PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA, THE: AMERICAN MASTERS: WOODY ALLEN: A DOCUMENTARY PREMIERE SCREENING AND PANEL {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in a series of evenings and special screenings presented at the Paley Center for Media. Held at the Paley Center in Los Angeles, this evening celebrates "American Masters: Woody Allen: A Documentary," one in the series that explores the lives and achievements of America's most celebrated artists and performers. This two-part episode is about Woody Allen, the comedian, writer and director who has earned 23 Oscar nominations so far for his films. Host Rene Reyes (director of public programs and festivals, The Paley Center for Media) offers opening remarks and briefly discusses director Bob Weide and his other works, including documentaries and the show "Curb Your Enthusiasm." Weide then takes the stage and introduces the first half of the episode which is then screened in its entirety. (For synopsis and credits, see ACCNUM 107233.)
After the screening, Reyes introduces moderator and filmmaker F.X. Feeney, who takes the stage with Weide. The conversation touches on such topics as: meeting Allen through his work on a Marx brothers documentary; the very long process of convincing Allen to permit a biography about himself to be made; his eventual cooperation in 2008; the "good feelings" about working with Allen as voiced by his actors and associates; Diane Keaton's reluctance to participate and share private stories; Allen's lack of restrictions on the documentary and very occasional objections to the use of certain scenes from his films; how his films reflect his own life but are not "literally autobiographical"; Weide's lifelong "research" on Allen, as well as his other heroes, as immortalized in his documentaries; the challenge of "slogging his way through" endless hours of footage and editing it down; Allen's ability to "say no to everything," in contrast to the beginning of his career; his avoidance of ADR, or additional dialogue recording, and preference to reshoot an entire scene with unclear lines; and Allen's lack of social skills and avoidance of everyday "chit-chat."
Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following topics: an abandoned documentary of Allen's called "Mothers" featuring interviews with his own mother and then-partner Mia Farrow's mother Maureen O'Sullivan; Weide's process of finding and using the footage in his own film; Allen's "idea drawer" and how he chooses his next project; his exceptional work ethic and multitasking skills; his first wife Harlene Rosen and her total avoidance of interviews about Allen; Weide's lack of close friendship with Allen, in contrast to his becoming "like family" with author Kurt Vonnegut after his film "Kurt Vonnegut: American Made" (2012); Allen's genuine surprise at the audience's interest in the details of his life; the assistance of reporter Morley Safer in providing rare behind-the-scenes footage of Allen on set; Allen's surprise at the strong public reaction to his affair with and marriage to his former stepdaughter Soon-Yi Previn; his dislike of his own film "Manhattan" (1979) despite its strong critical acclaim because of its lack of precision to his original idea; his fondness for reshoots and the difficulties of reassembling an all-star cast; his 1989 film "Crimes and Misdemeanors" and desire to focus on the dramatic plot over the comedic; his 2005 film "Match Point" and its similarities to themes in "Crimes"; his running themes in multiple films; whether ex-wife Mia Farrow contributed to the documentary; his continuing praise for her despite the scandal; his "detached" nature and ability to ignore criticism and gossip; and his film "Bullets Over Broadway" (1994), made in the midst of his divorce and custody hearings.
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: November 10, 2011 6:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 2:37:43
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 106992
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Rene Reyes … Host
- F.X. Feeney … Moderator
- Robert B. Weide … Guest
- Woody Allen
- Mia Farrow
- Diane Keaton
- The Marx Brothers
- Maureen O'Sullivan
- Soon-Yi Previn
- Harlene Rosen
- Morley Safer
- Kurt Vonnegut