Wednesday, April 12, 2006
EVENT REVIEW: MALIBU FILM FESTIVAL CLOSING PARTY 2006
by Don Rose
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Brett Ratner should've won Best Raconteur. Let me explain.
Fade In: The Malibu Film Festival closing night gala. Wonderful drinks and conversation have flowed on this Monday night, just outside the main tent, right on the sand, adjacent to the host eatery: Gladstone's famous fishhouse at the corner of Sunset and PCH. I have chatted with fine friendly folks, such as William Sadler, one star of one of the buzz films that screened at the fest, called "Jimmy and Judy", an indie film directed by Jonathan Schroder that also starred Edward Furlong and Rachael Bella (more info at www.jimmyandjudymovie.com).
Cut to: all have migrated into the tent and applauded several awards for the best fest films, like "The Hamiltons", directed by the Busher brothers -- and "Sloshbox", directed by a couple who actually met several years back at this very festival -- and even a film whose makers were introduced by superhot (in box office, buzz and body) Jessica Alba.
Now cut to: standing ovation as the legendary Robert Evans takes the stage, a man whose pic is still in the dictionary under "dashing" and "suave"; he gushes praise upon Brett Ratner, who is about to accept a special award. Bob reminds us how highly grossing the "still-a-big-kid" Ratner's movies have been.
Then Brett took center stage... and proceeded to steal the show from the emoting Evans with his own engrossing speech, the heart of which was the story of how he got into film school.
Long story short (sorta), Brett the budding director (short films and enthusiasm in tow) was told an emphatic NO by NYU admissions due to his less-than-subpar grades -- but after young Ratner walked out, crushed, devastated, he made an instant monumental decision that changed his life: to not let that admissions person decide his future. So back in the building he went, going above admissions, marching right to the NYU film school dean's office (actually, I do this kinda thing when I dont get service, too -- as in "Please get me a supervisor" when getting terrible customer assistance on the phone -- and you know, I ALWAYS get more satisfaction doing this). Without an appointment, Brett met resistance again, but he insisted it was life or death, as I'm sure it must have seemed at the time, and so Ratner got his one minute on the spot with the dean, who wisely saw the passion in the kid, which sometimes trumps grades, and so the dean promised to look at Brett's file, and voila, a few weeks later his admission letter came.
The rest is box office history. All because Brett saw and loved Martin Scorcese movies growing up, decided he had to be a filmmaker at the same school Martin attended (NYU), and decided HE would decide when his options to get into school were exhausted. But now, my typing fingers are exhausted, so I will stop the tale here, but man, this Ratner has a future in public speaking and teaching if he ever tires of filmmaking.
Back to planet Malibu. All the awards were given in rapid succession, very efficient, which was good, since the seated crowd couldn't help eyeing the boffo buffet awaiting them, which did not disappoint: a wonderful assortment of gourmet grub that included salmon, chicken, rice, veggies, salad, bread, and later, killer chocolate cake dessert and coffee and even more lively networking.
All in all, a wonderful evening on the beach, a memorable close to a great festival you are well advised to attend next year. Kudos to the Malibu Film Fest for yet another great job this year. Special thanks to David Katz for starting it all, all those years ago. Despite the super speech by Brett, the best is yet to come, I'm sure.
And remember: never take no for an answer when it comes to your dreams.
# # #
(April 10, 2006: Malibu/SantaMonica, CA)
#
Brett Ratner should've won Best Raconteur. Let me explain.
Fade In: The Malibu Film Festival closing night gala. Wonderful drinks and conversation have flowed on this Monday night, just outside the main tent, right on the sand, adjacent to the host eatery: Gladstone's famous fishhouse at the corner of Sunset and PCH. I have chatted with fine friendly folks, such as William Sadler, one star of one of the buzz films that screened at the fest, called "Jimmy and Judy", an indie film directed by Jonathan Schroder that also starred Edward Furlong and Rachael Bella (more info at www.jimmyandjudymovie.com).
Cut to: all have migrated into the tent and applauded several awards for the best fest films, like "The Hamiltons", directed by the Busher brothers -- and "Sloshbox", directed by a couple who actually met several years back at this very festival -- and even a film whose makers were introduced by superhot (in box office, buzz and body) Jessica Alba.
Now cut to: standing ovation as the legendary Robert Evans takes the stage, a man whose pic is still in the dictionary under "dashing" and "suave"; he gushes praise upon Brett Ratner, who is about to accept a special award. Bob reminds us how highly grossing the "still-a-big-kid" Ratner's movies have been.
Then Brett took center stage... and proceeded to steal the show from the emoting Evans with his own engrossing speech, the heart of which was the story of how he got into film school.
Long story short (sorta), Brett the budding director (short films and enthusiasm in tow) was told an emphatic NO by NYU admissions due to his less-than-subpar grades -- but after young Ratner walked out, crushed, devastated, he made an instant monumental decision that changed his life: to not let that admissions person decide his future. So back in the building he went, going above admissions, marching right to the NYU film school dean's office (actually, I do this kinda thing when I dont get service, too -- as in "Please get me a supervisor" when getting terrible customer assistance on the phone -- and you know, I ALWAYS get more satisfaction doing this). Without an appointment, Brett met resistance again, but he insisted it was life or death, as I'm sure it must have seemed at the time, and so Ratner got his one minute on the spot with the dean, who wisely saw the passion in the kid, which sometimes trumps grades, and so the dean promised to look at Brett's file, and voila, a few weeks later his admission letter came.
The rest is box office history. All because Brett saw and loved Martin Scorcese movies growing up, decided he had to be a filmmaker at the same school Martin attended (NYU), and decided HE would decide when his options to get into school were exhausted. But now, my typing fingers are exhausted, so I will stop the tale here, but man, this Ratner has a future in public speaking and teaching if he ever tires of filmmaking.
Back to planet Malibu. All the awards were given in rapid succession, very efficient, which was good, since the seated crowd couldn't help eyeing the boffo buffet awaiting them, which did not disappoint: a wonderful assortment of gourmet grub that included salmon, chicken, rice, veggies, salad, bread, and later, killer chocolate cake dessert and coffee and even more lively networking.
All in all, a wonderful evening on the beach, a memorable close to a great festival you are well advised to attend next year. Kudos to the Malibu Film Fest for yet another great job this year. Special thanks to David Katz for starting it all, all those years ago. Despite the super speech by Brett, the best is yet to come, I'm sure.
And remember: never take no for an answer when it comes to your dreams.
# # #
(April 10, 2006: Malibu/SantaMonica, CA)
