The Party!

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Let the celebration begin!!!

The top photo is me with Donna Musil who won Best Documentary with her film, Brats: Our Journey Home about children that have grown up on military bases.

Directly above is Cliff Armitage, Jenna McGregor and Sean Doherty and I with the Getting Lucky poster. These people were amazing and made the Estes Park Film Festival an amazing success!

What an incredible night! Thank you all and thank you Estes Park!!!

Getting Lucky wins Best Short Film!!!

The Awards ceremony took place at the Estes Park Lodge. The lodge overlooks a beautiful lake and it is, of course, surrounded by the mountains.

Cliff got up to annouce the award for Best Short Film. All the films were exceptional and to be honest, I was happy just to be a part of such an amazing film festival, see incredible films, and meet some wonderful people and filmmakers. Cliff got to the podium and spoke. "The top 3 short films for Best Short Film are: Escape Velocity, 3:16, and Getting Lucky. And the winner of for Best Short Film is...... Getting Lucky!

I was taken aback. I made my way through the crowd, reached the podium and gave Cliff a big hug as he handed me a microphone so that I could make a speech...
Hmm... maybe I should of prepared something just in case. When in doubt, go with your heart-- And that's what I did, I spoke from the heart.

People came up to me afterwards to congratulate me and told me how moved they were by my speech. Several people from the Colorado Film Commission talked to me about shooting my next film in Colorado. With such beauty all around along with some nice filming incentivies--it may be a good idea.

The photos and party began soon thereafter and we were there until the early morning. Above are the filmmakers who received various awards, including: Best Documentary, Best New Filmmakers, Best Actor and Best Student Film.

Some wonderful and talented filmmakers and I'm happy to have met them and to have Getting Lucky be a part of an incredible line up of films. Special thank you's are in order to: Cliff Armitage, Sean Doherty, Jenna McGregor, Estes Park Film Festival and the people of Estes Park. I truly loved being a part of your film festival and meeting such wonderful people in your beautiful city. Congratulations to everyone! Cheers!!!

More views of the Rockies and Estes Park

It's Sunday--another beautiful, bright, sunny morning! The wind has pick up (up to 25 mph) however, with the sun out it's doesn't feel as cold.

Here are a few more photos of the Rockies and surrounding area of Estes Park.

Also, here is a photo of my cute rental car (it was a lot of fun to drive!) in front of the hotel where most of the filmmakers were staying. A very fun place as they boast having an 18 person hot tub!

The Historic Park Theater

The Historic Park Theatre is the venue for the Estes Park Film Festival. Built in 1913, it's a beautiful theatre and an amazing venue to have Getting Lucky screen at this gorgeous historical landmark. Here, I'm with Marketing Director and co-Film Director, Cliff Armitage, in front of the theatre's entrance after the filmmaker's Q&A.

Screening of Getting Lucky @ Estes Park

The day appeared daunting as the rain continue to come down at a steady pace. The sun, however, came out and the clouds cleared by noon. The city was packed as local artisans came into the center square to sell their goods. The town was alive and bussling. Many people came to the opening night of the film festival last night and attendance has been exceptional.

When I arrive at the theatre, there were numerous people there to check out the line up of today's films. I have been very impressed with the films I'd seen thus far.

Sean Doherty, Cliff Armitage, and Jenna McGregor are the festival directors and coordinators. They welcomed me with open arms and made me feel right at home in this beautiful city. They also commented on how much they enjoyed Getting Lucky and were happy to have the film be a part of their festival.

I had some time before the screening of Getting Lucky so I decided to shop around and check out some of the local artists at the fair in the center of town. There were all kinds of art available including: photos, paintings, sculptures and instruments.

It was 4:00pm and decided to make my way back to the theater for the screening of Getting Lucky which was @ 4:30pm. I arrived at the theater to find that the screening was sold out! Close to 200 people were there to see the short film program.

As the program started, I saw some incredible films, people were really enjoying themselves and having a good time.

Getting Lucky was next. I held my breath. Within the first 2 minutes, the audience began laughing. From there, the laughter continued to grow louder and louder until the audience was howling with the final date between Kat and Leo! I was ecstatic that the film was receiving such a wonderful response!

Afterwards, they had all the filmmakers come up on stage and introduce themselves as well as have a Q&A. It was an incredible event and screening and I feel honored and blessed to have been a part of it all. Thank you Sean, Cliff, Jenna and Estes Park. Now it's time to celebrate at Ed Cantina!

The Rocky Mountains

The next morning I hear a light rain gently falling on my window. I draw back the curtains to see the sun trying to break through the dark, foreboding clouds. Just beyond, is a gorgeous, beaming rainbow across the mountains. I take this as a very good sign.
I get dressed, grab some coffee, and head for the mountains. Although it is a bit soggy, the views are breathtaking as the road weaves through the towering mountains and enormous boulders. The leaves on the Aspen trees are already golden as well as bright orange leaves from other various trees dot the moutainsides.

As my cute rental car climbs the mountain, the rains turn to flurries and suddenly I'm in a winter wonderland. The snow dusts the ground and mountains all around me. It's so quiet and peaceful, it's almost as if I have ascended into another world. There are a few horses that hardly take notice of the flurries (or me) that come down all around them. I, however, marvel at this beautiful sight. The snow seems to silence everything around me; the maddening fast pace world, my racing mind, even the occasional car that drives by I barely notice as the stillness is so captivating and entrancing.

I breathe in the cool, crisp, air and relish in the peaceful, quiet sound of snow. This is the beauty of nature at its finest.

Estes Park, Colorado

I've arrived into Denver airport Friday morning and went directly to the rental car agency to pick up my car. The weather is much cooler (about 30 degrees) and the wind is blowing at 20 mph. I get my car and head for the mountains as Estes Park in about 1 1/2 hours from Denver. The scenery is gorgeous as I near the Rocky mountains. Along the way are beautiful rolling hills, farms, and open fields of land. I finally arrive in Estes Park and realize that I am minutes away from the Rocky Mountain National Park. Maybe I will entertain a morning hike in the mountains tomorrow.

Estes Park is a beautiful town located in a central valley as the mountains literally surround the town. The people are friendly, courteous, and are very interested in the upcoming film festival. In my first 2 hours in Estes Park I have seen 4 elk, a coyote, a buck, 3 does and 2 fawns. This is a city among the wilderness and it's spectacular. Also, the Stanley Museum/hotel is here. Famous as it was the setting for The Shining starring Jack Nicholson.

Here are some views of Estes Park. The white tower you see in the background of one of the photos is the The Historic Park Theatre- home of the Estes Park Film Festival.