Chance Premiere @ Sidewalk 9/22

[maudmac]

Can I just point out that this video absolutely sucks? The quality is truly, truly terrible. But you can hear some of Amber's interesting comments. I like the one about manipulative storylines, but that's just me.

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NO MORE SYMBIOSIS JUST PSYCHOSIS---CONSOLIDATED

[theatremouse]

xita, you are my new goddess!

Willow: It's horrible! That's me as a vampire? I'm so evil and... skanky. And I think I'm kinda gay.

[kpmuse]

Quote:

---

"I’m gonna be doing a film in October. I’m not 150% sure yet but it looks good for it. Another gay themed thing. [audience appreciates this news] I know. That seems to be my thing. [laughs] "

---

Oh thank God it's her thing



Thanks for the transcript, thanks for the video and thanks for those adorable pictures!

Tara or nothing.

Tara & Willow Love Forever

[tommo]

Ah, thanks for the transcript. Nice to know what's been said and such. I really liked the way that Amber tried to involve her crew in the discussion. And also, I notice that she kind of deflected questions about Buffy, which, given the context, was really nice of her because she wasn't offensive or anything, but just kept in mind that Chance was the discussion topic. Excellent. So very talented and gracious.

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"I feel like I've been split down the center and half of me is lost." Yeah Willow, I know exactly what you mean...

[TwiLightJoy]

Hey I finally was able to check the caps - thanks so much for everyone who went ... all the info you got us and I'm sooo happy you got to meet up with other kitties and all that, Kitties are fun! So yeah, I finally checked the caps and I was speaking with tk at the time, said to her "James looks really good with a shirt on." *laughs* Okay I have to take off ... the video is fairly uncooperative so I'm gonna close my explorer windows. Maybe that will help. Later!



~Joy

Joy: The shapeshifter scared the poo outta me when it first came on!!!!!
tk: this whole speech about going back..wayyyyy back, to the beginning
Joy: the real beginning ... hopefully not the movie....

[katydid]

Thats for the transcription. Even being in the front row right in front of the mic...I missed some things. I usually missed all the questions and just had to gauge the question by Amber's answer. Woo hoo.

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She practically had genuine molded plastic stamped on her ass.

[Chewster]

Thanks alot for the video Holley/Xita, as I missed the symposium by a matter of an hour or so. I shall sit and digest the contents over the next few minutes.



Thanks also for the transcript SuperZonic. It cleared up a few things that I missed through my laughter and that of others. (not to mention alot of camera flashing, whirring, clicking and beeping.) Did someone mention that there was a recording of this? Complete with the camera noises no doubt.

Paul


----------------

[famer]

Very happy to read she's probably got an (independent?) gay film starting in October!



If it's gay themed enough, it'll be picked up by the lesbian and gay film festival circuit, distributor or no (resulting in some chatter/word-of-mouth or critical acclaim). In fact, if it's appropriate and not too expensive, I'll pick it up myself for the one I usually organize!



As for Chance, I can't wait to see it -- dammit. I'm thinking about writing Herland -- the Women's Film Festival in Calgary -- to ask them to consider it for their fest.

Edited by: famer at: 9/28/02 8:33:58 am

[reyjawk]

Thanks for the transciption. I didnt realize how long it was. It all went so fast. It was like the movie, the Q&A were over in 15mins. She was there answering the first question then you blinked and it was over. Thanks again.



Thanks Holley for the video. Since we were still at work when that was going on we couldnt of made that. I am going to sit down and watch it.



Amber has the best laugh, doesnt she?



Toni

[Chewster]

Oh yeah Toni, is there a thing not to love about Amber? Hmmmm... well some might say the coat but I never actually minded it at all. *controversy mode off*



Since Toni hasn't mentioned it herself, does anyone have a picture of the hug she got from Amber - which Chris couldn't get due to camera malfunction?



Well okay anyone out there might not know who Toni is... but I know a few kittens were sat right next to the stage when that happened (and that one of those (like me) did not get it) but if you have a picture of a person getting a hug and you know it is Toni, or don't know who it is... please let her know! I mean wouldn't you want your picture of an Amber hug?



Apologies Toni if that is embarassing but I figure it is worth it if you track that picture down.

Paul


----------------

Edited by: Chewster at: 9/29/02 1:31:55 pm

[reyjawk]

Thanks Paul! That was too sweet. Yes I am dying for that picture. I have just been to shy to ask for it. Yes me shy. I know you wouldnt believe it, but when it comes to Amber I am really shy and hesitant. Well except when I am asking her for a hug. Still cant believe I went thru with that. You are too nice a guy Paul.



As for the coat...I like it. And a friend of ours made an interesting observation. He pointed out that it looked like a Dr. Who coat. Not one that Tom Baker wore but one that another character on the show wore. I just thought that was a neat catch. Chris says it was similar to the one Romana wore.



Personally, I have always thought it was more of a Paddington Bear coat. Just not a the same color. That just maybe me...



Toni

[AmberBensonRockzMyWorld]

Hey All...Thank you all for posting the pictures, videos, transcriptions, and all the reports...you guys all kick major butt. Uhm...I'm looking for some cool quotes from the movie to put in my AIM profile...so if you guy's can please post the quote that you loved best in the movie...or any quote you liked...Thanks and Much Love,

Lisa

Must I dream and Always see your face.~ Jeff Buckley "Last goodbye"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Recomended Reading: IttyBittyKitty's fic...
"7th Hellvan"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[reyjawk]

"I got my money...I got my money..."

- Simon character in Chance

[sheila wt]

Oh reyjawk, thanks for bringing back the memory of one of the funniest scenes of the movie...



There are so many great lines in Chance, I just wish I had a better memory... or that I could have seen it, like, 10 times maybe?

Sheila

...................................................................


“Come and put the ‘hot’ in my tub.” Tara winked as she whispered. ("Bookmarks & Broomsticks" by The Rainbow Writers)

[maudmac]

That was great! That scene! And the little dance. I think it was the dance that did it.



You know, I really liked Grant Langston's music a lot, too. I can tell because it's still stuck in my head.

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NO MORE SYMBIOSIS JUST PSYCHOSIS---CONSOLIDATED

[Jimmi Magnus]

Janice (Emma Peel) asked me via e-mail to convey a discussion that happened in the parking lot last sunday, just after the SWF Awards ceremony.



I've been breaking my mind trying to get to the point where I will be able to post just what Janice want's me to. So, let's try it.





After leaving the ceremony Janice offered me a ride back to The Redmont, so we went to the parking lot. We met the woman from Kodak, who was just out to promote her 35mm kodak product. She asked if we where filmmakers, and we said no, so she was about to turn away. Then we told her we where there to see Amber and her movie "Chance".

That got Kodak Woman's interest. She said that in her 25 years of movie-festivals (it was her job) she had never seen anything like it. And she didn't get why people where there en-masse to see Amber like that. She wanted to know what Ambers political message was. Because she had to have one, the way people turned up to se her.

I said that Amber didn't have any political message, but if she had any message it was simply "Be a nice person". I don't remember exactely what I said, concerning the fans, but it was something like: "Ambers fans come here because Amber is who she is. She is just nice, and allways take the time to be there for her fans. She cares about them. The fans come here because of Amber, not Amber Benson."

Anyway, it seemed like the Kodak Woman "got it" after my little rant.





I'm pretty sure I didn't do this justice, but I have this nagging habit of not paying to much attention to people who don't want to talk to me, when I have conveyed the message that I will not give them my money.

[emma peel]

Thanks, Jimmi. That's it. I couldn't remember the conversation very well. If I had tried to explain to the Kodak woman why Amber was important to me, it would have turned into a long, rambly rant involving Buffy,witches, lesbian lovers, the Kitten, how wonderful Amber is to her fans, Trevor, and gosh knows what else, and I know the woman wouldn't have understood me anyway.

Amber is such a class act.

Janice

Thanks again, Jimmi!!!

[vix84]

Big *hugs* of gratitude to superZONic for the transcript! It was great to be able to get an idea of the q/a sesh, and how beautiful Amber is, through words instead of pics.



Jimmy Magnus, what you just told us is really interesting. There are so many things about her that appeal to the fans, particularly that she is so down to earth, compassionate and true to herself. Despite the fame. " Amber, not Amber Benson"; you described it perfectly.

-------------------------

Alyson brought jelly beans as a gift for the local children, and those kids went nuts!
(Alexis, about their trip to Papua New Guinea)

Edited by: vix84 at: 9/30/02 6:16:44 am

[Red lover]

A friend of mine asked Amber to take this pic just for me. [Since I'm on the other side of the planet and probably won't get that close to Amber, ever. ] Anyway, hope you like.

"I get nasty when I'm horny."

[AutumnT]

Just wanted to thank everyone for the reports and videos! And what interesting news about Amber doing a gay themed film. Let's hope her character manages to live through it.

Autumn

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Buffy Season 6: It grated, like something forced in where it doesn't belong.

[MAISEY12]

Hi All,



Well Rachael and I have finally arrived back in the UK. Unfortunately, due to the bad weather, conjured up by Isadora, we never made it to New Orleans.



We weren't too disapointed though, because we got to see "CHANCE" and Amber and that was the reason we came in the first place, along with, of course, the hope of meeting lots of kitten's, which we did.



You guys are so cool, Jennifer, our room mate for the weekend, it was fun girl, let's do it again sometime. Katy, I'm so glad that you got to meet Amber, before you left. Paul, Jimmi and Chris, it was great to meet you. Toni, You gotta a hug The Ambabambas, who sat in front of us at the move, thanks for the cookies



A big thank you to Holley for arranging the Kitty dinner and for all the helpful information you sent my way. My trip was a whole lot easier because of it.



There's not a lot more that I can add, to what everyone else has already said about the movie. I quite simply loved it! Amber is just sooo talanted. I do hope that she can find a distributor, as it would be a tragedy if more people didn't get to see it.



Thank you all, for making this trip a truly memorable occasion for me.





Ann-Marie

[Populnaeus]

Toni: Hey, I'm gonna be able to get my pics developed this week,(Why? Cuz' 'I got the money! I got the money!") and if I have any of interest, esp. with you gettin' a Amberhug, I'll be sure to e-mail them to you. Oh, and Hey!



Jimmy: I'm liking what you said to the Kodak lady. Simple and to the point. Elegant even. You is one cool kitten.



Anne-Marie (and Rachel, the honorary Kitten!): Yay! You both made it back ok. I'm glad ya'll had fun, and anytime you wanna come back, just let me know.



And to Katie, Syd, Paul, Jimmy, and Toni: Um, you guys were right about some of that ff. Hey! Not the muppets, geez guys. Love and red hots, Laney

[reyjawk]

Yay for you Jimmi. You handle that way better than me. I would of been blathering and rambling that she would of thought I was completely off. I think you summed it up perfectly. Chris and I have discussed Amber's appeal quite a few times(surprised?). Basically, we think it comes down to her sincerity. She seems to be and from all accounts is a genuinely nice person. That is a rarety these days and a treasure to behold.



Laney, Yes I would love the picture of the hug if you have it! I would be most eternally grateful to you.



Puppet or muppet porn...Oh yes I have not forgotten about that. Oy Vie, I cant look at Papa Smurf the same ever again. I blush every time I think of Kermit the frog, miss piggy, and animal...



Ann-Marie and Rachel glad you made it home ok. We were worried about ya'll with Isodore washing ashore.



Toni

[Tara22]

Thanks for the transcript and video all! (regardless of the queality, I actually get to hear her )

Tara: Every time I... even when I'm at my worst, you
always make me feel special. How
do you do that?





Willow: Magic

[helpful information perha]

looks like the Sidewalk festival was a major success (thanks to amber )



the sidewalk website is looking for pic's etc from people who attended (perhaps they would host the video of amber?).

www.sidewalkfest.com/





This piece (below) was written by Bob Carlton bcarlton@bhamnews.com



ticket and merchandise sales were up about $20,000 from last year!



perhaps we should send a few emails to him telling him how much we liked the movie Chance, if it stands a chance for a distribution deal and asking him for an indepth piece on amber/Chance?



www.al.com/movies/birming...137910.xml



Sidewalk could be Birmingham's coolest festival



Last weekend, we went to a film festival and a party broke out. Lots of parties.



It's all kind of a blur now, but let's see, there was that filmmakers' reception Thursday night, that "Sweet Home Alabama" soiree Friday night, that after-hours gig Saturday night, that champagne brunch Sunday afternoon and that awards ceremony/wrap party Sunday night.



Maybe they should rename it the Sidewalk Moving Party Festival instead.

No wonder these out-of-town filmmakers love Birmingham so much. Not only do they get to show off their pictures to a new audience, but for three days and four nights, they get to party around the clock.

And, oh yeah, in between all the other festivities, there was this little thing called the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival, a little film festival that just keeps getting bigger and better.

Despite a few hundred no-shows and the absence of star Reese Witherspoon, the Alabama Theatre was sold out for Friday's opening-night screening of "Sweet Home Alabama." The crowd of about 1,800 was Sidewalk's biggest ever for a single show.

Another 700 or so showed up at the Alabama for the Sunday-afternoon premiere of Birmingham girl and former "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" star Amber Benson's "Chance." That same day, the Carver Theatre was packed for "Shalom Y'all."

All throughout the weekend, there were healthy crowds at the Summerfest Cabaret, the Blockbuster Film Lounge and the WorkPlay Theatre, too. Total attendance for all films was about 10,000, also the best in Sidewalk's four-year history.

And in the all-important revenue department, ticket and merchandise sales were up about $20,000 from last year.

Clearly, Sidewalk has arrived, and on the be-there-or-be-square scale, it may soon replace City Stages as Birmingham's hippest festival.

I say that because on Saturday afternoon, I ran into a local musician who's played City Stages maybe a half-dozen times but whom I've never seen at Sidewalk before. "I want to make films now," he said. "This is much cooler than City Stages." Heard the same thing from a longtime City Stages volunteer later that night, too.

That's not a knock on City Stages as much as it is a compliment to Sidewalk. And to Birmingham.

Since that first year in 1999, Sidewalk has grown a little each year without growing too fast.

Two years ago, organizers wisely made the move from the spring, when there's a festival every weekend, to the fall, when the weather is not only cooler but the events calendar is not nearly as crowded.

This year, though, was Sidewalk's big coming-out party.

Although the Hollywoodized "Sweet Home Alabama" didn't fit in with the type of edgy, artsy, indie films you expect from Sidewalk, it was another smart move that brought in a broader audience that might otherwise have stayed away.

(For an encore next year, maybe Sidewalk planners will land an opening-night premiere of Tim Burton's "Big Fish," which starts filming in the Montgomery area in January.)

The addition of the "pre-screenings" on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights leading up to the festival weekend was another stroke of genius. They not only gave Sidewalk fans a chance to see some of the films ahead of time, they also helped get the buzz going early.

However, the best thing about this year's festival, was that, even more than in past years, there was a real sense of a film community at Sidewalk, an energy that made downtown Birmingham a happening place to be.

Between films, festival-goers sipped coffee at G, the cool, new restaurant at One Federal Place, and hung out and talked movies in the "cyber loft" upstairs. Across the street from the Alabama, they were lined up out the door of the Lyric Hot Dog & Burgers.

And after hours, of course, they partied like rock stars.

Bob Carlton's movie column appears Fridays in The Birmingham News. His e-mail address is bcarlton@bhamnews.com.

[Rally]

Quote:

---

they were lined up out the door of the Lyric Hot Dog & Burgers

---

Yes lined up outside the door, hmm hmm, for fine cuisine such as this:

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Well officially, of course, I have to say that I have no idea what you're talking about.

[kbk3022]

Hey, I had a ham sandwich there, it was very good. Plus, they had really good sweet tea.



Kasey

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"You should come around here on Halloween,
you'd really see something then...
we all jump off the roof and fly."

[Rally]

We had to eat there because there was no place else to eat.



Normally I would have gone for the hot wings, but someone has some serious hot wing issues they need to work through.

------------




Well officially, of course, I have to say that I have no idea what you're talking about.

Edited by: Rally at: 10/1/02 8:39:00 am

[kbk3022]

Yes, we too ate there because there was nowhere else to eat. But, it wasn't too bad, and they had booths and the air conditioning was on, to cool us from the heat before the rain.



Kasey

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"You should come around here on Halloween,
you'd really see something then...
we all jump off the roof and fly."

[SisterDebMac]

Hey everyone. I was also very impressed with Grant's music for the film. I emailed him about the songs Sunday night. He wrote back and said, so far none of them are available on CD or for download, except one --- The Real Man. That was the one with the line about, "all you want is a good, hard f---". I think it's the one he sang on Chance's bed. You can download several of his songs by going to his website.



He's a super nice guy. Said Amber invited him to Bama but he had a gig so he couldn't come. He was delighted to hear that we all liked his music and did not want to shoot him for singing on camera like they shot Jonathan Richman in "There's Something About Mary". He said he hopes to get the Chance songs online soon. Keep visiting his site and thanks to everyone for taking an interest.



Just thought ya'll might like to know that.



www.grantlangston.com/