After my fabulous trip to LA/Newport Beach I arrived home and as I expected, depressed and dejected at leaving the 'centre of the filmmaking universe. People had told me  before I departed that I would really connect with LA, but 'wow' I did not expect such a strong connection. To add to my depression, I found my websites and email addresses 'locked' down due to a virus. My IT guy could not be contacted and as he had all the passwords, I had to begin the long job of proving the sites were mine. (even though there is a picture of me on the front page?) Long story short, I now have all of my emails and websites under my control and in full operation. Yea for me !! The damage caused was that all of my business cards given out were directing people to an email address I couldn't access. The result of this is that if you kindly email'ed me - I did not receive it. Bummer. And so, I'm saying a quick 'hello from Ireland' and hoping to catch up with my new friends in LA.

For your amusement, let me tell you of my LA adventure. My arrival was delayed by the nice folks in Chicago immigration who opened  only 5 lanes for the more than 500 people who queued to get in. Luckily, the nice folks in ATC delayed my plane to LA by 3 hours and so, I made my flight. Thanks Liam for picking me up at 02:00 in the morning. Cool Guy.

Thursday 09:00 My 'Hollywood Field Trip' begins. Jen drove us by mini-bus to meetings with Lawyers, Producers and Agents start the process of my conviction that if you want to make films - get to LA. The day finished with a meal with the 'Hollywood Field Trip' group - Nice bunch of people. Let's keep in touch.

Friday - More meetings - Andrew at the wheel - a great and valuable day, finished with drinks in a cocktail bar on the 18th floor, overlooking the sun setting on Santa Monica Pier. Could life get better? Enter Frankie J Allison. He pointed me to a cocktail 'Frankie style' which did the job very well. One of life's good guys - cheers Frankie.

Saturday - Hire a car and rush to Newport to see my film showing at 11:00. Damn, the hire car places don’t open till 9:30 on Saturday and Newport is over an hour away. So, my first experience of the 9-Lane I-5 was at high speed while trying to read a map! (no Sat-Nav available). I would not have made it to my film, were it not for Bart Tucker. On arrival to the wrong cinema complex he sped me to the correct cinema in his car, and then brought me back again afterwards. As it turns out, his wife Erika was my programmer for the festival. I could write volumes on Erika, I will just say that I have a new friend for life and am privileged that that is Erika.

The good folks at the festival knew that this was my 51st birthday and arranged to get me to a cocktail party in the afternoon, and to an evening party to finish off the evening. Are you spotting a trend? One of my best birthdays EVER!

Sunday through Thursday the people at the festival demonstrated why Newport Beach is the best festival in the world. The best films, the best parties, the nicest people, the best parties (worth saying twice). The most interesting thing was that they all believe that the FILMMAKER is the most important person for the festival, imagine that?

That would sound very strange to a lot of festival organisers who believe that THEY are the life-blood of the festival. Go figure?

A big 'Hello' and 'I WILL see you again' to Erika, Adam, Dennis, Gregg and all the ladies who looked after me in the Filmmakers Lounge. (Yes, other festival, there was a filmmakers lounge!) While I was at the festival I also met with some top festival programmers, actors and fun people; Steve, Maureen, Joe Mac, John as well as some of the loveliest filmmakers from across the globe.

Friday - Back to LA to meet Gordie Hoffman. He was working on a feature script with me. We arranged lunch so he could deliver his notes. This guy is a genius.

As if the trip could not get better, I met Rosie & her friend Joan who took good care of me and showed me all the sights of LA, even getting me a free entry into the sold out Egyptian festival as well as a night out with Freddie and Jarvee in the VIP section of a well known nightclub. I had arrived !!

What next? - I am going to continue working on my feature script "Point of no return' and have started another feature script which may be even better than the first. I will film an oscar level short which I will send to Newport Beach and dream of getting back to LA and the best festival in the world.