Okay, so I went back to Sundance after a two year sabbatical. Just like last time, I had friends whom I will leave nameless (Frank Scherma, Philip Fox Mills) who told me they could get me into their director’s film. So off I go and I am waiting in the wait-listed line freezing my ass off just to be told, “F__k off.”
I did see several winners: Frozen River, An American Soldier (The Recruiter) and Birds Of America; three totally different, excellently directed films.
The scene in Park City was great. Full of young and old, some to see movies and some to see celebrities, some to get work, some to buy work, and some to get booty. I was after all of the above.
There seemed to be more women directors this year or maybe I was lonely so I noticed them more.
The restaurants were not as crowded but I did go later in the week. The highlights were Crosby Stills and Nash (couldn’t get in) U2 (couldn’t get in) Phoebe in Wonderland (couldn’t get in) Hamlet (couldn’t get in). I felt like Pee Wee Herman at a Republican Convention. I told one 6’8″ door man, “Do you know who I used to be”? The good part is I almost saw Scarlet Johansson and she almost saw me. At first I think she thought I was Peter O’Toole, then she moved on. (Matthew Perry and Hillary Swank can really act.)
This year still has a lot of violence (what’s up with that?). If I want to see violence, I can watch the news or volunteer to go work for Baghdad Films (a new AICP company).
Harry O’s had a great party going. Then they showed a film about how Black Musicians were ripped off by White Musicians and didn’t get any credit for the early sound of Rock and Roll and the Blues. Ok I’m in, but wait, after the film they bring on a band from Chicago, a blues band of all white guys. YOU CAN’T MAKE THIS UP! They finally had a great legend from Chicago play a few songs with them, but HELLO? The movie trashes every white artist including Elvis and then we’ve got Five Blue Eyed soul brothers. It makes no f__ing sense. Its like Bill and Hillary vs. Obama. Help!
Sundance is great but I feel like it has gone a little Hollywood. You expect it to be new filmmakers making movies on their credit cards and its actors are also the crew but it has a lot of films that have celebrities and high production value. Which usually means Money. I hope that it doesn’t get swallowed up by the money bombs and who’s who. It is getting like Cannes, too much with the big shots and politics, which push the Independents to the back of the line.
Executive producer Tom Mooney recently launched New York-based production company Moon (www.moonmedia.tv). The new venture (SHOOT, 1/25) is backed by Screen Gems and features a spot directorial roster that consists of Agust Baldursson, Philip Kates, Adriano Falconi, Ducio Fabbri and feature filmmaker John Moore. A couple more signings are in the offing.
Gene Hackman Died Of Heart Disease; Hantavirus Claimed His Wife’s Life About One Week Prior
Actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease a full week after his wife died from hantavirus in their New Mexico hillside home, likely unaware that she was dead because he was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease, authorities revealed Friday. Both deaths were ruled to be from natural causes, chief medical examiner Dr. Heather Jarrell said alongside state fire and health officials at a news conference. "Mr. Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer's disease," Jarrell said. "He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that's what resulted in his death." Authorities didn't suspect foul play after the bodies of Hackman, 95, and Betsy Arakawa, 65, were discovered Feb 26. Immediate tests for carbon monoxide poisoning were negative. Investigators found that the last known communication and activity from Arakawa was Feb. 11 when she visited a pharmacy, pet store and grocery before returning to their gated neighborhood that afternoon, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said Friday. Hackman's pacemaker last showed signs of activity a week later and that he had an abnormal heart rhythm Feb. 18, the day he likely died, Jarrell said. Although there was no reliable way to determine the date and time when both died, all signs point to their deaths coming a week apart, Jarrell said. "It's quite possible he was not aware she was deceased," Jarrell said. Dr. Michael Baden, a former New York City medical examiner, said he believes Hackman was severely impaired due to Alzheimer's disease and unable to deal with his wife's death in the last week of his life. "You are talking about very severe Alzheimer's disease that normal people would be in a nursing home or have a nurse, but she was taking care... Read More