Jason goes to Cinequest--Opening Night

And for the first time since I've started this blog, I don't have to write about the movie because I've already reviewed it. So instead, I could just sit, back, relax and enjoy the party. I met old friends. Halfdan joked that this must be my 9th year (I didn't have the heart to tell him that actually it was only 8). I ran into Cullen Hoback, who showed Monster Camp here two years ago, and still comes back for the parties (he had to return to L.A. to finish cutting his latest movie, so he was only here opening night). I gave away the traveling pass (to this guy. And he said he had friends who could use the pass after him, so it's off to a good start. Look for it, get it, and see a free movie).

Having a Press Pass means more filmmakers come up to me and want to talk to me (either that, or I've just been doing this for so long I've become Cinequest famous). I chatted with the producers of New Brooklyn, and I've tentatively adjusted my schedule to see that Saturday night. I chatted with the makers of All About Dad as well, so I'll have to try and fit it in my schedule. I got a button from the makers of Billy Was a Deaf Kid (which I had already identified as a must see when I read in the program guide that it was "The classic, I hate your guts, no wait, I like you, my brother is deaf, let’s ride a couch down the street, love story."), so that's my first official festival flair. Looking forward to collecting a lot more.

I ran into Phil, my Cinequest buddy and fellow front row aficionado who got me hooked on the Niles Film Museum last year. I beat him by three movies last year (43 to 40) and he's determined to beat me this year. Fool, you can never defeat me! BTW, I might have talked him into blogging Cinequest as well, and I pointed him to CQCentral.com.

And, of course, I watched Wake again. I'd already seen it and enjoyed the screener. Seeing it again, it was still fun. In fact, it was more fun seeing it on a huge screen with an enthusiastic audience. And I wasn't jet-lagged and drunk on Mai Tais this time (just a couple small glasses of wine, courtesy of Vino Tabi in Santa Cruz). So it was even funnier this time. I can't believe I forgot about the zombie scene--a tiny, unnecessary throw-away scene that made me laugh out loud. The Q&A was good. The director, writer, and producers were there, as were Bijou Philips, Danny Masterson, and Marguerite Moreau. My highlight of the Q&A--when Danny made a random joke about a "brutal Russian sex" scene that was cut out. That was actually a reference to Capers, his other movie in Cinequest this year (I've seen the screener, and it's hilarious). I wonder if anyone else in the audience got that reference.

Then off to the after party. I chatted with a lot more friends. Had a few drinks, then caught the last bus home. Now I'm in work, no worse for wear, doing my day job. The real Cinequest coverage starts tonight. I'm planning to see Shorts Program 5, The Market, and The Investigator. See all my Cinequest friends there