NIFF - Day Two

Well the weather didn’t last. Woke up to grey skies emptying torrents of rain across the vast lawn that spread out below my second floor room. Mike arrived via train/cab from Manhattan around 11am and we quickly made our way to the Filmmaker’s lounge in a car borrowed from our generous hosts Jimmy and Sue.

At the lounge we met producer Thomas DeWolf who is in town with his docu INHERITING THE TRADE. Unfortunately, I won’t be in town to catch a screening as I leave early tomorrow for Jackson Hole.

The rain let up a bit after lunch, so we decided to take in a tour of The Elms Mansion. What a stunning piece of architecture. Mike and I strolled the palatial grounds plotting our next film as we gawked at the formal gardens. Yes, we’re both geeks and damn proud.

We rushed back to make a 6:30 dinner reservation at 22 Bowens and stopped at a small side street adjacent the Filmmaker’s Lounge. Now, most Angelino’s readily guess that we named our film after a street in Los Angeles, but we were pleased to find the Photo Op (at right) in downtown Newport.

Dinner was spectacular and the bottle of wine we shared made for an easy icebreaker for the interview we were going to give just before the 9pm screening of our film.

We met just outside the Opera House Cinema with reporter James Gilles from the NEWPORT DAILY NEWS and chatted and took pictures for about 45 minutes, at which time we were whisked away into the theater.

No matter how many times I see it, it’s always fun to see our film’s title on a marquee, just below of which I met festival director Louisa Percudani (who bears a striking resemblance to actress Mercedes Rhuel). We were honored to have her personally introduce the film to a smallish crowd of just under 100. (She told me she thought it was a great crowd considering it was late on a weeknight.) The audience was very audible in their laughter and seemed to enjoy the film, especially the elderly woman who talked through the entire movie, (“Who’s that?” “Did he hurt himself being dragged by the car?” “Whoever heard of a cat that thinks it’s a dog?”)

After the screening Mike and I engaged in a lively Q&A. We were surprised that almost the entire audience stayed and asked question after question. Good questions too, not just “How much was the budget?” etc.

In the lobby, we were introduced by our hosts to Aaron Rockett, a documentary filmmaker who is also staying at the Tudor Mansion with Mike and I. Regrettably I’ll miss his docu but look forward to seeing it another time. The three of us drove the short distance to the After Party and arrived just in time to fight over the last two beers. Aaron and Mike won. Just as well, I was driving and had to get up in a matter of hours.