By Eva Ruth Moravec
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) --Ensuring film-lovers won't forget about them, actresses Molly Ringwald and Ally Sheedy reminisced about making "The Breakfast Club" at a screening of the fully-restored 1985 film on Monday.
To kick-off the South by Southwest film festival screening, which commemorated the film's 30th anniversary , the Barton Hills Choir serenaded attendees with their own rendition of the movie's theme song, the Simple Minds' "Don't You (Forget About Me)."
The audience at the Paramount Theatre — which was greeted with a table stacked with glazed doughnuts — sang along with the children's choir, then enthusiastically welcomed Ringwald and Sheedy to the stage for a question-and-answer session.
Sheedy, who now volunteers as a teacher at LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts, said the movie's message was a loving one.
"You do matter, we are interested in you, and we're going to tell your story," she said, adding that she was a bit lonely after production wrapped.
The film chronicles five teens subjected to spend Saturday in detention at the fictional Shermer High School in Illinois. Played by Ringwald, Sheedy, Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall and Judd Nelson, the students aren't all initially friends, but become close by day's end.
A blonde Ringwald said she recently saw the movie with her teenage daughter and was surprised to find that her daughter most related to Hall's character, Brian Johnson. Nicknamed "the Brain," Johnson was a straight-A student who attempted suicide after flunking an assignment in shop class.
"She felt that I had too many expectations on her," Ringwald said. "It was this incredible moment where I realized I was the parent."
Ringwald and Sheedy spoke of their admiration for the film's writer and director, John Hughes, who died in 2009.
Hughes fan Beth Gleason, 60, took the day off of work as a pastor at an Austin church to volunteer at the theater for the screening. She said she watches the flick at least once a year and "absolutely" wanted to be there Monday.
"It took me back," she said as she exited the auditorium, grinning.
Mike Firoved, of Irvine, California, said the screening was his favorite event of the film festival, which ends Friday. Also a frequent viewer, Firoved said the movie "can't help but remind you of your high school days."
The re-mastered film is already available on Blu-ray Disc and DVD and will hit theaters March 26.
“Scandal” cast will reunite for online script reading for hurricane relief in western North Carolina
The cast of ABC's hit political drama "Scandal" may need to brush up on their snappy, speedy delivery known as "Scandal-pace," because they're reuniting for a good cause. Its stars including Kerry Washington, Tony Goldwyn and Bellamy Young will take part in a live virtual script reading on Nov. 17 to raise money for hurricane relief in western North Carolina.
Beginning Friday, fans can go online and donate to reserve a spot for the online reading. Proceeds will benefit United Way of North Carolina. Everyone who donates will be able to take part in a virtual pre-event with the cast and Shonda Rhimes will give an introduction.
Additional guest stars will also be announced. The online fundraising platform Prizeo is also holding a contest where one person who donates online via their site will be selected to read a role from the script with the actors. The winner should not worry about the "Scandal"-pace, assured Young over Zoom.
"Whomever the lucky reader is can read at whatever pace they want," she said.
Young, who played Mellie Young, the first lady and later Republican presidential nominee on "Scandal," was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina. She came up with the idea for the effort with a friend and took it to her fellow "Scandal" actors, who all jumped on board. Young said this is the first script reading the cast has all done together since the show ended after seven seasons in 2018.
Which episode they will be reading has not been announced yet.
Young said it's "been devastating" to see so many parts of her hometown badly damaged by Hurricane Helene, which ravaged western North Carolina one month ago.
To research the best use for donations, Young spoke with numerous political leaders, including North... Read More