IFC Press Release on 'And Everything is Going Fine'

Here is the recent press release from IFC (I got it Nov. 15, 2010):
Official Selection: Edinburgh Film Festival, Slamdance Film Festival, True/False Film Festival, SXSW Film Festival, Hamptons Film Festival
AND EVERYTHING IS GOING FINE A Film by Steven Soderbergh Soderbergh’s Portrait of Spalding Gray, Told through Gray’s Own Performances, Opens Friday, December 10 at IFC Center
Special Screenings of Gray’s Films Presented in Days Preceding Opening
AND EVERYTHING IS GOING FINE, Stephen Soderbergh’s incisive and entertaining portrait of Spalding Gray, opens for an exclusive engagement at IFC Center on Friday, December 10. In anticipation of the opening, IFC Center will also screen a selection of Gray’s films the week of December 6, with special guests in person to introduce those shows (screening schedule to be announced November 22).
(Also special showing in LA Dec. 13th and other openings, including IFC On Demand, Dec. 22nd
See http://www.spaldinggray.com/Fine.html for complete, current details.)
AND EVERYTHING IS GOING FINE provides an intimate look at master monologist Spalding Gray, as described by his most critical, irreverent and insightful biographer: Spalding Gray. Director Steven Soderbergh, who collaborated with Gray on the film adaptation of his celebrated Gray’s Anatomy (1996), has distilled 25 years of rare and revealing footage to construct a riveting final monologue. There are glimpses of Gray’s father and of his son Forrest (who provides soaring music for the end credits), but for the most part this is an inspired one-man show, a bittersweet display of the writer-performer’s playful and embattled intelligence, his gift for tracking universal truths by looking himself squarely in the eye.
“At the very first meeting I had with Steven to discuss making the film, he said ‘I want Spalding to tell the story of Spalding,’” notes Kathleen Russo, Gray’s widow and one of the producers of the film. “After that, there was no question in my mind about anyone else directing this movie. So I handed him 120 hours of Spalding footage, which became a 90-minute documentary, all told by Spalding through the eyes of Steven Soderbergh. This is a labor of love between the director, the editor, the producers and the family of Spalding Gray—a collaboration whose main goal was to have one more story be told by one of the most unique monologists of our time.”
Spalding Gray is most celebrated for his series of 18 monologues, including Sex and Death to the Age 14; Booze, Cars and College Girls; A Personal History of the American Theater; India and After (America); Monster in a Box; Gray’s Anatomy; It’s a Slippery Slope; Morning, Noon and Night and the Obie Award-winning Swimming to Cambodia. He performed with The Performance Group and The Wooster Group, and on Broadway in plays by Gore Vidal, Thornton Wilde and others. In addition to the film adaptations of his own works—among them Swimming to Cambodia, directed by Jonathan Demme, and Monster in a Box, directed by Nick Broomfield—Gray appeared in more than 40 films, including Roland Joffe’s The Killing Fields; David Byrne’s True Stories; Soderbergh’s King of the Hill and John Boorman’s Beyond Rangoon.
89 min., not rated.
An IFC Films release.

Press screenings: Tues. Nov. 30 at 11:00am, IFC Center • Fri. Dec. 3 at 11:00am, IFC Center
To RSVP, or for information/publicity photos, contact Harris Dew at 212 924-6789
or email hdewATifccenterDOTcom

(from jb at spaldinggray.com - words in () are added by me)

Fine to open in San Antonio as well as NYC

'Fine' opens in San Antonoio, Texas, opens Dec. 10, 2010 - the link has all information available as of Oct. 26th, 2010
(no word on Kathie Russo attendance in San Antonio as NYC opening same night)
- Again note that NYC opening is same date as San Antonio:
IFC Center 323 Sixth Avenue at West Third Street,NYC - (212) 924-7771
Remember that the Spalding Gray Official website has all the latest showings, domestic and foreign:
http://www.spaldinggray.com/Fine.html

Thanks
jb
webmanager for the Estate of Spalding Gray

spaldinggray.com Mailing List Note - Oct. 10, 10

There are likely things that I forget - however for now, let's concentrate on 2 films:
1) And Everything is Going Fine
2) Paper Mache Chase (Spalding's last film)

1) The web page now has a page called Fine where everything possible to my knowledge about And Everything is Going Fine is put.
At the moment, the highlights are some articles on the Sag Harbor showing...Monday I think. Very good articles including Theo's appearance in a short film.
And most if not all international showings coming up - there are LOTS - Magnolia has done a great job of distribution
And the only other US showing that I know of is in Memphis as well as the NYC opening at the IFC theater on Dec.10th, 2010.
I could use more info on American festival showings if available.
2) now...the personal quest for Paper Mache Chase - a short film - see http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0379924/ (Spalding's last film)
I have been trying to find out about getting a copy of this for almost 6 years. I originally contacted Barbara Feinstein who produced it. She promised me a copy but then back down as she was shopping the idea as a feature. this was years ago.Further attempts to find her have failed. I found out from a European producer that she now works for a NYC talent agency. A google search (http://www.jigsaw.com/scid15710243/barbara_feinstein.xhtml) reveals that she works at

Hartig, Hilepo Agency Ltd.,54 W 21st St Rm 610New York, NY 10010-7344
USA

I emailed her but there with no response. Anyone else knowing her whereabouts, please let me know.

3) Then I found the Assistant Director through exhaustive research. She has written to the director David Jordan with as yet no response. She has provided great assistance.

I have contacted comedian Jim Gaffigan who was also in the film. He wrote back but knew nothing new.

Cynthia Nixon was also in it yet to contact her seems impossible given her fame.

4) My next step is to contact everyone who was in the film. One of the actresses with a bit part as a yoga student has asked me to find a copy as she has never had one.

So as you can see, my search has at times been relentless and will continue. Anyone wanting to help or knows anything, please let me know.

Hey, with the outstanding help of an Irish fan, we found the Black Spot in Ireland where the car accident occurred. The picture is on the page under Spalding's Ireland. There is more to come there I think. It includes an exclusive transcript of a phone interview done with Spalding from Sag Harbor after the accident with an Irish radio station. The transcript was obtained at great cost by the Irish fan. Please take special note that the transcript is exclusive and the radio station is very serious about copyrights.

That's it for now. Perhaps the shortest mailing list ever.

In Canada where I live, it's Thanksgiving. So happy Thanksgiving to the Canadians on this list.

And the almost traditional zen story from

http://www.101zenstories.com/

The Dead Man's Answer

When Mamiya, who later became a well-known preacher, went to a teacher for personal guidance, he was asked to explain the sound of one hand.

Mamiya concentrated upon what the sound of one hand might be. "You are not working hard enough," his teacher told him. "You are too attached to food, wealth, things, and that sound. It would be better if you died. That would solve the problem."

The next time Mamiya appeared before his teacher he was again asked what he had to show regarding the sound of one hand. Mamiya at once fell over as if he were dead.

"You are dead all right," observed the teacher. "But how about that sound?"

"I haven't solved that yet," replied Mamiya, looking up.

"Dead men do not speak," said the teacher. "Get out!"

So find Paper Mache Chase or "get out!" (not really - just joking - would a small prize be an incentive? Remembering that previous prizes have yet to awarded due to the chaos in my office and the stroke I had somewhat conveniently helping forget what the contest was even about, let alone the winners...)

jb

Oh, yes, thank you for the people who signed the petition to bring back Trying Times (fantastic PBS series with Spalding doing one show). I thought I might have an in as the head of PBS programming happened to have the same name as me. I and another fan had done exhaustive research trying to find existing copies of the series which were reportedly burned in a fire. We did find most episodes. Alas when I went to contact him, my namesake had gone back to his old job.This project continues. And yes to my friend in Boston with PBS connections, please proceed with your attempts. This is another one that won't go away for me.

So many projects, so little time or is it vice-versa...

take care
jb

ps: not that affiliate income now got to PS122 at the request of the Estate.

And Everything is Going Fine in Memphis, TN
at Indie Memphis Film Festival, Oct. 21 - 24, 2010
as of Oct. 6th, details were still vague - check back on spaldinggray.com or festival website

International showings of And Everything is Going Fine

INTERNATIONAL SHOWINGS of And Everything is Going Fine as of Oct. 3rd, 2010
(Please check links for festival updates as some status is SUBMITTED = not yet confirmed,
PASSED means submitted but not accepted)
Thank you to Magnolia Pictures and the Estate of Spalding Gray for their work and information

Filmfest Munchen (Germany) June 25 - July 3, 2010 - ACCEPTED
Deauville Festival of American Cinema (France) September 3 - 12, 2010 - SUBMITTED
Batumi International Film Festival (Georgia) September 15 - 28, 2010 - INVITED
Cologne Conference (Germany) September 26 - October 1, 2010 - ACCEPTED
AmFest (Russia) October 6 - 12, 2010 - ACCEPTED
Viennale (Austria) October 2010 - PASSED
Pusan International Film Festival (South Korea) October 7 - 15, 2010 - SUBMITTED
Dok Leipzig (Germany) October 18 - 24, 2010 - SUBMITTED
American Film Festival (Poland) October 20 - 24, 2010 - INVITED
Kaohsiung Film Festival (Taiwan) October 22 - November 4, 2010 - SUBMITTED
Tokyo International Film Festival (Japan) October 23 - 31, 2010 - SUBMITTED
CNEX Documentary Festival (Taiwan) October 28 - November 7, 2010 - ACCEPTED
Sheffield Doc Fest (UK) November 3 -7, 2010 - ACCEPTED
CPH: DOX (Denmark) November 4-14, 2010 - ACCEPTED
Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival (Taiwan) November 4 - 18, 2010 - SUBMITTED
Stockholm International Film Festival (Sweden) November 17 - 28, 2010 - SUBMITTED
IDFA (Netherlands) November 18 - 28, 2010 - PASSED
Epos Art Film Fest (Israel) November 24 - 27, 2010 - INVITED
Plus CAMERIMAGE (Poland) November 27 - December 4, 2010 - SUBMITTED
Dubai International Film Festival (United Arab Emirates) December 12 - 19, 2010 - SUBMITTED
DocPoint - Helsinki International Documentary Film Festival (Finland) January 25 - 30, 2011 - SUBMITTED
31º FANTASPORTO - FESTIVAL INTERNACIONAL DE CINEMA DO PORTO (Portugal) February 25 - March 6, 2011 - ACCEPTED
Off Plus Camera International Film Festival (Poland) April 2011 - SUBMITTED
Indie Lisboa (Portugal) May 5 - 15, 2011 - SUBMITTED

Oct. 1, 2010 - further details as of now on release of Fine

Scenes From A Life: Spalding Gray as Himself … and Not
- an interview with Kathie Russo about And Everything Is Going Fine - EXCELLENT
including 'opens nationally on December 10, and will continue to be screened at festivals overseas until next May'
- Spoiler alert as many scenes in the film are discussed

Fine showing in Sag Harbor

And Everything is Going Fine showings at Hamtons International Film Festival
http://www.ticketinguide.com/hiff2010/And_Everything_Is_Going_to.html?
Oct 08, 6:45PM, UA East Hampton Theater 3
Mon, Oct 11, 2:00PM UA, East Hampton Theater 3
No word if Kathie Russo will attend but given she lives nearby...
And remember, reviews are most welcome for this Spalding Gray Site - see reviews