The first full day of ShortFest screenings went off without a hitch, with fabulous programs filling the day for eager crowds.
At Amazing Animation (to be played again on Sunday), Swiss director Marcel Hobi (Eyelash) & German director Alexander Pohl (Trickster) discussed the complexities of their vastly different techniques and stories.
At Boy Meets Girl Meets Boy, audiences were entertained by directorial behind-the-scenes stories of neuroscience student turned filmmaker Liliana Greenfield-Sanders who wanted to put her medical background to use (Adelaide), the accidental musical of Melvin Montalban (Cupid), the date-almost-gone-wrong pondering of Alyssa McClelland (Emilia Eckle), the feeling of relationship inevitability of Dahlia Devkota (Heartbreak Haiku), the inspiration from an awkward Japanese businessman for Jon Gilbert (Toshi) & Peter Besson's take on love at first sight (True Beauty This Night).
The filmmaker party went into the night at Top of the Chop, with Grant Sputore* (Legacy) bemoaning his learning curve on the buffet (always leave room for meat at a chop house), Tahitian filmmakers (Arioi Women) sharing heavenly-smelling Tahitian gardenias, and Andy Pearson (Souvenirs) kissing the feet of this news bearer who informed him that the Couplehood program was on Rush for Saturday (against the Shooting Stars program which was not yet sold out). To top that, his actor promised to wear a Marilyn Monroe dress to the screening if one could be procured. In Palm Springs? I think we can work something out.
*Mr. Sputore would like it to be known that aside from his education at the buffet, he had a brilliant time and his filmmaker needs were exceeded and outshone his carnivorous ones.
One dead bunny, two new dogs, one questionable carton of milk, one questionable new toy request, one unfortunately missed test, two short-lived love affairs, one future affair riding on a bad introduction, one affair of the mind riding on an eyelash. Welcome to ShortFest & the night's first program!
The sold-out show was followed by a party at Wang's with a great mix of international filmmakers and local film lovers. Forget-Me-Not director Katia Grivot was happy to get over jet lag from Paris with an evening of great films, including the distinct French sense of humor expressed in Stop Requested & The Williams. Jeremy Brunjes (Birthdate) & Anna McGrath (Swings and Roundabouts), returning directors from last year's ShortFest, were happy to tell new-to-the-fest filmmakers about their experiences, including Honor filmmakers Jeremy Pommier & Sean Sullivan who were excited to have Palm Springs in their festival circuit.
Aussie director Erin White (FOUR) was happy to be screening her film here, as she explained that American audiences seem to be more appreciative of filmmakers' efforts. She elaborated that in Australia folks like to "cut down the tall poppies," keeping everyone's egos in check, not allowing filmmakers to receive the same celebrity or credit as in the U.S. Irishman Declan Cassidy (Whatever Turns You On) said that American audiences like a good, straight-forward story without the need for heady subtext, and he promised his film would bring such laughs.
Students from the NYU Tisch School of the Arts Asia took a break from studies in Singapore, including brother/sister filmmakers Jordan Schiele (Double Happiness) & Melanie Schiele (Delilah, Before). Ted Raimi & actress Suzanne Keilly (My Treat) talked about international perspectives and soaked up the lively vibes of fellow filmmakers.
ShortFest is full of great stories, onscreen & off. This is your chance to hear them firsthand!
Where have I been? Getting ready for the upcoming (June 23-29) Palm Springs Int'l ShortFest 2009, that's where! Check out today's newly announced schedule!
And in other new news, Mike Moore teases us with some snarky attitude from his still as-yet-untitled film about the sucky economy. Get some:
Palme d'Or (1st): The White Ribbon, Michael Haneke dir. (NYT notes that jury president Isabelle Huppert was in his 2001 Grand Prix-winning film, The Piano Teacher, ahem)
Grand Prix (2nd): A Prophet, Jacques Audiard dir. (apparently a critical fave)
Jury Prize (3rd place), tie: Fish Tank, Andrea Arnold dir.
& Thirst, Park Chan-Wook dir. (both booed by press)
Director award: Brillante Mendoza, for Kinatay (Slaughter)
Oscilloscope Laboratories -- a new fave of mine (Wendy & Lucy) -- was represented by founder Adam Yauch:
"I was glad to see everyone in tuxes and ball gowns going up the red carpet. I was afraid that the photos I've seen of Grace Kelly and Cary Grant would have faded into history like everything else, and that people would be walking into premieres in shorts, T-shirts and Crocs. So I was impressed when I saw a man in a suit turned away because he was wearing sneakers. Perhaps Cannes is the last bastion of dignified decadence," said the Beastie Boy.
Cousins Gregory Sherman & Jeff Sherman directed the documentary, The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story, about their fathers Dick & Bob who have never received enough credit for the wonderful songs they created for Disney. Heard of Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, "It's a Small World after All?" Just a taste of their legacy.
The lovely Walter Salles is supposedly directing an adaptation of Jack Kerouac's On the Road -- a fitting followup to Salles' road movie about Che Guevara and Alberto Granado, The Motorcycle Diaries (with same screenwriter Jose Rivera adapting).
The film is being produced by Francis Ford Coppola's American Zoetrope, and supposedly Frank bought the rights in 1980 for $95k. I expect nothing but beautiful things, though I'm wondering about the release date (IMDb.com sez 2009).
NPR digs into the book's legendary origins. CNN interview with Salles last year about the film & an associated doc (oo, DVD extra in advance!).
Natalie Portman is doing my job for me. As I've been having fun putting together a monthly Behind the Scenes filmmaker series (next up: producer John Cameron, high school buddy of Sam Raimi and frequent collaborator of the Coen Bros. who worked on O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Rushmore, The Big Lebowski, Fargo, Army of Darkness... !), she recently launched her Web site, MakingOf.com, that lays out the same concept -- except she has a few more connections than I.
Check out Billy Bob talking about hobos & assholes:
