Daily updates from the first annual AFI DALLAS International Film Festival presented by Target, founding sponsor Victory Park, March 22 to April 1, 2007

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

In the March 29 Daily News Print Edition

Daily News Cover March 29, 2007

Look for print editions of the official AFI DALLAS Daily News at venues and theaters all around Dallas. In the March 29, 2007, edition:
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Actor's Corner: Hubbel Palmer, AMERICAN FORK

Hubbel Palmer

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

MIDLOTHIA

Beer, guns, sex and violence populate director Bill Sebastian’s vision of a small Texas town, MIDLOTHIA.

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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

LITTLE HEROES
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
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

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

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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Actor's Corner: Leyla Milani, WRESTLEMANIAC

Wrestlemaniac

Jesse Baget's WRESTLEMANIAC (screening Friday 3/30 at 12:00PM and Saturday 3/31 at 9:45PM) lets you know immediately that it intends to scare you, gross you out, be in-your-face inappropriate and make you laugh. And educational? Well, you just might learn a little something about the Dirty Sanchez and Mexican Wrestling too.

Leyla Milani plays one of the cast members of a low budget soft core porn film that stumble on to the stomping grounds of a murderous psychopathic wrestler. And her tools for survival include a few talents not usually placed at the top of an adult starlet's resume.

Like her character, Milani is also quite the driven multi-talent, moving from acting roles to modeling/hosting (Deal or No Deal) to designing her own line of jeans.

Q: Were you a fan of horror films before you were cast in WRESTLEMANIAC?


A: Growing up, I can't say I was really a fan. Actually, up until WRESTLEMANIAC I was pretty afraid to see them. I don't know - something about the heart-stopping sound-effects and not knowing what's going to pop on the screen at any time. It just was never an enjoyable thing for me to watch. However, starring in WRESTLEMANIAC and taking on the bad guy definitely gave me the courage not only be able to watch horror films but now to enjoy them too.

Q: When no one was looking, did you ever try on one of the Mexican wrestling masks?


A: Don't tell anyone. But yes I tried all of them, but with my big hair it didn't look too good so I put them back like a good girl!

Q: For you, what is harder as an actress - get the laugh or convincingly act like you are frightened?


A: Probably frightened because you really have to dig deep to find that source of your fear. I think getting the laugh is easier for me because I'm just so comfortable and free when playing comedy roles. In my case, my source of fear was being wet in the freezing cold (mid-November), late at night (most of my scenes were at night) up in Valencia, CA! That was probably my source of fear and agony. But after seeing the final product, it was well worth it!

Q: If the two of us are on a road rip and the car breaks down, are you going to be more help getting the car started again or getting some guy to pick us up and give us a ride into town?


A: My character, Dallas, is quite the mechanic. I think I learned a thing or two about fixing cars from that scene alone. But realistically, I think Leyla would be better at finding someone else to fix the problem.

Q: What is the most money you have had in your case on Deal or No Deal? And did you have to use an armed escort to make it out of the studio that day?


A: Well, the top amount usually is $1 million. However, during our premier week early in the year the top amount was something like $3 million or $4 million and I ended up having it in my case. The contestant's heart was broken. But what can I say it's a game show. Luckily, no armed escorts were necessary.

Q: You were also a finalist in the WWE Raw Diva search. What is it with you and wrestling all the time? Can't you just be reasonable and talk things out once and awhile?


A: Well, wrestlers try to "talk it out" every once but that usually ends up turning into a good round of smack-talking followed by a full on battle in the ring. So the answer to your question: No! We gotta get right down physical to prove a point. Speaking of wrestling I can be seen in a series of commercials for (RAW-FANNATION) currently airing on the USA networks.

Q: You have your own line of jeans - Leyla Jeans Couture - which one can find at Forever 21 stores. Did you start the line because you wanted to start your own business or because you couldn't find jeans that flattered your assets well enough?

A: Flattered my assets. That's funny. Actually, that was exactly why I launched my own line, because I'm a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl and had always had a challenge finding the right fit. Leyla Jeans Couture is actually on hold for the time being as I'm focusing solely on my acting/hosting and briefcase handling career.

Q: Just between us, in real life - could you take Rey Misterio’s mask in a fair fight?


A: With my female charms - yes any day!

Milani will appear at the film's opening night screening on Friday, March 30th.

By John Wildman, Staff Writer


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Photos from Mid-Festival

New photo galleries from the 2007 AFI DALLAS International Film Festival.
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Coverage Roundup: March 28

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JUST ADDED: Sunday Screenings of AFI DALLAS Award Winners

[UPDATED March 30, 11:56am] Following are new screenings just added to 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
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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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AFI DALLAS Schedule: Wednesday March 28

Click here for tickets to programs on Wednesday March 28, 2007, at the AFI DALLAS International Film Festival.

The Magnolia - 3699 McKinney Ave. [Map]
5:00p Shorts Program 4
5:00p The Orange Thief
5:15p American Fork
7:00p Divine Souls
7:15p Fido
7:30p Park
9:30p August the First
9:45p Black Irish
10:00p America the Beautiful

Angelika Film Center - 5321 E. Mockingbird Ln. [Map]
4:30p The Sting
5:00p Bella
7:15p La Vie en Rose
7:30p The Valet
10:00p Running on Empty
10:30p Student Competition 2

Victory Plaza - AFI 100... Series - 3090 Olive St. [Map]
12:15p Double Indemnity
3:00p The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
7:45p Rear Window
10:30p Duck Soup

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Images from Day Six

Scenes from around the AFI DALLAS International Film Festival:
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Interview with Director of Park

Kurt Voelker, director of PARK, talks with Pop Syndicate. Read the interview here. And see PARK at the AFI DALLAS International Film Festival, Wednesday March 28, 7:30pm, and Thursday March 29, 9:45pm, at The Magnolia.

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In the March 28 Daily News Print Edition

AFI Daily News 3-28

Look for print editions of the official AFI DALLAS Daily News at venues and theaters all around Dallas. In the March 28, 2007, edition:
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Spotlight on the Texas Competition

THE PROPER CARE AND FEEDING OF AN AMERICAN MESSIAH

Filmed in Waco, THE PROPER CARE AND FEEDING OF AN AMERICAN MESSIAH, directed by Christopher J. Hansen, tells the story of Brian, who believes he is his town's Messiah and starts a fund raiser to let them know.

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Ten Burning Questions: Matthew Killip, MASTER OF REALITY

Matthew Killip, MASTER OF REALITY You know the saying, "You couldn't make this up"? Well, you couldn't make a character like Ronny Long up.

He is a self-professed cryptozoologist, founder of Texas Boneyard Wrestling, avant-garde filmmaker and artist of the macabre who enjoyed a fleeting 15 minutes of fame when a piece of video of Ronny bashing a light bulb with his forehead made the rounds on the nation's nightly network news - horrifying and confusing the people who actually pay attention to the nightly network news.

Director Mathew Killip gives Ronny Long all the close up he can handle in his short film MASTER OF REALITY (Screening as part of the Documentary Shorts Program on Thursday, 3/29 at 5:00PM and Saturday, 3/31 at 6:30PM) and you'll be both entertained and more than a little relieved that he doesn't live next door to you.

1. Who or what introduced you to Ronny Long?

I came across a website Ronny had created for his new backyard wrestling federation called Texas Boneyard Wrestling. The idea was to unite Ronny's twin interests of rasslin' and horror movies, but the project imploded shortly after its creation because of infighting amongst the wrestlers. It's a shame, as a lot of energy and imagination had gone into it and every wrestler had their own character complete with horrendous back-story (cannibals, mental patients, stuff like that). Ronny was 15 at the time.

2. Did he ever show you his cryptozoologist degree?

No, but Ronny did show me his T-Shirt from the Texas Bigfoot Research Center. Anyway, Cryptozoologists don't bother with bullshit like degrees. Saasquatch don't care about no academic qualifications.

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

I really love Texas so I'm delighted to be showing our work in Dallas. And because Ronny lives in the Dallas/Fort Worth area he can come to the screenings, which I'm very excited about. He'll be packing his light bulbs and giving on-stage demonstrations of pure wrestling heat in the Q&As. Ronny will also be handing out previews of his latest film, called Bad Breed. It's about a transvestite terrorist spy, some killer robots and a virus. You can find out more here: www.myspace.com/stoggamproductions.

4. It took three years after you shot the film to complete the editing. Why so long?

Ahh. I'm very, very, very lazy.

Ronny Long 5. What was the biggest challenge working with a subject like Ronny?

Keeping him supplied with Nachos and Dr. Pepper (which I like to call Prune Juice). Things could get ugly if Ronny didn't receive his regular dose of the good Doctor's beverage.

6. Did the two of you ever have to settle a disagreement by wrestling for it?

I'm not sure that would have been altogether wise on my part. Ronny is a young man whose commitment to the noble art of wrestling is such that he smashed a light bulb into his own face.

7. How many times did he try to get you to touch the scar on his forehead from the lightbulb?

You lot are creepy. We didn't do any scar touching.

8. Is Ronny more underrated as a painter or a filmmaker?

Ronny's just an amazing artist, and all his projects, in whatever medium (painting, drawing, sculpture, performance, film-making), are expressions of a unified creative vision. The fact that his work is largely unrecognized only contributes to the purity of his practice. He does it to please himself, and no one else, and that's one of the
things I love about him.

9. I don't remember ever seeing his parents in the film. Are they in the Witness Protection Program?

You didn't see his parents in the documentary because Ronny Long doesn't have any. He's a feral child raised by ape-like hominids in the suburban wastelands around Dallas.

10. Popcorn or candy?

Popcorn.

Matthew Killip (and Ronny Long) will appear at MASTER OF REALITY's screening at part of the Documentary Shorts Program premiere on Thursday, March 29th.

By John Wildman, Staff Writer


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Frightful and Delightful

Billy Connolly as Fido If you are like most people and you find a macabre delight in being frightened, AFI DALLAS will suit your needs with a fiendish group of spine-tingling, teeth-clinching, seat-gripping films.

Director Jesse Baget's EL MASCARADO MASSACRE (WRESTLEMANIAC) is the blood-soaked tale of a low-budget film crew on their way to Cabo San Lucas who become lost and wind up in "La Sangre De Dios," a ghost town home to an insane Mexican wrestler named "El Mascarado" (The Masked Man), who begins picking off the unlucky folks one by one.

Meanwhile, Andrew Currie's FIDO, a comedic horror film (a horrific comedy, maybe?) stars Carrie-Anne Moss, Billy Connolly, Dylan Baker in the story of young Timmy Robinson's best friend, Fido, a six-foot tall rotting zombie who one day eats the next-door neighbor.

In Calvin Reeder's LITTLE FARM, a family relocating to a quaint countryside plantation to start their lives over must confront and overcome an evil presence, while the silent Gothic fable THE LISTENING DEAD, directed by Phil Mucci, has an obsessed composer and his seamstress wife haunted by the spirit of a mysterious young woman.

On a lighter note, Darrell Hammond, Judd Nelson and Robert Wagner put a quirky, corporate American twist on the classic vampire tale in Dean Matthew Ronalds' NETHERBEAST INCORPORATED.

In the aptly named LUMP, directed by Faye Jackson, every time Christine gets a lump removed another appears, causing her to suspect her surgeon of foul play.

And finally, two ghoulish and gruesome films prove true that famous adage that begins "the best laid plans of mice and men."

On one hand, THE LYCANTHROPE, directed by Tony Quinn, follows a group of friends who embark on a weekend getaway that goes terribly wrong (ah, don't they always?) due to the lunar activities of a werewolf creature bent on destroying everything and killing everyone.

And on the other but similar hand, Christopher Smith's Severance follows a team-building weekend in the mountains of Eastern Europe that goes horribly wrong (see, I told you) for the sales division of the multi-national weapons company Palisade Defense when they become the victims of a group of crazed killers who will stop at nothing to see them dead.

For those who cannot handle a full-length horror film - possibly for health reasons - AFI DALLAS will also offer a few horrific shorts.

Director Conor Morrissey's Last Night is a supernatural tale of an Irish couple's marriage that begins to fall apart under the strain of a dark secret.

In director Carles Torren's Coming to Town, a young girl recruits an AK-47-wielding Santa Claus in order to seek revenge on a neighborhood bully.

And in Recently Deceased, directed by Texas filmmaker Chris McInroy, a teenager who suddenly becomes a zombie must finish his chores or else the dead will walk the earth.

By Brittan Dunham, Staff Writer

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Vampires Are People Too

NETHERBEAST INCORPORATED Originally conceived under the title "The Netherbeast of Berm-Tech Industries, Inc." the comedic horror film (or "horrific" comedy) NETHERBEAST INCORPORATED began as a skit for a three-minute horror contest. But now, the film is a full-length, full-blooded corporate American twist on the classic vampire story.

Wait, scratch that. The politically-correct term for "vampire," as emphasized by an educational video within the film itself, is "Netherfolk," a much less-offensive and more humane word. After all, they are human, too.

"Netherfolk have only gotten such a bad rap over the years because Hollywood glamorized the whole 'biting-neck-and-turning-into-bat thing,'" says director Dean Rolands and screenwriter Brian Ronalds.

"In reality, they're normal people with jobs who put their nose to the grindstone like everyone else. The only difference is they need human flesh and blood to survive."

Clearly, Ronalds and Ronalds are as dedicated to raising awareness as they are to producing chuckles, also contend that vamp... I mean, Netherfolk, are going through rough times in 21st-century America.

Amongst their concerns is the fact that a large number of "First Lifers" (a term that describes all non-vampire humans) have undertaken diets of some kind.

"That makes it difficult for Netherfolk to find the nutrients that they require," says Dean and Brian. "And Netherfolk really dig trans-fats."

As far as comedies goes, Netherbeast Incorporated has an A-team cast, which includes Dave Foley, Robert Wagner, Amy Davidson, Judd Nelson, Jason Mewes, and SNL's Darrel Hammond. Each of these actors, with the exclusion of Wagner (who plays former President James Garfield), plays an employee of Berm-Tech Industries, a seemingly- innocent telephone conglomerate which acts as a front for what is really a hive of flesh-eating vampires. I mean - Netherfolk.

Additionally, Netherbeast offers a quaint and concise history of the Netherpeople, including one juicy tidbit of American history you won't find anywhere else: President Garfield was one of them.

"Yeah, and so was Florence Nightingale, Ray Milland, Vincient Van Gogh, Robert E Lee, Mozart, Jim Morrison," say the Ronalds duo. "And Ghandi."

Netherbeast Incorporated - 7:30 p.m., March 30 @ Magnolia (9:45 p.m., March 31 @ Magnolia)

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Actor's Corner: Amy Davidson, NETHERBEAST INCORPORATED

Amy Davidson The Ronalds Brothers' NETHERBEAST INCORPORATED (Screening Friday, 3/30 at 7:30PM and Saturday 3/31 at 9:45PM) takes a queasily gentle approach to teaching us all about vampires. The ones that live amongst us (and have, frankly, for years) that we have never been aware of. The inventive comic horror film boasts a roster of funny and quirky actors from Saturday Night Live's Darrell Hammond to Kids in the Hall veteran Dave Foley to Blue's Clues Steve Burns. And serving as our everywoman and the film's heroine is Amy Davidson, of 8 Simple Rules fame. Taking in the history of the secret and not so dangerous society of her co-workers as both they and she become threatened, Davidson doesn’t miss a step as she provides the perfect perky balance to the mock horror taking place around her.

Q: After being all over the TV for the first few years of your career, how did you take to the difference in the style and pace of film production working on NETHERBEAST INCORPORATED?

A: I love the differences between TV and film. Everything from the characters I've been fortunate to bring to life to the rhythm and flow of the shoot. I enjoyed having more time with the material vs. one week with a script in television. But on the flip side I was sad when the shoot was over. You become close with the people you work with and when the film is finished everyone goes their separate ways. In TV you see everyone the next season. I have to say that Netherbeast is an extremely special project. I felt that way from the very beginning! AND because it shot in Arizona, I was able to spend a lot of time with family and friends. It doesn’t get better than that!

Q: How did the dynamic work between you and the boys club (Dave Foley, Darrell Hammond, Steve Burns, Judd Nelson, etc.) that made up the majority of the cast of the film?

A: I loved being one of the only females in the film. You get lots of attention. All of the guys are wonderful! I received a warm welcome into the Boys Club!

Q: Seriously, how many of the guys were jealous of Steve Burns since he got to be your love interest?

A: Robert Wagner was probably the most jealous. I wish. (smiles.) What a lovely, lovely man. I had a special connection with RJ because of his friendship with James Garner.

Q: And, on the flip side, how upset was your former co-star and friend, Kaley Cuoco that you got to buddy up with the Blue's Clues guy in a movie?

A: Kaley cried daily!

Q: This is a very different vampire movie, really stretching the concept. Did you feel a little gypped that you weren't wearing some Victorian gowns or at the least doing battle with some dark seductive Dracula types?

A: One of the things I love most about NETHERBEAST INCORPORATED is that the "Nethermen" look just like us! There’s so much humor in that. And I did get to kick ass! He just wasn't hairy and scary looking. Yes I'd love to wear Victorian dresses and big hats! I guess I'll have to save that for my next film.

Q: What is your favorite vampire movie (not counting this one)?

A: Buffy the Vampire Slayer! I'm a chicken when it comes to scary movies!

Q: Saturday Night Live or Kids in the Hall - which is the funnier?

A: Not a fair question! Both shows were/are brilliant.

Q: You have an extensive dance background. How many times have you tried to convince a director or producer to add a dance sequence for you?

A: On 8 Simple Rules we talked about Kerry ballroom dancing. But we never got to that. That is my dream job! When I get to dance and act in the same film!

Amy Davidson will appear at NETHERBEAST INCORPORATED's opening night screening at 7:30 p.m. Friday @ Magnolia.

By John Wildman, Staff Writer


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Newly Added Screenings

[UPDATED March 30, 11:56am] Following are new screenings just added to 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
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Two More Wet Deck Conversations

Wet Deck Conversations Poolside and way above it all at the W Hotel [map], the AFI DALLAS International Film Festival pairs filmmakers and journalists to talk about moviemaking up close and personal. With topics that connect this year's AFI DALLAS stars with the people who go see their films, the Wet Deck Conversations offer a rare chance to ask what they think, how they did it and how you can too.

Wet Deck Conversations are free, so there is no better bargain if you're curious about the growing film industry in Dallas/Fort Worth, or whether you can actually make money by marketing your movie on MySpace. Upcoming conversations:

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).

Download and print JPG flier here.

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The Next Two Days

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

MARCH 29 - Deep Ellum Sounds - PUNK'S NOT DEAD (Dir. Susan Dynner) - 7:15 p.m. @ AFC (and again March 30, 5 p.m.) - KURT COBAIN ABOUT A SON (Dir. AJ Schnack) - 10 p.m. AFC (and again April 1, 2 p.m. @ Magnolia) - Three-chords and a bad attitude can lead to success, but at what cost? Susan Dynner's punk feature examines how the genre's success has trounced its founding philosophies. And AJ Schnack's portrait of Cobain follows an unusual route through audio conversations between Nirvana's singer and music writer Michael Azerrad.

Also recommended for March 29: Documentary Shorts, Fay Grim, Canvas (Joe Pantoliano attending), The Favor, Eve of Understanding, American Fork.

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) - 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.

Also recommended for March 30: Anatomy of a Canvas, Strong Enough to Break.

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