When I spoke to director James Fox about his entry (Memorial Day) at the CineVegas Film Festival, he was a bit tight-lipped about the project.
But, when I crossed paths with actress Sarah Nedwek - who stars in the film - I was able to slip the muzzle off a bit for an intriguing reveal. At this juncture, for instance, I learned that the mysterious feature with a macabre twist was somewhat experimental in nature.
More succinctly, the promotional blurb boasted a wild sort-of ride.
"Beginning as a rowdy beach weekend, Memorial Day turns to find the dark hearts of Americans who live to tape their most debauched adventures. The characters are thrust into full exposure, both physically and emotionally, to a place where self-exploitation and the exploitation of others give rise to a shocking new kind of entertainment."
Well, one that the movie-going public may not be ready for!
At the screening a handful of irate filmgoers stormed out of the Theatre in disgust.
"It was well-done," one agitated theatre-goer assured me.
"But, the images were shocking."
Another film buff argued that while the offering was a turn-off in respect to the controversial subject matter, the actors were quite competent and turned in finely-tuned performances worth catching.
Ms. Nedwek informed me that although this was her first film, she flexed her acting muscles in a number of Theatre Stage productions in recent years, which amply prepared her to get a grip on the complexities of the "Memorial Day" role.
"We did a lot of improvisation."
In fact, Fox urged his actors to go beyond the basic framework - take risks, plumb the depths of their psyches, exorcise demons, if necessary - to meet the specific demands of their characterizations.
While the director may have succeeded in accomplishing his vision, it may have been too much for a viewing audience to handle.
From Fox's perspective, the camera created a sphere of provocation wherever it went, ramping up actions, and pushing characters to a place of hyper-real catharsis.
In spite of the lofty reach - "Memorial Day" - left filmgoers at a loss for words, for the most part. In fact, many were inclined to make a quick exit from the troubling images.
Another film - "South of Heaven" - affected audiences the same way.
"Pointless violence," one criticized.
"Shocking footage of females that were degrading and upsetting, " another lamented.
Maybe Festival Director (Trevor Groth) felt that he needed to push the envelope, and go beyond the bounds of good taste and cinematic excellence, in a bold-faced effort to conjure up controversy?
Get the theatre-going public in the door at any cost?
The scheme may have backfired.
A handful of filmgoers were turned off by a number of the films that were unveiled - signaling without doubt - that CineVegas needs to re-access Festival goals.
Ignoring the obvious may result in a slip in CineVegas credibility - which, bottom line - may reflect in poor ticket sales and attendance next year.
Samuel Goldwyn once said:
"A wide screen just makes a bad film twice as bad."
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