There are times when an innocent member of the MySweetCharity community is drafted to help out. On Friday, November 8, Institute of Humanities and Culture’s Emily Hargrove was the draftees and did an excellent job of fulfilling the role of ace reporter/photographer in covering the Dallas Film Society‘s Art of Film. Here is her report:
When the name Lee Daniels hit the Dallas newswire as the honoree of this year’s The Art of Film, a few lips muttered, “Lee, who?” Google searches spiked and then a collective “Ah, THAT Lee Daniels!” reverberated through the city. Film buffs nodded in deep respect: a director would be the chosen for the first time since the Dallas Film Society conceived The Art of Film four years ago. And this was not just any director – he’s one that tamed Oprah Winfrey, persuaded Mariah Carey not to wear makeup and currently has the film world at his feet. For those who wanted to experience the purity of filmmaking and to delve behind the raw emotion of storytelling The Hall of State was the place to be on Friday, November 8.
Elvis Mitchell, Lee Daniels and James Faust*
The guests got value for money – Daniels is a man that takes his time. He sauntered casually down the red carpet, chatted amiably with the VIP guests waiting to take their photo with him, and joined Elvis Mitchell in an hour-long conversation about his art. Mitchell professed to having just come out of therapy from his 2012 Val Kilmer experience – seems Val didn’t let Elvis get a word in last year. This time, Elvis was much more at ease, happily chewing the cud with an old friend. Daniels didn’t hold back: their talk was frank, honest and at times surprising:
Elvis Mitchell and Lee Daniels on stage*
- MONSTER’S BALL – he got flack from the African American community as they didn’t think Halle Berry and Billy Bob Thornton portrayed their characters correctly
- In THE WOODSMAN – he was planning on casting Samuel Jackson as the lead, but had to switch to Kevin Bacon so he wouldn’t be criticized for casting an African American in the role of a pedophile
- He couldn’t afford film school, so he didn’t go, but he makes films that project personal experience, which seem to resonate with his audience. THE PAPERBOY was peppered with characters he knew: the pant-less Zac Efron was him as a child, Matthew McConaughey’s character was dedicated to a man he dated in the ‘80’s who later committed suicide and Nicole Kidman’s character was based on his sister
- As a youngster he was physically abused by his father and by directing PRECIOUS he worked through those demons. Through the father/son love story of THE BUTLER he ultimately came to forgive his father
- The first day directing Oprah Winfrey and yelled “Action!” he thought “My god, this is Oprah! And then I told her “you suck, do it again”. It took her a second to be told what to do and it was liberating for her because she became fragile, vulnerable and beautiful. She rendered herself to me which was very powerful.”
- He ended by saying, “Life is not one note. If you are not laughing, crying, scared, aroused in some way during my movies then I have not done my job.”
Linda and Steve Ivy*
Patrons left the auditorium all-a-twitter. Honorary Chair, Linda Ivy, clapped her hands together saying how much she loved it. “He was so open. It was fabulous!” she exclaimed. Chair of the Dallas Film Society Board, Don Stokes thought it was the best yet and everyone was in agreement that his willingness to lay himself bare was a refreshing change from manufactured Hollywood.
Courtney Martin and Benton Bagot*
At the dinner, talk moved on to other news – Board member Benton Bagot and new fiancée Courtney Martin were proudly sharing news of their 2014 nuptials. Lynn McBee was fresh off the red-eye having been in L.A just the night before at the Opening Night of AFI Fest. Arthur E. Benjamin was enjoying sharing the Marquee Sponsor spotlight with Film Society newcomers Sheri Deterling and Geoff Hawkes. Sheri and Geoff were introducing their friends Ryan Bingham and Anna Axster to friends Beth and Ron Hall, Gary Cogill and Haley Hamilton, Sundays Hunt, Farah White, Melina McKinnon and Michael Cain amongst others. In 2010, Ryan shared the Academy Award with T. Bone Burnett for the Best Achievement in Original Song for CRAZY HEART.
Lee Papert, Geoff Hawkes, Arthur Benjamin and Michael Cain*
But for all the celebration, there was one thing missing: Arthur’s four-legged best friend Bandit was so exhausted from shooting four television shows earlier in the day, that director or no director and art or no art, he put his paws up at home and refused to budge.
* Photo credit: Emily Hargrove
