Jason goes to Cinequest--opening night

Yay, my favorite extended party in the South Bay started last night! I got there about an hour and a half early to hang out with my CQ friends and have a couple little drinks before the official opening night began (but not enough to get hammered, I didn't want to pass out during the movies).

Here's the view, from front row center, of the organist playing as we all filed into the fabulous California Theater:



The opening night film was the comedy "Eden Court" starring Thomas Lennon ("Reno 911!") and Stephnie Weir ("MadTV", and I was surprised to only realize now that she spells her name without an A). Thomas Lennon stars as Schroeder Duncan, and it all takes place on his 30th birthday. In high school, he had everything going for him--a 100 mph fastball, pros scouting him, and sex with the prom queen! Then he injured his shoulder, and now turning 30 (having a "quarter-life crisis") he's a groundskeeper for the local minor league team. He cuts grass, and is miserable. But he has a plan. He's going to live the American dream...by running away to Australia and starting over. He just needs a little money, a CB radio in his van, and the guts to tell his wife. Oh yeah, he married the prom queen(Kimberly Williams), and she's still hot! It's got a lot of good laughs (especially the toe in the lawnmower scene) on it's way to a pretty obvious conclusion about happiness not being a product of getting what you want, but wanting what you get. All in all, a good crowd-pleaser to start off the festival on a cheerful note and get me excited about watching lots and lots of movies.

Here's director Paul Leuer introducing "Eden Court"


Then it was off to the after party, a mad dash up the street (including, for me, an embarrassing and painful fall in the middle of the street. I'm still feeling that a little, although I had too much adrenaline to feel it then). Drinky drinky drink, hang out with filmmakers and my fellow fans, and a good time was had by all.

And there's 11 more days of that!