Sundance Film Festival...Robert Redford to screen flicks across pond in London! A gamble?

 



In a bid to spread the good word about the wonders of celluloid and Independent film (now a major U.S. export overseas) and its ability to touch and inspire the human spirit, officials at Robert Redford's "Sundance Film Festival" announced ambitious plans to launch a version of the Utah-based fest overseas in the heart of London.

The much-ballyhooed cultural reach is slated for an ceremonious unveiling next year (to run April 26th thru the 29th).

In addition to an eclectic string of thought-provoking insightful movies, Redford's "baby" is known for, there will be a stimulating calendar of events that range from live stage performances, to industry panels on a myriad of filmmaker topics, and insightful one-on-one interviews with high-profile celebs on the independent film landscape.

"It is our mutual goal to provide the U.K. with the very best in current American Independent Cinema, to introduce the artists responsible for it, and in essence help build a picture of our country that is broadly reflective of the diversity of voices not always seen in our cultural exports," the respected actor underscored in a press release in recent days.

Will there be as keen an interest in Sundance "picks" (which usually set filmmaking trends) across the big pond as there is on these shores?

News at 11!

http://www.thetattler.biz



From heartthrob to respected film director!

Prop 8...Californians Against Hate make headway in Utah with Mormons. Boycott with Garff Automotive ends...

A few weeks ago, Ken Karger and Californians Against Hate (a group Karger founded) called for a boycott of Ken Garff Automotive Group at a Salt Lake City news conference, based on a $100,000.00 donation the family matriarch - Katharine Garff - proffered in support of Proposition 8 (ban on gay marriage).

In a follow-up to that meeting - Mr. Karger contacted me on Friday to inform me that the boycott has been terminated - because of the remarkable headway that has been made with the CEO of the Automotive Group, John Garff.

"A reporter there asked me if I would be willing to meet with John Garff. A few hours later, I was in his office. We had a wide-ranging and very productive two-hour meeting," the gay activist noted in his communication to me.

In addition to that "healing" moment, Karger was elated to report that Garff and his father (Robert Garff) later met with National LGBT community leader, Bruce Bastian, as well.

Bastian is also a Utah philanthropist.

The purpose of the second meeting, according to Karger, was to share perspectives and to discuss a variety of issues in an effort to find mutual respect and understanding over the Proposition 8 issue.

Behind closed doors an actual agreement was made that satisfied Bastian.

Although terms of an actual agreement were not released, sources noted to me that Garff officials have agreed to adopt a nondiscrimination policy for gay, lesbian and transgender employees.

Mr. Karger was so pleased with the meeting of hearts & minds that occurred on that momentous occasion that he elected to immediately end the boycott against the Automotive Group immediately.

"Last Friday, I met with Robert and John Garff. I believe that both Robert and John left the meeting with a better understanding of my work, the LGBT community, and the emotional significance of the passing of Proposition 8 to our community. I believe the Garff family now fully understands how sensitive and important this issue is to our community and to their friends and neighbors."

Meanwhile, the Garff's were anxious to express their feelings on the issues on record, as well.

"In response to the Ken Garff Automotive Group boycott that was called for by Californians Against Hate, I met with Fred Karger, its founder. My father, Robert, and I subsequently met with Bruce Bastian, a national LGBT philanthropist with local ties to Utah. I believe we all came away from those meetings with a greater level of mutual respect and understanding."

Karger concluded his heartfelt message to me by noting that as Utah progresses towards an era of equality for all families, he is extremely grateful to the Garff family for listening to the community in which they reside and do business in.

"I look forward to working together towards a better future for all."

Now, If the rest of those much-married Mormons in Utah would hop on board - maybe the rest of the community that is inclined toward getting hitched with one special person - would also have a shot at marital bliss!

http://www.julianayrs.com

Proposition 8...Mormon Church probed by California Fair Elections Commission!

More trouble may be brewing on the horizon for the Mormon Church!

Fred Karger - the founder of "Californians Against Hate" - has filed a complaint with the California Fair Elections Commission in which he contends that the Mormon Church provided significant funds to the pro-Proposition 8 campaign but failed to report the contributions as required by State Law.

After consideration, the Fair Political Practices Commission has decided to move forward on the juicy complaint issues.

For starters, the agency plans to investigate funding for a handful of commercials, out-of-state phone banks, and a Web site hosted by the Mormons.

Based on the facts uncovered to date, sources close to the investigation assert that the California regulatory agency is compelled to look into whether the church broke State laws by failing to report campaign-related expenditures.

For those of you who may have been in a vacuum for the past few month or so, it is important to note that Proposition 8 - which California voters passed on November 4 - overturned a prior ruling by the California Supreme Court to lift a ban on "gay marriage".

Some argue that in doing so, the organizers for Proposition 8 rewrote the California State Constitution to allow for unjust discrimination against a group of citizens; namely, "gays" seeking equality in marriage, among other things.

Mormons were a major political (religious?) force behind the ballot measure.

Individual church-goers not only donated millions of their own savings to the cause, but also, took it upon themselves to canvass the streets door-to-door to raise additional funds.

If the commission determines through its probe that the Church of Latter Day Saints (?) violated California State reporting laws, the agency could levy penalties of $5,000.00 per violation against the Mormons.

The Church's exempt tax status may be thrown into jeopardy as well.

In response, Church Officials have denied any wrong-doing, of course.

News at 11!

Quentin Tarantino...tantrum in Park, Utah. Give the man a break!

Embarrassing footage of Quentin Tarantino - cutting up on camera - has been circulating the tabloid gossip shows this past week.

Apparently, Quentin was schlepping along the street and minding his own business in Park, Utah - where the Sundance Film Festival is underway - when a cameraman dashed up with the intent of capturing the quirky director in his element.

Quentin stopped dead in his tracks when he spied the paparazzi - turned to him - then quipped, with an exasperated look on his face,

"What are you doing?"

When the photog failed to answer, an altercation ensued between the two.

Now, gossip mongers are using the incident to cast a negative light on Quentin Tarantino, and his reputation.

On more than one occasion, I've covered events that Tarentino attended and not only witnessed his behavior up-close, but also unobserved from afar....on the street, at a local movie house, wherever.

For the record, I can state quite emphatically, that Mr. Tarentino has always been generous to fans, usually stopping to sign an autograph or two.

Give the man a break, eh?

One has only to approach Quentin with a little courtesy, to land a memorable photo op, I assure you.

As to the clash in Utah, well, it was triggered by the inappropriate conduct of the dim-witted cameraman, in my estimation.

Julia Roberts put it succinctly when she noted,

“I don't think I realized that the cost of fame is that it's open season on every moment of your life.”

Point Break...adapted for stage; Los Angeles production!

The Theater must be desperate for material or craving for nostalgic reminisces of B-movie stars.

"Point Break" - the cult feature which starred Keanu Reeves as an undercover FBI agent - was recently adapted for the stage.

By all accounts, it was a bizarre offering for the boards.

The producers were billing - Point Break LIVE! - in quite a unique way.

"The absurdist stage adaptation of the 1992 Keanu Reeves/Patrick Swayze extreme-sports blockbuster which returns to its roots: Los Angeles, "bank robbery capital of the world," where "a lot has changed in the last 20 years - the air got dirty and the sex got clean."

The odd-ball production revives faded memories of Johnny Utah (Keanu Reeves); Bodhi, the surfing philosopher (Patrick Swayze); and a handful of bank robbers (like the one played over-the-top by Gary Busey).

"Point Break LIVE!" first opened in Seattle - but has had runs in New York City and Minneapolis - if you can fathom it.

The stage show is sort-of an up-close in-your-face personal theatrical experience.

The oddity here?

Each show an acting newbie is plucked from the audience to stumble on the playing field and inhabit the Reeves "Utah" role.

The casting director noted tongue-in-cheek that the process ensured an FBI character - not unlike Reeves - who'll be wooden, grasping for lines, and looking for all-the-world like a deer caught in the thunderous path of a two-ton truck!

Yeah, they wanted a slow-talking, self-conscious, dude who struts like he has a stick up his butt (or somethin' like that).

During the auditions, unlikely wannabes take a shot at the big time by executing jumpin' jacks, showing-off a little tight a**, and rendering a cold-reading - ah - very cold!

"Keanu's role requires a special kind of acting," explained one demanding director.

"Essentially, in every scene, the actor looks like he's just been dropped into a room with no idea about what's going on."

At each performance, it helps that acting novices get to read from cue cards!

Undoubtedly, this nifty approach, will be sure to capture the rawness of a Keanu performance (even thespians who think themselves generally incapable of acting).

One night, a handful of fans at a Los Angeles gig, swear that a 5'5 blond guy with glasses eerily perfected the Keanu accent, making the entire show a success.

A film buff, in queue at that once-in-a-life-time theatrical event, was inclined to wonder aloud later.

"How do they handle a Keanu that totally blows?"

In a nutshell, "Point Break" is a tale about a rookie FBI agent, hoping to break a bank robbery ring, who infiltrates a colony of surfers in Southern California.

Keanu's character (FBI Agent) first bonds with Bodhi (bank robber Patrick Swayze).

Bodhi - unaware of his partner's secret agenda to bust his butt - pines away for him, nonetheless.

In the movie edition - filmgoers guffawed at stilted, quotable, camp dialogue - very Stallone-esque in style.

Difficult thought-provoking lines like "Whoa" and "I am an FBI agent" are revived in the stage production to the glee of "Point Break" officiandos.

Because "POINT BREAK" is executed in serious frat-boy style, it makes sense that there is usually plenty of cheap beer on tap, along with munchies, and what-have-you.

There's a lot of stumbling about in the stage version - the whole experience is not unlike a theatrical train wreck - with all the guys nearly ending up in an orgy of limbs in a jumble on the hard floor.

According to production notes from a couple of staged performances, the play "features copious amounts of fake blood, extended fight choreography, and an indoor monsoon."

For this reason, the savvy theatre buff usually springs for the brown sac offered up by the show's producers as a "Survival Kit" for $1 at the point of entry.

The lively action scenes - when choreographed by a competent director at the helm - are worth the price of admission.

In fact, in equity-waiver theatres, theater-goers often get caught up in the heavy-breathing, cross fire, flying shrapnel, and what-have-you.

The fighting sequences to date in most productions, have been long and drawn out, but no one's complained as of yet.

I mean, you want full value for the $20 admission fee, don't 'ya?

On occasion, ubiquitous cameras have captured all the magical moments on celluloid.

So, I expect there will be an on-line reality show - or webbie TV offering - in the near future.

"Point Break LIVE" has been described as an "obnoxious foray" into the ridiculous and a "perverse voyeuristic pleasure" that doesn't require much attention.

Some jarring moments on stage may snap you into a surreal kind of wake-up call at some juncture, though.

"The worse it gets, the better it gets. Sensationally idiotic," noted a delighted Seattle P-I Theatre critic.

You don't even need to have seen the movie "Point Break" to feel like an insider.

You do need to appreciate the brilliance of Keanu-isms, though.

Run the film - SPEED - a couple of times to get in the mood, if possible.

In the Los Angeles production, Agent Harp (played by Gary Busey in the film) was all jawbone, with a dash of spontaneous twitching thrown in for good measure, so they say.

Meanwhile, Bodhi (Swayze's character) had the surfer-zen persona down to a precise haiku poem.

Some swear it was the ribald gang of rag-tag homoerotic bank robbers who stole the show.

"Point Break" won a "Seattle P-I Best of Seattle 2004" award and has been garnering raves around the country.

To have courageously attended bestows on the theatre-goer a kind of theatrical chic.