Archive for the ‘Movies’ Category
Five Fave Highlights from the Albuquerque Film Festival
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August 18–21, 2011, various venues in Nob Hill and Downtown Albuquerque
I kicked off my Saturday at the 3rd Annual Albuquerque Film Festival at 10:00 AM, when I met my friends at the KiMo Theater to see a couple of local films. I wrapped up around 2:00 a.m. Sunday at the Hyatt Regency, when the smiling waiter cleared our empty drink glasses off our table, hinting that it was time to leave. It was like I was twenty-nine again. Here are some of my highlights from the festival, in chronological order.
1. Not OnBoard. Written and directed by Belle Allen, Mean Mug Films.
“Not to worry. I’ve been trained to handle things like this. Hold, please!” –Wilma, played by Dia Gaitirira.
Watching the big screen and being able to say “I know her!” is pretty freaking cool. Three of my friends had roles in this locally produced ten-minute short about a business man (Allan Gaitirira) who gets lost while driving a rental car and uses the OnBoard assistance program, with hilarious results.
Memorable Moment: Seeing my peeps bring their characters to life. My fellow movie-viewer said to me, “Your friend made a really good hooker.” (Played by Sandi Kay.)
2. This Ain’t No Chick Flick Panel. Sponsored by New Mexico Women in Film.
“A pretty face might get you in the door, but it won’t keep you there.”–Trish Lopez, Director, NM Filmmakers Program, New Mexico Film Office.
A panel of women, ranging from actors, directors, producers, and agents, shared their experiences and answered questions about making it in the film industry. They also discussed the challenges faced by women in the movie business, such as the scarcity of high quality acting parts for women, the importance of a huge Friday night opening, and the persistence of the double standard—the same personality trait will be perceived as leadership in a man, and bitchiness in a woman. It is more important than ever that women support each other, and own their positions.
Memorable Moment: Taking this advice to heart: ignore the naysayers. Persevere. Believe. Do it.
3. Take Me Home. Written, produced, and directed by Sam Jaeger of Parenthood.
“I have no idea how we got here.” “That’s impressive. What with you driving the car and all.”—Claire and Thom, played by Amber and Sam Jaeger.
In this “romantic comedy plus more,” Claire suspects her husband is cheating, learns her father has had a heart attack, hops into a cab, and tells Thom to just drive. Which he does. It’s a cross-country journey with family drama, disasters, lots of laughs, and two lost souls who change each other for the better. Take Me Home is now among my top three Road Trip flicks. I can’t wait for it to come out on DVD.
Memorable Moment: Learning that men love love stories, too. When I told Sam I appreciated how the romance developed over the course of the movie, he replied, “I’m a fan of the slow burn.”
4. Reservoir Dogs. Written and directed by Quentin Tarantino.
“You shoot me in a dream you better wake up and apologize.”—Mr. White, played by Harvey Keitel.
I had put off seeing this movie because everyone talked about the disturbing violence. I finally got that out of the way. I’d really rather remember Michael Madsen as Susan Sarandon’s boyfriend Jimmy in Thelma & Louise. Sure, the acting and storytelling were superb in Reservoir Dogs, but I still complained to my friends about how gruesome it was.
Memorable Moment: Realizing I’ll never to able to listen to “Stuck in the Middle With You” the same way ever, ever again.
5. The After Party. Hosted by AFF at the Hyatt Regency
“Somebody tell me it’s not snowing. Please tell me those aren’t snow flakes on my head right now!”–Belle Allen, writer, director, and producer.
The Not OnBoard gang cracked me up with the-making-of, behind-the-scenes stories: filming during a freak winter storm and sub-zero temperatures, props that didn’t work getting hurled through the air, crew members accidentally walking through the perfect shot, and APD cruisers roaring through the set in pursuit of a suspect.
Memorable Moment: Finding out that success in a creative endeavor is also about pushing through the panic. On filming her debut short, Allen said, “I didn’t eat during [the four-day shoot]. Just chain-smoked. With lots of vomiting.”
