NYCHFF Screening of Don't Go In The Woods" 11-12-2010

What a crazy night! I had been looking forward to seeing this film for months and, finally, I would get to see the entire movie on Friday, November 12, 2010 during the 9th annual New York City Horror Film Festival, founded by Michael Hein. Before heading for the Tribeca Cinemas on Varick Street, I stopped at Bubby's Restaurant on Hudson Street (Staten Island, NY reference) for dinner. Lovely, homey place with a cow outside (not a real one, but a reasonable facsimile) and the scent of applewood smoked bacon that envelopes you upon stepping inside the place. Roasted chicken club sandwich (with bacon!) with fries and an iced tea were delicious and service was friendly. Nice cloth napkins, too.  After dinner, I walked  back to the theater just a few blocks away and spied a half moon in the clear night sky. I could imagine the Bubby's cow jumping over that moon in a heartbeat (smile.)

After picking up my ticket for the 10 PM screening ( originally scheduled for 9 PM), I headed for the lounge at 7 PM to chill out and make a few calls on my cell phone. I had my photo album of the best pics from the meet and greet at Joe's Pub on July 22, 2010 that I wanted to give Vincent plus a few souvenirs I picked up at the Criss Angel Mindfreak Store in Las Vegas during my most recent trip there. I also plan to visit the Luxor Hotel again next month with a friend to see Criss Angel's "BeLIEve" show with Cirque Du Soleil. I also tucked inside a paper American flag that my brother Alberto had made for Veteran's Day.

Maybe I would see Vincent before the screening, or, after the Q&A that night. The anticipation was half the fun, not to mention, half the stress! Well, lo and behold, Vincent appeared at the lounge just after 8 PM with his family and members of the cast and crew from the film. Having spotted him outside the theater just before his entrance, I knew this was my opportunity to meet him again. After observing him chatting with various people at the bar and steeling my nerve, I finally approached Vincent with a fellow fan, Sarah, that I met earlier in the lounge. Vincent was gracious to us both and warmly accepted my gift, asking me "Mind if I flip through these first?" before looking at the photos and mementos in the book I had given him. He asked, "Is this for me?" and thanked me for the book before signing my NYCHFF program and posing for a photo with me and Sarah. We posed for another photo in the back of the lounge, where the lighting was better, but the picture didn't come out. The first one did, but it was very dark. Sarah and I spent the next two hours in the lounge while Sam Bisbee did a soundcheck for the after party concert and talking about the film DGITW. I had wanted to ask Vincent to pose again with us for one more picture, but I was too nervous too approach him again, Silly, huh? That's the trouble with social anxiety disorder, it really cramps one's style at the worst possible moments. Well, I did help Sarah out by helping her to meet Michael Hein, who was hanging out at the bar and he was nice enough to pose for photos with Sarah after offering to buy us both drinks, which we declined.

The screening to DGITW was delayed until 10:30 PM, so we stepped outside for some air, and to let Sarah make a call on my cell phone, since she didn't have one. Vincent was also outside chatting on his cell phone for awhile, and several people standing nearby were smoking, so we kept our distance.  Continuing to battle my nervousness around Vincent, we went back inside to line up for the screening. I wanted a front row seat for the film and the Q&A with Vincent and the cast, so we stood near the door to the screening room. While we were there, I met another VDO fan who recognized me from Joe's Pub and asked me if I was Billygrl. Well, we ended up on line together and sat in the front row left side. Sarah sat behind me, due to her farsightedness, so she didn't want to be too close to the screen. I, however, wanted to be as close to Vincent as possible, and to take more pics. Michael Hein appeared just after we were seated to introduce the film, preceded by several short films, and announced that Vincent was still at the bar. After the short films were screened, DGITW finally began just after 11:30 PM. By then, I was so tired and pissed that the screening had been so delayed, I realized the after party was out of the question. I would stay for the Q&A and go home. My ride home was supposed to be at midnight, but I ended up leaving at 1:30 AM.

Vincent appeared after the screening ended at 12:45 AM for a brief Q&A with Sam Bisbee and the cast of DGITW and I filmed it and took some great pics. I should have left it at that, but I decided to go back to the lounge after the screening to speak to Vincent once more and ask for another photo with him. However, Vincent was busy giving an interview at the bar and his handler, who I had not previously encountered, was the stone waller and would not permit us to even talk to him. My companion at the screening kept taking pictures of Vincent anyway, but was rebuffed when she tried to approach. Sarah had left before the Q&A and  I left the theater at 1:30 AM and caught my ride home, with bittersweet memories and some beautiful pics. I did get to congratulate Vincent on the success of his film and told him I was happy for him. I also briefly mentioned my upcoming trip to Vegas when I showed him the CA souvenirs in the photo book. I enjoyed seeing the entire version of DGITW and loved the music, so I was sorry I didn't stay for the after party, but I was pretty wiped out from the late hour and wanted to go home. I will attend the screening in NYC on November 22 at 6 PM, and will have another opportunity to meet Vincent and to ask him again about "Johnny and Me," his next film and third directorial turn. Wish me luck!

All text and photos by Billygrl copyright 2010.