I returned home from the beautiful island of Nassau a couple days ago following the screening of "Docket 32357" at the 9th Annual Bahamas International Film Festival. Besides having the opportunity to experience the film's international premiere in 80 degree weather, I looked at the festival as a chance to work on my networking skills. The past couple of months have reinforced the old lesson that your ability to progress in the entertainment industry really does lie with who you know. Talent, craft and hard work are important elements, but you really need to have a substantial network to allow those other pieces to flourish. I am naturally a quiet and introverted guy. Part of being introverted is the natural instinct to only speak when you find it absolutely necessary. That can be a great thing, but also a hindrance when you need to build relationships with people that you don't know. Reminders about the previously mentioned lesson popped in my head and I decided to be active in taking advantage of the potential opportunities the festival offered to expand my network. I made the right decision. The comforts of being on an island made it possible for me to speak with great people in a relaxed environment. It felt natural to approach people and discuss a variety of topics that didn't necessarily involve film. It was liberating to be honest. I felt for one of the few times in my early career I was truly taking advantage of what a film festival can offer. I'm pretty proud of myself and I'm also thankful. I'm hoping that this is a sign of growth that I can take with me to future events. It is an admitted weakness of mine that I am determined to strengthen. Only positive things can come out of it and I need all the positives I can get.
