Johnnie Brannon
The time I moderated a Twin Peaks panel with Sheryl Lee and Sherilyn Fenn | Spa Con 2017

July 17, 2017. I got a message from Bill Solleder on Facebook. Bill is well known through out Hot Springs. Very well known. I had met Bill years before when I submitted my 48 Hour Film Sensitivity Training to the Arkansas Shorts Film Festival. He's a well liked guy and one of the nicest guys I ever met.
Back to that message. 11:34 AM. I was teaching a summer film course in North Little Rock.
Bill: Johnnie, you're a big Twin Peaks fan?/
Me: Oh Yeah!
Bill: Are you watching the current series?
Me: I am...haven't missed an episode.
Bill: You know, Spa Con is hosting two Twin Peaks celebs, yes?
Me: I do! That's very exciting!
Bill: We are looking for someone to moderate the Twin Peaks panel, Johnnie.
Now by this time...I had an inkling that he was about to ask me if I was interested in moderating. I mean...Twin Peaks is kind of a thing to me. David Lynch in particular. I wouldn't call myself a super fan...but I love David Lynch and I love Twin Peaks.
Both are inspirations to my own work. Now, back to that message.
Me: Oh Wow! When is the event again?
Bill: The panel is Sunday Sept 24 at noon.
Johnnie: Couldn't remember the exact date. Had my hand in several projects
as of late. That's pretty incredible!
Bill: Jen Gerber is going to moderate the Shannon Purser/Stranger Things panel
on the Saturday.
Me: That's awesome!
There is a three hour window here before Bill got back with me.
Bill: Are you interested in moderating?
Now I'm freaking out....only on the inside!

Me: Absolutely! (Screaming internally. Is this really going to happen?)
Bill: You moderate Laura Palmer and Audrey Horne. You won't lose your mind
at the podium will you?
Me: I'll get it out now so I can keep my composure then. That's very exciting!
Thank you for the opportunity.
Bill: We need to come up with talking points and questions. I figured you'd be good at this.
Actually...I'm not.
Me: Absolutely! No problem at all. Massive Twin Peaks fan here so it should be a piece of cake!
The rest is history. What you can't see in the video is how nervous I am. I had just met Sherilyn Fenn and she was nice. Sheryl Lee was quiet. I wanted to make sure the audience could get some questions in and they really had fun with it. As we are wrapping up, I got a chuckle out of the gals when my mic fell off the stand and into my lap. They were gracious and kind when I asked if I could get a photo with them.
Check out the video. It was both the most terrifying and exciting moment in my life.