Photographic Memory introduction with Haden Guest, Ross McElwee and Adrian McElwee.

Transcript

For more interviews and talks, visit the Harvard Film Archive Visiting Artists Collection page.

Haden Guest  0:00  

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Haden Guest. It's a real honor to have Ross McElwee with us tonight to offer a few words about this unusually, and almost searingly, personal film, this courageous film, I should say, that offers testament to McElwee's vision and voice. He's not alone tonight, though. He's joined by a number of individuals who played an invaluable role in the realization of this extraordinary film. And I want to ask you to join me in welcoming tonight, beginning with Marie-Emmanuelle Hartness, who's the film's invaluable executive producer, and she's here, right here in the front row!

0:44  

[APPLAUSE AND CHEERS]

Haden Guest  0:53  

I also want to ask you to please welcome Sabrina Zanella-Foresi, who is the editor of the film.

1:10  

[APPLAUSE AND CHEERS]

Haden Guest  1:11  

The film's star, if you will. Adrian McElwee!

1:18  

[APPLAUSE AND CHEERS]

Adrian McElwee  1:20  

Thank you very much for coming tonight. I appreciate it [LAUGHS]. It's been a long year of premieres and different travels with this film, but it's great to see everyone here and, like, back in his turf, and filling the seats. And hopefully you'll enjoy, it won't bore you too much.

1:46  

[LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE]

Haden Guest  1:46  

And last, but in no way least, Mr. Ross McElwee!

1:50  

[APPLAUSE]

Ross McElwee  1:57  

Thank you. I'll try to be really brief. But um, I just want to say, in addition to mentioning the words of the people, the names of the people that Hadrian, Adrian introduced -- Haden introduced!

2:07  

[LAUGHTER]

Ross McElwee  2:07  

No, I'm not nervous at all [LAUGHS]. Marie-Emmanuelle Hartness was instrumental in getting this film off the ground. I started telling stories about my days in France, and she found them very amusing. And she was the one who really sort of kept encouraging me to think about doing something other than tell the stories, you know, verbally. She said, well, let's try writing an article. We wrote articles. And then it became, let's try making a film based upon the writing that we've done. And so, this film would not have gotten made without Marie, and thank you very much.

2:43  

[APPLAUSE]

Ross McElwee  2:43  

Let me quickly move along.

2:44  

[APPLAUSE]

Ross McElwee  2:44  

And Sabrina, wherever you are back there. More than just an editor. She was an invaluable collaborator. I know all directors probably say this about their editors. But this was really true. I was getting over a number of things in my life, and I wasn't consciously there, although physically I was in the editing room. There were times when I was thinking about other things. Sabrina kept me on track. She did a wonderful job. And her husband, Tony Flackett, is here. He's responsible for some of the wonderful little bits of music that you'll hear throughout the film. So, thank you very much, Tony.

3:16  

[APPLAUSE]

Ross McElwee  3:24  

I look around, and I see the people who inspire me so much. My colleagues, other filmmakers, programmers, this wonderful resource of the Harvard Film Archive, which every single night is showing something very worthwhile here. And I just wanted to encourage all of you to keep coming here and keep backing it. It's a terrific resource that Harvard, the City of Cambridge, the greater area of Boston is very fortunate to have, so we need to keep supporting it. And I also want to say that there's a man in the audience who, because of his remarkable surgical skills, enabled me to get on a plane, five months after having very serious surgery, and shoot the film you're about to see.  You don't have to stand up, Bob. I know you don't want to be recognized. But I'm so happy you're here. And there you go.

4:21  

[APPLAUSE AND CHEERS]

Ross McElwee  4:30  

And about the film, I'll just say, I'm going to talk quite a bit throughout the film, so you don't need to hear me say too much now. This film repre--you know, Picasso had a Blue Period, this was my grouchy period.

4:43  

[LAUGHTER]

Ross McElwee  4:43  

And, you know, just stick with it. There's enough humor in it where I think you'll, you can override my obnoxiousness. But you know, it is meant to be enjoyed. I hope that it brings you some laughter and happiness as you watch. And thank you very much for coming. I'm very moved to see such a large audience.

5:00  

[APPLAUSE]

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