On Saturday, November 8, 2008, reporters Eliana and Sophia were in Ojai reviewing films and interviewing authors, book lovers, filmmakers and actors.
The day began at the Ojai Arts Center with productions like: Viola: The Traveling Rooms of a Little Giant, Blue Hole, and Guest of Cindy Sherman. We then moved from the Ojai Arts Center to the Matilija Auditorium where we saw a select showing of Ray Bradbury’s The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit.
Each film we saw was unique and intriguing. We had some good laughs as well as serious, tear jerking moments. From the artistic porcelin faces of Viola to the hilarious originality in Guest of Cindy Sherman, there was a wide variety in styles and story lines.
This years recipient of the Ojai Film Festival Life Time Achivement Award was Ray Bradbury. After viewing his film, we had the opportunity to interview Ray. It was amazing getting to meet the author of our current English reading book, Fahrenheit 451. Ray answered the questions quickly but not with a lack of thought; he gave us in depth answers and some great quotes that will stay with us forever. In response to the question “What do you want to be remembered for?” he replied, “I want people to remember me as the greatest lover who ever lived.”
It was great to see how many people showed up to honor Ray on Saturday evening when he was presented with the award. It was clear that his books had influenced and changed many peoples lives and that this feat had not gone unnoticed.
The interview with Ray was a great way to end the evening. Driving back to Santa Barbara in Fred, John’s blue bug convertable, while the wind plastered our hair to the sides of our heads we realized the imensity of the interview we had just accomplished. Ray Bradbury has been and always will be one of the greatest authors of our time.
