NOW YOU KNOW

Commentary from Ain't It Cool News and Q&A with director Jeff Anderson at Vulgarthon 2002

Opening commentary by Moriarty:

Jeff Anderson who was a last minute surprise addition to this year's fest to intro his film, NOW YOU KNOW. After the success of Day One's screenings of the film, Jeff's looking far more relaxed, confident and at ease with himself as he talks about the film he shot last year. Jeff explains to the crowd that the film isn't yet finished (he has about a month left of post to do) and what they will be seeing a work copy, meaning that credits aren't yet complete, nor is the color timed, and the music is only temporary. He also makes a promise to the crowd that if they REALLY like it and laugh, he'll get up on stage and perform his now classic "wrangler dance" he did in CLERKS. The audience cheers and shouts in anticipation of seeing that later, but for now, they're content to sit back and take in Jeff's film.

NOW YOU KNOW tells the story of Jeremy (played by "Six Feet Under's", Jeremy Sisto), who learns on the eve of his bachelor party, that his fianc?Kerri ("Boston Public's", Rashida Jones) has un-expectantly and with reasons unbeknownst to him, called off their wedding. As the unmarried couple returns home to New Jersey, Jeremy's left to ponder the big question, "Why'" all the while, trying to find comfort in his friends, Gil (Jeff Anderson) and Biscuit (Trevor Ferhmon), which he finds but not without comedic results.

In an auspicious and ambitious filmmaking debut, writer/director Anderson manages to infuse enough wit and charm in this romantic comedy to engage even the most heartless of romantics. It's a satisfyingly, warm-hearted and funny romantic comedy that's sure to please. But it's Anderson's keen dialogue and characters that help keep the story afloat and moving. His characters are rich and well rounded, particularly with his and Ferhmon's characters, Gil and Biscuit. They shine together with terrific comedic chemistry that whenever they're onscreen with Jeremy, offset his character's passiveness nicely. The supporting players also help carry the story and inspire the main characters. The ensemble cast features the likes of Todd Babcock ('Gods & Monsters'), Debbe Dunning ("Home Improvement"), Heather Paige Kent ("That's Life"), Edie McClurg ('Ferris Bueller's Day Off'), Stuart Pankin, Liz Sheridan ("Seinfeld") and Kevin Smith - all helping the film to deliver on all counts. But what's really impressive here is how first-time director Anderson has managed to pull off the nearly impossible in his filmmaking debut. He's managed to make a mainstream film OUTSIDE of the conventional politics associate with Hollywood. 'NOW YOU KNOW' has all the characters, dialogue, look and feel that rivals most Hollywood "low-budgeted" romantic comedies. All this but at a fraction of the price, which, as triple-threat Anderson expresses as having been made under "an extremely low budget," but hesitant to quote exact figures for fear that if Hollywood does indeed call upon his talents in the future, that they'll constrain and expect him to work inside similar budgets.

After the screening the audience stood up applauding and cheering the film, and Anderson's efforts, as he made his way back down the aisle and to the stage. Anderson quickly lived up to his promise and hopped onstage and performed his ever so memorable "wrangler dance" to much fanfare. Once the cheers died down, he grabbed the mic and fielded some questions from the audience as Smith sat off to the side and proudly watched Anderson play to the crowd.

Q&A with Jeff Anderson

Question: When did you finish production on this?

Jeff Anderson: We haven't finished production on this. We're still in the process and like I said, I showed it to you guys just because I kind of sit in the back and hear where you laugh and hear were you don't, and we'll tweak and make subtle changes and we should be done in hopefully about a month.

Question: When is this getting released?

JA: We're talking no release. Actually no, we raised the money through private investors and did not seek a distribution deal beforehand. A lot of scripts will try and sell it overseas or get some sort of distribution plan in place before they do it, but we raised the money through private investors - so nobody has seen this yet. So when we're done with it, we'll have a distributors screening and hopefully it'll go out like mad!

QUESTION: How was it working with Kevin Smith?

JA: He's very particular about his dialogue, but he was great. I hope to be in more of his movies.

(Jeff then turns to Kevin, mic still in hand, and says:)

JA: By the way, I enjoyed your performance in 'VULGAR' - you homo!

(Which was in direct response to a scene director Smith has in 'VULGAR' involving his character lying in bed with another man).

(The audience erupts with laughter).

Question: Where did you find your private investors?

JA: Actually two guys that are here today, that I thank every time and I'll thank 'em again, Alec and Eric - they are my executive producers. They went out beating the pavement? and I think they robbed people! Their guy was shady! As long as I make a flick, I don't know where!

(Audience laughs)

JA: No, they went out and raised money primarily not in L.A. where we did this - because L.A.'s dry - too many movies. They went out and talked people into investing in the movie.

Question: How long did it take you to write the screenplay?

JA: I wrote the script in about 2-3 months. It was the first script I'd ever wrote, so I wrote it and it sat on a shelf in my house until one night I went out and my wife at the time read the script and she liked it and I gave it to my theatrical agent and he said, "Hey, you know this isn't half bad," and we sent it out. It was over at FOX for a while and it sat there for about a year and they didn't do anything with it, so we pulled it out of there and raised the money and shot it.

Question: Where did you come up with the concept?

JA: That was kind of weird. When I originally sat down to begin writing it was going to be a script called "Fun Loving Criminals." It was going to be about these goofballs who do goofy things and ten times more, then I realized I didn't have a plot. So then I thought of the romantic-comedy angle - I don't know where that really came from - not from real life.

Question: How many shooting days did it take?

JA: We shot 18 days. We did 6-day workweeks, eighteen days. There was one night we shot 15-pages - and I was in all of those scenes.

Question: What are you doing next?

JA: I think I'm going to The Holiday Inn. 509' I know the room number. I'm there just like I said I was going there last night. No, actually I can go there tonight 'cause I don't have anything to do tomorrow, so I don't have to worry about responsibilities. Seriously, I hope this'll get out there and I'll get a chance to direct again as I've learned sooo much more after doing this, and the post process, that I think if given the chance to do it again - and I've already sort of written another script - I think I can do it much better.

Question: How did you like acting in your own movie?

JA: I liked it, but the director was an asshole! I liked it. I just wish I hadn't done such a big part. It was kind of a lot when you're on the set, and believe it or not, I did have to read the script and learn the dialogue and try to answer all the questions. It was a bit much for the first time.

JA: [ON THE SOUNDTRACK] Matt Sorum, who was the drummer for Guns N' Roses, who is now the drummer for The Cult, is composing the score. Basically we had no money and I gave him a copy of the script and he really dug it and climbed onboard. Then Matt Sorum called me up one day and said "We're gonna do a new song for the beginning why don't you come over to my house'" - he has a studio in his house. So I went over to his house and Slash, Izzy, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum are sitting there. I'm like, "Dude, tell me Axl's in the kitchen!" Um, he wasn't and then "Axl" Anderson came out? but that's not true. But they recorded an original song for the beginning. I think we've got a pretty cool soundtrack considering that we had no money. We have a song in there by Ben Folds, we got a band called Soul Cracker? considering we had zero money for songs, I think we did all right.

More Commentary

It's interesting for me to finally see this film nearly complete since crashing the set last May when Jeff was filming the opening bachelor party scene at the "riot" Hyatt Hotel on Sunset Blvd. in L.A. It was also the same night that he shot both Kevin and his wife, in small but equally funny cameos.

The transition from jumping off a major motion picture production, such as 'Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back', to Anderson's independently financed low-budget indie flick was a bit different. Not only did the night's shoot take place from 6pm-6am with a minimal crew, it was also being shot in a penthouse suite, with the nearest two adjacent suites used for equipment, dressing rooms, playback monitors, etc. while the balcony was where you could find snacks like m&m's, chips, soda and water. Hardly the grand catering that you would find on a major production. Ah, welcome to back to independent filmmaking!

Since it was a party scene, bodies and equipment took most, if not all the space, so finding an observation point proved most difficult. Speaking of bodies, after all it was a bachelor party scene so strippers were a necessity, and nudity was indeed required. But we'll get to them a bit later. What' You don't want to wait you say' Okay, we'll get to them now. So here in the midst of shooting are two strippers (not actresses mind you, "real" strippers!), willing to go topless. Now due to budget restraints, strippers were pretty much the best production could do to fill the scene without shelling out costly bucks to hire actresses to do nudity. But in talking with Anderson he informs me that tonight is the first he's seen of the strippers and expresses some regret for not having handpicked them himself. The girls are obviously inexperienced and look awkward as Anderson directs his players to emote high energy in the midst of the party. Several takes are needed of this scene to cover character's dialog and such, that eventually time begins to take it's toll on the strippers and they begin to tire with each new take. They inform the A.D. of their displeasure and as the A.D. goes to talk to Anderson about their complaints, one of them literally falls onto the couch and begins to sob much to everyone's surprise. She's tried, exhausted, uncomfortable and having an emotional breakdown at after 4am in the morning! Welcome to indie filmmaking! After a few minutes, the A.D. finally convinces her to continue so that Anderson can get what he needs. Overall, the night seemed long and chaotic, as with most low-budgeted indie productions. But within that chaos, lies the challenges that a director must overcome and problem solve in order to get his film in the can all the while staying on schedule and within budget. "Project Greenlight" anyone?

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