Searching for Sonny - part 2 - World Premiere

[HotMicks]

OMG!!! Just watched the trailer... this looks REALLY good! Can't wait to see it! (So tired of waiting all the time ) Wishing it was here right now. I'd go see it today.



(SF has a film festival... just sayin' )

p.s. Alle just posted - yay mods! You represent well.

[cassysj]

OMG!!! Just watched the trailer... this looks REALLY good! Can't wait to see it! (So tired of waiting all the time ) Wishing it was here right now. I'd go see it today.



(SF has a film festival... just sayin' )

p.s. Alle just posted - yay mods! You represent well.

NY has film festivals too. Actually all the boroughs have small ones so that would be really cool. I went to Tribeca once to see a movie with Gale Harold called Particles of Truth. I went to the Queens Film Festival to see Gale Harold in Wake. I'm sensing a pattern here.

[Lilly]

Lucky and I got to see the live show that Nick and Brian did last night. They were BRILLIANT! It was hands down one of the funniest shows I've ever seen. I'm telling you now, I think these two are going to be HUGE.

They are just sweethearts.

[allegrita]

My flight was delayed, so I got to the theater too late to see the show. It was completely sold out. I could only stand outside with the other unlucky latecomers and listen to the GALES of laughter coming from inside. The guys had the audience rolling in the aisles! Okay, there were actually no aisles, the theater was too small!

After the show was over, I went in to find Lilly and Lucky. Brian and Nick were standing there talking with fans, and when they heard that I hadn't been able to get in, they were really sweet and kind of apologetic. They are really lovely guys.

[francis]

Oh Allegrita, I'm so sorry that you missed it. But at least you got in later and met them.
That's 200% better than being in Germany and reading about it on the internet. Just saying.

[allegrita]

Awwwww... Believe me, francis, I know exactly how lucky I am!

[Lilly]

Let me get to the most important part right up front....

The movie is hilarious. I lost count of the genuine "laugh out loud" moments, and I defy anyone -- no matter their age -- to leave the film without feeling like life has gotten a whole lot lighter in the previous 91 minutes. But that being said, this film brings so much more than comedy. The mystery itself is perhaps not so mysterious as the characters think it is, and that is part of the film's enormous charm. The audience is ushered into this vehicle in the opening moments with a sort of verbal wink from the narrator -- a device I must admit I was skeptical about before seeing the results -- and from that point on, there's no turning back. I think that maybe some of the stills that have been released, and the intermix in the fast moving trailer, might have left some confusion about the "look" of the film, but I can tell you that the cinematography, the lighting and the original score are amazing and the stylized flashback/imagination sequences work brilliantly. Andrew himself described these elements as being "so much more than these little characters deserved" and, from my point of view, that really is the charm of it.

As a fan of Jason's work, I knew going in that I wouldn't be disappointed with his performance. That was kind of a given. While the role of Elliott is not so very different from some of the characters we've seen him play before, Jason comes at this guy in a unique new way. His comedic timing and his overall approach with Elliott is fresh and utterly delightful.

I have so much more to add, but I wanted to at least get this much up so that you all would know that this movie absolutely ROCKS!



ETA: I will have some pictures up after I get home.

[librarian_7]

Got to second Lilly's assessment of the movie.

[allegrita]

I'll have a lot more to say when I'm not trying to type on a phone, but I want to echo what Lilly said about the film. I was expecting it to be a fun little movie. I of course went into it prepared to have fun, simply because of the company and the fact that it was a project of Jason's. I didn't expect to be doubled over with laughter. The movie is really, really funny! I'm looking forward to seeing it again. And I'm very proud to have my name in the credits as a supporter.

This has been an unforgettable weekend.

[Overdamoon]

It's amazing to read about your experiences. Thanks for sharing, ladies! Can't wait to see the movie and here's hoping Andrew et al decide to bring it to San Francisco. We have the ideal audience for this film.

[Lilly]

So, this is how I spent my Saturday night with some amazing friends...





Alle, Lucky and I ate an early dinner and then got to the theater almost 2 hours ahead of time even though, as badge holders, we were pretty much guaranteed a seat. At that time there were a few film pass holders already in line, as well as several people waiting to buy any available tickets once the badge/pass holders were seated. A lovely gentleman on staff for the venue invited to sit inside the small lobby while we waited.







About an hour before the screening, Andrew Disney arrived, along with Red Sanders and Greg Beauchamp (producers), Jeff Waldron (cinematographer), Alice Wood (musical director and composer), Sam Parnell (film editor), and Chris Rodriguez (camera operator). Several other production team members and special guests were beginning to come in, as well.





Brian, Nick and Jason came in thirty minutes before the theater doors were scheduled to open. As Jason got about fifteen feet into the lobby, he happened to look our way, and when I smiled (and I'm pretty sure that Lucky and Alle were smiling his way too, but I really wasn't looking at them at that point ), he came right over to us and thanked us for coming. (Yes - he remembered me and I got a hug. ) I told him I wouldn't have missed it for the world and he seemed genuinely pleased. We spoke for a few minutes, but before long, the stars were whisked away and the theater doors were opened for the special guests.





The theater had a capacity of 225 people and almost every seat was filled. There was a tremendous of excitement in the air as folks were getting seated and waiting for the film to begin. Jason, Brian and Nick sat with Andrew in one of the lower level rows to one side of the theater. While waiting, we chatted with the awesome Richard Olsen, who was seated right in front of us. Richard played Detective Williams in the film -- he's the cop in the trailer who's holding the gun on Calvin when he delivers the "babbling brook" line. He's a great guy -- a local Texas actor -- who was thrilled to be there and to be part of such an exciting project.

As soon as the lights went down in the theater, the cheers began -- soon followed by gales of laughter. To say that the film was well received would be a massive understatement. Granted, it was a friendly crowd, filled with many supporters, family members and well-wishers, but the response was way beyond polite enthusiasm. People LOVED it.

As the final credits rolled, a moderator from the film festival began introducing the creative team and they all stepped forward for a brief Q and A. Afterwards, a few pictures were taken and then we were ushered out of the theater so that the staff could prepare for the showing of the next film. Jason walked out with us, and we were able to chat a bit more and take a couple of photos in the lobby. Eventually, though, the staff insisted that everyone there for "Searching for Sonny" move along to make room for the folks wanting to see the next film. So, we all headed out to the after party which was held at a bar about a mile away. But more about that later, after Lucky and Alle get a chance to share.

[librarian_7]

There is so much to say...but I want to agree with Lilly's assessment of how well the film itself was received. The laughter ranged from moments where everyone was chuckling quietly, to howling with laughter (and I'm looking at Nick Kocher and Brian McElhaney for many of those moments! Those guys are MADMEN. In the best possible way, of course.)

I was so impressed with Jason's willingness to spend time with fans, at such an important event for him. As others have said before, he is the perfect gentleman.

Lilly didn't mention it, but the reason that we were invited into the theatre early was because I walk with a cane, as I'm still recovering from knee surgery. As it turned out, I've never been so happy to need that cane!

We did also talk to Nick and Brian, who were, I think, very excited about the premiere. (I don't have any brothers, but Brian strikes me as being the goofy little brother I never had...)

In the screening we were so pleased to make the acquaintance of Richard Olsen and his friend (a really delightful lady!). They were so very down to earth, and pleased to chat with us.

I have to tell this story...as much as I treasure the memory of any interaction with Jason, this just brings tears to my eyes. As we made our way out of the theatre, after the Q&A and exchanging a few words with a number of the people involved with the film, I was hobbling along with my cane, and of all people, JASON comes up beside me and asks if I'm okay, or if I need any help. Seriously. Here is this young man at the world premiere of a movie in which he is the star, and he takes the time and effort to be nice to someone he barely knows. That's the kind of man he is, and one of the reasons I'm such a fan of his.

Gosh, I could go on pretty much forever about the early part of the evening...but suffice to say, it was wonderful, and magical. And the film totally rocks. I can't wait for everyone to get a chance to see it.

Lucky

[allegrita]

It was truly an amazing evening. The feeling in the air -- anticipation, nerves, excitement -- was almost electric. Everyone involved in the movie was a little antsy as they waited to be ushered into the theater, and you could tell they were just dying to get in there and find out how it would be received! Jason was probably the coolest one there, honestly. And we are so fortunate that Lucky was using that cane, and that people in Texas are so kind to strangers. We would have missed the pre-show experience if that nice person hadn't invited us into the lobby. Not that I'd ever wish knee surgery on anyone, but this was a heck of a silver lining.

I was really surprised when Jason walked over to us, and I swear I'm not making this up -- his face lit up and he seemed delighted to see us. Every fan who has ever had the pleasure of meeting Jason will tell you the same thing -- he has an uncanny knack for making the person (or people) he's speaking with feel as if they are the most important people in the world at that moment. But the fact that he came over to greet us before he got swept up in the whirl of the evening, pretty much made my night. What a sweet guy.

Having a chance to chat with Richard Olsen was really a treat. He spoke highly of everyone involved, and I think he did a great job of acting as a "serious" anchor around which the lunacy could revolve, during his scenes. I told him he was kind of like the character played by Christopher Walken in the film "The Milagro Beanfield War." He played it very straight and serious -- kind of menacing, really -- but he was a foil for the zaniness that went on around him.

The movie is hi-freakin'-larious, you guys. I know that the audience was disposed to like the show, but I think everyone (who hadn't already seen it) was bowled over by how good it really was. And in the Q&A, Andrew Disney said that many of the funniest lines (spoken by Brian and Nick, mostly) were ad-libbed! That little film has some high-class talent involved, and I'm not talking about just the "name" actors. The writing was great, the music was inspired, the editing was tight and crisp, the movie moved along amazingly well. I hope it will be released in a way that allows it a wide audience, because I could easily see this move becoming a cult classic.

[Lilly]

I just want to add a pic from after the Q&A...



and a tighter crop...




Also, some kind soul has uploaded a video of the Q&A to YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqH6ciU_wik

[francis]

Wow, just w o w ! Lilly and Lucky and Alle, you are the luckiest people in the world. Seems to me that Jason has added you to his shortlist of Very Close Fans He Would Recognize Anywhere. How utterly cool. It couldn't have happened to better people.
That he would ask Lucky if she needs help... makes me swoon.

I am in serious trouble now. I already follow so many careers since I watched Moonlight, and added several new costars to my watch list, like Scott Caan, and now I will have to add Nick and Brian too. This fan thing gets to be a real time-consuming thing.