The Great American Pitchfest Family

by Signe Olynyk

At one of our first PitchFests, we found ourselves facing a major headache the day before the event. Because our ticket sales had nearly doubled, our venue had changed at the last minute and we now needed a liquor license in a hurry! Three hundred people were about to show up for a wine and cheese party, with no liquor. No amount of smoked gouda was going to solve this one.

I raced to the liquor license place and pleaded my case, where the woman there repeatedly said that she wasn't going to be able to grant a license - unless it was for a family reunion (wink wink). So, it's not like we lied, exactly. Every year feels more and more like a family reunion anyway - except we all WANT to get together. You do what you have to do.

Since our luncheon SOLD OUT the other day (a full SIX MONTHS before the date!), it brought back that memory and I thought I might share a bit about the 'Great American PitchFest Family'. When I started the Great American PitchFest, it was just me. But now that we're about to have our fifth event in Los Angeles, I'm overwhelmed by the incredible people who have come into my life, and who help to make it happen. Today, I wanted to share a bit about some of these people, and just what they mean to me and the incredible event you get to experience (if you are lucky enough to still get a ticket!).

First of all, LORENE LACEY. Lorene has been there from the very beginning and has attended every pitchfest, except the third Great Canadian. It all started when she read an article in the newspaper about the Great Canadian PitchFest that was being held in Banff, Alberta that same day. Within an hour, she was in the car and on her way where she pitched her heart out, and signed with an agent. She also introduced herself to me and pitched to my company, and when I read her script and called her with notes, she echoed her interest in becoming involved.

Now, I have to tell you that a lot of people call me and offer to volunteer. But when it comes time, there are always other things that crowd people's time. What I didn't know then was what a lifelong friend Lorene was about to become, and that we would go on to become writing partners on various projects. Anyone who meets her immediately understands why she shares my #1 spot as absolute favorite person on the planet. Not only is she the cheery, bubbly voice you hear on the phone, but she is just an absolutely fantastic person and the first person who truly believed in me and in keeping the Great American (and Canadian) PitchFest going (despite how difficult it was to do so). She keeps us laughing and having fun, and none of us can imagine doing this event without her. Lorene lives in North Carolina with her husband, Bob, and has two kids, Jessica and Austin. (Jess came to help us with the pitchfest last year and was a fantastic help - we're hoping she'll come back again)

BOB SCHULTZ shares the #1 spot with Lorene as my favorite person on the planet. He's attended every pitchfest except the very first Great Canadian PitchFest. He's the big goofy guy with the AWESOME sense of humor who keeps our bellies sore from laughing, even at the most stressful times. He eats pretzels for breakfast, pastrami sandwiches at midnight, and popcorn with goobers as often as possible. Bob also came aboard after volunteering at the first Great American PitchFest. It was there that he got his first writing assignment and industry job, and has since become a partner with both the Great Canadian PitchFest and the Great American PitchFest. He also helps to run a not for profit art house movie theatre in Ithaca, NY and writes original screenplays, and book adaptations. He's the first person I call to talk things out with, and threatens to quit nearly every day when I do so. I don't know what I would do if he actually carried through with this horrible threat though.

KIM SEARLE may be the smartest person I know. And she has flawless makeup, too. She's the one with the dark red hair and great smile, who is constantly teaching me how to 'be a girl' (I'm her project), what toothpaste to buy, and how to eat Vietnamese soup properly. She's my personal and professional advisor, and an incredibly talented writer too. Her good looks are matched by her awesome sense of humor (along with an equally awesome, portable martini bar), and her exceptional vision (who IS your optometrist??). I can't think of anyone I've ever met who was born to be a producer more than Kim. I'm so blessed to know her. Or I'd never know how to eat soup.

KRISTINA OBAD works in the Calgary area on various film sets with the likes of Ang Lee, Brad Pitt, and dozens of other big names. As Coordinator extraordinaire, she helps to keep our crew fed, watered, and beered (most of us are Canadians, eh), and she even makes our volunteers ENJOY doing dishes (they do if Kim's martini's are at stake). She is also a talented writer, and has penned half a dozen screenplays or so. She keeps us all on track, and mothers us all with helpful advice and her poignant words of wisdom. We couldn't (and wouldn't) want to do it without her. (After a brief hiatus to work on a film last year, we're hoping Kim and Kristina will both be back this year.)

And thanks to Kristina, I was introduced to one of my bestest friends, CAROLYNN 'THE GELFLING' BROEKE. This Gwyneth Paltrow lookalike was stalked at the first Great American PitchFest by an alleged film producer / weasely little man, and she now comes back every year to snap pictures and search for this once adoring fan. She's also the official monkey of the GAPF, and the one year she was unable to join us, we were forced to hire a real monkey to make our signs. We love our Gelf, as long as she's not eating chocolate chip cookies, or pursuing guys whose names sound more like vegetables. Carolynn lives in Victoria with her boyfriend, Raw-bert, who has a very ordinary and acceptable name.

DAVID MULLIGAN is our latest addition to the PitchFest team. He's quite possibly the funniest guy on the crew, without ever intending to be. As part of the Scriptwriters Network, David is actively involved in the film industry of Los Angeles and works with famed photographer and actor, Kevyn Major Howard. A talented writer who has won several screenwriting competitions in the past couple of years, he continues to freak us out with the green protein sludge he drinks for his boxing matches. Most of our time is spent peeling David from the ceiling whenever his cell phone rings, and celebrating with him whenever another executive calls to ask if they can attend the Great American PitchFest. We love having him involved.

ROB & ANDREA TUCKER are also new to our team. Hailing from Vancouver, they abandoned their beloved cat and drove all the way to Los Angeles to volunteer with us at last year's Great American PitchFest. Armed with a toaster oven plugged into their car, they made gourmet meals along the way supplemented by a lifetime supply of Jelly Belly jellybeans. Rob and Andrea (affectionately known to us as 'The Lotuses' for their event organizing company www.lotusevents.ca ) are the friendly and always calm (how do they do THAT?!) faces that help keep the lines during pitchfest running smoothly, and seemingly without any effort. We'd clone them if we could. And the jelly bellies.

And then there's Dorothy, our diligent website wonder. She replaced the awesome Maria Lee and she certainly had big shoes to fill. Fortunately, Dorothy must have huge feet cause she did it seamlessly. We make changes to the website nearly every day, and it's Dorothy who must respond to our frantic phone calls and emails filled with impossible requests, and she does it all with professionalism, a great laugh, and incredible patience.

Cutie boy Jeff Davison is the good looking guy running our camera department, who looks as great in front of the camera as he does behind it. He videotapes all our sessions so that Lorene, Bob, and myself can watch them later for our own professional development, and he does a great job. He's a good friend and I know he's the kind of person I can depend on if I'm ever in a bind - cause he's proven it a number of times. It's Jeff who taught me to 'always go for a beer', and that will probably end up on my gravestone someday.

There are so many people I could mention who help to make this event happen. Donna Rudd, Eleni Tsaparalis, Mike Archer, Tammy Fensury, Rhonda from Fishers (Indiana), and the 30 some volunteers who come out each year to lend a hand. Seriously, I really could go on and on.

Okay, that list of people who share #1 spot as 'my favorite person on the planet' is getting rather crowded. But all of them have changed my life. And up until this past year, EVERYONE (including myself!) was a volunteer. Until you've been part of this event, you really can't appreciate how much work goes into it all. And when it's over, you feel like you've been to war and made the best war buddies you could possibly imagine. And then Carolynn eats a cookie and it's all over.

We all look forward to the Great American PitchFest each year, but largely because we get to see each other. It's certainly my favorite time of year, and I'd choose to be with these amazing friends of mine over Christmas, New Year's, or anything else. The hardest part of pitchfest each year is saying goodbye (sob!). So many participants have told me that pitchfest is the most important date in their year. And it's true for myself, and all of us - it's such a labor of love. You see, we really are a family. And we really do love each other. Now I'd better go see about getting a liquor license.

You can volunteer for the Great American PitchFest and become part of our family by emailing volunteer@pitchfest.com.