Pony: Q&A for Noah Baumbach
9.15.2005

Kato and I went to seeThe Squid and the Whale on Tuesday night, as part of the film festival. It was written and directed by Noah Baumach, one of her favourite screenwriters, so when he showed up, she emitted a very cool and subdued squeal of glee (I also get really nervous around good writers, but not around celebrities).

The film itself told the story of two teenaged kids (one around 16, one just hitting puberty) and their two very flawed and mismatched parents (Jeff Daniels and Laura Linney) who call a family conference to announce they are getting a divorice and doing "joint custody" with the kids. The acting was truly great, with surprising performances by the kids.

At the end of there was a Q&A with the adult actors and Baumbach on stage. I hate Q&A's. I have questions I am too terrified to ask. I am terrified that someone is going to ask a brutal question. I get embarrassed for the whole process.

But maybe that is my own neurosis. After the film, K and I walked our bikes down university, telling each other the questions we wished we had asked.

Me: "I noticed there was no obvious redemptive moment for the characters in the film. Was there ever a version of your script that contained them?"

Kate: "How did you know when to end the story?"

Me: "How do you go about directing a child actor with harsh language and sexual situations? Was it awkward? Did you bring in his parents?"

Kate: "What's it like to write a film with four lead characters? "

Me: "This question is for Jeff Daniels - was it liberating to be cast as a prick?"

Kate: "Is it a vulnerable or liberating experience to write about events in your
own life?"

Me: "I assume that your parallel experience was as the oldest son, is that true?"

Kate: "How did you choose the look of the film?"

Me: " I know this is such a lamo question, but how did your folks react to this? Are the parallels that obvious? Do you guys even talk anymore?"

Kate: "What's your next script about?"

Me: "I don't like it when people chew gum when they are doing Q&A. You might not know this, but it looks a bit cocky. That is not a question. Otherwise, I loved sitting down for 88 minutes and being told such a well-crafted, well-acted story. I love the fragililty of this story. I love that there was neither a neat epiphany nor a bleak non-ending. I wish there were more movies like this. Please write more of them."

(Baumbach also wrote this hilarious article "My dog is Tom Cruise" that was getting passed around this summer.)

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