It’s true. I kissed him. About eight years ago, while auditioning for a new Mark Borchardt film, we interacted in a scene together and I planted one square on his mouth. It was short and sweet, but all the same, the experience instantly topped my mental list of local, surreal experiences.
I’m using this smooch confession as a lede, and a cheap lede at that, to segue into the fact that "American Movie" is 10 years old, and an anniversary screening is set for Thursday, Jan. 22, at Landmark’s Oriental Theatre, 2230 N. Farwell Ave. The film airs at 7 p.m.
According to Milwaukee Film, the documentary’s main subjects, Mark Borchardt and the aforementioned Schank, will be in the audience. Both Borchardt and Schank are from Menomonee Falls.
Co-director Chris Smith will attend the anniversary release, but the other director, Sarah Price, is at the Sundance Film Festival for a movie she helped shoot, "The Yes Men Fix The World."
Originally, "American Movie" premiered Jan. 22, 1999, at the Sundance Film Festival. It earned that year’s Grand Jury award, secured a distribution deal from Sony Pictures Classics and went on to receive prizes and accolades around the world.
Following the success of the film, Borchardt and Schank became repeat guests on "Letterman," hung out at the Playboy Mansion with Roger Ebert and attracted national media to Milwaukee for interviews.
"American Movie" tells the story of Borchardt’s dream to make a movie called "Coven" and his obsessive quest for the American dream. Price believes that, a decade later, the film remains relevant.
"Humor aside, it's a story about an inspiring individual on a mission to fulfill his dream in the face of adversity," says Price. "I don't know about you, but I can always use a good dose of that."
Price co-produced a documentary music film, "Youssou N'Dour: I Bring What I Love," that is currently showing in Europe. The film will screen in American theaters this summer.
Tickets for the 10th anniversary showing of "American Movie" cost $10 each and are available at the Oriental box office or on the night of the show, subject to availability.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
