Fast Times at the Skirball Center

This past Thursday I went to another rad Cinema's Legacy at the Skirball screening in which a filmmaker screens and discusses a film that has inspired them. It's every film geek's wet dream. Especially this one:

Judd Apatow and Amy Heckerling in discussion before a screening of Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

How could this not be the coolest night ever?

I ended up walking right behind Amy Heckerling down the walkway to the entrance of the Skirball. She is fine! Serious. She has to be in her early 50s by now, and she looks great. What makes her even more attractive is her take-no-shit, sassy attitude which was in full display during the talk with Apatow.

I'm a huge fan of Apatow's. I think 40 Year Old Virgin is one of the best films of last year. I get a little tired hearing about how tragic it was that Freak and Geeks and Undeclared were so short-lived. I loved both shows, but a lot of shows get cancelled before their due time. Apatow has been writing professionally since his early 20s. I envy the guy!

Their conversation was very animated and hysterical. Apatow's a huge fan of Fast Times. You could tell he was excited to be up there asking Heckerling about the making of the film. They both shared horror stories about how Universal did not trust them with their respective films and sent "spies" over to make sure they were not fucking up too badly. For Heckerling, they sent John Landis (who will soon be at the Skirball introducing Wizard of Oz). I forgot who they sent to monitor Apatow.

Heckerling admitted that the Universal brass wanted more football scenes, so producer Art Linson went in and shot some footage.

She was totally non-pretentious and salty. I could've watched them both talk all night, but there was a movie to watch -- though not before a little Q & A.

I was the first person they called on. I asked about her involvement with the short-lived Fast Times TV series. I realize I should've asked if John Travolta and Kirstie Alley pulled any wacky Scientology shit on the Look Who's Talking set. Maybe next time.

Every film/tv screening Q & A must have the requisite geek asking a stupid question that makes the entire audience and panelists cringe...

Some dork in the front row with the novelization of Clueless in hand said something along the lines of:

"Ms. Heckerling, next year is the 25th anniversary of this fine film, and the 15th anniversary of Clueless is coming up in a couple years. I wanted to know if you ever went to a school like Cher Horovitz (the protagonist of Clueless), because I know I'd like to have a friend like that when I went to high school... someone who could give me good advice..."

I looked around the audience. Everyone buried their heads in their hands, looked at their movie-watching partners, and generally looked all around uncomfortable. I saw that Apatow and Heckerling both kept their cool. Apatow probably gets his share of geeks at these things, so this was probably no big deal.

I forgot how Heckerling responded. I think something about how Cher was based on Jane Austen's Emma, blah blah blah...

For the rest of the evening I saw this groupie dig into his nose with a handkerchief. I wonder if he got a nose bleed from all that probing.

I debated whether or not stay for the screening. I've seen Fast Times a million times, but never on the big screen.

I decided to stay, and I'm glad.

The movie holds up great. True, the Rat and Damone's reconcillation at the end seems a little unnatural, but it's an extremely well-made film. Seeing it projected made me notice things I never have after seeing it for so many years on video and DVD. Namely Sean Penn's eyes were bloodshot and watery in every single scene.

All in all a great night. Bravo AFI!