Mennello Gala

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The annual Mennello Museum Gala on February 22nd was referred to as, “An Evening With Fabulous Friends.” In exchange for illustrations supplied for the Museum’s 25th Anniversary, Terry negotiated tickets to the Gala held at the brand new Alfond Inn, (300 E New England Ave. at Rollins College, Winter Park FL.) Each year, The Friends of The Mennello Museum of American Art host an elegant gala to raise funds for the museum’s collections, exhibitions, and programs. This, the Eleventh Annual Gala celebrated The Mennello Museum of American Art, located in Orlando Loch Haven Park, which is owned and operated by the City of Orlando. The Gala also celebrates the passion of its founders, Michael A. and Marilyn L. Mennello. Marilyn passed away years ago and a statue of her is in the museum.

I was working from 9am to 5pm at Full Sail on the Saturday of the gala. Terry agreed to bring my suit and tie to the inn. I met her up front as her Porsche was being valet parked. I felt a little awkward being in jeans surrounded by tuxedos and women in ball gowns. Terry was in a gold sequin dress and blended right in. I rushed off to find a men’s room to change in. There was no large bathroom stall so it was like getting dressed in a very tight closet.

The silent auction items were in a small rotunda with a green house glass domed ceiling. Everyone crowded into this tight space with a craps table taking up a huge chunk of real estate in the center of the room. I spent most of my time trying to keep people from tripping on my art supply bag. Terry flourishes in this type of crowd and she squeezed her way around the room handing out fliers for my retrospective show next month. For a brief moment we stepped outside where it was cool and airy but we immediately went back into the chaotic crowd. I bumped into Michael Mennello and shook his hand. I’m not sure if he remembered me from the day I sketched him in his home.

When they opened the dining room, Terry and I found our way to table 26 which was the Enzian Theater table. Sigrid Tiedtke was warm and inviting, giving us both a hug. I was very flattered that she knew of my work. She looked much like her daughter Elizabeth who I often see at the Enzian. Philip Tiedtke sat next to Terry. The Tiedtke family established the Enzian Theater back in 1985 and it is Orlando’s top art house movie theater. The annual Florida Film Festival is now one of the top ranked film festivals in the country. Another couple at the table turned out to be musicians and I hope to sketch them performing some time soon. Frank Holt, the Executive Director of the Mennello Museum also ended up sitting at our table. Although table 26 was far from the podium, we were surrounded by talented heavy hitters in the arts community.

My tie wanted to keep flopping down onto the wet sketch. I dropped my pencil several times. The room was constantly buzzing with activity as the staff rushed to serve food. I picked at my plate of food as I worked, but I spent more time sketching than eating. The live auction had a fast talking auctioneer. The largest item was a trip to Colorado and most of the other items were group restaurant outings. Before I knew it, the Gala was over. Such events seem so rushed when you try to capture them with a sketch.

Tippi Hendren

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On April 12th at 7:30PM as part of the Florida Film Festival, there was a screening of Alfred Hitchcock‘s “The Birds“. I was the very last person to enter the Enzian Theater for the sold out screening. The last seat was in the front row right in front of the seats where actress Tippi Hendren was going to be interviewed after the film. I’ve seen the film before on TV but it is much more impressive on the big screen.

Barry Sandler acted as the moderator asking Tippi questions to get things started. She praised Hitchcock’s film making genius and was thankful for all the acting tips he gave her. She also worked with Charlie Chaplin who would act out the whole scene himself and then ask the actor to repeat it. There were several truly fanatical fans in the audience who would shout out in delight to Tippi’s responses.

In the middle of the interview she spoke at length about Hitchcock’s dark side. He became sexually obsessed with her and asked her to do things that she refused to do. In the birds Tippi had seagulls and crows tied to her in the attic scene and for five days, they threw birds at her. The crew grew concerned for her safety but Hitchcock was unrelenting. She was pretty good at deflecting the birds, but after so many takes the birds got quite cranky. One cut her cheek just below her eye. A doctor advised her to rest for a week. After shooting “Marni”, another Hitchcock film, Tippy had to get away from him.  His advances became more brazen. If she broke her contract, Hitchcock vowed to ruin her career which he did. Other directors wanted Tippi to be in their films but Hitchcock would always say she was busy.

Tippi’s daughter is Melanie Griffith. Tippi was shocked when Melanie told her that she got a part in a movie. She should have had some ides of how difficult it is to work as an actress. You are always looking for work and the hours are horrendous when you are working. That didn’t stop Melanie.

Now Tippi is involved in an organization that hopes to save wild cats like tigers and lions from captivity. Some people assume she is rich from starring in Hitchcock’s films. She was paid just $500 a week when making the birds. “That money is all gone” she assured us. She is desperate to raise money  through Shambala to protect these wild cats. Hitchcock may have ruined her  acting career, but he certainly didn’t break her spirit.

Free Samples

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After finishing a sketch at the Regal Winter Park Cinemas  , I looked to see if there were any other films playing in the Florida Film Festival that might interest me. “Free Samples” directed by Jay Gammill had a Tippi Hendren playing the role of a sage old Hollywood actress. I rushed over to the Enzian Theater and got in just as the film began.

The film stars Jillian played by Jess Weixler as a Stanford law school drop out in Hollywood trying to find herself. She tried music but realized it was too difficult and she gave up painting for the same reason. She seems to have her life on hold for her Stanford boyfriend or fiance.

A girlfriend asks Jillian to spend a day in a soft serve ice cream truck handing out free samples.  She interacts with the costumers with dead pan wit not caring about the consequences. When a local musician asks if she will come see his band perform, she plainly states that the band sucks.

When a little girl arrives with her dad who is distracted arguing on a cell phone, Jillian becomes sincere lamenting her own parents. The little girl takes Jillian’s hand and says it will be alright.

Tippy comes up for a sample needing two walking sticks. Jillian and the old actress sit together and have a magnificent candid conversation. The sincerity and honesty of the characters had me wiping my eyes a few times. Jesse Eisenberg as Tex, shows up in a suit asking Jillian where she would like to go to dinner. She had been so drunk the night before, she forgot she had agreed to the date. The adventure of the day had softened her allowing her to let people back into her life any softening her empathy for others.

After the film, the director in his lace less sneakers and Tippi in her blue jumpsuit took questions. On person asked if the role had been written specifically with Tippi in mind.  The director was pleased and amazed to get such a legend into his first feature. Jess Weixler’s playful deadpan performance was the cement that brought this amazing film to life.

Film Maker Forum

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At the Regal Winter Park Cinemas, on April 12th at 2:30PM, the Florida Film Festival hosted some of the most talented new independent filmmakers every year and always sets aside one day just to pick their brains. This lively and dynamic exchange of ideas and know-how inevitably defines a high point in the festival—peppered with tales of triumph, challenge, and creative methods. The panel was moderated by Florida Film Festival selections committee member, and Rollins College Professor, Denise Cummings, Department of Critical Media and Cultural Studies.

Marc Menchaca was an actor who decided to become an independent film producer and director.  His film, “This is Where We Live“, is about an intelligent young man who suffers from Cerebral Palsy who has a caretaker. The scene screened showed the two in a restaurant getting ready to place an order. The caretaker tries to get an order from the young man but because communication was impossible, they can’t reach a consensus. Someone waiting behind them says, “For crying out loud” and the caretaker gets abusive saying he should air his complaint to the young man with cerebral palsy. The scene packed a punch even though no punches were thrown.

Todd Looby‘s, film called, “Be Good“, was about a young filmmaker who has a new child and he is realizing his creative freedom has vanished. Stephen Silha had a documentary called “Big Joy“, about James Broughton, a poet and filmmaker in San Francisco whose mantra was “follow your Wierd”. He celebrated pleasure and sexuality with humor and joy. Justin Lang was a young first time director who created a horror film called “The Dark“. He recounted his youth in which he covered himself completely under the sheets in order to sleep, because his brother told him that aliens would eat him at night. Renae Su created a short animated film called, “Daisy“, that is sort of a story reel with narration about a beautiful girl who always makes men fall in love with her. Her life becomes difficult when a man feels the need to possess her and he locks her in her room to keep other men from seeing her. Renae said she got the idea for the film from a male classmate who always made women uncomfortable, because he didn’t know how to approach them.

When the audience was asked for questions, a woman asked Renae “How do you feel being the only woman on the panel?” Renae said that she hadn’t thought about it. Then the woman asked if any of the male panelists wanted to address the issue. Justin pointed out that he had studied with and learned from many great women filmmakers. The conversation went on for some time and then Marc said, ” I am part Mexican, so this panel is more diverse than you think.” That got a good laugh. Afterwards in the Daily City Lounge area, several film makers complained about how much time was wasted answering questions of gender rather than discussing the creative and financial challenges of making a film.

Bill Plympton

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Bill Plympton came to Full Sail Live to talk to students about his experiences as an independent animation film maker. He was an illustrator in NYC in the late 70s and early 80s. He drew a face of an average looking business man on the 18 by 24 inch pad on stage. That was the character of his first animated film called “Your Face.” When he went to a screening for that film he was amazed when the whole audience started laughing. That moment changed his life. He drew satirical and funny illustrations but he never felt the audiences immediate reaction. “Your Face” was nominated for an Oscar and suddenly Plympton was on the map.

Bill stopped illustrating and was committed to animation full time.  When he started out there wasn’t much animation going on at the big studios. As a small boy his dream was to be a Disney Animator. In the 80’s Disney started rebuilding its animation department. They called Bill saying the would like to talk to him. A Disney lawyer showed up at his studio. Bill was offered one million dollars if he would work for Disney Feature Animation. Bill was ecstatic, thin was a dream come true. He began negotiating for the job. As he put it Disney isn’t about good cop, bad cop when it comes to negotiating. It is more like, bad cop and anti Christ. Bill asked if he could work on his little films on the weekends. He was told, “Sure, but Disney will own it.” What about script ideas? “Disney owns it.” What if I have a dream?” “Disney owns it.” He realized he would have no control over what he would work on. What if he ended up having to work on TV animation like Duck Tales? In the end he turned down the offer to continue producing independent films.

Bill showed several of his short films along with work from a feature film that is in the pipe line. He showed “Waiting for Her Sailor” which was just 30 seconds and was hilarious. He is now working on a film that is about a whale that falls in love with a human guy. The guy likes fashion models, so the whale becomes a model. He is working on a feature film called “Cheatin” which is about a very attractive couple that meet and fall in love. Since they are so attractive others get jealous and try to break them up. They become paranoid and try to kill each other.

Bill drew constantly during his presentation. He said he sometimes wakes up at night so excited about a project that he has to do a few more drawings before he can get back to sleep. When working on a film, he can produce up to 100 drawings a day. Some consider him a masochist, he considers himself a hedonist since he loves his work.

The Anatomy of a Short Film

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As part of the Florida Film Festival, a panel discussion was held on Wednesday, April 10, 2013
between 1:30 and 3PM
in the Full Sail University in the Entertainment Business Auditorium, located next to the Full Sail Live Venue, (141 University Park Drive, Winter Park, FL).  The panel discussion featured industry experts and members of the Full Sail University Film degree program faculty as they took a closer look at the unique components of the short film genre. From story structure issues and thematic considerations, to logistical considerations and new modes of marketing and distribution, this event offered an inside look at the anatomy of the living, breathing short film making process.

The main theme that was stressed again and again was that short films need to be character driven and involve universal themes. The short film is a great place to experiment and it is a safe place to fail. It was pointed out that many beginning film makers will try to do too much in their first short. There can’t be sub plots and too much back story. Bottom line, the short needs to be, well, SHORT! Three minutes was the suggested duration. Longer films don’t get placement in film festivals because the promoters want to show as many films as possible. Students fall into the trapping of using complex camera moves and crane shots but you need to ask yourself, “is the shot really forwarding the story?” Story is king and queen.

A student walked up to the microphone and asked, how he could get backers interested in his idea. A moderator said, “First and foremost, you are selling yourself and then the movie idea.” He asked the student to give him his elevator pitch for the movie. The student began and honestly I stopped listening because the convoluted story took too long to tell. The moderator shouted,”Bing! Time is up, this is my floor.” Everyone laughed. He stressed that the student needed to trim his elevator pitch to be sure he had the person’s interest. The internet has made it so that stories need to be told quicker.

Panelists offered up films that they love that should help a film student to develop story. Films included, Touch of Evil, The Third Man, When Worlds Collide, and Some Like It Hot. That evening I went to the Enzian to see a program of animated shorts. My favorite film was, “Marcel, King of the Tervuren“. it was a great character driven story about a rooster who looses his eye and his brood of hens to his son in a cock fight. Marcel returns and then fights and kills his son. The style was painterly and bold. The Bill Plympton film, “Drunker Than a Skunk“, had it’s world premiere at the festival. It is a Western drawn entirely with ball point pen. The character designs are quirky and amazing. At the film maker talk back afterwards, Plympton said that an animated short costs him about $1000 per minute to produce. Drunker Than a Skunk cost him $5000 to produce. He traded an amplifier for someone’s work on the sound track. His wife Sandrine did all of the color work and once his son, Luca, is old enough, he’ll be part of the production team. Of course, being able to do 100 drawings a day helps. He stood on the stage holding his new born son along with his wife who helps him with each film project.

Plympton’s three rules for making a short film are…

1. Make it SHORT!

2. Keep it CHEAP!

3. Make it FUNNY!

As he said, that describes many of his past girlfriends.

Florida Film Festival

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I made it to the Florida Film Festival on April 8th for Italian Cinema Night. The film 8 1/2 by Frederico Fellini was being screened at 6:30PM followed by free Italian food by the fountain. I went to The Daily City Lounge and found Mark Baratelli sitting in one of the 60’s styled plastic chairs busy checking his iPhone. Every chair had Daily City stickers on them. I had done a quick painting of a Hollywood red carpet couple with the faces cut out. I wanted to see the board in action. The corners of the painting had been crudely painted wit grey paint that was three shades lighter in value than the grey I had painted. I’ll have to go back to touch it up. I was about an hour into the sketch when a filmmaker and her parents stopped by. The parents stuck their faces in the celebrity port holes for the photo opportunity. The wife’s face fit snug as a bug but he husband had a large head and he angled his face thanks to his daughter’s art direction. Within a second the photo was shot and they dispersed.

Mark had plenty of swag at his lounge. He had fliers printed with suggested Orlando hot spots for visiting filmmakers.  He also had hand fans with The Daily City logo on them. The lounge was unfortunately located behind another information tent so patrons at the Eden Bar couldn’t see the lounge. Mark told me that the lounge had been dead for the first two days of the festival. I left the seats in pencil for as long as I could, hoping a crowd would come to populate the scene. They never showed. Before my sketch was complete, the bar maid started wheeling away the portable bar. Mark shouted out, “Does that mean its over!” She shouted back, “It’s over alright.” Across the street, Mark noticed some guy in a large Mexican hat pounding a drum.

When the sketch was done, I went to see if the Italian food was ready. They were still setting up so I decided to leave. I still haven’t seen a film. I want to see an animated feature called “The Painting” directed by Jean-Francois Lagionie. The film is about an unfinished work of art. Lola’s best friend Claire loves Ramo, but their love is forbidden. Claire and Lola are “Halfies,” or artist’s unfinished characters, and Ramo is an “Alldunn,” or completed figure. These classes within the painting do not mingle socially, and when Claire and Ramo’s love is uncovered, Lola and Claire are forced to search out the creator somewhere near the border of the painting. On their adventure they meet Quill, a “Sketchie,” or a simple charcoal outline, from the class below theirs. I’m starting to feel that I need to learn French and move to Paris.

Florida Film Festival Press Preview

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The 22nd Annual Florida Film Festival will be returning to the Enzian Theater and other venues April 5-14. This year’s festival will showcase 160 films many of which might be Oscar contenders. The theme for this years festival is “Open your eyes”, so prepare to see films that push the envelope.

Henry Maldonado, the Enzian’s CEO, got on the Enzian stage to announce some of this year’s highlights. The Birds by Alfred Hitchcock will be screened and Actress Tippi Hendren will be there to talk about her experience in that film and her unique relationship with Hitchcock.

The Festival has always been about Films, Friends and Food. This year author and food historian Francine Segan will present “The Magic Behind Movies and Food”. There are sevaral food related parties during the festival and the closing night party, “Revel 22” will be free and open to the public.

Several short animated films were screened once Henry left the stage. A rather funny one was Una Furtiva Lagrima by Carlo Vogele. It featured an opera singing fish who sang as he went from a supermarket freezer to a frying pan. A second short by Morgan Miller had a raccoon waiting roadside to eat a dead crow. When he ventures onto the road he is immediately hit by a car. The short then ended with another crow waiting to eat the raccoon carnage. The screening ended with a tongue in cheek documentary called, “A Brief History of John Baldessari.” John is an artist who is best known for placing dots over celebrity faces.

Florida Film Festival Kick Off Party

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On January 30th, the Enzian Theater, (1300 South Orlando Avenue  Maitland, FL), hosted a Kick Off Party for the Florida Film Festival. Press was on hand as CEO, Henry Maldonado, welcomed everyone to the Kick Off for the 22nd annual Florida Film Festival. The Festival is a fabulous celebration of films and filmmakers, indulgent experiences in food and wine, and a wonderful mix of parties and special events. This years Festival begins April 5th and continues for ten glorious days.

A large gust of wind caused the inflatable movie screen he was standing in front of to warp and topple backwards. He didn’t notice at first but the reaction of the audience caused him to turn and look. “That thing can’t fall on me can it?”  Staff rushed to secure more guy wires. Henry checked with Elizabeth Tiedtke to be sure he covered everything. There was a short preview film but none of the films that will be in this years Florida Film Festival were unveiled.

After the press preview, the lawn outside the Enzian filled with more people to watch “Cannibal The Musical”  on the inflatable screen. I hadn’t seen this film which was made by Nick Parks one of the South Park writers. I did see a Fringe play last year based on the film so I knew to expect a very odd and funny movie. I was seated leaning back against a handrail to the back steps to the theater. Half way into the film one of the chefs almost tripped over me as he went out for a smoke.

Enzian’s Makeover For 2013

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For 28 years, the Enzian has shown thousands of great movies to millions of people in an environment that encourages friendship and community. The annual Florida Film Festival brings famous and infamous film directors, producers and actors to Central Florida. Between screenings, if you turn to your neighbor at the Eden Bar, there is a good chance they are in the business of making films. At the lavish parties at the Enzian, people have met, fallen in love and formed lasting friendships.

The theater is however showing its age. The curtains are torn, the chairs are worn and the carpets have certainly worn from thousands of feet and spilled drinks. The theater is getting a makeover. Everything that is worn out or broken will be replaced. New carpets and curtains have already been installed. New furniture will allow the service staff more room to take orders and serve food while also improving sight lines for the audience. Technological advances, already in place, have improved the movies picture and audio.

In 2013 the Enzian Theater will continue to renew, revive and refresh. The makeover will enhance the movie viewing experience without detracting from the unique character of place. The theater will still have a cozy feeling, where you can enjoy films with friends. Large semi circular seats will be replaced by lighter more streamlined seating. Circular tables will be replaced by more compact and ergonomic square tables saving space. Benches will be added to the back of section C again saving space.

I was hired to do a sketch of the theater as it will look after renovations. I sat up in the projection booth and sketched as the theater filled with patrons for a screening. The projectionist introduced herself and she reached over me to press a button. As the theater went black, I turned on my book light and continued to paint. I used a computer rendering from Raleigh Design to place new tables and chairs into my location sketch.

The Enzian is inviting patrons to be part of the enduring legacy by investing in the makeover. For as little as $25 you can “own a piece of the Enzian” and express your appreciation for this unique cultural icon.

$5,000 makes one booth a reality.

$3,000  makes a banquet seat and a table a reality.

$1,000 makes a chair or 4-top table a reality.

  $500 makes a 2-top table a reality.

  $250 makes a coffee table a reality.

    $25 makes one square foot of carpet a reality.

All donors of $250 or more will be recognized by name on a beautifully crafted commemorative plaque that will be permanently displayed at the Enzian.