Film Representative: Stephen Goldblatt (Cinematographer)
I head off to see the first screening of Ebertfest, Joe Versus The Volcano (1990). I was successful in finding a great parking spot. I got out of my car and I start walking towards The Virginia Theater. I see a huge line wrapping around three sidewalks surrounding the block of the theater. I chuckle and think, “Good thing have this press pass. Not trying to wait in that.” I walk up to the ticket booth and ask the lady stationed there, “Where can I find the line for those with press passes?” Thinking she would direct me to the VIP line or one of the other shorter lines, she turns to her superior and asks my same question, I then learn I have to stand in the line wrapping three of the exterior walls of The Virginia. “No big deal,” I think to my self, “I’ll be in the assigned press section and find a seat easily.” I head to the end of the line and wait.
Head below to find out what happened next at Ebertfest: Day 1...
Once the doors open the line starts moving pretty quickly. I was
at the front entrance in no time. I walk past the concessions into the majestic
auditorium that is The Virginia and gaze upon its beauty. No seriously, the
place is beautiful. Walking in is almost a religious experience. I see
another guy with a press pass on and say “hey”, with the intention to start a
conversation that will lead to finding our assigned press seating. We didn't find any assigned seating, so we just sat down. Turns we sat in the VIP
section. We were ushered off and told we could sit literally anywhere else. But
the lower lever was pretty full so we made out way up to the balcony. Found a
perfect spot, minus the tight legroom, right in the middle.
I have an hour to kill waiting for the movie to start. I get
on my phone a bit, skim the program, listen to the organist, and include myself
into conversations with those around me. Once the organist finished his lively
passionate number, Roger Ebert and his wife Chaz walk out onto the stage to a
standing ovation. Ebert gave a wave hello and eventually walked back behind the
stage. Chaz begins to read the announcements, looks at the sheet, and looks at
the audience and asks, “Who’s been to Ebertfest before?” Many hands go up, to
Chaz’s relief. She then quickly decides, “I’m not going to read all this… I’ve
never seen all of Joe Versus The Volcano… I want to get to it!” She
gives the abridged version of the announcements and walks off stage.
The true religious experience occurred when the lights began
to slowly dim as the red velvet curtains began to open, revealing a massive
blank widescreen. The digital projection of Joe Versus the Volcano had
reached the screen and began to play. It was monumental.
Joe Versus The Volcano is a 1990 Amblin film written
and directed by John Patrick Shanley and stars Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, the
first of their famous multiple on screen collaborations.
It’s interesting to note the ties Joe Versus the Volcano
has with another movie set to screen for Ebertfest this week, Kind Hearts
and Coronets (1949). In Joe Versus The Volcano, Meg Ryan plays three very different characters in the three very different settings of the film. In Kind
Hearts and Coronets, Alec Guinness plays eight different characters in the film. This only
occurred to me now as I’m typing this. I’m not even sure if Ebertfest has made
note of this relationship. If so, I missed it, and I apologize to you,
Ebertfest, for me thinking I’m a genius.
(UPDATE: The Kind Hearts and Coronets screening has been canceled. They must have caught wind of my genius?)
Once the film was finished Chaz introduced Festival guest,
two-time Oscar Nominee Stephen Goldblatt, Director of Photography for the film,
to the stage for a Q&A. He was handed a Golden Thumb Award as he walked to
the stage. I’m sure The Golden Thumb easily makes up for those two Oscar
losses. Film critics, Pablo Villaco and co-host to Ebert Presents At The Movies,
Christy Lemire, moderated the discussion. Goldblatt has served as cinematographer
for such films as Lethal Weapon 1 & 2, Young Sherlock Holmes (the first film
to have a fully CGI character), Batman Forever, Batman and Robin (one of Nathan Hinds' favorite movies), Prince of Tides, Charlie Wilson’s War, and The
Help, among many others.
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| Pablo Villaco, Christy Lemire, and Stephen Goldblat |
Goldblatt started in still photography for newspapers around the age of 16 though 19. Once he went to film school her knew right away that he wanted to be a director of photography rather than director because he “thinks in pictures.” Even to this day he has no aspirations of becoming a director stating, “I see what the poor bastards go through.”
He says to date, his favorite film that he has ever worked on was 2011’s The Help. He loved the family like relationships on the set and also what the movie represented through its great subject matter. While The Help is his favorite, he also says there are movies “I regret doing and directors who regret hiring me.” But he didn't go into names on that matter.
Goldblatt states that he is lucky to be in a position now where he can choose the movies he would like to work on by the script alone, regardless of the films budget. He would gladly take smaller films with no budget so long as the script is strong and represents something that he is interested in.
Once the Q&A was over I had to rush out and run across
the street to make it in time for my other job at a local bar in Champaign. I’m at work for maybe
10 minutes and who walks in? Stephen Goldblatt! I actually got to serve him. It
was great! I was also able to get a few exclusive quotes from him, which
include “Do you have any pizza with chicken on it?” and “Just set them in the
middle” (referring to the flat-bread pizzas I later brought out to his table).
Overall, the first day was a great experience. Ben Foutch
will provide you with Day 2 coverage tomorrow.