Independent filmmaking is founded upon communities, sacrifice, leaders and conviction.

By nature it’s an industry where innovation, and respect for the past define success, yet recognition and financial support are rarities. Lawrence has thrived and struggled with many of the same qualities as independent filmmaking. This is a town of co-ops, community centers, homeless shelters, protests, rallies and city meetings. In our state, we may be outnumbered in our efforts for self-realization, but we take pride in our struggle. It’s because of this community’s passion for the arts that independent filmmaking can succeed here.

Lawrence’s radical past and present define us as innovators of Midwestern culture. From abolitionism and the civil rights movement to gay parades, PETA, and anarchism, Lawrence is a haven for intelligent and controversial ideas. One can agree or disagree with a viewpoint, but it’s the viewpoints themselves that keep this area wealthy, populated and, more importantly, interesting. This cultural freedom has brought the likes of William Burroughs, John Brown, Stan Herd, Roger Shimomura and the November Sisters, among many others.

Our film, “CSA- Confederate States of America” was created through what I like to call “community filmmaking,” a unique mix of Lawrence and Kansas City artists and the community at large supporting the creation of a feature film. With the combination of professionals, students and recent graduates, Lawrence has many skilled and talented artists ready to work. Since filmmaking is still relatively new here, it is exciting and unique. In the epicenters of this industry, workers are jaded, and support for independent film is almost impossible to find. Call it the Midwestern work ethic, but we are lucky enough to have people willing to work for free, just to be involved. It takes that kind of dedication to convince people who can invest for filmmaking to exist and even thrive in Lawrence. Though you can present art anywhere, you cannot get people to create art anywhere. Lawrence has a strong start on this process and it is our responsibility to continue it.

Because of this foundation it is possible to create a significant film festival here. However, we will not succeed with a pre-packaged agenda. We need to capitalize on Lawrence in particular, by not being afraid to flaunt who and what we are. Unfortunately good communities like good artists are often underappreciated; that’s why it’s up to us to realize our own strengths. We have the depth to plan such an endeavor wisely, the size to attract those searching to escape the chaos of a metropolis, and the people willing to showcase what it is we enjoy about our community. No one goes to festivals just to watch films. People are interested in finding small-town America with big-city attractions. We don’t have to turn our town into the cliche film festival blowout. We can do better by organizing the black community, the gay community, focusing on women’s issues, our abolitionist history, the independent arts, and the radical folks – uniting these forces into a festival the world has never seen. After all, Lawrence is blue.