Life’s funny sometimes.
A TFT listener, Nole Kennedy, emailed us last month to say he’d seen a great short film starring one of our favorites, Craig Robinson. You know who Craig Robinson is – he’s one of those guys that, even if a film is bad – in fact especially if a film is bad, you’re happy to see; a ‘perks up the audience’ performer.
Anyhew, Nole had seen this short film ‘Memphis Calling’ at the Bend Film Fest in Oregon and recommended we track down a copy and review it. Which we did. Got a copy sent to us by the director Colin Mitchell. I’ve had it for a couple of weeks and hadn’t gotten ’round to seeing it – the Holidays ya know?
Finally this afternoon put it in the machine and watched it. Short, barely 11 minutes long. Craig Robinson is a prisoner who’s very much alone, making a random call to the outside world to speak to someone, anyone. I won’t say more than that.
So, I thought it was pretty good. Better than a lot of full-length Hollywood product I had to sit through in 2008. Kept thinking about it – was stuck in my mind; took the young pup out for a walk as the Sun was setting; jeez it was real cold out. Walked for about a half hour, and, just as I was about to turn back, out of the dark a man approached me. Big guy. Looked a lot like Craig Robinson, except no beard.
He apologized for stopping me and told me his story. Now, due in no small part to my dodgy past I’m wary of folks, wary they’re scamming. But for some reason I didn’t just brush the guy off, and in fact walked back home with him – we talked and I found that A____ was released from prison the day before – after 5 and half years – 23 hours a day in lockup. 1 hour a day rec. I won’t say why he was there.
He promised his 2 kids that he’d make to Memphis that night – but needed 19 more dollars to make up the fare. Normally – man, I’d have kept on walking – have heard so many hard luck stories and how many are buls**t? And yet. We got to my house where I managed to scrabble together the 19 dollars; going through old jeans, emptying out my saved ‘laundry quarters’ – that kind of thing.
Asked him how he kept sane – 23 hours a day in lockup. Said firstly you had to have faith. And he educated himself. We talked politics and the economy. Smart guy and now, thanks to all that time on his hands, educated. As long as they’re locked up why not educate the folks inside? Give them a degree when they get out. Something.
Drove him over to his cousin’s house, (cuz keeps 2 pit bulls and a lynx in the yard – I didn’t get their names). Said goodbye and wished him well – got a big hug – he was so relieved he’d be able to make it to Memphis that night.
I realized while typing this that I wouldn’t have helped A____ if it wasn’t for watching ‘Memphis Calling’ – it’s a short film, barely 11 minutes long.
And yet. Says something important.
It’s a cold world out there – we should look out for each other.
