“Got Dreams To Remember”

By Gloria Stanley

Feb. 21, 2008 (Macon, Georgia) -- The third annual 2008 Macon Film and Video Festival opened February 21 with a special documentary screening of Dreams to Remember: The Legacy of Otis Redding at the historic Cox Capitol Theatre in Macon, Georgia. The festival closed on February 24 with Please Call Home: The Big House Documentary, which recounts the Allman Brothers Band musical journey in Macon.

Festival organizer Terrell Sandefur said, “It’s a little different this year. We’ve always had a Macon connection with our special screenings, but this year we’ve got the Redding film and The Big House film. This is the first public screening for both films.”

Dreams to Remember, released in December 2007 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Redding's passing and to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Stax Records, captures Redding’s passion to sing and compose. He died in a plane crash December 10, 1967 at the age of 26. The film includes performances of concerts filmed throughout America and Europe with hit songs like “Pain In My Heart,” “I Can’t Turn You Loose,” “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long,” “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction,” “Try A Little Tenderness,” “Respect,” and “Sitting On The Dock of the Bay.”

Macon Mayor Robert Reichert helped kick off the opening night of 2008 MAGA Film & Video Festival. He said, “MAGA is a real attraction and draw for the city of Macon. This is what the city is all about, getting that opportunity and finding the resources like MAGA that may not otherwise be available to attract more people to the city.”

After the screening of Dreams to Remember, Mayor Reichert honored Zelma Redding’s family, wife of the late singer Otis Redding, with a proclamation and key to the city of Macon. Zelma was too sick to attend the event. Her daughter, Karla Redding-Andrews, accepted the award saying, “It’s so fulfilling that Macon has embraced us. They’ve never let us forget my father belongs to the city first…It’s really overwhelming.”

After the presentation, a panel of Redding’s friends and associates (Alan Walden, Bobby Wallace, and Satellite Papa), discussed the singer’s life and career.

On February 24, MAGA had a sellout at the Cox Capitol Theatre. Sandefur said, “We can’t take any more in there. The attendance has been good, and that’s been really without any publicity.”

Photo by Brian Shupe of 3800k

The festival opened and closed with films having intimate ties to Macon. Please Call Home: The Big House Documentary focused on the Allman Brothers Band’s history in Macon and the Big House Museum. The Big House was the Allman Brothers Band’s home, haven, and base of operation on Vineville Avenue in Macon between 1970 and 1972. It is believed when Gregg Allman wrote “Please Call Home,” this is the home he was writing about. This is where the Allman Brothers Band musical sensation began 35 years ago, and everyone was welcomed in "the big house."

“Mama” Louise Hudson along with the recently deceased “Mama” Inez Hill prepared meals for the Band in the early 70s. They provided the food for the Allman Brother’s Band groove. After the screening of Please Call Home: The Big House Documentary, Mayor Reichert presented “Mama” Louise with a key to the city for her contribution and dedication to the Allman Brothers and Macon’s musical heritage.

Festival Winners

MAGA 2008 Best in Show winner was Jonna’s Body Please Hold by Adam Bluming and Jonna Tamases, narrative comedy-short.

The first and second place winners in other categories were:

• Experimental- Slipdream by Marc Grant and We Hear Sirensby Alex Harder
  

• Animation - When the World Goes Dark by Anthony P. Scalmato and Silent Samurai
  
  
• Documentary - Spirit of Sacajawea by Alyson Young and My Cab Driver
  
  
• Narrative comedy-short - Jonna’s Body Please Hold and Soup Ladle by Cayman Grant
  
  
• Narrative comedy-feature - Grilling Bobby Hicks
  
  
• Narrative drama-short - The Wannabe and The Street Cleaner
  
  
• Narrative drama-feature - The List and The Garage