GALA PREMIERE ON THE SUNSHINE COAST

On November 7, 2001, The Raven's Cry Theatre in Sechelt hosted the GALA Sunshine Coast Premiere of Singing The Bones. Local restaurants, small businesses, sponsors and friends all contributed to our Stone Soup Gala -- with hors d'oeuvres, accessories, costume, tuxedo & hair design donated for the day. Sim Video in Vancouver donated the projector; and Gord's hockey buddy Owen, has a son who owns Paramount Limousine in Vancouver -- so his white, ten-seat stretch limo carried audience and actors to the theatre in style.

The local cable station trained their cameras on the film's 'stars' as we emerged from the limousine. Adam Richards interviewed the crowd. Volunteers took tickets at the door. A local musician, Bruce Alan Smith, played classical guitar. Everyone dressed to the max.

We were all players in a game we'd seen others do many times.

I watched my favorite parts of the film with the audience; Gord, (director, editor, production designer, screenwriter), waited nervously in his black tuxedo in the lobby.

As credits rolled, we stood at the back. What a feeling! The audience howled, hooted, stomped and clapped as credits went by, as the music I RELEASE sung by local musicians Rose Kirchner, Jenica Van Eli, Pamela Messner and Hahle Gerow cranked out at full tilt.

My heart, beating like a rabbit under the strapless taffeta ballgown, whispered something like a secret for me to remember: "It doesn't get any better than this".

The lobby buzzed with excited conversations as everyone stayed for wine and hors d'oeuvres 'til the wee hours.

Our film is an emotional journey, and the whole affair was like a wedding: with hugs, tears, kudos, heartfelt conversations with dozens of friends, acquaintances and strangers. They came for the gala, they stayed for the film, THEY LOVED IT (!!!) -- and told their friends! Proof is in the pudding: the next night, I took tickets at the door, looked into the faces of the SELL OUT audience!

There is a saying:

You are what your deep, driving desire is.
As your desire is, so is your will
As your will is, so is your deed.
As your deed is, so is your destiny.
- Brihadaranyaka Upanishad