I had one group watch my movie with me. Oh, my God, so much has changed in my life since the movie came out three years ago. I told the students that it was like seeing a home video.
I want to share the conversation from the second classroom visit as I had them watch the video ahead of time so we had a lot of time to chat.
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Mark(M)- Hi everyone. I really thank my new friend, Mr. Price, for having me here as a guest two days in a row. I prepared some thoughts for you but first let's have each person say their name and a thing they love best about summer. I will start by saying 'I am Mark and I love to see people tan and happy.'
The students and guests shared their names and things they love about summer.
M- I am so happy you saw my movie and look forward to addressing your questions about it and then we will switch gears and open up the talking to more fun topics about life and how we all find our way in fitting in.
I want to say that the thing about this movie is that the process of writing it and putting it on screen not only assisted me in developing my "Supported "Typing" skills but it allowed me a chance to reflect on my life so I could make commentary on what wasn’t working and strive for changing them.
You saw my old life in the film you saw on Tuesday. I am in a different agency that assists my day to day accommodations for being different. This agency is innovative and able to support and celebrate who I am. I am here today with their Supported Self Employment Team.
I have started a business called “Utter Communication Strategies.” I want to do workshops that assist communication between people because I know how hard it is and I also want to inspire others with great speeches about having good goals and clear minds for achieving them.
Oh let’s do some questions and then we will move into wider thinking.
Question(Q)- Do you ever get tired of having all this technology you use in your life to communicate?
M- I actually have kind of a shortage in time and people who can support my communication so I can’t say I am overwhelmed by tech. But, yes this process is tedious for me as well, so breathe deep and find the groove in it.
Q- Are you able to be more independent in your life now?
M- I used to be too independent as no one was connected to my mind, really adrift I was. Now I can connect and share my experience with you and I want to share a hope to find my true way to independence through my dependence on good clear thinking and speaking my mind.
Q- What's something you like to do in your free time?
M- I would love to immerse myself in hearing lots of great stories about life being lived well but I don't have that set up yet.
Q- What was it like to see the movie for the first time after it was finished?
M- That was awesome. Of course, there are about twenty things I would change if I could but, yes, in terms of satisfaction and an overflowing movie theater it was a crowning achievement.
Mr. Price- I know you and Emily needed to raise a lot of money to create the film. Do you want to talk about that?
M- It was a scary venture but we raised awareness and friends along the way like Dorothy did heading towards OZ.
Mr. Price- Do you want to share how much it took to make the film?
M- Fifty thousand and lots of love, sweat and hopeful metaphors.
Q- What was your most favorite thing about making the film?
M- I told the group yesterday that it was so we could be together in this moment now. I will be less esoteric today though I am pleased so much today as well. I loved being in the center of the action after years of being a wall flower.
Oh, let’s hear any thoughts about the slow life I presented and the dance scene with the fancy people in costume and my gold gown.
(The scene of 'My Fine Vision of the Good Life' (the dance scene) is screened,)
