SXSW Day#3

Waited on line for a long time and got in to see the much anticipated BOYHOOD by Richard Linklater.  I am convinced I am the only person in the theater and on the streets of Austin who did not care for this film.  I found the story to be boring.  I did not find the family, the challenges they faced or their responses to be interesting or engaging.  I could not grasp the excitement that buzzed all around me about this film. People were  gushing about sets and music and design being truthful to the years as the actors grew in time. Good films are always truthful to the era they depict even as the era changes. I kept waiting to get pinched, for something to occur to make me care about these people. I felt it was a love affair with Texas and many of the challenges and stories that women and kids feel growing up in Texas.  I think it's a regional film and don't see it as having a universal appeal.

This evening we did not get into the cult film FAULTS but were absolutely delighted by Mike Myers well made documentary  The SUPERMENSCH about the talent  manager of stars Shep Gordon.  A human, humorous and honest portrayal of this man's journey to success as well as his lifelong personal challenges.  The Q&A with Myers, Gordon, and Tom Arnold was heartwarming and fun!

SXSW Day#2

It's rainy and cold to walk over the bridge and wait on line but man oh man NO NO: A DOCKUMENTARY was well worth it.  A beautifully filmed and edited documentary about Dock Ellis an extraordinary man who really made his mark.  As a drug and alcohol addled professional pitcher who pitched a no hitter while tripping on LSD we learn about his unbridled and uninhibited personality. His stylish wild pushing the card antics. His refusal to be leashed by the contemporary norms of the 60's.  But after his life came tumbling down and he lost two marriages to his substance abuse and violent outbursts he got himself into rehab and shared his wisdom with so many young men on the road to recovery. This was a beautiful man who died at the age of 63.  His work with addicts and prisoners makes his no hitter pale in comparison.  This is an Austin produced film well worth major distribution.
Documentary Shorts 1 provided a favorite short: KEHINDE WILEY: AN ECONOMY OF GRACE  about a painter who creates stunning portraits of inner city black women in classical poses with the help of a Givenchy creative designer for wardrobe.  A beautiful film!
PREDESTINATION with Ethan Hawke was confusing and annoying.  Q&A however with the Spiereg twins and Mr. Hawke was enjoyable.
Early a.m. I will solo to BOYHOOD.  Maybe I'll get in?  Clocks ahead.

SXSW Day #1

Sooooooo. we waited on line for an hour and a half and did not get into THE CHEF at the Paramount.  But have no fear with our film passes we ran right next door to the Stateside and saw a delightful comedy TAKE CARE written and directed by a first time filmmaker Liz Tuccilo. A truthful narrative about life in NYC when you live in a 4 story walk-up and are incapacitated following a car accident.  Where you were hit by a car!  The Q&A with crew and Thomas Sadoski (NEWSROOM), Nadia Dajani, et al was delightful.  We then ran over to The Convention Center where we finally got our wristbands, ran into Laura Galt Snavely, and saw a documentary about the infamous drug lord El Chapo. LEGEND OF SHORTY is living proof of the risks documentarian filmmakers take when they select to tell the truth about scary subjects.  An informative and humbling Q&A followed reminding us of the courage of these filmmakers.
As always running into filmmakers, film lovers and actors I've worked with at UT is a wonderful part of this film festival for me.

Tomorrow in the evening I bow to my husband's love of vampire and the supernatural.
In the a.m. of course we'll be on line for NO NO: A DOCKUMENTARY.  Supporting Austin filmmakers.

Leaving MOMMY

I inhabited a woman who brought me to the dark side for 6 weeks.  It was painful and uncomfortable.  I forced myself to feel her pain, desperation, and anger.  It's taking me some time to shed her skin.  Was it fun?  No.  Was it rewarding? Yes.  Did I help people  further understand how complex the human condition is?  I hope so.  Did I help people understand that motherhood can be very complex and dark?  Did I help people see that you can really screw up as a mother?  This is what I wanted to achieve.

If you spend your life living with dark characters who regularly bring you to your pain and wounds then heroin may be a choice of relief.  I get that.  I will miss you Philip Seymour Hoffman, terribly.

ARVIND/MOMMY #2

When I walked into the UT Lab theater last night for rehearsal there was something new.  Electrifying energy with lots of crew, cameras, staging. Arvind in command on stage directing people, consulting, and a complete cast!  We ran the play twice learning blocking, transition, rhythm and rhyme, how to be with one another, and I came away feeling so good about this production.  The chemistry between this ensemble of actors felt so right, so authentic.  Everyone took direction from Arvind with serious thought and reflection, changing what he asked.  If I had questions I always asked and never ever felt like I was bothersome.  I loved giving back story to new actors who weren't quite sure about the facts. This is truly one of the most exciting and interesting collaborative efforts I have been involved in since beginning to work with actors at UT.  I am so grateful that 3 of the lead actors are students of Laurel Vouvray.  The  actors who have been trained not to act bring this production the authenticity that it deserves.  I will always remember my experience with a 16y.o. writer/director as one of the most important experiences in my journey to becoming an actor.

ARVIND/MOMMY

I attended an unusual audition some time ago at UT.  I signed a waiver informing me my audition would be taped.  And then I auditioned for a theater performance written by a 16 y.o. And present at my audition was a bunch of teenagers while an award winning documentary filmmaker was far away filming the entire event.  I came prepared for the part of the grandmother but the playwright/director asked me to read for the mother...his mother.  He told me to throw away the script and say the lines as I remembered.  How refreshing!
I loved the audition, was busy with other projects and figured I'd show up in the doc as an actor auditioning.  But that was not the case.  Weeks later I was cast by Arvind Hathaway to play the role of Susan, his mother, in his play MOMMY.  Little did I know how extraordinary this project would become.  Evan Roberts is a wonderfully warm, talented and intelligent filmmaker.  He cares deeply about the issues and conflicts young people face. He just helps people become.  That's the best way I can put it.  And Arvind???  When you can get over the challenges of his adolescence he is one creative, intelligent and sensitive director.  I just love love love working on this project.  It has allowed me to explore the human condition broadly, empathetically, deeply.  It has changed me.  How grateful I am.

The Wolf of Wall Street

Martin Scorsese needs to find a new editor.  This film is waaaaaaaay too long.  But...and this is a real big but, you have to see this film for the performances by Leonardo Di Caprio and Jonah Hill.  OMG!!!  Absolutely breath taking work.  If you love seeing films as much as I do at this time of year (to keep it real) then run don't walk to see this film.  Just be prepared for shaking your head about some redundancy.
I really enjoyed being with my kids and Abe today.  Hooter's was a hoot as well!