Midway Fest Awards Ceremony

Posted on by Jon Sewell

Inaugural Midway Multicultural Music and Film Festival

On February 1st, 2020 The Midway Multicultural Music and Film Festival hosted their first awards ceremony, and Melissa and I were pleased and honored to be in attendance.

Center – Solveig Cirone, Heather Scholz and Sydney Colston pose with swimwear models after the fashion show.

We found ourselves seated among the performing artists, media content creators and local politicians at a swimwear fashion show featuring the designs of Solvieg Cirone of Cirone Swim Swimwear. (You can follow her on Instagram at :cironeswimlingerie)

Mel Soul sings of greatness and love
Madame Mackintosh – Performing a song about a Seven-Legged Spider and the secret it holds

Throughout the evening, interspersed with conversations ranging from local community development to the value of art in educational and therapeutic settings, we were regaled by local performers including Mel Soul and Madame Mackintosh.

CHARLOTTE CROSSLEY gave a powerful and touching rendition of “I Know Where I’ve Been” from Hairspray, the musical.

Sheldon Reynolds, a man who knows something about funk.

SHELDON REYNOLDS formerly of EARTH, WIND & FIRE, performed “Dancing in September” and got everyone on their feet. Later, he took some time to chat with us, and offer some instruction on the finer points of funk guitar.


SCHERRIE PAYNE, SUSAYE GREENE & JOYCE VINCENT

Sheldon’s performance was followed by SCHERRIE PAYNE & SUSAYE GREENE formerly of THE SUPREMES with JOYCE VINCENT of TONY ORLANDO & DAWN. performing several Supremes songs.

Over the course of the evening we spoke with many of the performers and presenters, and enjoyed some wonderful food. Then, as the event was winding down, and the awards were being distributed, one more little surprise…

And then this happened.

Melissa made a beautiful acceptance speech, mentioning Bob Jones, our cast, crew, fans, friends and supporters. I may have felt a little overcome by emotion, wine or altitude, or some combination there-of, as I expressed my love for everyone present and offered to let them come visit us in Seattle and crash at our house. I’ll have to check with our roommates, and stagger the visits.

Sundance – Going to 11

Posted on by Jon Sewell

Adventures at the Sundance Film Festival

Today Melissa and I ventured forth from Midway to the town of Park City to enjoy The Sundance Film Festival.

These are a people of few words, so they use the same words in a variety of orders.

We walked the streets throughout the day, seeing the sites, watching the people, and enjoying what the festival had to offer… Except movies. Everything we wanted to get tickets for was sold out.

Throughout our wandering I noticed that people at the festival (myself included) would examine the face of each passing stranger as though asking ourselves, “Should I know this person?” I was grinning all day.

When people ask you if you are a film maker, and you remember to say, “Yes”.

We took the opportunity to meet people from the festival, talk a little about the craft, and how excited we were to be there, and muse together over possible future projects.

Then, something wonderful happened. We were invited to enjoy a presentation by “Derek Smalls” (actor Harry Shearer) sharing music and stories as an artist formerly of the band formerly known as Spinal Tap. We happened to be passing at the right time, and were welcomed to attend.

We entered an intimate space and were regaled with songs and stories about rocking and aging, filled with humor and insight.

Then, we were off again, and wandered into a High West whiskey tasting hosted by Acura. They served us some Manhattans that were truly divine.

All in all, we had a blast, and felt inspired by the whole experience.