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Out of context: Reply #5252
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"Hello All,
Here is Glenn’s report from Tribeca in NYC, where the
weather has been unbelievably beautiful. I just can’t
believe that people would choose to venture into a
darkened theater rather than go frolicking in Central
Park. New Yorkers. I love ‘em.Saturday’s 11 a.m. screening was at the AMC Loews
Theater in the Village. This afternoon’s screening
(3:30 p.m.) was at the AMC Loews Theater at 34th
Street in Midtown -- just blocks away from Mychal’s
friary at 31st Street. These are real movie theaters
with Raisenets and everything!Both screenings were packed -- sold out, I believe.
This afternoon, in fact, a few people were sitting in
the aisles. The screens were GIGANTIC, and the
projection and sound were amazing. The pictures and
graphics looked gorgeous. It some respects, each of
these were more powerful experiences than the opening
night at PACE, which was a very large theater.The smaller theaters provide for an even more intimate
viewing experience. Sitting in the audience, you can
hear every sniffle, cough and laugh. You can really
sense that the audience is captured by the story, and
very willing to stay with it until the end. I’m happy
to say that the laughs are pretty consistent with the
Thursday night screening (much more than I expected
all around). The tears are there as well. Of course,
these audiences have such a visceral reaction to 9/11,
but it is really Mychal's story that keeps them in
their seats.With the exception of some pipsqueak movie guy who
worked his blackberry throughout the entire third
screening, the response has been overwhelmingly
wonderful. I wish you could all be there to hear and
feel the impact your work has on the audience. It’s
very moving.After Saturday’s screening there was a lively Q and A,
which started with this wonderful (if somewhat manic)
woman who jumped up as soon as the lights came up and
shouted out from the back of the house: “I knew Mychal
Judge. He always said that ‘God is in the now.’ He was
right. God is in the now. God bless you. You did a
wonderful job.” She then proceeded to repeat this as
she exited the theater, leaving everyone smiling.A second comment which I love from another woman in
the audience who said in a quasi threatening tone --
“You could have blown this . . . but you didn’t!” She
went on to say how wonderful she thought the film was.One man in the audience said that the only problem
with the film was that he was left without anything to
feel – he had experienced so many emotions throughout
the screening he felt depleted. I prefer the term
“cathartic,” but it was a nice thing for him to have
shared.Lots of good questions about the archival footage
(including the September 10 mass) and about Mychal’s
quotes in the narration. At both screenings people
asked if they could get a copy of the script.After the Q and A both Brendan and I were approached
by many people, each with their own Mychal experience
to share. Many were crying. I loved chatting with a
husband and wife from New Jersey who were married by
Mychal. He also baptized their child. They were very
happy with the film.I then went out into the sunshine, where I was
approached by more lovely people who had connected in
very strong ways with the film.Today’s screening had some great reactions as well.
Mary Lanning was there and shared her happiness with
the film.For me, there were some other really great moments.
The first was when a woman stood up and shared with
the audience that her sister died in 9/11, while
helping a fellow coworker. In fact, today was her
sister’s birthday. She made an emotional plea for us
to get this film out to as many people as possible –
it seemed to be a healing experience for her. I was
honored that she chose to spend this special day
watching the film.The second moment was when a firefighter approached me
after the Q and A. He left the theater and felt he had
to come back to talk to me. Choking back tears, he
told me that Mychal Judge was one of the greatest men
he ever new. He said that he was at the firehouse for
the September 10 mass that we feature in the film. He
said that he wasn’t sure if he wanted to see the film
or not, and inquired at the Friary about what they
would recommend. I was so happy to hear him say that
whoever he spoke with at the friary told him to go and
see for himself. He thought we did a very good job. I
told him that I was so glad he came and we shook
hands.The third was when I spotted Mychal’s lifelong friend
and fellow friar after the screening with a big smile
and a warm handshake. He couldn’t come up with enough
accolades . . . This is the man that Brendan and I had
lunch with very early on in the project. At that time
he said that we couldn’t make a story about Mychal
without talking about his sexuality, and that any film
about Mychal would be incomplete without it.I wish you could be at each of the screenings with me.
But in that spooky technical way, you are there. In
every frame. I am grateful for the good work.I’ll report back after Thurday’s screening.
xxoo
glennP.S. In case you haven’t had a chance to google the
film (like, who hasn’t?) here are some links to some
interesting thoughts about the film and about Mychal.
Each of which should make you feel like we’ve done
something right."