he said to me over the phone

The publicist said to me over the phone, something like this:

I watched your film. The story unfolds nicely. The characters are really good. I can see that you can direct. What you've got is a good calling card. It will help you make your next project.

Since you have no names, and no first tier festival premiere, I can't say that I can sell your film. Keep sending it out, see what happens. You never know. If anything big happens, let me know. Dont just apply to first tier festivals. There are some good regional festivals that are known for solid programming; you should apply to those also, so you can make a name of yourself as a director. You never know who is going to see it and love it and do something big with it. But I dont have the power to do that.

He then proceeded to give me the names of the regional festivals I should apply to.

He couched everything so well, and he was enthusiastic and nice. But underneath it all he was saying "no."

This conversation was a good experience, even though he was saying no. Why? Because he wasn't a power wielding asshole. The conversation gave me hope that there are more intelligent, well spoken filmies* to encounter.

* Once on the way to a dinner party, I was dressed up and walking through the cobblestone streets of the west village. A young man decided to walk with me. He told me that his dad is Neil Young, and that his dad uses the word "filmies" to describe movie people. This story is true, but weather or not he is really Neil Young's son, I will never know!