Lisa Picard is Famous

Colour, 35mm
USA, 2001, 90 min
Section: Forum of Independents

Synopsis

Lisa Picard is a struggling New York actress who hopes to get more than a fleeting taste of fame. After making an erotic cereal commercial and being cast in an upcoming TV movie, it looks as if she has finally made her breakthrough. The director aims to capture the process of becoming famous in its early stages, and thus tracks Lisa’s every move during her crusade to stardom. Surprisingly, it is not Lisa, but her quiet, shy and neglected friend Tate, who finally finds fame. This story about nameless aspiring young actors, humiliating auditions, burning ambitions, and the effect fame has on friendship was based on the real experiences of certain script writers: the result is an authentic, satirical and hilarious look inside the world of film. A witty and intelligent fake documentary about making a documentary – and, of course, about fame.

About the director

Griffin Dunne (1955, New York) is an accomplished actor (An American Werewolf in London, After Hours), producer (After Hours, Running on Empty, White Palace) and director. His first short film, Duke of Groove (1995) was nominated for an Oscar. It was followed by his feature debut Addicted to Love (1997) with Meg Ryan and Matthew Broderick and Practical Magic (1998) with Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman.