SAGIndie

Well, it’s over. That’s right, stick a fork in it, Sundance 2007 is DONE!! And I’m not even hung over.

O.K, anyone who doesn’t know us, must be reading all these references to drunkenness and think that we are a bunch of lushes, more interested in drinking excessively and debauchery than in doing the serious SAG/SAGIndie business at hand.

I don’t have a response for that, I’m just noting that that must be what those people think.

Actually, we pride ourselves in being able to do both. We educate, we entertain, we consume without getting sloppy, and we leave a place having more fun than before we got there. Just ask the people of Blind Dog Restaurant where we had our annual “Last Night of the Fest” Dinner. This is where I take the whole staff, our publicist, Rene, and our Sundance Sponsor Liaison, Cynthia, out to dinner to thank them for a job well done. I have to say, and I know we have the head of Sundance’s Sponsor Dept., Ben Kim to thank for this, but we have always had the coolest sponsor liaisons in Sundance. Strangely, we never seem to have the same one, twice. (hhmmm, is it us? can’t be!) This year, our gal Friday was Cynthia, who turned out to be a gal after our own hearts. She looks shockingly like a younger Catherine Keener (who the SAGIndie group collectively find both talented and hot). Dinner was a great time, and everyone was, I believe, sufficiently thanked.

Now, for my last full day of Sundance, I saw a couple of movies that I had great hopes for. First, Broken English by Zoe Cassavetes (dang, that’s a talented family). This film, starring Parker Posey, Drea De Matteo, Justin Theroux (he was everywhere in this festival) and a Frenchman named Melvil Poupard (not to mention, Zoe’s mommy, Gena Rowlands). I liked this film, though I by no means feel is will set cinema on fire. It’s a story about a 30 something (Posey) who is stuck in angst over getting older, wanting a relationship, and just surviving the general fear she feels about her life. Nothing new, but still an enjoyable film.

Not so for The Ten. A virtual who’s who is in this film, and I can only assume that extortion had a part in casting. The director, David Wain, and two of the actors, Paul Rudd and Ken Marino, all produced this film that is a series of vignettes that represent the 10 Commandments (should that be capitalized??). Let’s just say that they made me miss Charleton Heston. Really. There wasn’t a funny vignette amongst them - unless you consider it hilarious to do a story where every sentence is designed to include the term, ass-rape. O.K., it’s a prison vignette, and that fact doesn’t make it any funnier. However, the people they got in this film? Unbelievable! Gretchen Mol (arguable the one who came off the best), Jessica Alba, Janeane Garafalo, Famke Jannsen, Winona Ryder, Liev Schreiber, the list goes on! I just don’t get what they thought they had, but they didn’t. It was a lousy way to end my film going experience at Sundance. So here is my list of films that I saw, and the order in which I like them.

1. Rocket Science (go see in August!)

2. Dedication (Billy Crudup - fantastic)

3. Broken English

Year of the Dog

5. Weapons

6. Teeth

7. The Ten

All in all, I’ve seen more films here this year than every before. Our events went great, with people like Kevin Bacon, Regina King, Nick Cannon, Mizuo Peck (Night at the Museum and really, people, totally hot babe!), Christopher Kennedy Lawford, and more all attending the Actors Only Brunch. Jeffrey Blitz (ROCKET SCIENCE) was the perfect co-host for the Filmmakers Luncheon.

We had a good time, Sundance. But after 8 days, we are going to catch the first thing smoking out of this place. Los Angeles, here we come!!

Since those of us still under the employ of SAGIndie accidentally forgot (how soon we forget) our dear departed (and newly named septuagenarian) leader’s birthday, I’d like to extend a belated "Happy Birthday" to Paul, who has finally, finally earned the right to use his Sr. Citizen discount. Hooray for you, Paul!

I’m going to attempt to make this entry short as there is a rousing (drunk) discussion (argument) occurring behind me re: Larry Clark/pro vs con that I would really like to join.

ANYWAY, since we last spoke, dear readers, I have seen a few more films (The Nines, Waitress, The Go Getter and tomorrow The Ten) and more than my share of the bottom of a beer bottle. I’ll return to this to deliver my views once we return to HQ in LA, but I simply cannot wait to let everyone know that they must see The Go Getter. I walked out of that film today feeling like I was ending one of the best days of my life. It was beautifully shot and funny and moving and managed to capture two people falling in love without resorting to a montage of tickle fights.

(Plus, Zooey Deschanel is a fox and that always helps.)

eliza

So you’ve heard from our own Eliza on her first experiences at Sundance. Truth is, she still has a lot to see and do. It’s not really Sundance until you see some….uh…….professional-type women wearing a mini-skirt, tank top, high heels, leg warmers and a parka. Yeah, uh, it’s like 3 below, PUT SOME DAMN CLOTHES ON!

Anyhow, I’ve been here so many times it’s all so droll. Naw. I’ve actually watched more movies in the last two days than I usually get to see in the entire week we’re here! Some have been o.k., some horrible, and some great. And I’ve done it all without drinking excessively (o.k., maybe someone should define excessively). I have to agree with Eliza about Chicago 10. The movie is really pretty good. Brett Morgan managed to go through hours and hours of footage and transcripts and managed to put together a fascinating story that is historically accurate and relevant today. It should be shown at ever high school and college in the country. Friday, I saw WEAPONS. Let’s just say, not a favorite. But I do have to say (and not because we’re affiliated with SAG) that it wasn’t the actors’ fault. They did their best to tell a story that was never fresh, interesting, or well-paced. An hour later, all was forgiven because I saw ROCKET SCIENCE. This was a tricky situation for me because not only was the writer/director one of our co-hosts for the FILMMAKERS ONLY BRUNCH here in Sundance, but he’s an old friend of mine from film school (yeah, I went to film school. What of it?!). So I went to see the film with great trepidation. What if I hated it? What would I say? Well, I LOVED it. It was entertaining and nuanced and showed a great understanding into humanity and life. His writing makes me think of THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS and/or THE SQUID AND THE WHALE, both of which I loved. I am so proud to call him friend. Not to mention how much I loved his first films, the Oscar nominated documentary, SPELLBOUND. Yeah, I’m bragging for him, but he deserves it. And finally, he deserves it because he’s one of the nicest guys I know.

Eh, enough about him - he’s not paying me to be his publicist (but if he wanted to………….). Since that filmic high, I have since had my world bombarded with mediocrity. I know that Eliza liked TEETH more than I. I went in expecting a crazy, dark comedy with a kind of vicious sense of humor (a la HEATHERS). Nope. It had all the set-up, but never could see it through. I was disappointed. Tonight, I saw Mike White’s directing debut YEAR OF THE DOG. It stars Molly Shannon, Laura Dern, Peter Sarsgaard, and our ACTORS ONLY BRUNCH co-host, Regina King. I definitely liked the film. Didn’t love it, but it was a good experience. Mike White wrote a surprisingly heartfelt and sensitive film about how far you would go for love (but with a twist). Nearly the whole cast was there for the film, including new daddy Sarsgaard. Truly a bevy of stars. So tomorrow is our first big event (we’ve already had two smaller events). The ACTORS ONLY BRUNCH. It’s always a madhouse when you have to deal with stars and their handlers. Still, it wouldn’t be much fun at the brunch if they didn’t come. Plus, we pride ourselves in giving all the actors a chance to just sit down and eat and talk to one another. Those who come, seem to enjoy themselves.

And finally, I had one of those lovely and painful experiences today. No, I’m not cutting myself again. The crew and I went to the state liquor store to pick up some……….uh……..party favors. When I went to pay for my favor, the cashier asks to see my ID. Great! She looks, then looks at me and says……….WOW! As in, WOW, I didn’t think you were that old. O.K., I’m trying to concentrate on the part that says that I look good for my age and that I can pass for younger - but I can’t get past the part that I am apparently at an age where someone would say WOW, you’re THAT old?! Ooh, it stings. I feel like going to bed early and humming some Bay City Rollers “SATURDAY NIGHT” until I get to dreamland. Old? Me?! Nah!

First off, I’m going to have to apologize for the lack of pictures, hyperlinks and other accoutrement (harrumph, harrumph), as we have to suffer through a measly dial-up connection (yeah I had never heard of it either!!) here in picturesque Park City, UT. Also, I am feeling a little stale right now, so excuse while I fix myself a drink. This writing gig don’t come easy, you know…

(Drink #1) We all attended the opening night film, Chicago 10, which was fantastic. I’m probably biased, as a terribly homesick Chicagoan. I left the theater with the feeling that such an impressive endeavor and opening night film by Brett Morgen could only mean great films were to come for the rest of the fest. The film covers the trial of several young men involved in the riots of the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago. It combines an impressive mix of archival footage, rotoscope animation, re-enactments and voice overs from Jeffrey Wright, Nick Nolte, Roy Schneider, and Hank Azaria. (Drink #2) In the Q&A afterwords, Morgen spoke of his hope that, by watching the film, one would feel as though they had experienced Chicago, and I truly believe he achieved this.

Yesterday, after attending the LDS Film Fest in Orem, UT with Scott for a panel, I realized I had  mistakenly booked tickets to two films at the same time, so I skipped a documentary on Darfur, called The Devil Came on Horseback with Scott for the presumably more palatable Mitchell Lichtenstein film, Teeth, with DMG. (Drink #3) To be honest, my expectations weren’t very high for this, and while I walked out with my expectations greatly exceeded, I’m having trouble figuring out just who I would recommend this film to.

The second film yesterday was a midnight showing of m dot strange’s We Are the Strange, a multi-media feature made entirely by strange himself in his bedroom on his computer. I should have known that it was going to be a rough night when a large woman who smelled strongly of barfy farts sat down next to me. As I sat gagging on whatever odor wafted from this woman into my winter weary nostrils, two plebeians sat down behind me and proceeded to carry on the most inane conversation. I realize that this was a midnight movie, which tend to be a little more lenient, and I am also aware that I can be a notoriously picky movie-goer, but (Drink #4) my passive aggressive white girl over the shoulder glares only made the situation worse, because then they started talking about me. I spent the duration of the short film and the first 30 minutes of the feature concentrating not on the mindfuck of a film, but on how I would be able to dump a 64 oz Diet Coke on her head without getting my squirrelly ass kicked.

Once I was able to finally block the buttheads behind me out of my mind, my attention turned to the vapid Abercrombie couple in front of me.  They spent the whole time  writing secret notes on each others backs, one letter at a time, to the tune of: "U horny?" "No" "Now?" "No" "NOW?!?!" "Yeah, a little." "Let’s go." "Ok." "Head?" "No" "Pls?!?!" "Ok"… When they finally left, after a 5 minute pow wow with everyone else in their row, I was beyond even being able to catch up on the film. Either that or I was too sober or too stupid to get it. What I can say, however, is that the film was visually stunning and defies any explanation, and if you have a lot of drugs or don’t need a thread of a narrative it should be worth it to track it down.

Today (Drink #5) Scottie "2 Hottie" Garner picked up the long long step brother of SAGIndie, Michael, while DMG and I worked a panel at the library with SAG President Alan Rosenberg. In a few hours, we will all brave the flurries to attend the much anticipated Mike White directorial debut, Year of the Dog, after which I am sure we will all return to our respective condos totally sober and in time to get a good night’s sleep for tomorrow, when we host the first of our two parties, the Actor’s Only Brunch. Not hung over. At all. That’s totally going to happen. I prrrromish.

eliza

The San Francisco International Film Festival, committed to celebrating the art of the moving image, has presented the best in world cinema since 1957. Now, the 15-day Festival presents nearly 200 films from over 50 countries and reaches an engaged audience of tens of thousands of film lovers, filmmakers, industry representatives and journalists with screenings in San Francisco, Berkeley and the Peninsula. The Festival highlights current trends in international film and video production with an emphasis on work that has not yet secured U.S. distribution.

The Golden Gate Awards is the competitive section for documentaries, shorts, animation, experimental, youth-produced and work for television. Juries award cash prizes ranging up to $5,000 in ten of the 14 categories.

First features by emerging filmmakers are eligible for the SKYY Prize, which includes a $10,000 cash award and was established in 1997 by the Festival and premier sponsor SKYY Vodka to recognize a director whose film exhibits a unique artistic sensibility.

The Festival also invites recent feature-length narratives and documentaries and archival presentations from around the globe, special awards and tributes recognizing individual achievement.
Details: http://www.sffs.org/festival/index.html

Details: http://www.tribecafilmfestival.org/

Direct link to film guide: http://www.tribecafilmfestival.org/tixSYS/2006/filmguide/title-detail.php

Nashville Film Festival (NaFF) is hosted by the Regal Green Hills Stadium 16 in the Green Hills area of Nashville, Tennessee. With nearly 16,000 people attending the 2006 edition, it is rapidly becoming one of the best-known arts events in Tennessee and is the biggest, most international film festival in the mid-South.

Each year, NaFF receives submissions of over 1700 films from all over the world. Last year, 244 films from over 40 countries were selected. NaFF provides the only opportunity to see many of these films in this region of the U.S.
Because it takes place in “Music City,” Nashville Film Festival places special focus on music in films with its “Music Films in Music City” section and two special music awards. Additionally, NaFF has special sections for late night screenings, gay & lesbian films, and, for children, our KidCinema section.

Details: http://nashvillefilmfestival.org/

The Phoenix Film Festival is the largest attended festival in Arizona with over 15,000 attendees in past years.
Details: http://www.phoenixfilmfestival.com/

Film Independent’s 2007 Spirit Awards ceremony takes place on Saturday, February 24. The Spirit Awards will be broadcast live on IFC (Independent Film Channel) with an edited re-broadcast airing later that evening on AMC. Be sure to tune in!

As the first event to honor independent film exclusively, Film Independent’s Spirit Awards has made a name for itself as the premier awards event for the independent film community. It’s a celebration of the spirited pioneers who bring a unique vision to filmmaking.

Along with being a great party, the Spirit Awards ceremony also brings together the top talent from independent film and Hollywood. Trophies are presented for the years’ best achievements in independent film, with statues awarded for Best Feature, Best First Feature, Best Feature Made for Under $500,000 (the John Cassavetes Award), and many more.

Keeping with its roots and L.A. location, the Spirit Awards takes place each year inside a beachfront tent in Santa Monica. Currently in its 22nd year, the show is as original as the films and filmmakers it honors.

Winners are chosen by those in the know: Film Independent members, with voting privileges extended to IFP members. Voters attend nominee screenings and view nominated films through Netflix before selecting the Spirit Awards winners.
Details: http://filmindependent.org/spiritawards/

The SXSW FILM CONFERENCE AND FESTIVAL emphasizes on all aspects of the art and business of independent filmmaking. The Festival has gained international acclaim for the quality of its programming with a special focus on emerging talents who bask in being included in the company of the cinematic greats whose work is regularly presented. The SXSW Film Conference will take place March 9 - 13, 2007. The SXSW Film Festival runs from March 9 - 17, 2007.

Festival Details: http://2007.sxsw.com/