Machine transcript of a phone recording of Spotify playback (the original audio files are no longer available). Lightly corrected; speaker labels and a few names are best-effort, and anything marked [unclear] or [unverified] needs a listen. Timestamps are from the start of the episode. In fast back-and-forth, short replies are sometimes folded into the other speaker's paragraph.
[0:00] ALEXIS MICHAUD: Welcome to Home with Alexis Michaud. Interesting stories and conversations with the people that make up the fabric of our community. In every episode, we will give a shout out to a local business, provide some home tips, and have an interesting conversation with someone who makes our community a better place to call home. Today, our shout out is to the Las Vegas Film Festival. As an ambassador to this organization, I'm in love with what this group of people are doing for our community, especially for our children. They have events that allow kids to explore screenwriting and film. They're fun and they're educational. Kids can write a short screenplay and work with film students to have it made. They then present the short film on stage, followed by a Q&A session, which teaches these little amazing skills. You'll learn today in this episode how you too can become an ambassador this year. It's a great way to get involved in the community. Tev is the director of development for the Las Vegas Film Festival. Her roots are deep in the Las Vegas community. Her latest venture has her promoting Nevada and Las Vegas as an art scene, and her focus and her new position is film. She discusses what the Las Vegas Film Festival brings to the community and what Nevada means to her. Today on the show we have with us Tev, who is the director of development for the Las Vegas Film Festival. Full disclosure, a cousin who's like a sister and we even went to college together and we're in the same sorority. Yes, yes, all of those things. [unclear], welcome.
[2:06] TEVIS HOLBOROW: Thank you, I'm so excited to be here.
[2:08] ALEXIS MICHAUD: I'm excited to have you here. So we were talking before we started recording that quite honestly, I did not know very much about the film festival until you became involved in it. I knew we had one, it had a different name before, I think.
[2:23] TEVIS HOLBOROW: That's correct. The city actually has multiple film festivals. The one that I work for specifically is the Las Vegas Film Festival. This year is our 13th year. So just like there are so many different options, what are you gonna do with your Friday or Saturday night? Las Vegas, it's kind of limitless. So there are a lot of people, I think, that haven't heard of us because we're a small festival and because I think just there's so many options that unless you go, oh wow, a friend of mine worked on that film locally and I really wanna go see what it's about. You may, you know, we just may not have been on your radar but yeah, there's a lot of different types of films that we bring, things that you couldn't just go to your normal Cineplex and see. And attending a film festival, it's more than just going to a movie. It's an experience. A lot of times somebody that worked on the film is there. So afterwards you can ask them questions. Maybe there's something in the film that you connect with personally. And so afterwards, you know, whoever saw the film there, whether or not they were a friend when you walked in, a lot of time it just creates that conversation. And that's really what I think anything that's artistic is about. It's just about what part of it resonated with you. What do you carry out? And just sparking that connection, that conversation with other people who hopefully care. I mean, being an artist, ultimately, I think you're really just the world's greatest optimist because you're putting yourself out there and saying, I hope somebody cares about this too.
[4:21] ALEXIS MICHAUD: I love that. Wow. So what's been the biggest surprise to you since you've become involved? Like the most pleasant surprise. How's that? Because development is never easy. So what's been the most pleasant surprise?
[4:37] TEVIS HOLBOROW: You know, I was born and raised in this city. And so as much as you think that you know all of the things that it has to offer. I think the people that I've met and connecting with the university, the film department at UNLV, just seeing the things, the passion that the instructors, the professors, the teachers bring, the students. I mean, film festivals are on the whole, not just ours, but they are not these big moneymakers with these huge budgets. In fact, most of them have very little budget rely upon corporate sponsorship. That's part of my role. And also a lot of volunteers. And it's really amazing to see how many people just want to come out and be a part of the experience and donate their time and also learn something. I mean, it's been a while since I was at university, but you go back to yourself in those days and you're just so bright eyed and bushy tailed and looking forward to experience and to diving yourself into, you know, the, your area of study, the thing you feel passionate about and hopefully God willing to living at someday. So I think, I think it's been about, it's been about the people. Of course, who doesn't want to go see a movie too?
[6:08] ALEXIS MICHAUD: Right.
[6:09] TEVIS HOLBOROW: Right.
[6:10] ALEXIS MICHAUD: Talk to me about sponsorships. Last year you had explained to me the ambassadorship program, which I was excited to be a part of. Who are your sponsors right now, if you can say? And then, you know, what do you get in exchange for sponsoring?
[6:26] TEVIS HOLBOROW: I can. And first, I'd just like to thank you for joining our ambassadorship program. You know, we wouldn't be here without all of the people that support us. So you are one of those people, not only do you support me personally, but also the film festival in the arts. So we thank you. Our presenting sponsor is Zappos. They've been with us a few years and are returning this year. Thank you Zappos. Thank you all the people down there for your support in so many ways. Let's see. Ways to get involved. Of course, you know, we can craft or cater to any need, big or small. So if you, if anybody wanted to sponsor us personally, kind of along the ambassadorship program. Basically, what that entails is each year, the ambassador program is limited to 50 people. And you have first right of refusal to continue your ambassadorship. The cost of being an ambassador is $1,000. For that, you get not only exclusive VIP access to everything at the film festival, not just film screenings themselves, but also parties and just special engagement invitations.
[7:57] ALEXIS MICHAUD: But they're over the top fun.
[7:58] TEVIS HOLBOROW: They're over the top fun.
[8:01] ALEXIS MICHAUD: That's what's so cool about the ambassadorship program is you're donating this money, but then you get all, you get multiple experiences. That's what really surprised me. I've never had that presented to me before. It's would you like to make a donation? Sure, I'll support your cause and there you go. But that's why I said, what do you get in return? That you need to, but with the Las Vegas Film Festival, you guys design all of these events for ambassadors and everybody else.
[8:26] TEVIS HOLBOROW: Yeah, and you know, with each passing year and just gaining support, you know, we look forward to adding not only, you know, to the opportunities to come out and see something that you wouldn't normally be able to see, but also just increasing our educational outreach, increasing opportunities for kids, not just at the university level, but from elementary to see what it's like to write a screenplay, which sounds like, oh my goodness, that is a big undertaking to put upon a second grader. But there's so many good people doing good work. And one of those groups is The Writer's Block, an independently owned bookstore located here in downtown Las Vegas. If you haven't been, it's a super cool space. Go check it out. And in an independent bookstore, I mean, they're kind of far and few between. So anyway, through The Writer's Block, they offer youth workshops 100% free of charge, which right there, that's amazing. And kids can go down on the weekends and learn how to write poetry or prose or they're constantly changing the nature of the workshop. [One] of them is that the kids write a screenplay and then from those screenplays they get paired with with university film students who then produce a short film and we show them in the young cinema lab as a portion of the Las Vegas Film Festival which is just it's just great fun. So fun! Yeah all the kids come out, their friends, the parents, and then there's several, you know, maybe around 10 or 12 short films that basically just all started just the vision of a child. And then they get to come and see their words brought to life on the screen in front of their family and friends. And then they talk about it afterwards.
[10:45] ALEXIS MICHAUD: Like a Q&A.
[10:46] TEVIS HOLBOROW: A Q&A.
[10:46] ALEXIS MICHAUD: I love it!
[10:46] TEVIS HOLBOROW: And yeah, it's just, it's one of those things that I wish that we could bring, you know, on a grander scale because it's, it's a [unclear] experience.
[10:54] ALEXIS MICHAUD: Yes!
[10:54] TEVIS HOLBOROW: It really is. So...
[11:01] ALEXIS MICHAUD: And kids are so creative. You get them that young, they're still so creative. It hasn't been...
[11:11] TEVIS HOLBOROW: Oh yeah, I mean, they don't even know. I mean, I mean, I don't think a lot of adults really understand what it means to produce a film. I mean, filmmaking is not shiny. It's not the red carpet. It's actually, you know, a really intense amount of work. And then let alone after that, you know, you're hoping that your film, that somebody wants to pay you money to make another one or that it gets picked up and distributed it. The process is arduous and to your point, kids don't know that yet. They just get told, hey, you're trapped on a desert island. Come up with the character in a storyline and then months later they're sitting in a movie theater going, oh my gosh, there's my character, Lane McGillicuddy on the island, whatever it is. And anyway, it's yeah, it's really, you know, it's seeing magic come to life and I think at the heart of making a movie or a creation, there's still, it's still about following your curiosity and just sharing the magic.
[12:24] Break: home tip (buying a new-build home)
[12:54] Back to the interview
[12:54] ALEXIS MICHAUD: Yes, I love that. Seeing magic come to life, it makes me feel like that should be the tagline for Las Vegas, right? With all of the amazing entertainment that we have. And it's just what you said. So Tev, years ago, did you ever think you would end up director of development for the film festival? What's your background? What's your love? What's your passion? How did you get here?
[13:19] TEVIS HOLBOROW: TBD. Like, right here this morning, I got here in my car. That would be the vehicle that drove me to this very this very cool little sound booth. I can call it that. I'm new to this. So, um, so this is a this is a fun experience for me. You know, I think I've always had an artist heart. So, um, I did not go to film school. I have never made a film aside things, you know, with a home video recorder. You know, back in the day where it's just you and your friends and family cracking up but even that is fun. A childhood friend of mine actually bought the film festival, Milo Kostelecky, thank you Milo. Speaking of somebody who's not actually my sibling but I love like a brother and you like a sister. Just so much good energy. So he had asked me over a year ago, well I guess I've been coming out to the film festivals to support his efforts for quite a while. But in an official capacity a little over a year ago, he said, hey, Tev, is there any chance that you would want to come help me with this film festival? Just increase awareness and just grassroots, ground effort to talk to people about it and let everybody know what we're doing and why we're doing it. And just little by little, you know, not only do we hope to increase, increase, what am I trying to say? Awareness and involvement. Yeah, and to the festival itself, but also that we hope to gain interest in bringing a film society here. And by bringing a film society, what I really mean is just for the community of Las Vegas, just saying, hey, did you hear about that documentary, you know, XYZ and that currently there's not that many places to go see independent film here and to have a home where we can show some of these, some of these films who aren't mainstream or maybe it's student showcase work, or just anything that, the works that come to film festivals themselves often, you're never gonna see on Netflix. And a lot of it is really, really quality work and feel good stuff. This past weekend was the Dam Short Film Festival in Boulder City. They have a great little fest out there. True to the name, they only show short films and I was lucky enough that I got to go see a couple of the blocks, one with our Nana and my dad. And when I left there, you know, I got to go have lunch with with 90 year old plus birdie and talked to her about things that I don't know if they normally would have come up. One of the documentaries was about the federal government had a program during the Depression called [unclear] which was about funding the arts. And so we watched we watched this documentary about the effect that democracy has on the arts basically and that was I mean it was really interesting. It really was and then and then just got to say, you know, hey Nana Like where were you where did you live during those days? And and I think you know that it's just it's just about creating that conversation again Yeah, I'm not sure that I totally answered your question. Did I picture myself doing this? Well, I guess no not directly but but sometimes you know, one thing just leads into another and at the heart of it all it's just about telling a good story and you know whether that's a book or a film or just two people who enjoy each other's company getting together and just, you know, just sharing.
[18:00] ALEXIS MICHAUD: So true, so true. I want to back up and ask so Milo bought the film festival did was he involved in film before that point?
[18:12] TEVIS HOLBOROW: I don't think so.
[18:12] ALEXIS MICHAUD: I don't think so either. And so my point is, what I love is that he did that, you came to it, and it's a love for everything you described and for our community. And we're so lucky to have you here, and him too, obviously.
[18:23] TEVIS HOLBOROW: Yeah, you know, work in just because. I heard someone say, these are not my words, but I'm gonna, I'm gonna use them anyway. I heard someone describe Milo recently, and talking about what he, who he is, what he brings to the festival and just to the community and the gentleman said, you know that game operation? He said the one where if you guys have played, you know, you've got the little pieces and you're holding them with tweezers and you're trying to put the the spleen back where the spleen goes. So touching the wrong thing. Right. Yeah. He said, I feel like if Milo was that game and you opened him up, it would just be all heart. And really and truly, yeah, he just comes at everything from such a genuine place. His only interest is in doing good things for the city that he calls home. So I feel lucky to get to work with him and just to be a part of that. It's just really a feel good. I don't know, can you call it a job when there's There's no work in it.
[19:36] ALEXIS MICHAUD: I was like smiling ear to ear. My cheeks hurt. I love being with you. I love listening to you. So Tev, as a lifelong resident of Las Vegas, although we went away to school and that sort of thing, tell me what your favorite thing is about Nevada or Las Vegas or both?
[19:59] TEVIS HOLBOROW: This one for me is easily. Obviously, it's that my family lives here. Aside from that, it's the mountains. And I think you probably knew that I was going to say that. I think some of just figuring out your formula for happiness is knowing what your visual landscape needs to look like. And my visual landscape needs to have big mountains. So flat is disorienting. It is for me. Super disorienting. Yeah. So I don't know. This desert place, home means Mojave [unclear]. I'm sure you've heard me tell that joke. But it's kind of got to be fierce and fun to live here.
[20:49] ALEXIS MICHAUD: A little hearty.
[20:50] TEVIS HOLBOROW: I think a little bit.
[20:51] ALEXIS MICHAUD: Yeah, I agree.
[20:52] TEVIS HOLBOROW: But I don't know what looks like, smells like home is. And as much as I think Las Vegas has gotten so big, there's so many people. Do I really want to drive into that traffic to go do whatever it is I want to do? Well, I guess for a few more years at least because Las Vegas gets in your blood. It's hard to leave.
[21:16] ALEXIS MICHAUD: It is.
[21:17] TEVIS HOLBOROW: Of course, my family's here. You're here.
[21:19] ALEXIS MICHAUD: Yeah.
[21:20] TEVIS HOLBOROW: And so, you know, family and friends, right? The mountains are amazing. Yes. Family and friends are everything. [If we] were in the middle of a flat area, then I would convince everybody to relocate.
[21:31] ALEXIS MICHAUD: And you're just the right person for that job as it should turn out. Oh, that's so funny! I should be able to get everybody else out of the city to relocate here. So, oh, Tev, this... I cannot wait to be a part of Film Festival. One thing we didn't talk about is when is the Film Festival? When is the right time for people to get involved? And how do they reach you. We're gonna connect all your social media at the Film Festival, everything on the podcast available on iTunes and Spotify, but when is the time to get involved? What can we do to help?
[22:03] TEVIS HOLBOROW: So the Film Festival this year is May 28th through May 31st. That is a Thursday through Sunday.
[22:10] ALEXIS MICHAUD: Is that a holiday weekend or the weekend after?
[22:16] TEVIS HOLBOROW: No, it's actually the weekend after Memorial Day. Great question. Memorial Day is a bit early this year. So it's the weekend after Memorial Day. We are centering the events both on UNLV's campus. They have a brand new theater which I have heard, I've only seen pictures of, but that as far as the seating, the screen, the projection system, that everything is state-of-the-art. And you know we do like to to involve the university students as well. So it'll be good to have some of the films there. And then we also screen some of the films downtown. And a lot of the parties are centered in the downtown area kind of as part of our desire to continue to make that arts district stronger and just bring more culture to the city. So May 28th through the 31st on UNLV's campus and also in downtown Las Vegas. And really, I mean, involvement can be as great or as little as you want. You can start today. You can start tomorrow, the arts, film, all of that. It's an ongoing labor of love. So whether you want to get involved as a volunteer or you're interested in personal or corporate sponsorship, we are a nonprofit organization as well. So if you have a foundation, anything like that, we can fit your needs. There is a place for you to give your love in whatever form that takes.
[24:08] ALEXIS MICHAUD: Okay, and the one thing I wanna point out is with the, which is the smaller donation, the ambassador program, It's not just events during the film festival, it's all year long. So that's such a fun thing if people are listening and saying, well, we're gonna be out of town that weekend or whatever it is, hold on, you'll get to be involved in film and what's going on in this community through the film festival throughout the year.
[24:30] TEVIS HOLBOROW: Yeah, the Ambassador Program is really a lot of fun. It is limited to that first 50 people and then throughout the year, the things that you get invited to are really, really special opportunities, things that you couldn't just purchase tickets to. And then you also, you know, get to surround yourself with other people interested in, you know, furthering the arts in the city and just meeting like-minded souls. That's a really neat way to connect.
[25:03] ALEXIS MICHAUD: Tev, the show is about the amazing individuals who make Las Vegas a wonderful place to call home and you are clearly one of those people. Thank you for being on the show.
[25:07] TEVIS HOLBOROW: Thank you so much for having me.
[25:12] ALEXIS MICHAUD: I love listening to Tev talk about the power of community, what Milo Kostelecky is doing for the film festival and what Tev is doing as the director of development. It made me think about some of my favorite quotes. The first one is by Coretta Scott King. The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members. And the last one by Helen Keller, alone we can do so little and together we can do so much.
