Maryland Film Festival Notes

04.25.99
Gabe's Notes:
Day Three
Part I
Part II

04.22.99 - Opening Night at the Senator

John Waters and
Doris Wishman Unveiling a commemorative sidewalk block at the Senator Barry Levinson

The 1999 Maryland Film Festival launched in grand fashion this evening with a memorable, one-of-a-kind celebration. Academy Award winning director Barry Levinson returned home to Baltimore to share Diner Guys, a personal work in progress, to a packed house at Maryland's crown jewel theatre, the Senator. In additon to Mr. Levinson, such Baltimore notables as John Waters, Pat Moran, Dan Rosen, and Kurt Schmoke were spotted on the scene. Festival filmmakers and visiting guests hob-knobbed outside the theatre talking with the media, and schmoozing one another as the festival atmosphere swept over the crowd. When filmmaker Dan Rosen was busted for sneaking off to make a call on his digital phone, someone was heard remarking, "It's official, the festival has begun!" The evening began with the Senator Theatre tradition of uncovering the commemorative sidewalk block.

Commemorative sidewalk block at The Senator

All of the participating filmmakers, including Doris Wishman, Michael Shamberg, Elizabeth Holder, and Paul Zinder, stood around for the photo op.

After making their way through the velvet-roped entrance, film-goers were treated to popcorn, sodas (Cherry Cokes) and goodie bags that included such Baltimore delicacies as Bergrer Cookies and '50s treats like Candy dots. The bags also contained the stylish Maryland Film Festival cap as well as the complete (and quite collectable) festival program -- hot off the presses.

Festival director Jed Dietz made the opening announcement in which he schooled the audience in festival etiquette, "Cell Phones: turn 'em off," he began. He briefly expalined the genesis of the project and thanked the sponsors commenting, "These brave people put up the capital when this entire project was just a few lines on a sheet of paper. Without them, we wouldn't be here tonight." After thanking the staff and volunteers, Dietz gave his sincerest gratitude to Mr. Levinson for agreeing to be part of this Premier event. "I told Barry, 'I can't imagine this festival starting without you being a part of it,'" commented Dietz.

Barry Levinson

Barry Levinson offered a few remarks before screening explaining briefly that Diner Guys is a work in progress and that the version screened was a direct digital feed, and would be crude. However, in the wake of Dogma '95 and such renowned films as The Celebration, audiences have become quite comfortable with this sort of thing. A quiet pall ascended upon the auditorium as the audience awaited the screening, and during a one-minute technical delay, the house remained absolutely silent. Once the screening began, however, they laughed along with the diner guys, and cried along with them. A fascinating study of middle-age, this close-knit group of friends gather for fiftieth birthday parties, camp reunions, and the like and discuss all matter of life: religion, career, the meaning of life, and mortality, all while reminiscing about their childhoods growing up Jewish in the 50s in Baltimore.

Levinson was quite candid during the Q&A. The enthusiastic audience praised the film and encouraged the filmmaker to complete it and release it. Some in the audience were part of the film and remain close friends with the director, while others asked him questions of how he chooses his projects -- and about the line between projects like Sphere and Diner or the forthcoming Liberty Heights. Levinson offered an anecdote about what inspired him to write Liberty Heights. In a review for Sphere, a writer insisted on remarking that Dustin Hoffman's character was Jewish. Not that it was overt, but they made a point of it. "Reviewers never go out of their way to write things like, 'Mel Gibson, the Catholic industrialist...' or whatever. And I got to thinking of my own childhood. Growing up in Park heights, I thought everybody was Jewish. It never occured to me that they weren't." The Q&A ended on a sour note when a man claiming to be a "world famous author" admonished Levinson to broaden the scope and scale of his work. But Levinson recoverd nicely and cooly replied that his work tried to capture one particular view of life. "It doesn't work like that," he said, "My work tells about one part of town. John Waters tells stories about another part. They are both valid." The audience agreed, applauding his smooth recovery.

Barry Levinson (center) with Jed Dietz (far right) at the Charles

As they filed out of the theatre, everyone was offered a festival poster before heading to the newly refurbished Charles Theatre for a 50s themed party. A Sinatra Impersonator crooned such standards as "I've Got You Under My Skin" as party goers feasted on delicious box lunches, accompanied by Orange Sodas and Root Beers. Everyone was amazed at how gorgeous the new Charles looked and many of the visiting filmmakers were heard commenting such things as "I can't wait to see my film projected in this spanking new theatre." Barry Levinson, John Waters, and others mingled at the party entertaining guests and discussing the festival.

Visiting director Suzanne McDonnell (Every Day and Twice on Sundays) remarked, "This is a great event! I've been to a number of film festivals, but none as lovely as this!" Julie Lee and Ben Taylor, whose film In the Flesh has been touring the European festival circuit concurred, "This is the most fun we've had. Amazing opening night!" As of this writing, the party was beginning to carry over into the Club Charles, a hot spot across the street from the theatre. Many festival goers were having such a good time, they failed to notice that the parking garage was closing down. It seems that some of the cars are going to spend the night in lock-up.

Day One >>