The 4th Annual Salem Film Festival in Oregon Continues to Draw Big Names

When I wrote about the Salem Film Festival last year for the first time, I noted its incredible growth and significance within our nation's hundreds of film festivals. While it may never compete with Sundance, Salem's festival has come close based on the amount of indie films it attracts, as well as legendary names. Rumors were rampant last year that various big-name stars starring in indie films being screened at the festival would show up in one of the classy and retro movie theaters the festival uses in the downtown section of the city. Despite some of those names ultimately not showing up, the other names that were there last year were just as significant, if perhaps more so within the production end of film. Any festival that attracts "Raging Bull" screenwriter Mardik Martin as just a start is worth its salt in getting to the core of what film is really about.

Well, when you add Salem resident and character actor par excellence Jon Heder to the mix (as part of a panel discussion last year with his brothers), you still have a lot of star quality. And those stars above that didn't show up above will probably show up in another year once the festival gains even more stature. The good word will likely spread even farther after this year's event that features more notables within the world of filmmaking--as well as a few notable actors out promoting their independent movie projects.

For aspiring filmmakers, Salem should seriously be considered the center of the universe through April. When the 4^th annual festival officially kicked off on Friday, April 17, there was already evidence to be seen in the kinds of names the festival attracts. At the indie film-centered Salem Cinema, the west coast premiere of "Once More With Feeling" was shown with its producers, Jeff Lipsky and Ruben O'Malley attending in the audience. Those names might not be readily familiar to those casual to film. To those who know the insides of the movie business, though, Lipsky is very well known if not even one of the true legends of independent cinema.

You're probably familiar with the old indie banner October Films that later went through various mergers to become (more recently) Focus Features. Lipsky founded October Films in the early 90's that eventually helped take indie film into its eventual renaissance by the middle of the decade. Some of the best-known and most Oscar-nominated indie films of the last 15 years were either distributed or directly produced through Lipsky's company before all the mergers took place. For an aspiring filmmaker or film producer, having Lipsky available at the screening of one of his latest films is invaluable. That is, if anyone can have a chance to say a word when mingling is part of the process at film festivals.

For O'Malley, he's a highly-respected cinematographer who was with Lipsky the night of the screening for "Once More With Feeling" (starring Chazz Palminteri, who didn't attend).

Speaking of cinematography, there isn't a single aspiring cinematographer in the world who wouldn't want to sit in on a Q&A with the one and only Vilmos Zsigmond. As one of the centerpieces of the festival, this event at a newly-built extension of Salem Cinema will offer that very chance to talk with Zsigmond and his friend cinematographer James Chressanthis. The latter has just as many notable credits as Zsigmond does, though a bit younger. Nonetheless, if you're one who looks for the art of cinematography in a film, you'd know that Vilmos Zsigmond has impressive and extensive credits in films going way back to the late 1960's. There isn't anybody who hasn't seen his artistic eye in films such as "Deliverance" or "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" for which he won an Oscar.

As with Mardik Martin last year, Zsigmond and Chressanthis will screen clips from their work and make comment on how they framed certain memorable scenes burned into our memories. It's really a master class you'd only see in universities or at the best-known film festivals. This alone shows how much growth the Salem festival has had just in four years.

But while all the guest appearances are part of the charm as a person walks the charming streets of downtown Salem to attend each event, it's the indie films that are at the center of importance. Some of the films being featured are west coast premieres, along with many that have been around nationally for a while but never made it to the smaller towns. As with "Once More With Feeling" mentioned earlier, the festival will feature a few more well-known names who happen to be producing or directing an indie feature. With the intentional or unintentional title of "Good Dick", the festival will feature a visit by the film's co-producer and lead actor, Jason Ritter. You probably know that he's the late John Ritter's son and has more than a slight resemblance.

In this film, Ritter acts with his Scottish production and directing partner, Marianna Palka, to create an unusual movie couple that might just make it an eventual cult classic. Palka plays a troubled girl who has a haunted past and lives alone until Ritter (as a video store clerk) takes her out of her shell. The drama is reportedly quite intense as an unusual take on a dangerous relationship that eventually goes awry.

Alongside the national indie films will be the much smaller ones done by virtual unknowns. One of the most fascinating, educational and local is "Andrus: The Mind, The Mind & The Magic" playing at the festival on Tuesday, April 21 that tells about a Oregon magician/visual effect genius that so happened to be a good friend of your humble writer's dad. Should you catch this here or on DVD, you'll learn that Andrus (who died in 2007) was on the same level of DaVinci when it came to optical illusions and other visual effects. While respected in magician's circles worldwide, this documentary should make his name and visual creations better known to the masses.
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All of this is just a starter at the festival this year, and one who attends should also take in the filmmakers' reception at Alessandro's Ristorante & Galleria located next to the legendary Elsinore Theatre in downtown Salem on April 18 and 25. Unfortunately, the 83-year-old Elsinore isn't being used for screenings this year as in the last few festivals. Nevertheless, Alessandro's next door is one classy and upscale Italian restaurant you shouldn't pass up if attending the festival or during any other time.

It's the perfect place to schmooze with those who love and make film--even if you're just a fan of movies yourself and managed to pay the festival's $125 ten-day VIP pass...

The festival's official website for more details and information on films being shown:

http://www.salemfilmfestival.com/2009/index.html