If the guys can do it, why not the girls?
That’s the thought process that guided Carrie Preston while filming “That’s What She Said,” the coarse female-driven comedy written by Kellie Overbey and starring Anne Heche and Marcia DeBonis (“Lipstick Jungle”).
The movie screens at the final weekend of the Atlanta Film Festival at 7 p.m. Friday at Landmark’s Midtown Art Cinema and will be followed by a Q&A with Preston, a Macon native.
Shooting the low-budget comedy, which follows the exploits of the raggedy, chain-smoking Dee Dee (Heche, in particular loopy form), her best friend, the lovelorn BeBe (DeBonis), and recent coffee shop recruit Clementine (Alia Shawkat) around New York, presented expected filming headaches.
“We were shooting all over the city -- and did it in 20 days, which is pretty standard for a low-budget feature. But we definitely packed our days with everything that we could,” Preston said recently.
Working from Overbey’s script, which she wrote about eight years ago and had already been produced off-off-Broadway, Preston knew that inevitable comparisons to “Bridesmaids” would crop up -- and the film’s oft-raunchy content doesn’t dissuade those assessments.
But the film, which just received a distribution deal from Phase 4, is, said Preston, “the older, wiser, maybe edgier, sister to ‘Bridesmaids.’”
Other weekend highlights (at Landmark’s Midtown, unless noted) ...
“Basically Frightened: The Musical Madness of Colonel Bruce Hampton”: The father of the jam band scene, the Colonel is a guru to many musical celebs, such as Dave Matthews, Derek Trucks, Peter Buck and the Phish men. You’ll find out why. Director Michael Koepenick and Hampton will be in attendance. 7:15 p.m. Friday, Plaza Theatre.
“Welcome to Pine Hill”: Shannon, a reformed drug dealer, decides to escape the temptations of New York City and embark on a journey that changes his approach to life. The film was created after a chance encounter between director Keith Miller and star Shannon Harper, who plays himself. Miller will be in attendance. 9 p.m. Friday.
“Marley”: This documentary is being billed as the definitive life story of reggae legend Bob Marley. Scottish director Kevin Macdonald used rare performance footage and photos, as well as interviews with family, friends and bandmates, to tell the story of the lionized musician. 9:30 p.m. Friday.
“OK, Good”: Paul Kaplan is a struggling actor in Los Angeles forced to deal with a series of demoralizing setbacks. The anxiety associated with performance and success is explored. Director Danier Martinico will be in attendance. 1:15 p.m. Saturday.
“Boy”: Boy is a dreamer, an unabashed Michael Jackson fan who spends his days engaging in stilted Jackson moves for his unimpressed female schoolmates and coming up with fanciful ideas about why his dad isn’t home. Boy, who lives in a Maori village in New Zealand, is cautiously thrilled when his father shows up one night, free from “the can,” where he served time for robbery. There isn’t much plot in the 1984-set “Boy,” but, rather, a string of scenes illustrating Boy’s embrace of his goofy father, played by the film’s writer/director, Taika Waititi. Most endearing are the performances from the grinning James Rolleston (Boy) and Te Aho Eketone-Whitu (younger brother Rocky). 3 p.m. Saturday.
“The Cabin in the Woods”: The closing film of the festival follows the familiar premise of “five people go into the woods and bad things happen.” But with Joss Whedon and director Drew Goddard (a writer known for “Cloverfield,” “Lost” and “Alias”) behind the scenes, it promises to be a horror film with a twist. Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford star. 7 p.m. Saturday.
Sunday is dubbed Xfinity On Demand Encore Day and will be dedicated to the 14 most popular titles of the festival and its award winners. Currently, the only films with guaranteed slots are "V/H/S" at 7 p.m. at Landmark Midtown, and "Darling Companion" at 7:15 p.m., also at Landmark Midtown. Select films and festival content will be available in Xfinity's On Demand "Get Local ATL" section.
MOVIE PREVIEW
Atlanta Film Festival
Continues March 30-April 1 at Landmark’s Midtown Art Cinema and other sites. 404-352-4225, www.atlantafilmfestival.com.
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