The quiet gem of a film, Man in the Chair, directed by Michael Schroeder and starring Christopher Plummer and Michael Angarano, has been officially selected for the 22nd Santa Barbara International Film Festival in competition for Best Independent Film, which will take place January 25 – February 4, 2007; and has been also selected to appear in the Generation Section (out of competition) of the 57th Berlin International Film Festival, which will take place from February 8 – 18, 2007.
Tribeca Film Festival presents "One Last Thing"
Loews 68th Street Theatre, NYC 4/27/06
04/27/2006 - Michael Angarano - Fifth Annual Tribeca Film Festival - One Last Thing Premiere - Loews 68th Street Theatre - New York, NY © Janet Mayer / Photorazzi
'Man in the Chair' is an original screenplay, written and directed by Michael Schroeder, whose most recent works were primarily low budget genre features and commercials. The film was lensed by cinematographer Dana Gonzales who worked on Tony Scott's film, Deja Vu in New Orleans as a camera operator.
It is a hybrid of a story, part buddy movie and a coming - and ending - of age tale. There is a powerful chemistry between the two leads, Michael Angarano, recently seen in 'The Lords of Dogtown as Sid, and legendary actor Christopher Plummer, who called his agent at ICM after reading a copy of the script, agreeing to play the part of "Flash Madden", a broken down, alcoholic gaffer (term for set electrician) retired and living in the Motion Picture Retirement Home in Calabasas, California. It is also one of the better films I saw in 2006.
Santa Barbara International Film Festival is into its 22nd year, and continues to line up impressive films, informative panels, and celebrity tributes featuring the best and brightest in the industry. This year's festival runs from January 25 through February 4, 2007.
The 2007 Festival will honor actor Will Smith with the prestigious Modern Master Award for his career accomplishments, including this year's The Pursuit of Happyness, on Saturday, January 27 at the Arlington Theatre.
Former Vice-President Al Gore and Director Davis Guggenheim will receive the Attenborough Award for excellence in nature filmmaking for their acclaimed film, An Inconvenient Truth. A screening of the film will accompany the award presentation on Friday, February 2, also at the Arlington Theatre.
Forest Whitaker will receive the Riviera Award for his performance in The Last King of Scotland, and Helen Mirren is the recipient of the Outstanding Performance Award for her role in The Queen.
In addition to the tributes, the Santa Barbara Festival will present over 200 feature films, over 50 short films, 6 Sidebar programs, 5 Panel discussions, several "Conversations with..." interviews, the 10-10-10 Student Screenwriting and Filmmaking Competitions, and free "3rd Weekend" screenings after the festival wraps.
More information on the Santa Barbara International Film Festival can be found at www.sbfilmfestival.org .
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