White Rod - The Website

Never mind that he didn't even enter the movie in the festival, or that the movie has yet to be finished. Facts and logic like that have little bearing on his twisted anger.

"We were gypped. Ripped off. Ignored. Everybody pretended like we didn't even exist!" the filmaker ranted. "We have been living in this city and working on this movie for over ten years and didn't get even a single mention in the press! When I tried to get a ticket to the festival, they told me it would cost me $500! If I had that kind of money, I could finish my movie! No, I will not stop shouting!" he shouted as the bouncer forcibly ejected him from the bar.

The theme for the Second Annual Savannah Film Festival was "Let's Suck Up to Robert Redford." Redford, who was in town directing his latest movie, The Legend of Baggar Vance, was too busy to attend the festival, as was everybody else in Savannah. The only attendees were those poor souls who had entered their films in the festival and felt obligated to stick around and watch the other entries.

All in all, this year's festival qualifies as a near total flop, but it did manage to solidify Savannah's position as yet another city trying to establish itself as a mecca of cultural hipness by having a film festival. Film festivals are cropping up left and right throughout the United States in almost every city large enough to have a movie theater (and some not.) Experts agree that soon there will be three film festivals for every movie made in the United States. (And that's including home movies shot by your Uncle Alfred.)

I caught up with Alexander Modowski in the alleyway, where he was relieving his swollen bladder.

"So what if my movie's not finished? So what if I've spent ten years working on it, and I don't have a dime to my name? That's beside the point. The point is that they should be kissing MY ass, not Hollywood's. I'm the first person to try to attempt to make a movie here, and what do I get? Not even a thank you. No respect. Everybody loves Robert Redford- at least I TIP, when I can afford to, and everybody here hates ME."

Alexander stumbled out into the street and was nearly hit by a cab. I watched him curse the driver, and disappear into the fog that was slowly rolling in from the river.

My encounter with Alexander raised an important question in my mind. That important question is what makes the Savannah Film Festival unique? What separates it from the literally thousands of other film festivals that are popping up nationwide on a weekly basis? The answer, sadly, is nothing. There is nothing outstanding, unique or special about the Savannah Film Festival other than the fact that it was held here, in Savannah. And that's simply not enough.