Ready? Ok!

I met up with Carrie Preston (Michael Emerson's wife) in Los Angeles. Carrie's in LA shooting the new HBO series True Blood. Her new film, Ready Ok is on the festival circuit right now. It plays at the NewFest in NY in a few weeks. Watch the trailer and go see the film when it comes to your hood!

NEWFEST FILM FESTIVAL

JUNE 7th @ 5:30pm

JUNE 8th @ 1:30 pm

AMC LOEWS 34th St.
312 W. 34th St. / 8th Ave.

New York, NY

For tickets:
www.newfest.org

Twilight

I finished the book last night and now I'm a crazed fangirl. I'm waiting for Garrett to get here so we can run to the book store to grab the next installment New Moon. I admit I couldn't get into the Harry Potter books, but Stephenie Meyer definitely sucked me in (no pun intended). I'm giddy over the teaser trailers, behind the scenes looks, stills ... I can't get enough of it.

Austin takes over LA Film Festival

It was officially announced today. Spencer, PJ, Jay and Matt are headed to the Los Angeles Film Festival in June.

Trinidad
Directed by PJ Raval and Jay Hodges
Executive Produced by Matt Dentler
Edited by Kyle Henry

I'll Come Running
Written and Directed by Spencer Parsons

If you're in Los Angeles when they screen, please god, go!!!

Junie B Jones on Stage

Back when I was still working in a book store, I really, really, really wanted to figure out how to direct a film version of Nancy Drew. At the time, Nancy Savoca was working on an adaptation. So my hopes on that one were crushed. And then, of course, Andrew Fleming beat us both to the punch.

But now, now, I want to figure out who owns the rights to Junie B Jones. I love this character so much. She's such a little spit fire. Mark just sent me a note that they've taken Junie to the stage. There's a production coming to the Paramount Theater in Austin next January. I'm so there. So I think maybe while I'm here, I might scrounge around to find out who owns the film rights to Miss Jones. Hmmm ...

I'm also reading Twilight. Holy crapola, I love it! Can't put it down. Oh, Edward Cullen, so dreamy.

The Professional - 1994

I saw The Professional in the theaters in 1994. I watched it again tonight with friends and fresh eyes, 14 years later. I loved it in college and I really loved the uncut version we saw tonight. The film seduced me with two beautifully crafted and nuanced characters who fall in love (but not in a sexual way) in a world where children and violence go hand in hand. I wish Natalie Portman were still 12 and gave such affecting performances like this one and Beautiful Girls instead of Star Wars and Garden State. I wish Jean Reno did more American films. I wish writers would write more characters and relationships like these.

This just on the heels of watching the Nickelodeon Television movie and The Last Days of Summer, The Sasquatch Gang, Hot Rod and making 50 or so cupcakes for a baby shower.

Blood Tea and Red String

I'm not quite sure how to describe Blood Tea and Red String. It's a delicate, fantasy, stop motion adventure ... sweet, stomach turning, trippy, bittersweet, charming and heartfelt. I'm thankful for filmmakers like Christiane Cegavske who aren't afraid to let their imaginations run wildly and freely no matter if we completely understand it or not.

I think Dennis Harvey from Variety sums up the film best ... "a David Lynchean fever dream on Beatrix Potter terrain ... as lovingly crafter as it is unsettling sour-sweet."

CJ7, Prom Night and Scott Porter

CJ7
I had such a fun time with this film. It's a goofy, silly, fun, sweet family comedy from Stephen Chow (Kung Fu Hustle, Shaolin Soccer). I love Stephen Chow. He's so cool. You can tell by his films that he's probably a pretty wonderful human being. They've got so much heart. What I loved most was Jiao Xu's performance. This kid is awesome. Sure he knows how to ham it up, but it works.

Prom Night
I'm cool with cheesy, bad horror films that are so bad they're good. I'm not cool with bad, horror films that are so bad they're really boring. Prom Night could've been written by a twelve year old it was so bad. But actually that would be an insult to twelve year olds. Poor Mark fell asleep and started snoring. And when he finally woke up he just cursed the screen. With horror films, Mark's pretty forgiving and patient. So it was telling when he got so upset with this one. The only redeeming part was Scott Porter from Friday Night Lights. Sucks that he has to do this kind of schlock. I guess it's a paycheck.

And wouldn't you know it? I'm at the gym tonight working out and who shows up? Scott Porter. Weird.

Chris Columbus - The Early Days of Genius

Chris Columbus was on fire in the late 80s. The Goonies, Gremlins, Home Alone, Adventures in Babysitting. I just finished watching Adventures in Babysitting again. It's as fun as I remember it. Elisabeth Shue singing the babysitting blues, the little girl, Sarah, meeting her hero Thor, Brad's heartbreak that Chris is too old and too out of his league, the one handed, gun toting truck driver and the hot guy in the Miami Vice sports jacket. Love it.

I'm ready to start my new script. It's piecing together in my head, bit by bit. After another fun few hours working with Chris today on SITB, I'm anxious to find a new adventure to jump into. Adelaide, Maddy, Harry, Bojo and Pittman will have to fly solo for a little while. I have a few new characters to befriend and tag along with.

Mexiphobia at Cine Las Americas

Mexiphobia

Cine Las Americas

Please come out and support good friends and a great film!

Regal Metropolitan 11
Sunday, April 20, 2 PM
All audiences welcome

In the name of national security, the historic Mexican border-crossings of Boquillas, Santa Elena, and Paso Lajitas were closed, devastating the communal bonds that had existed on both sides of the Rio Grande for generations. These aggressive policies contrast sharply with those implemented to secure the United States’ northern border. Would this be the case if Canada were our neighbor to the south?

John Krasinski Holds His Own

John Krasinski really holds his own against George Clooney in Leatherheads. It's a pretty forgettable film, but it's fun to watch him on screen. There's some really great chemistry between Clooney, Krasinski and Zellweger.

I've seen John Krasinski on The Office and thought yeah, he's good. But it was hard to watch him replace Martin Freeman. Dreamy, Martin Freeman. But when I saw John Krasinski in Smiley Face is when I sat up a little and thought, man, this guy's really got something. Smiley Face was a definite departure from everything else he's done. And he packed some nice comedic punch. I can't wait to see what else he does.

The Kids Like Errol Morris

Fast Cheap and Out of Control was a hit in class today. Salesman, not so much. Bummer.