REVIEW

From Princetown to Providence
Film Festivals Proliferate in New England
by Vinca Liane Jarrett

Vinca Jarrett and Tim Graff (MA Film Office) at P-Town Film Festival

The best thing about summer in Boston is first, most of the students leave, and second, a chance to escape to greater New England and see some great independent film, meet filmmakers, and even schmooze with the "stars" abound. This year's Provincetown International Film Festival kicked my season off from June 13 through June 17, and ended in Mid-August at the Rhode Island International Film Festival, held mostly in Providence from August 8 through 12. The highlights of those two festivals, combined with a few notes from the growing Woods hole Film Festival held smack in the middle of the summer July 28 through August 4, and the 47th season (held June through August) of the Williamstown Theatre Festival out in the Berkshires where the stars roam wild, are the focus of this article. The concept of "festival" has become overly broad in reference to the independent film circuit. Many of these events are better suited to be called "show cases", the key difference being when a film has acquired a distribution deal prior to being screened.

Provincetown International
Film Festival:

While the most entertaining atmosphere was hands down for the second year in a row at Provincetown, alas this "festival" is more of a showcase with the vast majority of its feature program not just with distribution, but actually in distribution within days or weeks of the festival's ending, including THE ANNIVERSARY PARTY, HIMALAYA, THE SONG CATCHER, PRINCESS & THE WARRIOR and HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH. All great independent films, but hardly films the general public doesn't have access to otherwise. The rest of the films ranged from gay themes (THE GIRL, ALL OVER THE GUY) to the handful of local pictures (BESOTTED, HOW HENRY MILLER CHANGED MY LIFE), and my own personal favorite from Belgium, EVERYBODY'S FAMOUS (look for a release by Miramax). None-the-less, compared with other regional events, Provincetown's festival is one that should not be missed. It is well organized, colorfully attended, and a joy to make the rounds at, while squeezing in a smattering of shopping at the hundreds of fabulous shops. More akin to the larger festivals (and remarkably only in its 3rd year!), where the schmooze reigns supreme, this festival is one in which attendees can stargaze and make contacts that may actually help them in their career ambitions.

The regular cast of thousands abounded including film production consultant guru David Kleiler (also Director of Boston Underground Film Festival), Laura Bernieri (Next Stop Wonderland), The Massachusetts Film Office's in-house main man, Tim Graff, and Kevin Fennessey of local casting and directing fame. However, unlike the other festival's, P-town also attracts major industry folk out of LA and NY. On Friday, June 15, there was a unique opportunity to meet and hear a panel discussion, hosted by NY Times film critic, Stephen Holden, of film producer gurus including documentarian Albert Maysles (MEET MARLON BRANDO and A VISIT WITH TRUMAN CAPOTE), Christine Vacchon (BOYS DON'T CRY, HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH) and John Waters (PECKER, HAIRSPRAY), and featuring Ted Hope and James Schamus (CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON, THE TAO OF STEVE), who were honored with this year's Filmmaking on the Edge award.

Shamus recommended that good "producers step back and let the filmmakers do their work to create," and Hope instructed that as a team Shamus and Hope play good cop-bad cop frequently, one working with the studios, the other with talent. John Waters, who hated being a producer, chuckling, noted "there's never enough money at the end of the day. Even James Cameron had to put up his salary against finishing Titanic…" Vacchon emphasized that she "picks projects first and foremost on the script" followed by director of choice and ultimately whether the film can be sold commercially. "The puzzle is," says Vacchon, "the material, the director and how do I get it [the film] out there." Maysles, one of the forefathers of commercially successful, documentary feature filmmaking acknowledged that he has always self-produced his projects, financing everything out-of-pocket "so that there is no one to answer to at the end of the day…" at least until marketing the film(s) The consensus of the film panel was that all financing comes with a price regardless of whether you make the film for a studio or independently, and similar issues exist in terms of salability, whether you're at Paramount or New Line.

Other highlights of the festival, which screens at an impressive six locations, included Connie Francis (WHERE THE BOYS ARE) dressed from head to toe in zebra print (including hat) and singing at the screening of her cult classic, and later on at the hottest party in New England Friday night, June 15, hosted by the fabulous Brass Key Guest House; and John Waters "personal choice" on Sunday afternoon, June 17, in which he presented the obscure and demented French film, BAXTER (1991), the only cute animal flic that Waters loves because "Baxter would eat Lassie alive." Hot tip: take the ferry and leave your car behind. It's cheap, its fun and it's stress free. And bring a bathing suit (or not) for Brass Key Guest House party.

Woods Hole Film Festival:

In the midst of the summer, the much more local schmooze takes place on the Cape, attracting mostly the Boston film presence, and a host of young, edgy filmmakers, some volunteering their time, others screening their shorts or features. To its credit, this festival, conceived and run by Judy Laster and artistically proscribed by David Kleiler, is made up of mostly true independent films that have not yet been acquired (i.e., found distribution), or at least have their roots in New England including DISCHORD and this year's feature winner, SHADOW GLORIES. Ed Slattery, New England based cinematographer (MANNA FROM HEAVEN) describes the festival as "consistently growing and becoming a much more fulfilling festival, showcasing films with a connection (primarily) to New England."

Probably the best things this festival has to offer are the daytime directing and acting workshops, and evening staged readings including Elvis Heals, a new screenplay by writer Marianne Leone. Chris Cooper (LONE STAR, BOURNE IDENTITY) performed the lead male role, and said emphatically at the after party that the reading was "one of the proudest moments of my life for my wife [Marianne Leone]." Also appearing with style in the cast of more than a dozen, were Boston SAG and/or Equity members, Tori Davis and Christy Scott Cashman. While this festival is definitely "local" in character, and still has an upward battle in terms of organization, it is a great opportunity for novice and New England filmmakers alike to come together and learn from each other. In addition to the week long mid-summer festival Judy Laster has ambitiously undertaken coordinating the festival with the Reel Blues Festival, a music event at which Jim Belushi made an appearance, along with the opening of a new film institute that will have year round programs in Woods Hole, which she describes as "a place where scientists and filmmakers can come together to explore the intersection of film and science." Hot tip: Bring lots of water; it's very hot in the screening venues.

Williamstown Theatre
Festival:

How does a theatre festival get coverage in a film industry magazine? The stars! This very famous festival in the most North West part of Massachusetts and held from June through August, is worth mentioning if only because of the star playwrights (Edward Albee, Arthur Miller), star directors (Kyle Donnelly, Bruce Paltrow, Joe Mantello); and just plain stars (Kate Burton, Blythe Danner, Edward Herrmann, to name but a few). These (nearly) A-list talent frequent the upscale area restaurants, stroll the Clark Art Institute, and appear in the late night cabaret beginning at 11:30 p.m. and ending at 1:30 a.m., with star studded musical and comedic performances. Resident workshop programs are by audition and submission only for actors and directors, and new playwrights may submit works for production on the smaller stage, which have equal star appeal. There is both a non-equity and equity troupe, and it is a great opportunity to get points towards your equity card. Shows this year included A.R. Gurney's Buffalo Gal (starring Mariette Hartley); Diva by Howard M. Gould (starring Bebe Neuwirth and Eric Bogosian, and now premiering in California) and The Man Who Had All the Luck (starring Mason Adams and Chris O'Donnell). If you really want to pass a script or find talent for your film production, this is where you should head in New England during the summer. Hot tip: Make a $125 donation to Williamstown before February and get advanced notice on the shows, which always sell out within the first month (April) of going on sale.

Rhode Island International
Film Festival:

This last sexy festival of the summer (up to press time) is a real festival with most films screened still seeking a distribution deal. Providence has become one of the most film and TV. production-friendly cities in the nation, offering one-stop shopping permits and tax incentives, not to mention a mayor, the esteemed Vincent Cianci, Jr., who will likely someday have his own series on television. Imagine's own exclusive party hosted at Davios Restaurant in the historic Biltmore Hotel, was a schmooze fest with area industry professionals and nationwide filmmakers. Filmmakers such as Joseph DeSane of feature project MULLIGAN'S FARM enticed people to come to his film with postcard sized flyers, and made the rounds talking to other independent artists, including film short makers Keith David and Sandy Duncan (G-SPOTS); Harvey Hubbell V for his documentary LOOP DREAMS; and international filmmaker Melinda Roenisch for THE SECRET, all screening (twice) at the festival. The array of films is impressive, including six venues and more than 100 features, shorts and documentaries. The festival screens the best of films on the last Monday of the festival down in Newport, which is a great way to spend a rainy day (or make an excuse to take the day off from the heat and sit in air conditioning). This is a must check out festival for anyone seriously doing the New England film circuit, and it's beginning to get more national attention as well. Hot tip: Dress hip. Rhode Island is very fashionable compared to Boston and the Cape, and attendees are more akin to stylin' New Yorkers.

Vinca Jarrett is an attorney of counsel to the firm of Shames and Litwin, a full service law firm with foremost experience in the field of entertainment, including film, music, television and media. She is also the owner and principal of SKRIPTEASE Script Consulting. You can contact Vinca during work hours at (617) 277-6772 or (617) 821-6772 or at JarrettBiz@aol.com or check out her new web site at www.Vinca-Jarrett.com.