Research Assignment Part 1: RiverRun International Film Festival

Founded in 1998 by Vincent and Gennaro D'Onofrio, the RiverRun IFF, a mere teenager in years, is one of the premiere film festivals on the East Coast. Located in downtown Winston-Salem, the festival was inspired by the French Broad River near Brevard, North Carolina, where it was originally held. Bright, crisp photos and videos of water (what I would believe to be the French Broad River), are set as beautiful background images on the festival's website, emitting a sense of naturalness and intimacy.
The RiverRun IFF places heavy emphasis on diversity as well as community as it pertains to film, their mission statement, "To foster a greater appreciation of cinema and a deeper understanding of the many people, cultures, and perspectives of our world through regular interaction with great films and filmmakers." - I think the people behind this festival know what they're doing. And some of these very important people include Chair Tonya Deem, Vice Chair David Park, Secretary Barry Maine, and Treasurer Matthew Dyson, among many others, as well as a creative advisory board made up of dozens of talented individuals including huge names Bill Pullman and Paul Schneider.
RiverRun has consistently received critical acclaim for its fine work in film promotion of both independent and blockbuster films. Some of its recent successes include Mud, Win Win, Wuthering Heights, 500 Days of Summer, The Notebook, and documentaries, Chasing Ice, 20 Feet From Stardom, and Food Inc., and the list goes on. Showcasing 150+ films annually, and involving activities such as celebrity tributes, family programs, panel discussions, and numerous parties, RiverRun IFF has been sharing a truly unique film experience with the U.S. for the past seventeen years, with an obvious many more to come.

HW Assignment 1

I have a feeling that the reading and tutorials involving lessons in organizational skills and time management are to indicate the importance of organizational skills and time management to the Visions class. Just a hunch, but I think I'm on to something. The procrastination reading was funny because, well it was almost as if I were reading my very own thoughts about getting work done, except to every question asked, I hear the immediate answer of no in my head...I think they forgot denial. The best part is as I read about procrastination and time management techniques, I was lounging in my comfortable bed with my phone next to me and the television in front of me, thinking, I love my workspace. Let that be the first thing I learn in Visions, how to relax a little and not take all my work so seriously because stress will kill you. Okay, actually I hope I learn to not be so sarcastic, then I'll learn how to remove myself from distracting environments.
The Eisenhower Matrix was probably the most stimulating video I could have come across to help me organize my life. Enough said about that one.
In all seriousness, I am grateful for the tutorial about google calendars. Usually I am writing on post-it notes and sticking them onto everything until unfortunately they fall off of the things they once stuck to and I am at a loss for what I was suppose to do. I do not think anything will be falling off of google calendars.
Lastly, google drives. Quite a long video, though it did explain a bit about the application that I did not know despite having priorly used it.
Aside from learning how not to be sarcastic, I literally want to know everything there is to know about creating and running a film festival. I mean that is Visions, right? I may be the art department, but I want to know how to get in contact with important people, I want to know how to market the designs I create, to distinguish between good and great film entries, everything. I don't even know all the things I want to know - all I hope is to make like Spongebob and soak it all up.