PLAYLAND was my first feature film as a talent and also my first project as a producer. I couldn’t have asked for a more supportive and gracious team of producers to navigate this journey with. I’m extremely thankful to my fellow producer, Russell Shaffer, for their support and willingness in helping me to understand the nuances of the production process and film festivals. Their patience, experience, and wisdom have helped put so much into perspective about the process and this part of the industry. Not to mention, they an incredibly warm-hearted, gentle, and kind human with whom I am grateful to collaborate and share space.
Following our international premiere at the International Film Festival at Rotterdam (IFFR), we kicked off our North American circuit run at the Tribeca Festival in New York City. Words don’t begin to describe how overwhelming yet incredibly awesome it was to have the opportunity to premiere in my backyard and to a sold-out crowd at that! Fun fact: seven years ago, I invited my now wife to a screening at the festival for the World Premiere of The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson. It was this experience that opened our Pandora’s box, igniting the partnership we have today. Needless to say, the Tribeca Festival holds a special place in my heart for many reasons.
The next stop of the film circuit – the Provincetown Film Festival. I was feeling under the weather after a long few weeks of travel and screenings, so I decide not to attend the P-Town screening. Instead, I rested as much as possible before flying to San Francisco to meet our incomparable writer and director, Georden West, my fellow producers, Russell and Hannah Swiggen, and my cast mate, Sunday, played by Aidan Dick, for The Frameline Film Festival.
Coastal Adventures
My wife joined me on the trip to San Francisco. It was our first time visiting Northern California together. We arrived three nights ahead of the PLAYLAND premiere so that we could explore the city and go on a few hikes.
On our first day, we drove over the Golden Gate Bridge through Sayulita to Stinson Beach where we stopped to fill up our water bottles with fresh water from the mountains. We continued along Highway 1, spotting a Stag swimming in a lagoon before we reached our destination, Point Reyes National Seashore. We parked our Toro rental car and headed for the Coastal Trail. To our surprise, there was a pathway down to Limantour Beach where we sat and listened to the waves. It was a much-needed and rejuvenating hike for both of us.
Before the trip, my wife found a breakfast and bakery spot that she insisted we try called the Devil’s Teeth Baking Co. Their breakfast sandwiches are banging! I highly recommend it. After happily stuffing our faces with specialty eggs on freshly baked biscuits, we drove along the Great Highway to Lands End for a coastal trail hike towards the Golden Gate Bridge. Afterward, we rewarded ourselves with a table full of dumplings from Hong Kong then headed back to Lands Ends for sunset.
Returning Home to Little Nob Hill
I was stoked to return to the place I once called home and show my wife where I grew up before moving across the country to New York City. I took her by our former apartment building on Sutter Street, stopping to point out our flat and continue to share what our life was like in California. We drove up the hill towards Huntington Park and parked. We walked through the park and all I could feel was nostalgia, reflecting on the many times we rode our bikes up the hill to the park. Jorgé and I would play with our hacky sakes while my brother wore himself out on the jungle gym with the other younger kids. The park was our safe haven.
We continued down the steep hills towards Chinatown. I shared with her how booming the streets of Chinatown used to be – packed with busy storefronts and patrons. As a kid, we used to dodge people left and right as we made our way to our favorite spot for sticky rice before heading back to the park until it was time to go home.
My wife and I took it slow as we made our way back up the hill to the car. She couldn’t believe that I used to venture up and down those steep hills, especially on a bike. I’m not going to lie, my legs were also tired as we walked back. I couldn’t believe I used to bounce around these streets with ease either.
After leaving my neighborhood, I headed over to Russian Hill so that I could drive her down the infamously steep and windy, Lombard Street. I could sense so many emotions running through her and she smiled from ear to ear. The final stop of the day was Fisherman’s Wharf.
My wife had visited San Francisco as a child but didn’t remember much about her trip. However, feelings of nostalgia crept in as we walked along the boardwalk. We made our way down to the docks where the seals stretched out and sunbathed. Both of us were full of joy and at peace. To our surprise, we got to experience something beautiful – a mother seal giving birth. It was a special day!
The Frameline Film Festival
In typical San Francisco fashion, our premiere landed on a damp and dreary day. The cold that I had been battling since the Tribeca Festival had flared back up so I decided to relax as much as possible until showtime.
As a true Caribbean woman, my wife wanted to ensure that my belly was full before the screening. By now, you should know we are huge foodies so every adventure revolves around a meal or bites. She took me to a delicious and elevated Vietnamese Cuisine restaurant called Lily, located in the Inner Richmond District. We ordered the crispy tempura prawns over a bed of lettuce and a bowl of baked tofu and garlic noodles. All I’m going to say is add it to your list of places to dine at.
The festival arranged a photographer to shoot Georden, Russell, Hannah, Aidan, and myself outside of the Roxie Theater ahead of the screening. My body was starting to shut down, however, we had to do what we have to do, so I masked my sickness and performed for the camera. We’d all seen PLAYLAND over a dozen times at this point so a few of us decided to skip the screening and come back in time for the Q&A. I was thankful for it because I was struggling and starting to crash.
My wife has also seen PLAYLAND a few times including at our international premiere in Rotterdam. She suggested we’d get massages and I didn’t push back. It’s exactly what I needed to help release and rejuvenate my body. I felt at peace afterward.
The film received a lot of love through the Q&A. I always find it fascinating to experience and learn how the film affected the audience. On the way out, I was stopped by a man named Brian Freeman. A Boston native and gay man, Brian spent most of his young adult into adult life in Boson’s Combat Zone, more specifically, Playland Cafe. He reflected on what Boston was like at the time, especially for black gay men and black people. He also reminisced about nights with Sylvia Sydney. In the early 90s, he left Boston for San Francisco to pioneer the San Francisco-based black theater trope, Postmodern African American Homosexuals (Pomo Afro Homos). The Pomos consists of Brian, Djola Branner, and Eric Gupton.
Reflection
We all have gifts and talents to offer the world. That said, it takes a group effort to bring our concepts to life. The question is… are you willing and able to learn from and work with others to grow and bring those visions to life? Life is full of possibilities that call for collaboration.
What do you think?