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amc 2008 report back (a month later) :: 29 July 2008

this was my 4th year attending the allied media conference, and it was a nice rebound from last year, which had an underlying negativity on a personal level that prohibited me from truly being present, participating fully, and enjoying myself. i learned my lesson.

overall the conference was energizing as it has been since i started attending in 2005. while i came away inspired as usual, i'm in limbo right now in regard to my activism and my place in the activist community. since moving to the seattle area, i haven't been motivated to be all that involved in any activist activities, mostly because i've been solely focused on getting situated here and figuring out if this was the right move.

i've said it before, and it's always worth noting, that for me, the amc is just as much about the people i encounter as the information i get from it. this year was no different.

high points:
- the "graphics for the commons" workshop lead by members of the beehive collective. the collective mind-mapping exercise was particularly helpful for a lot of things.
- 2-cent entertainment's grassroots/guerilla filmmaking workshop was really insightful. his crew is responsible for the "new orleans for sale" psa.
- the keynote "regress, plateau, or evolve" was off the fucking chain. dance, poetry, engaging speakers, strong video pieces... *that's* how a keynote is done.
- the empowered fe fes representing!
- the "party planning as an organizing tool" by the ladies from the 5th element, provided a lot of really good ideas that i could have used in planning aac films' past events.
- hacktivist, ricardo dominguez sharing the amazing transborder project
- the youth media lab had the most amazing energy and vibe this year. youth and their adult allies were making beats, videos, stop motion pieces, djing, and creating graphics.
- the closing talk with grace lee boggs was just as inspiring as last year.
- continued broadening of youth involvement.
- childcare was available for attendees.
- the bowling party was a blast as always.
- the music showcase was hot! seriously, seeing anomolies perform live blew me away. also performing at the music showcase was a singer/hip-hop artist from palastine, named abeer. she was wonderful.

the lowlights:
- the "unbought and unbossed" workshop. the presenter showed up 40 minutes late (for a 90-minute presentation) and then proceeded to take us through a powerpoint presentation of a small, self-explanatory card he handed us. i left after 20 minutes.
- not being able to see the film "slingshot hip-hop," a documentary i've been dying to see since 2005, because the only screening was during my workshop.
- the dorm rooms were filthy and many of the dorm's student staff left a lot to be desired. customer service is definitely not for everyone. naturally, this isn't something the amc organizers are responsible for, but really if we're paying any amount for it, it's worth noting and providing feedback on.
- having to bring an ethernet cable to get online in the dorms was really whack. they had free wireless available, but only in the study rooms. fortunately, my room was right next door to a study room, so i could get a signal in my room, but most people with laptops were forced to go to the study rooms, or wait until they got to the conference center, which also had free wireless. lame.

all in all, i left ready for something. i don't know if calling it revolution makes sense, and calling it change is just glaringly obvious (and waaaaaay too "hopebamaesque" for my taste), but, i'm ready for something. too bad i don't know what that something is.

yet.

by leslie