Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2002 13:17:58 EST
Subject: Sundance Update
Hello from Park City, Utah.
It is cold here and it just started to snow about 1/2 hour ago. The high altitude is very striking. You can get winded just walking up the steps to your housing.
Sundance is totally overwhelming. Lots of people, lots of celebrities - although my star sighting list is very small right now. So far only the farmer from BABE PIG IN THE CITY and Robin Williams. I spent the first day literally wandering the streets dumbly wondering what to do. Everyone we talk to (filmmakers) feels the same thing - it's as if opportunity is staring you down and you are hocking your meager goods nervously: "um, this is my film about an albino killer and um...uh...?
Robin Williams was at the first screening for our film, which was last night at midnight. We are the short preceding a film called TEKNOLUST. We had to get up and intro our film, we were very nervous. It all feels so professional. We have FILMMAKER badges and everyone calls me MR PRENDERGAST.
So we introduced the movie and then sat in the dark, terrified that something would go wrong. Sadly, something small did go wrong - there was some sort of technical mistake on the part of the projectionist and about 20 seconds into the film the screen went BLACK! for about 10 seconds. If you have ever had a full-on raging heart attack, you will know how I felt.
BUT! LUCKILY! The audience response was INCREDIBLY positive and I must admit that if the film had to black out - it was the only possible moment that didn?t hurt the story. They missed just the end of the first shot - of the albino following her up the hill.
The audience roared with laughter at the beginning (when you first see the albino) and throughout the whole movie. There was even actually applause for the scene when Anna measures the albino and then takes his picture with his own camera. (my apologies if you haven't seen the film and don't know what I'm talking about).
There were big laughs for Pat's (Anna's) lines about being sick "again" and the "emergency room." And at the end of the film when the albino says "I'm going to kill you" and Anna responds "I know" there was a really great response: some guys in the front began to sort of scream (!) hoot and laugh, and there was general unrest and laughter and then furious applause at the end. A big laugh at the black out - I think because people couldn't believe that she would let him be in the house after saying that. Big KUDOS to you Pat - I wish you had been there - the audience really loved your performance.
We stood in the lobby afterwards and handed out flyers. Lots of great response - some industry weirdos. Everyone here, even the people sitting on the bus and in line at the deli, are industry people.
Tilda Swinton was in the feature that followed our short. It?s a strange sci-fi movie called TEKNOLUST. We congratulated Tilda on her film and she said "thank you" politely and walked away. She is very beautiful in real life.
I have seen 5 movies so far and only two have been good: STORYTELLING and LOVE LIZA. Watch for the movie LOVE LIZA - so good! The other three features were SURPRISINGLY bad. All the features have shorts in front of them - and the shorts are all fantastic. Much better than most of the features. Some really, really great shorts.
That's it for now - we have 4 more screenings at the end of the week. Pat (Anna) will be here we hope if she gets over the walking pneumonia. (not a joke) Get better Pat!
Looking forward to seeing all of you who are coming. Bring a towel! And drink water on the plane! Lots of water!
Thanks for all of your emails, support. I will let you know if I see Jennifer Aniston or Sarah Polley. Oh! I did see and stand next to RALPH MACCHIO (the karate MAN). He also has a short here. Odd.
More later
Scott
Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2002 22:28:48 EST
Subject: more sundance update
Of all the people.
Although I have often criticized Mr. Williams for movies like WHAT DREAMS MAY COME - I must lay all that aside now.
Tonight I was interviewed by the Oregonian and the journalist (Shawn Levy) told me that Robin Williams (who has made a few questionable movies but must be Jesus at heart) gave us some nice publicity.
He was interviewed by a panel of journalists, and at the end, when asked what films he had seen here at Sundance he said "well I saw TEKNOLUST last night, but I have to tell you the short before it..."
He faltered for the name and Shawn Levy shouted out "Anna is being stalked?"
And Robin Williams (bless him, bless him) said "Yeah, that's it. You have to see it - you'll laugh your ass off."
PLEASE go out and rent PATCH ADAMS tonight.
Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2002 17:03:21 EST
Subject: Moredance
Oh JUMANJI!
Robin Williams appeared on E! News Daily (the E! Channel) today and mentioned our film - he said it was wonderful. If you can watch E news daily today - try to tape it! I guess he got the name kind of wrong (Oh Batch Adams!) but he mentioned us. I think he called it "Anna is stalked" or something. But hey, come on, we can forgive him.
I take back all the evil things I said about MOSCOW ON THE HUDSON.
Sundance is still overwhelming. We keep having to run around and promote our movie. Sundance is really all about the features. The shorts are tacked on to the whole thing. It is a huge honor but it's not really about us. We have been approached by several distributors and will probably sign with someone tomorrow. Last night we went to a party for Atom films. Actually Gabe went - I left when the drunk female CEO started screaming at the people in line: "All you chicks go home - we want some MEN at this party!"
There is a woman staying in our condo who is very sick. She is sleeping in our room. She has been asleep for 24 hours. No one is sure who she is or if she is alive. We stood around her trying to decide if we should shake her. We did not shake her. She is a Sundance volunteer.
There are people sleeping in the closets in our condo. There are people sleeping in the bathroom. There are people from New Zealand sleeping on the floor in the living room. We are lucky - we got bunks.
There is a place called the DIGITAL CENTER - where I am now. All the big companies are demo-ing there really, really cool software and hardware. We went up to the APPLE booth and told them we cut our film on their software. They added us "ANNA IS BEING STALKED" to their big promo board.
After we had been talking to the guy for about 10 minutes he was staring at me in a funny way and then he said "You're not that albino, are you?" I said yes and he got really excited. He would NOT stop shaking my hand. He had seen our first screening (the same one HOOK saw) and he loved our movie. He liked it better than the feature and was very vocal about it. He was still shaking my hand.
He insisted that we bring a copy of the movie to him so he could download it and show it in their digital center here. That's what I'm doing now.
The man at the computer next to me has just asked me in a nervous voice if I am the albino.
Things are going well.
Last night went to the HUMAN NATURE premiere and saw Patricia and Rosanna Arquette and Spike Jonze and all sorts of celebrities.
I have cut my face very badly while shaving in two different spots. I am bleeding.
Someone please try to tape the live report from Sundance with Robin Williams on E News daily - I think it should be on again today.
And for the love of god, rent AWAKENINGS tonight.
Scott
Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2002 13:33:44 EST
Subject: slo-dance
Not much going on today. Except that I have convinced myself that I have the walking pneumonia. Or perhaps the disease that killed the girl in our condo. Said dead girl has disappeared (!). Is this good or bad? She was in bed for 48 hours motionless and then she was GONE! No one in the condo knows who she was or where she went. Welcome to Sundance.
The people in the APPLE digital center downloaded our film finally, after I sat there waiting for about 1/2 hour. It turns out that the somewhat snotty woman standing next to me watching them download my film was none other than Jerri Manthey from Survivor 2. What is she doing here? Desperately hanging on to her fleeting, fleeting 2 seconds of fame. She was pricing APPLE digital systems. To make her feature no doubt: "Jerri Manthey 2, Electric Boogaloo." Then she got in her Jerri Manthey-mobile and drove away.
While watching my film in the APPLE digital center I met the Stupidest Woman Alive. Yes, everyone comes to Sundance. She had apparently heard about our film somehow and when it came on the monitor she turned to me and said, "Oh, this is the albino movie." And I said "yeah, that's me" pointing to the screen. She looked at the movie, laughed and said "Oh his T-shirt says 'ANNA' - that's so funny! Did you see that?" As I had just told her that the person in that T-shirt was me, I wasn't sure how to respond to this. Then when Pat appeared onscreen, this brainless person said to me, "Oh, who's that? Your actress?" Is there a correct response to questions of this caliber? She then asked me "Is he following her? Does he want to kill her? Did you make this movie? Are you an albino? Where was this shot? How do I get there? What are these 5 long fleshy tube things attached to my hand?"
Last night I was taken to a party where Rosanna Arquette was the DJ. (hence - no Peter Gabriel music) Rosanna Arquette is an interesting person who likes to shake while playing records. She was literally shaking as if she were taken with the St. Vitus' dance. But the music was good. I saw Josh Brolin there. (Goonies alum).
No more news from the star of JAKOB THE LIAR. But we are trying to track down a tape of GARP on TV talking about us. Did anyone get it?
This morning I was photographed with two other Portland filmmakers for the Oregonian. Then I hung out with them and talked about movies, Portland, the underground film scene in Portland, etc. That's the best thing about Sundance: you get to meet filmmakers from around the world and network. And everyone is friendly and supportive. It's like summer camp for filmmakers. We have become good friends with two guys from New Zealand.
While we were sitting in the HOSPITALITY lounge and scarfing donuts (me) I was approached by a woman who asked nervously "Are you...the albino?" As the other Portland filmmakers had no idea what my movie was about, they were mystified by this question and my delighted affirmative response.
This woman was at our press screening. She's a journalist from somewhere. I had to crash that press screening. They didn?t tell us about it. But Entertainment weekly was there, and CNN and Premiere, etc. But we haven't heard from any of them yet. Just wait until they hear from CADILLAC MAN.
Pat can't come because the walking pneumonia has not yet left her and the doctor said "NO." Pat, it is not career suicide. There are few actors here from shorts. Get well Pat! Trust me ? a liquid filled lung would not fare well at this altitude.
Sam is arriving in about 20 minutes. Eskimo and Part-Monkey arrive tonight. Can't wait to see you all! (note to Eskimo and Part-monkey: does it bother you to sleep in the bed of the recently deceased?)
More later
Scottythe P
PS - DEAD AGAIN. Rent it. Mork cameo.
Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2002 21:13:52 EST
Subject: MOdance
Very tired. Very very tired.
The stupidest woman alive is stalking Gabe. Ironic. She dresses as a teddy bear. Did I mention this before? It's not a joke. She wears a little teddy bear hat and gloves. Apparently it's the theme of her film. She met Gabe once and now refers to it as "my first date with Gabe." She said she "spent the night with him." In reality Gabe asked her to stop talking to him.
We were having a meeting with potential distributors and she was on the edge of the room waving to Gabe and mouthing "I called you...?" and pointing at her teddy bear hat as if to say "It's me! The stupidest teddy bear in the world!"
Can't remember what has happened since the last update. Sam arrived, was awake for 24 hours, and was subjected to two very bad films. We also saw WORLD TRAVELER which was pretty good. Sam was noticeably excited when Julianne Moore and Billy Crudup took the stage to answer questions afterwards. Julianne is short. So is Billy.
Eskimo and Part monkey arrived and walked into the condo to find two as-yet-unidentified condo-dwellers making sweet, sweet love on the living room floor. Eskimo and Part Monkey repaired to their room to giggle and wonder about what to do next. The fornicating couple disappeared and have not been seen again. I recognize about 2% of the people in our condo. In the end I slept in the dead girl's bed. Or wait - no Sam did. But he is fine.
Just had our SECOND screening of the movie. It was at 3 pm. Tilda Swinton was there again and so was Karen Black. Got to introduce the movie to the enormous crowd (circa 2000?) and then stood nervously in the back while the audience watched. The response was great, maybe a little less insane than last time - but still very, very good. Sam, Eskimo and part monkey thought the crowd really loved it. No projection problems this time.
Highlight: Roger Ebert was there. I went up to him and said "Hello, I?m sorry to disturb you but I'm the director of the short you are about to see and I want to give you a press kit.?
ROGER EBERT: No.
SCOTT: No?
ROGER EBERT: No, I can't carry it. I don't take anything because I can't carry it all.
SCOTT: Oh. OK. Well, we'll be in the lobby afterwards if you want one.
ROGER EBERT: OK.
So we didn't get him a press kit. Bummer. BUT - as he left the theater Gabe slid a polaroid of Pat into his hands. He put it in his pocket and went to the bathroom. Then Sam cornered him and chatted him up. Sam told Ebert that he was a big fan and asked if he liked the movie. Ebert smiled and refused to comment.
READ ROGER EBERT RELIGIOUSLY.
Lots of positive audience response after the movie. 4 people took my picture. Several people congratulated me on my brother's performance in the film. (?) Someone asked Eskimo if he was the albino. Eskimo is NOT an albino.
Then we went to the TEKNOLUST party. I walked in and Tilda Swinton (very, very friendly - rent DEEP END) stopped me and said "I loved your movie - you're brilliant." We chatted her up for a while and gave her a copy of the movie. She is very nice. Very nice. (Rent ORLANDO). I gave her a polaroid of me as the albino and she said ?Oh, I will cherish this!?
Many people asking about the eyes at the party (white contacts, white mascara, bleached eyebrows.)
Crashing the press party paid off! Entertainment Weekly and JANE both want to interview us! (MANY kudos to Sarah Anderson our publicist who made this happen). Jane magazine guy apparently called our film 'best of the whole festival.'
This email is so self congratulatory. Let me ratchet it down a few notches with the following information: I have a vicious cold sore on my face. A director at the party totally snubbed me. I have eaten nothing but chocolate all week. I have been wearing the EXACT SAME underpants and long underwear all week.
It's almost over. We have to go to work parties all night tonight. All night. Yesteday, we went to a distributor party where they were giving free high-end facials, massages and gourmet chips.
Nothing else to say. Hope to sign with a distributor tomorrow. Looking forward to going home.
No great celebrity sightings. Except, Patricia Arquette screaming into her cell-phone, and wearing very fuzzy boots..
Tired.
Scott
Date: Sat, 19 Jan 2002 23:47:22 EST
Subject: noMOdance
Sundance is pretty much over.
When last we met, it was late on Friday night and we had just schmoozed it up with Tilda Swinton. Sam and I saw a very bad movie, BRITNEY BABY ONE MORE TIME and basically slept through the whole thing.
Gabe and I were supposed to get up at 7 on saturday (after going to bed at 5 - couldn't sleep - Gabe's friend was snoring) but we woke up late at 8 and hustled to our screening at 8:30. We got a nice reception from the small early morning crowd.
Highlight of this screening: If you have seen CHUCK AND BUCK then you know who Lupe Ontiveros is. She is the Hispanic woman who runs the theater and directs the show. She is starring now in Todd Solondz's new movie STORYTELLING. Anyway - we have run into her several times and I have gushed over her. She signed her photo for me - I was star struck. Anyway - we have befriended her and today she came to our screening. It was cool. She said she really liked it. After the screening this morning we had to be bussed out to the Sundance resort where we had the last luncheon for the directors. It was neat - we hung out with some of the shorts directors we had met. Robert Redford did not appear at this brunch as promised. He did speak at the opening brunch, but we were not there.
Sam and I then went to a low budge horror movie called SOFT FOR DIGGING. It was creepy. On the way out I couldn?t find my hat. Sam was pleased because yesterday he lost his hat. He looked at me haughtily from under his hat, because he had NOT lost it this time. "Yes, where is your hat?" Upon closer examination Sam was wearing MY hat. His was lost again.
I am tired and have not too much funny or interesting to say. We went to the awards ceremony tonight totally convinced that we would win best short. When they announced the 6 honorable mentions, we were not among them. Hence, I believed we had won. But we didn't. Before they announced the winners I was near tears. After they announced them, I was tired.
Stockard Channing hosted the swank awards ceremony. Was recognized several times today as the albino.
We were interviewed for Entertainment Weekly Magazine today. It was brief and informal but very cool. Hopefully they will include us in their Sundance wrap up.
Part Monkey and Eskimo have been at movies all day and I haven't seen them. I have spent most of my downtime lying in the bed of the recently deceased.
It was fun, it was cool. We got some good career leads. Thanks for all your support.
Pat is feeling better.
Scott