Outside the frame filmmakers visit the mobile criterion closet
“The Criterion Collection Closet may offer more cinematic inspiration per square foot than any other place on the planet,” says their website.
The Criterion Collection is a prestigious collection of ~1500 restored art house films titles that are available to purchase and display as you would a rare book or beloved record. It is also a marketing phenomenon. Celebrities visit the closet, pick and discuss the films that have influenced them, providing a never ending stream of content and autographed Polaroids.
Last April I got an email from the Criterion Channel announcing to subscribers they had put a replica of the New York based closet in an 18 ft Fedex-style van and were on the road. To Portland. They would be parked outside the Portland Art Museum for two days and 3 min slots in the Closet were available, first come, first served.
I loathe waiting in line. Voluntarily waiting anywhere but the emergency room - like brunch - is beyond my comprehension. When I read that subscribers could enter a sweepstakes for a timed entry slot - no waiting required - I threw our name in the hat and forgot about it. We were busy making a superhero movie and preparing for our 10th anniversary screening at the Hollywood Theatre.
We won! Friday, May 29th, at noon. That morning, four Outside the Frame participants were screening their work and leading a discussion for high school students visiting from California and hosted by Tivnu, a social justice gap year program. When they finished the presentation I hustled them to the museum. The line was as long as the park blocks. We strolled up to the front of the line, got extra time in the Closet and free DVDs. I picked The Fisher King, because Robin Williams is our patron saint and because it was an inspiration during the making of the Lost Boys of Portlandia. Thanks to the kind and generous Criterion team!
Later, over chicken sandwiches, I overheard the group talking.
“We gotta get on those shelves.”
“Dude, we're gonna!”
Then they hurried off to the set of That Killer Feeling, a short indie sci-fi film, to work as Assistant Camera Operator and Art Department Production Assistants, gigs that our Film Career Manager, Maria Moreno, got for them. Maria was as proud to see their Polaroid as she was jealous of their experience. So Sixela took off her new Criterion pin and gave it to her.
When their films get inducted into the Criterion Collection, we’ll be ready with footage of them before they got famous.