Life After Tomorrow (Annie Orphans Documentary) Airs on Showtime- Page 3

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 3:05am

No Andrea McArdle? Fine.

No Molly Ringwald? Okay.


But no Corine Dana Cohen? Unforgivable.


Actually, I was a bit surprised you left the f word in, seeing as this might otherwise be a fine little film for young girls (and boys, too, I suppose) who aspire to be a star.

[Maverick]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 5:02am

Proud brother posting alert!! While she certainly doesn’t need anyone speaking for her, I’m proud of my sister’s film. Having grown up sharing pieces of the Annie experience with my sister, and as an adult having intimate knowledge of this specific film project, I wanted to address some of the items noted on this posting board.

I can vouch 100% for my sister’s completely honest posts on this board. She had a very difficult balancing act in making this film. She wanted to be true to the very real issues kids in show business deal with for many years after childhood, she also wanted to be properly respectful to the show she loves and the friendships she’s made with many people surrounding it, and she certainly needed to also make a good film that had a chance to be distributed and viewed by people. Anyone seeing this film will know she did a very good job on all accounts.

Having started a web site a few years back to give former orphans a chance to reconnect, it was clear to her (as it would be to any of you creative and smart folks) that Annie impacted most of these girls’ lives in a significant and interesting way. When a bunch of girls that hadn’t kept in touch for the better part of 20 years can reconnect and find that they battled many of the same issues (good and bad) after sharing a common experience of performing as kids in the professional production of Annie, well…there was a story to be told.

Unfortunately, like many adults, reflecting on childhood issues can be difficult because we carry much of that baggage into adulthood. So why share this kind of difficult stuff? Well, as it has been pointed out, this kind of thing certainly makes for a more compelling film. But, just as significantly, it might actually be informative for others as a cautionary tale. Having seen, first hand, how Annie affected my sister AFTER the curtain fell (and she was as tough a kid as they come), I would never allow my own kid to go to WORK when they should instead be enjoying their childhood. With respect to Annie, many parents, including my own, were unaware of the long-term implications involved with allowing their children to go to work as a pre-teen in the VERY adult world of theatre. If this film helps even a few otherwise uninformed parents make a better choice about whether to allow their children to work as a professional actor, then it will have been a good thing. And think about it…how many other docs have you seen that provide this kind of perspective?

One other item that particularly bugged me and I wanted to address. A former Annie “orphan” (westender) who posted here is misleading about some key details. Let’s call a spade a spade here and dismiss all this cryptic junk about “personal knowledge” and such. You chose to not be interviewed for the film and are pissed that my sister related a story that involved her (in a fashion, by the way, that couldn’t have been less anonymous) which also involved you. That story illustrated something important to the film and I'm glad she chose to include it. Perhaps having now seen the film and read all the wonderful comments from regular people who are fans of Annie and seem to love the film, maybe you’re also thinking the choice to exclude yourself from this very well-meaning project was not such a good one. As much as anything, this film is a tribute to the experience of being a kid in that show and maybe you missed a chance to pay tribute. You question my sister’s commitment to your friendship, but in my view it is YOU who betrayed this friendship. You worked on the initial Annie orphans web site and posting boards with her (until you bailed) and encouraged her when she set out to pursue this film. As one of her closest friends from the Annie years, your puzzling refusal to allow your friend to interview you was, in my honest opinion, one of those passive aggressive unkind acts friends sometimes do to other friends in an attempt to derail them. For all the time, energy and support we both know my sister has given you over the years…”shame on you” is all that comes to mind. Unfortunately for you, my sister chose to move on and make the film anyway, even if you chose not to participate. Thankfully, many other women who were far less close to Julie were more than happy to be part of her vision for this documentary.

If you’re going to bag the film on internet posting boards, just come clean and reveal your real agenda. It’ll help put your comments in the proper context for readers of the posting boards. And also for the record, you’re pissed at the wrong person when it comes to that “personal knowledge” thing.

Here’s the bottom line on “Life After Tomorrow”…if you really love Broadway and the theater, then I think you’ll appreciate this film. It documents cast members’ experiences in this particular show like no other film or TV feature has done before. Why wouldn’t someone who enjoyed Annie and loves musical theatre also enjoy this rare behind-the-scenes documentary about experiences of the people involved in the production? It’s a no-brainer. Check it out for yourself and enjoy it as many on this posting board have already done.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 1:44pm

Personal issues aside,and I am sure the truth is somewhere in the middle. The film was Julie's film to make and edit as she saw fit. It is what it is.
I found it interesting but lacking a center. One of the holes is not having McArdle involved. It is a shame that she chose not to participate for whatever reason, and I am sure she has hers, but the fact is it is a huge hole in this film.
Why was the interview with the obsessive fan included? This was a film about the children involved. Although I found him to be an fascinating character, his inclusion takes the documentary away from its core.
I would have liked to see some of the parents interviewed. Did they have regrets? Did some of them find the liberation from their dreary lives that they were looking for?
I also found it a bit disturbing that the discussion of the mother who was also a member of the cast who really didn't want to care for her child on the road was followed by the woman who told us that her mother was also in the cast. So much for keeping the unfit mother anonymous. Was that intentional or coincidental?
Again, this was Julie's film and she doesn't really have to defend any of her decisions, but these are my thoughts after watching it.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 1:47pm

I found it interesting but lacking a center.

I felt the same way -- like it was a collection of quotes with a few old clips thrown in.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 1:48pm

Well, I just watched it.

I didn't think it was quite the bitchfest everyone was making it out to be.

There was only one woman who really annoyed me - I missed her name, though.

What's sad is how much these girls lost - their talent, I mean. Though maybe some higher-ups will see the ones who still have talent (and displayed said talent in the movie) and hire them.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 1:58pm

I think this thread demonstrates why people who create works should let the work speak for itself. Let it just exist without having to respond to "inaccuracies" and calling in the "proud sibling" contingent.

[westender]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 2:41pm

I'm not trying to bag your sister's documentary, on the contrary, I even said it made an interesting film. All I was stating is that I objected to her referencing my family because my family and I wanted to maintain our privacy, which is why I declined to be interviewed in the first place. A poster asked a question in regards to this and I decided to answer. Our friendship DID end over this situation with the film. And I finally had a chance to see the film and I didn't like the whiny aspect about it, that's all. I just gave my opinion like everyone else.


Oh and I wasn't trying to be cryptic or anything, I stayed anonymous because I don't usually give out my first and last name on the internet.

I think maybe you are reading too much into this...

[Toon]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 3:07pm

The post that Andrea's mother made on her website was in error.

Riiiiiight.

[Schuyler]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 3:17pm

Many people were now happy with Julie and her intentions. Andrea did not want to participate. She was not happy with julies agenda. She didn't keep that a secret. I personally know that Julie did make many enemies over this. She Lost friendships and general respect. I do not know why Shelley Bruce did not participate. I do know that Sarah was told that Andrea was particpating and that is why she agreed to be interviewed. If she would have known that andrea declined to be involved she would not have done the film.

[otis33]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 3:51pm

I've watched the documentary twice now. I found it fascinating, and pretty accurate. I stage a production of a pretty big show on the west coast every holiday season. The cast includes 20 kids. While I do wish the documentary had focused a bit more on the positive, I thought it was a fair representation.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 3:55pm

It doesn't really matter what happened behind the scenes. The fact is the film is not complete, in my opinion, without McArdle's participation. The finished product is what should be evaluated, not the path that led to it.
It would be like doing a documentary about Streetcar Named Desire without mentioning Jessica Tandy. Interesting, yes, but complete? Not a chance.

[TT]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 4:48pm

Ms. Stevens:

I didn't see your documentary for several reasons, but from what I've read it really focuses a lot on the children. Is there a reason you decided not to interview any members of the adult chorus who may not have had the best experiences performing in the numerous tours, the Pre-Broadway tour (1996-97 prior to the March 1997 opening), or on Broadway?

TT
Updated On: 12/30/06 at 04:48 PM

[otis33]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 5:33pm

The original dance captain from the Bway production is interviewed.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 7:19pm

I did not have a problem with the adult cast members being interviewed (and in fact there are at least two who are) since the focus was on how this experience affected the girls and their families. That is why I thought it would have been nice to include interviews with the other family members, and why the interview with Mr. Annie (did anyone else think of Dollypop/Hello Dolly during that segment?)seemed even more out of place.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 7:24pm

There's a lot of good drama in this thread - I need to get Showtime now.

[TomMonster]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 7:29pm

Who needs Showtime when you've got BWW!?!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 7:32pm

When is this thing coming out on dvd? And will there be any extras like former-orphan-cat-fight-mud-wrestling?

[TomMonster]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 7:34pm

I'd buy that!!

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 7:48pm

I am STILL waiting for an explanation on why Little CoCo Cohen did not participate in the doc.

[TT]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 8:54pm

Updated On: 12/30/06 at 08:54 PM

[Phantom2]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 9:07pm

Fake Chanel

[TT]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 9:13pm

Updated On: 12/30/06 at 09:13 PM

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 9:19pm

I'm watching it again right now on my tivo....just a fun fact! :)

[TomMonster]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 9:21pm

NLS--It's a wonderful documentary. I found it very entertaining and moving.

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 9:55pm

It's disturbing to me. haha. But it is entertaining!