------------------------------------------------------------------------ STILL BREATHING ABOUT THE PRODUCTION Fletcher McBracken (Brendan Fraser) is an eccentric street performer living in San Antonio, Texas. For as long as anyone can remember, the men in Fletcher's family have had dramatic midnight visions about women -- or rather THE WOMAN who would be their lifelong love. Then it's been up to them to go out and find her. After desperately trying to induce a vision by drinking excessive amounts of coffee and making a giant collage of women's faces -- Fletcher finally gets his vision, a flash of dark eyes, a striking brunette's face and the word, "Formosa". Roz Willoughby (Joanna Going) is the woman who matches the face in Fletcher's vision. Roz is a former artist who has chased her dreams to Los Angeles, only to get lost in a sea of disillusionment and cynicism. Encouraged by her friend Elaine (Ann Magnuson) and armed with an evil sense of humor, she resorts to conning wealthy men in the world of Fine Art. We see her talents at work in an elaborate sting in which she cons a Argentinian polo player (Paolo Seganti). As Elaine tells her, "Don't worry, they always deserve it"... but Roz isn't so sure. She still has a spark of humanity left inside, but it's fading fast in the LA grind. Next, Elaine briefs Roz on her next "mark", a rich eccentric Texan she's supposed to meet at the Formosa Cafe in Hollywood. On an L.A. layover as he heads to the island of Formosa (Taiwan), Fletcher spies an article about the "Formosa Cafe" in Hollywood. He goes straight to the bar. Fletcher knows as soon as he sees her that Roz is the woman of his vision. Roz mistakes him for "The Other Texan" (Texas musician Junior Brown in his first screen role). Somehow, Fletcher seems different to Roz, although she can't quite figure out why (but some part of him illuminates a vivid dream she keeps having). His persistence and her own confused feelings make it impossible to escape the situation, and Roz soon finds herself in San Antonio with Fletcher, his musician grandmother Ida (Celeste Holm), and all his quirky friends. The more Roz learns about this oddly charming man, the more difficult it becomes for her to maintain control of the situation. Fletcher introduces her to San Antonio, where she seems to rediscover a world of artistic sensibilities and integrity she had long since given up on. While she is at the height of her unsettled feelings, Fletcher confesses his vision. Roz almost lets herself go, until one of the locals reveals that his "day job" is as a puppeteer on Alamo Plaza. Convincing herself that his vision is false and she could never be with a mere street performer -- even if he offers true love -- Roz runs back to Los Angeles and starts hunting for another man. Unable to re-enter the empty world she has so recently left, Roz evaluates herself and her life. As difficult as it is for this disillusioned young woman to believe in her own capacity to love and be loved -- she risks her heart and returns to San Antonio -- fulfilling a personal journey that ends with self-realization, romance and redemption. Brendan Fraser and Joanna Going head the cast of STILL BREATHING, a magical romance which was shot on-location in San Antonio, Texas and Los Angeles. Also starring in the ensemble cast are Ann Magnuson, Toby Huss, Angus MacFadyen, Lou Rawls, Paolo Seganti, Michael McKean, and Academy Award� winner Celeste Holm. The film features an eclectic musical soundtrack that includes tracks from Morphine, Sub Dub, Texas Tornadoes, Louie Armstrong, Augie Meyers, Flaco Jimenez, the cult sixties band, The Feminine Complex, as well as new music from Rita Springer, Junior Brown and Madeleine Peyroux. The film also features the classic jazz music of THE JIM CULLUM JAZZ BAND as well as a mix of Classical, Opera, Blues and Latin music, and a new score by composer PAUL MILLS. STILL BREATHING is written, produced and directed by James F. Robinson. Ms. Marshall Persinger is the producer. Joyce Schweickert is the executive producer and Janet Graham is the co-executive producer. The independently financed motion picture is produced by ZapPictures Inc. in association with Seattle Pacific Investments Inc. "STILL BREATHING is a romantic drama/comedy updated and twisted around to fit the complicated and dangerous waters of love and ambition in the 90's," explains Writer/Producer/Director Jim Robinson. Producer Marshall Persinger continues "it is a film about urban women who have tried so hard to make it. Forging new lives where maybe you don't get married and maybe you get burned by the system along the way, but you keep trying and hoping." "The title STILL BREATHING has a double meaning," says Robinson. "On one hand, modern life can beat us down so much that about all we can do is claim that we are 'still breathing'. On the other, it's like the antidote to that whole cynical/stress gotta-get-my-share world -- to be still and just breathing -- to break things down to their basics like Fletcher does. There's a love scene in the film where Fletcher tells Roz just to be still," continues Robinson. "That's the one thing people never are in Los Angeles, just still. People are always moving, going, or thinking; "what am I gonna do here?" or "how do I get ahead?" or "who do I meet to help me?" There's rarely a sense of stillness. "I think that as we live our life, the disappointments and disillusionments pile up -- and suddenly we look in the mirror and don't recognize ourselves anymore," explains Robinson. "We get cynical and hardened and start to enjoy that black little world. It feels kind of hip at the time, but it's really both sad and destructive. Roz is a product of her times and the world she lives in, a kind of romantic anti-heroine. In most traditional romances, the heroine is looking for love, or thwarted in her desire to gain love... but in this film Roz AVOIDS falling in love... in fact she sees love as a sham and a weakness, and when she starts to feel something, actually RUNS from it. So Roz's world has become all about control, trying to control her out-of-control world in whatever way she can". One example of this is one of Roz and Fletcher's most important scenes, when they see each other for the first time. They meet in Los Angeles at the Formosa Cafe, a bar, and instantly Fletcher knows that she is the one he has set out to find. He just has to figure out how not to blow it. He's amazed that she is there, after all these years of waiting for the dream. For Roz, there is something in Fletcher that catches her off guard. She is so concerned with being in control, but here's a guy who isn't predictable -- she can't get a handle on him. What is so interesting to her about Fletcher is that she finds herself unable to get control of their relationship. She feels out of control for the first time in ages and it both delights and disgusts her. It is the relationship between Roz and Fletcher that is the driving force of STILL BREATHING. Roz is a woman who has been through a lot. She has become used up emotionally, so that she does not trust people. As a result, Roz has resorted to exploiting people for her own benefit. She is a con artist that creates scams to trick men out of money. Fletcher, on the other hand, is the romantic artist who believes in following his emotions and his heart, like his father and grandfather before him. Fletcher is an artist and a musician; emotions are what is important to him. He does not care about money or status. So when Roz and Fletcher do meet, it is like two opposites colliding. They are so different, but it is the differences between the two that will in turn give them each a new outlook on life. The casting for the roles of Fletcher and Roz was very important. Robinson explains, "I saw a movie that Joanna Going was in at the Sundance Film Festival (EDEN). I had to leave the screening early because there was a blizzard and I needed to get back to Los Angeles -- and driving down the mountain in this dense blizzard, this thing hit me... I knew she was the only actress that should play Roz. I saw something in her that made me know that she could really capture the dark and complicated and beautiful essence of who Roz was. So, as soon as I could I flew to New York to meet Joanna, and the next day... she was Roz." Having picked a relative unknown in the film world to play the female lead in STILL BREATHING would cause some problems in getting the film made, admitted Robinson. "Joanna has done excellent work in many films including WYATT EARP, HOW TO MAKE AN AMERICAN QUILT, and NIXON, but she, up to that time, had never played a leading role in a released feature film. There was, naturally, a lot of pressure to cast an actress that was a household name," says Robinson, "I had many people tell me I was crazy to cast Joanna, because the script was getting a lot of attention among some very well-known actresses in Hollywood. But I had great producers that stood by me, and my gut feelings, when I insisted that we give the part of Roz to Joanna," says Robinson. Ms. Persinger, one of the producers that backed him on his choice, says, "Once Joanna was set, we had to find the perfect man to fill the Fletcher role. We need someone who could balance this child-like artistic persona with the sexiness of a man who knows what he wants and goes out and makes it happen. And we needed a star who believed in the script and wanted to take a chance with a first-time feature director. We were going after several actors that we thought were right to play Fletcher. We were really stressing over finding the right actor because no one seemed just right. Brendan, it turns out, had gotten a hold of the script and wanted to meet with us. He came in and said that he knew was right for the part, and fifteen minutes later, we were convinced that he was perfect to play Fletcher. And he was wonderful!" "Brendan brought so much of himself into this project", says Robinson. "Fletcher is an artist, a thinker, and an all-round oddball guy who comes to believe in the idea that there is one woman in the world for him -- and it's up to him to find her and make this thing work without scaring her away. Brendan created a Fletcher with this kind of wonderful, mythic quality that reaches out to Roz. The thing about Roz is that she sees so many different kinds of men and she's always ahead of them, because she's usually smarter than they are. In Fletcher she finds someone she can't quite figure out. There's no handle, exactly. He's genuine, he's real -- and that throws her. Joanna is really stunning, a gifted actor who brings an amazing depth to this part. To watch them on the screen, the two of them, is breathtaking. Not only because they look so great together, but that they have each developed their characters so distinctly. Joanna expresses this kind of exquisite sadness in Roz -- a pain inside that comes from denying and losing touch with yourself. She hit all of these beautiful little notes... And Brendan created the character of the Texan Fletcher with a true sense of childlike vision and direct honesty -- a man who can see right through Roz and show her what is really important. And Brendan was full of such great comic ideas and improvisations -- he really made Fletcher truly unforgettable." Counterbalancing the relationship between Fletcher and Roz are the characters of Elaine (Ann Magnuson) and Ida (Celeste Holm). Through them, the viewer gets to see the real Fletcher and Roz. "Ann Magnuson plays Elaine," explains Robinson, "Roz's best friend, who is also her mentor in this shady world of fine art cons. You can't help but enjoy this completely amoral, wonderful character that Ann plays so well. She has a really special energy and timing that's just wonderful. She has created these wonderful subtle comic moments that are so brilliant and precise that you could never write them." Roz and Elaine are two of the con artists of the film. The two women trust no one, except each other (and then, barely). The disillusionment that Roz expresses through the film is shown differently when she is with Elaine. Roz is not always defensive with Elaine -- she expresses her feelings. Ms. Persinger explains, "In the dressing room, Elaine and Roz have a scene where they just nail the way that type of woman really thinks. I love scenes where women are together talking in a completely uncensored way. This particular scene is fun because they are doing two things at once. They are planning this con with Elaine briefing Roz on how this guy is supposed to be and what's the best way to get him. At the same time, they are being playful and trying on all these wonderful clothes. Through what appears to be a superficial scene, we get to see what Roz, as she really is, is looking for in her life." The con that Roz and Elaine pull off at the beginning of the film is on Tomas (Paolo Seganti from "As The World Turns"). Tomas is a wealthy foreigner who is hot on the trail for Roz. He spends money on her to impress her, expensive dinners, anything she wants. The scam involves getting Tomas to purchase a painting that Roz (supposedly) loves. The painting is in a gallery run by their friend Philip (Angus MacFadyen from BRAVEHEART) who is also in on the scam. Ida (Celeste Holm), Fletcher's grandmother, is the person that Fletcher confides in the most. It is through her that we see where Fletcher gets his knowledge and strength. "Celeste Holm is an absolute delight in this film", says Robinson. "She plays an retired jazz tuba player who, at this stage of her life, is only interested in playing classical music. We see so much of her in him and vice versa. It's great to see their relationship. They communicate artistically -- they play music together. She understands more of what's going on in his head by listening to him play than by talking to him. Through Ida, we can see where Fletcher has gotten his clarity of thought and his true understanding of the human experience." Another person that really explains Fletcher's character is The Tree Man played by musical-legend Lou Rawls. The Tree Man is a kind of mystic/narrator of the film, a street performer who plays the massive baritone sax and pushes a big tree planted in a shopping cart to provide shade in the hot Texas sun. He is a friend and mentor of Fletcher's that shows him the ways of the world, not necessarily through words (he barely speaks) but in music. It is this music that transcends the problems in everyone's lives. Persinger says, "It is wonderful to see how many people will support an independent film like this -- and really give their heart to something they believe in. Jim wouldn't have gotten to direct the project the way he did, nor would the casting be as eclectic as it is, if we did not go the independent way. Other potential investors wanted to change the casting and change the ending of the film and the end result wouldn't be as remarkable a story as the one that we created." After shooting on location in San Antonio, Texas at locations including the Alamo, the San Antonio River, and the historic San Jos� Mission, the production filmed for several weeks in Los Angeles at locations including the Formosa Cafe and the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Principal photography on STILL BREATHING was completed on July 14, 1996. This film was first screened at the Fine Arts Theater in Beverly Hills, California on December 11th, 1996.

meant to respond to the comment in the other topic about trailers that give away the plot--how about REVIEWERS that give away the plot?!?! I stopped reading reviews because they ruin movie-going for me: if I already know what's going to happen, it's just not so much fun. So, this sounds like a great flick (adore San Antone and Ann Magnuson), but unless my Alzheiner's kicks in and I can forget the plot, it'll be another ruined film for me! I wish there was some way reviewers could warn you they're just going to re-hash the plot rather than actually reviewing the performances, direction, cinematography, etc--geez, I don't mean to sound so harsh; you did a wonderful job there, but I wish you could put the plot re-hashment in italics so I could skip it and go on to your own thoughts section. Now you're going to think I'm a meanie--THANKS for reviewing an indie film I might otherwise not know about. Sorry I'm such a stickler.

I think you would still enjoy it. The plot wasn't the central focus of this movie, but the characters and the interplay and the music. From now on, we'll put ** spoiler alert ** ahead of reviews or comments that give away the plot. I'm with you on that one, Aubrey.

did my last message make it or not? my server is acting up

I guess not. Anyway, no time to re-type it all now, just a most abject apology for my snippiness yesterday and I'll write the rest later eh!

Ha! I snatched another few moments from the jaws of the gummint (I'm sort of a state employee--I shouldn't admit my theiving ways, should I)--what I meant to say was most of my postings yesterday were way too peevish due to my crabby mood. Your review was excellent and I will look for the flick at The Inwood or the UA Cine here in Dallas. I'va actually developed a self-preservation technique for reading movie reviews whereby I blur my eyes until I think the plot re-hashment is done. That kicked in abo t 10 lines into your review, so what with my old-timer's disease and all, I should be ok. And it's not like you were giving away the plot key wherein the chanteuse is revealed to be *spoiler alert* a MAN!!! (if you know what I mean and I hope you do). Please do keep us posted on any movies made in or about Austin! Or any movies that seem cool!

This isn't a movie but there's a new cartoon series on tv which takes place in Austin. Have you heard of it? It's kind a remote Beavis and Butthead spinoff.

Is it that one about their female nemesis--?Darla? or something? I did hear something about a psinoff like that but had no idea it was Austin-related. Cool! What's it called? When's it on? People will wonder what happened to the Still Breathing portion of the topic as we slowly fade in to...something completely different!

Yeah, it's called "drifting" in some quarters. Maybe we can get the Still Breathing website to link to here. I'll start another topic for that cartoon series about Austin when I remember the name!

I was puttering around the house this weekend with The Simpsons on as background noise, when it suddenly slammed me in the face like a bag of hot nickels: terry must have meant King of the Hill! which comes on right after the Simpsons here. It's FABULOUSLY funny, particularly for those of us who grew up here in the Lone Star State and KNOW these guys! I have really enjoyed it and hope that I don't put my usual curse on it by watching regularly. Hank Hill is such an excellent...well, I almost said car cature, but he's not really. Peg his wife is the very picture of a suburban housewife who's branching out a bit. Bobby is such a husky amiable kid, he's the perfect foil to Hank's bluster.

You got it. King of the Hill is steeped in bubbaland lore (S Austin). It's a favroite topic on the Sammy and Bob show.

See, I thought it was supposed to be in Austin, but I missed Sunday's episode in the middle of which my sister called asking where is it located because they apparently take a road trip to the Dallas area that somehow indicates their proximity to Big D--I'll have to watch it for myself. Wherever it is, it's sure nuff a buncha bubbas!

I missed Sunday's show too, but they do lots of reruns.

October Films has picked this up. These are the folks that distributed 'The Last Seduction', so Still Breathing may still be breathing.

Check out these interesting "crew diaries": http://www.stillbreathing.com/zappictures/films/stillbreathing/onlocation/diaries/diariescontents.html

Wonder when it will be coming to Austin again?

I liked the movie,it has a cute plot.I cleary did not like the way they portrayed San Antonio as a little town in Texas with a bunch of hillbillies.It was ridiculious and very stereotypical.San Antonio is the 8th largest city in the nation and now larger than Dallas.It has a population upwards of 1.3 million in the city and a metro area of about 1.7 million.The San Antonio/Austin corridor has a population of about 3.1 million and is one of the fastest growing regions in the nation.San Antonio is also a top tourist destination,government,biomedical,manufacturing, headquarter center.It is definately a modern metropolis but does have a beautiful tranquill side to it in certain area's.I don't think San Antonio was portrayed the way it really is an because of this I was disappointed with the movie.

Guess that means I should not see it and assume all Austinites are like that?! I am ever eager to learn more about TX and Austin in particular. I have been known to watch deplorable stuff just to look at the location scenery...