BLOOD TIES director Kely McClung hits the big time!

Puerto Rico, Isla del Encanto. We’ve only seen a small part of it, but enough to know it’s not what we expected. Tropical without being lush, small pockets and glimpses of beauty within the poverty and reality of living on an island. Still, the ocean breezes and the smiles and generosity of the people allow it to retain it’s charm. Would I come back? Oh yeah, and hope to if only for the Rincon Int’l Film Festival next year.

My girl and I came here to relax, be together, and reconnect before I fully embrace the obsession that is KERBEROS. We’ve seen quite a few films, and even more for me, taken the time to absorb the energy of other filmmakers sharing their enthusiasm for each others work and possibilities glimpsed for their future.

Our film, BLOOD TIES was shown to a smaller audience than I wanted, of course I am still dreaming of sold out crowds at the Georgia Dome, but the response was thoughtful, enthusiastic, and uniformly positive. The subsequent questions and comments over the past few days reaffirms its reception and merit from old and young alike.

Like the other fests we’ve attended, I have tended to sit back -- not push, and make friends from easy conversation with no agenda. And I have definitely made a couple new friends. More to come about them soon...

I have also gotten the chance to just look at my girl, to share a bit of easy adventure and conversation with her, and to realize just how lucky I am to have her put up with me.

Have I made it big yet? Being here makes me redefine both the question and the answer. I’m on a tropical island with a beautiful girl who loves me, island breezes cooling off the tropical sun, distracting myself from the upcoming tasks making KERBEROS by earning and receiving respect for BLOOD TIES. Yeah, pretty sure this is THE BIG TIME!