Hello to all,

I have to admit, I was having mixed feelings about going to see McArthur Park. With out going into detail, crack has had an effect in my life. Not because of me doing it, but from other people doing it. So, the thought of going to see a movie about it was not too exciting. I was having such an inner turmoil going on: I was going to finally meet Billy, a dream come true, but I was going to have to see a movie that had at one time been my nightmare.

My friend and I sat down and a young man came out and introduced the movie and Billy. Billy said a couple things and went and sat back down in the theater. I sat there thinking, "God, I wonder how many times he has seen this movie." Then I thought, this is his baby. He probably never gets tired of it and probably sees it different every time. I know that I never get tired of looking at my daughter so he must feel something akin to that. Then I wondered how in the heck I was going to concentrate on this movie with Billy sitting 20 feet from me.

Let me say, right off the bat the movie grabbed my attention and held it the whole way through. One of those movies that there is no way you are getting up to go to the bathroom!!! People, this movie was so good!! I really hope that it gets distributed so that the rest of you get the opportunity to see it. There were a couple parts that hit a little to close to home for me and made me cry but for the most part, I did ok. I laughed, held my breath and at one point was clutching my head going, "No!"

The acting was incredible. I felt like I knew them and I felt for them. Which helped me a little with how I feel about the whole subject itself.

After the movie, Billy, Tyrone, Maricel and Film Editor Terri Breed came down for the Q & A. The Q & A was introduced by Kathleen Murphy the Director of Education/Special Projects for Cinema Seattle, as well as a programmer for SIFF. The first thing she asked Billy was why did he turn to directing when he has been a successful actor. He said that he had wrote/picked the ending for War Party and that he really thought that was cool so it started him thinking in a different direction than just acting.

The first 3 questions or so were positive. Billy answered some as well as passing the microphone to Tyrone. Tyrone was very open about his past and told quite a bit about his relationship with Billy. How they met and their continued relationship. He commended Billy on sticking with him and Billy said something to the effect of "sticking by people and not giving up on them".

He answered a few more questions and then a woman asked the dreaded " Don't you think your film portrays and sterotypes black people?"

Billy tried his best to answer her, but she would not stop. She mentioned she and others in her party had attend the Black Experience Forum earlier that day, ran by the festival for discussion with the film makers who were listed in the Black Experience Category. Discussion at this forum included the black community and blacks in general as to how they are portrayed in today's films, Billy and Tryone had been part of the panel.

I felt she was way off base as did the audience on the whole as to what she only seemed to see in the movie. She said that the movie only portrayed black people and that there was only one white person in the movie. Which there wasn't. There was more than that, as Billy tried to tell her the original script had about 50 characters and that he had to bring it down to the ones who were the most pertinent. She said the movie made it seem like only black people are homeless or addicted. At this point somewhat of a cat fight ensued within the audience, another woman in her party than backed the film and disagreed with her everyone clapped, the first woman was still confused about this got mad and said, "Why is everyone clapping for you?"

At this point, Kathleen Murphy asked Billy if she could have the mic and answer this question. She told the woman that she heard what she was saying, but that she picked out McArthur Park because it was a good film. Not because of the color of the characters. She said she turned down 2 other drug related movies and the characters in those movies were white.

The point is that it is a nondiscriminatory drug and can get you no matter what. Obviously what this woman failed to see was that this story had already happened. It wasn't cast, these had been real people in Tyrone's life. Tyrone is black, most of his friends were black, Billy didn't' make all that up. Thank goodness, she finally realized that she wasn't the majority and stopped.

Time ran out so everyone had to leave the theater. Tyrone came over by where we were sitting and was talking to some people he knew that he had invited.

When he was done talking to them, I flat out told him that I needed to hug him. He complied and gave me a great hug. I whispered something in his ear and he seemed to appreciate it. I felt a bond with Tyrone because of my ownexperiences and it gave me some insight into how the addict thinks instead of what I think that they think. I just really wanted to talk to him.

We went outside and Tyrone, poor guy, got cornered by the woman from the theater! He was very nice to her and still listened to what she had to say.

Billy was busy talking to people outside but it was nice as there was no one mobbing him. I met Stacy Shaak, production/director and he filmed me saying Hi to Max!!! Stacy also taped the conversation between my friend Cyndie and Tyrone regarding the whole portrayal of police officers. Stacy is very nice and easy to talk to he has been working with Billy on MacArthur Park and other projects for 9 years.

Finally, someone was trying to let them know that they needed to get on their way so that is when we got our photos taken with Tyrone and Billy. They ended up walking the same way to get our cars so we walked with them for a couple blocks, wished them luck and said good-bye.

** As far as Billy goes... He was as handsome as I imagined and more so. He almost always had an intense look on his face, but Max was right, as soon as he smiles, his whole face lights up! My stomach did a few flip flops. I wasn't as fortunate as Max to receive any hugs, just the one photo. But a day "wirth" it none the less... me and my friend then went for beer and burgers afterwards so we could sky down and recap everything. Just had to sit back and revel in the afternoon!!!

Sandy------ Seattle Film Festival 2001

built mm 6/2001

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