Monday, April 8, 2013

Silly Cinema: Los Wild Ones

Wowee!!!  I just returned from a whirlwind trip to Phoenix, AZ, and boy are my....  I guess I can't use that one because we drove a rented Sentra.  The wacky wagon has provided semi-reliable transport to many of our adventures but I just didn't trust it to not konk out on the side of the highway in the middle of the desert; as the saying goes, "Ain't nobody got time for that."  

The very last thing that I needed to do was rent a car and spend any money on an adventure weekend, but Los Wild Ones, the documentary film about Wild Records, the label on which Mary is set to record this week, premiered at the Phoenix Film Festival.  Such a great opportunity to catch a wonderful film filled with familiar faces, and get a chance to explore all the wacky tacky that the greater Phoenix area has to offer, I simply could not refuse.

The film's world premier was a few weeks ago at SXSW in Austin, TX.
The poster makes me laugh because as soon as it was posted on the "Los
Wild Ones" Facebook page, Reb Kennedy, the founder of Wild Records
commented, "Can't wait to see the real poster???" and "Is this for a
 1980s Elvis movie?"  Priceless.
(Source)

Los Wild Ones - SXSW Trailer

The film centers on the complex dynamic between Reb Kennedy and the talented, young stable of musicians he has signed to his Los Angeles-based record label, Wild Records.  It addresses the paternal nature of his relationship with many of his proteges and his stubborn resistance to embrace modern media in building the label.  Covering moments of heartbreaking vulnerability and exhilarating live performance, Los Wild Ones is, at its core, a film about people earnestly pursuing the thing they love most - music.

Mary & Reb
Mary set a goal of getting her picture made in front of the "word wall,"
and danged if she didn't pull it off.  Pictures of Mary and Reb together
always end up being some of my very favorite photos.

The biggest record label of its kind, Wild Records has a somewhat dubious reputation in Southern California.  With a headstrong Irishman at the helm and a mostly-Mexican talent roster (Mary being one of the glaring exceptions), Wild Records often gets dismissed as a niche label, even within the rockabilly community.  But high-energy music and a passion for that "wild" sound has the record label thriving all over the world.  I have born personal witness to the reception Wild bands receive in Europe; one would think it was the second coming of Elvis!

Our tickets

Mary, Mr. Tiny...and David getting ready for the film to start.
Mary was especially anxious bout her part in the film - that is
a nervous smile if ever I saw one!

Mary had absolutely no reason to be nervous.  The film was a triumph and had the whole audience vascillating from fits of laughter to silent tears (in almost equal measure).  We were surprised and excited to see that Mary was one of the film's featured artists.  She felt very honored considering the wealth of gifted musicians and her relatively-recent commitment to the Wild Records label.  I was just as excited to see that even Mr. Tiny had an "if you blink, you'll miss it" moment in the film (Mary blinked).  Where is my IMDb account???

See the very top of the photo?
 One of three times that Mary got screen credit!

The screening was followed by a Q&A session with the director,
Reb and his family, and the Wild artists who were in attendance.
It was all so film festival-y.

Mary poses in the "Party Pavilion."

Mary & Elise
Elise Salomon is the talented filmmaker responsible
 for creating, writing, and directing Los Wild Ones.

There were three successful screenings of Los Wild Ones during the film festival; following the Saturday showing there was a Wild Records revue in Tempe featuring The Delta Bombers, The Rhythm Shakers, and Mary (please visit the Wild Records' website to hear more from these great acts).

The Delta Bombers

The Rhythm Shakers

Mary
(photo by M. Stadnick)

At the end of a excellent weekend, we got even more excellent news; we learned that Los Wild Ones took home the prize for "Best Documentary" at The 2013 Phoenix Film Festival!!!

Woo Hoo!!!
(photo by E. Salomon)

Congratulations to Elise, Reb, and Wild Records!!!  The film was awesome!!!  It was thrilling to see Wild Records' non-traditional family captured so truthfully and with such dignity.  A particularly poignant moment in the film was underscored by the legendary Roy Orbison; he may not have been "wild" but his impact on Reb and on Los Wild Ones was profound.

"In Dreams" - Roy Orbison


Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

p.s. We packed A LOT into less than 48 hours in Phoenix; stay tuned for more Arizona-style fun!!!  Remember, we are getting extremely close to 200 followers.  With your help we'll get there and you'll be rewarded with an exciting GIVEAWAY!!!  Thanks!

25 comments:

  1. Very much looking forward to seeing this movie in Philadelphia on Saturday! - Can't wait to show off that I know the Famous Mary S, and Mr. Wacky T. So excited for you all. Love it when good stuff happens to good people. :-)

    XO Mod Betty

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    1. Thanks MB!!! I hope you enjoy the film! Whatever you do, don't blink or you'll miss me.

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  2. That is so awesome! Mary is such a jet-setter - to think we were hanging out with her poolside in Vegas a few days ago, and she has already been to Phoenix and back since then! Can't wait to see this movie!

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    1. Hahahaha!!! If by jet-setting, you mean driving 5 hours in any direction, then she is a jet-setter. Hopefully, the movie will get a wider distribution soon so everyone can see it.

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  3. For many reasons, this post just makes me so happy. Phoenix is my hometown, number one. The festival director is my high school buddy, Jason, who puts on an awesome event every year. I've known Elise since grade school and her success is wonderful to see. I know a lot of our Phoenix friends were just bursting with pride to see this movie, and also to see it win an award at the festival. I'm so pleased that you and Mary made the trip and I'm looking forward to seeing the movie myself.

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    1. Thanks Lauren! You will be even more proud of your hometown pals after you see the film. Elise did a great job!!! I didn't get a chance to meet Jason, but he put on a great event and seemed so happy to introduce Los Wild Ones at the festival. I hope you get to see it soon.

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  4. Way to go Mary and Mr. Tiny!! Happy for your successes and may there be many more to come. We cannot wait to see the documentary. We love you guys!!

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  5. I am looking forward to seeing that film! I am happy for the Wild family :-)

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    1. I hope you get a chance to see it soon. It gives a lot of insight into the label and the Wild folks themselves.

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  6. horray for mary! and she looks great in front of that word wall! i can't wait to see what else you guys got up to!

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    1. Thanks Rae! I wasn't entirely sure how I felt about Arizona until this weekend. Spending just a couple of days in the greater Phoenix area allows me to give it the wacky tacky seal of approval!!!

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  7. How exciting! Hope I get a chance to see the film. By the way, I was on the ol' you tube and saw your performance with Mary singing your tune Wagon Wheel. So fantastic! I find myself humming it from time to time ;-)

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    1. Oh wow! Thanks Elisa! I am equal parts embarrassed and pleased. If I can get my annoying song stuck in your head, I guess my mission has been accomplished! Hahahahaha!!! Thanks again!

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  8. So, I have jumped on the "wacky wagon" and became a "follower". Congratulations to Mary on being in a "best documentary" film!

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    1. THANK YOU!!! You've made me a happy man today!

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  9. Los Wild Ones! It made me cry, it made laugh, it made me think, and it made Rock! It was worth the 6 hour drive!

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    1. Totally worth the drive! It was a great film and a great trip to AZ! Thanks for taking photos!

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  10. Congratulations to all involved! How amazing.

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    1. Thanks Elise! It was fun to see behind the scenes and then to see the finished product. Hopefully, more good things will be happening for this film in the coming months.

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  11. The film looks brilliant! Will it be coming to Europe? I've just realised my friend's son is on the same label - Jake Allen. You're in good company!

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    1. Thanks Nicole! The film is playing the US festival circuit and will surely get picked up for wider distribution at some point. Hopefully, you'll be able to see it soon. Mary is pals with Jake after meeting him here and in Europe!

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  12. Now I can say I know some real celebrities! So happy for you all and Mary and her labelmates, I really want to see this movie! Can't wait to see what all you saw in Phoenix, too--there's kitsch gold in them thar hills, I bet.

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    1. So much good stuff!!! The desert is a magical place! If we can be classified as celebrities, it would be Z-list at best, but we will be sending you the autographed headshots that you requested. Hahahahahaha!!!!

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  13. I appreciate with your this thanks for sharing with us. Its Seems looking so good and your pic so amazing.
    saarc wild wacky

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