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'Panelists' at AFM 'press conference' can take a joke - and give it back
By BOB MOCZYDLOWSKY, Contributing Writer
Assembled under the guise of a press conference
for the AFI FEST films HECKLER and MR.
WARMTH, a panel of filmmakers and comedians
attempted to make humorous sense from the sting of
criticism, the tete-a-tete of dealing with hecklers, and
the state of American free speech.
With MR. WARMTH producer Bob Engelman, HECKLER
director Michael Addis, Emmy-winning writers and comics
Greg Fitzsimmons and Rick Overton, and stand-up Scott
LaRose, the panel ran roughshod over prepared questions,
blurting out jokes and one-liners in a manner that made it
almost impossible to determine who said what.
During the moments when they stopped laughing and talking
over each other, some real gems emerged. Here are the
highlights. Enjoy!
Greg Fitzsimmons: "It's like this: I'm smarter than most
guys. I'm also small. If I can walk away with the fact that I'm
smarter than him and the heckler knows that, I will accept the
fact that he can kick the shit out of me. That's the deal."
Rick Overton: "Irony is the opposite of brutality. Not everyone
has Irony 8.6 installed. And some files print out with
the wrong fonts, and get misunderstood."
Michael Addis: "I just read a review for a movie called
Piglet's Big Adventure. The review said it was 'juvenile.'
What good does that do me?"
Greg Fitzsimmons: "Heckling is a dog fight. And you have
to prove you can't be hurt."
Greg Fitzsimmons: "Larry the Cable Guy packs auditoriums.
I'm not happy that those are the tastes of America, but
I can't blame the comedian for servicing those tastes. My
job is to change those tastes by being funny."
Rick Overton: "Our culture doesn't say what it thinks
intelligently anymore ... A free-speech zone doesn't mean
it's time to yell, 'Fuck You!'"
Michael Addis: "Comedy Clubs may just be the last bastion
of free speech in America. Where else can you talk
about race or religion honestly? There's nowhere left."
Greg Fitzsimmons: "You can't be held responsible for
people misunderstanding your comedy."
Rick Overton: "Comedy, when used effectively, isn't
dangerous to regular folk, it is dangerous to authority."
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