FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Margot Gerber
323/461-2020, ext. 115
August 25, 1999
AMERICAN CINEMATHEQUE’S INDEPENDENT FILM SHOWCASE
THE ALTERNATIVE SCREEN PRESENTS
TWO LA PREMIERES OF NEW INDEPENDENT FILMS IN SEPTEMBER
DEATH: A LOVE STORY (September 7)
TEMPORARY GIRL (September 23)
HOLLYWOOD – The American Cinematheque’s THE ALTERNATIVE SCREEN: A FORUM FOR
INDEPENDENT FILM EXHIBITION & BEYOND... presents the LA PREMIERES of two new
independent feature films in September. On Tuesday, September 7th at 7:30 pm
is Michelle Le Brun’s DEATH: A LOVE STORY (64 min.), a heartfelt, uplifting
documentary about filmmaker Mel Howard’s demise from liver cancer and the
surprsing spiritual gift that he and his young wife derived from the
experience. "If anyone has peered into the sweet hereafter and actually
managed to tell us about it, it’s Michelle Le Brun and Mel Howard." (Harvard
Film Archive). Preceding is Eva Ilona Brzeski’s award-winning short film "24
Girls" (29 min.), a lyrical memoir depicting pre-teen girls on the edge of
discovering their identities as adults and women. The evening is
co-presented with the International Documentary Association. Tickets $5 for
current IDA Members (this screening only). On Thursday, September 23 at 7:30
PM is the LA PREMIERE of Lisa Kotin’s TEMPORARY GIRL (88 min.), a hilarious
satire about a driven, 40-year-old veteran office temp running short on time
to fulfill her dreams of Barbra Streisand level stardom. Preceding is Jeremy
Workman’s whimsical short "Claire Makes It Big" (28 min.) which takes on
Hollywood stereotypes with the story of a full-figured actress who levels
the playing field with a little ingenuity. Filmmakers are scheduled to
appear in-person at their respective screenings subject to their
availability. All screenings are at the Lloyd E. Rigler Theatre, 6712
Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood (between Las Palmas Ave. & McCadden Place)
DEATH: A LOVE STORY: Tuesday, September 7th at 7:30 PM
This evening’s film is co-presented with the International Documentary
Association. IDA Members $5.
"…I was hoping to cure the disease in my body… Instead what I got was
authentic healing; an opening of the closed spaces in my heart," says Mel Howard, the subject of his wife
Michelle Le Brun’s challenging documentary on his physical demise from liver
cancer and the unexpected spiritual revelations that ocurred. Married only
two years when Mel, a 58-year-old Hollywood producer, actor, film educator
and cinema verite filmmaker, was diagnosed, the couple decided to document
their uncertain journey… their struggle with traditional and alternative
medical procedures; issues of quality of life during chronic illness; and
finally the gift that death offers when we are able to put our fears,
confusions and denial aside. An official selection of the Sundance Film
Festival and Winner of the Insight Award for Best documentary at the Santa
Barbara Film Festival, plus a Bronze Apple Award from the National
Educational Media Network, DEATH: A LOVE STORY opens the door for dialogue
about the process of demystifying death in America and making the experience
a dignified passage for the dying and his/her loved ones as they embrace
this most sacred event. "I was transformed, having been given by Mel, a look
into the eyes of death and seeing that there is nothing to fear," says Le
Brun. Writer/Director/Producer Michelle Le Brun will appear for discussion
following the screening.
Writing for VARIETY, Glenn Lovell called the film "…a compelling,
insightful, ultimately reassuring look at facing death with grace and inner
peace." In the BOSTON GLOBE, Renee Graham wrote, "…a noble, heartfelt
documentary."
Eva Ilona Brzeski’s short film "24 Girls" (29 min.), which precedes the
feature, is a wistful tribute to the potential and mystery inherent in every
life. This lyrical essay features 24 pre-teen girls (on the threshold of
life), who are auditioning before the camera. On the edge of identity they
still have a natural, uncomprimised sense of self, but they are beginning to
adopt the self-consciousness brought on by adulthood. "The mix of "real" and
"fake" identities is often charming and always fascinating." (FILMMAKER
MAGAZINE). Woven through their experience is a meditation on Lynnie Moore, a
little girl the filmmaker knew, who died when she was at this pivotal age.
LA based filmmaker Michelle Le Brun is available for interview. Topics she
can discuss in connection with her film include: The power of the Video
Diary to relate in the most immediate way to life; medical ethics, liver
transplants; baby-boomers approaching the final rite of passage; taking
death "out of the closet" (as pregnancy came out in the ‘70s), and bringing
it back into life; and achieving a "good death" – a death of dignity and
consciousness. Following the LA Premiere, DEATH: A LOVE STORY will run
Sept. 10-16, 1999 at the Laemmle Grand 4-Plex in downtown Los Angeles and at
the Fine Arts Cinema in Berkeley, CA October 25-29,
page 3 – Alternative Screen
1999. Screening cassettes are available for press preview. Also, black &
white photos and press kits. Call 323.461.2020, ext. 115 or 116 for press
materials or contact Michelle Le Brun at 310.839.6376 or Greg Gardner at
Laemmle: 310.478.1041.
TEMPORARY GIRL (88 min.): Thursday, September 23 at 7:30 PM
It’s Girl’s Night at the Cinematheque with a a short and a feature that
focus on WOMEN! "Chicago performance artist Lisa Kotin delivers an
endearing manic turn as a struggling actress with ripening ovaries…"
(CHICAGO SUN TIMES). Forty-year-old Jeanette Byrnestein has paid the bills
as an office temp for 15 years. "But its only temporary," she quips to her
annoying office co-workers. She is really a performance artist (rushing to
get her "Women, Sex and Technology" grant application in with a hilarious
skit about her date with a giant cell phone) – and an actress, obsessed with
visions of Barbra Streisand caliber stardom. By day she is the ultimate
office thief at agency Hungwell, Peterman and Cox, where she milks her free
use of office equipment to photocopy hundreds of resumes and headshots, dub
videos of her acting reel and to call to check her personal messages all day
long. When she finds she may have a shot at a part as "an office ditz" on a
TV show, suddenly everyone in Jeanette’s life wants her to go permanent. Her
boss-from-hell offers her a job as her full-time secretary, her husband
(David M. Pasquesi, NATURAL BORN KILLERS, THE FUGITIVE), who has given up
his own rock star dreams (to manage a record store), is hoping her pregnancy
test is positive – and her parents are lobbying for both job and baby. But
Jeanette has struggled too long and hard to let this opportunity pass her
by. In a manic finale, Jeanette manages to get the footage of herself she
needs for her audition, by throwing together office odds and ends to create
a "Singing Baby Gram" costume to crash a co-workers baby shower. Many Second
City main stage vets comprise the cast of corporate crazies and others.
Kotin is also the writer and co-director, with Johnny White, of this
poignant comedy about love, work, choice, perseverance, the pursuit of
personal happiness and the sacrifices we sometimes have to make.
Writer/Director Lisa Kotin will appear for discussion following the
screening.
Leonard Maltin called the film, "Bright and original with the definite ring
of truth." THE CHICAGO READER said it is, "A heartfelt, bittersweet tale of
an artist’s mid-life crisis." And an AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN critic said,
"The film is infectious as is Kotin in the lead role."
Plus, Jeremy Workman’s "Claire Makes It Big" (28 min.). A vivacious,
full-figured actress (Mara Hobel from TV’s Roseanne) is fed up with losing
parts to thinner rivals. When she is rejected for the lead role in a
Hollywood movie that was written specifically for her, she hops a plane for
the coast and aided by the latest technology – takes her revenge. Apparently
the story is based on a real incident involving Kathy Bates who was shut out
of the role (originally written for her) she had played on stage in FRANKIE
AND JOHNNY, when Hollywood made a movie version. Michelle Pfeiffer was cast
and all references to the character’s size were dropped from the script.
page 4 – Alternative Screen
Film Critic Evan Wiener of ICON Magazine called "Claire," "…a tremendous gem
of a film Funny, smart and resonant. Writer/Director Peter Bogdanovich and
actress Camryn Manheim consulted on this whimsical social commentary. New
York based Workman is also the director of the documentary WHO IS HENRY
JAGLOM? Jeremy Workman will be present for a discussion following his film.
LA based filmmaker Lisa Kotin is available for interview Screening
cassettes, press kits and photos are available for both TEMPORARY GIRL and
"Claire Makes It Big." Call 323.461.2020, ext. 115 or 116 for press
materials.
Ticket giveaways are available to all broadcast programs in the LA area or
through websites. Please call for details.
The Alternative Screen: A Forum For Independent Film Exhibition And Beyond…,
the American Cinematheque’s on-going series focusing on independent and new
forms of cinema was created to serve the public as well as the independent
film community in Los Angeles by providing a year-round venue for
independent feature films that have not yet secured wide commercial
distribution. Whatever the ALTERNATIVE SCREEN offers from month to month, it
promises to be provocative, innovative and fiercely independent. Select
Alternative Screen alumni include THE BIBLE & GUN CLUB, HABIT, STAR MAPS and
THE LAST BIG THING.
The Alternative Screen takes on-going submissions for consideration of
fiercely independent work in all genres. Please send a 1/2" tape to: Margot
Gerber, The Alternative Screen, c/o American Cinematheque, 1800 N. Highland
Avenue, Suite 717, Hollywood, CA., 90028. Include a SASE if you would like
your tape returned. Inquiries should be directed to 323.461.2020, ext. 115.
Short films should be sent to the attention of Andrew Crane.
For information regarding the Alternative Screen or any other American
Cinematheque event, please call (323) 466-FILM. THE PROGRAM IS SUBJECT TO
CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.
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