Post by LillyKat on Aug 14, 2007 15:43:51 GMT -5
(Note: I wasn't sure if I should post this inside the Champ thread or not, so I'm posting here and will link to it from that thread. If mods would like to move it completely, feel free to do so. 
)
This is also a longer, more informal/detailed version of what now appears at Pass The Remote.
Meeting Kathryn Morris at a screening for Resurrecting the Champ
On Monday, August 13th, I had the opportunity to attend a screening of Resurrecting the Champ at the Landmark Theatre in Los Angeles. The film was part of the theatre’s summer edition Reel Talk series, which features weekly screenings of selected independent films. After the screening, the audience is treated to a question and answer session with some of the filmmakers and/or actors moderated by film critic Stephen Farber.
Kathryn, director Rod Lurie and producers Mike Medavoy and Bob Yari (of Yari Films – Crash, The Illusionist) were the guests.
I attended a similar Q&A a couple of years ago (though not quite as formal as being part of a series of screenings), and it really is a very fun and interesting way to watch a film given you get to have interaction with the actual people who made the film. My previous experience prepared me a bit for this one – as in, I thought about a question specifically for Kathryn should the opportunity arise.
And it did.
I firstly complimented her on Cold Case (LK: “Love you on Cold Case.” / KM: “Thank you so much!”). I then asked how it felt for her to a) return to the big screen; b) get to step outside of the confines of Cold Case and Lilly and explore a new/different character for the first time in a couple of years (seeing as we’ve all known her as Lilly Rush for the past several years).
She was incredibly gracious and generous with her answer, clearly defining that whilst CC is a well-oiled machine, and of which it has to be in order for it to be so such a quality piece of work, there is a real freedom in participating in a film like this because the producers and everybody involved just “let Rod make the film and tell the story" without the usual confines that face television procedurals.
She also spoke to the fact that when she first read an early draft of the script, she did so after a very late night shooting CC. The script was delivered to her house, and although she was tired, she said, “I was so emotionally slayed by what I had just read. I was reading it as the sun was coming up, and I couldn’t believe the story that had just occurred. I also remember [producer] Mike [Medavoy] saying to me when I first signed on, ‘Everybody deserves to be a champ.’ That really stuck with me."
As to her role in the film: “There are so many movies out there where the wife is nagging, not supportive, and you don’t often see a story where one – she – is truly the better half trying to make the other half better. I liked that [Joyce was] not a paint by numbers wife.”
Now for the really good stuff …
Following the Q&A, I decided to approach Kathryn individually for one final comment for my PTR story (and perhaps a photo as proof of purchase – LOL!). I worked my way down to the front row of the theatre and was able to sort of maneuver around just a handful of people (thankfully) to get behind her as she started to walk up the stairs and exit the theatre. I found myself walking right behind her as we all shuffled out, and as we got into the little hallway the dialogue went like this:
LK: “Really appreciate your work on Cold Case, Kathryn, and yet it was great to see you in this film getting to do something different.”
KM: “Aw, thank you so much. What’s your name?” (she remembered me from earlier, and stuck out her hand to formerly introduce ourselves to one another)
(I gave her my REAL name, BTW …
... )
KM: “Thanks so much for coming.”
LK: “I don’t suppose I could take a photo of just you. I’m sort of covering this whole thing for a blog I write for, and you’re one of the favorites we cover, so this is kind of the proof that it happened.” (laugh)
KM: “Sure. Absolutely. No problem.”
At this point, we are now out of the theatre, and I basically am standing there, by myself, with KM asking me,
KM: “So where do you want to take the photo?”
LK: “Over here, just against the wall is fine. I kind of feel strange asking, as I want to be discreet and all, and not be a bother to you.”
KM: “Don’t worry. It’s not a problem. It’s my job.”
So, KM graciously stood there, solo, and allowed me to take the photo (viewed here).
After, I asked her if there was anything else she wanted to say about her role in the film.
KM: “Like what?”
LK: “How about what was the best part of this whole thing for you?”
She thought about it for a moment, and then answered poignantly:
KM: “I’d have to say the fact that I got to play a woman who was a true lady. She let her husband go on his own journey, and let the man become the man he needed to become.”
It was at this point (as I was scribbling down her quote), that an elderly lady had come up to KM and wanted to thank her for her work/participation with Lilly Tartikoff (one of the country’s foremost anti-cancer activists and philanthropists). The woman was a two-time breast cancer survivor, and she shared with KM her story, saying how she participates in the Revlon Run/Walk each year (which KM graciously acknowledged). It was a very touching moment, which both KM and I were kind of in awe of the gal. It was really touching (I thought).
After this, another gal had waited patiently for KM’s autograph (for which she very kindly obliged).
At this point, I once again found myself walking side by side with KM, just making small talk. We talked a bit more about PTR (yes, TVFan … major PR for your blog ;D ), saying what shows are covered, she is a favorite, etc. ... when I mentioned The Closer she was very intrigued, saying there is a bit of crossover in crew between CC and The Closer (i.e., CC gets Closer people sometimes, Closer gets CC people sometimes).
I mentioned the new writer, Kellye, but KM drew a blank.
KM: (joking) “I haven’t got all the names down yet as we’ve just gotten back into full shooting schedule.”
I asked her if she had come from CC to this screening.
KM: “Actually, I did. I’ve been up since 5 a.m. And, I have to go back at 5 a.m.” (it was now about 10:30 p.m.)
LK: “So, you’re definitely tired right about now.”
KM: “Yup.”
At this point, we had walked almost up to the “group” that was waiting for her, so I thanked her once again.
LK: “Thanks again for your time, Kathryn. It was very kind of you, and I really appreciate it.” (stuck out my hand to shake hers once again)
KM: “Oh, you’re so welcome. It was so nice to meet you. Thank you for coming to see the film.”
The end.
If I had to sum it up in once word: impressed.
KM completely impressed me – with her graciousness, with attentiveness, with her kindness, with her genuine interest in not only being there as part of the film, but in just an average ‘schmo like me, or the breast cancer survivor, or the gal seeking an autograph. It would’ve been so easy for her to just disregard all of us, to “sit back and do the movie star thing” (as Rod Lurie joked, referring to a screening where Josh Hartnett did do that a bit), but she didn’t.
She had served her 12-14 hours on CC, then came to serve another 2 hours or so in support of Champ, and she was as gracious and in the moment as if she was just starting her day.
I’ve tried to recite everything as accurately is I can. I am a stickler for quoting, and I do NOT like to misrepresent or over-exaggerate what occurred (call it my Journalism Ethics class I took whilst in college). I feel like I actually earned my journalism degree last night. LOL!
And in a film about the reporter getting the story right, I thank KM for allowing – and contributing – to an opportunity for me to write one of my own.
Fitting.
As it should be.
Pictures:
KM Solo (thanks to her for this)
Q&A 1
Q&A 2
Q&A 3
)This is also a longer, more informal/detailed version of what now appears at Pass The Remote.
Meeting Kathryn Morris at a screening for Resurrecting the Champ
On Monday, August 13th, I had the opportunity to attend a screening of Resurrecting the Champ at the Landmark Theatre in Los Angeles. The film was part of the theatre’s summer edition Reel Talk series, which features weekly screenings of selected independent films. After the screening, the audience is treated to a question and answer session with some of the filmmakers and/or actors moderated by film critic Stephen Farber.
Kathryn, director Rod Lurie and producers Mike Medavoy and Bob Yari (of Yari Films – Crash, The Illusionist) were the guests.
I attended a similar Q&A a couple of years ago (though not quite as formal as being part of a series of screenings), and it really is a very fun and interesting way to watch a film given you get to have interaction with the actual people who made the film. My previous experience prepared me a bit for this one – as in, I thought about a question specifically for Kathryn should the opportunity arise.
And it did.
I firstly complimented her on Cold Case (LK: “Love you on Cold Case.” / KM: “Thank you so much!”). I then asked how it felt for her to a) return to the big screen; b) get to step outside of the confines of Cold Case and Lilly and explore a new/different character for the first time in a couple of years (seeing as we’ve all known her as Lilly Rush for the past several years).
She was incredibly gracious and generous with her answer, clearly defining that whilst CC is a well-oiled machine, and of which it has to be in order for it to be so such a quality piece of work, there is a real freedom in participating in a film like this because the producers and everybody involved just “let Rod make the film and tell the story" without the usual confines that face television procedurals.
She also spoke to the fact that when she first read an early draft of the script, she did so after a very late night shooting CC. The script was delivered to her house, and although she was tired, she said, “I was so emotionally slayed by what I had just read. I was reading it as the sun was coming up, and I couldn’t believe the story that had just occurred. I also remember [producer] Mike [Medavoy] saying to me when I first signed on, ‘Everybody deserves to be a champ.’ That really stuck with me."
As to her role in the film: “There are so many movies out there where the wife is nagging, not supportive, and you don’t often see a story where one – she – is truly the better half trying to make the other half better. I liked that [Joyce was] not a paint by numbers wife.”
Now for the really good stuff …
Following the Q&A, I decided to approach Kathryn individually for one final comment for my PTR story (and perhaps a photo as proof of purchase – LOL!). I worked my way down to the front row of the theatre and was able to sort of maneuver around just a handful of people (thankfully) to get behind her as she started to walk up the stairs and exit the theatre. I found myself walking right behind her as we all shuffled out, and as we got into the little hallway the dialogue went like this:
LK: “Really appreciate your work on Cold Case, Kathryn, and yet it was great to see you in this film getting to do something different.”
KM: “Aw, thank you so much. What’s your name?” (she remembered me from earlier, and stuck out her hand to formerly introduce ourselves to one another)
(I gave her my REAL name, BTW …
... )KM: “Thanks so much for coming.”
LK: “I don’t suppose I could take a photo of just you. I’m sort of covering this whole thing for a blog I write for, and you’re one of the favorites we cover, so this is kind of the proof that it happened.” (laugh)
KM: “Sure. Absolutely. No problem.”
At this point, we are now out of the theatre, and I basically am standing there, by myself, with KM asking me,
KM: “So where do you want to take the photo?”
LK: “Over here, just against the wall is fine. I kind of feel strange asking, as I want to be discreet and all, and not be a bother to you.”
KM: “Don’t worry. It’s not a problem. It’s my job.”
So, KM graciously stood there, solo, and allowed me to take the photo (viewed here).
After, I asked her if there was anything else she wanted to say about her role in the film.
KM: “Like what?”
LK: “How about what was the best part of this whole thing for you?”
She thought about it for a moment, and then answered poignantly:
KM: “I’d have to say the fact that I got to play a woman who was a true lady. She let her husband go on his own journey, and let the man become the man he needed to become.”
It was at this point (as I was scribbling down her quote), that an elderly lady had come up to KM and wanted to thank her for her work/participation with Lilly Tartikoff (one of the country’s foremost anti-cancer activists and philanthropists). The woman was a two-time breast cancer survivor, and she shared with KM her story, saying how she participates in the Revlon Run/Walk each year (which KM graciously acknowledged). It was a very touching moment, which both KM and I were kind of in awe of the gal. It was really touching (I thought).
After this, another gal had waited patiently for KM’s autograph (for which she very kindly obliged).
At this point, I once again found myself walking side by side with KM, just making small talk. We talked a bit more about PTR (yes, TVFan … major PR for your blog ;D ), saying what shows are covered, she is a favorite, etc. ... when I mentioned The Closer she was very intrigued, saying there is a bit of crossover in crew between CC and The Closer (i.e., CC gets Closer people sometimes, Closer gets CC people sometimes).
I mentioned the new writer, Kellye, but KM drew a blank.
KM: (joking) “I haven’t got all the names down yet as we’ve just gotten back into full shooting schedule.”
I asked her if she had come from CC to this screening.
KM: “Actually, I did. I’ve been up since 5 a.m. And, I have to go back at 5 a.m.” (it was now about 10:30 p.m.)
LK: “So, you’re definitely tired right about now.”
KM: “Yup.”
At this point, we had walked almost up to the “group” that was waiting for her, so I thanked her once again.
LK: “Thanks again for your time, Kathryn. It was very kind of you, and I really appreciate it.” (stuck out my hand to shake hers once again)
KM: “Oh, you’re so welcome. It was so nice to meet you. Thank you for coming to see the film.”
The end.
If I had to sum it up in once word: impressed.
KM completely impressed me – with her graciousness, with attentiveness, with her kindness, with her genuine interest in not only being there as part of the film, but in just an average ‘schmo like me, or the breast cancer survivor, or the gal seeking an autograph. It would’ve been so easy for her to just disregard all of us, to “sit back and do the movie star thing” (as Rod Lurie joked, referring to a screening where Josh Hartnett did do that a bit), but she didn’t.
She had served her 12-14 hours on CC, then came to serve another 2 hours or so in support of Champ, and she was as gracious and in the moment as if she was just starting her day.
I’ve tried to recite everything as accurately is I can. I am a stickler for quoting, and I do NOT like to misrepresent or over-exaggerate what occurred (call it my Journalism Ethics class I took whilst in college). I feel like I actually earned my journalism degree last night. LOL!
And in a film about the reporter getting the story right, I thank KM for allowing – and contributing – to an opportunity for me to write one of my own.
Fitting.
As it should be.
Pictures:
KM Solo (thanks to her for this)
Q&A 1
Q&A 2
Q&A 3
And SPECIAL thanks for sharing everything with us!! ;D
