By Ray Pride Pride@moviecitynews.com
Wu woo and bagel blockers: self-promoting Saving Face
Writer-director Alice Wu is chronicling the release of her tart, comic debut, Saving Face, to friends on her email list: “A friend of mine who will remain nameless (Jeff Yang) exhorts me to continue my weekly emails but pepper them with personal anecdotes, because that—he feels—is doubtlessly the way to pull in the masses. Earnestness is out—Sizzle and f’shizzle are in. So here, in my effort to give it up like a cheap whore, I say to you:
“On Tuesday, during my shift at the Park Slope Food Coop, I was stocking the bagels when I got totally called out by a lady in her 80s. I had been surreptitiously (and rudely) trying to answer a call from my producer, and simultaneously slam bagels into the bin at warp speed, when I got a tap on my shoulder. The Squad Leader—heavy-jowled, morose—pointed to a very irate old woman. “This lady has filed a formal complaint against you.” The lady busted out: “She was totally BLOCKING THE BAGELS! She kept stocking the plain ones, and NONE OF US COULD GET THROUGH TO THE POPPYSEED!” Boy, she was pissed. I apologized weakly and hung my head. “Sorry, I never take calls at the co-op, this one was just kinda important.” She glared… a few more moments, then left grumbling. Once she’d gone, the Squad Leader asked, “So what was so important?” I started to explain about the film, and the challenges of trying to get the word out for these smaller pictures, getting people to the theater, blah blah blah. “I’ll go support the film”, piped up a random woman who had stuck around after the public shaming. “Me too,” said the woman next to her. “You should put something in the Coop Gazette” said the Squad Leader. So there you have it. My shame is the film’s gain. I guess that’s what makes this country great. Everyone gets a second chance, even if they block the bagels. (Though if you see an old lady outside the theater protesting my film (or really, me)—perhaps with a big X through my face and the words “BAGEL BLOCKER” in angry letters below, steer clear. She means business.)…
As always,
Alice
p.s. Another funny thing: I was having coffee in Soho yesterday when a woman came over and asked, “Are you Alice Wu? I was eavesdropping on your conversation, and I just wanted you to know that I loved your movie.” Turns out she’s Laura Flanders from Air America Radio! She asked if I’d go on her show tomorrow eve (Saturday) for the last half hour while she’s interviewing Sarah Jones (super-celebrated smartypants award-winning one-woman show monologist), so we can all talk about the issues. So I have to go now so I can read up on the issues. (If anyone has hints on what they are, please send them.)”