JOHN LEGUIZAMO, SHANE WEST, FRANK HENENLOTTER RECEIVE ACCOLADES AT 17TH PHILADELPHIA FILM FESTIVAL

Every year The Philadelphia Film Society takes the opportunity to award actors and filmmakers who have made extraordinary contributions to the world of cinema. This year celebrates the achievements of three individuals who continue to leave an indelible mark on the film industry.

2008 RISING STAR AWARD: SHANE WEST

Making his way from small Los Angeles stage productions to major motion pictures in less than 2 years, actor and newly christened punk rocker Shane West has spent the past decade making audiences swoon, squeal, weep and even mosh. Since his big break as the hunky teenage son of a divorce on the critically acclaimed ABC series “Once and Again”, television studios and major movie producers have made use of his chameleon-like character-actor chops in such productions as Whatever It Takes, A Walk to Remember, The League of Extraordinary Men, and the Emmy-award winning series “E.R.” With his film and festival entry What We Do Is Secret, West plays the role of The Germs front-man, the late Darby Crash. So fully absorbed in the role, West toured with the original Germs lineup and won over even the most skeptical fans with a fearlessness honed over a decade as a singer. West leaves us delighted with his accomplishments and excited for what’s to come.

Shane West will receive the 2008 Rising Star Award on Saturday, April 12, 7pm at the Prince Music Theater. The screening of his film What We Do Is Secret will follow.

(What we said about the film at LAFF 07)

WHAT WE DO IS SECRET
LA Film Festival


So, can I let you in on a little secret? You promise you won’t tell? Okay, well hear it goes. I have absolutely no interest in the LA Punk scene of the 1970s and 80s. None. Zilch. In fact, if you had told me that I was seeing a biopic about Darby Crash and the Germs, my initial response would be … who? It wasn’t until halfway through the film that I realized that this group was not a fictitious band used as part of a narrative device. Oops, somebody didn’t do his research. So, SSHHHH! Don’t tell. Well, okay, in fact you should tell. You see, that’s part of the reason why What We Do Is Secret, Rodger Grossman’s feature debut, did very little for me. I am certainly not the audience for it. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not for you, either. So, keeping that in mind, I am going to go back to a time-old technique that I was taught in fourth grade to use when discussing something that you really have nothing to say about. I can almost hear my teacher Mrs. Crouse’s singsong voice now. “Class, now remember, give two ‘positives’, and one ‘needs to work on’, all right? Begin.”

What We Do Is Secret is nothing short of a labor of love from so many people. It embodies the whole spirit of independent films. Grossman explained during his Q&A how the film took more than a decade to make. Production even stopped for over two years when money ran out. That was when Grossman said that he would not cut his hair until the film was completed. It’s shoulder-length, now. Grossman partnered with many of the original members of the band to ensure the truth of the work, and it is quite easy to see how much time and effort went into this project.

The cast is capable. Shane West is great as Darby Shaw. He holds the film together and is in virtually every scene. Rick Gonzalez is admirable as Pap Smear, and character actor JP Manoux practically steals the movie as radio host Rodney Bingenheimer in a scene that I was surprised to hear almost didn’t make the final cut.

My only fault with this film is I felt like I had been there before. It seems to follow the same formula as a lot of music biopics. The music sequences, which are well done and recreated, just seem to take slightly too long, and keep me from connecting to the characters. The film is well-made, but does seem to play it safe … if you can say that a film about Punk rock is safe.

But hey, you remember what I said at the beginning. This could be right up your alley. So, like all ‘secrets’, pass it on.

“Overture"

2008 ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: JOHN LEGUIZAMO

Actor, comedian, director, author. John Leguizamo’s range, ambition and passion knows no bounds. His resume boasts a breadth of roles, from popular Hollywood star (Carlito’s Way, Too Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar, Ice Age, Moulin Rouge, Spawn), daring independent (The Groomsmen, Spin, Love in the Time of Cholera, 2005 PFF hit Cronicas) and tv star (‘ER’, ‘The Killing Point’), to stage legend (‘Sexaholix’, ‘A Midsummer Nights Dream’, ‘Parting Guestures’); author (‘Pimps, Hos, Playa Hatas and All the Rest of My Hollywood Friends’) and director (Undefeated). Leguizamo is also a pillar of the Latino community and celebrated 3-time ALMA award winner. Leguizamo is one of the most versatile and multifaceted men in Hollywood, whose contributions to the industry are unparalleled.

John Leguizamo received the 2008 Artistic Achievement Award on Thursday, April 10, 7pm at the Prince Music Theater. The screening of his film The Take will follow.

2008 PHANTASMAGORIA AWARD: FRANK HENENLOTTER

Growing up a native New Yorker, Frank Henenlotter found inspiration in the exploitation and sexploitation films of the ‘60s and ‘70s. His love for the gory, offensive and seedy is a staple in his film successes including Brain Damage, Frankenhooker, The Sex Killers, and The Curioius Dr. Hump. It is, however, the film Basket Case for which Henenlotter is most noted. The ambitious filmmaker took on writing, producing and directing duties to give birth to the 1981 film, and it became a huge cult hit, proving to Henenlotter that audiences were primed to join in on the fun. After a 14 year hiatus, Henenlotter is back in 2008 with the world premiere of his latest film, Bad Biology, which is filled with plenty of nudity, unbelievable special effects and his usual band of oddly charming outsiders. Henenlotter is a man driven by an independent spirit. He brings film fans original stories with laughs, a gory creature or two and the rebellious, and a mischievous spirit that the world has come to love.

Frank Henenlotter received the 2008 Phantasmagoria Award on Friday, April 4, 9:30pm at The Prince Music Theater. The world premiere of his film Bad Biology followed.