SXSW 2012, Day Eight: Docs and Shorts

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Rachel Wooton and audience member from SxSW 2012, Scarlet Road screening

Despite the fact that buses were not my friends today, I managed to make it into my first screening on time through the grace of an introduction. The director and subject of Scarlet Road were there to introduce their film and do a Q&A afterwards before dashing off to the airport to go back to Australia.

Scarlet Road is an enlightening documentary about a sex worker who campaigns not just for the right to practice her trade, but on behalf of another marginalized demographic: the disabled. Rachel Wotton defies stereotypes; she's ebullient, well educated, and as passionate about her right to work in her chosen profession as she about advocating for her clients. Wotton, who is legally allowed to practice her trade in Australia, still encounters restrictions to her trade, including one that does not allow her to share working space with another sex worker, even if it's to train them on how to better serve the needs of clients with major barriers to communication.

Wotton (pictured left in the photo at top) was as forthright in person as she is onscreen, and was quick to distinguish the subtle difference between legalized sex work and getting official recognition for her occupation. Despite Scarlet Road clearly pointing out it's her vocation, one of the audience members asked if she considered her work "charitable or transactional."  It's a job, one she clearly does with empathy for her clients.  She also noted that much of the backlash against her profession is from those who insist anyone working in her field must be traumatized and exploited; Wotton clearly was neither.

Next up was "Medium Cool," the shorts reel, but not by choice; I just missed a Film Flyer shuttle that seemed to pick a new place to stop, so I missed Funeral Kings. I just didn't connect with the shorts anymore than I did with the shuttle, and the bus schedule was working against me.  But that's okay, it meant I had plenty of time to get in line for We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists. Of course, there were several shuttles and Catch-a-Chevys when I was standing in line, but oh, well. While We Are Legion is clearly pro-activism, it doesn't shy away from either the origins of the movement or the controversy. It's definitely required viewing for anyone not living off the grid in a remote mountain cabin.

There's only one more day of SXSW 2012, so let me appeal to your better nature: Let people know how you feel. If you registered for a badge, you should have already gotten the survey email from SXSW. Please let the fest know about your festival experience, and not only what could be improved, but what worked. It really helps the fest gauge what works and what doesn't.

I also want to remind you to speak up about the films you loved, and even those you didn't, especially on IMDb. Filmmakers really do want to hear your feedback, and IMDb is a tool that can help them get distribution. It's a great way to support the films, and we want that, right? Right.