The Art of Film
Val Kilmer mingles with Decoding Annie Parker execs at Dallas International Film Festival party
Movie enthusiasts and filmmakers mingled way past midnight at the Crow Collection of Asian Art for the Dallas International Film Festival party for Decoding Annie Parker. The film, starring Helen Hunt, follows the lives of Annie Parker, a woman diagnosed with breast cancer, and Mary Claire King, the geneticist who discovers a link between DNA and breast cancer.
After a screening of the heart-wrenching film, guests participated in a Q&A with Dallas-based executive producer Johnathan Brownlee, first-time director Steven Bernstein, Annie Parker and co-writer Mike Moss.
Parker discussed why she decided to share her story — to urge people to get tested and to show how cancer affects the victim as well as loved ones. Brownlee added that his goal is to work with cancer organizations such as the American Cancer Society to hold benefit screenings.
After a moving and personal interaction with the crew, moviegoers moved to the after party for hors d’oeuvre and drinks. There we chatted with DIFF CEO Lee Papert, who admitted he had a lot of movie watching left to do when he’s not working the festival.
Among the film’s supporters were Jessica Vale and Nika Offenbac, writer and producer of DIFF film Small Small Thing; Bobbi Jo Hart, producer of I Am Not a Rockstar with pianist Marika Bournaki; Ron Lester, actor in Varsity Blues; AJ Schnack, co-director of We Always Lie to Strangers; Marianne Cook; Geoff Warrow; Allan McBee; and Sarah Papert.
But more intrigued by the Asian art was actor Val Kilmer, who was caught admiring the vast collection while accompanied by Trammell Crow.