I’m back!
John and I have been really busy finishing HONEYDRIPPER and setting it up for its release in early 2008.
Hold on:if I can wait, you can wait. We’re going to take the time we need to create awareness of HONEYDRIPPER so that when it comes out everybody is there at the door of their local theater, just waiting to be let in.
We’ve gained some more marketing partners since I wrote last: in addition to Ira Deutchman and Josh Green at Emerging Pictures, Mark Wynns has joined us from Atlanta (we met at Sidewalk Festival in Birmingham last year). Mark introduced us to Will Packer from Rainforest (STOMP THE YARD comes out on DVD next week)and I’m delighted that they will co-present the movie with Emerging Pictures.
Special thanks here to IMAGE/Atlanta Film Festival where the fabulous Charles Dutton presented John Sayles and me with the Ossie Davis Award. “Art, activism, and a long marriage”:that was Ossie Davis, and John and I are proud to be associated with that legacy.
Atlanta has a lot going on. If you want to be in the film business, why not try Atlanta? One of our favorite new actors, Brian Williams, was there with us at the table, and we were really glad to have him there along with our pals Pauline and Steve Marth and Anne and Tommy Fell from the Alabama Film Office.
I feel like I’m in SEVEN SAMURAI, bringing together the very best to do something highly unusual.
Right now we’re looking for big bucks to pay for the release. We showed the movie in Seattle and LA for potential promotional partners and it played really well. I’m hopeful.
Fran, we showed MY MEXICAN SHIVAH to a select group of IMAGES supporters, and they loved it. It has been playing really well at Brandeis, LA Jewish Film Festival, and DC Jewish Film Festival. I hope the director, Alejandro Springall, will go for self-distribution as we are doing. People LOVE his movie. (”The Madwoman of Chaillot”? HOw much fun was that!)
Absalom, you are so good in the movie. (Absalom and Nagee play LONNIE and SCRATCH.) They start and end the movie and pop up throughout it. Everyone loves it when you two come on the screen, AJ.
We’re working on doing special things to open the movie in the South, especially in Alabama. We are hoping to open the movie in a few cities at the very end of 2007 to qualify for the Oscars (some people say this is Danny Glover and Charles Dutton’s best work ever). Then we’ll have some premieres on MLK day before the movie opens wide during February, which is Black History Month.
We’ve got a million ideas, my samurai and I, so stay tuned. xxM
we are anxious for the release of the honey dripper; thank you for your good work and efforts.
Gil Anthony, host of 5 hour blues radio show in alabama and a long time friend & supporter of Ruth Brown (he spoke with her every tuesday), is a special friend to me. I would love to provide him (even through e-mail)
a copy of John Sayles tribut to her. Is that possible. I will be happy to pay for it.. thank you brenda conway
Comment by Brenda Conway — May 2, 2007 @ 6:11 pm
i just saw brother from another planet again. i was 13 when it came out and saw it in the theaters, i have never forgotten it. i think it is one of the most brilliant pieces of cinema ever made, definetly in the top 50 or 100. i was thinking how powerful it would be if it were shown to high school students in oakland, where i live. i do not work in the schools and can not facilitate that right now, but might be able to some day. i would love to hear the discussion and if mr. sayles would come and speak about the film, i bet that would blow a lot of kids away. it’s just a brilliant, briliant piece of art, thanks to john for all his amazing work. best, roberto
Comment by roberto gyemant — May 14, 2007 @ 6:40 pm
Just discovered this blog. Being a HUGE fan of LONE STAR and CITY OF HOPE, I’m getting really excited here.
I’m not sure what the chances are of you guys coming down to Sydney, in any case we have a very eager audience for Q&As with indie filmmakers. Check out: http://www.popcorntaxi.com.au/.
Very much looking forward to HONEYDRIPPER!
Comment by Karel — May 16, 2007 @ 10:07 am
Brenda,
Nice to hear from you. Will you ask Gil Anthony to go to http://www.emergingpictures.com/honeydripper.htm
where he can find the tribute clip to Ruth Brown? How fortunate he was to know Ruth well. We knew her only a short time, and it was special. She was so excited about being in HONEYDRIPPER.
We were blessed to know her, and blessed to have lovely Mable John come in at the last minute to replace Ruth as BERTHA MAE.
As we get closer to releasing the film, we’re hoping to work with DJ’s like Gil, people who know and love the music that is feature in HONEYDRIPPER. He’s on my list!
Best,Maggie
Comment by Maggie — May 28, 2007 @ 9:01 am
Look forward to seeing another “real” feature. I had seen somewhere that in 04 you were beginning to develop a script on Carlyle school and J. Thorpe. any chances of that happening in the future?
Cheers and best of the future to you.
B. Johnson
Comment by Bryan Johnson — June 1, 2007 @ 4:51 pm
Hi,
I teach Spanish. For the past five years I have been using HOMBRES ARMADOS as a teaching aid. It not only has all the structural features of the language that I attempt to teach the students, but it also has a terific working vocabulary for a Spanish student.
We try to teach Spanish in the context of where it is spoken, and of course a video like this gives an excellent example of the culture of many Hispanic countries. I love this video because it shows the students how the real Spanish speakers speak, think, love, hate, eat, sleep, play, enjoy, and suffer. It doesn’t present a sugar coated version of Hispanic life like the tourist guides and textbook ancillary material tend to do. It does present a negative condemnation of the backward people like other films and news reports tend to do, but rather the viewer is afforded the opportunity to vicariously live in this Hispanic country; speak the language and know the people for a couple of hours. In my case about four hours since we include a lot of other activities while viewing the video.
One thing my students continually ask me about this film is: WHAT HAPPENED TO DOCTORA MONTOYA.
I can’t answer this and neither could any of them. IT seems to be an important part of the story.
Is she the rumor that came to die there? IS she there but nobody will reveal it to protect her? Is she the lady whose leg was injured by the landmine?
I embarrassed to say that I’ve watched this video over 30 times, and I have not been able to understand what John Sayles wants his audience to think about her.
Thank you for reading my ramblings,
Highest regards,
JR Lynch
Comment by Jim Lynch — June 13, 2007 @ 8:21 pm
Dear Ms. Renzi:
I would love to be able to write a letter to you and John both regarding your films and making independent films in general.
Actually, I used to work at a video store in Chicago that he used to rent from by mail, and I spoke with him briefly, but I was then too star-struck and shy to talk about much more. Plus, I didn’t want to hassle the guy!
Actually, I still don’t want to hassle either of you, but I am a huge fan (go ahead, test me :), am a filmmaker myself (shorts thus far) and have some questions about your independent filmmaking methods, mostly on the business end, that I admire so much. I’ve watched SECAUCUS numerous times with and without commentary to get ideas, and would love to have the opportunity to ask you some things directly. [FYI, I already have THINKING IN PICTURES (as well as an old paperback of UNION DUES)]. :)
Would that be possible?
I don’t want to say too much here, so I just hope that you could forward me a Business Address, P.O. Box or whatever to where I could write, and from which you’d receive my letter.
Either way, I wish you luck on HONEYDRIPPER, and I can’t wait to see it.
Best,
Bill
Comment by Bill — June 16, 2007 @ 8:52 pm
Hi Maggie,
Just came across this blog and wanted to take the time to thank both you and John for being so hospitable during the Honeydripper shoot. What a blessing to take part in such a professional and passion driven project!
Many Blessings,
Pacey L. Walker
Comment by Pacey — June 21, 2007 @ 1:16 am
Hi I am looking for a copy of the challenge john did with scott glenn.
could youlet me know thans I ama big fan good luck on the upcomming honeydripper.
thanks and god bless.
Comment by george grady — July 11, 2007 @ 12:42 am
Hello Maggie:
I’ve just found that HONEYDRIPPER is scheduled to screen at the Toronto festival. I would like so much to go, though it’s complicated a bit by 2,000 miles and a mild case of cold reality. I’ve been known to con myself, though, when need be, and I’ve got the impression I’d fall sucker for this one in a dead second, if only there were some kind of a sign… Can’t imagine a better way to see your film than in the surreal daze of wandering around alone in a strange city that’s been co-opted by even stranger people for a few days. If only I could figure out when those few days might be….
Anyhow, I realize you probably can’t reveal a date prior to the published schedule, but I’d be a half-assed excuse for a fool if I didn’t ask. So indeed, Ms. Renzi, can you tell us when you will screen?
Thanks much, for all that you’ve made and what’s still to come.
Comment by Pell S. — July 16, 2007 @ 7:36 pm
I saw “Brother From Another Planet” on DVD for the first time a few nights ago and (having already seen Roan Inish years ago) noted how Sayles has an intimate style that gets into our gentle, human, side.
I need a movie with a good ending, none of the brutality that’s rampant (in many movies and in reality) today. And I was awfully pleased. If John was my neighbor, I’d do whatever it took to quit my cubicle job (get fired, etc.) and join his crew for the next project.
Comment by Paul Bramscher — July 19, 2007 @ 11:57 pm
Maggie, I left a note on John’s blog, but thought I’d cover my bases. I’m coming to the opening on Monday with my magazine’s reviewers. If you/John are around, I’d love to do an interview with John for the mag. I’m at the same phone number. I hope one of you sees this before Monday.
Comment by Betsy Robinson — September 15, 2007 @ 1:39 pm
Hey, Betsy. It’s Maggie. I’m so glad you are coming to see HONEYDRIPPER on Monday. We will definitely see you there. Falco Ink is our New York publicist, so book and interview with them since they have John’s schedule. We are going everywhere in the next few weeks, promoting HONEYDRIPPER. I so want to read an interview with John Sayles on the subjects of Spirituality and Health! Love, Maggie
Comment by Maggie — September 15, 2007 @ 4:22 pm
Maggie,
So good to see Honeydripper making the rounds, I am really hoping you guys have a good experience with the distribution of this one. I am hoping you can help me out. I met you on the Honeydripper set - I played the clerk(an INCREDIBLE experience). Anyway, I am REALLY hoping to catch the film in Savannah on the 29th, but alas, they are sold out. Any strings you can pull to help me get a ticket so I can join you for the screening? Thanks :)
Comment by Eric Housh — October 8, 2007 @ 11:19 am