10.7.05
ONE WEEK TO OPENING IN NEW YORK and LOS ANGELES.
New York — Sunshine Cinemas, 143 East Houston Street, (212) 330-8182 for showtimes.
Los Angeles — Laemmle's Sunset 5, 8000 Sunset Blvd. in West Hollywood, 323-848-3500 for showtimes.
9.28.05
Today is the birthday of “Loggerheads” editor Caitlin Dixon, as well as my friend, Heather Lyn MacDonald, whose documentary, Been Rich All My Life, just screened at the IFFM in New York to great acclaim. Heather made the wonderful documentary Ballot Measure 9, winner of the audience award at the Sundance Film festival a few years ago. That movie changed by life! Everyone should buy it and share it with their friends and family. Caitlin and Heather share a birthday with some other luminous woman — Gwyneth, Janeane, Mira, Naomi, Hilary and Moon Unit. It is also the birthday of Marcello Mastroianni, John Sayles, and Peter Finch. Good company.
Happy belated birthday to “Loggerheads” stars Kip Pardue and Bonnie Hunt, too.
The trailer is popping up on the web on various sites now. If anyone knows a site where the trailer could live, please let us know. We want to spread the word that the film is being released in the next month all over the country.
Next up will be the New York and Los Angeles openings, followed by opening dates in San Francisco and Chicago and several theaters in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill market of North Carolina, the setting for the film. If you know people in these markets, let them know about the film via email. Direct them to this site for more information.
SOUNDTRACK INFO: the soundtrack will be released on October 10, featuring some great artists. The Kim Carnes song “The Silver Cord” will be available only through this soundtrack.
9.16.05
Today's USA TODAY features a short article about “Loggerheads,” with an interview with Tess Harper, who proved to be one of the funniest people alive on Monday night's Leonard Maltin Q&A.
9.9.05
Check out the newest screening schedule in our "See the film" section of the website. Starting October 14, "Loggerheads" will roll out to more than 50 cities across the country, including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Atlanta, Charlotte, Cleveland, Houston, St. Louis, Raleigh, Durham, Little Rock, Chapel Hill, Sacramento and many more. If you would like to see the film come to your town, contact your local independent theater chain and tell them!
Tonight, film critic and scholar Leonard Maltin screens "Loggerheads," followed by a Q&A with writer/director Tim Kirkman and actress Bonnie Hunt at USC.
On Monday, September 12, at 7:00 PM, Moveline critic Stephen Farber will host actors Tess Harper, Bonnie Hunt, Kip Pardue and writer/director Tim Kirkman at his weekly screening series at Landmark's NuWilshire Theater in Los Angeles.
The "Loggerheads" soundtrack will be released in early October. The soundtrack features songs from the film by Patty Griffin, Mark Geary, Grey DeLisle, Andrew T. Hunt and Robbie Fulks, as well as songs by Kim Carnes, John Crooke and Kelley McRae. Kim Carnes’ song, “The Silver Cord,” co-written by Kim and Hunter Davis, was composed especially for this collection. If you want to pre-order the soundtrack, contact us here.
Chris Sarandon is now appearing in the Tony Award-winning The Light in the Piazza.
John Crooke has recorded Patty Griffin's song “Forgiveness” for the collection. It has special resonance in the wake of the devastating hurricane that hit the Gulf in recent days. Click here to hear a clip of the song.
A word about Hurricane Katrina: Those who wish to contribute to the relief effort are encouraged to do so through moveon.org.
8.9.05
Click here to view my favorite “Loggerheads” link thus far. Apparently, someone thought it was important to start a website to chronicle female characters who smoke in the movies. In “Loggerheads,” both Mark (Kip Pardue) and Elizabeth (Tess Harper) are smokers, as is Lola (played by the delightful and talented Valerie Watkins, pictured here).
I actually visited another site (click here) that tracks all characters that smoke and goes so far as to blame filmmakers for the rise in smoking among teens. That's such a cop-out and so easy. It is not the job of the artist to necessarily influence, but to illuminate. Smokers exist in the world, as do people who kill people named Bill, crash weddings and work in chocolate factories. What you do after the lights come up is your choice. Although I must admit, after seeing that Penguin movie, I did think to myself, “Mmmm.... delicious.”
7.27.05
LOGGERHEADS will open nationally in select cities on October 14. Currently, the cities include New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Check back here for more information!
Also, it's loggerhead sea turtle nesting season. Here is a LINK for more information.
One of the featured musical artists in the film, Grey DeLisle, has a brand new record. Click here to get more info!
7.22.05
BIG NEWS. The film has won the Grand Jury Prize at Outfest in Los Angeles. We're all thrilled. I love this festival and am thrilled for everyone involved..
"Loggerheads" will open on October 14 in NY, LA, San Francisco and, probably, Chicago and Seattle. Fingers crossed.
5.12.05
STRAND RELEASING ACQUIRES
TIM KIRKMAN'S “LOGGERHEADS”
New York -- Strand Releasing has acquired the US rights to LOGGERHEADS by first time narrative director and screenwriter Tim Kirkman, it was announced today by Strand Co-Presidents Marcus Hu and Jon Gerrans.
LOGGERHEADS stars Kip Pardue, Bonnie Hunt, Michael Kelly, Michael Learned, Tess Harper and Chris Sarandon and was written and directed by Tim Kirkman, produced by Lasalle Holland’s Gill Holland and Lilian LaSalle in association with Independent Dream Motion Pictures' Zeke Zelker and 120db Films' Stephen Hays.
Inspired by a true story, LOGGERHEADS follows the journey of Mark (Kip Pardue), a soft-spoken drifter in his twenties who makes a pilgrimage to a small coastal town near Wilmington in order to save the endangered Loggerhead turtles that nest on the beach in the summer. Mark’s journey brings us into contact with three other characters, each at the crossroads of their lives. At the heart of this tale of disparate lives running intertwined is the discovery on the importance of connections
Kirkman said, “I'm happy to be working with Strand. They have the right sensibility and will really help my film reach the widest possible audience.”
Tim Kirkman is now represented by agent David Saunders at APA and manager Lillian LaSalle at LaSalleHolland.
LOGGERHEADS was an official selection for this year's Sundance Dramatic Competition. Strand Releasing plans a national November release.
The deal was negotiated by Andrew Herwitz of the Film Sales Company and Jon Gerrans and Marcus Hu of Strand Releasing. In related news, the Film Sales Company concluded a deal for the film with Shani Films in Israel. The US televison deal will be announced shortly. The Film Sales Company expects to announce more international deals during the Cannes market.
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NEWFEST IS AT “LOGGERHEADS”
By WILLA PASKIN
The 17th annual NewFest, New York City’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender film festival, will kick off June 2 with the preem of Tim Kirkman’s “Loggerheads.” Event will close June 12 with the preem of Marco Kreuzpaintner’s “Summer Storm.”
"Loggerheads" follows a young man attempting to save endangered loggerhead turtles at a summer beach. Bonnie Hunt, Kip Pardue, Michael Learned, Michael Kelly, Tess Harper and Chris Sarandon star. Film, written and directed by Kirkman, will be released in November by Strand Releasing.
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5.4.05
Many things have happened in the last couple of days. I’ve updated the website in several areas: screenings, press and downloads. I’ll address each section...
Screenings. “Loggerheads” will be featured in several film festivals in June and July. The first will be here at home in New York City at the New Festival, followed by Nantucket, Provincetown and San Francisco. In July, the film will be in Los Angeles’ Outfest.
Press. I have attached a great article by Loann Halden in PDF format.
Downloads. I’ve linked the music section with the download page so that you can hear clips of score and songs from the movie, which brings me to my latest news...
Most of my adolescence was spent in the basement of my house in small-town Wingate, North Carolina, listening to Kim Carnes records on vinyl. I have them all. I have imports from Europe. I have 12-inch remixed versions of her songs. I have singles. While the other gay boys had their Streisand (she’s okay), their Donna Summer, and their Patti LaBelle (Sorry, but I don’t get that one), I had Kim Carnes (pictured below).
After decades in LA, Kim moved to Nashville a few years back and has continued a quite successful songwriting career there for people like Deana Carter, Reba McIntyre, Kenny Rogers and many others. While I was in Nashville, I mentioned my Kim-obsession to Matt Parker (assoc. producer). Turns out the woman who stood up and spoke after our first screening (the one who said she was gay, adopted and from North Carolina) knows Kim very well. Her name is Hunter Davis and she kindly gave Kim a copy of the film on tape. Long story short: Kim saw “Loggerheads,” wrote a song (with Hunter) for the movie, recorded it, and I now have it in my hands. A childhood dream come true, as my parents will attest.
The song, “The Silver Cord,” is a beautiful, quiet meditation about the tenuous, elusive bond that exists between each of us, despite our efforts to deny and destroy it. I will post a re-mastered clip of the song when I get it.
4.30.05
I’m back home in Brooklyn after four heavenly days in Miami Beach at the Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (here’s a picture of me with the writer Loann Halden,the perfect amalgam of all that is beautiful about Laura Linney, Marlee Matlin and Laura Dern). All due respect to the other festivals -- each excellent in their own ways -- Jaie and Carol and Michael and Kareem and Ruben and everyone else I met in Miami know how to put on a film festival. What a great time... and so beautiful.
First and foremost, I loved my hosts: Tom and Karen, aided by K.C. and Michael. They took great care of me and I had a blast hanging out with them in the evenings. Here’s a picture of me with Karen at the party at BED.
Also, where else but Miami would I get to meet 1970s gay icon Peter Berlin? The festival hosted a lunch for Peter, the subject of Jim Tushinksi’s film, “That Man,” which takes a look at Peter’s life and career. Here I am tucked behind Carol in the picture. Peter, now a youthful 62, is to my left.
I keep getting emails from people who saw the film in Miami. It was a fantastic screening. I loved the audience reaction and hope that the film will come back to Miami for a run in a theater. Maybe the Colony?
Next? The gay and lesbian festivals in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, which should be fun. We’re also going to Provincetown International Film Festival, while not technically a “gay” festival, is the next best thing.
Drew and I leave for Boise next Saturday, where I’ll be writing and working all month while he directs “Taming of the Shrew” for the Idaho Shakespeare Festival. If any of you venture out to Boise during the month of May, look us up.
“Loggerheads” will open in Allentown, PA, on May 28 for a weeklong engagement. I will be in Allentown briefly for the opening night screening and party. More info to come.
4.27.05
Made it to Miami. From the time I landed to this minute, everything has gone incredibly well. The festival sent two nice voluteers to pick me up at the Ft. Lauderdale airport— Tom and Michael. They dropped me off at the National Hotel, a Deco (of course) building on the beach that boasts a lap pool enveloped in palm trees and tropical plants, but has no wireless service.
After I checked in, the festival directors rang me up to meet them for a coffee by the pool. Carol, the red-haired, British programmer for the festival, wore a blouse covered in Loggerhead turtles.
The film screened last night at 7:30 PM in a multiplex right in the heart of South Beach, Lincoln Road. There were two theaters side by side, each running Loggerheads simultaneously, but using the same print, an interlocking projection device that I still don’t exactly understand. Both theaters were packed with guys. I’d say the ratio of men to women was about 20:1. Carol introduced the sponsors and me, then I introduced the film in the first theater. Then we ran over to the other theater and repeated the introduction, only better this time. (That’s always the case.) During the screening, Carol took me to dinner with other festival workers and then we went back to the theater to do a Q&A with the audience, which went very well, I thought. My favorite question? “What color was used in Grace’s kitchen? I love that color. Can you tell me what paint chip you used?” I laughed so hard, as did the audience. Best question ever.
Many people expressed how much they like the film. I had a great time, especially when I realized that NO ONE asked about the three time periods of the film... Yeah!!!
Afterwards, we all went to BED, a club that features “seating” areas made of actual beds. I drank too many delicious, raspberry colored loggertinis, and met a lot of nice people.
Woke up at ten this morning. It was raining. Miami is beautiful.
4.25.05
Woke up at 6:30 AM, said goodbye to John and climbed into the back of the airport shuttle. I slept all the way to the airport, sprawled out on the back seat, drool spilling onto my rumpled jacket. I woke up as the van pulled up to the Delta terminal at LAX, surprising the two Austrailian couples in the front two seats, who did not realize I was even in the van.
It was an easy flight back to New York. I spent a lot of time inputting receipts into Quicken. I forgot how the trip East essentially makes you lose the whole day. I took the airport shuttle and the A train to Brooklyn, dropped my bags off at the apartment and hopped on the subway to Lincoln Center to see Any Minute Now’s production of the musical John and Jen, which Drew directed and which was fantastic.
It was late when we got home. I’m exhausted from the traveling, but I really love going to the screenings and seeing the responses from the audiences. Tomorrow I leave for Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. I’ve never been to Miami, but I did do the South Beach diet for a brief moment a couple of years ago. It’s also the first gay film festival in which Loggerheads has screened — the first of several to come this summer. The film also was mentioned in the latest issue of The Advocate.
The screening is tonight in South Beach, followed by a “pajama party” at a bar which features (tonight only!) -- Loggertinis, a drink designed especially in honor of our movie! Yum.
I thought of a great response to the woman who was disappointed that my film was not more about the sea turtles. I should have said, “I wanted to make a movie about loggerhead turtles because they are delicious.”
Surly Tim is back.
4.24.05
John was great last night and the Bangles sound as good as they did when I was in high school. And they look fantastic. Today, Kathryn and John and I dropped off the film at the festival and wandered around Santa Monica. John and I rode the rollercoaster on the pier. Here’s me wetting my pants. Kathryn discovered some local art. And then we made our way over to the film festival screening at the Laemmle. Oliver Bokelberg, the film’s cinematographer, met us at the theater.
After the screening, Oliver, Kathryn and I took questions from the tiny audience (apparently, the poor publicity and advertising for the festival was nothing compared to scheduling our film at the start of Passover). Anyway, a few people stayed to chat with us and one person, in particular, expressed her dissatisfaction that the film did not include more about the turtles. Tough crowd.
During the screening, Kathryn and Oliver and I went for drinks at a nearby watering hole, where I learned we didn't win any awards in Winston-Salem, which was disappointing. (It’s always nice to get some recognition from the home folks.)
Afterwards, John and I went through the Fatburger drive-thru and got post-screening depression cheeseburgers and fries.
I fell asleep watching Jane Fonda being grilled on “Inside the Actors Studio.” I know she’s had a remarkable career with many high points, but I have to admit, my favorite of all of her performances is a slight little thriller from the 1980s — the Sidney Lumet-directed The Morning After, starring Jeff Bridges, in which Jane plays an aging, alcoholic actress who wakes up next to a guy with a knife in his chest and doesn’t remember what happened the night before. It’s a pretty wonderful movie. A then-unknown Kathy Bates has a small role, as does the hilarious Bruce Villanch.
4.23.05
River Run Film Festival went very well. Last night’s screening was well-attended, despite a threatening storm that hovered over the Triad. After the film, I’m in Atlanta, en route to Los Angeles for the Inspiration Film Festival. I'll be staying with my friend, John Crooke, an amazing singer and songwriter and also my oldest friend in the world. Here he is looking very LA at a coffee shop. We always tell people, "We don't remember not knowing each other." John's performing tonight as the opening act for the Bangles. Associate producer Kathryn Tucker and I will be cheering him on from the cheap seats.
4.22.05
This morning I woke up to learn (online!) that Loggerheads has won the audience award for Best Film at the Nashville Film Festival! I’m so excited for everyone who worked on the film.
Today the film screens at 7:00 PM at the N.C. School of the Arts and then I'm off to Los Angeles tomorrow morning for the Inspiration Film Festival.
4.21.05
I arrived in Winston-Salem yesterday for the River Run Film Festival. Most of the events will be taking place at the N.C. School of the Arts campus. I walked there this morning from my downtown hotel in flip-flops. Big mistake. But a beautiful walk.
Indiewire ran an article about the Florida Film Festival award that we won, which was fun. They also ran a photo me receiving the award with an unusual new friend by my side.
Today I speak to the film students at NCSA and then I'm having dinner with a gay/lesbian group. The screening is tomorrow night at 7:00. There are no posters for LOGGERHEADS, which disappoints me since we sent them. Apparently, they still haven't arrived.
4.19.05
Nashville Film Festival is fantastic. I was fortunate that it’s Matt’s hometown because he knew exactly where to go, what to do, who to ask. Even if Matt hadn't been there, I would think it’s a great festival. It was organized, with great food, excellent accomodations and the centralized festival events — all the events were in one place: at the theater. The hotel, the parties, the screenings, the panels — everything in one place. No one had to rent cars and drive on streets we were unfamiliar with and when we did have to leave the area, we were shuttled by the incredibly helpful, cheerful, accomodating, fun staff, especially the would-be criminal, Stacy (see below).
One of the highlights was visiting the Bluebird, where we were treated to a performance by Dierks Bentley, who sang a few songs. Apparently, he's a big country star.
The last screening went well. Now I'm off to Winston-Salem.
4.18.05
I’m in Nashville—Music City. Last night, the first screening of “Loggerheads” at the Nashville Film Festival went well after a shaky start. I'll explain. Yesterday morning when I arrived at the airport, I went to pick up my bags from the luggage carousel and search for the festival liaison who was assigned to pick me up and take me to the festival headquarters. No one was there. After I walked around outside for a few minutes to see if someone was waiting for me, I returned to the baggage carousel to find a fresh-faced, perky young woman standing with a piece of paper that read: TIM KIRKMAN. This was Stacy, the liaison, who apologized for being late and explained that she got a speeding ticket en route to pick me up. We loaded my things into the SUV and made our way out of the airport — too quickly. Yes, the blue lights started to flash behind us and Stacy pulled over. We weren't even out of the airport yet! The officer came to the window, Stacy explained that she was working for the film festival and was picking up the VIPs (ha!). The officer told her she was going 14 miles over the speed limit, took her license and walked to his car. While we waited, we laughed at the improbability of being ticketed for speeding twice in an hour. Stacy was handling all of this very well. Five minutes later, the officer returned. This time, he asked for my license —which I handed to him —and then asked Stacy to come with him to the patrol car. This is where it gets weird. Moments later, another cop shows up. He pulls over, gets out of his car and speaks with the other officer. Then, they both get in the patrol car with Stacy. Meanwhile, I'm watching all of this from the sideview mirror of the passenger's seat in the SUV. I waited. And waited. And waited. Nothing. Forty minutes later, the officer approaches my window and says, “Sir, we have a problem with her license. Can you drive this vehicle?” I said I could. “You're going to have to,” he said. “Otherwise, I'm going to have to tow it away because this young lady’s drivers license has been suspended.” Welcome to Nashville.
Long story short: Stacy got a ticket in 2002 that was dismissed, but the records indicated she had never paid the fine for the ticket. As a result, Stacy got finger-printed yesterday before being released her into my custody. I drove us to the festival headquarters and parked the SUV.
At the screening last night, we had a huge crowd and terrific response from the audience at the Q&A. There was a woman who stood up and told everyone that the story onscreen was essentially her story, too: she had been adopted, is gay, and was born in North Carolina. She said she had no idea what the movie was about before deciding to come see it, but was glad she did. It was great having someone in the audience who understood some of the facts about searching for birth parents and was willing to share from her own experience.
Afterwards, associate producer Matt Parker threw a party in the VIP tent and we invited the whole audience to it. Friends from Birmingham, AL (Jennifer Corts Fuller), and here in Nashville (cousin Wendy who sings a fantastic band called 3AM) came to see the film, which was great! That hasn't really happened yet on this tour. It felt great to watch the film with them. The projection was a little soft and there was strange light patterns on the left and right sides of the screen, but only Matt and I really noticed. I got to meet Mitchell Lichtenstein, one of the stars of “The Wedding Banquet” and son of the great artist Roy Lichtenstein. Mitchell has a short in the festival, which I'm seeing tonight. I also got to meet Bela Fleck, who scored one film here and is in three! His brother, Sascha, has a film here called “Obstinato.” Sascha lives a few blocks from me and Drew in Brooklyn. (By the way, “me and Drew” is correct grammar, in case any of the “Amazing Race” contestants are reading this.)
Next screening is today at three o'clock. My friend Lily from Wingate (my hometown) is coming, and I'm told the singer Amy Grant will be there, too. She lives here.
4.16.05
The Florida festival is over and “Loggerheads” won the Audience Award! I’m thrilled. It was our first award (and hopefully not the last). Had a late night of partying with the other filmmakers and some new friends after a day at the Universal Studios Theme Park. I highly recommend the Spiderman ride, as well as the Dueling Dragons roller coaster (I think that's its name). I'm sooooo excited that audiences are liking the film. Now I’m off to Nashville!
4.13.05
I’m off to Orlando to the Florida Film Festival! Last time I was here was a few years ago with my editor, Caitlin Dixon, and my sister, her husband and their children—my niece and nephew. We went to Disneyworld and Epcot. I recall there being brush fires everywhere. Smoke filled the air. I'm hoping for clear air this time. The second screening of “Loggerheads” at this festival is tonight at 7:15. The first was on Sunday night. I'm hoping for a big turnout. One of the interesting connections the film has with Florida is the state's commitment to saving Loggerhead sea turtles. Maybe that aspect of the film will draw some eco-friendly support. Turtle nesting season begins in about a month. Tomorrow I'll be speaking to a group of high school students called "Future Filmmakers." I'll show them the trailer for the film, as well as a few clips. I'm planning a trip to Universal Studios Theme Park on Friday. My friend, Tommy, works there and says he can give me a pass. I've always wanted to see the “Jaws” exhibit since it’s one of my favorite movies. Great news for my friends Marion and Rose—their documentary, "The Education of Shelby Knox,” keeps winning awards everywhere they go. They took top prize in Sonoma and two awards in Durham last weekend at Full Frame. I love their film and strongly encourage everyone to go out and see it.
One more thing. Check out this link that includes “Loggerheads” as a winner in a Sundance survey!
4.1.05
LOGGERHEADS recently screened at the Vail Film Festival (CO) and the Sonoma Valley Film Festival (CA), as well as the Wilmington (NC), film festival called Cucalorus.
Next, the film travels to Maitland, Florida for the Florida Film Festival in April, followed by festivals in Nashville (TN), Miami (FL), Winston-Salem (NC) and Los Angeles (CA).
Visit the screenings section on this site for up-to-date information, as well as the home pages for the individual film festivals.
