The Director’s Panel

One of the most entertaining events I was able to attended at the SBIFF this year would have to be the Director’s Panel with Julian Schnabel, Judd Apatow, Brad Bird, Adam Shankman, Craig Gillespie and Jason Reitman. All six directors brought their own insight and sense of humor to the stage, keeping the audience at the Lobero well entertained the entire time.

Most of the panel was made up of comedic directors, so it was no surprise that most of the discussion consisted of satire, rather than anything else. However, the serious notes given on occasion were not the least bit lack luster and were very insightful to hear given live.

The audience was given a brief enough amount of time to ask anything they could come up with, although none of the questions were quite as well delivered as the interview I have posted below.

The majority of the audience asked good questions that left the panel scratching their heads, but soon getting back on topic with an ‘awesome’ response, leaving from what I can only presume was everyone satisfied. By the end I was content with what I had heard and ready to go out and try to see the films these directors made, that I had missed and figure out what ‘blocking’ meant (it’s when you put tape on the ground for the actors to know where to stop walking, stand at or look).

I have not been to many panel disscussions before this one, but it’s easy to tell that this is not the way they normally work. But that’s a good thing in my eyes. I would have felt dissapointed if I missed it.