Pre-Covid, at a completely packed Saturday night screening at the Werner Herzog theater, in walked Werner Herzog.
He looked around, but there were no seats.
And no one was getting up.
Courtesy of Alan Elliott
(Feeling the irony, and weighing the reality, I gave Werner my seat.)
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I was introduced to Tom by Joe Boyd.
Joe had told me of the magic of the film festival and Toms deep knowledge of music and film.
I had no idea of the blessings of being blessed by Tom, and I soon found out.
When the film ended, I could see that both Tom and Julie were crying.
Tom asked, Alan, can you give us a minute hey?
Tom knew his power, so when he used it, it was effortless and without a mark.
At the party, Tom introduced me to a hero, Francis Coppola.
As I gushed about having aNapoleonposter in my room as a kid, a crowd of muckety-mucks gathered.
(P.S.- Toms involvement in the revival ofNapoleongave him special empathy forAmazing Grace.)
And Tom knew of the problems I faced in present day.
As I puppy-eyed Coppola, Tom sensed the moment.
AlthoughAmazing Gracehad been out a few weeks, I had not been paid the advance by the film company.
Unprompted, Coppola asked, How was the distribution company?
(Or was he unprompted?)
Tom quickly followed up, Yes, tell us.
Well, they havent paid us yet.
Within a few days if not the next day we got our first money.
Im convinced we wouldnt have gotten paid without Tom (and Francis).
Tom (and Julie) helped will the film into the world.
For me, what I most admired was Toms importance as a moral compass.
What the French New Wave auteur documented in Oakland has become the source material for Hollywood.
She explains the implication of the Black Panther, which never attacks but ferociously defends itself.
We learn about the significance of the afro hairstyle from Eldridge Cleavers wife Kathleen Cleaver.
The10-Point Program, the manifesto of the BPP, is spelled out by BPP Captain Bill Brent.
Like all great documentarians, Varda (and Luddy) was in the right place at the right time.
The paramount Free Huey rally on Newtons birthday?
Its in the film.
Inside the jail cell with Mr. Newton?
Go watch them film!
However, consider Toms insistence on bringing in Varda to film the Panthers.
His solutions was to use film and sound to show, not tell.
Afterwards, I gave Tom a hug and told him how much I loved seeing the film with him.
When Tom saw you, you felt seen.
