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It starts with a thirty minute wait for the bus. My car is dead so it’s back to city transit and let me tell ya folks, Las Olas? Hell of a bus ride. I’ve been anticipating seeing this movie for sometime. I first heard of ‘Chance’ on-line, it was for sale at that point with a signed photo. Being broke at the time I didn’t get it (and promptly forgot there-after). Now, however, I have been given the opportunity to see the national theatrical premiere. Big screen baby. Can’t be beat. At the moment, though, I am not in a cushy theatre seat with my bucket o’ popcorn. I’m on the bus in front of a lady who bitches for roughly fourty-five minutes about how her boyfriend won’t call her (to no less than three different people). Then I proceed to get groped by some guy who whips out a wad of hundreds. Apparently (and I deny this for a good two days afterwards) he thinks I’m a hooker. I get up and talk to the bus driver as I can’t understand the hopeful John (something wrong with his vocal chords) and frankly, he’s ugly. Oh, and I’m not a hooker. (To his credit he tried to help me find my stop...probably because he wanted to hook up somewhere, but still) I arrive with my maidenhead and sanity in tact (barely) and find myself uncertain as to exactly where the theatre is. Police are helpful (where were they when I was being propositioned?) and, hey, my friend Liz works here (did not know this)! Good times. But woe, for though I have made it on time, the sound isn’t working and there’s no projector. Amber’s also en route. Twenty minutes later we’re still waiting and there are a lot of scene kids…or at least they dress like scene kids. I’m tempted to play ski ball but small, loud children deter me (there’s a small-to-loud child ratio someone should do a study on). Note to self: Never wreck precious car again. The elevator door opens it’s...a scene kid. No wait! It’s Amber Benson! Amber Benson is a scene kid! And filled with coffee as scene kids often are. We file in and she does a meet and greet. She seems more nervous than some of her fans. She’s also very sweet, polite, and laughs at my stupid humour (always a plus). I’m given a goody bag because I ordered my tickets at the last minute (see kids? Procrastination can pay off!). “I got a bag,” I tell her. She laughs. We converse briefly. I’m happy to see her movie in theatres and hope to see more from her. “I hope so too.” Well, obviously. I move as the death rays the people behind me are shooting begin to penetrate my skull. Besides, the movie is starting soon. Amber and Mike come in. Mike is the wonderful man who put the whole thing together. He went through hell. Love him. They had filmed the movie onto disc with a regular “my dad bought this at Wal-mart” camera. So the projector at the theatre (made for film reels) couldn’t play it (say it with me kids, d’oh!). Then the sound wouldn’t work. So it was a miracle we got to see this movie at all. Finally, it starts. ... ...... Well? I’m not going to ruin it for you! Suffice to say, watch out for guitar guy – who doesn’t so much add to the plot as provide humour and ambience (really listen to the lyrics, they do relate to current movie events...and are funny as hell). Also has James Marsters in make-up and a dress (priceless), New Age parents, and dead bugs (they don’t die natural deaths). Add that to witty dialogue, good characterizations, and a decent plot, and you’ve got a cocktail. Er...a good film. While the acting is a little off in someplaces and you just don’t get guitar guy at first (trust me, he adds to the experience, listen to the lyrics), the whole thing comes together and leaves you with an overall good taste in your mouth. Movie is over and we get a Q&A session. She tells us she knew nothing about making a movie going into this, it was her first. Chance, she says, was her “film school”. Amber is pleased for what it is; she also says she’s never satisfied, always pushing to do better. “You’re your worst critic”. Someone asks if the characters are based off people she knows. Amber says she’s Simon, “a dork”. She wanted to play someone different, she’s a romantic and Chance has a very fuck ‘em and leave ‘em take on love. We’re wrapping up but we get a few more tidbits (in comments from AB and the audience). Like Joss Whedon wrote the opening song and let them use the ‘Buffy’ set, specifically the Bronze. “Crazy Joss...he’s a good egg” She has another film in the works, in the editing process, and she’s doing all the editing herself. They spent most of their budget on film stock (2,000 for a 35mm reel). Amber likes film, though, it’s “tangible...a chemical process”. But with Lucas pushing digital it’s a dying art. Mike’s not pushing digital but he is moving things along. “We have to start the next show” So Amber begins tap dancing...in sandals. Did I mention how funny, animated, and down to earth she is? It gets a second mention. So, to sum up. “Chance” is a film that grabs you, smacks you around, and steals your heart (but you like it). Chance is a passionate young woman with a fuck ‘em and leave ‘em philosophy. Her best friend Simon (with bad BO and a push over personality) is obsessed with time. Though she comes off as a bitch Chance will leave you feeling good.All in all? Totally worth being mistaken for a hooker. You can purchase “Chance” at XXX |
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