Well the LA United Film Festival screening of Strictly Background tonight was very well received.
All ten of us, along with Jeff Olan, were there. (The other night at the film festival’s kick-off party, Cary had indicated seeing me in something recently but couldn’t recall what it was; tonight he said he’d remembered, it was on PBS and I realized he meant Red Ace Cola Project, as he regularly watches the Fine Cuts program on KCET, and he’d spotted me as Eddie therein.)
As always, Strictly Background elicited laughs with its humour and irony, worried gasps with its pathos, and cheers with its triumphs. The Q&A was interesting; I jokingly took a couple of photos of the audience [bg]; mostly as I had no one available to take a photo with my camera of us on stage. At one point with the mic, I was able to relate my working on and visibility in Walk Hard (and that Jason had spotted me when he first saw it, unaware I’d worked on it), Lower Learning and the very upcoming Big Stan, as well as announcing the most recent work, as the principal lead in the regional wild spot McDonalds commercial.
There were some interesting comments amongst the questions. One was that it be mandatory viewing for all new SAG members. Another suggested it be shown at all high schools (I would presume that would be to let young still-dreamer types know it’s as even much more hard work than it is simply being attractive).
Many very nice people thanked and congratulated me (as well as the rest of the cast), one of whom turned out to be the lovely Jocelyn, who’d only sent me a MySpace add request quite recently.
Jeff Olan had set up some sort of after-party at Busby’s. I had a ride with Jack [“John“] and his wonderful wife Elizabeth, and initially we figured we’d stop in briefly. On our way to the nearby event, the directions and details indicated there was a ten dollar cover charge just to get in after 10pm, and it was 9:55pm when we left the theatre. As it was there was no available street parking, so nothing other that expensive valet parking. As much as we wanted to attend, the combined expense and impracticality was too much of an issue. I didn’t have much of a chance to talk with Jeff Olan and/or meet some of those he brought (the only one I recognized right off was actor Jon Polito). As we went around the corner from being unable to find a place to park, we could see at the door people having to pay to get in, which pretty much clinched it for us.
D’oh.
Jack and Elizabeth got me home safely about a quarter after ten.