Directors act on stage (Directors Panel: Lobero Theater)

Laughter and the F-word were all apart of the director’s panel this last Saturday. Some of today’s most talked about directors converged on stage to discuss and answer questions about not only their films but also the film industry.

Making an appearance were directors Jason Reitman (Juno), Brad Bird (Rataouille), Adam Shankman (Hairspray), Craig Gilman (Lars and the Real Girl), Judd Aptow (Knocked Up) and Julian Schnabel (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly).

All of the directors exhibited a stellar sense of humor spinning the interview into hilarious comments about the crippled, moviegoers and each other. Reitman started the banter making a comment that Bird was hating on the handicapped. Of course no on was serious and everyone was having a great time. The audience was thoroughly involved in listening to them speak.

The discussion did take a serious turn, sort of, when the panel was asked about the writers strike. All the directors were in agreement and in support of what the writers were trying to achieve.

Every director had good advice to give between and during laughs. All had something special to add and all had their own form of dirty humor. Shankman gave a show pretending to leave the stage then approaching the front of the table on his knees giving a fake cry. Shankman brought the dramatics and played them well, like a true performer.

These directors have proved that the films they are making are only a part of there large personality. Everyone of them showed personality beyond the camera.