A bunch of friends showed up for the festival screening of STRING THEORY, some of them coming all the way from the San Francisco Bay Area. I was really touched by the show of support from all of them.

I was also pretty damn nervous. I wasn't sure whether people would like the film, but as soon as the film started and I heard the first wave of laughter, I immediately relaxed. The audience laughed all the way through to the end credits and gave the film a hearty round of applause. The Q&A session afterward, with all the filmmakers, went well also. The audience even laughed at some of my answers, especially when I told them about the real life stories that inspired the film.

One audience member asked all the filmmakers whether they make a living in the industry or whether they have day jobs. Pretty much everyone answered that they were “filmmakers”, “writers” or “directors”. With a straight face, I told the crowd that I work as a driving instructor. I told them that I risk my life everyday to teach sixteen year-olds how to drive. They laughed. They clearly appreciated my honesty.

It seemed to me that most of the other filmmakers dodged that question because they were trying to appear as “real” filmmakers. I don’t feel the need to appear like a “real” filmmaker. I am one. My day job has little to do with my identity or self-worth.

I received an email from LA Shorts Fest that began like this: “Congratulations! Your film ‘String Theory’ has been selected to be part of the 14th annual LA Shorts Fest, July 22 - 30, 2010.”

This was a pleasant little shock because I’d given up on the thought of STRING THEORY playing at any festival months ago.

My film is going to be on the big screen, in front of a paying audience, at the world’s biggest short film festival! I called my dad and closest friends to give them the good news.