St. John’s is one of the friendliest towns on earth, and it’s really easy to strike up conversations with people that you meet.

Since asking questions is one of my favourite pastimes, I was able to come home with some good bits that I will share with you here.

First, if you’re lonely and needing to talk to someone, O’Reilly’s Pub on George Street is the place to go. I was able to wear people down pretty quickly here, and hence got some good facts.

Fact 1: St. John’s has history.

From the pub owners Brenda O’Reilly & Craig Flynn, I learned that they are busy opening a second pub in St. John’s, to be called The YellowBelly Brewery and Public House. For the past 4 1/2 years they have been lovingly restoring one of the oldest buildings in North America to its former grandeur.

The cool thing about the edifice, constructed c. 1847 after the fire of 1846 but survivor of the great fire of 1892, is that it has the distinguishing feature of having not one, but two addresses. Watch for the opening of the brew pub soon at 288 Water Street and 1 George Street, known as Yellow Belly Corner.

Fact 2: Newfoundlanders love the sea.

On my right I met the second mate of a supply ship that services Hibernia. I smiled politely when he told me that, but I had no idea what that meant.

After shaking his head a couple of times, he soon took pity on my landlocked upbringing and started to spill.

Hibernia is the oil rig off the coast of St. John’s. There are about 82 men working on it, and they need supplies. Thus cargo ships are constantly going back and forth between the island and the rig.
The ships that service the rig are 280 feet long. It takes 18 hours to get out to the rig. The Second Mate is ranked number three on a ship (wow) and in charge of steering and navigation.

This job is mostly computerized now, but once there, the trickiest thing is to keep the boat steady and close to the rig so that cranes can load and unload crates off the boat. Translation – don’t bump the rig.

I asked if he was scared the first time he had to do this. He said yep. But his father was a seaman, and so was he, and it was the sweetest gig ever because he had one month on the boat, and one month off, so plenty of time to go home and spend time with his sweetie.

Awwww.

You too can learn Nautical Science at MUN, the local university, where he studied. Or you can just get on the boat and work your way up, which takes a bit longer.

Fact 3: Newfoundlanders are really environmentally conscious.

They are also very socially minded. I found out that Johnny Ruth, the style leader in ladies’ wear retailing is no exception.

Owner Kim Winsor, president of is Johnny Ruth, is intent on ensuring that the store is a socially responsible, ethical and transparent retailer. In other words, sweatshop, child labour, and meanness free, as defined by the International Labour Organization (ILO).

I saw her in the store putting up the new “transparent retailer sign” in the window. This means they hide nothing, and will answer any questions you have about the clothing, manufacturers, suppliers. Also, if you know something they don’t know – do tell them. This info is to be shared.

You can read more about their policy on buying only “clean clothes” on the Johnny Ruth web site.
You can also catch Kim dancing in an African dance troupe with Baptiste Neis – Producer, Pope Production party planner, and president of the Nickel Festival.

Fact 4: Newfoundland is a rock.

And the rock is some of the oldest in the world. Scientists from all over come to study these rocks which have preserved their tale of colliding continents.

St. John’s resident preeminent goldsmith Christopher Kearney works his custom magic and specializes in a Newfoundland rock called Labradorite.

Christ initially trained in watchmaking, his father’s trade, but later switched to goldsmithing. His shop is on Duckworth, with a view of the narrows.

You can learn more about the rock formations of Newfoundland and our planet at The Johnson GEO CENTRE museum, which is heated by the Earth itself through holes drilled over 150 metres into the rock.

Suffering from post-festival depression (PFD)? Feeling listless and counting the days until the next St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival? Who isn’t?

Because we all know that film making is easy and you have nothing but leisure time on your hands, keep your pain at bay by throwing yourself into some useful work.

1. Add all your new Best Friends Forever to your contact list.
Publicists say the value is in your “list” so make sure you add everyone who gave you a biz card or email address to your contact list or address book. Also add them to your social networking sites like Facebook, LinkedIN, Flickr, and MySpace too.

(Sneaky me – those links lead to my profile pages, so now it’s super easy to add me to your friends list. )

I know, I know. You don’t have time for all of this, but if there’s one thing you really should do, it’s…

2. Join Facebook.
Why? Because The St. John’s International Film Festival has a profile on Facebook and posts events and news to it regularly. Also, most of the staff, volunteers, Woop Woop Hoopers and filmmakers are on Facebook too. Never mind that, most of Canada is on Facebook. We lead the world in terms of percentage of population joined. Yay, us.

Consider Facebook a timesaver, and an easy way to stay in the loop. It’s really easy to use and you’d be amazed at how creatively people are using it to keep in touch with friends, family, and even to market their films or other events.

I’ll stress that – it’s a great marketing tool.

It’s also fun. Every time I log onto my account, and read what my friends have been up to, I am guaranteed a LOL or ROFL time. For example, a quick glance of my home page and I learn that we’re all suffering from post-festival depression, and so a post-SJIWFF support group has started online.

Another cool thing about Facebook is it has a great tagging system for photos. If someone has posted a photo of you, you will get notified via email. And vice versa. You can post your festival photos and publicity shots.

There are some great shots up on the SJIWFF group all ready.

Be sure to check out Noreen Golfman’s profile pic. It reminds us why we are here. And Kelly Davis is one fine photographer.

3. Contact your new friends and keep in touch.
Email your new best friends, send them photos that you took while you were there, that link you promised them, or just a note to say hello.

You know what they say, it’s all about networking and who you know. Don’t miss your chance to know the wonderful people who were at the festival.

4. Support your new friends.
Add recommendations to their LinkedIN profiles. Forward their notices, press releases, or other publicity to your friends and networks. Comment on their photos, write on their walls. Link to their sites. Digg them. Stumbleupon them.

It all helps. It really, really does.

5. Search for fellow bloggers and add comments to their sites.
For the bloggers out there, commenting on other blogs is another another way to build community and stay connected.

Even if you don’t blog, leaving a comment on a blog is a good thing. When you comment, make sure you add your web site’s URL. That way other readers can easily click on the link and check out your website. Plus commenting builds brand and visibility. And as filmmakers, that is definitely what you want.

Hey, start now. Leave a comment below. What did I miss? Did I convince you to join Facebook? Are there any other questions you have about online marketing or web sites I can help you with? Fire away.

Coming up next – my list of marketing tips for over-extended filmmakers and other starving artists.

Tags: St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival, St. John’s, Kelly Davis, Noreen Golfman, Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIN, Twitter, community building, social networking, support, publicity

Mmmm. Pan fried capelin for breakfast at Kay’s Chalet Bed and Breakfast located just outside Lamanche, Newfoundland. These little guys are the staple of the Atlantic, feeding the whales, cod, and homo-sapiens most graciously. We thanks ya.

The views along the East Coast Trail are spectacular. That’s filmmaker and pilgrim Sue Kenney, with Anita Shuper and Mai Nakazawa on the trail from Witless Bay to Bay Bulls.

Me, Sue and St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival Director Kelly Davis outside The Majestic prior to the screening of Las Peregrinas.
I got my “must-look-like-a-film-director” glasses the day before I left. The beaver jacket was just a little something I had in the closet.

Wish I had Kelly Davis’ boots.

And Catherine Mullins’ (director of Being Innu) Newfoundland knit sweater.

But even though I wish I had NIFCO’s Monk In A Box,

he’s Patsy’s. Damn

One thing I want for sure, is a charming old row house like this one, which reminds me of Rosemary House’s house on Filmmaker Lane, the site of the fabulous Ladies Lunch. But I’ll settle for the cookie.

It’s the annual Friday night bash – the Pope Productions Party, and everyone was there….

…and they were dancing!

Like crazy!

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Tags: St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival, St. John’s, Kelly Davis, Pope Productions Party, East Coast Trail, Majestic Theatre

The whole conversation at Rosemary House’s inaugural lunch party was heard by the neighbourhood. “A friend who came late to the lunch today said she walked over and she could hear the party three blocks away.”

“But you’re supposed to,” said an astonished Marlene Creates when told she was the only one who RSVPed to the Rosemary House’s invitation. You’re definitely 1 in 39, Marlene.

“Well, you just tell them you’re from town,” said Cathy Parsons’ mom when Cathy told her she was getting flack for not having ever had cod tongues.

An exchange at Velma’s:
“I would not, could not, eat those cod tongues.” Megan Durnford.
“Even when you know how the book ends?” Cathy Parsons.

“I woke up at 6:30 pm, Febreezed my hair, and came to the party.” Karen Kennedy, SJIWFF publicist and media gal when asked how she felt after the Pope Production party.

“I am the Jean Smith of Ottawa…but without the lap dancing” Penny McCann, who is the Director of Saw Video in Ottawa.

“Do a little dance, make a little love, let’s get down tonight.” NIFCO director Jean Smith, , no particular occasion.

[ Hey, join in on the conversation by posting in the Comments section below. Don't want to miss out on any SJIWFF posts? You can subscribe to Bitter Tonic by email - or with RSS. Huh, what's RSS? ]

Tags: St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival, St. John’s, NIFCO, film coop, Saw Video

Photo opportunities everywhere!!

What’s a festival without pilgrims?

Kelly Davis greets Sue Kenney as she arrives with Anita Shuper and Mai to the screening of Las Peregrinas at the Majestic Theatre.

Some walk the walk, Thouly Dosios and Eva Madden talk shop.

The Battery is where I’d like to live.

But then again Hula-hooper Sherri Levesque lives a short 3 minute walk to Ches’s famous fish and chips shop and this is the view from her backyard at dusk.

Tough choice.

Mmmm. Fish and chips from Tangled Up In Blue, one of the festival’s sponsors.

Kate Jessop, Megan Durnford, moi et Penny McCann at Velma’s traditional restaurant.

Just as it says, Virginia.

Townie Cathy Parsons has her first cod tongue ever. Kay Williams of Kay’s B and B on the East Coast Trail should be pleased.

Mmmm. Cod tongues. Nothing weird about them at all. Bring ‘em on.

[ Hey, join in on the conversation by posting in the Comments section below. Don't want to miss out on any SJIWFF posts? You can subscribe to Bitter Tonic by email - or with RSS. Huh, what's RSS? ]

Tags: St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival, St. John’s, Kelly Davis, Megan Durnford, Kate Jessop, Penny McCann, Chess’s fish and chips, Velma’s, Cathy Parsons, Tangled Up In Blue

I was thinking that there were going to be many sad goodbyes last night at the closing party of the SJIWFF. But oddly enough, we weren’t all that sad.

Sure, we all had that “aww, summer camp’s over” feeling. But we also knew that we had made some really good friends over the course of the 5 day festival, that we would all keep in touch, and with any luck, we’d see each other again really soon.

Either that or it’s just impossible to feel sad while dancing to DJ Mama Cutsworth’s vinyl grooves,

hula hooping with the Woop Woop Hoop Troop

and trying to stop Rachel Peters the fire-swallowing animator from perilous deeds.

Yeah, that’s probably it.

Ok – so to all my new BFFs – hurry on up and add me as your Facebook friend. My friend Diana Galligan has more friends than me and it’s killing me. While you’re at it, make sure you join the festival’s groups too.

Oh, and don’t go away. Keep checking at the blog – I’ve got lots more stories to post, some tips on how to treat post-festival separation anxiety symptoms, plus VIDEOS still to come up.

So be sure to subscribe via RSS or email. And if you don’t know what RSS is, I wrote about it here. It’s a great timesaver and really worth a look.

And keep on posting your comments. They give me the warmest fuzzies ever.

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Tags: St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival, St. John’s, Kelly Davis, DJ Mama Cutsworth, Rachel Peters, fire swallowing, hula hoop

See you all tonight at The VIctory where SJIWFF supporter Sherri Levesque of the Scope will host her weekly comedy jam.

10 pm.

I will be there trying to hold off my festival withdrawal pains.