I have hired a brilliant young filmmaker, Doug Griffey, to make a book trailer for Packing Light: New and Selected Poems.  We held a substantive meeting, in which he asked a million questions about what I wanted from the trailer.  He had studied my Red Room posts and other book trailers on Red Room.  I was impressed that he had really done his homework on me, on Red Room's tone and substance.

He will film the Laurel Theatre event on April 2nd, using two cameras for different angles.  We agreed that since I am performing poetry, and trying to promote not only the new book but my performance skills, that a film of the event would be very useful.  He will use the broad brush at first, and capture the whole event.  Then we'll look at it and see which poem offers the most allure, which shots bring the viewers in, and allow them to participate in the work.

He went over to the theatre yesterday evening so that he could watch the light change in the room and see what kind of lighting he would be dealing with.  He spoke to my husband about the sound system.  Looks like we'll need to rent at least one wireless mike (I move around a lot).  There will be two other poets opening for me--Josh Robbins and Darren Jackson--and none of us will use a podium.  Why would any poet want a podium to distance herself/himself from the audience?  If one needs a place for books and papers, a small table off the side works nicely.

You will all get to see the results of this artistic collaboration--because Doug's work is art, make no mistake.  And we will post the trailer on Red Room.  The film will stand on its own, and hopefully will showcase  both Packing Light and the packer, Marilyn Kallet!