Vanessa McMahon

While waiting for Christopher Nolan to appear on the red carpet at SBIFF 2011, I stood with my buddy Ted Mills, fellow filmmaker/journalist, and we interviewed newcomer filmmakers as they made their way down the red carpet. Ted and I interviewed Botswana filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert about their film, The Last Lions (2010).

After Dereck and Beverly told us they had just seen the screening of their film with the audience that day and had been very nervous about the audience's reaction but were pleasantly surprised.

TED: Okay, so how was it and where did you sit in the theater when your film was showing?

BEVERLY: We sat in the front row.

DERECK: Yes, we sat in the front. We want to smell it. We want to feel it.

TED: You know, because a lot of directors will sit in the back and watch the heads.

DERECK: No, that's too stressful. We've done that.

DERECK: Okay. We watch the walk outs. No, this is actually the first time we've seen it on the big screen so we've been in a sedative mode since we got here so...

TED: What surprised you about seeing it and the response? You know, the audience gasps, or do this, and react?

BEVERLY: Actually, it was wonderful to see that. We wanted to have that live moment and bring the joy and comedy in. You could see that they were riveted to their seats and that was intentional.

ME: You could see the audience reaction from the from row?

DERECK: Yeah, from the front row you could sense it. You don't have to see these things.

TED: Did you have  a Q and A afterwords?

DERECK: Yes, and it went on for a long long time. I was very excited by the fact that people were not only interested in the film but the message and the cause around the film. That's why we did the film so it was nice for people make that connection.

BEVERLY: Absolutely. The plot definitely inspired them and definitely brought much mega awareness to them and especially to the lions.

DERECK: yes, that's for the people who stayed there. The rest of the people that left we have no idea what they think.

ALL: (laugh)

BEVERLY: We didn't have any walk outs. You know that. In fact, I was surprised about that. I thought we might have walk outs. You know people in cities are not used to animals in every aspect, especially animal hunting and I thought we might have one or two walk outs but we had none at all.

TED: Well, we like animals as long as they can have a special role in an animated film or if they can sing and dance, or, you know..

ALL: (laugh)

ME: Congratulations on your film, the first entirely Botswana production. Enjoy your time in Santa Barbara

DERECK/BEVERLY: Thank you both very much.

Then of a sudden, they were whisked down the carpet to hurry inside the theater and Mr. Nolan, the evening guest of honor, arrived.

See National Geographic Entertainment's The Last Lions (2010) by newcomer Botswana filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert, narrated by the much loved voice of Jeremy Irons.

Read this in depth article by The SB Independent: http://www.independent.com/news/2011/jan/31/last-lions-film-festival/

filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert

Dereck Joubert on red carpet at SBIFF