Wednesday, May 13, 1998
Making an entrance
FILM: Hollywood parties are satirical fodder and career
jump-starts for the cast and crew of
‘French Exit’
By Terry Tang
Daily Bruin Contributor
Two fresh-faced screenwriters, a guy and a girl, find themselves
constantly meeting at the same Hollywood parties. These chance
encounters soon lead to their first date. But, instead of sharing a
kiss, the duo share an idea – to pen a screenplay that pokes fun at
the city where anyone can become a star.
Although this anecdote would be a so-so plot for a date movie,
it is the real-life story of how "French Exit" jumped from paper to
screen. After more than a year of snags in securing U.S.
distribution, the movie opens Friday for an exclusive, one-week
engagement at the Laemmle-Monica and screens on campus tonight.
Starring Jonathan Silverman ("The Single Guy"), the independent
film is based on the Tinseltown experiences of director and writer
Daphna Kastner and co-writer Michael Lerner.
Gathered in front of the Gypsy Cafe in Westwood almost two years
after wrapping up production, the two writers and an actor, all
donning trendy sunglasses and sipping coffee, hug and chatter
giddily like a long-lost family.
"There’s something very romantic about making movies," Kastner
says. "A whole group of people are together for one period of time,
and that group will never be together again."
For Lerner, "French Exit" is the independent diamond in the
rough of big-budget studio flicks.
"It’s rare that a studio makes two or three, at most,
interesting (sophisticated) movies a year," Lerner says. "The only
recourse for someone who’s interested in something that isn’t
formulaic is independent film. Hopefully, the pendulum will swing
back."
As Silverman leans in closer to the table, he adds,"For the
people who are involved, we aren’t doing this for the money. We’re
doing it for the joy of the process, of the craft and the chance to
stretch muscles that we wouldn’t have the opportunity, necessarily,
to stretch in a big studio film."
The battle between independent and studio movies also seems
symbolic of the David-and-Goliath struggle of the screenwriters’
alter-egos against the Hollywood giant. Although the plot centers
on the competition, as well as attraction, between two
screenwriters – with one down on his luck (Silverman) and the other
a cock-eyed optimist (Madchen Amick) – the movie also showcases the
antics and one-liners of the personalities within the entertainment
scene. By modeling characters from real people, both Kastner and
Lerner endured the cold shoulder from at least one friend after
previewing it for their industry chums.
"Honestly, when Daphna and I wrote the character, we thought we
were being more subtle than we were," Lerner says. "Everyone turned
around in the middle of the screening and started pointing at the
real character going, ‘That’s him! That’s the guy!’"
Aside from parodying agents, actors and other personae, the
movie pays homage to the Hollywood party scene. According to
Kastner, where there is a party, there is work. Like any
profession, success sometimes depends on personal connections. As a
result, Hollywood parties follow an unspoken grading system – A, B
and C – based on what hot shots may show up. In the case of art
imitating life, the movie showcases how the same people attend the
same parties, hoping to rub elbows with an infamous, and lecherous,
studio chief.
"This major studio big wig is going to these B and C parties
because he’s looking for young girls that are desperate and pretty.
Through this guy, a group of these people get invited to an A party
and they think they have it made," Kastner explains. "But, instead,
they stick out like sore thumbs."
The director’s thorough knowledge of parties elicits an amused
glance from Lerner.
"Daphna has her doctorate in parties," Lerner jokes. "She is
very qualified to talk about them."
One production aspect not worth celebrating was the movie’s low
budget and small crew. Still, when a script without so much as a
cover letter made its way to Silverman, the actor was immediately
struck by how true-to-life the characters appeared
"The film is extremely accurate. I know that some of the actual
people that these characters are based on saw the movie and are
certainly amused," Silverman says. "You can’t really be in this
business and not have some kind of a sense of humor – especially
when you, yourself, are being lampooned."
As if right in character of the film’s accident-prone female
lead, Kastner – in her excitement – suddenly spills a cup of iced
coffee all over the table. In spite of the chuckling from her
colleagues, the director hurriedly wipes up the puddle.
Despite the mishap, she changes the conversation to a more
serious note in the film – women’s roles in the entertainment
business. Like in any work environment, the director believes women
in entertainment possess a lot of power, as long as they train
themselves to have confidence.
"Women have to start taking responsibility for themselves,"
Kastner says. "Like, in the movie, Zina (Amick) is hit on by this
guy, but she plays him. She uses the fact that he likes her, but
she doesn’t give anything away. She’s total self-respect."
Although the director was ready for the large amount of
responsibility that comes with making an independent film, she did
not expect the many sudden changes which arose. A few scenes were
ad-libbed to accommodate unpredictable weather, some props would
not work, and an actress did not show up on her day of shooting.
But the most surprising occurrence was the last-minute cameo
Kastner lined up when another actor friend stood her up.
"Timothy Leary was the neighbor of the guy whose house we were
shooting in. This guy called up Timothy and said ‘Hey, I’m having a
pool party! We’re shooting a movie. Would you like to come over?’"
Kastner remembers. "It just was coincidental that his character had
to be dropping ecstasy."
Acting with the drug guru was fascinating for Silverman.
Although Leary only had one line (while pouring tea), there was no
telling what he would do during each take.
"He was indeed holding the pitcher of tea," Silverman recalls.
"But I guess, in his mind, he still thought he was actually holding
the tea cup. Because, he would pour the tea into his hand, and not
even flinch."
Although both screenwriters do not view Hollywood as a
back-stabbing Cutthroat Island, they do believe the industry
thrives too much on gossip. So, once in a while, the business needs
a strong pull back down to Earth.
"This is a very affectionate sort of look at Hollywood," Lerner
says. "As much as it is a critique of Hollywood, it’s also sort of
a wet kiss."
FILM: "French Exit" opens Friday and plays through May 21 at the
Laemmle Monica 4 Plex. The cast and crew will be on hand after a
free screening of the film tonight at 7:30 at the James Bridges
Theater.