“Listen to them. Children of the night. What music they make.” –Dracula
Film prom last night was awesome! I can’t wait to tell you all about it after I give lip service to the opening night film.
The Blue Valentine line was down and around the block when I arrived at the Oriental. I was running a bit late — had to make an emergency new-dress stop for the occasion! (Luckily, my secret parking spot was open, and my friends were saving me a seat.) My first encounter of the evening was with local intellectual/DJ Dave Monroe and Milwaukee Film’s Executive Director Jonathan Jackson. Jonathan told Dave it wouldn’t be a film festival without him. I absolutely agree and said I always look forward to Dave’s gentle snore during festival season. This sounds like a dig; it’s not. I often use films as lullabies and find it comforting that others do, too. For me, sleep coos mean that person is in a good place watching that film.
The Oriental was packed to its balcony gills and replete with organ music. (How lucky are we to have a theater like the Oriental with an operational organ? Seriously.) The Argosy Foundation’s Chris Abele introduced Jonathan to introduce the film.
Chris compared Jonathan to high school physics — something about how he’s an immovable object or unstoppable force. I was busy having Tami Williams hook up my dress while the lights were still on, so I kind of missed it. Still, I had Adrian take a photo of Chris at the party later, because without Chris, the film fest simply wouldn’t exist as it does today.
B
lue Valentine was well acted and received, but my favorite part of the screening was the sponsor reel! Sponsor reels tend to be reverential and something people merely endure, but Milwaukee Film’s this year is a stitch. Director Carlo “Vinnie” Besasie, writer Ryan Plato and cinematographer Mike Gillis created what is, essentially, a short comedy with logos. The audience was laughing AND everyone was talking about it after the film! I gushed to Ryan (who I realized last night looks like Ryan Gosling!) about it later. Not only did people love something most people never think twice about (or try to ignore), but they are also excited to see it again. “Ryan Plato is legitimately good,” I said. Kudos to that crew. I would post it here if it were available, but I’ll attach a link to the Film Festival trailer instead because they also wrote, directed and shot that, too.
All right, so the movie ended, we arrived at Discovery World, and Sitora Takanaev’s army of butter-yellow volunteers distributed our drink tickets. (Jonathan said they had 5,000 bottles of Grey Goose on hand.) Imagine time lapse photography here of about an hour going by wherein I see dozens of people, hug them all, miss the Villagers set entirely and still don’t have a drink. Noteworthies included filmmaker Iverson White and his lovely partner, Glynda Ard, who met us near the door, as did Maxine Wishner and actor Dan Mooney. Cover girl Garrett Gharibeh chatted me up about Run Up to the Runway. (Could Garrett be any handsomer? He could melt hell he’s so hot.) Milwaukee Film’s Hospitality Coordinator Angela Catalano promised to introduce me to people, but then I got separated from her and our friend Marta Huth. Festival Program Manager TJ Fackelman and film scholar Adam Ochonicky helped me contemplate the chemical properties associated with putting gummy eyeballs inside ice cubes. Filmmaker and musician Lilly Czarnecki (of The Lillies) and her adorable partner, Mike, met us in the corridor. She looked amazing, by the way, with her red jacket, bright blond hair and dark eyes — stunning. Makeup artist Katherine Clark also looked absolutely fabulous in her sleek red gown and vintage hat. Firestarter Films’ Shawn Monaghan was representing with Rex Sikes. The Milwaukee Art Museum’s Sara Stum waved as she rushed by, and DJ, photographer and fashionista Brian Z shied away from the camera when I asked to photograph his new, fabulous boots! He’s so coy.
And
then I ***finally*** got a drink and decided to track down Mark Borchardt of American Movie fame. I see him every year, I have never spoken to him, and I thought, “As Dave Monroe is to the Film Festival, Mark Borchardt is to the party — something doesn’t feel right if he’s not here.” It took several more drinks and plenty more conversation to get there, but we did. And it was awkward. And Mark was totally sweet about it. Right before approaching Mark, I formed an accidental entourage. We all advanced at once, and I realized immediately that it’s impossible to have a normal conversation when a handful of people close in on you like you’re a star. I tried to play it cool, but this other guy launched into questions about American Movie. I gravitated to someone else I didn’t know — Mike Sottile, Modus Operandi and Reservoir Dogs actor. (He liked my hips; I’m glad someone likes t
hem.) I can’t remember exactly what happened then, but I eventually left the conversation with an invitation to watch the Packers game Monday with Mark and Mike and their friend Dan. They reassured me they won’t think it’s weird if I show up on their doorstep Monday with a 12-pack. I’m considering it.
At that point, the bar had closed, so I went up and ordered a drink.
Bartender: “We’re closed.”
Me: “But I still have drink tickets! And all I want is wine! Or beer!”
Bartender: “We’re closed.”
Me, as I slap my badge on the bar: “But I’m press!”
Bartender: “What would you like, ma’am?”
I’m sure they ad
ore people like me.
I could recap a hundred other conversations, but I want to give just one more shout out. Two stars of the Milwaukee Film trailer and sponsor reel were in attendance — Edy Cullen and Matt Huebsch, respectively. They both are fabulous actors and super sweet people, and I want to give credit where credit is due. Edy is the blonde in the Thelma and Louise scene of the trailer, and Matt the logo-obsessed main character in the sponsor reel. Milwaukee is underappreciated in terms of the filmmaking and acting talent we have here, and we are lucky to have them.
I’m off to A Film Unfinished or 3 Idiots today, and SPiN party number one is tonight! Perhaps I should call the film fest and see if I can borrow 1,000 bottles of Grey Goose?
(Be sure to check out more photos from the night in the Day 1 photo gallery, too!)
2010 Milwaukee Film Commercial Trailer from Milwaukee Film on Vimeo.
