends.

At the appropriate time I took my cue to depart, poured myself into a taxi + fled home to rest + revive.

To Be Continued…