Today our little film finally gets to be seen. At the Interrobang Film Festival, Walter Day's debut music video, "Hold Me," makes its premiere.
Walter is known to many as the father of esports and the unforgettable star of the legendary documentary.. The King of Kong. At the ripe age of 70 he wrote more than a hundred songs about one woman. We had the incredible privilege of taking one of those songs and trying to tell his story through film.
When H.D. Harmsen first asked if I'd be part of this project, I didn't hesitate. Howard is one of my favorite people to collaborate with. His knowledge and taste of music, film, writing, and art all seem to feed one another. His vision for this video wasn't just about making something beautiful.. it was about exploring grief, longing, hope, and healing. He wanted to make Walter's story so spiritual.
Then there was Dan Welk. People love to say making art is about getting lucky. Dan reminds me that talent, preparation, and hard work matter just as much. He's simply exceptional at what he does. Every shot has intention. Every edit serves the story. And he leaves enough room for the magic. Every idea makes the project stronger. Years ago the 3 of us made a music video together, so getting to reunite with both Dan and H.D. was awesome.
The best part was how we worked together. Sometimes one of us was leading. Sometimes one of us was just saying, "Yes... let's try that." Nobody was protecting their own ideas. Everybody was protecting the film.
Like most collaborations.. Sometimes the end is not clear.. So I said to the boys, what if we try to finish by the deadline for Interrobang Film Fest and submit it... maybe we would get in and the video could have its premiere there. So we hustled and made it happen. And we got in!
I have always loved Interrobang Film Fest.. A true nugget of the Des Moines Arts Festival.. Yes it's the place where you can hide from the rain and the heat and watch some remarkable independent films from all around the world..
Back in 2009, Ashley Tape and I won the Iowa Filmmakers of the Year award at Interrobang for a little film we made together called That March. We wrote it, starred in it, edited it, and somehow found ourselves standing in the back of an overflowing theater watching people react to something we had made. We even got to do a Q&A afterward. It remains one of my favorite creative memories.
Ashley studied film at the University of Colorado under the legendary Stan Brakhage, and collaborating with her has always been amazing. I'd spend hours editing and piecing things together, convinced I had finally figured it out. Then she'd walk into the room, watch for a minute, say one honest sentence (sometimes ego defalting)... and suddenly the whole thing was better. That's one of Ashley's true gifts. She sees things other people miss and knows how to make it better.
Honestly, it's one of the reasons we've always been such good co-parents, too.. She can see things and make it better
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Looking back, I realize how lucky I've been to create with Ashley, Howard and Dan. To spend time with someone as kind and inspiring as Walter Day. None of these projects were about awards or festivals. They were about making something together that none of us could have made alone.
I'm incredibly grateful our little film finally gets to be shared.
I hope people see a little bit of Walter's heart in it.
