Hi Mike, how was Tribeca?

It was fantastic.

For those who don't know, I was lucky enough to be invited to sit on the US Narrative Feature Jury at this year's Tribeca Festival. I just got back yesterday from ten days in Manhattan.

I found the whole thing to be absolutely rejuvenating.

Our category had five jurors: myself, Zoey Deutsch, Stephanie Hsu, Tommy Oliver, and Ramin Bahrani.

Kate was also on a jury - she was on the International Feature Jury (which included Brendan Fraser and Zazie Beets) so that meant we spent the week seeing different movies. We'd pass each other on our way to different screenings, sometimes in the lobby of the theater, and then meet up for dinner or a party and get to tell each other about the awesome movies we saw that day.

It was overwhelming to start with. At the Opening Night reception, we met Robert DeNiro, and we saw Martin Scorcese and Matt Damon (we were way too timid to introduce ourselves). I did manage to introduce myself to Kenneth Lonergan, who has made some of my all-time favorite movies (You Can Count on Me is one of the best movies I've ever seen), and the great Chazz Palminteri (I got to tell him how much I absolute adore A Bronx Tale). I also spent a fair amount of time chatting with Peter Coyote, who was incredibly kind and funny. We chatted a lot about Ken Burns.

After that, we went to the Opening Night film, a terrific documentary called Kiss the Future. We walked the red carpet (something I'm never quite comfortable with, but luckily Kate is a natural) and we saw the movie with a packed house. It was a beautiful film and really started everything off on an amazing foot.

And then the judging started. I got to watch all of the movies in my category in the theater, with audiences. A car would pick me up and take me to the screening. At my busiest, I saw three movies in one day, but it was usually two.

I made it a point not to know anything about the movies before I saw them - sometimes I went in without knowing the title. And I can't overstate how amazing it was to see these independent films with an audience, in a theater, instead of streaming. Having spent the better part of the last five years watching this primarily at home, I was shocked at how inspiring and energizing it was to sit in a theater with a crowd over, and over, and over again. I've never seen this many movies in a theater in such a short time, and I LOVED it.

I didn't only see movies that were in my category, though. I also made sure I saw other films at the festival that I wasn't judging - including Downtown Owl, the directorial debut of my friends Hamish Linklater and Lily Rabe.

I made a point to go to the premiere of Suitable Flesh, starring the amazing Barbara Crampton and Heather Graham, and produced by my old friends Joe Wicker and Morgan Peter Brown from the Absentia Days.

And it wasn't all movies, either - I also got to moderate a chat with the brilliant Sam Lake about his upcoming Alan Wake 2 release. Sam was a joy to spend time with, and we had a lot to talk about.

And my friend and colleague Justina Ireland traveled up to NY to moderate a Master Class where a theater full of people listened to me ramble about horror movies for an hour.

(With Justina Ireland and Johnathan Penner - Penner ran the Escape from Tribeca program, and it was his idea to bring me to the festival)

And then, just before I left, I met up with some friends to see a Broadway show. Karen Gillan and Willa Fitzgerald joined Kate and I to see Grey House.

My experience at Tribeca was fantastic. It was such an amazing celebration of art and cinema, and I can't wait to go back. I spent a lot of it feeling overwhelmed, and feeling like I didn't quite deserve my seat at the table (imposter syndrome is just one of the staples of being a filmmaker, isn't it?) but I'm so glad I went.

A Bronx Tale (1993)

I think I found a mafia movie that doesn't exist

I couldn't any information about it, only this YouTube channel and Chazz Palminteri knows it exists. It feels like I'm watching Goncharov or some shit

Kevin Spacey and Chazz Palminteri🥰

A Bronx Tale (1993) cinematography pt2

everyone, i have a major announcement. it is today that i finally found THIS man. the man who has plagued warner brothers for far too long. dr. lorre. PETER LORRE. Everybody, applaud with standing ovation.

They caricatur-ized Peter Lorre. see here?

And then again in Corpse Bride

BUT I THOUGHT THIS MAN PETER LORRE WAS BASED ON CHAZZ PALMINTERI

that's how this all started, chazz palminteri

extras:

here is a book based on the phenomenon.

here is media footage of the WB peter lorre character

this is peter lorre's iconic voice. ren of ren and stimpy is based on peter.

The way Tom Hardy plays his characters is absolutely unhinged, and absolutely brilliant.

I can’t say I liked this film because the story was insane, and true?! Which almost makes it worse - but it was brilliantly made and the acting was obviously incredible.

The way I only found out Emily Browning was also Australian recently has me shook, because we know home girl can act, I just didn’t know she was from home.

Watching films that make me feel, not good, is something I am new to and I have to balance it with happy things. Is this normal? I’ve just noticed that my mood gets sooo affected by what I consume. Like, it took me months to get through Peaky Blinders because it was just so heavy and disturbing.

It’s easier to take those breaks with television than film, because I hate hitting the pause button. It ruins the momentum of the film, so I avoid it as much as I can. This one was rough, and I had to take a long walk after watching it to clear my head.

Anyway, Tom Hardy can do no wrong.

Mulholland Falls (1996) Lee Tamahori

July 23rd 2023

Superrr 🆒 Kevin Spacey and Chazz Paminteri at the Mad Monster Party Event!!

Robert De Niro and Chazz Palminteri on the set of A Bronx Tale (1993)

A Bronx Tale (1993)

Imagine Working For Sonny...

You are not a native New Yorker or even an American, for that matter. An immigrant, you came to America to pursue a better life. Although you were prone to moments of intense homesickness with no family or friends in this country, you were determined to create a good life for yourself.

You are employed at a bar called The Chez Bippy. There were numerous things to enjoy about your job like the fact it was within perfect walking distance from your apartment and many handsome gangsters frequented the bar. What can you say? You’re a bit hopeless for many of these men with their slicked-back dark hair and devilish smiles. You are especially smitten with your boss, Sonny LoSpeechio.

Sonny was the type of man who always wore his two-piece suits when he entered the establishment, complete with his signature cologne. His scent was just enough, it was never too much so the desire to hold your nose in his presence was non-existent. And thankfully, it was never too little. When your hands exchanged money as he tipped you, the scent of patchouli would linger faintly on your wrist for just the right amount of time.

All and all, Sonny had a professional air about himself. You never exactly knew the structure of the crime family you were practically an associate of, but it would not surprise you if Sonny was the one who ran the neighborhood with the way he carried himself.  

But there were other things that contributed to your crush on your boss. There was the matter he tipped well, of course, and the matter he was a true gentleman. Any rude and crass treatment towards you was not tolerated in his presence. You were also fascinated by how Sonny was seemingly an avid reader. There were numerous slow moments at work, where while washing glasses, you could hear Sonny speak to men from his table, quoting someone named Machiavelli.

Secretly, you always wanted to have a conversation with Sonny. A real conversation. You thought that maybe over the weekend if you took a bus ride to the library and checked out some books by this Machiavelli-person, you and Sonny could share the same passion. Unfortunately, this was not meant to be. While you were capable of checking out “The Prince,” you could not read more than twenty pages before putting it away on your nightstand.

Life has a funny way of deciding the way things turn out though. Your first real conversation with Sonny began under unfortunate circumstances.

One early Friday, you received a letter from your father and discovered your mother was recovering from a complicated surgery which caused money to be tight. While your family did not outright request for you to come home, you could not help but consider it. After all, it would be the best way to assist them financially. Despite your mind advising you to do this, your heart broke at the idea of leaving New York. Leaving Belmont Avenue. After months and months of living in this neighborhood, the homesickness had finally subsided. You had a job that was never dull, an apartment you finally felt complete decorating, and friends! Of course, you also thought of how back home there would not be another Sonny.

That Friday night your emotions got the best of you. Watching Sonny smile from afar with his men - thinking of how this could be the last Friday you saw the bar so alive - tears filled your eyes. Without a word, you fled from behind the bar, tears flowing from your eyes, and a croaky, “excuse me” was issued as you brushed your shoulder against Sonny’s chest.

Weeping outside the bar, you did not hear Sonny approach until he placed a hand on your shoulder. As he asked what was wrong, you were overwhelmed with emotion. Shock, shame, embarrassment - but somehow the story of your family’s struggles overseas flowed freely like cursive against paper. You had known Sonny to be a gentleman, but somehow it amazed you that he offered you his handkerchief to dry your eyes. Secretly, with the cloth near your face, you reveled in that ever-familiar odor of patchouli.

Drying your tears, Sonny said he would give you extra shifts at The Chez Bippy. If it would help any, he also knew a man who was in need of a receptionist during the weekends. As he ushered you inside, you could not help but feel oddly hopeful, even if it meant working three times as hard as you presently do. Maybe it was the fact that despite it all, you would still be with Sonny.

From Monday to Friday you worked at the Chez Bippy from opening to closing. On Saturday and Sunday, you spent the morning and evening working as a receptionist for a man you were absolutely certain had the same criminal ties Sonny had. It wasn’t his similar swagger, it was the fact he paid you under the table.

Either way - there were many days you tiredly pulled yourself out of bed not sure what day it was, only sure you had something to get up and do, but despite your exhaustion, you were also incredibly proud of being able to provide for your family.

One Friday night, you were preparing to go home. Almost one by one the patrons trickled out to return to their homes. It was now a point where remaining inside the bar was you and Sonny. Filling the atmosphere was the jukebox that played one of Frank Sinatra’s songs. This one was called “You Can’t Take That Away From Me.” Ensuring everything was right and in place at the counter, you kept noticing Sonny’s eyes linger on you. When you looked back, he preoccupied himself with his cigar, seemingly in thought. You felt not fear, but anticipation. The tension between you two was thick - something was clearly going to happen. Sonny spoke first, “how’s your mother doin’?” “She’s doing much better.” “That’s good.” He replied, “my own mother - she had a similar issue in the past.” You were incredibly pleased to know this bit of Sonny’s history, you doubted his past was something he told casually! However, you did your best not to show your delight. Very briefly, the two of you spoke of a few mundane things, including your alternative job. Much to your pleasure, he asked if you were being treated well at your weekend job. When he told you to let him know if your boss was being too domineering, you agreed and thankfully withheld your giggles. You were ready to tell him goodnight when he suddenly whipped out a question you never expected. “Are you doin’ anything tonight?” “No, why?” “I want to take you out.” “Take me out?” You could not help but repeat. While it was done out of astonishment, you were happy that you managed to sound a bit humored at the concept. Well - you were happy until Sonny made a face that seemed to be disapproving. This is when you felt bad. You were aware that in English this could be slang for murder, and if possible, you wanted to seem ignorant as possible of his criminal lifestyle. “Yeah, I want to take y’out.” He clarified, “someplace nice where we can sit down and listen to music.”  “Would I need a very nice dress?” You could not help but ask in worry. Your wardrobe was not exactly the most elaborate. “No, no. You’re beautiful the way y’look now. So whaddya say?” “I would be happy to!”

That night, over a magnificent plate of steak and pasta, you and Sonny spoke of a variety of things. What your old neighborhood was like, what his immigrant family was like, and how their values similarly overlapped. You even spoke of Machiavelli, who you oddly felt comfortable enough to critique. Although Sonny defended the writer, you could tell that he enjoyed having someone to debate with rather than dealing with a listener who would nod and agree. As the night became colder, he not only gave you his jacket but a kiss. This was the night you became known as Sonny LoSpeechio’s girl. But for you, this night marked how Sonny became your home.

Kevin Spacey🥰

Lillo Brancato as Calogero "C" Anello in A Bronx Tale