It's weird being both a prop in a media event and also a filmmaker covering it.
But Boston 2004 is a weird thing.

It seems that what can, and what can't be photographed is backwards.

Our first night here - Sunday - before the convention began, we were shooting sights and sounds and ended up at a Rock The Vote event at a night club called "Avalon" next to Fenway park. The crowd was big, the street teaming with people, and the club a 'no-picture' zone. Not because of RTV -but the club owners who said that they'd been sued too many times buy patrons who'd had their pictures taken. Each person entering was searched for cameras. And each person had a cell phone (most with cameras). Once inside DJ BizMarkee was great- and Al Sharpton was very strong. And I would have used the pictures in the film for sure. But nope.

Then Monday night - at the Fleet Center - cameras were EVERYWHERE. DV, beta, 24p, 16mm, all shooting everything that moved. The funny hats the speeches, each other.

It was more than a media free for all. It was a technology free for all. There were bloggers. There were DV crews for ABC news. There were wireless laptops. Everyone was wired. And everyone was taking pictures. When speakers roused the audience, a sea of cell phones was at the ready. Click Click Click.

Whatever Avalon thinks - picture taking isn't going to be ruled out of existence. It's going to be the order of the day - and that's clear in Boston.

Now all we need to do is remember that America is a free speech zone - not a cage off on a dirt parking lot. But that's a debate for another day... I'm off to hear John Edwards