SPECIAL MAMMA MIA! PREVIEW
AN EVENT REPORT BY GARAN GREY IN HOLLYWOOD
The screen version of the stage musical MAMMA MIA! made an early bow in Hollywood on Thursday July 10. The event was part of the Outfest film festival, at the classy DGA Theatre on Sunset Boulevard.
Advance buzz on this picture has been overwhelmingly favorable, making it one of the most anticipated movies of the year. MAMMA MIA! The Movie is based on the international hit musical phenomenon that weaves ABBA's catchy tunes into an engagingly fun story. The movie has that, plus the many talents of Meryl Streep, with Julie Walters, Christine Baranski, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgard, Dominic Cooper and Amanda Seyfried.
Outfest 2008 features a wide range of programming: from thought-provoking, to offbeat, to crazy fun (Sing-Along SOUTH PARK!). The deliberately tongue-in-cheek comic style of MAMMA MIA! was a perfect fit for Outfest. What better way to experience this fun musical than at the handsome DGA theatre, with 600 plush seats, burgundy stage curtains, and a warm enthusiastic audience?
There were two screenings, scheduled for 7PM and 9:45PM. The first screening was sold out weeks in advance, and the second had only a few seats left. The standby line for the first show wrapped around the front of the building, while the ticketholder line was arranged in a Disneyland-style switchback around a patio bar just off the lobby. At an event like this, even waiting in line can be interesting, whether chatting or just people watching. In this case, I met two men involved in one of the films scheduled in the festival, one of whom used to own several movie theatres, including the Vista.
Outside the entrance to the theatre, everyone was checked by security, who were also looking out for cameras and recording devices. The theatre itself is one of the best places to see a movie, because of its up-to-date picture and sound equipment, and its handsome theatrical design.
Is shouldn't surprise anyone to learn that burgundy and gray is our favorite color scheme for a theatre, and here it works very well. This theatre is stylish, sleek and classy. An attractive, theatrical atmosphere that doesn't distract at all when the lights go down. A state-of the art sound system, that is heard, but not seen. The technology is all there, but all you see is a very handsome theatre. When the lights go down, all you see is a very good picture. Note to exhibitors who think a "black box" is the ideal way to see a movie: Look at this place.
Unfortunately, when we arrived, we found the curtains open, because Outfest had a sideshow of advertisements running on the screen. I suppose they have to acknowledge their sponsors, but I would have preferred them to hand out a program with ads in it, and let the theatre look like a theatre. The place was packed; the audience was mature, polite, mostly ranging from 30 to 50, and about 60% more attractive than the normal movie crowd.
It took longer than expected to load in the audience, so the show began late. There were the obligatory announcements that ran a little too long, and then a surprise guest was introduced. Amanda Seyfried, (pronounced "SY-Frid") who plays Sophie, the young lead in the film, ran up to the podium. Dressed in a plain white top and shorts, with no makeup, she looked very young. With genuine enthusiasm, Amanda said she had the best time of her life making the film, and that you can see the other actors did too. She also thanked and praised her managers, indicating that they had something in common with much of the audience. Anyone who didn't already find her charming when she started talking, thought she was adorable when she was done. She got a big hand, and probably won some new fans that night.
A tabloid gossip item has appeared on the internet, claiming that some people were disappointed when Amanda didn't do expected "red carpet" or "meet and greet" interviews, and that some felt "snubbed" by the young lady, but the story ignores the facts. I can tell you there were no expectations. It was known days in advance that this was to be just a simple screening, no red carpet or meet and greet were planned. Amanda volunteered to introduce the film, and she was very warmly received.
Finally, the lights went down and the curtains opened - to a blank screen. Instead of the feature, there were several promos for the festival, and a mildly amusing Absolut commercial, with so much blank space between them that we wondered if something went wrong. By the time the feature hit the screen, it was at least 30 minutes past the scheduled start time.
We can't necessarily blame the DGA operator for exposing a blank screen. Studio suits are usually unenlightened about showmanship and what curtains are for, and projectionists are often instructed not to let the studio's opening logo play on any part of a curtain. As for the long pauses between festival promos, they were projected from a digital or video source, so it's more than likely they were all put together in advance, and the projectionist could only play them and make sure they looked nice on the screen. The fact that this theatre has its own dedicated projectionist puts it in a more elite class than most cinemas.
MAMMA MIA! The Movie, filled the full width of the gently curved DGA screen. Often when you see a movie in a cinema these days, you think "well the screen could be a bit bigger." Not here. The picture itself was bright and clear, and the sound was full, without being too loud. The fact that it's possible for sound to be satisfyingly full without being too loud, should be explained to everyone who handles the sound for movie and concert venues. (and apartments! - ed) The audience was warmly responsive, laughing and applauding in all the right places. People may have been singing along, but since the movie has background vocals in the surround track, they would have just blended in.
At the second show, a big section of unclaimed seats held for Universal Pictures opened up, allowing the standby line (and me) to get particularly good seats. After repeating the announcements, one of the young "stag" men in the movie's male chorus (seated behind me) was introduced, and got a nice hand from the audience. Although there were a few empty seats this time, the movie got an even more enthusiastic response from the second crowd.
The musical numbers were very well received, especially "Dancing Queen" which got an ovation that lasted into the next scene. The show's sing-along finale is partially transferred into the movie's closing credit sequence, where inexplicably, the shots onscreen don't match the lead actors' names as they appear. Huge applause for Meryl Streep, big for Julie Walters Christine Baranski, Amanda Seyfried, Colin Firth, and costume designer Ann Roth.
Having seen the stage show a few times, I have some quibbles with the picture, but i want to see it again anyway... It's pure, happy fun! I can't imagine a better film to present in a sing-along version, and I'll be shocked if there isn't one by the end of the summer. I'd be among the first to go.
Outfest has been a success for 25 years now, with programming throughout the year, as well as their annual festival. You can find details about the schedule on their website: Outfest.org
Update 7/26/08: Having just seen this same movie at AMC's Century City 15 in LA, We can tell you the difference between the sound and picture from the DGA to AMC is like the difference between being at a live performance and watching a VHS tape on a portable TV. This place can definitely spoil you. We're sure that having a professional projectionist paying attention to details makes as much difference as the superior equipment.
- Garan Grey
For ticket questions, call the Outfest Boxoffice at 213-480-7065.
More information on Directors Guild of America's great DGA Theatre One
Discuss this and other great movie events on Cinema Sightlines message boards.
Event Text © 2008 by Garan Grey; Theatre Text by TJ Edwards
Movie Images © Littlestar/Universal
Photos by TJ Edwards, thanks to Ron of the DGA Theatres