Last night I had a dream that you grew a garden on the trampoline and I was so happy that I invented peanut butter

Artist in Spotlight: David Gordon Green















The above title, for those of you scratching your heads, is a line from an amazing film that is very close to my heart called All the Real Girls directed by one of my favorites, David Gordon Green. Last night, David, along with actress Olivia Thirlby took part of a one hour discussion at the Apple Store in SoHo about their new film Snow Angels, an adaptation of a Stewart O’Nan novel due to be released limitedly Friday Mach 7th.

This gives me a great opportunity to gush about a director I love in an open forum. Green’s filmography falls directly into what I call “The Terrance Malick” category (yes, no one can best Malick, but his spiritual offspring can be felt) shared by last years beautiful meditation epic The Assassination of Jesse James. Green’s film are generally beautifully shot (thanks to constant collaborator, and personal fav DP Tim Orr) thoroughly naturalistic, indie films of great emotional depth. To date, he has only directed five films, with two of them to be released this year. I fell in love with his second film, and from there went back and forward with much fan delight. He is truly one of the great directors to come out of his generation, and arrived so fully formed that it is quite impressive. Green’s films are really a love him or leave him type of filmmaking, where you either dig it or don’t. If you do, the wonders that you encounter are a sheer joy. Here’s a rundown on his short filmography.

George Washington (2000)- A beautiful naturalistic film about black and white kids in the south, their youth and innocence, and an event that shatters it all. Filled with solid performances by all the non-actors, Green and company compose a beautiful magic hour dream of childhood spent in rundown buildings and majestic train and junkyards.

All the Real Girls (2003)- From its opening single frame shot, to it’s very beautiful Land dog end, All the Real Girls is one of the most emotionally honest and resonant onscreen romances to come our way. Introducing me to the then unknown acting talents of it’s phenomal stars, Paul Schneider (Lars and the Real Girl, Jesse James) and Zooey Deschanel (Elf, and Jesse James, though not with Paul) Green forms a pitch perfect portrait of young, small town love that is as heartbreakingly authentic as it is poetic. Watch the scene on the playground that says it all. Netflix this now. A great gateway into his work. Personal pick.

Undertow (2004)- A southern gothic, B-grade exploitation rooted, artsy 70’s style film, about two swamp rat boys on the run from their Uncle, after witnessing him commit murder, searching for a buried treasure. This is Green’s most artsy, and probably his most Malick like work (ironically of which Malick is a producer on). Undertow is a miss-mash of genre’s that form an extremely beautiful, if not for everyone film.

Snow Angels (March 7, 2008)- Green’s first adapted work, covers several interconnecting love stories, and a missing child in a snowy small town. Staring Sam Rockwell, Kate Beckinsale, Olivia Thrilby, and Michael Angarano. Further review to come.

Pineapple Express (August 8, 2008)- A surprising team-up of creative minds finds Green directing a Seth Rogen/Evan Goldberg script produced by the extremely talented, funny and red hot Apatow group. An 80’s inspired stoner buddy action comedy looks to be the film that will explode Green into mainstream recognition. From what I’ve seen and heard it looks hilarious, and I hope this helps open some doors for Green (like maybe his in need of financing Sci-fi project;)

I encourage everyone to sample this awesome director. Anyway, back to the panel.

The evening started out with a screening of the Snow Angels trailer



Afterwards Green and Thirlby talked about the film, showed two scenes and fielded comments from the audience.

Scene description:

Clip one “Hey You” – Thirlby and Angarano enacting a very sweet, awkward and honest first kiss. Most of this footage is in the trailer.

Clip two (missed the title)- This one featured drunk born again Christian Sam Rockwell outside trying to get into his house to see separated wife Kate Beckinsale and child. Sam has a scuffle with Kate’s new boyfriend Nicky Katt (a personal fav Mr. Harry Senate of Boston Public, and also Boiler Room, and Planet Terror). Their altercation is a funny yet violent one that ends with Katt submissive holding Rockwell in the snow and Beckinsale running out to greet them with a handgun. Favorite line:

Katt goes into Karate stance after Rockwell whips his scarf Indiana Jones Style at him.

Rockwell: What? You gonna Kung Fu me?

The memorable talking points of the night from Thirlby and Green were as follows:

• Green was offered the adaption of Snow Angels while All the Real Girls was running the circuit at Sundance. He wrote primarily in that time frame, on planes and in the throes of a bad break-up. Green said he wanted to push himself as a writer and adapt someone else’s work rather than the fairly organic way he usually writes for pieces he directs. He gave his screenplay to the producers and said, if you like it, pay me, if not, don’t and throw it away.

• Thirlby was drawn to Snow Angels because of Green’s body of work and his excellent screenplay. When they met for lunch to discuss the film, she flipped the bill.

• Green’s involvement in Confederacy of Dunces is now dead due to legal issues. They had a great cast lined up and he finds it unfortunate that he will likely never do the project.

• Green is producer on Jeff Nichol’s Shotgun Stories (which he said should be released this April). Jeff was a friend of David’s from college and David’s second unit DP, Adam Stone shot the film. Green stated it was one of the most beautifully shot anamorphic indie films in the last ten years.

• Nichols and Green also collaborated on the screenplay for Nichols next film, Goat adapted from Brad Land’s memoir.

• Green enjoys the family feel of making his films with the guys he knew in college. He finds it interesting how their various interest gel into a complete work. He also said he was writing something with one of his sound guys and it was fun seeing him put on his writing hat.

• Green’s worst day on set was when the last day when they showed up to shoot the key scene of the film and all the snow had melted. Green kinda had a meltdown. Shovels, ice rinks and trucks bringing in snow were employed to dress the scene. Appearently you can't tell the difference.
  

• During the editing of Snow Angels, a very serious movie, Green and his editor found themselves making gag reels from outtakes to keep sane. Striving to release some comic tendencies led to Pineapple Express.

• Green came to Pineapple Express after a set visit to Apatow’s Knocked Up. He found the way they work were very similar to his, though they make commercial comedies while he makes indie dramas. They decided to experiment and team-up.

• Green hope is to work in many different genre in the next few years.

• Green also still has ideas for a sci-fi film but needs to get some commercial cred, to get backing for it.

The evening ended with the screen of the red band trailer for Pineapple Express. I had only previously viewed a scene form the film that was released online earlier this year. The trailer for the “80’s stoner buddy action comedy” was hilarious and definitely wowed the audience. Check it out below.



Afterwards Green was nice enough to hang around and chat with some fans (myself included) that lined up to shake his hand.

The whole night was a wonderful experience for me and it just made me feel good that a director I admire was such a nice person. Good luck to Green, I can’t wait to see Snow Angels, and I hope Pineapple blows his profile up.

Thanks again to David, Olivia for their time and Apple for hosting the event.

Snow Angels opens in limited release March 7.

Pineapple Express is slated for August 8.