Page 11 - the NOISE November 2014

photos by danielle reynolds
The 41sT “show” (&) sTill so Free!
(&) reynold’s FilmnoTes:
JFK’s lasT inTerview ...
Before my road trip to film Staged II in 2012, which sought to connect historic anomalies of the Kennedy assassination to the events of 9-11-01, I did extensive research. The most curious document I discovered was a hand-written interview from an 8th grade journalist in Dallas. Written in pencil, half redacted by decay, this ‘found document’ records the questions of Mary Hart, intrepid muckraker and the answers of JFK, President of the United States.
The interview was duly jotted down in Mary’s own shorthand on the afternoon before JFK was assassinated, in what is now recognized as his last interview. I have tried to faithfully translate Mary’s words, but where it was impossible to decipher, I ‘bridged’ the gap of her intent. In November 2014, this interview seems chillingly prescient. Thank you Mary for your innocent fearlessness!
THE MEETING: Mary Hart and JFK on 11/21/63
ST. JOAN OF ARC SCHOOL; DALLAS, TExAS as witnessed by Mary’s Teacher, Miss Moss and JFK’s Press Secretary, Pierre Salinger.
FIRST QUESTION:
Mary: May I call you Jack, or do you prefer Mr. President?
JFK: I think today I’d prefer Jack, thanks for asking.
Mary: Jack, did you or Bobby first date Miss Marilyn Monroe?
JFK: Are you ‘recording’ this on tape, or just taking notes?
Mary: Notes only, I don’t trust tape recordings, they can be edited.
JFK: Well then, to answer your question. Bobby met Marilyn first and introduced me. We had a nice dinner and my wife Jackie was there. We ‘danced’ once, I believe, she is a delightful creative person.
Mary:IinterviewedyourbrotherBobbyon1/12/63andhesaid:“JackintroducedmetoMiss Monroe at a Presidential dinner and we all went to the Lincoln bedroom for a night cap.” Do you care to comment?
JFK: Mary, an error doesn’t become a mistake until you refuse to correct it.
Mary: Is that an evasion?
JFK: Yes, it is.
Mary: Next question: Why are you sending advisors to Vietnam, will this lead to war?
JFK: Miss Moss, sorry, I have to ask you, is Mary really a student here or some sort of plant?
Miss Moss: Mary Hart’s the smartest girl in Dallas. Do you want me to show you her test scores?
JFK: Nope, I believe you. Look Mary, when we send in military advisors into any country, it’s to access the situation on the ground, where the hearts and minds of the people reside.
Mary: That’s another fluff answer.
JFK: Pierre, get over here, you’ve got to hear these questions. Mary may be the last real jour- nalist in America. Have you ever read Huxley’s “Brave New World”?
Mary: Are you evading my question, again?
JFK: Sure, but I’m still curious about you.
Mary: Orwell’s “1984” and Huxley’s “Brave New World” present two possible realities in a Republic that loses its way. One is a prison of totalitarian Big Brother surveillance and the other offers soma-induced entertainment 24/7, where we amuse ourselves to death. Our choice, in ‘their’ distopian universes, is beaten with a stick, or sedated with bread and cir- cuses. Which future world are you preparing us for, Jack?
JFK: Wow! Okay, I’ll answer your Vietnam question as honestly as my internal filters will allow. Without war, our economy collapses. Eisenhower warned: “Beware of the undue influence of the military-industrial-complex” during his farewell address. Only a five-star General can say that. If I were to say it, they’d shoot me. We have over a hundred support people behind every soldier with boots on the ground. We make military hardware, vehicles, planes, ships, tanks, boots, uniforms and everything under the sun. Your tax dollar supports private wars not the social economy. They say the only thing you can be sure of is ‘death and taxes.’ Well, I’m not so sure about death, but ‘war and taxes’ will be with us forever.
Mary: Good, I can use that, next question.
Mary: Did your father and Mayor Daley steal the election in Chicago or did they just buy it for you?
JFK: You’re NOT recording this?
Mary: Scouts honor.
JFK: Stalin said: “It doesn’t matter who votes, it matters who counts the vote.” And in Chicago, I know for a fact, ‘The Mayor’ counts the votes. Daley’s dictatorship ... unchallenged for de- cades ... assures he’ll be mayor long after he dies.
was followed over the weekend with Elea- nor Coppola’s documentary, Heart of Dark- ness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse.
In the park, for free that night, Where Eagles Dare, a 1968 classic with Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood. It still holds up!
At 11, (if you can stay up that late!) they have a cheap ‘late-night’ pass for $60 to see four films over four nights. Tales of the Grim Sleeper by documentary filmmaker Nick Broomfield played. It’s the haunting tale of a serial killer ‘allowed’ to run loose for 25 years in South Central LA. And the question Broomfield asks is: “Would the po- lice have allowed a serial killer to run loose in a white, middle-class neighborhood for that long?” Fascinating look at the soul of America, and what little is left of it.
Day Two: Sleep as long as possible and run to the park for the free panels at 10 and noon. You can set up a chair, relax, have a cup of coffee/tea and enjoy the mountains, sun and people. Reese Witherspoon and her new film Wild was dissected with di- rector, Jean Marc Vallee` (The Dallas Buyer’s Club) and the author Cheryl Strayed. Their discussion steered towards book adapta- tions and the filmmaking style that went into re-creating an 1,100-mile Pacific Crest Trail journey. Fascinating logistics!
At noon, the panel included Coppola, Mike Leigh, Wim Wenders, Walter Murch, Alejandro Inarritu and Ethan Hawke. It was almost too much talent and experience and
‘stories’ for an hour-long free panel. But en- lightening! I went with my daughter Dani- elle, a graphic art student to a “Behind the Scenes” animation Workshop put on for free by Pixar and Disney.
It showed the process of creation from idea to completion of their two new shorts: Lava and Feast, which will precede their new- est features. The two directors gave a work- shop on their techniques of pitching stories. My daughter loved it and talked to the film- makers, got posters and autographs after, all for free!
Later, I took a gondola ride, watched a documentary at the public library, had din- ner with my family, and set-up in the park for the free mid evening film. On Saturday night, Foxcatcher played. Bennett Miller (Capote, Moneyball) has crafted a soon to be classic about John Dupont (Steve Carell in a shattering performance) as heir to one
of the largest fortunes in America. Based on the painful true story, we see how his involvement with Olympic wrestling goes from bad to worse to tragic. A haunting psychological tale of mentoring, broth- ers and father-figures; all the tragic Greek components are all here; so beware! Many nominations will follow come Academy Awards time. Too tired for late-late movie and went home to bed.
Day Three: Set-up in the park for free panels at 10 & Noon. Met my mom, sister and daughter to plan the day!
Jon Stewart of the Daily Show wrote and directed Rosewater with Gael Garcia Ber- nal about Iran’s oppressive regime and he discussed in the park the process of transi- tion from a comedian to ‘serious’ filmmaker. Another in-depth discussion followed, this time from behind the scenes in a film about Tehran during the 2009 elections.
At noon, another great free panel com- menced as I skipped off to lunch with my mom, sister and daughter. Saw a docu- mentary about documentary filmmakers at the public library with my daughter — she fell asleep, I loved it!
After a gondola ride, hike & dinner, we hopped in line to see Wild for my daughter had read the book. It was packed at 8:30, but we still got in!
Day Four: Labor Day Picnic! Finally, the fest winds down. Many people leave Mon- day morning, so all the films you’ve heard great ‘buzz’ about become available to see without much of a line wait! We see Bird- man, The Horseman with Hillary Swank and Tommy Lee Jones, who were there; Two Days, One Night by the Dardenne brothers;
The Imitation Game; Mr. Turner ... But 99 Homes by Ramin Bahrani was my favorite!
My family left early too ... Spent about $100 on four films, saw nine; three panels, a workshop, and missed the big Apocalypse Now tribute. Too much to do, too little time
... like ‘life’ I guess!
Remember, PLEASE, tell no one, this is a
great festival that costs little (if you can find a place to crash). Keep it under your hat, don’t ruin it by letting others know about it! Or, mark your calendar for next year! See you there ... check: TellurideFilmFestival.org
Mary: That’s your answer?
>> Continued on 34 >>
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