Friday, March 31, 2006

Methodfest

These Girls plays this weekend (April 2nd) at Methodfest - a festival dedicated to the actor and named after the technique of "Method Acting", the basis for which was laid down by Konstantin Stanislavski* (pictured). Contemporary "Method" requires a performer to draw on his or her own self, on experiences, memories, and emotions that could inform a characterization and shape how a character might speak or move. I am super happy the cast of These Girls are getting the attention they deserve because, after all, without them where would I be (there is no need to actually answer this question). So if you are in the LA area - check it out. Unfortunately I will not be there as I will be at the screenings this weekend in Philly.

*A little known fact: In his time, Stanislavski's original ideas on "Method Acting" were considered progressive because they replaced earlier techniques involving pliers, metal clips and steel cages.

Friday, March 24, 2006

Reviews!

Here are links to some of the reviews that have just come out on the eve of the Canadian release. And I know what you are thinking - all of these reviews are positive, how could that be? Well to tell the truth there have been a couple of not-so-nice reviews (some 'nay sayers', some 'kill joys', some 'party poopers' ) but it is not my job to promote my detractors. I am sure, somewhere out there, my evil twin has a site with links to them. In the meantime let's accentuate the positive.

The Toronto Star

The Calgary Sun

The Coast

CBC.ca

Vue Weekly

The Georgia Straight

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

How Do We Rate?

In the United States : According to the MPAA These Girls contains the following - Teen sexuality, nudity, language, and drug content. I don't think this has any bearing on the U.S. DVD release.


In Alberta - once upon a time, a very Liberal province for film Classification - we get the 18A - you can't see this film without an adult if you're are under 17. I myself can't imagine too many 15, 16, or 17 year olds going out to the movies with parents or aunts or legal guardians. Here is what they had to say about the content - which, to me, sounds more like a list of selling points to the teen audience than a warning.

Content Elements:
Frequent use of the sexual expletive, some in a sexual context; frequent use of crude sexual language
Infrequent weapons and hand-to-hand violence-some blood
Portrayal of sexual activities between adults and minors-no nudity
Buttock nudity in a non-sexual context
Frequent portrayals of illegal drug use for recreational purposes involving minors

Thematic Elements:
The journey towards maturity
The exploration of adolescent sexuality
Using sexual power to manipulate others

Classification Rationale: Rated 18A for frequent coarse language, portrayals of substance abuse and sexual content involving minors, and mature thematic content.

In Ontario - which has had a very conservative classification policy in the past - we rate 14A. If you are under 14 you need to call your favorite uncle who likes to corrupt his nieces and nephews.

In British Columbia we rate 18A as well but they have by far the most detailed breakdown of "contentious material". Also they get the award for using the most outdated terminology. Who says 'fisticuffs' these days? - I guess it is 'British' Columbia. Read on...

The determinative classification rationale was sexually suggestive scenes involving minors. The following is a list of the most contentious material noted by classification staff:

  • Approximately four sexually suggestive scenes involving minors;
  • Nude breasts and buttocks in a sexual context.

In addition to the foregoing content, classifiers noted the following:

  • Approximately 91 instances of coarse language including blasphemy;
  • Three instances of drug use depicting characters smoking marijuana;
  • Fisticuffs including a character being hit in the head with a tire iron.

What I can't understand is how buttock nudity can be 'in a sexual context' for one person and in a 'non-sexual context' for another? Maybe I am showing my naive side.

Canadian Release - March 24th

These Girls opens across the country on March 24th. It will be playing in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, Halifax and Mount Pearl. I had never heard of Mount Pearl before this but an internet search assures me that it is just beside St. John's, Newfoundland. So we are indeed opening from coast to coast. Here is a convenient map so that you too can find your way to the theatre.

Here are links to a couple of articles about the film that came out in the last few days.

MSN Sympatico + The Edmonton Sun

Monday, March 20, 2006

Courting Controversy - Nuts to You

I know I mentioned in an earlier post that a little controversy over These Girls would be a good thing - behold it has come to pass (in various forms). There have been some morally outraged reactions to the film here in Québec - a province where moral outrage is supposed to be dead and buried - a claim that, I assure you, has been exaggerated. However my favorite so far is a discussion currently unfolding on the IMDB (Internet Movie Data Base). Some sensitive type has taken offense to David Boreanaz's shaved pits (as seen in the trailer)? This of course is certainly a topic worth going to the mat for and has elicited quite a few comments. And although there was a particularly well argued reply from someone going by the name of canadian goddess19, I believe the final word belongs to scotthall82 who states "i shave my nuts...and girls love it...". You cannot make this stuff up, and really what can anyone say after that?

Philly Fest!

These Girls will be playing at The Philadelphia Film Festival, which runs from March 30th to April 11. The film will screen on April 1st and 2nd. Fans of David Boreanaz may know that Philly is his hometown so maybe he will show up for the screening. I will be there for sure if that makes any difference. Looking forward to taking These Girls to 'The City of Brotherly Love'.

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

How Much Fun Was That?

The Kingston Canadian Film Festival was so much fun I have yet to recover - or to post. A great time was had by all - starting with a contest in the local paper, The Kingston Whig Standard, whereby the prize was dinner with Holly Lewis and myself. We were a little surprised, upon arriving at the restaurant - Chez Piggy - that we would be dining with a Catholic Sister and priest. After the initial surprise we all had a very nice time. Although during dinner we never spoke of the explicit nature of These Girls it did occur to both Holly and myself that there may be trouble at the screening after. Turns out our new friends enjoyed the film along with hundreds of others at the gala screening that night.

Later we had a few drinks at the reception and met this friendly fellow to whom Holly took a shine.







This is me and Lorraine Hopkins from the Film Circuit vying for the big guy's attention. I have to admit that he did have a smooth soft face.


More on Kingston in the coming days.

Friday, March 03, 2006

"This is a funny, funny film."

Last night was the Montréal premiere screening of These Girls - a mix of promo giveaway winners, friends and crew. It went really well; a good time was had by all and there were lots of big laughs, topped off by some very nice comments after the screening. It marks nicely that zone between my ownership of the film (artistically) and the next step in its life where it is taken by the distributor and sent out there to fend for itself in the big cold dangerous world of the multi-plex. On one hand I know there is nothing more I can do but I still have anxious feelings about it - I still feel responsible. So on the eve of our theatrical release here in Québec it is nice to be cheered on by the words of a reviewer who really got the film - check out Dave Jaffer's review in Montréal's Hour Weekly .