My name is Melody and I'm a world history teacher from Liverpool, NY. I am so glad that I joined Jaman. I have enjoyed each film I've seen so far. If anyone has seen any films, indie, international, etc. that would appeal to my students either as teenagers (hence the subject list) or anything world history and cultural, let me know and I'll view it. I have a feeling I'm going to own quite a few of these films in the near future.

Good luck, all you young, vibrant filmmakers!

As for the introduction questions:

I was born in Mexico, NY (south of Texas, NY) and live in Syracuse, NY. I have little to nothing to do with the film community but I am deeply moved by films. I always viewed mainstream films, but as for foreign, indie and art films, I developed those interests at college many years ago in Washington, D.C., far from my farm. Bergman, Fellini, Renoir, Truffaut, Ozu and Kurasawa. Then at graduate school I helped pick up and deliver films for the local South Asian film community. I remember the thrill of getting a letter from Satyajit Ray (mind you, he answered most of his letters, I'm told).

Until recently I loved to travel, but now I no longer have the energy, time or ability*, so Jaman is my way to see the world through film. I am so excited. I am never a ble to go to film festivals and this is my chance at home.

What do you hope to accomplish in this lifetime? I used to say that I still would like to visit India and Africa before I go. But, if I don't, then I hope to simply succeed in raising my daughter and being helpful to the community around me.

As to the celebrity question: Yes. Oddly, I have, although if you live long enough, you run into Kevin Bacon. No celebrity will ever be as great as my recently deceased father.

So, maybe a fish doesn't need a bicycle, but do you think a fish might want a bicycle sometimes? A bicycle with small buckets would work, wouldn't it?

*married, working full time, exhausted, almost to retirement, developing arthritis, adopted an older child from Sierra Leone late in life, and sandwiched with my elderly parents (dad just passed a month ago).