July and Half of August Premiere: Albuquerque

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The last two weeks have been extraordinary, stressful, busy, exciting, challenging. I went from interviewing Guillermo del Toro in front of 1500 people in Champaign, to – a week later – interviewing Wes Studi for about 30 people in Albuquerque. I went from watching other people’s movies to watching my own. I don’t know how to talk about it yet or write about it. What sticks with me now is impressions and memories: of what it felt like to be in Albuquerque, with my mother, Annika Marks the lead actress, her parents: having breakfast in the hotel, Uber-ing around town, the comments made, the laughter, taking pictures outside the movie theatre, the full spectrum of the experience. It’s all still flooding my brain. It’ll take me some time to process all of it. I’ve been gone for 12 days. I’m home now. I left town wearing a down winter coat. And I returned into the spring. It was 80 degrees one day in Albuquerque. I SOAKED up that Vitamin D. I’ve been to Albuquerque before (a couple of times actually) but this was my longest visit. Stevie took me on a drive down Route 66, and – beautifully – the theatre where my film screened was on Route 66. Now that’s a good omen, y’all, I felt very good about that.

Sitting in a theatre watching my film was … I can’t even call it a proud moment. That was not my experience of it in the moment. It was more a feeling of gratitude, to every person who has helped me, believed in me … not just who made the film but in my life in general. My mother, there with me to support me, be there for me. The entire team who made the film, Mike and Brandeaux and Peter and Annika and Robert … Like: there’s no getting around it: The whole thing started because of what I wrote. And people responded to that script from the get-go and so here we are today. And hopefully it is still just the beginning.

Here is the adorable theatre where July and Half of August screened:

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We had a great QA following the screening, Annika and I answering questions (good questions too: a couple of people said flat-out, “So what happens next?” Mission accomplished!).

I am still processing all that has happened. There’s more to tell, and I definitely want to write about my talk with Wes Studi too, which was a real highlight of Albuquerque.

In the meantime:

A banner moment.

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40 Responses to July and Half of August Premiere: Albuquerque

  1. mutecypher says:

    Wow.

    And congratulations! You have worked so hard to make these great things happen.

  2. sheila says:

    Thanks!! I’m so glad I wasn’t there by myself. It was wonderful to have Annika there too – because the whole thing is a collaboration! Not to mention my mother and her awesome parents. We were a gleeful chatterbox foursome tooling around town. It was awesome! So many hilarious moments.

  3. Jessie says:

    Route 66 and flannel shirts and Sheila! Oh my!

    I’m so glad it all went so well! What a well-deserved achievement for you.

    • sheila says:

      The route 66 thing thrilled me to no end. And yes: Plaid flannel! Just what I pictured. Robert showed up and I was like, “Oh. Yes. Of course. You’re the guy I wrote.”

      AND Robert’s from Memphis. So it’s all connected.

  4. Maureen says:

    I’m so happy for you, Sheila! I love that people asked what happens next at the Q&A-you hooked them! What an incredible few weeks you’ve had, and it couldn’t happen to a more talented person. Congratulations!

    • sheila says:

      Thanks Maureen! Yes, everyone was very intrigued – that made me happy. The piece is mysterious (somewhat) – because you start wondering “What the hell happened between these two during the July and half of August 5 years ago that was so huge??” – but it’s not confusing. It COULD be confusing – or opaque – or whatever – but Brandeaux filmed it in an evocative simple way so that the audience was drawn into the story, as opposed to being left outside of it.

      That really gives me hope and makes me excited – because of course I DO know what happens – and maybe eventually people will get to see the whole thing.

      • sheila says:

        Or, let’s be more positive: Not “maybe eventually” – let’s just say: EVENTUALLY people will get to see the whole thing. No maybe about it!

  5. Helena says:

    What a fortnight you’ve had! I realise I’ve been waiting for the post-screening report with almost baited breath.

    Oh my god, that screen shot of the baaarrrr. And the beer glass. And the plaid shirt. And ‘Written by Sheila O’Malley.’

    ‘What happens next?’ That’s the BEST question!

    • sheila says:

      The beer glass and the plaid. I know! And the neon. They just made that seedy bar look so beautiful!!

      It was all the director who imagined what I wrote into a cinematic form. There are visual “flourishes” throughout – simple – like shots of pool balls going across a table, clacking against each other – these things comment on the story, rather than pull you out of it. That was all Brandeaux. He really thought all this out.

      I had only seen a rough cut too – I hadn’t seen the final version until last Saturday in the theatre. So that was thrilling too.

      • Helena says:

        Jerry Wanek better watch out, just sayin’ ;-)

      • sheila says:

        We didn’t even need to “trick up” the bar. The only thing we had to do is make sure all of the Green Bay Packers logos were covered – and they were everywhere. There is a hearty GreenBay Packers fandom in Los Angeles and they all, apparently, trek out to this bar in Glendale to watch the games with their peeps. I love that!

        My initial concern was that we couldn’t find a dive-y “local” in Los Angeles. I was like, “It can’t be a cocktail bar, or a lounge, or anywhere there’s a ‘scene’ – it has to be grungy, with a TV over the bar, a pool table, and a juke box with Steely Dan songs on it …”

        And we found just that. I walked in and thought – Oh YES this is PERFECT.

        • Helena says:

          I have just looked up the logo on the interweb just so I know what had to be covered up.

          I want to go to that bar now. I’m going to order a whiskey with extra ice.

          • sheila says:

            I would definitely hang out there if I lived in the area, even though I am a Patriots fan.

            And then of course at 4 a.m. when we were done shooting, everyone had to go around restoring all the Green Bay Packers logos.

            Love it! I love people who are that detail-oriented.

  6. Dan says:

    Congratulations – so thrilled for you! Also – how can I see this!?

    • sheila says:

      Dan – will keep you posted!! Hopefully there will be more festivals. And eventually, I’m assuming, it’ll be available to all in a Vimeo link or something.

      We’re organizing a private screening down here in New York too, as we speak.

  7. Melanie says:

    What…happens…next?

    THAT is the question! Yay, Sheila!

    • sheila says:

      Melanie – ha! It really is – that was what I hoped would happen, since the short is just a snippet of the full-length script. I want people to want to see the rest!

      I’m very glad I finally got business cards made before the festival because I gave out 100 of them. So it was definitely a triumph. Very proud of the work we all did!

  8. Lyrie says:

    This is awesome. I’ve been excited with each new picture on instagram, and can’t wait to read more. Congratulations!
    (You know, looking at that screenshot, I looked for the ice cubes…)

    • sheila says:

      Oh God, those ice cubes. SO FUNNY. “Who here drinks whiskey?” There actually is some very funny ice cube behavior in the film.

      Thanks, Lyrie!!

  9. Kate Havard says:

    Seriously cannot wait to watch this.

  10. Barb says:

    To echo mutecypher–Wow. Blow that shot up to movie poster size and frame it! This is so exciting, and I’m eager to see it, too. Congratulations, Sheila!

    • sheila says:

      Thanks, Barb!

      The whole thing was somewhat nerve-wracking before hand (will people like it????) – you just need to put it in front of an audience and see if it sinks or swims. But now that it’s over and I’m reminded again of how well these characters play – I feel eager for more screenings!!

  11. DBW says:

    I am very proud of you, Sheila–just a great moment. I’m not surprised this happened, because I always thought the script was terrific, but still a very satisfying accomplishment. As you might imagine, would love to see it.

    • sheila says:

      Thank you so much,DBW!! Yes, it’s been very satisfying – and totally surreal to see these two actors – whom I didn’t know before this – say the words I wrote and make them real!

  12. Anne says:

    Those shots are so beautiful. Congrats!

  13. Paula says:

    That screenshot with your name is such an amazing shot. Goosebumps for you.

    So, this was the Packers bar you mentioned before? Now, I’m laughing. Did they resist putting away the cheeseheads for you “whatcha mean you’re not a Packer fan?” or was it “oh ya, no problem”?

    • sheila says:

      hahaha Oh yeah, they were totally “no problem.” Apparently movie crews film stuff in there all the time – in part because the price is reasonable, the owners are so cool (and they really are: they just give you the space and get out of your way), and it has a great vibe.

      As long as we put everything back the way we found it by load-out time, we could do whatever we wanted!!

  14. carolyn clarke says:

    Just to echo everyone else’s comments: Wow! So wonderful for you and so great that you were around good people when it happened. You so deserve this.

  15. Desirae says:

    Congrats! This is so cool.

  16. Sheila!

    Congratulations, how wonderful! Also for Guillermo del Toro!! Quite amazing, exciting stuff and yes, well deserved! I love too the way you describe everything and your feelings of simple gratitude. Beautiful!

    • sheila says:

      Regina – aw, thanks!!

      It’s been so much hard work – as you know, from your own projects – it’s almost surreal when “they” (meaning the projects) step out into the world by themselves.

  17. Tonya says:

    Congratulations! That must have been an awesome feeling sitting there watching your baby on the film screen. Then to have the audience so intrigued that they want to know what happens next. I’m excited for you and I want to see it also!

    • sheila says:

      Tonya – thank you so much! Yes, the whole thing was a total trip!

      I’ll keep everyone posted on festivals and stuff, and if it’s ever available online.

      Thanks again!

  18. bill teck says:

    Boom! Yes!

    • sheila says:

      Boom!!

      Thanks, Bill! And it was so great that your film launched on Netflix while I was out at Ebertfest, just before I came to Albuquerque. The timing … it was like everything was happening at once and everything was awesome. Ha.

      I still haven’t had a chance to WATCH One Day Since Yesterday – I just got back from New Mexico on Sunday – but am planning on doing so this weekend when I have some time free.

      Very exciting days!!

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