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05-01-03
Eric Byler's award-winning feature film "Charlotte Sometimes" begins its theatrical run on May 2 in Chicago. And even though I live in New York City, I'm going online tomorrow to buy a ticket for the Friday matinee. And if you're a fan of subtle storytelling, a student of digital filmmaking, or a supporter of Asian American media, I cordially invite you to do the same. For three big reasons:
1. Subtle Storytelling
In a world in which even independent film is often overwhelmed by the formulaic dictates of corporate entertainment, a darkly subtle, character-driven drama like "Charlotte Sometimes" is a rare treat.
"Charlotte Sometimes" tells the story of two couples who become enmeshed with each other's emotional and sexual lives over several days and nights of talking, drinking, flirting, fighting, and lovemaking. Our strong, silent hero Michael (Michael Idemoto) takes care of his family's car repair business while repressing his infatuation with his downstairs neighbor Lori (Eugenia Yuan), a pretty young thing who likes to follow loud, enthusiastic sex with her boyfriend Justin (Matt Westmore) with platonic snuggling with Michael. Unable or unwilling to act on his attraction to Lori, Michael is shocked out of his passivity by the arrival of Darcy (Jacqueline Kim, nominated for a 2003 Independent Spirit Award for her work), a mysterious stranger whose dangerous sexual vibe threatens to blow everyone's emotional cover.
Byler's script implies rather than describes, refusing to spell out every piece of the film's plot and backstory. But Byler and his actors know exactly what their characters' emotional lives are all about - they play each scene for emotional truth and the result is alternatively funny and harrowing.
The film's measured pace and Michael's slow burn may try the patience of some viewers while Darcy's sexual destructiveness and the film's disturbing climax may distress others. But for viewers hungry for a different vibe, "Charlotte Sometimes" is your ticket. Roger Ebert, singling the film out for praise at the Hawaii Film Festival, writes, "Uncannily realistic, fascinating and illuminating. Written, directed and acted with the penetrating shorthand of a short story. This is a relationship picture that plays like an emotional thriller."
2. Smart digital filmmaking
"Charlotte Sometimes" should be required viewing for all digital filmmakers trying to tell emotionally complex stories on a shoestring budget.
Byler has hit the low budget filmmaker's aesthetic home run by crafting a deceptively simple story shootable on digital video in a handful of locations with a handful of actors. And working with cinematographer Rob Humphreys, Byler achieves a naturalistic but handsome visual look, making great use of shadow and darkness to reinforce the movie's emotional themes of distance and disconnection.
Eschewing the common no-budget strategy of giving every story the shoot-from-the-hip "Blair Witch" treatment, Byler's found the aesthetic his film requires and makes it work as a digital film. Filmmakers, aspiring and experienced, shouldn't miss it.
3. The Asian American thang
Full disclosure: I'm an Asian American filmmaker with great hopes for the eventual theatrical success of my own feature film, "Robot Stories." So I have a deep and abiding interest in the success of every Asian American feature. But I'm particularly interested in the success of "Charlotte Sometimes" for two reasons.
First, the success of "Charlotte Sometimes" would have tremendous impact on the financial viability of Asian American feature filmmaking. "Charlotte" is the first Asian American feature to have a theatrical release in the wake of Justin Lin's awesome MTV-distributed hit "Better Luck Tomorrow." Which means that by supporting "Charlotte," we now have an opportunity to turn the BLT success story into the Asian American film success story.
When "Joy Luck Club" did incredible business ten years ago, doors didn't open up for other Asian American film projects - the movie's success was seen as unique. The same story could be told about "Better Luck Tomorrow" if we fail to support the next few Asian American films hitting theaters.
But if "Charlotte Sometimes" sells out in every city it plays, Indiewood and Hollywood will begin to internalize the fact that there's a real audience for Asian American films. Which means more Asian American films can get made and distributed.
Second, the success of "Charlotte Sometimes" is good for the aesthetic development of Asian American filmmaking. Like "Better Luck Tomorrow," "Charlotte Sometimes" expands the range of Asian American storytelling by depicting characters who struggle with more than the expected immigrant or racial identity issues. But the two films have entirely different themes and flavors - while "Better Luck Tomorrow"'s deadpan voiceover and visual verve seem inspired by Scorcese's "Goodfellas," Byler cites the influence of character-driven 70s movies like "Five Easy Pieces" and "Carnal Knowledge."
This diversity is, of course, fantastic: good for filmmakers' growth and good for audiences' enjoyment. Buying a ticket for "Charlotte" will help this diversity in Asian American filmmaking to continue to thrive.
So there you have it - my three reasons for buying my ticket this weekend. You might not agree with all of 'em. But if even one of my points resonates with you, check out the cities where the movie's playing and tell your friends to go see it. And if you're really convinced, click here to buy your own ticket for this weekend's screenings in Chicago (the listing for "Charlotte" should be listed there on Friday). The better the film does in this opening weekend, the more attention it'll get and the better its chances of expanding its run to more cities.
Finally, don't forget that "Better Luck Tomorrow" is still in 400 theaters around the country. Get out there and see it!
Many thanks, and see ya at the movies!
Below are comments transferred over from the old site. Enjoy, and feel free to post your own thoughts! -- Editor
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Name: HyperFlip
E-mail: mutntclown@aol.com
Web Page: BAMP
I agree with Greg. I am very excited over the success of these filmmakers. As AA filmmakers we need to support these films and asside from that, these films rock. It just seems so nice to have the choice of seeing more then one AA film in mainstream theaters with AA actors and such. Its a very good time to be an AA fi
05/11/03 17:22
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Name: john
Web Page: fragments
As Greg points out, the force of the film is 'implied rather than described.' race and sexuality are powerfully dealt with in a remarkably subtle way. Hemmingway argued that a story should be like an 'iceberg'--that the action, like the tip of the iceberg, should not assume that it's all that is going on-- and imply the great depth and volume of the iceberg below the waterline. 'charlotte sometimes' doesn't just do this with the action, but social issues in general. when the film touches on an issue, it doesn't seem like it is pointing out an exception, but a negative disparity or POV that is common and part of the general American cultural perspective. What's also great about Eric Byler is his commitment to Asian American cinema. At a presentatin at Columbia College in Chicago, he responded to one audience member by stating that even if CS doesn't make a lot of money, he will 'continue making Asian American films until they realize that Asian Americans can make good films.' This is a quality film, Eric is an excellent director, and people should watch the film for at LEAST Greg's three reasons.
05/04/03 19:57
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Name: Ravi
E-mail: rchandra@stanfordalumni.org
Kudos, Greg, for your continuing support of quality API filmmakers! I loved Charlotte Sometimes, and am gathering many friends to come out on May 9th! Eric, as well as the four leads - Eugenia, Michael, Jacqueline, and Matt - will be out in SF that night! BLT to CS to RS!!!!
05/02/03 20:58
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Name: Wes Kim
E-mail: wes@weskim.com
Web Page: http://www.weskim.com
Bad news--doesn't look like you can buy Chicago tickets for CHARLOTTE online. Neither MovieFone nor Fandango has tickets for sale for Water Tower Theater shows. Subsequent shows might be available, however: C H I C A G O Starts Friday, May 2nd, 2003 at Village Theaters Water Tower 175 East Chestnut, 312-274-1010 SHOWTIMES: 1:00, 3:00, 5:15, 7:30, 9:45 writer/director Eric Byler in person at evening shows: Fri. May 2nd and Sat. May 3rd S A N F R A N C I S C O Starts Friday, May 9th, 2003 at UA Galaxy 4, 1285 Sutter Street San Francisco, CA. 91409 415.474.8790 "charlotte sometimes" Bay Area Updates: http://www.manja.org/spotlight.php S A N J O S E: Opens 5/9/03 Camera 3 Theater 288 South Second Street, 408-998-3005 B E R K E L E Y: Opens 5/16/03 Renaissance Oaks Theater 1875 Solano Ave. 510-526-1836 L O S A N G E L E S: Opens 6/20/03 Exclusively at Laemmle Theatres H O N O L U L U: Opens 7/11/03 Wallace "Art House" Theaters at Restaurant Row Soon to be added: San Diego, Seattle, New York, Washington D.C., Boston, Miami. Check in here for updates. Wes
05/02/03 13:06
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Name: Christina
E-mail: c-tina@dmglobal.net
Web Page: christina: my life, my thoughts
Actually, he came and spoke with my class. He's amazing!
05/02/03 03:42
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Name: Jeff
Eric said he was going to be at the theatrical opening in Chicago for a couple days, so go out and greet him.
05/02/03 00:04
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Name: tim
E-mail: tim@faaim.org
you should also see it because it's a great movie!
05/01/03 21:17
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Name: Christina
E-mail: c-tina@dmglobal.net
Web Page: christina: my life, my thoughts
I completely agree with everything you said! I really want to see "Charlotte Sometimes" and ironically missed my chance when it was playing at the Santa Barbara Film Festival. I found out about it too late. I did get to see your film, "Robot Stories" and I loved it! Hopefully, "Charlotte Sometimes" will play again in a location close to me.
05/01/03 19:01
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