Listen To My Heart - Robert Emery, Dallas, TX

[mediaman6]

@ Peter,T RUST ME. It pushed the envelope in its day! Does anyone know where to reach Renee Olds? I miss her so much.

[RobertEmeryVideo]

@mediaman6

I dont know where Miss Olds is today. I think about her often, and would love to know. If you discover her whereabouts, please let me know.

[PeterKsfo]

With all respect, I find the video ironically a bit homophobic and confusing! I feel the viewer is initially led to believe that the groom is marrying the woman in the white dress. Only at the end is it revealed that the two men are being married....but stops short of showing them kiss as if it were dirty or wrong. The kiss is a normal, healthy conclusion to a wedding. Consider pushing your audience's comfort zone a little. Thanks for your work and for considering the feedback.

[RobertEmeryVideo]

Dear Peter (I'm guessing that's your name),

Thank you very much for your comment. You make a very good point about "the kiss". One of my "grooms" would not 'go there' for me, and I had to respect his wishes. We made this video almost 20 years ago; and I suspect he would feel differently today.

[PeterKsfo]

Greetings Robert--- thanks for your reply comments...which are intended to be positive and constructive, not a slam at all. It is quite a nice video, and I love that you use the David Friedman/Nancy LaMott music which is beautiful.

Your added info about this being 20 years old does add some perspective. I can understand some of the subtleness....as people were in a different place with thoughts of gay marriage, and so I can appreciate your softer approach for that time period.

[RobertEmeryVideo]

Thank you for understanding the time period, and political atmosphere, in which this video was created.

[RobertEmeryVideo]

Also, you are correct: it was my intention, all those many years ago, to 'bring the audience into' the video with your initial impression of a hetero wedding; thereby forcing them to notice if they had any change in sentiments when a 'new couple' was ultimately revealed.

[RobertEmeryVideo]

"Pushing my audience's comfort zone" was precisely my goal, and I did it by (hopefully) surprising them a bit at the end. I hope this surprise challenges them to open themselves up to all possibilities of love and marriage; or, at the very least, notice if they felt differently about the images when the gay couple was finally depicted.

In conclusion, that may be the beauty of all ART: I had one intention in mind, and the viewer makes his own judgements based on his own experience.

[petergunnswilde]

Robert,

This was lovely! Thanks!

Peter

[mittdawson]

I think I have something in my eye!....nope that's me tearing up, that was wonderful...what singer is that?, who wrote that song?...very nice, thanks!...Mitt

[TeePeeJay]

I am WoW'd - Great Video!

[erikt6]

that was a really nice video, great job! -Erik