Screening at the Maya Meetings

Every year hundreds of Maya experts, scholars, anthropologists, and documentary filmmakers meet on the campus of the University of Texas in Austin. Not only is Austin the capital of Texas, it is the capital and mecca of independent music, movies, art, culture, and the best tacos north of Mexico. So it is the ideal place for a yearly meeting of the minds to discuss the ancient and modern Maya culture. The meetings take place in mid-February and always include panel discussions, workshops, guest speakers, and once in awhile feature a film screening. This year was no exception to that norm and I can happily admit that the film that screened was none other than my documentary, Balancing the Cosmos (www.balancingthecosmos.com).

For the past four years Andrew Weeks (director) and I (editor) have been gathering footage in the highlands of Guatemala in a modern Maya town by the name of Santiago Atitlan. After months of editing in Utah and a few test screenings, it finally came time to have a public screening in an official venue. It made perfect sense to have our first screening at the Maya meetings since its focus directly corresponds with the focus of our documentary. In weeks leading up to the screening, Andrew and I prepared posters and postcards to distribute, which you can view or even purchase at www.balancingthecosmos.com/store. Friends, associates, critics, and fellow filmmakers were invited and every other preparation was made.

So the day of the screening arrived (Feb. 26th) and the seats were slowly filled, though not entirely to my dismay. There were probably a 100 or so people in attendance. Nonetheless, the film screened to a warm and positive reception. It was a success! Many of the audience members were impressed and others wanted their names on a list of DVD orders. Later I was told that the audience even included such notable people like Richard Linklater's DP, Lee Daniel who shot Fast Food Nation, Before Sunset, Dazed and Confused, and other films, the sound guy from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and many well-known Maya experts. They all loved the film as well. The best thing to come out of this screening besides the DVD orders was additional screenings in the near future, one of which is next month (April) in Philadelphia. The film will also showcase as part of museum exhibits and screen at universities and libraries across the country. I hope some of you can attend one of those screenings.

Other upcoming screenings may or may not be in your neck of the woods. To find out when and where Balancing the Cosmos will be screening in the future, go to www.balancingthecosmos.com/screenings.