>>> COMING UP, STORIES WE'RE CONNECTING YOU WITH TONIGHT.

CONNECTING YOU WITH TONIGHT.

EXPLORING RACE AND IDENTITY EXPLORING RACE AND IDENTITY THROUGH THE ARTS.

THROUGH THE ARTS.

>> EQUAL EDUCATION AND TO >> EQUAL EDUCATION AND TO CAPITALISM, THE END TO POLICE CAPITALISM, THE END TO POLICE BRUTALITY, A WHOLE BUNCH OF BRUTALITY, A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT THINGS FOR SOCIAL DIFFERENT THINGS FOR SOCIAL ISSUES AND I TO BE EACH OF THOSE ISSUES AND I TO BE EACH OF THOSE POINTS AND DICE SAIDED IT AND POINTS AND DICE SAIDED IT AND MADE -- DICE SETTLED -- DICE MADE -- DICE SETTLED -- DICE SETTLED AND MADE A BODY OF IT.

SETTLED AND MADE A BODY OF IT.

>>> A MOTHER DAUGHTER STORY.

>>> A MOTHER DAUGHTER STORY.

WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLY HEROIC WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLY HEROIC INSPIRING STORY FROM KOSOVO.

INSPIRING STORY FROM KOSOVO.

ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTARIES ARE ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTARIES ARE INCREDIBLE.

INCREDIBLE.

THEY WILL GIVE YOU HOPE.

THEY WILL GIVE YOU HOPE.

>> AND WE'LL INTRODUCE YOU TO A >> AND WE'LL INTRODUCE YOU TO A LOCAL MUSICIAN WHO HAS CREATED LOCAL MUSICIAN WHO HAS CREATED AN AL PUM WITH A PURPOSE.

AN AL PUM WITH A PURPOSE.

-- ALBUM WITH A PURPOSE.

-- ALBUM WITH A PURPOSE.

>> I REALLY LOVE HAVING THE >> I REALLY LOVE HAVING THE PLATFORM TO BE POSITIVE AND JUST PLATFORM TO BE POSITIVE AND JUST HAVE JOY AND INCLUSIVITY.

HAVE JOY AND INCLUSIVITY.

>> WE'LL BRING YOU THOSE STORIES >> WE'LL BRING YOU THOSE STORIES AND MORE AS WE EXPLORE THE AND MORE AS WE EXPLORE THE CREATIVE, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY CREATIVE, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

NEW ENGLAND.

UP NEXT ON "CONNECTING POINT."

UP NEXT ON "CONNECTING POINT."

>>> SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING >>> SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" IS PROVIDED BY OUR POINT" IS PROVIDED BY OUR CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.

CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR >>> GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING POINT."

POINT."

I'M SIDE.

I'M SIDE.

ART -- I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

ART -- I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

ARTIST AND EDUCATOR KIAYANI ARTIST AND EDUCATOR KIAYANI DOUGLAS RECENTLY WITH HER DOUGLAS RECENTLY WITH HER EXHIBIT, THE EDUCATED AND NGR, EXHIBIT, THE EDUCATED AND NGR, FEATURED IN PULP GALLERY IN FEATURED IN PULP GALLERY IN HOLYOKE.

HOLYOKE.

SHE'S SPENT THE LAST SEVERAL SHE'S SPENT THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS EXPLORING RACE AND YEARS EXPLORING RACE AND IDENTITY THROUGH PORTRAIT WORK IDENTITY THROUGH PORTRAIT WORK ACROSS DIFFERENT MEDIUMS.

ACROSS DIFFERENT MEDIUMS.

"CONNECTING POINT'S" "CONNECTING POINT'S" ROSS LIPPMAN SAT DOWN WITH ROSS LIPPMAN SAT DOWN WITH DOUGLAS TO LEARN ABOUT THE DOUGLAS TO LEARN ABOUT THE MEANING BEHIND HER MOST VIOLENT MEANING BEHIND HER MOST VIOLENT WORK AND HER EXPERIENCE AS A WORK AND HER EXPERIENCE AS A BLACK ARTIST IN WESTERN BLACK ARTIST IN WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

NEW ENGLAND.

>> I MAKE TIME.

>> I MAKE TIME.

LIKE BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY, I LIKE BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY, I MAKE TIME.

MAKE TIME.

SO EVEN IF I FEEL LIKE, I DON'T SO EVEN IF I FEEL LIKE, I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME, I MAKE THE HAVE ENOUGH TIME, I MAKE THE TIME.

TIME.

MY NAME IS KIAYANI DOUGLAS.

MY NAME IS KIAYANI DOUGLAS.

AND I MAKE PORTRAIT WORK IN AND I MAKE PORTRAIT WORK IN MULTIPLE MEDIUMS.

MULTIPLE MEDIUMS.

I'M REALLY INTRIGUED WITH I'M REALLY INTRIGUED WITH PORTRAIT WORK.

PORTRAIT WORK.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN.

AND I'VE JUST FOUND MYSELF IN AND I'VE JUST FOUND MYSELF IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS JUST THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS JUST REALLY KIND OF UNPACKING WHAT REALLY KIND OF UNPACKING WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR MYSELF.

THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR MYSELF.

SO THE RANGE OF PORTRAITS THAT I SO THE RANGE OF PORTRAITS THAT I DO ARE VERY DIFFERENT, BUT THEY DO ARE VERY DIFFERENT, BUT THEY ALL COLLECTIVELY COME TOGETHER ALL COLLECTIVELY COME TOGETHER WITH ONE SINGLE THEME OF COLORS WITH ONE SINGLE THEME OF COLORS AND MISSION.

AND MISSION.

THE NAME OF THIS EXHIBIT IS THE THE NAME OF THIS EXHIBIT IS THE EDUCATED NGR.

EDUCATED NGR.

AND IT'S A PLAYOFF OF WORDS.

AND IT'S A PLAYOFF OF WORDS.

NGR IS -- IT DERIVES FROM NGR IS -- IT DERIVES FROM ANCIENT EGYPTIAN, WHICH MEANS ANCIENT EGYPTIAN, WHICH MEANS GODDESS.

GODDESS.

AND SO IF YOU KIND OF ADD A AND SO IF YOU KIND OF ADD A COUPLE OF OTHER LETTERS IN, YOU COUPLE OF OTHER LETTERS IN, YOU WILL COME UP WITH ANOTHER WILL COME UP WITH ANOTHER MEANING FOR NGR.

MEANING FOR NGR.

SO I KIND OF WANTED TO DRAW SO I KIND OF WANTED TO DRAW PEOPLE INTO THE INITIAL PEOPLE INTO THE INITIAL CONVERSATION AS TO WHAT NGR EVEN CONVERSATION AS TO WHAT NGR EVEN MEANS.

MEANS.

THIS EXHIBIT IS PART OF A LARGER THIS EXHIBIT IS PART OF A LARGER BODY OF WORK THAT I HAVE THAT IS BODY OF WORK THAT I HAVE THAT IS CALLED BLACK IDENTITY CALLED BLACK IDENTITY ENTHUSIASTS.

ENTHUSIASTS.

AND THAT BODY OF WORK CONSISTS AND THAT BODY OF WORK CONSISTS OF 10 MINISERIES THAT ARE OF 10 MINISERIES THAT ARE INFLUENCED HEFLEY BY EMMIDOUGLAS INFLUENCED HEFLEY BY EMMIDOUGLAS WORK FOR THE BLACK PANDSER PARTY WORK FOR THE BLACK PANDSER PARTY AND WHAT THEY ADD VOTE CADED AND WHAT THEY ADD VOTE CADED FOR -- ADVOCATED FOR.

FOR -- ADVOCATED FOR.

A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT THINGS FOR SOCIAL ISSUES AND I THINGS FOR SOCIAL ISSUES AND I TOOK EACH OF THOSE POINTS AND TOOK EACH OF THOSE POINTS AND MADE A BODY OF WORK FROM HIT.

MADE A BODY OF WORK FROM HIT.

IN -- FROM IT.

IN -- FROM IT.

IN THE GALLERY THERE'S A SMALLER IN THE GALLERY THERE'S A SMALLER PORTRAIT OF ANGELA DAVIS THAT I PORTRAIT OF ANGELA DAVIS THAT I DREW WITH PEN AND INK.

DREW WITH PEN AND INK.

AND FOR ME, SHE'S JUST SUCH A AND FOR ME, SHE'S JUST SUCH A STRONG ICONIC WOMAN.

STRONG ICONIC WOMAN.

WHEN I THINK OF THE BLACK WHEN I THINK OF THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY, SO IT'S SOMETHING PANTHER PARTY, SO IT'S SOMETHING I'VE BEEN PLAYING WITH.

I'VE BEEN PLAYING WITH.

>> THEY SAY THAT FREEDOM IS A >> THEY SAY THAT FREEDOM IS A CONSTANT STRUGGLE.

CONSTANT STRUGGLE.

O LORD, WE'VE STRUGGLED SO LONG, O LORD, WE'VE STRUGGLED SO LONG, WE MUST BE FREE.

WE MUST BE FREE.

>> I DON'T KNOW, IT'S JUST >> I DON'T KNOW, IT'S JUST SOMETHING ABOUT THIS IMAGE THAT SOMETHING ABOUT THIS IMAGE THAT I THINK ENGAGES PEOPLE, TOO.

I THINK ENGAGES PEOPLE, TOO.

IN A DEEPER CONVERSATION.

IN A DEEPER CONVERSATION.

AND I'VE JUST PEN PLAYING WITH AND I'VE JUST PEN PLAYING WITH VARIATION -- BEEN PLAYING WITH VARIATION -- BEEN PLAYING WITH JERRYIATIONS OF IT.

JERRYIATIONS OF IT.

I MADE -- VARIATIONS OF IT.

I MADE -- VARIATIONS OF IT.

I MADE WOOD PRINTS OF THIS PIECE I MADE WOOD PRINTS OF THIS PIECE THAT I CARVED A COUPLE OF MONTHS THAT I CARVED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AND I LEFT A LOT OF THE AGO AND I LEFT A LOT OF THE DETAILS OUT.

DETAILS OUT.

SO I CAN MAKE VARIATIONS OF SO I CAN MAKE VARIATIONS OF THEM.

THEM.

SO THEY'RE ALL SLIGHTLY SO THEY'RE ALL SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT.

DIFFERENT.

I'VE MENTIONED BEFORE TO OTHER I'VE MENTIONED BEFORE TO OTHER PEOPLE, IT'S VERY INTERESTING PEOPLE, IT'S VERY INTERESTING AND VERY SPECIAL THIS, THIS AND VERY SPECIAL THIS, THIS PLACE, THING SPRINGFIELD AREA, PLACE, THING SPRINGFIELD AREA, IN THE HOLYOKE AREA.

IN THE HOLYOKE AREA.

ALL THE ARTISTS TEND TO KNOW AND ALL THE ARTISTS TEND TO KNOW AND WENT TO GENUINELY SUPPORT EACH WENT TO GENUINELY SUPPORT EACH OTHER.

OTHER.

IF IT'S NOT TELLING THEM ABOUT IF IT'S NOT TELLING THEM ABOUT AN OPPORTUNITY, IT'S SAYING, DID AN OPPORTUNITY, IT'S SAYING, DID YOU APPLY TO THIS AND THEY YOU APPLY TO THIS AND THEY COLLECTIVELY FOLLOWING YOUR WORK COLLECTIVELY FOLLOWING YOUR WORK VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.

VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.

IT'S JUST LIKE A LITTLE FAMILY IT'S JUST LIKE A LITTLE FAMILY THAT YOU DIDN'T ASK FOR BUT IT'S THAT YOU DIDN'T ASK FOR BUT IT'S SO MUCH WANTED.

SO MUCH WANTED.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT >>> EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT "CONNECTING POINT" EXPLORES THE "CONNECTING POINT" EXPLORES THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, BUT IT DOESN'T STOP NEW ENGLAND, BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE.

THERE.

YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE ANYTIME YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE ANYTIME FOR EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND FOR EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND CONTENT.

CONTENT.

THE 2020 TOKYO PARALYMPICS CAM THE 2020 TOKYO PARALYMPICS CAM TO -- COME TO A CLOSE THIS TO -- COME TO A CLOSE THIS WEEKEND WITH ATHLETES FROM WEEKEND WITH ATHLETES FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE RETURNING HOME.

ACROSS THE GLOBE RETURNING HOME.

AFTER THE 2008 PEAR OLYMPICS IN AFTER THE 2008 PEAR OLYMPICS IN BEIJING, SWIMMER MICHAEL PROUT BEIJING, SWIMMER MICHAEL PROUT LIVED AT THE U.S. OLYMPIC LIVED AT THE U.S. OLYMPIC TRAINING CENTER IN BOULDER, TRAINING CENTER IN BOULDER, COLORADO, WHERE HE PREPARED FOR COLORADO, WHERE HE PREPARED FOR THE 2012 GAMES AND WORKED AS AN THE 2012 GAMES AND WORKED AS AN OFFICIAL TOUR GUIDE AND GOT THE OFFICIAL TOUR GUIDE AND GOT THE RARE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE A PRIVATE TOUR OF THE FACILITY TO PRIVATE TOUR OF THE FACILITY TO PRESIDENT BREAKS OBAMA.

PRESIDENT BREAKS OBAMA.

-- BARACK OBAMA.

-- BARACK OBAMA.

>> LATER CAME TO FIND OUT A >> LATER CAME TO FIND OUT A SECRET SERVICE AGENT HAD BEEN SECRET SERVICE AGENT HAD BEEN TAILING SOME OF THE TOURS A TAILING SOME OF THE TOURS A COUPLE WEEKS PRIOR TO THAT.

COUPLE WEEKS PRIOR TO THAT.

AND HE MET ME AT THE VISITOR AND HE MET ME AT THE VISITOR CENTER WHEN I GOT THERE AND CENTER WHEN I GOT THERE AND EXPLAINED EVERYTHING, THAT IT EXPLAINED EVERYTHING, THAT IT WAS GOING ON AND THAT I WAS WAS GOING ON AND THAT I WAS GOING TO BE GIVING A TOUR TO THE GOING TO BE GIVING A TOUR TO THE PRESIDENT.

PRESIDENT.

>> DON'T MISS THIS DIGITAL >> DON'T MISS THIS DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE AVAILABLE ONEVEN RIGHT EXCLUSIVE AVAILABLE ONEVEN RIGHT NOW AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

NOW AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR >>> IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN, TIME TO CELEBRATE THE FIF AGAIN, TIME TO CELEBRATE THE FIF TEACHTH ANY BERKSHIRE TEACHTH ANY BERKSHIRE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL.

INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL.

THIS WORLD-CLASS FESTIVAL WILL THIS WORLD-CLASS FESTIVAL WILL BE SHOWCASING FEATURES, FILMS, BE SHOWCASING FEATURES, FILMS, AND DOCUMENTARIES REPRESENTING AND DOCUMENTARIES REPRESENTING 20 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.

20 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.

THE VIRTUAL EVENT WILL BE THE VIRTUAL EVENT WILL BE RUNNING FROM SEPTEMBER 9TH RUNNING FROM SEPTEMBER 9TH THROUGH THE 12TH, AND I SPOKE THROUGH THE 12TH, AND I SPOKE WITH FOUNDER KELLY VICKERY TO WITH FOUNDER KELLY VICKERY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT TO EXPECT LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT TO EXPECT AT THIS YEAR'S FESTIVAL.

AT THIS YEAR'S FESTIVAL.

>> YOU KNOW, BERKSHIRE COUNTY IS >> YOU KNOW, BERKSHIRE COUNTY IS WELL KNOWN FOR ITS AMAZING WELL KNOWN FOR ITS AMAZING CULTURAL HERITAGE.

CULTURAL HERITAGE.

AND ACTIVITIES.

AND ACTIVITIES.

AND SO I MOVED HERE ABOUT NEARLY AND SO I MOVED HERE ABOUT NEARLY 20 YEARS AGO, WHICH IS HARD TO 20 YEARS AGO, WHICH IS HARD TO BELIEVE.

BELIEVE.

AND I -- I GO TO TANGLEWOOD, I AND I -- I GO TO TANGLEWOOD, I GO TO JACOBS PILLOW, I LOVE ALL GO TO JACOBS PILLOW, I LOVE ALL THE THEATER AROUND HERE.

THE THEATER AROUND HERE.

AND IT SEEMED A LITTLE OBVIOUS AND IT SEEMED A LITTLE OBVIOUS THAT THERE WASN'T A REAL THAT THERE WASN'T A REAL CELEBRATION OF FILM.

CELEBRATION OF FILM.

AND SO I -- I TALKED TO SOME AND SO I -- I TALKED TO SOME FRIENDS WHO RUN A FILM FESTIVAL FRIENDS WHO RUN A FILM FESTIVAL OUT IN COLORADO WHERE I'M OUT IN COLORADO WHERE I'M ORIGINALLY FROM.

ORIGINALLY FROM.

AND I GOT THE IDEA AND STARTED AND I GOT THE IDEA AND STARTED TALKING TO PEOPLE AND BEFORE YOU TALKING TO PEOPLE AND BEFORE YOU KNEW IT, BIWAS BORN.

KNEW IT, BIWAS BORN.

-- BIF WAS BORN, OVER 15 YEARS -- BIF WAS BORN, OVER 15 YEARS AGO NOW.

AGO NOW.

THE BERKSHIRE COMMUNITY WRAPPED THE BERKSHIRE COMMUNITY WRAPPED THEMSELVES -- THEIR ARMS AROUND THEMSELVES -- THEIR ARMS AROUND THE FESTIVAL AND HERE WE ARE THE FESTIVAL AND HERE WE ARE STILL.

STILL.

EVEN SURVIVED A PANDEMIC.

EVEN SURVIVED A PANDEMIC.

>> TALKING ABOUT THE PANDEMIC, >> TALKING ABOUT THE PANDEMIC, DUE TO RECENT COVID CONCERNS, DUE TO RECENT COVID CONCERNS, THE FESTIVAL WILL BE GOING THE FESTIVAL WILL BE GOING VIRTUAL FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER VIRTUAL FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER THIS YEAR.

THIS YEAR.

HOW DIFFICULT WAS IT TO MAKE HOW DIFFICULT WAS IT TO MAKE THAT DECISION AND WHAT THAT DECISION AND WHAT CHALLENGES AND EVEN CHALLENGES AND EVEN OPPORTUNITIES COME ABOUT WHEN OPPORTUNITIES COME ABOUT WHEN PLANNING A VIRTUAL EVENT?

PLANNING A VIRTUAL EVENT?

>> WELL, IT WAS VERY -- IT WAS A >> WELL, IT WAS VERY -- IT WAS A VERY TOUGH DECISION THAT OUR VERY TOUGH DECISION THAT OUR BOARD HAD TO MAKE.

BOARD HAD TO MAKE.

BUT WITH RISING CASES, THE SURGE BUT WITH RISING CASES, THE SURGE EVEN IN BERKSHIRE COUNTY, TO EVEN IN BERKSHIRE COUNTY, TO HAVE A FOUR-DAY NONSTOP FILM HAVE A FOUR-DAY NONSTOP FILM FESTIVAL WITH HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE FESTIVAL WITH HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE GOING IN AND OUT OF, YOU KNOW, GOING IN AND OUT OF, YOU KNOW, SEVEN VENUES THROUGHOUT THE SEVEN VENUES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, IT JUST SEEMED COUNTY, IT JUST SEEMED IRRESPONSIBLE FOR US.

IRRESPONSIBLE FOR US.

AND -- BUT WE DIDN'T WANT TO AND -- BUT WE DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE UP ALL THESE FILMS.

GIVE UP ALL THESE FILMS.

WE HAVE OVER 60 FILMS THAT ARE WE HAVE OVER 60 FILMS THAT ARE FANTASTIC FROM ALL OVER THE FANTASTIC FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD AND LOCALLY AS WELL.

WORLD AND LOCALLY AS WELL.

SO WE DID MAKE THAT HARD SO WE DID MAKE THAT HARD DECISION.

DECISION.

WE'RE GLAD WE DID.

WE'RE GLAD WE DID.

AND THE FORTUNATE THING IS, THAT AND THE FORTUNATE THING IS, THAT WE ALREADY HAD A HIGH BRID -- WE ALREADY HAD A HIGH BRID -- HYBRID SET UP WITH THIS COMPANY, HYBRID SET UP WITH THIS COMPANY, THAT HAVE HAD TO PIVOT TO.

THAT HAVE HAD TO PIVOT TO.

WE FOUGHT IT BECAUSE THERE'S WE FOUGHT IT BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING IN THE WORLD LIKE BEING NOTHING IN THE WORLD LIKE BEING IN A THEATER WITH YOUR COMMUNITY IN A THEATER WITH YOUR COMMUNITY WATCHING FILMS.

WATCHING FILMS.

THE FESTIVAL ATMOSPHERE IS THE FESTIVAL ATMOSPHERE IS EXCITING.

EXCITING.

SO -- SO WE WERE ABLE TO PIVOT SO -- SO WE WERE ABLE TO PIVOT TO THIS VIRTUAL PLATFORM SO THAT TO THIS VIRTUAL PLATFORM SO THAT WE CAN STILL NO MATTER WHAT WE CAN STILL NO MATTER WHAT BRING ALL OF THESE WONDERFUL BRING ALL OF THESE WONDERFUL FILMS TO OUR COMMUNITY.

FILMS TO OUR COMMUNITY.

AND SOME -- SOME FILMS HAD TO AND SOME -- SOME FILMS HAD TO DROP BECAUSE OF THE DISTRIBUTION DROP BECAUSE OF THE DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENTS THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED AGREEMENTS THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO GO VIRTUAL.

TO GO VIRTUAL.

BUT THE PLUS SIDE ABOUT IT IS BUT THE PLUS SIDE ABOUT IT IS PEOPLE CAN WATCH WHATEVER THEY PEOPLE CAN WATCH WHATEVER THEY WANT, WHATEVER THEY -- WHENEVER WANT, WHATEVER THEY -- WHENEVER THEY WANT, IN THE COMFORT OF THEY WANT, IN THE COMFORT OF THEIR HOMES AND INVITE FRIENDS THEIR HOMES AND INVITE FRIENDS OVER, HAVE A BIF PARTY, WE HOPE.

OVER, HAVE A BIF PARTY, WE HOPE.

WE'RE DOING A VIRTUAL HAPPY HOUR WE'RE DOING A VIRTUAL HAPPY HOUR AT 5:00 EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THE AT 5:00 EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THE FESTIVAL.

FESTIVAL.

SO THINGS LIKE THAT ARE FUN.

SO THINGS LIKE THAT ARE FUN.

WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT AS FUN WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT AS FUN AS WE CAN DESPITE THE FACT THAT AS WE CAN DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE GATHERING WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE GATHERING PROPERLY TOGETHER.

PROPERLY TOGETHER.

>> EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DAVID >> EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DAVID COMMENTED ON YOUR ABILITY TO COMMENTED ON YOUR ABILITY TO CREATE A THEME EVERY YEAR THAT CREATE A THEME EVERY YEAR THAT REFLECTS AND CONNECTS WITH REFLECTS AND CONNECTS WITH WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD.

WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD.

SO TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SO TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR'S THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR'S FESTIVAL.

FESTIVAL.

>> WELL, THIS YEAR IT REALLY >> WELL, THIS YEAR IT REALLY IS -- YOU KNOW, THE PROGRAMMING IS -- YOU KNOW, THE PROGRAMMING TEAM WERE VERY THOUGHTFUL IN TEAM WERE VERY THOUGHTFUL IN MAKING SURE THAT IT WASN'T MAKING SURE THAT IT WASN'T HEAVY.

HEAVY.

WE'VE ALWAYS EXPERIENCE ADD VERY WE'VE ALWAYS EXPERIENCE ADD VERY HEAVY TIME -- EXPERIENCED A VERY HEAVY TIME -- EXPERIENCED A VERY HEAVY TIME.

HEAVY TIME.

18 MONTHS.

18 MONTHS.

I WAS NOT GOING TO PROGRAM A I WAS NOT GOING TO PROGRAM A FILM ABOUT COVID.

FILM ABOUT COVID.

WE DIDN'T NEED A FILM LIKE THAT.

WE DIDN'T NEED A FILM LIKE THAT.

SO I CAN'T -- I CAN SAY -- CAN'T SO I CAN'T -- I CAN SAY -- CAN'T SAY THERE'S A SPECIFIC THEEM, SAY THERE'S A SPECIFIC THEEM, BUT THROUGHOUT THE FILMS, BUT THROUGHOUT THE FILMS, THERE'S A LOT OF INSPIRATION.

THERE'S A LOT OF INSPIRATION.

THERE'S A LOT OF INSPIRING AND THERE'S A LOT OF INSPIRING AND HEARTWARMING STORIES.

HEARTWARMING STORIES.

THEY'RE FUNNY.

THEY'RE FUNNY.

SOME ARE SERIOUS OF COURSE.

SOME ARE SERIOUS OF COURSE.

BUT REALLY WANTED TO FIND THAT BUT REALLY WANTED TO FIND THAT BALANCE TO MAKE A FESTIVAL WHERE BALANCE TO MAKE A FESTIVAL WHERE PEOPLE WERE ENTERTAINED.

PEOPLE WERE ENTERTAINED.

THEY ARE EDUCATED.

THEY ARE EDUCATED.

THEY'RE INSPIRED AND THERE'S -- THEY'RE INSPIRED AND THERE'S -- FUNNY FILMS FROM IRELAND TO VERY FUNNY FILMS FROM IRELAND TO VERY HEARTWARMING FILMS FROM THE HEARTWARMING FILMS FROM THE BERKSHIRES, INCLUDED IN THIS.

BERKSHIRES, INCLUDED IN THIS.

>> THE LINE -- LINE-UP FEATURES >> THE LINE -- LINE-UP FEATURES 22 DOCUMENTARIES, 20 NARRATIVE 22 DOCUMENTARIES, 20 NARRATIVE FEATURES, AND 18 SHORT FILMS FEATURES, AND 18 SHORT FILMS REPRESENTING 20 DIFFERENT REPRESENTING 20 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.

COUNTRIES.

WHAT IS THE SELECTION PROCESS WHAT IS THE SELECTION PROCESS LIKE FOR THIS FESTIVAL?

LIKE FOR THIS FESTIVAL?

I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE.

I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE.

>> IT TAKES A LONG TIME.

>> IT TAKES A LONG TIME.

I MEAN, WE -- WE'RE OPENING I MEAN, WE -- WE'RE OPENING UP -- WE'LL BE TURNING AROUND UP -- WE'LL BE TURNING AROUND AFTER THIS FESTIVAL IN THREE AFTER THIS FESTIVAL IN THREE WEEKS LATER WE'LL BE OPENING UP WEEKS LATER WE'LL BE OPENING UP OUR SUBMISSION PROCESS.

OUR SUBMISSION PROCESS.

BUT WE LOOK AT OVER A THOUSAND BUT WE LOOK AT OVER A THOUSAND FILMS.

FILMS.

AND CUREIATE, YOU KNOW -- AND CUREIATE, YOU KNOW -- CURATE, ESSENTIALLY 10% OF THAT.

CURATE, ESSENTIALLY 10% OF THAT.

SO WE HAVE AN AMAZING SO WE HAVE AN AMAZING PROGRAMMING TEAM.

PROGRAMMING TEAM.

WE LOOK AT EVERYTHING FROM WE LOOK AT EVERYTHING FROM AUSTRALIA AND CHINA AND CHILE TO AUSTRALIA AND CHINA AND CHILE TO RIGHT IN OUR BACKYARD.

RIGHT IN OUR BACKYARD.

AND WE GO THROUGH DISTRIBUTION AND WE GO THROUGH DISTRIBUTION COMPANIES, BUT WE ALSO HAVE COMPANIES, BUT WE ALSO HAVE FILMMAKERS CONTACTING US FILMMAKERS CONTACTING US DIRECTLY TO SUBMIT THEIR FILMS DIRECTLY TO SUBMIT THEIR FILMS TO US.

TO US.

AND WE START VIEWING IN OCTOBER AND WE START VIEWING IN OCTOBER TO MAKE SELECTIONS BY APRIL 1ST.

TO MAKE SELECTIONS BY APRIL 1ST.

SO IT'S -- IT'S A LONG PROCESS.

SO IT'S -- IT'S A LONG PROCESS.

AND IT'S -- YOU KNOW, GOOD THING AND IT'S -- YOU KNOW, GOOD THING WE DO IT DURING THE WINTER WHEN WE DO IT DURING THE WINTER WHEN NOBODY WANTS TO GO OUT ANYWAY.

NOBODY WANTS TO GO OUT ANYWAY.

[LAUGHTER] [LAUGHTER] >> WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR TO >> WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR TO THE MOST AT THIS YEAR'S THE MOST AT THIS YEAR'S FESTIVAL?

FESTIVAL?

IS THERE A PARTICULAR FILM THAT IS THERE A PARTICULAR FILM THAT YOU'RE EXCITED FOR AND WHAT YOU'RE EXCITED FOR AND WHAT SHOULD FESTIVAL-GOERS EXPECT?

SHOULD FESTIVAL-GOERS EXPECT?

>> WELL, FESTIVAL-GOERS CAN >> WELL, FESTIVAL-GOERS CAN EXPECT TO REALLY FIND SOME EXPECT TO REALLY FIND SOME AMAZING GEMS.

AMAZING GEMS.

WE HAVE -- YOU KNOW, AN ADORABLE WE HAVE -- YOU KNOW, AN ADORABLE STORY FROM IRELAND, A STORY FROM IRELAND, A MOTHER/DAUGHTER STORY.

MOTHER/DAUGHTER STORY.

WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLY HEROIC WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLY HEROIC INSPIRING STORY FROM KOSOVO.

INSPIRING STORY FROM KOSOVO.

THE DOCUMENTARIES ARE THE DOCUMENTARIES ARE ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTARIES ARE ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTARIES ARE INCREDIBLE.

INCREDIBLE.

THEY WILL GIVE YOU HOPE IN OUR THEY WILL GIVE YOU HOPE IN OUR CLIMATE CRISIS THAT WE'RE CLIMATE CRISIS THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING.

EXPERIENCING.

BUT I SUPPOSE IT'S ALWAYS REALLY BUT I SUPPOSE IT'S ALWAYS REALLY FUN TO HAVE OUR LOCAL CONNECTION FUN TO HAVE OUR LOCAL CONNECTION FILMS.

FILMS.

WE HAVE THREE VERY PROMINENT WE HAVE THREE VERY PROMINENT ONES.

ONES.

ONE IS CALLED HELLO BOOKSTORE, ONE IS CALLED HELLO BOOKSTORE, ABOUT MATT AND HIS BOOKSTORE IN ABOUT MATT AND HIS BOOKSTORE IN LENOX.

LENOX.

ONE IS ABOUT SHAKESPEARE'S FALL ONE IS ABOUT SHAKESPEARE'S FALL FESTIVAL, SPEAK HOW YOU FEEL.

FESTIVAL, SPEAK HOW YOU FEEL.

ABOUT SHAKING COCOS IN OUR AREA ABOUT SHAKING COCOS IN OUR AREA HIGH SCHOOLS AND PRESENTS -- HIGH SCHOOLS AND PRESENTS -- PUTS ON A SHOW EACH FALL.

PUTS ON A SHOW EACH FALL.

AND WE HAVE A SHORT FILM CALLED AND WE HAVE A SHORT FILM CALLED "SPROUTLAND," ABOUT STEVE MYER "SPROUTLAND," ABOUT STEVE MYER WITS WHO SADLY PASSED AWAY IN WITS WHO SADLY PASSED AWAY IN YEARS AGO -- SOME YEARS AGO AND YEARS AGO -- SOME YEARS AGO AND HE WAS CALLED SPROUT MAN.

HE WAS CALLED SPROUT MAN.

THIS IS A SHORT FILM.

THIS IS A SHORT FILM.

BUT IT'S WONDERFUL.

BUT IT'S WONDERFUL.

SO IT'S FUN WHEN WE HAVE THESE SO IT'S FUN WHEN WE HAVE THESE STORIES THAT ARE CONNECTED TO STORIES THAT ARE CONNECTED TO OUR COMMUNITY.

OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THEY'RE ALL THREE JUST AND THEY'RE ALL THREE JUST WONDERFUL.

WONDERFUL.

>> MOVIE MAKER MAGAZINE NAMED >> MOVIE MAKER MAGAZINE NAMED THE BERKSHIRE INTERNATIONAL FILM THE BERKSHIRE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AS ONE OF THE TOP 25 FESTIVAL AS ONE OF THE TOP 25 COOLEST FESTIVALS IN THE WORLD.

COOLEST FESTIVALS IN THE WORLD.

WHAT AN HERE -- AN HONOR.

WHAT AN HERE -- AN HONOR.

>> WOW.

>> WOW.

>> WHAT MAKES THIS ONE OF THE >> WHAT MAKES THIS ONE OF THE COOLEST?

COOLEST?

>> I WILL SAY THAT BIFF IS >> I WILL SAY THAT BIFF IS REALLY ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS.

REALLY ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS.

WE BRING IN FILMMAKERS FROM ALL WE BRING IN FILMMAKERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD EACH SPRING.

OVER THE WORLD EACH SPRING.

IN A NORMAL WORLD.

IN A NORMAL WORLD.

AND WE REALLY TAKE CARE OF THEM.

AND WE REALLY TAKE CARE OF THEM.

AND WE ALSO CURATE OR FILM AND WE ALSO CURATE OR FILM FESTIVAL VERY TIGHTLY.

FESTIVAL VERY TIGHTLY.

WE DON'T JUST THROW ANYTHING IN WE DON'T JUST THROW ANYTHING IN THERE.

THERE.

WE ONLY HAVE -- IN A NORMAL YEAR WE ONLY HAVE -- IN A NORMAL YEAR WE WOULD HAVE 80 FILMS.

WE WOULD HAVE 80 FILMS.

AND YOU KNOW, WE GO THROUGH THIS AND YOU KNOW, WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS AS I SAID OF OVER A PROCESS AS I SAID OF OVER A THOUSAND -- VIEWING OVER A THOUSAND -- VIEWING OVER A THOUSAND FILMS.

THOUSAND FILMS.

SO IT'S VERY TIGHTLY CURATED.

SO IT'S VERY TIGHTLY CURATED.

WE BRING IN FILMMAKERS FROM ALL WE BRING IN FILMMAKERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

OVER THE WORLD.

WE HAVE A VERY ENTHUSIASTIC WE HAVE A VERY ENTHUSIASTIC FILM-GOING AUDIENCE.

FILM-GOING AUDIENCE.

AND SO I THINK BEING IN THE AND SO I THINK BEING IN THE BERKSHIRES, HAVING THESE FILM BERKSHIRES, HAVING THESE FILM MAKERS, CREATES A REALLY MAKERS, CREATES A REALLY INCREDIBLE VIBE.

INCREDIBLE VIBE.

AND IT IS PRETTY COOL.

AND IT IS PRETTY COOL.

IT'S -- I GOT TO SAY!

IT'S -- I GOT TO SAY!

[LAUGHTER] [LAUGHTER] IT'S COOL.

IT'S COOL.

>> LAST YEAR AMIDST THE PANDEMIC >> LAST YEAR AMIDST THE PANDEMIC YOU WERE ABLE TO CREATE AN YOU WERE ABLE TO CREATE AN EIGHT-WEEK POP JUV DRIVE-UP EIGHT-WEEK POP JUV DRIVE-UP EVENT THIS.

EVENT THIS.

YEAR IT'S A VIRTUAL EVENT.

YEAR IT'S A VIRTUAL EVENT.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR THE FILM FESTIVAL?

THE FILM FESTIVAL?

>> I BELIEVE THAT NEXT JUNE, IN >> I BELIEVE THAT NEXT JUNE, IN OUR PROPER TIME SLOT, WE WILL BE OUR PROPER TIME SLOT, WE WILL BE BACK AND WE WILL BE -- WE WILL BACK AND WE WILL BE -- WE WILL BE, YOU KNOW, FULL -- FULL -- BE, YOU KNOW, FULL -- FULL -- YOU KNOW, THRUST.

YOU KNOW, THRUST.

GOING AHEAD.

GOING AHEAD.

WE PLAN TO HAVE A SWEET SIXTEEN WE PLAN TO HAVE A SWEET SIXTEEN CELEBRATION.

CELEBRATION.

WE WILL BE BACK IN GREAT WE WILL BE BACK IN GREAT BARRINGTON WITH ALL THE BELLS BARRINGTON WITH ALL THE BELLS AND WHISTLES.

AND WHISTLES.

FILM MAKES WILL BE BACK.

FILM MAKES WILL BE BACK.

WE'LL HAVE TEA TALKINGS.

WE'LL HAVE TEA TALKINGS.

THERE'S NO DOUBT WE'LL BE THERE'S NO DOUBT WE'LL BE CELEBRATING THIS YEAR.

CELEBRATING THIS YEAR.

BIFF IS HERE TO STAY AND NEXT BIFF IS HERE TO STAY AND NEXT SPRING I PLAN TO HAVE A VERY SPRING I PLAN TO HAVE A VERY HAPPY CELEBRATION OF ALL BEING HAPPY CELEBRATION OF ALL BEING BACK TOGETHER.

BACK TOGETHER.

NO MORE DRIVE-INS, NO MORE NO MORE DRIVE-INS, NO MORE VIRTUAL.

VIRTUAL.

WE'RE GOING TO BE BACK IN WE'RE GOING TO BE BACK IN ACTION.

ACTION.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> SINGER/SONGWRITER CARRIE >>> SINGER/SONGWRITER CARRIE FERGUSON ORIGINAL SONGS FROM FERGUSON ORIGINAL SONGS FROM PLAY FLY JUVENILANT TO SOARING PLAY FLY JUVENILANT TO SOARING POP AND STRAIGHT-UP ROCK.

POP AND STRAIGHT-UP ROCK.

HER LATEST ALBUM THE GRUMPY TIME HER LATEST ALBUM THE GRUMPY TIME CLUB OFFERS CHILDREN AND CLUB OFFERS CHILDREN AND FAMILIES INCLUSIVE AND WELCOMING FAMILIES INCLUSIVE AND WELCOMING MEMES ABOUT ACCEPTING FEELINGS, MEMES ABOUT ACCEPTING FEELINGS, CELEBRATING DIFFERENCES, AND CELEBRATING DIFFERENCES, AND LOVING THEMSELVES EXACTLY AS LOVING THEMSELVES EXACTLY AS THEY ARE.

THEY ARE.

PRODUCER DAVE FRASER CAUGHT UP PRODUCER DAVE FRASER CAUGHT UP WITH PERGZ AND SHARES THIS WITH PERGZ AND SHARES THIS STUDIO.

STUDIO.

♪ I WOKE UP THIS MORNING.

♪ I WOKE UP THIS MORNING.

WITH A VOICE IN MY HEAD.

WITH A VOICE IN MY HEAD.

I'VE ALWAYS MADE MUSIC AND I'VE I'VE ALWAYS MADE MUSIC AND I'VE ALWAYS MADE SONGS AND THAT JUST ALWAYS MADE SONGS AND THAT JUST KEPT HAPPENING.

KEPT HAPPENING.

I DON'T KNOW HOW BETTER TO SAY I DON'T KNOW HOW BETTER TO SAY IT.

IT.

IF I DIDN'T ACTUALLY DO IT, IF I DIDN'T ACTUALLY DO IT, OFFICIALLY, IF I DIDN'T SAY I OFFICIALLY, IF I DIDN'T SAY I WAS DOING IT, THEN I WOULD BE WAS DOING IT, THEN I WOULD BE DOING IN LIKE IN SECRET BEHIND DOING IN LIKE IN SECRET BEHIND ME OWN BACK.

ME OWN BACK.

IT'S JUST WHAT I DO.

IT'S JUST WHAT I DO.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> I WOULD DESCRIBE MY MUSIC >> I WOULD DESCRIBE MY MUSIC SORT OF LOOSELY AS FOLK POP.

SORT OF LOOSELY AS FOLK POP.

IT'S VERY FOLKY IN THE SENSE IT'S VERY FOLKY IN THE SENSE THAT IT IS -- I LIKE TO MAKE THAT IT IS -- I LIKE TO MAKE ROOM FOR INSTRUMENTLE -- ROOM FOR INSTRUMENTLE -- INSTRUMENTALS FOR ACOUSTIC INSTRUMENTALS FOR ACOUSTIC INSTRUMENTS.

INSTRUMENTS.

IT'S VERY POP ORIENTED AND I IT'S VERY POP ORIENTED AND I CAME OF AGE IN THE '80S WHERE I CAME OF AGE IN THE '80S WHERE I WAS A TEENAGER IN THE '80S.

WAS A TEENAGER IN THE '80S.

AND I LOVED '80S POP MUSIC AND I LOVED '80S POP MUSIC BECAUSE THE HOOKS, DURAN DURAN BECAUSE THE HOOKS, DURAN DURAN AND EVEN BILLY JOEL.

AND EVEN BILLY JOEL.

THAT STUFF IS JUST SO HOOKY AND THAT STUFF IS JUST SO HOOKY AND SO HE HADOTTIC.

SO HE HADOTTIC.

SO -- MELODIC.

SO -- MELODIC.

SO THAT'S ALWAYS IN MY MUSIC AND SO THAT'S ALWAYS IN MY MUSIC AND THAT MAKES IT POP.

THAT MAKES IT POP.

♪ [SINGING] ♪ ♪ [SINGING] ♪ >> BEFORE I GO ON STAGE I TRY TO >> BEFORE I GO ON STAGE I TRY TO GET IN THE RIGHT PLACE BECAUSE GET IN THE RIGHT PLACE BECAUSE THERE'S USUALLY DOUBTING VOICES.

THERE'S USUALLY DOUBTING VOICES.

YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO PULLE IT OFF THIS TIME.

PULLE IT OFF THIS TIME.

DAH, DAH, DAH.

DAH, DAH, DAH.

ASK THEM TO STEP ASIDE BECAUSE ASK THEM TO STEP ASIDE BECAUSE THE SHAPE HAS SAILED.

THE SHAPE HAS SAILED.

I'M ABOUT TO DO THIS.

I'M ABOUT TO DO THIS.

EVERYBODY NEEDS TO BE ON BOARD EVERYBODY NEEDS TO BE ON BOARD WITH THIS.

WITH THIS.

AND THEM IT'S JUST MARVELOUS AND THEM IT'S JUST MARVELOUS FUN.

FUN.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> I REALLY LOVE HAVING THE >> I REALLY LOVE HAVING THE PLATFORM TO JUST BE POSITIVE AND PLATFORM TO JUST BE POSITIVE AND JUST HAVE JOY AND INCLUSIVITY JUST HAVE JOY AND INCLUSIVITY AND -- I'M JUST BEGINNING TO AND -- I'M JUST BEGINNING TO EXPLORE IT AND REALLY ENJOYING EXPLORE IT AND REALLY ENJOYING IT.

IT.

I'VE WRITTEN MUSIC FOR ADULTS I'VE WRITTEN MUSIC FOR ADULTS FOR MANY YEARS.

FOR MANY YEARS.

AND OVER THE YEARS, SOME SONGS AND OVER THE YEARS, SOME SONGS STARTED POPPING UP HERE AND STARTED POPPING UP HERE AND THERE.

THERE.

PEOPLE WERE LIKE, MAKE A KIDS' PEOPLE WERE LIKE, MAKE A KIDS' RECORD, MAKE A KIDS' RECORD.

RECORD, MAKE A KIDS' RECORD.

SO I GATHERED IN ALL THE SONGS SO I GATHERED IN ALL THE SONGS THAT PEOPLE HAD SAID, OOH, KIDS THAT PEOPLE HAD SAID, OOH, KIDS LIKE THAT.

LIKE THAT.

THAT'S FOR KIDS.

THAT'S FOR KIDS.

WROTE A FEW MORE.

WROTE A FEW MORE.

AND NOW I HAVE A KIDS' RECORD.

AND NOW I HAVE A KIDS' RECORD.

♪ [SINGING] ♪ ♪ [SINGING] ♪ ♪ [SINGING] ♪ ♪ [SINGING] ♪ >> THIS RECORD TOOK A WHILE.

>> THIS RECORD TOOK A WHILE.

TOOK ABOUT FOUR YEARS TO MAKE TOOK ABOUT FOUR YEARS TO MAKE MAYBE.

MAYBE.

AND YOU KNOW, OR MAYBE LONGER.

AND YOU KNOW, OR MAYBE LONGER.

I MEAN, THE PANDEMIC WAS -- WE I MEAN, THE PANDEMIC WAS -- WE HAD TO TAKE TIME OFF DURING THE HAD TO TAKE TIME OFF DURING THE PANDEMIC.

PANDEMIC.

WE MADE IT VERY CAREFULLY AND WE MADE IT VERY CAREFULLY AND CERTAINLY I'M REALLY PROUD OF CERTAINLY I'M REALLY PROUD OF THIS RECORD.

THIS RECORD.

♪ [SINGING] ♪ ♪ [SINGING] ♪ ♪ [SINGING] ♪ ♪ [SINGING] ♪ THE TITLE TRACK OF THIS ALBUM, THE TITLE TRACK OF THIS ALBUM, THE GRUMPY TIME CLUB, THAT WAS THE GRUMPY TIME CLUB, THAT WAS INVENTED BY GATE'S DAUGHTER, MY INVENTED BY GATE'S DAUGHTER, MY PRODUCER.

PRODUCER.

AND I SAID WHAT DO YOU DO WITH AND I SAID WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE GRUMPY TIME CLUB, AND SHE THE GRUMPY TIME CLUB, AND SHE SAID D -- DUH, BE GRUMPY.

SAID D -- DUH, BE GRUMPY.

AND I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT, THAT'S AND I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT, THAT'S GOT TO BE A SOCK.

GOT TO BE A SOCK.

-- A SONG.

-- A SONG.

I FEEL LIKE THE OVERWRITERRING I FEEL LIKE THE OVERWRITERRING OF THIS RECORD IS ABOUT OF THIS RECORD IS ABOUT SELF-LOVE AND SELF-LOVE AND SELF-UNDERSTANDING.

SELF-UNDERSTANDING.

AND THEN USING THAT INNER AND THEN USING THAT INNER STRENGTH AS CIRCLE PLATFORM TO STRENGTH AS CIRCLE PLATFORM TO ENGAGE WITH THE REST OF THE ENGAGE WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD AND SHOW UP FOR OTHER WORLD AND SHOW UP FOR OTHER PEOPLE.

PEOPLE.

IT'S A LARGE AMBITION FOR A IT'S A LARGE AMBITION FOR A RECORD BUT THAT'S WHERE I'M RECORD BUT THAT'S WHERE I'M COMING FROM.

COMING FROM.

♪ [SINGING] ♪ ♪ [SINGING] ♪ SING SING -- SING SING -- ♪ [SINGING] ♪ ♪ [SINGING] ♪ >> I DON'T ALL THE -- ALWAYS GET >> I DON'T ALL THE -- ALWAYS GET TO BE A -- YOU KNOW, A LEADER OF TO BE A -- YOU KNOW, A LEADER OF A BAND, BUT I REALLY ENJOY THAT A BAND, BUT I REALLY ENJOY THAT SORT OF IF A SKILL TIAHRT -- SORT OF IF A SKILL TIAHRT -- FACILITATOR ROLE OF HOLDING THE FACILITATOR ROLE OF HOLDING THE SPACE FOR THESE INCREDIBLE SPACE FOR THESE INCREDIBLE MUSICIANS TO DO THEIR THING AND MUSICIANS TO DO THEIR THING AND FOR THE AUDIENCE TO HAVE A FOR THE AUDIENCE TO HAVE A REALLY GOOD TIME.

REALLY GOOD TIME.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE] >>> LOCATED IN GREEN FOOLED'S >>> LOCATED IN GREEN FOOLED'S CROSS ROAD -- GREEN FIELD'S CROSS ROAD -- GREEN FIELD'S CROSSROADS CULTURE DISTRICT, THE CROSSROADS CULTURE DISTRICT, THE LAVA CENTER, LOCAL ACCESS FOR LAVA CENTER, LOCAL ACCESS FOR VALLEY ARTS IS A NEW ARTS VALLEY ARTS IS A NEW ARTS INCUBATE ROR, BLACK BOX THEATER, INCUBATE ROR, BLACK BOX THEATER, AND COMMUNITY SPACE.

AND COMMUNITY SPACE.

OPENING JUST LAST YEAR, THE OPENING JUST LAST YEAR, THE CENTER'S GOAL IS TO CREATE CENTER'S GOAL IS TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE PERFORMING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE PERFORMING AND LIT RARE ARTS THROUGH A AND LIT RARE ARTS THROUGH A VARIETY OF EVENTS, CLASSES, AND VARIETY OF EVENTS, CLASSES, AND WORKSHOPS.

WORKSHOPS.

I SPOKE WITH THE COCOORDINATORS I SPOKE WITH THE COCOORDINATORS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT THE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT THE CENTER HAS TO OFFER FOR THE CENTER HAS TO OFFER FOR THE COMMUNITY AND WHY COLLABORATION COMMUNITY AND WHY COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE ARTS IS SO BETWEEN THE ARTS IS SO IMPORTANT.

IMPORTANT.

>> WE CREATED THE CENTER TO BE A >> WE CREATED THE CENTER TO BE A COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER THAT COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER THAT ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO BECOME ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO BECOME INVOLVED AND LEARN IN AND INVOLVED AND LEARN IN AND THROUGH THE ARTS.

THROUGH THE ARTS.

THAT'S THIS SORT OF FOUNDING THAT'S THIS SORT OF FOUNDING STATEMENT OF LOCAL ACCESS, WHICH STATEMENT OF LOCAL ACCESS, WHICH IS THE NOT FOR PROFIT BEHIND THE IS THE NOT FOR PROFIT BEHIND THE LAVA CENTER.

LAVA CENTER.

AND THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN FOR US AND THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN FOR US ALSO EDUCATION AND HUMANITIES.

ALSO EDUCATION AND HUMANITIES.

SO KIND OF A MIX OF THOSE SO KIND OF A MIX OF THOSE THINGS.

THINGS.

>> FRANKLIN COUNTY HAS TRULY >> FRANKLIN COUNTY HAS TRULY BECOME A NOTABLE ARTS BECOME A NOTABLE ARTS DESTINATION IN THIS REGION.

DESTINATION IN THIS REGION.

WITH THE CENTER LOCATED RIGHT IN WITH THE CENTER LOCATED RIGHT IN THE HEART OF GREENFIELD'S THE HEART OF GREENFIELD'S CROSSROADS CULTURAL DISTRICT, CROSSROADS CULTURAL DISTRICT, WHY IS A VENUE LIKE THIS WHY IS A VENUE LIKE THIS NECESSARY FOR THE CITY?

NECESSARY FOR THE CITY?

>> I THINK IT'S NECESSARY >> I THINK IT'S NECESSARY BECAUSE THERE'S -- THERE ISN'T BECAUSE THERE'S -- THERE ISN'T ANYTHING ELSE QUITE LIKE IT.

ANYTHING ELSE QUITE LIKE IT.

WE KIND OF FILLED THIS -- THIS WE KIND OF FILLED THIS -- THIS NEAR WHERE IT'S --THE -- NICHE NEAR WHERE IT'S --THE -- NICHE WHERE THE COMMUNITY ARTS, WHERE WHERE THE COMMUNITY ARTS, WHERE ANYONE CAN COME AND DO SOMETHING ANYONE CAN COME AND DO SOMETHING ARTISTIC, WHETHER IT'S ARTISTIC, WHETHER IT'S PERFORMING OR DISPLAYING THEIR PERFORMING OR DISPLAYING THEIR VISUAL ART OR HOSTING MEETINGS VISUAL ART OR HOSTING MEETINGS AND CLASSES.

AND CLASSES.

YEAH, I THINK THERE ISN'T YEAH, I THINK THERE ISN'T ANYTHING LIKE QUITE LIKE THAT.

ANYTHING LIKE QUITE LIKE THAT.

>> WE'RE AT A CROSSROADS >> WE'RE AT A CROSSROADS PHYSICALLY IN GREENFIELD AND PHYSICALLY IN GREENFIELD AND WE'RE REALLY A CROSSROADSES OF A WE'RE REALLY A CROSSROADSES OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT ARM -- LOT OF DIFFERENT ARM -- CROSSROADS OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT CROSSROADS OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS.

ORGANIZATIONS.

WE HAVE ORGANIZATIONS THAT FOCUS WE HAVE ORGANIZATIONS THAT FOCUS ON PERFORMING ARTS.

ON PERFORMING ARTS.

ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ABOUT THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ABOUT THE SPOKEN WORD AND POETRY.

SPOKEN WORD AND POETRY.

ALL OF THAT GOES ON AT THE LAVA ALL OF THAT GOES ON AT THE LAVA CENTER.

CENTER.

SO IT'S A PLACE FOR ARTISTS OF SO IT'S A PLACE FOR ARTISTS OF ALL KINDS TO COME AND MINGLE ALL KINDS TO COME AND MINGLE TOGETHER AND KIND OF FEED OFF TOGETHER AND KIND OF FEED OFF EACH OTHER'S ENERGY IN A WAY.

EACH OTHER'S ENERGY IN A WAY.

>> THIS COLLABORATION THAT >> THIS COLLABORATION THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING OF, JAN, IN AN YOU'RE SPEAKING OF, JAN, IN AN ARTICLE WITH THE GREENFIELD ARTICLE WITH THE GREENFIELD RECORDER, YOU STATED THAT YOU RECORDER, YOU STATED THAT YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT YOU'RE WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT YOU'RE NOT IN COMPETITION WITH THEM AND NOT IN COMPETITION WITH THEM AND THAT YOU'RE COMPLEMENTING THEM.

THAT YOU'RE COMPLEMENTING THEM.

WHY IS THIS COLLABORATION WHY IS THIS COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE ARTS SO VITAL?

BETWEEN THE ARTS SO VITAL?

>> ONE THING THAT COMES TO MIND >> ONE THING THAT COMES TO MIND IS BECAUSE OUR RESOURCES ARE SO IS BECAUSE OUR RESOURCES ARE SO LIMITED.

LIMITED.

WE DON'T -- WE -- YOU KNOW, WE WE DON'T -- WE -- YOU KNOW, WE DON'T NEED TO FIGHT OVER CRUMBS.

DON'T NEED TO FIGHT OVER CRUMBS.

WE NEED TO COLLECT OUR WE NEED TO COLLECT OUR CHRIS PAUL TOGETHER -- OUR CHRIS PAUL TOGETHER -- OUR CRUMBS WITH THE STONE SOUP MODEL CRUMBS WITH THE STONE SOUP MODEL AND MAKE THE WHOLE CAKE OUT OF AND MAKE THE WHOLE CAKE OUT OF YOUR CRUMBS, MY CRUMBS.

YOUR CRUMBS, MY CRUMBS.

WE MIGHT HAVE ENOUGH TO HAVE A WE MIGHT HAVE ENOUGH TO HAVE A DECERTAIN, YOU KNOW.

DECERTAIN, YOU KNOW.

-- DESSERT, YOU KNOW.

-- DESSERT, YOU KNOW.

AND OTHER THING IS IT'S NOT THE AND OTHER THING IS IT'S NOT THE WAY CREATIVITY WORKS.

WAY CREATIVITY WORKS.

IT JUST DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY.

IT JUST DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY.

IT'S AN EXCHANGE OF IDEAS.

IT'S AN EXCHANGE OF IDEAS.

IT'S THE FREE FLOW OF IDEAS.

IT'S THE FREE FLOW OF IDEAS.

AND TO BE IN COMPETITION WITH AND TO BE IN COMPETITION WITH SOMEBODY ELSE'S IDEAS IN A WAY SOMEBODY ELSE'S IDEAS IN A WAY THAT WOULD OVERCOME THEM DOES THAT WOULD OVERCOME THEM DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE WHATSOEVER.

NOT MAKE ANY SENSE WHATSOEVER.

>> ONE OF YOUR RECENT >> ONE OF YOUR RECENT COLLABORATIONS WAS WITH A COLLABORATIONS WAS WITH A GREENFIELD FARMERS' MARKET.

GREENFIELD FARMERS' MARKET.

YOU HAVE THE FIRST-EVER ART YOU HAVE THE FIRST-EVER ART MARKET DAY WHERE CUSTOMERS COULD MARKET DAY WHERE CUSTOMERS COULD FIND LOCAL ARTISAN, VENDORS, FIND LOCAL ARTISAN, VENDORS, ALONG WITH FARM AND FOOD ALONG WITH FARM AND FOOD VENDORS.

VENDORS.

HOW DID THE COMMUNITY RECEIVE HOW DID THE COMMUNITY RECEIVE THIS EVENT AND IN WHAT OTHER THIS EVENT AND IN WHAT OTHER WAYS TO YOU PLAN TO PARTNER WITH WAYS TO YOU PLAN TO PARTNER WITH LOCAL EVENTS AND INSTITUTIONS?

LOCAL EVENTS AND INSTITUTIONS?

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH.

THE ART MARKET DAY I THINK WENT THE ART MARKET DAY I THINK WENT REALLY WELL.

REALLY WELL.

IT WAS -- WEATHER WAS REALLY HOT IT WAS -- WEATHER WAS REALLY HOT AND STICKY, SO PEOPLE WERE VERY AND STICKY, SO PEOPLE WERE VERY SLOW AND SLUGGISH.

SLOW AND SLUGGISH.

BUT THE PEOPLE WHO DID CAME WERE BUT THE PEOPLE WHO DID CAME WERE REALLY ENGAGING WITH OUR BOOTH REALLY ENGAGING WITH OUR BOOTH AND WHAT WE WERE DOING.

AND WHAT WE WERE DOING.

SO WE HAD ON DISPLAY -- THESE SO WE HAD ON DISPLAY -- THESE HISTORICAL POSTCARDS OF HISTORICAL POSTCARDS OF GREENFIELD FROM BACK IN THE DAY.

GREENFIELD FROM BACK IN THE DAY.

WE GOT THOSE BLOWN UP TO THESE WE GOT THOSE BLOWN UP TO THESE POSTERS AND WE PLACED -- LIKE POSTERS AND WE PLACED -- LIKE LAWN SIGNS.

LAWN SIGNS.

AND WE PLACED THEM ALL AROUND AND WE PLACED THEM ALL AROUND THE COMMONS, SO PEOPLE COULD SEE THE COMMONS, SO PEOPLE COULD SEE THIS EXACT SCENE OF YOU KNOW, THIS EXACT SCENE OF YOU KNOW, THE CITY HALL AND THE CHURCH.

THE CITY HALL AND THE CHURCH.

HAD A THAT LOOKS LIKE 100 YEARS HAD A THAT LOOKS LIKE 100 YEARS AGO ON THIS POSTER.

AGO ON THIS POSTER.

THEN WE INVITED PEOPLE TO OUR THEN WE INVITED PEOPLE TO OUR BOOTH ON THE COMMON THAT DAY TO BOOTH ON THE COMMON THAT DAY TO MAKE THEIR OWN POSTCARD.

MAKE THEIR OWN POSTCARD.

WE HAD CRAFT MATERIALS, WE HAD CRAFT MATERIALS, CONSTRUCTION PAPER.

CONSTRUCTION PAPER.

AND YOU KNOW, IT WAS MOSTLY KIDS AND YOU KNOW, IT WAS MOSTLY KIDS WHO DO IT, BUT -- DID IT, BUT WHO DO IT, BUT -- DID IT, BUT THERE WERE MOST SOME ADULTS WHO THERE WERE MOST SOME ADULTS WHO THEY SAW GREENFIELD, WHETHER THEY SAW GREENFIELD, WHETHER LITERAL OR FIGURATIVE.

LITERAL OR FIGURATIVE.

WE ARE A SMALL BUSINESS AND WE WE ARE A SMALL BUSINESS AND WE ARE GENERALLY A VERY CASUAL ARE GENERALLY A VERY CASUAL SPACE.

SPACE.

YOU KNOW, I THINK OF US AS VERY YOU KNOW, I THINK OF US AS VERY WELCOMING.

WELCOMING.

PEOPLE JUST KIND OF POP IN AND PEOPLE JUST KIND OF POP IN AND THEY'RE LIKE, OH, WHAT'S GOING THEY'RE LIKE, OH, WHAT'S GOING ON.

ON.

WE'RE LIKE, COME ON IN.

WE'RE LIKE, COME ON IN.

HANG OUT.

HANG OUT.

DO SOMETHING.

DO SOMETHING.

AND I THINK PEOPLE REALLY ARE AND I THINK PEOPLE REALLY ARE RESPONDING TO THAT VERY CASUAL, RESPONDING TO THAT VERY CASUAL, WELCOMING, INCLUSIVE SPACE THAT WELCOMING, INCLUSIVE SPACE THAT WE HAD IN THIS -- THIS ATTITUDE WE HAD IN THIS -- THIS ATTITUDE THAT WE HAVE ABOUT THE ARTS IS THAT WE HAVE ABOUT THE ARTS IS BEING FOR EVERYONE.

BEING FOR EVERYONE.

IT'S BEING A VITAL PART OF THE IT'S BEING A VITAL PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

COMMUNITY.

AND THAT'S WHERE PART OF OUR AND THAT'S WHERE PART OF OUR MISSION COMES IN.

MISSION COMES IN.

PEOPLE DO COME IN AND THEY MEET PEOPLE DO COME IN AND THEY MEET OTHER ARTISTS AND THEY TALK OTHER ARTISTS AND THEY TALK ABOUT, OH, WE COULD DO THIS, WE ABOUT, OH, WE COULD DO THIS, WE COULD DO THIS.

COULD DO THIS.

AND THINGS HAVE EMERGED JUST AS AND THINGS HAVE EMERGED JUST AS A RESULT OF PEOPLE COMING AND A RESULT OF PEOPLE COMING AND HANGING OUT AND HAVING THESE HANGING OUT AND HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS.

CONVERSATIONS.

>> AS CO-COORDINATORS, WHAT HAS >> AS CO-COORDINATORS, WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT BEEN YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT THIS CENTER AND WHAT DO YOU WANT THIS CENTER AND WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT IT?

PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT IT?

>> I WOULD SAY MY FAVORITE THING >> I WOULD SAY MY FAVORITE THING IS -- TO STAND NEAR THE BACK AND IS -- TO STAND NEAR THE BACK AND SEE THE SPACE FILL WITH A SMALL SEE THE SPACE FILL WITH A SMALL OR LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE OR LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE THERE TO ENJOY ANYTHING TOGETHER THERE TO ENJOY ANYTHING TOGETHER IN COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW.

IN COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW.

WHETHER IT'S THE READING OR AN WHETHER IT'S THE READING OR AN OPEN MIC OR MUSICAL EVENT OR AN OPEN MIC OR MUSICAL EVENT OR AN ECH LECTURE.

ECH LECTURE.

JUST TO SEE THE SPACE BRING JUST TO SEE THE SPACE BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER WITH COMMON PEOPLE TOGETHER WITH COMMON INTERESTS, COMMON ENTHUSIASMS.

INTERESTS, COMMON ENTHUSIASMS.

AND THEN TO LISTEN IN ON THE AND THEN TO LISTEN IN ON THE CONVERSATIONS.

CONVERSATIONS.

>> THE SAME AS JAN'S.

>> THE SAME AS JAN'S.

JUST WATCHING ALL -- JUST JUST WATCHING ALL -- JUST DIFFERENT TYPE -- PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT TYPE -- PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE WHO JUST HAVE ALL WALKS OF LIFE WHO JUST HAVE THIS SHARED INTEREST IN ART OR THIS SHARED INTEREST IN ART OR COMMUNITY.

COMMUNITY.

AND ONE EXAMPLE THAT I HAVE IS AND ONE EXAMPLE THAT I HAVE IS ONE OF THE ARTIST THAT IS COMES ONE OF THE ARTIST THAT IS COMES INTO OUR SPACE A -- ARTISTS THAT INTO OUR SPACE A -- ARTISTS THAT COMES INTO OUR SPACE WORKS WITH COMES INTO OUR SPACE WORKS WITH NATURAL MATERIALS LIKE BARK AND NATURAL MATERIALS LIKE BARK AND HORNETS' NESTS.

HORNETS' NESTS.

AND I'VE SEEN HEM CONNECT WITH AND I'VE SEEN HEM CONNECT WITH OTHER ARTISTS AND GLEEFULLY TALK OTHER ARTISTS AND GLEEFULLY TALK ABOUT HIS PROCESS AND THEN YOU ABOUT HIS PROCESS AND THEN YOU KNOW, THEY WILL GO AND FIND BARK KNOW, THEY WILL GO AND FIND BARK FOR HIM OR FIND A HORNET'S NESTS FOR HIM OR FIND A HORNET'S NESTS FOR HIM AND BRING IT INTO THE FOR HIM AND BRING IT INTO THE SPACE AND LEAVE IT FOR HIM SPACE AND LEAVE IT FOR HIM THERE.

THERE.

JUST THAT -- THAT COLLABORATION JUST THAT -- THAT COLLABORATION BETWEEN ARTISTS IS SO -- SO COOL BETWEEN ARTISTS IS SO -- SO COOL TO ME AND TO SEE -- AND TO SEE TO ME AND TO SEE -- AND TO SEE THE PRODUCTS OF THAT.

THE PRODUCTS OF THAT.

TO SEE PEOPLE COMING IN AND TO SEE PEOPLE COMING IN AND TALKING ABOUT, I WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT, I WAS JUST TALKING TO SO AND SO ABOUT THIS TALKING TO SO AND SO ABOUT THIS THING OR JUST -- THAT WORD OF THING OR JUST -- THAT WORD OF MOUTH THAT HAPPENS AND THAT MOUTH THAT HAPPENS AND THAT EXCITEMENT THAT PEOPLE GET EXCITEMENT THAT PEOPLE GET ABOUT -- ABOUT COMMUNITY ART ABOUT -- ABOUT COMMUNITY ART SPECIFICALLY, ABOUT THIS THING SPECIFICALLY, ABOUT THIS THING THAT'S -- ARTS AS THIS THAT'S -- ARTS AS THIS ACCESSIBLE MEDIUM.

ACCESSIBLE MEDIUM.

YOU KNOW, ANYBODY THAT CAN DO.

YOU KNOW, ANYBODY THAT CAN DO.

ANYBODY CAN PARTICIPATE IN IT -- ANYBODY CAN PARTICIPATE IN IT -- IN HOWEVER WAY THAT THEY -- IN HOWEVER WAY THAT THEY -- THEY'RE INSPIRED TO.

THEY'RE INSPIRED TO.

♪ .

♪ .

>>> THAT DOES IT FOR "CONNECTING >>> THAT DOES IT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" FOR SEPTEMBER 3RD, 2021.

POINT" FOR SEPTEMBER 3RD, 2021.

REMEMBER, YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND REMEMBER, YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND THE STORIES THAT YOU SAW THE STORIES THAT YOU SAW TONIGHT, AS WELL AS EXCLUSIVE TONIGHT, AS WELL AS EXCLUSIVE FEATURES, DIGITAL-ONLY CONTENT, FEATURES, DIGITAL-ONLY CONTENT, AND MORE ONLINE ANYTIME AT AND MORE ONLINE ANYTIME AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

AND PLEASE BE SURE TO JOIN US AND PLEASE BE SURE TO JOIN US AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT AT 6:00 AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT AT 6:00 RIGHT HERE ON NEW ENGLAND PUBLIC RIGHT HERE ON NEW ENGLAND PUBLIC MEDIA FOR MORE STORIES OF THE MEDIA FOR MORE STORIES OF THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

NEW ENGLAND.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A THANKS FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.