i had a choice tonight: Blog or Journal. Journal or Blog.
what's the difference, huh?
well the Journal has all of those deeply held thoughts that most of the universe would find odd--at least, i think. hmmm. the blog has those same deeply held thoughts, with the added knowledge that other people actualy may read them BEFORE i pass away and have my writings uncovered by my grandkiddies. that, perhaps, might be a slight censor.
however, seeing as it's late at night, and i just came from spending some money to buy a ticket for The Second Chance, and i've been doing interviews all day, i'm going to just combine it all and go for it and see what comes out...
THE PREMIERE
last night was an indescribable experience, the culmination of a year and a half of waiting for a baby to be birthed into the world. the red carpet event was held at the Thorobred 20 Theatres in Franklin, Tennessee. the tone was set for a grand time. i flew my daughter in to be my date, my mom had her beautiful white hair flowing, my sister had dressed my daughter to match my outfit, and my Cousin who owns LiJohn Limousines had us rolling in the Expedition Black SUV Limo.
we arrived, in timely fashion, at the Theatre, and i got out of the vehicle. my brother-in-law convinced me to step out of the vehicle wearing my sunglasses, so i did. but i took them right off because...well...frankly...i couldn't see anything or anybody. i looked up and had the moment where i actually saw my name up in lights--that was wild. my offspring was proud, and i love those moments. she aspires to act now more than practice medicine (at least for the moment) so i was wondering what was going through her head. so, as we stepped onto the red carpet and started working, i kept her with me a lot. we ended up having our picture on the front page of the Newspaper this morning. i'll treasure that photo for the rest of my life. it was the best thing to be able to share a moment of personal accomplishment with family.
a note on that. i felt complete last night. as i rode in the limo over, i looked around and realized how blessed i am with my family. my Mom, a true Queen Mother, sat across from me, resplendent with her crown of white hair (don't believe me? look for her at the end of the movie in the church scene during my characters' last speech. she waves her hand in agreement. she's the bomb.); my daughter sat next to her Grammy and my sister next to her, my bro-in-law beside me. my brother couldn't make it in, but any time my family is together, we know that he's in the midst with us, the telling of anecdotal stories of his large presence ever invoking both his name and laughter simultaneously.
i reached into my breast pocket and pulled out a small plastic container that contained a lock of my transitioned father's beautiful, long, black hair. he was always proud of that hair and groomed it immaculately. i got a good mess of it when he asked me to give him his first haircut of 38 years. i decided to keep the hair as evidence of a landmark moment. aside from a few ominous feelings, little did i know that only a few months later, he would join The Ancestors, and i would place that hair on the table where i remember my mighty family, right next to the pipe my Granddaddy Happyjack smoked during his life. i felt the hair, passed it around, smelled it--it still smells of my father--smiled, and decided to have the night of my life, standing on the shoulders of the many who dreamed and sacrificed those dreams so that i could live mine.
fast forward to the interviews. the flashes. after a while, everyone had pale blue halos. i told myself that i was amongst angels--that way i wouldn't get too nauseated. :-)
Steve Taylor got up and told the story of the film, from the initial concept, to how i got involved with the project--which is a testimony in itself to God's greater plan, then he introduced the film and it rolled on a massive screen.
as i sat with my marvelous and career-changing manager on one side, and my daughter on the other, i did what--i suppose--other actors do when they see themselves on-screen during their film's premiere: i cringed through the moments i thought i could've done better, and started looking for little things like continuity mistakes and other things that become a part of film phenomena. i didn't find too many things, and soon, the film was over and we were heading over to the P.F. Chang's restaurant for a private party.
THE PARTY
i signed autographs and ate food, and my daughter had a ball attacking the fruit and marshmallow trays that were placed in front of a giant fountain of flowing, warm, white chocolate. i decided, hey, you're only a kid once and who knows, i might be working a construction job for the rest of my life, so...carpe diem, sieze the day: go 'head and eat yourself silly girl!!
and she did.
and i was glad.
and we were all quite happy.
thank you, God, for letting me live to see a day like this.
thank you, Ancestors, for looking out for your offspring.
i saw old friends and relations, buried some hatchets, and reconnected with my co-stars, especially J. Don Ferguson, who played Jeremiah Jenkins. he's a white man. i'm a brother. he lives in Savannah, GA. i live "out South" in the 'Ville. i'm a good portion cultural nationalist at times. i don't know about J. Don. yet somehow, his energy was fatherly on the set, and he reminds me of my Pops in some way. he's continually beaten the Cancer that got Pops, and for me, that's a triumph because i learned invaluable things from this man who, at the time of the filming of Second Chance, was shooting his 137th film. i've always learned from elders and i wasn't told J. Don was coming to the premiere, so it was a pleasant surprise. i hugged him like a bear and felt good about it.
and Lisa Arrindell Anderson, who arrived with her husband and commanded the spotlight. i will say this, on the eve of her appearance in not one, not two, but THREE major movies at the same time when "Madea's Family Reunion" hits the scene next week: there is not a finer actor around than Lisa. she is gifted, poised, and polished. focused and prepared, and you will see her become a staple of fine dramas when given the opportunity. i was blessed to work the screen with her playing my wife.
it was a night to remember. the first of what many say will be many nights, but i don't know. if again i never see this energy, i could sleep well, because i've seen a dream realized, not deferred. that's amazing to me.
THE DAY OF
i had interviews. tv and print. i took my daughter with me and we had a late breakfast, discovering all the press coverage together. i ended up at the Mall in Opry Mills and decided to make the symbolic and practical gesture of support by purchasing a ticket to the movie on opening day. it was just after 7 and i was in line. when i got to the window, the ticket lady told me something that probably would've peeved me off under any other circumstances:
"i'm sorry, sir, but The Second Chance is sold out for both the 7:10 and 7:30 showing."
can u feel the slow grin? :-D
W
O
W
i ended up heading out to a late show at another theatre, and chilling as i reflected on just how special i think this film is. how excited i can now allow myself to be with what happens from here. how broad the prospects are for helping to grow other artists i know in scope and influence. how many good seeds can be planted.
i went to a Starbuck's near the other theatre, and i got recognized immediately. in the next five minutes, i'd signed 4 autographs, including a water bottle, and taken pictures via digital cameras and picture phones. and i remembered something the PR person said to me day before yesterday: "enjoy the next 48 hours of anonymity while you can. after that, it'll be gone."
it was, admittedly, a little odd to go for a cup of tea and get swamped. don't think i'll ever get used to that. so, i suppose i'll work harder to preserve those moments of privacy within a public life. i know i need a vacation, so i'm gonna take one soon. i promise myself. i'm gonna write harder and longer and see what The Spirit speaks through me. and i'm gonna take more time to be good to people, because people are good, and community is good, and well...it's all good.
and i'll appreciate those moments where good people can just get to know each other by talking amongst themselves, as was the case just after i left the ticket window in the mall:
i sat and watched the people in line from a bench seat accross from the ticket window. two ladies came up who had driven in from a nearby city and they sat next to me. they were talking about how they couldn't believe that The Second Chance was sold out. i asked them what they were going to do. they said they had bought tickets to the 9 p.m. show because it took them an hour to get here and they might as well wait. i asked if they were excited about the film. they said they didn't know much about it, but they were Michael W. Smith fans and so they came out, but they didn't expect it would sold like this. they asked me if i'd seen the movie.
i told them, "i've heard some pretty good things about it. if you like it, you should spread the word."
they agreed that they would and asked me what i was going to do. i told them i was gonna head on over to another theatre and grab a ticket. they pointed to a group of people who were on the other side of the ticket window.
"you know, some of those people over there were actually EXTRAS in the movie!"
that was really cool, i earnestly added before standing and retrieving my keys
"it was a pleasure talking with you ladies," i said, shaking both their hands. "my name is jeff, and i'm delighted to have met you and shared some time."
"why thank you jeff," one replied, "i won't forget that name. that's my husband's name."
"well, i'm sure he's a fine gentlemen."
"he sure is."
i smiled, turned, and walked to my car, put on the cd and drove off, as the gospel line rang out...
"walk into your season..."
joc
