Drake Doremus, the twenty-seven-year old director of "Douchebag", appeared at the Regency South Coast Village Theatre on Friday night, October 15,along with stars of his film, to do a Q & A with audience on the film at the prime time show.
The theatre was packed, as Doremus, who was brought up in Newport Beach and Santa Ana, is well-known and liked by locals, including many students from the high school he teaches at in Santa Ana, Orange County High School of the Arts.
He is a young director, and has had his first two films, "Spooner", and "Douchebag," play the Newport Beach Film Festival, and "Douchebag" was accepted and played at Sundance, where it got great audience and critical reaction.
Many of the audience had knowledge of the film, and came dressed as "Douchebag" characters.
The film is the story of quot;Douchebag", Sam Nussbaum, who on the verge of his wedding, leads his estranged brother on a wild goose chase to find his first girlfriend from childhood. But the movie is much more than that, it is darkly humorous, and Andrew Dickler, playing the title character, gives a great performance as an obnoxious know-it-all, with a huge, streaked red beard of which even Santa would be envious, who also has a drop dead gorgeous fiance.
The two brothers embark on a road trip to Palm Springs, with accompanying encounters and verbal repartee, where Sam finally comes to the realization what a "douchebag" he is
There are scenes, like Dickler's speech about being a vegetarian, and the scene of two brothers fooling around in the motel room, are absolutely fantastic and give Doremus far more credibility than
a second film usually would.
As viewers, we become sympathetic to a guy who we can't stand, but have some interest in because we want to know just what the heck did this beautiful woman see in him. It is a great journey that most of us take to find humility, and Doremus captures it in a funny, glib, at times mesmerizing, and especially enticing style, with acting that capture's the director's vision.
In speaking with Doremus, he shared with me, that he especially like the fact that his film had a booking engagement at the Regency South Coast Village Theatre, a theatre we had had viewed many seminal films in his young lifetime.
The film is playing at the Regency South Coast Village Theatre, 1561 W. Sunflower Ave, Santa Ana, across the street from South Coast Plaza, and showtimes can be found HERE.
The Q&A below is a transcript given to me by local film maven, T.L. Black, who was in attendance at the screening.
Q & A with Drake Doremus, Andrew Dickler, Ben York Jones - the director and stars, and all were screenwriters, of this motion picture, "DOUCHEBAG", now playing at the Regency South Coast Village Theatre.
Audience: How long did take to make this film?
Drake Doremus (director): About a year-and-a-half to film it twice.
Aud: Is the character Mary Barger based on anyone"
DD: Yes, I really knew her in the 5th grade and, as a matter of fact, she is in the audience tonight. Mary, please stand up.
(Mary stands from some seats near the rear of the auditorium and waves - the audience claps)
DD: We reunited for Sundance and she has participated in these events when she can.
Aud: Have you rekindled your love affair?
DD: (Laughing) No, as a matter of fact she has a very nice boyfriend.
(Mary's boyfriend puts his arm around her)
Aud: How did you come up with this story?
DD: It was a collaboration between four of us. Andrew (lead actor Andre Dickler) and I started talking about life experiences and we began to put this together.
Aud: What other movies have you been in?
Andrew Dickler: This is my first. I am actually a film editor in real life.
Aud: Did you like acting in this film?
AD: Yes, I had fun. It was interesting being on the other side of the camera/production for a change
Aud: What was it like working with Ben York Jones (other lead actor) as your brother?
AD: It was fun - we got into some real fights - just kidding.
DD: Let's ask Ben, who's here tonight. Ben?
(Ben comes down to the front of the auditorium from the back row)
Ben York Jones: Actually, we weren't sure whether we were going to be brothers or just good friends. Brothers seemed to have more resonance.
DD: Having them be brothers made for better dialogue.
Aud: Where did you find the art used in the film?
BYJ: The artist is actually a friend of mine and he was really nice about letting us use it in the film.
Aud: Where did you get the music?
DD: Mostly from a group we know and love, The Goddam Electric Bill. The other songs we got from the artists. It is hard to get music, but if you demonstrate how passionate you are about a particular song and explain how it fits into the film, they will let you use it.
Aud: What about the actresses?
DD: They are all terrific. We were happy to get them. We worked with Wendi of Reno 911 because she was a Groundling, like my mom, and we liked Nicole in Half-Nelson and wanted to work with her. We got Marguerite Moreau from Central Casting.
Aud: Are you a vegetarian and did you really eat that hamburger?
AD: No, I am not a vegetarian and yes I ate the hamburger. It would be hard for me to be a vegetarian because I really love a good hamburger...and chicken soup. But it is easy to see how one could become a vegetarian. Trying to finish that scene, I ate 4 hamburgers, 3 orders of fries, and 5 sodas. After all that, you want to become a vegetarian.
Aud; Did you really screw that girl in the scene?
(Boisterous, loud laughter and catcalls from the audience)
AD: (slightly red and embarrassed - long pause - takes both mics, one in each hand - another pause) No.
(Audience sighs with the sound of a letdown)
DD: Last question
Aud: Do you think your character and the girl had sex with each other.
AD: I don't know. I don't think so.
DD: Thank you everyone for coming.
