Film and Madness in LA

When you mention Southern CA to most people (and Los Angeles specifically), the first image that comes to their mind usually involves Hollywood in some way. Personally, I always think of the scene from "Pretty Woman," where Julia Roberts is hooking on Hollywood Boulevard and walks by this dude who belts out to anyone who will listen, "Welcome to Hollywood! What's your dream?" Given their choice, I think most people would love to be part of a movie.

So when a friend asked if I wanted to attend a poolside chat about Twitter as part of the LA Film Festival, I couldn't resist. It's a Wednesday night (boring), it's two days before the draft and the event is located at the JW Marriott, where portions of the draft events are located (always a hockey connection).



And then, there were the TwiHards.



That's right...I was right at the center of the camping madness the night before the "Twilight: Eclipse" premiere.





The streets next to the Nokia Theatre were a mini-tent city of teenagers, their parents, and curious onlookers sweating in the heat, waiting for a glimpse of R-Patz and K-Stew as they walked the red carpet.


Is it just me, or does she look a little OLD for this?

Granted, none of these people would actually be seeing the movie, and no one was going to be walking the red carpet until the next day. But if you're a real TwiHard, that's hardly the point, now is it? You support your favorite vampire no matter what the cost! (This coming from the only person on Earth who has not read any of the Twilight books or seen the previous movies).

Watching all the madness in this little tent city, I had an epiphany. If someone could find a way to harness the energy of obsessive teenage girls, we could end world hunger, poverty, and probably achieve world peace. Until then, smart folks took advantage of the opportunity to serve drinks to thirsty people and raise money for a good cause. I think Bella would be proud.



After we'd had enough of the TwiHards, we headed over the Marriott pool for the main event of our evening. Entitled "Poolside Chat: The Power of the Tweet," it was a panel discussion with a group of directors who are active on Twitter talking about how they use it. The list of panelists was interesting, although I was struck by the fact that there were no women.

Jon Chu (Step Up 2: The Streets, Step Up 3-D)
Richard Kelly (Donnie Darko, The Box)
Eli Roth (writer/director, Hostel; actor Inglourious Basterds)
Adam Shankman (director, Hairspray; judge on So You Think You Can Dance)

If you're familiar with Twitter at all, they didn't offer a lot that was groundbreaking in terms of strategy. Interacting with the audience, offering teasers on content, release dates, and such, polling them for input on set design ideas, etc. What was interesting was the impact they thought social media in general, and Twitter specifically would continue to have on the health of the Hollywood system.

As Eli Roth put it, if the audience thinks your movie is crap, you'll find out 15 minutes into the first showing when the Tweets start to hit. Before Twitter, if the movie opened on Friday, you'd find out what people thought on Monday. In the new world, if your film sucks you won't survive the weekend.

In Roth's view, directors will have to continue to step up their game and create quality films that will engage audiences to survive. The days of sliding by on uninspired studio-system driven garbage are ending. As a long time fan of independent film, I like the sound of that.


Adam Shankman, Eli Roth, and Richard Kelly

All the panelists are on Twitter, so check them out! Eli Roth in particular is very entertaining. Who knew a horror director could be so funny!

I wonder what he thinks of the TwiHards?