AFI DALLAS Daily News: March 2007

Saturday, March 31, 2007

Looking Back: A Filmmaker's Last Day

Final impressions of the 2007 AFI DALLAS International Film Festival from filmmaker Phil Abetacola (THE CHASE) in words and pictures on his personal blog:

"Overall, the films have been very good, or at least very well done, and the people have been wonderful. When I say this, I don’t just mean the filmmakers, but also the staff.

Now thinking of this does bring into my mind something James said a day ago. He said, 'they really have it down, this illusion that this festival is all about us.'

Now when James says 'us' he doesn’t mean it editorially as in filmmakers in general, but 'us' as in James and myself.

When we walk in to any sponsored event, get into any shuttle, which are all Lexus by the way, and when we need to eat or drink, it's all provided and it’s always for us, specifically for us."

Looking Back: 'Fest's a Winner'

Looking back at the 2007 AFI DALLAS International Film Festival with Robert Wilonsky, Dallas Observer, on the Unfair Park blog:

"Sounds like the fest's a winner, at least with theater managers who say their 'plexes have been full-up for most screenings. Shawn Mahan, general manager at the Magnolia Theater, says he expected attendance to be 'up and down, and, for the most part, it's been up'; lines have wrapped around the building for some screenings, a pattern oft repeated over at the Angelika (least, that's what my folks have said, and they’ve been damned near every day)."

More Staff Photos

Daily Email Newsletter Archive

Daily email newsletters for the 2007 AFI DALLAS International Film Festival:

Attend AFI FEST 2007 in Hollywood

From the heart of Texas to the heart of Hollywood, connect with AFI to become an AFI Insider.

Get in on the buzz surrounding the hot new film event that all of Texas will be talking about: the AFI DALLAS International Film Festival.

Your AFI Insider status lets you dream big - Texas big - with the chance to win a trip to Hollywood to attend the prestigious AFI FEST 2007 presented by Audi.

It's the longest-running film festival in Los Angeles, and the lucky winner and guest will receive airfare for two from Texas to LA, a room at the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and star treatment with insider access to screenings, galas and festival parties.

And that’s not all. AFI Insiders get access to exclusive content and features at AFI.com:

* Eclectic, stimulating podcasts and videos from AFI’s many year-round film series, retrospectives and festivals

* The downloadable ballot for AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies - 10th Anniversary Edition

* Discussions driven by AFI’s online community of movie-lovers, like the current conversation about the greatest American movies, where you can log on and share your opinion.

And it's all free! So get ready to see and be seen. Fill out this short form, and then watch your inbox turn into box office gold.

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BEINGS Encore with UFOlogist in Person

The AFI DALLAS International Film Festival encore presentation of BEINGS is Sunday April 1, 9:00pm, at The Angelika. In attendance: best-selling author and UFOlogist Nick Redfern.

Coverage from Dallas Morning News

A roundup of "Scenes from AFI," a column covering the 2007 AFI DALLAS International Film Festival in the Dallas Morning News.

Scenes from AFI: TCU grad has taste of success
Mar 30, 2007 - By STEPHEN BECKER / Staff Writer. The 24-year-old actress from Haltom City stars in two films playing in the festival – Dallas-shot The Night of the White ...

Scenes from AFI: Look at a rocker's life
Mar 29, 2007 - By STEPHEN BECKER / The Dallas Morning News. AJ Schnack faced a unique challenge in making his most recent film, Kurt Cobain: About a Son. ...

Scenes from AFI: Zombie tale eats at you
Mar 28, 2007 - By CHRIS VOGNAR / Movie Critic. Canadian filmmaker Andrew Currie is coming to town for AFI Dallas, and he wants a recommendation for a good steakhouse. ...

Scenes from AFI: A composer who knows the score
Mar 27, 2007 - By STEPHEN BECKER / Staff Writer. Is there an award that Marvin Hamlisch hasn't won? He's one of a handful of people to win an Oscar, Grammy, Emmy and Tony, ...

Scenes from AFI: Lynch keeping it odd
Mar 26, 2007 - By CHRIS VOGNAR / The Dallas Morning News. AP. He'll probably say more than that when he and Laura Dern pick up their Star Awards tonight before a screening ...

Scenes from AFI: Underdog racer is really driven
Mar 26, 2007 - By STEPHEN BECKER / Staff Writer. Like Ricky Bobby in Talladega Nights, Jeff Milburn has always wanted to go fast. From attending races with his family as a ...

Scenes from AFI
Mar 26, 2007 - By CHRIS VOGNAR / Movie Critic. Robert Edsel's epiphany came about seven years ago, as he crossed the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, Italy. ...

AFI DALLAS Film Awards Announced Tomorrow

The 2007 AFI DALLAS International Film Festival Awards Ceremony is Sunday April 1, 2007, 11:00 am, W Hotel, 33rd Floor, Victory Park, Dallas. (Invitation only.) The following awards will be announced. Some of the winning films will screen later on Sunday.

	Target Filmmaker Award Awarded to a film in Narrative Feature Competition and a film in International Documentary Competition; each winning film receives a $25,000 unrestricted cash prize. Target Narrative winner screens April 1, 6:00pm, Magnolia Target Documentary winner screens April 1, 7:00pm, Angelika
	Grand Jury Prize - Short Awarded to a film in the Shorts Competition, as selected by the Shorts Jury. Jury Short winner screens with other winning shorts, Sunday April 1, 6:15pm, Magnolia
	Grand Jury Prize - Texas Awarded to a film in the Texas Competition, as selected by the Texas Jury.
	Grand Jury Prize - Animation Awarded to a film in the Animation Competition, as selected by ReelFX Studios.
	Grand Jury Prize - Student Awarded to a film in the Student Competition, as selected by the Student Jury.
	Audience Awards - Narrative, Documentary & Short Many films at the AFI DALLAS International Film Festival are eligible for an Audience Award; winners are determined by ballot vote following screenings. Audience Narrative winner screens April 1, 4:00pm, Magnolia Audience Documentary winner screens April 1, 6:30pm, Magnolia Audience Short winner screens with other winning shorts, Sunday April 1, 6:15pm, Magnolia
	Best HD Feature - Presented by HDNet Awarded to the best HD feature, as selected by HDNet. Films eligible for this award are marked with the HDNet logo.

AFI DALLAS Schedule: Saturday March 31

Click here for March 31 schedule and tickets to the AFI DALLAS International Film Festival presented by Target, founding sponsor Victory Park.

AT&T TALK/SHOW at Nasher Sculpture Center - 2001 Flora St. [Map]
12:00n The True Independence of Independent Film - Hosted by Gary Cogill, WFAA
2:00p What's the Female Point? - Hosted by Missy Schwartz, Entertainment Weekly
3:30p The Past Ten Years - Hosted by 2929 Entertainment CEO Todd Wagner

Inwood Theatre - 5458 W. Lovers Lane [map]
7:30p Away from Her - Closing Night Screening & Gala

SMU Hughes-Trigg Theater - 6425 Boaz Ln. [map]
4:00p A Lawyer Walks Into a Bar
6:30p Documentary Shorts

The Magnolia - 3699 McKinney Ave. [Map]
11:45a A Place to Dance
12:00n An American in Sophiatown
12:00n Eve of Understanding
1:30p Shut up & Shoot Me
2:00p Come Back, Africa
2:00p Canvas
4:00p Animation Competition
4:30p 10 Items or Less
5:00p Borderlands
6:00p The Orange Thief
7:00p Living and Dying
7:15p Shorts Program 6
8:30p Sharkwater
9:30p Borland (preceded by A Death in the Woods)
9:45p Netherbeast Incorporated
9:45p Wrestlemaniac

Angelika Film Center - 5321 E. Mockingbird Ln. [Map]
11:45a Man in the Chair
12:00n August the First
2:30p Shorts Program 5
2:30p Student Competition 2
4:30p Booker T. Washington Student Films
6:45p The Ten
7:00p New Year Baby
9:00p Strong Enough to Break
9:15p Running on Empty
11:00p Horror Shorts

Victory Plaza - AFI 100... Series - 3090 Olive St. [Map]
12:15p Some Like it Hot
3:15p Sunset Boulevard
6:00p The Wizard of Oz
8:30p Singin' in the Rain

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Scenes from This Week at AFI DALLAS

Q&A at The Angelika for 'Strong Enough to Break' and 'Netherbeast Incorporated' [21 images]
Red Carpet at The Magnolia I [36 images]
Red Carpet at The Magnolia II [66 images]
Red Carpet at the Magnolia III [142 images]

Interview with Director of Wrestlemaniac

Director Jesse Baget talks about Mexican wrestling and horror in his new film Wrestlemaniac with Pop Syndicate.

See Wrestlemaniac at the AFI DALLAS International Film Festival Friday March 30, 12:00 midnight, and Saturday March 31, 9:45pm, at The Magnolia.

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Friday, March 30, 2007

Full 20-Minute Interview with David Lynch at AFI DALLAS

Blog Coverage for AFI DALLAS

Check these recent online updates from attendees and bloggers at the inaugural AFI DALLAS International Film Festival. (Generously compiled by Jette Kernion at Cinematical.)

Filmmaker Chris Hansen: 1 | 2
Dallas Observer's Robert Wilonsky: 1 | 2
Peter Martin from Twitch: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
Blake from Cinema Strikes Back: 1
Dallas Morning News: 1 | 2 | 3
Pegasus News: 1
Pop Syndicate: 1 | 2 | 3

TIP SHEET: Netherbeast Incorporated

IN PERSON: Dean Matthew Ronalds (director), and stars Dave Foley, Jason Mewes, Amy Davidson and Steve Berra

THE FILM: NETHERBEAST INCORPORATED is a quirky twist on the vampire tale, set in modern-day corporate America

WHEN & WHERE: Friday March 30, 7:30pm, The Magnolia, 3699 McKinney Avenue, Dallas, TX [map]

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TIP SHEET: Away From Her

IN PERSON: Sarah Polley (director) and star Gordon Pinsent

THE FILM: AWAY FROM HER is an acclaimed character study of a man coping with the institutionalization of his wife because of Alzheimer's disease who faces an epiphany when she transfers her affections to another man

WHEN & WHERE: Closing Night Gala Screening and Reception, Saturday, March 31, 7:30pm, Landmark Inwood Theatre, 5458 W. Lovers Lane, Dallas, TX [map]

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Exclusive: Jefe Brown on Differences Between Prague and Texas

SHUT UP AND SHOOT ME producer Jefe Brown on the differences between his "homes" in Prague and Texas:

GOING FROM PRAGUE TO TEXAS: "When coming to the States, and Texas in particular, much of it is language. It has become strange to be in a place where everyone is speaking English around me and all the signs are in English. Also, the Texas friendliness takes me aback at first because Czechs are not that way at all. And I do like this friendlinees. In Texas, you can strike up a conversation with anyone and the positive, can-do spirit of Texans is infectious. It makes me feel like I can get things done here."

GOING FROM TEXAS TO PRAGUE: "On the other hand, when arriving back 'home' to Prague, it does take some getting used to. Czechs are generally very reserved and skeptical and dont exactly say hello to you on the street. Also, the language issue is large. I have to get my head around speaking Czech - mostly about how to phrase things and getting used to using the formal and informal devices in the language. Also, though I speak Czech well, I am automatically taken as a foreigner based on my accent and have to get used to being seen that way. Much of it is just being aware of where you are and how you are perceived. Also everything takes longer to organize because the bureauracy. There is just more paperwork and clearances across the board."

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Closing Weekend Film Schedules

AFI DALLAS Schedule: Friday March 30

Click here for March 30 schedule and tickets to the AFI DALLAS International Film Festival presented by Target, founding sponsor Victory Park.

The Magnolia - 3699 McKinney Ave. [Map]
5:00p The Favor
5:30p Shorts Program 6
7:15p Dark Matter
7:30p Netherbeast Incorporated
7:45p Sharkwater
9:30p Diggers
9:45p Midlothia
10:00p Black Irish
12:00m Wrestlemaniac

Angelika Film Center - 5321 E. Mockingbird Ln. [Map]
5:00p Punk's Not Dead
5:30p Anatomy of the Canvas
7:15p Man in the Chair
7:30p Strong Enough to Break
9:30p Drama/MEX
9:45p Next: A Primer on Urban Painting

Victory Plaza - AFI 100... Series - 3090 Olive St. [Map]
12:15p The Maltese Falcon
2:45p 2001: A Space Odyssey
7:45p ET the Extra-terrestrial
10:30p Frankenstein

W Hotel - 2440 Victory Park Ln. [Map]
5:00p Wet Deck Conversations - Finding the Audience for the Message Movie - With Missy Schwartz (Entertainment Weekly), Joseph Greco and Joe Pantoliano (Canvas)

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Revised: April 1 Added Screenings

The following screenings have just been added and revised on the lineup for the AFI DALLAS International Film Festival. For tickets and the rest of the Sunday April 1 schedule click here.

Angelika Film Center - 5321 E. Mockingbird Ln. [Map]

Sunday April 1, 7:00pm - Target Award Winner: Documentary
Sunday April 1, 9:00pm - Third Ward, TX
Sunday April 1, 9:00pm - Beings

The Magnolia - 3699 McKinney Ave. [Map]

Sunday April 1, 1:00pm - El Mechanico Loco
Sunday April 1, 4:00pm - Audience Award Winner: Narrative Feature
Sunday April 1, 6:00pm - Target Award Winner: Narrative Feature
Sunday April 1, 6:15pm - Shorts Winners (includes Jury Winner, Audience Winner, Student Winner and Animation Winner)
Sunday April 1, 6:30pm - Audience Award Winner: Documentary

Guests Added to Saturday Panel Discussion

Join us for AT&T TALK/SHOW - free and open to the public - during closing weekend of the AFI DALLAS International Film Festival at the Nasher Sculpture Center, 2001 Flora Street [map].

Saturday March 31, 12:00 noon - The True Independence of Independent Film - Hosted by Gary Cogill, WFAA - Are we witnessing another shift in filmmaking ways and means where a truly independent film is one shot on a DV cam? If there isn't a "name" in your cast have you already thrown in the towel as far as making a "sell" when it is all said and done? Finally, is there a law of diminishing returns in terms of vision as your film's budget (and studio involvement) increases?

Lori McCreary - 10 Items or Less
Dean Matthew Ronalds & Brian Ronalds - Netherbeast Incorporated
Doug Mankoff - Away From Her
James Skotchdopole - GrindhouseLawrence Silverstein - Sk8 Life

Saturday March 31, 2:00 pm - What's the Female Point? - Hosted by Missy Schwartz, Entertainment Weekly - A look at getting films made and getting stories told from the female perspective. How have the hurdles and challenges changed recently (if at all)? Is the ultimate goal to tell a truthful story from a female perspective or simply to tell a good story, regardless of the perspective?

Saturday March 31, 3:30 pm - The Past Ten Years - Hosted by 2929 Entertainment CEO Todd Wagner - It's been ten years since the height of Broadcast.com, and many of the programs and initiatives that Wagner and partner Mark Cuban were pushing back then are now fully integrated into people's lives. Ten years ago, of course, that was a different story. As Wagner likes to say, in digital entertainment, everything old is new again.

Scenes from Day Eight

Photo galleries from day eight of the AFI DALLAS International Film Festival, March 29, 2007.

Joe Pantoliano goes shopping at Western Warehouse [10 images]
Red Carpet at AMC Northpark [28 images]
HOT FUZZ Party at Target Filmmakers Lounge [52 images]
Q&A for HOT FUZZ [38 images]

AFI DALLAS Film Sets Canadian Box Office Record

An entry in the AFI DALLAS International Film Festival, Rob Stewart's critically acclaimed, award-winning film SHARKWATER, made history this weekend with the largest opening weekend of any Canadian documentary.

The film opened March 23, beating opening box office totals of Canada's top grossing documentaries, Bowling for Columbine and The Corporation, as well as international documentaries March of the Penguins and An Inconvenient Truth.

See SHARKWATER at AFI DALLAS, Friday March 30, 7:45pm, and Saturday March 31, 8:30pm, at The Magnolia.

In the March 30 Daily News Print Edition

AFI DALLAS Programs Reach Students

Educational outreach is an essential component of the AFI DALLAS International Film Festival mission and programming. Question and answer sessions after screenings encourage conversation, and special panel discussions throughout the Festival have given filmmakers and patrons the opportunity to explore all facets of the film industry.

In its first year, AFI DALLAS has gone even further than the typical film festival, creating additional special programs for learners of all ages.

"One of the greatest experiences of my life was my time at the AFI Conservatory in Los Angeles," Michael Cain, AFI DALLAS CEO and artistic director, says. "I was able to learn from the best and to work with others who had the same passion for film that I did."

One logical partner in these endeavors was local universities. AFI DALLAS worked with SMU, TCU and UNT to establish a series of masterclasses. In these sessions, lyricists Alan and Marilyn Bergman, composer Marvin Hamlisch, screenwriter Jim Hart, producer Doug Mankoff and director Sidney Pollack visited campuses and met with students and faculty from music and film departments. Students had the once-in-a-lifetime chance to ask questions and learn much from these master filmmakers.

Marvin Hamlisch also "took his show on the road" in a special session at the nationally recognized Booker T. Washington Arts Magnet High School. Hamlisch sat at the piano, played examples from his career and took questions from students filling the auditorium.

A centerpiece of AFI DALLAS educational programming in this inaugural year was the first Screen Education Workshop in North Texas. The AFI Screen Education process is about training and empowering teachers to use film and the process of filmmaking as a means of engaging their students in core subjects. Even in this first effort, the response was overwhelming.

"We were thrilled to be part of AFI Dallas," said Mitch Aiken, Director of AFI's Screen Education program. "With our colleagues at Discovery Education, we brought teachers from El Paso, Austin, Waco, Houston, Pasadena, Irving, Dallas and more, together for two days of hands-on AFI K-12 Screen Education training. The teachers were also treated to AFI Dallas film screenings in the evenings, which added greatly to their experience. We are already looking forward to next year!"

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Who Are These People? Thelma and Louise

Thelma and Louise; or Louise and Thelma

While they aren't people, Thelma and Louise, the white toy poodles that call Artistic Director Michael Cain and Board of Directors Liaison Melina McKinnon their owners have been familiar faces and wagging tails in the AFI Dallas office from the beginning. We told them to "sit" for a quick Q&A.

Q: So, what is the best part of the AFI DALLAS festival for you?

Thelma: People eating lunch.

Louise: The comfy chairs in Michael's office.

Q: The worst part?

Thelma: Sydney (Tearlach Hutcheson's dog).

Louise: Can't stand her.

Thelma: Bitch.

Q: What's your favorite film so far?

Louise: Fido.

Thelma: The Bracelet of Bordeaux.

Thelma: Do you have one of those rawhide chews?

Q: No, sorry. Describe your job or jobs at the festival.

Louise: Pretty much, we're just here to run around, let people rub our dog bellies and... is that bacon?

Q: No, that's not bacon. So, what else do you do?

Thelma: Sleep. We sleep a lot.

Louise: All of those people working all of time. It's exhausting. For us. To watch them.

Q: So, you sleep and let people feed you and rub your belly.

Louise: That and fool people into thinking we're each other.

Thelma: It's a job, what can you say. Seriously, are you sure you don’t have any Snausages?

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Recycle

AFI DALLAS has partnered with the Students for Environmental Awareness at The University of Texas at Dallas.

One of the festival's efforts to connect with the community is to protect the environment by introducing recycling at the venues we use. The festival puts systems in place that assist our venues to make recycling a natural, easy process for film lovers.

AFI DALLAS is committed to making responsible product choices with its sponsors by using recyclable materials and encouraging groups like the Students for Environmental Awareness.

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Fellow Film Fests Run Year Round

The AFI DALLAS International Film Festival is organized for the following purposes: to celebrate films and their impact on society; to honor filmmakers and recognize their achievements and contribution in enhancing the creative community; to provide educational programs to students to develop better understanding of the role of film in today's world; and to promote the City of Dallas and its commitment to the art of filmmaking.

However, AFI DALLAS doesn't do this alone. Here, you'll find our partner film festivals and their schedules. We encourage you to attend as many as you can and help promote film and filmmakers in Dallas.

DALLAS FILM FESTIVALS:

3 Stars Cinema - A forum for contemporary & Classic Jewish Film
Asian Film Festival of Dallas - August 23-30 at the Magnolia Theatre - Dedicated to celebrating and supporting emerging and established
Asian and Asian-American filmmakers.
Dallas Video Fest - July 31-August 5, 2007 at the Angelika Film Center and the Dallas Theater Center 20 Years of Independent Thinking and Counting
Out Takes Dallas - Nov 2-11, 2007 - The Annual Lesbian and Gay Film Festival
SPCA of Texas Pet Flix Festival - June 3, 6:00pm - Presented by VCA Animal Hospitals
Texas Black Film Festival - Feb 2008 - Works that express the African-American experience
Texas Filmmakers Thin Line Festival - August 30 - September 2, 2007
Texas Frightmare Weekend - June 22-24, 2007 - The Southwest's Premiere Horror Convention
VISTAS Film Festival - Sept 19-23 - Festival De Cine Latino

Deep Ellum Sounds: Music of Misfits Strikes a Chord

Susan Dynner's documentary, PUNK'S NOT DEAD (Screening Thursday, 3/29 at 7:15PM and Friday, 3/30 at 5:00PM) takes a considered look at a group of artists and their music who don’t necessarily encourage such scrutiny. Because of that, Punk is arguably the most misunderstood branch of the rock 'n' roll family tree. However, after receiving rare access to many of these bands and after providing even rarer insight, Dynner's film is already being endorsed by loyal fans as the go-to film documenting the evolution of Punk from its beginnings to the current state of things today.

Q: Did you enter into the project as a fan first or a documentarian first? Did that change at all during the course of compiling the interviews?

A: I started taking photos of punk bands in the early 80's so I was both a fan and a documentarian in the sense that I had compiled years and years of photos. I think the bands trusted me to tell their stories because they saw me as one of their peers rather than a journalist infiltrating their scene.

Q: What is the most common misconception about the Punk music movement?

A: That it's dead just because it's changed and evolved. It's still vital for those who have something to say and want to express themselves, and it's still new for the kids just getting into it.

Q: You connect the dots between eras in the film. What surprised you the most regarding the connections between the artists and their styles?

A: I don't know that it was really a surprise, but a lot of the pop-punk bands get a lot of crap for signing to majors. People tend to forget that bands like The Clash, The Pistols, The Buzzcocks, The Damned, etc., were all on majors, and even bands like The UK Subs, Sham 69, etc were on Top of the Pops.

Q: Who would you single out as the unsung hero?

A: The bands who have carried on playing all these year (many for 30 years) and don't care about the money or fame. They do it because they love it and they've inspired generations of bands.

Q: Who do you think is poised to be the new standard bearer?

A: I don't think there is just one. There are loads of new bands coming up and hopefully a bunch of them will make a mark.

Q: If a punk band had to be "sponsored by," what company would be most acceptable?

A: I would say the most acceptable sponsor is one that's already a part of the scene and isn’t just a corporation who has no idea about punk, but thinks they can make a buck off it. Sponsors like Vans, AP Magazine, Hot Topic, etc, along with musical instrument sponsors make more sense.

Q: Who was your favorite interview in the film? Why?

A: That's a loaded question! Everyone gave me their time—many bands let me tour with them and/or invited me into their homes. Many bands were already good friends, so it was a lot of fun to interview them. I met tons of cool people and made a lot of new friends through interviewing the bands.

Q: What CDs did you buy because of the interviews?

A: I was given loads of great CDs so I didn’t have to buy a lot, but I did buy a lot of CDs that I already had on vinyl. The Damned, Stiff Little Fingers, The Adverts, Sham 69. I bought a bunch of UK Subs CDs just to use for a sequence that we filmed for the movie (just the ones the band didn't have to give me). Oh - and I bought T.V. Smith's (from The Adverts) new solo CD. He's so talented!

Dynner will appear at both screenings of PUNK'S NOT DEAD.

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Spotlight on the Texas Competition

Edward Furlong, Curtis Wayne and Trent Haaga

Four thieves in director Jon Keeyes' LIVING AND DYING find the tables have turned when two crazed killers take them hostage. But, wait, one of the thieves is actually an ATF agent.

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The Next Two Days

Sharkwater

Things you don't want to miss during the next two days.

March 31 - A LAWYER WALKS INTO A BAR (Dir. Eric Chaikin) - 4 p.m. @ SMU Hughes-Triggs Theater - Six wannabe lawyers are studying for the California Bar Exams, but their chances for success are only 39 percent. Eric Chalkin shows how the legal system affects American culture through the students and interviews with big-time trial lawyers.

March 31 - SHARKWATER (Dir. Rob Stewart) - 8:30 p.m. @ Magnolia - Sharks often get a bad rap at the movies, but Rob Stewart shows just how important they are to the ecosystem and how fear and ignorance is threatening the species.

April 1 - Red Road (Dir. Andrea Arnold) - 1:30 p.m. @ AFC - A surveillance camera operator spies a man from her past and becomes hell-bent on exacting her revenge on the struggling ex-convict in this thriller from the UK and Denmark.

April 1 - BLIND DATING (Dir. James Keach) - 7 p.m. @ AFC - Dating is tough, and blind dating is tougher. But what about dating while blind? Director Keach puts a special spin on the saga of romance.

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Who Are These People? AFI DALLAS Staff

If you've ever wondered who’s running this show - really running the AFI DALLAS International Film Festival - it’s Managing Director Tearlach Hutcheson, who oversees the staff.

Not to take credit away from the festival’s founders, executives, other staff or army of volunteers, but Tearlach is the guy whose mental muscle helps the staff managing the incredible logistics of the festival.

That the machinery of the AFI DALLAS runs quietly in the background is as much a reflection of Tearlach’s personality as it is his skill at engineering a project of this size. The tall, quiet - almost pensive - Australian doesn’t seek the limelight. Instead he concentrates on moving and setting the blocks that form AFI Dallas' foundation. But don't let his mild-mannered exterior fool you. He's a born manager and if he yells for your attention at a staff meeting, you definitely pay attention.

This master of understatement says he is "pleasantly surprised" at the success of the festival. "When you start something of this magnitude, you ask yourself, 'Are we the only crazy ones that think this will work?' But when you see people at the theaters embracing your ideas, it's just great."

At 19, Tearlach bought a one-way ticket to London and left his hometown of Sydney. And has lived overseas ever since. "I couldn't afford the $400 for the return flight," he says, joking - or maybe he isn't.

No stranger to event management, he has filled many roles from Director of Publicity & Promotions to Director of Sales for Landmark Theatres 70 plus theatres. He also oversaw the Magnolia Theatre when it first opened and built it into one of the most popular theatres in Dallas. And he recently oversaw the renovation of the beloved Inwood Theatre.

"There's nothing like walking into the Magnolia theater on a rainy Monday night and seeing that it's crowded. And at the same time there's lines of people going for miles at the Angelika."

Despite the success of the festival and the way the city has embraced the idea, he says he's most impressed by by the festival's staff, which includes Operations Manager Mark Mahlo, Director of Operations Matt Ostasiewski and Office Manager Charla Rahdar.

"There's a lot of behind the scenes work that happens, which people don’t see. The level of work here is more than what you have at a 30-screen megaplex. In fact, during the festival it's like having a major movie opening every night. But all I do is manage people, and they get all the work done."

How many of us get to hear our supervisors say something like that, much less mean it?

By Marc Lee, Editor

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Last Chance for Wet Deck

[UPDATED March 30, 12:55pm] Poolside and above it all on the 16th floor of the W Hotel [map], the AFI DALLAS International Film Festival Wet Deck Conversations offer a chance to meet filmmakers up close and personal. Wet Deck Conversations are free and open to the public.

Friday March 30, 5:00pm - Horror & Comedy: A Winning Combination? - With Elvis Mitchell, Amy Davidson (Netherbeast Incorporated) and Leah Milani (Wrestle Maniac).

Special Thanks to AFI DALLAS Daily News Staff

A special thanks to the staff of the AFI DALLAS International Film Festival's DAILY NEWS. They've given festival goers in-depth interviews with filmmakers and actors big and small, fantastic overviews of films that help readers plan their experiences and worked tirelessly to provide the most important and up-to-date information for attendees.

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Interview with Director of Netherbeast Incorporated

The employees of Netherbeast, Inc. are just like you me, or they would be if we were vampires. Director Dean Matthew Ronalds chats with Pop Syndicate about his new film. Read the interview here.

See NETHERBEAST INCORPORATED at the AFI DALLAS International Film Festival, Friday March 30, 7:30pm, and Saturday March 31, 9:45pm, at The Magnolia.

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Thursday, March 29, 2007

Catch Up on Daily Email Newsletters

Daily email newsletters for the AFI DALLAS International Film Festival:

Click for Each Day's AFI DALLAS Film Schedule

Weekend Panel Discussions at Nasher Sculpture Center

Join us for AT&T TALK/SHOW - free and open to the public - during closing weekend of the AFI DALLAS International Film Festival at the Nasher Sculpture Center, 2001 Flora St. [map].

Saturday March 31, 12:00 noon - The True Independence of Independent Film - Hosted by Gary Cogill, WFAA - Are we witnessing another shift in filmmaking ways and means where a truly independent film is one shot on a DV cam? If there isn't a "name" in your cast have you already thrown in the towel as far as making a "sell" when it is all said and done? Finally, is there a law of diminishing returns in terms of vision as your film's budget (and studio involvement) increases?
Saturday March 31, 2:00 pm - What's the Female Point? - Hosted by Missy Schwartz, Entertainment Weekly - A look at getting films made and getting stories told from the female perspective. How have the hurdles and challenges changed recently (if at all)? Is the ultimate goal to tell a truthful story from a female perspective or simply to tell a good story, regardless of the perspective?
Saturday March 31, 3:30 pm - The Past Ten Years - Hosted by 2929 Entertainment CEO Todd Wagner - It's been ten years since the height of Broadcast.com, and many of the programs and initiatives that Wagner and partner Mark Cuban were pushing back then are now fully integrated into people's lives. Ten years ago, of course, that was a different story. As Wagner likes to say, in digital entertainment, everything old is new again.

AFI DALLAS Schedule: Friday March 30

Click here for March 30 schedule and tickets to the AFI DALLAS International Film Festival presented by Target, founding sponsor Victory Park.

The Magnolia - 3699 McKinney Ave. [Map]
5:00p The Favor
5:30p Shorts Program 6
7:15p Dark Matter
7:30p Netherbeast Incorporated
7:45p Sharkwater
9:30p Diggers
9:45p Midlothia
10:00p Black Irish
12:00m Wrestlemaniac

Angelika Film Center - 5321 E. Mockingbird Ln. [Map]
5:00p Punk's Not Dead
5:30p Anatomy of the Canvas
7:15p Man in the Chair
7:30p Strong Enough to Break
9:30p Drama/MEX
9:45p Next: A Primer on Urban Painting

Victory Plaza - AFI 100... Series - 3090 Olive St. [Map]
12:15p The Maltese Falcon
2:45p 2001: A Space Odyssey
7:45p ET the Extra-terrestrial
10:30p Frankenstein

W Hotel - 2440 Victory Park Ln. [Map]
5:00p Wet Deck Conversations - Finding the Audience for the Message Movie - With Missy Schwartz (Entertainment Weekly), Joseph Greco and Joe Pantoliano (Canvas)

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AFI DALLAS Schedule: Thursday March 29

Click here for tickets to programs on Thursday March 29, 2007, at the AFI DALLAS International Film Festival.

AMC Northpark - 8687 N Central Expy. - [Map]
4:45p Bad Boys II
7:30p Centerpiece Screening, Hot Fuzz
7:00p North by Northwest

The Magnolia - 3699 McKinney Ave. [Map]
5:00p Fay Grim
5:15p Animation Competition
7:00p Canvas
7:45p The Favor
9:30p Eve of Understanding
10:30p American Fork

Angelika Film Center - 5321 E. Mockingbird Ln. [Map]
5:00p Documentary Shorts
5:30p New Year Baby
7:15p Punk's Not Dead
7:30p Shut up & Shoot Me
9:45p Shorts Program 5
10:00p Kurt Cobain: About a Son

Victory Plaza - AFI 100... Series - 3090 Olive St. [Map]
12:15p High Noon
2:30p Gone with the Wind
7:00p Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
10:00p Dr. Strangelove

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Images from Day Seven

Photo galleries from the AFI DALLAS International Film Festival, Wednesday March 28, 2007:

Paul Maxwell presents painting to AFI DALLAS [24 images]
Red Carpet at The Magnolia [51 images]

Plus bonus AFI DALLAS photos from Flickr sets:

Victory Park media opening party [26 images]
Helvetica after party [36 images]
Stills from AFI DALLAS films [52 images]

Weekend Wet Decks

Poolside and above it all on the 16th floor of the W Hotel [map], the AFI DALLAS International Film Festival Wet Deck Conversations offer a chance to meet filmmakers up close and personal. Wet Deck Conversations are free and open to the public.

Friday March 30, 5:00pm - Finding the Audience for the Message Movie - With Missy Schwartz (Entertainment Weekly), Joseph Greco and Joe Pantoliano (Canvas).
Saturday March 31, 5:00pm - Horror & Comedy: A Winning Combination? - With Elvis Mitchell, Amy Davidson (Netherbeast Incorporated) and Leah Milani (Wrestle Maniac).

Interview with Director of Strong Enough to Break

Strong Enough to Break gives a behind-the-scenes look at how an unlikely band took on their label and came out the better. Director Ashley Greyson talks with Pop Syndicate about following Hanson and chronicling their struggle.

Read the interview here. And see Strong Enough to Break at the AFI DALLAS International Film Festival, Friday March 30, 7:30pm, and Saturday March 31, 9:00pm, at the Angelika.

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Wednesday, March 28, 2007

In the March 29 Daily News Print Edition

Look for print editions of the official AFI DALLAS Daily News at venues and theaters all around Dallas. In the March 29, 2007, edition:

Actor's Corner: Hubbel Palmer, AMERICAN FORK

The success of films and performances is often measured by how long something stays with you. And frequently, the films and performances that do that come from the most unexpected places.

Chris Bowman's AMERICAN FORK (screening Wednesday, 3/28 at 5:15PM and Thursday, 3/29 at 10:30PM) most definitely falls in that category on both parts. The film follows the pursuit of a grocery store clerk who is as dedicated to his pursuit of something bigger than himself (which is saying something) as he is keeping his store running like a clock.

Hubbel Palmer (who also wrote the script) plays the lead with a deftness and finesse that is not that common for the majority of people carrying SAG cards in their wallets and purses, let alone someone with just a handful of credits fleshing out his own script.

Q: Was this a story you had knocking around for a while and you finally got it down in screenplay form? Or was it a canny decision to tailor something for yourself and your talents as an actor?

A: I worked at a grocery store in high school and I always liked that environment as a possible backdrop for a film. A few years ago I really felt the urge to write something and get it made. I wanted to tell a story where the scope of the drama was very small, about a character who would otherwise not be likely to have a film made about him. I came up with the character of Tracy and then work shopped the idea with a friend, filling in the world around him. I did want to write a part for myself, but not in a "this is gonna help my career" type way.

Q: William Baldwin, Kathleen Quinlan, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Bruce McGill in this great cast. And you're the star. How much did you lord that over them?

A: I was amazed to be working with them. I originally planned to make this film with all unknowns, but as interest in the script grew, we found ourselves in a position where we could recruit some real talent. They took a chance by agreeing to do this film with a first time director and a novice actor and I’m so grateful for their contributions.

Q: Did you research any grocery store assistant managers to get into their heads? And if you did get into the head of a grocery store assistant manager, did you find it a cold, unforgiving place with bad fluorescent lighting from which there was almost no return?

A: The head of a grocery store assistant manager is a cold, unforgiving place. And that's why I avoided them in my research for this film. I never climbed that far up the ladder during my tenure as a clerk. But I can certainly relate to wanting to.

Q: Chris Bowman was directing you from your script. Did the dynamic shift from working with him as a writer doing rewrites to being an actor playing what was settled on as the script?

A: Absolutely. There was a point, about two months before we started shooting, where I mentally stepped away from the script as a writer and re-approached it as an actor. I was able to do this because I completely trusted Chris's vision for the film. We had communicated so much over the previous year and a half that I knew I was in safe hands. There was even a moment in production when I asked Chris what a certain line meant. Billy Baldwin turned to me and asked, "Wait a minute. Didn't you write this thing?"

Q: Was there a scene you looked forward to playing as you were writing? Afterwards, watching the finished film, was that still the favorite scene?

A: I was always excited about shooting that first scene in the acting class, where Truman (Billy Baldwin) singles my character out in front of everyone. I felt like it captured the intended tone of the film better than any other single scene in the script. I still like that scene in the final version, but my favorite scene is one that I'm not even in. I like the scene in Peggy's (Mary Lynn Rajskub) room where she's showing Truman her stuffed animals. I like it because it lets you have a peek, however brief, into the inner life of a very quiet, precious person.

Q: What is your favorite Rutger Hauer role?

A: I actually worked with Rutger Hauer a few years ago, which was ironic because it was about a year after I had written this script. I had one very brief scene with him, but somehow I ended up getting to spend a lot of one-on-one time with him. He was great. So full of life. A great story teller. I asked him about Blade Runner (I think he's terrifying in that) and he told me all about it. But I like him best as Sasha in this TV movie from the 80s called ESCAPE FROM SOBIBOR.

By John Wildman, Staff Writer

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Spotlight on the Texas Competition

The Next Two Days

Things you don't want to miss during the next two days.

March 30 - THE FAVOR (Dir. Eva Aridjis) - 5 p.m. @ Magnolia - A loner who lives in New Jersey with his dog unexpectedly finds himself in charge of Johnny, a troubled youth. Lawrence struggles to forge a relationship with the boy despite their improbable situation.

March 30 - NEXT: A PRIMER ON URBAN PAINTING (Dir. Pablo Aravena) - 9:45 p.m. @ AFC - Street artists work outside the establishment and across the globe. Pablo Aravena finds the bright lights who flaunt The Man to make their masterpieces.

March 30 - SHORTS PROGRAM 6 - 5:30 p.m. @ Magnolia (and again March 30 5:15 p.m.) - Includes: Muertas, Top of the Circle, Checkpoint, Kidney Thiefs, Hairlady, The Box, Windowbreaker and The Kolaborator.

March 31 - A LAWYER WALKS INTO A BAR (Dir. Eric Chaikin) - 4 p.m. @ SMU Hughes-Triggs Theater - Six wannabe lawyers are studying for the California Bar Exams, but their chances for success are only 39 percent. Eric Chalkin shows how the legal system affects American culture through the students and interviews with big-time trial lawyers.

March 31 - SHARKWATER (Dir. Rob Stewart) - 8:30 p.m. @ Magnolia - Sharks often get a bad rap at the movies, but Rob Stewart shows just how important they are to the ecosystem and how fear and ignorance is threatening the species.

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Characters on the Move Learn More Than They Bargain For

Still from LITTLE HEROES

AFI DALLAS features a series of films that prove the old adage, "It's not the destination but the journey." These films involve people who have left their home in search of their souls, to hide from or confront their pasts and to chase down their dreams.

In EVE OF UNDERSTANDING, directed by Alyson Shelton, a young woman is sent on a road trip from Texas to Arizona to make peace with her troubling history, while Bogdan Aperti's THE LAST DAY OF DECEMBER follows a Romanian man’s return home to confront his own.

During Brad Siberling's drama 10 ITEMS OR LESS, a film star - played by Morgan Freeman - hitches a ride with a check out girl from the nearby grocery store.

In Itai Lev's LITTLE HEROES, four Israeli and Russian children embark on a courageous trek through the scenic Israeli desert while learning to accept those who are different from themselves.

Amy Talkington's THE NIGHT OF THE WHITE PANTS, starring Tom Wilkinson, Selma Blair and Nick Stahl, sees the patriarch of a distinguished but crumbling Dallas family hit the town with his daughter's punk rock boyfriend.

In a startling quest for redemption, 14-year-old Maddie Clifford employs sex, insulin syringes and an ill-fated rabbit in AARON KING'S REDEMPTION MADDIE.

Radu Jude's family-themed drama THE TUBE WITH A HAT details the arduous journey of a Romanian father and son who must travel a long way into town to get their broken television repaired by a distant handyman.

And in Joel Palombo's MILK AND OPIUM, an Indian music group hits the road with an English interpreter, while Logan Smalley's documentary DARIUS GOES WEST: THE ROLL OF HIS LIFE details the journey of eleven college students who take a friend with Duchenne Muscular Distrophy on a cross-country road trip.

All show the cliche is true: Life is less about the miles traveled than it is about the lessons learned along the way.

By Brittan Dunham, Staff Writer

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Dangerous Trips Across The Border

Alicja Bachleda in TRADE

Four films at AFI DALLAS take aim at the dangers that lie in wait for those making a journey across our borders.

Robert Michael Kelly’s documentary BORDERLANDS focuses on the border towns of Palomas, Mexico and Columbus, New Mexico, and the rampant human smuggling and drug trafficking that transpires between the two.

The short film MUERTAS, directed by Ryan Piers Williams, details the struggle of a young American who makes a deal to get his Mexican girlfriend across the border, while Marco Kreuzpaintner’s TRADE takes an unblinking look at the sex trafficking industry through its story of a Mexican teenager and a world weary American cop who team on a desperate mission to find the boy’s kidnapped sister.

Finally, Carlos Gutierrez’s short film WET FOOT/DRY FOOT features two Cuban refugees stranded on an uninhabited island who must risk their tenuous safety from the letter of the immigration law in South Florida in order to save the life of a stranger.

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Ten Burning Questions: Eva Aridjis, THE FAVOR

Crash, boom and bang. These are three things that could not be further from the screen when Eva Aridjis' THE FAVOR (screening Thursday, 3/29 at 7:45PM and Friday, 3/30 at 5:00PM) is playing. The finely tuned drama of a lonely man who finds himself entrusted with the care of a troubled teen, does all of its careening inside the hearts of the two lead characters as they fight their own circumstances and limits to create a world that might have just enough trust and support to see them through. Cable TV and big budget movies don't do this kind of real, honest emotion. Quiet, little films like Aridjis' THE FAVOR do.

1. Frank Wood's character takes the adage "patience is a virtue" to a nearly unbelievable level. How close do you personally approach that?

None of the characters or events in the film are autobiographical, and I always try to create characters that are different from myself. Regarding Frank Wood's character, Lawrence, I was interested in exploring how much a genuinely good and patient person could be pushed before losing that goodness and patience (and whether or not they do). But I think people like Lawrence definitely exist in the world, and complicated human relationships can lead people to find themselves in all sorts of roles and situations. I think loneliness, love, and compassion can lead people to put up with a lot.

2. You wrote the script as well as directed the film. Did anything in the performances and/or staging of your shots cause you to rethink what you had written?

If you mean during production, not in any major way. The scene where Lawrence and Johnny argue at the police station was originally set in a moving car, but it became a logistical nightmare and we decided to change the scene's location. But I'm not a big fan of improvisation when it comes to changing scenes and lines while filming. I think it's important to work really hard on a script and to continue making changes when you rehearse with the actors, but then to stop once you get on the set. At that point you need to focus on getting what's in the script. The atmosphere on a set is always intense, so it's better not to start changing the story around at that point. That will of course happen later on, in the editing room, when there's time to think and try out different things. Of course there were scenes that were cut out in the editing room because we concluded that the story didn't need them, and shots that we never got to film due to time restrictions. There was a lot of extra dialogue in several scenes that got cut out, but it's always best to have more footage than you need, and then to whittle it down.

3. Paige Turco - best kept secret in Hollywood?

I think Paige is extremely talented, as are all of the other leads in the film. I was very lucky to have access to such good actors, and I will be very surprised if they do not go very far.

4. What is the best thing about having your film at AFI DALLAS?

I could probably answer that better after the festival, but I think the exposure will be great and the lineup of films seems really strong so I'm proud to be a part of it. I also think it's exciting to experience a festival in its inaugural year.

5. Frank Wood is a Tony Award winning actor. How many times did you have to remind him that he wasn't playing to the back row?

Never. I think it's true that acting in a theater has to be bigger due to the live audience, whereas acting for film should be more subtle as the camera is right there. But Frank had done a lot of film work too, and he has the ability to float back and forth between the two mediums easily and gracefully.

6. At various points in the film, characters make decisions or react in ways that are more thoughtful or (at the least) run counter to how we routinely see things portrayed. Was there a conscious thought to doing this in either the writing and/or the direction of the film?

I think that maybe this impression comes from the fact that the characters in my film are never overshadowed by a fast-paced action-packed story, or a heavy visual stylization, or special effects. The audience has more time to think about the characters and the decisions they're making. It is a film about human relationships, and the characters and dialogue are everything. Not to say that the cinematography and production design weren't important tools in telling the story, but I knew from the beginning that it was going to be a low-budget film and we had to keep things simple. I like to think that the characters I created seem real, and I think that the characters we often see in films are not very realistic. Hollywood teaches us that a character should be one thing from start to finish, and that a big change can only take place in a character after he or she undergoes a long and trying journey. In the real world, people are often inconsistent, unpredictable, and many things at once. They can change pretty quickly, or perhaps it is simply different sides of a person surfacing depending on the circumstances or revealing themselves over time.

7. What's the most underrated job on the set?

There's many, but I will say craft services. It is extremely important to a hardworking and exhausted crew and cast to have good food available, all the time.

8. To protect the teen girls, did you use a special filter to limit Ryan Donowho’s dreamy-ness?

No, on the contrary. The more excited teenage girls are about the film and Ryan, the better.

9. What was the last film that made you cry? Laugh out loud?

I recall tearing up a few times while watching PAN’S LABYRINTH. The last film that made me laugh out loud was probably BORAT.

10. Popcorn or candy?

Popcorn, without a doubt.

By John Wildman, Staff Writer

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Hanging out at the Target Lounge

Photo Credit: Andrea Patton

The Target Lounge, located in the heart of the Victory Plaza offers filmmakers and festival VIP pass holders a creative and stylish location to connect and unwind throughout the day and evening as they navigate their way through the various AFI DALLAS events beckoning for thei time over the course of the eleven day festival.

Like the festival itself, the lounge offers a rich and fun variety of visual sights to compete for the discerning film fan's attention. People mill about a tiny glowing model city of Dallas under attack from scary doodle film monsters - which, to be fair - are more funny than scary.

Bathed in the Target Red, they'll be tempted to make their own snack cups filled with various combinations of trail mix, chips and cookies and wash them down with designer sodas and energy drinks during the day.

Or, if they happen by after the sun goes down, they can talk film (fueled by Bombay Sapphire and Budwiser Select) with filmmakers like Frederick Wolcott and Amber Shipp, the director and producer of the unsettling AFI DALLAS Midnight Special, BEINGS, or hang with shorts directors like LOS TABAQUEROS' Russell Griffin and DUCK MAN's Brian Hennigan.

Both seemed nearly in awe of what the festival as a whole had offered to them as guest filmmakers to Dallas (Griffin from Los Angeles and Hennigan hailing all the way from Scotland), with Hennigan stating, "It's amazing! Wonderful! I'm impressed by everything I see!"

Griffin's friend, TM:1 Interactive Creative Director Todd Connelly was equally impressed with the Target Lounge itself. "I think it's fantastic! It's a great scene. Everyone can talk about the movies and hang out. It’s the place to be," Connelly said.

Meanwhile, people were lined up nearby to make their own custom Helvetica font t-shirts. "The scene" in this case was to celebrate the popular graphic designer date movie. While we were there, people were heading out the door and presumably to another movie with shirts that proclaimed: "I am amused." "Leonardo's Bitch." And "Nude is more."

One such nouveau t-shirt designer was overheard while exiting, "I didn’t know you could make up your own words! I just took the words they gave me! You really have to pay attention in this place!"

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