[ phoenix film festival: the people i met ]

So, at the Phoenix Film Festival, I got a chance to talk to a bunch of producers and directors. But I alsooooo got to meet a few actors. No one incredibly hugely famous, but it was still pretty cool.

First off, Johnny Messner. Now, the only thing I knew him from was a few episodes of The OC, so I won't be shocked if you have no idea who he is. On The OC, he was Julie's ex-boyfriend from way back, and one day he showed up with a porno starring Julie, and then Caleb had him killed. Rockin'. Anyway, he was in The Art of Travel, which I looooooooved.

I actually had two separate, ten or fifteen minute conversations with him: one right after I saw his film, and one during one of the parties. His voice scared the shit out of me, because it's wicked low and gravely, but I wasn't expecting it to be SO low and SO gravely in person. He asked if I liked the movie, and because I did, we talked about it for a little while. He was really nice, and wicked stoked that so many people liked the movie.


Secondly, and probably the one I was most excited about, Jonathan Schaech. If you've ever seen That Thing You Do, he played the lead singer of The Wonders. He was in a horror film called Organizm at the Festival, which I didn't see, because I'm not too big on horror films.

I basically just exchanged pleasantries with him. He was going into a film that I was taking tickets for, so I tore his ticket and told him to enjoy, and he thanked me. After the movie, he left the theatre first, and I got to actually meet him and introduce myself. Woot!


Next is Pras, from the Fugees. He did a Q&A session after his documentary Skid Row showed. Everyone asked questions, and he answered them. I was practically unconscious because it was two in the morning, so I didn't so much meet him as be in the same room with him.


And lastly, Shane West. What I actually knew him from was A Walk to Remember and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, but he was also on E.R. for a few years. The first time I saw him, he was coming out of the Q&A session after his film, What We Do Is Secret, but I didn't say anything to him because he was completely surrounded by practically-fainting girls, and I didn't want to add to it. So he just hung out in the hall for maybe fifteen or twenty minutes, and all I did was smile at him as I walked past to leave.

Later that night, I was working the Awards Party, and he was there too, so I did get to say hello and introduce myself. I didn't have too much to talk about, because I didn't really want to say that I only knew him from those two movies, neither of which I particularly liked, and I hadn't been able to see the film that was in the Festival. But we chatted for a few minutes, and he seemed really nice and genuine.


So, yeah... I got to meet a few actors and a rapper. Goooooo me. It was pretty cool. I was proud of myself for not acting like a moron. I was able to string whole sentences together, and not act star-struck, so that's good!

[ found the pictures through google ]

[ phoenix film festival: the movies i saw ]

For the past week and a half, I've been volunteering at the Phoenix Film Festival. I mostly took tickets, directed people to the right place, and answered questions. Because I volunteered at least 20 hours (I think I ended up logging closer to 30), I got to see as many movies as I wanted to for free. I ended up having time to see five films, as well as a collection of College-Student-made Short Films. I highly highly highly highly recommend all of them!

Son of Rambow
This movie was absolutely incredible. The person who described it to me said it was about "two British boys who decide to make a Rambo movie after seeing Last Blood." And I thought, "Oh dear lord, why am I going to see this?!?" But it was so so much more than that. It was an incredible story of friendship and boundaries and coming into your own. It's extremely funny and extremely heart-warming.

Mongol
I never ever in my life thought my brain would create the thought "I feel bad for Genghis Khan," but this film made me think it. I have to admit it. It's a biopic about Genghis Khan's life, before he was Genghis Khan. It covers his life from the time he chose his wife and lost his father, at around age 9, up through the battle that sealed his destiny. It really is an amazing and beautiful movie. It makes you remember that everyone is human.

The Art of Travel
This is one of my new favorite films. It follows a young man named Connor, who is about to marry his girlfriend and go off to college, when his whole life turns around. He ends up in Nicaragua by himself, with no money. When he eventually makes it to Panama, he meets two people who will change his life forever. It is an exquisitely done film, starring Christopher Masterson. The scenery is just amazing, the story is so well-done. It made me want to go to an airport and get on the next international flight, no matter where it was heading.

Skid Row
This one was intense. Pras (from the Fugees) lived on Skid Row in LA for nine days, with no money and no help from his crew or friends, filming the entire experience with hidden cameras. There is just no way to describe this movie. All I can say is it was at once intense, terrifying and heartbreaking. I actually had to turn away a few times, because I simply couldn't handle what was shown on the screen. It was really well-done, just really horribly sad.

On Broadway
This one actually won the Audience Award at the festival. It stars Joey McIntyre (yes, of New Kids on the Block) and Eliza Dushku, among others. It's focuses on an Irish family in Boston. When Joey McIntyre's character's uncle dies in an accident, it inspires him to write a play about the traditions and connections within the Irish community. Basically everything is against him, but he knows in his gut that he needs to write the play and get it on stage. This film is absolutely beautiful. Heart-wrenching, really funny, incredibly touching, extremely inspiring. I absolutely loved it, and it definitely deserved the Audience Award.

Really great films, all of them. Others that I wanted to see, and were highly recommended by others at the festival: What We Do Is Secret (couldn't find a trailer); Take (which won Best Film); The Life Before Her Eyes; The Visitor; Dakota Skye (which won Best Screenplay); and 11 Minutes Ago.

Stay tuned for a report on who I met!