Hoboken Days #19—Amanda Peet
(“#19”, as in the 19th entry on my Instagram page for my collection of Hoboken portraits done in the 80s & 90—have a look at Hoboken Days #1)
Making a movie and getting distribution is nothing short of a miracle. In 1997 I was witness to one effort by an Irish film director and his young actors to live that dream. The working title was “Sax and Violins” and was directed by the late Nye Heron. There was a role for a photographer, thus the renting of my 720 Monroe Street studio for a few scenes. Not filmed at my studio was the murder scene—darn—and there was no reference to the items in the film’s title. I’m not sure if the movie never saw a big screen.
The role of one of the models was portrayed by Amanda Peet. In one or her first movie roles, she might have been the lead—was she the victim? Barry McEvoy, the actor portraying the photographer—not likely the perp, too obvious—used my analog Nikon camera for his photo session scenes. It was soon obvious that neither McEvoy nor the director gave any thought to whether the camera should have film in it. I insisted on loading it with a roll so that observant movie-goers could see spinning rewind crank, adding some authenticity to show that the photographer wasn’t shooting blanks. A roll of 36 exposure Kodak Panatomic-X was volunteered.
Movie camera rolling, sound speed, and action! Best laid plans—after a few takes McEvoy had reached frame 36. When the film couldn’t advance further, the actor, mid-scene, clearly in the zone, simply let the film rip—and rip—and rip. Sigh…
The director must have figured I knew something about photography and asked me to shoot a roll or two of Ms. Peet in character. My dream of having my pictures in a film (thinking Eyes of Laura Mars with photos by Rebecca Blake) was about to be realized. Fingers crossed. Alas, I don’t recall a print order, so there went that fantasy. But time has passed, one actor earned fame and fortune—then along came this website and Instagram to showcase a few images taken some three decades ago.
Fast forward, I recently watched Ms. Peet and Jon Hamm in Your Friends & Neighbors. Brilliant series, riveting story, wonderful characters, great acting—I smell multiple Emmys. Almost thirty years later, she’s just as captivating—if not more so.
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To see more of my Hoboken Days project, start with #1 on my Instagram page
