In attempt to get myself as much good press as humanly possible, I will be writing a little daily piece here telling my story, my failures and triumphs, and all the hell and happiness that is my experience with my film “Monday” in Park City this year. Already an outsider, being at Slamdance rather than Sundance, I figure what better way to really seal my outcast status by walking FilmThreat readers through all the mistakes I’m about to make while hiking up and down Main Street.
PARK CITY – January 25th
The first screening day – aka – the longest day in history.
Woke up early, went to a photoshoot at wire image that Ele Keats had arranged. Ele definitely has a way of getting the press to pay attention when she wants – and even when she doesn’t want. The photoshoot was an excellent way to kill the nerves about my screening later that night because having to get made up and hair done and then look “pretty” stopped being my thing a long long time ago and makes my stomach churn with anxiety.
Once that was over Alice, Ele, and I sat in a holding pen for a gift suite we already had a feeling we weren’t getting into. I was the only one who believed we’d get in, but when they kept telling us fire marshals weren’t allowing anyone else in AT ALL, and when Amber Tamblyn walked in and went right up in the elevator we had every clue that they were bs-ing us. We left shortly thereafter holding worthless gift bags and sporting smiles to hide the fact that we were feeling like losers.
On the way out Christine Vachon came in and they had no idea who she was and wouldn’t let her in. We couldn’t be certain if they were trying to cover for the fact that they wouldn’t let us in, and we were still standing there looking beaten down by the prospect of missing out on free stuff.
Ele tried to get me to give something to Christine Vachon again, but we all know how that went the first time.
Alice had a panel to speak on. That went well. But Ele had to stop and eat along the way at the Good Karma Restaurant, which is like a restaurant designed just for her. We had to leave her there so we could get Alice up to the panel and I could go check on Box Office again.
We were already close to selling out, and we were starting to feel like little kids getting to meet Mickey Mouse for the first time.
I went down to the panel and then ran into John Bernstein in the Slamdance office. Talked to Peter about how you can sell a $99 Short even though you may have signed a contract that you never really read. Then Ele and I went to the Getty Images suite and got our pix taken some more. Hair and make-up were still on, hey, what the hell. And once the initial agony is over it’s not so bad. Making me even less nervous for the screening.
Went back to the house, answered email, etc., and then headed out to wait for the line to start forming. I thought it important for me to introduce myself to everyone in line. I mean they did come to my screening to see my movie, I should thank them for that.
Joe and Dylan finally arrived, (my husband and his co-band-mate in their band GUM), and that was like the best ease to my mind of all. They were ready to screen this movie.
Took the few remaining members to a little pre-get-together at The Eating Establishment (home of the best grilled cheese on the planet). Then headed up to the screening where a line quickly began to form. We walked through and met everyone and they all seemed very happy to be there.
Drea (Not De Mateo) introduced our film and informed us that there is an audience award that they can vote for. No one even informed me of this. Not that Slamdance would necessarily even let me get this award since I’ve already won, but how great would that have been?
The screening went amazingly well and the audience not only laughed throughout the film but also understood jokes we didn’t even think people would understand on one viewing. Alice, Ele, and I sat on the floor in the back of the theater, and even the projectionist, Ken, was laughing and unable to get up. The three of us were proud of our little baby, and Joe looked over at me every once in a while like he was pleased too.
Several distributors were in the audience, and some of them came up and talked to me afterwards, as well as set meetings with me for the following day. Suddenly I’m feeling like the popular girl in high school again, if only for a night.
While still high from this experience we made it out onto Main Street and into the gigantic line at the Kodak party. You’ve never been so cold, even though we were still warm from the glow of the smiling/giggling audience and their love for our little movie.
Joe needed to leave the party as soon as he got there – some line about staying healthy for his gig tomorrow. Ele was exhausted from too much male attention. So they took off with Dylan. And Alice and I stayed and watched several guys actually attempt to kiss her, and then be angry that she wouldn’t let them. We met some producers, some film festival organizers, ran into Josh Koury of the Hamptons Film Festival. He’d seen the film and complimented us, I hope this bodes well for getting into the Hamptons at some point.
When we were trying to escape to the done Slamdance party we heard about a party in Deer Valley. This was no ordinary party, and it was already 230am, and we were still feeling groovy from the screening. We finally found it at around 3. Stayed until 4am. It was in a phat mansion in a part of town I didn’t even know existed, and it was PACKED at 3am.
Alice was then hit on by the boy who invited us and I had to save her. Met a boy who’d seen the movie that night and had also seen Chi Girl.
Finally made it home at 4/430 that morning, and I’m still reeling. And even with all that, all I can think about is that I just want to sell my little movie and make another one.
More follow up and reactions about the screening in tomorrow’s…
