Shot of the Day #306: Holy Gilliam!!!!

Shot with Nikon D90. Click to enlarge.

OK, so I didn't technically shoot this one, but no matter. That's famed (and in some circles, INfamous) director and Monty Python member Terry Gilliam, who graced our offices with his presence (and a snazzy Mr. Bill T shirt) for a taped interview as he promotes his latest Gonzo epic, THE IMAGINARIUM OF DR. PARNASSUS. Our dept was given 15 minutes with him and on one hand, time stopped with every word he said and on the other, I could have listened to him for DAYS talk about all his films and just shit in general. Here is someone who's name I knew from TIME BANDITS (a major influence on KNIGHTS, as is JABAWOCKY) when I was just a wee tyke and followed his long and storied career as a director of such classics as BRAZIL, BARON MUNCHAUSEN, FISHER KING, 12 MONKEYS...the list goes on and on. So just the chance to shake Terry's hand would be enough for me to die happy. However, it seems I also have a PAL edition of WT2 in my office...

So after the interview, as Derek was snapping away, I handed it to him, saying "I just want to thank you for influencing me as a director and proving to me that fighting for your vision is ALWAYS worth the fight" which he seemed very grateful to hear. I then babbled something along the lines of how TB and JABA are influences on my new movie, which he nodded but then he looked at the WT2 box, seeing the "EXTREME EDITION" label on the front.
"Why is it called this?" he politely asked.
"Well because it was considered one of the goriest and most disgusting films of 2007." I retorted.
"Well, was it?"
"Fuck yeah!" I produly exclaimed.
He slapped me on the back, smiling. "This guy is a fucking madman, I love it!" and I just about burst with joy being called that by one of my heroes. The pot calling the kettle black, of course, but coming from this true cinematic artist, it was a compliment I will take to the grave...would probably look GREAT on a tombstone too!

Seriously, this is a momentous day for me. I know it might not seem like much, but you dont meet people you truly admire since you became a movie fan every day, right?



Joe