Discovering indie gems

LIONSHEAD - Justin Meyer of Eagle-Vail never got in to see "The Wendell Baker Story" at the Vail Film Festival Saturday. Luke and Andrew Wilson's film was the biggest draw of the weekend, and many people were turned away at theater doors.

"I went to see 'Royal Academy' instead. It was really good and really funny," said Meyer.

Meyer, along with his friends Kelly Russell and Dean Fesquez, were a bit disappointed about missing the Wilson brothers' movie, but found Tony Cane-Honeysett's documentary about a 74-year-old woman's quest to be inducted into the Royal Academy of Art in England serendipitous.

"Not getting in to 'Wendell Baker' gave us exposure to something new," said Russell, also a local.

"It's what film festivals are all about," added Meyer.

The sentiment among festival attendees Saturday night at the Awards Ceremony and Party at Eagle's Nest was unanimous: The best part of the film festival is seeing movies you wouldn't normally get to see. Besides, the bigger movies, like "Wendell Baker" and David Duchovny's "House of D," will most likely be distributed to a theater near you. It is the shorts, documentaries, TV pilots and student films that are the real indie gems of the weekend.

Kendall Vaille from Summit County enjoyed "Crazy Canucks," directed by Randy Bradshaw, which made its U.S. premiere at the festival. The film is about five young, underrated and underfunded Canadian men that are faced with the daunting challenge of cracking the Euro-dominated world of competitive downhill skiing. They started beating the Europeans through sheer determination and fearlessness as they attacked the slopes.

"The filmmaker and the real coach were there at the showing so it was a real treat to hear the coach talk about the real-life aspect of the movie," said Vaille.

The bonus of seeing films at a festival like this is attendees often get to interact with the filmmakers and actors who created the movie. Question and answer sessions sandwiched many of the showings throughout the weekend, giving viewers an inside look into the making of the films.

Luke Wilson, who appeared quite shy for a movie star ("Legally Blond," "Old School," and "The Royal Tenenbaums"), engaged the crowd after "The Wendell Baker Story" with a Q&A session. He talked about how when writing the film he wanted to create a character for himself that was quite opposite of his own persona. Wendell Baker was the result, an up-beat con-man with a lot of heart. He also quipped about getting his youngest brother, Owen, who played the evil head nurse, in and out quickly during the shooting of the film, alluding that the funny man can be a distraction.

"I loved the 'Wendell Baker Story.' It was poignant, it included older actors (Seymour Cassel, Spencer Scott) we haven't seen in a while, and it was heart-warming and fun," said local Merri Oakley.

The festival awarded "The Wendell Baker Story" best feature film of the festival Saturday at the ceremony and party, and organizers also paid tribute to rising star Kip Pardue ("Driven," "Remember the Titans," and "Loggerheads") and Rod Slifer honored producer Ed Pressman with the Mayor's Lifetime Achievement Award.

Pressman's acceptance speech captured the essence of the festival. Pressman, who produced "Badlands" and "Wall Street" along with about 70 others, said filmmakers must keep taking chances and make sure the novel, different and daring films don't become extinguished.

"That's why we're all here," he said.



Arts and Entertainment Editor Cassie Pence can be reached at 949-0555, ext. 618, or cpence@vaildaily.com.



Vail, Colorado