Special Screening of "Smash His Camera" on June 4, 2010 at the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock, New York.
(All Photos © Nick Stepowyj - June 4, 2010)
(L-R)
Doug Abel, Adam Schlesinger, Linda Saffire, Ron Galella, Craig Hazen, myself & Meira Blaustein.
Legendary Paparazzo Ron Galella made a visit up to The Bearsville Theater in Woodstock, New York for the special screening of "Smash His Camera" benefiting The Woodstock Film Festival. "Smash" is a feature documentary by Academy Award-winning director Leon Gast which chronicles the life and times of self-described Paparazzi Superstar Ron Galella.
Doug Abel, Meira Blaustein, Ron Galella & Leon Gast
Guests at the screening included producers Adam Schlesinger and Linda Saffire, assistant editor Justin Martinez, score composer Craig Hazen, photographers David McGough and Carl Belfiglio and the Woodstock Film Festival's founder Meira Blaustein. The film's editor, Doug Abel, was also in attendance. Abel is the operator of the Woodstock Farm & Animal Sanctuary, and is known for editing the Oscar-winning documentary "The Fog Of War", the hit television show "30 Rock" and cult classics "Strangers With Candy" and "Pootie Tang". Woodstock alumnus Chris Stein, musician and songwriter famous for his role in the rock band Blondie was also there to celebrate the event.
Chris Stein & Ron GalellaDirector Leon Gast won an Academy Award for Best Documentary for his 1996 film "When We Were Kings" profiling the Rumble in the Jungle heavyweight championship boxing match between George Foreman and Muhammad Ali. His other directorial credits include "Hells Angels Forever" and "The Grateful Dead" movie. A Woodstock resident, Gast received an award for Best Director for "Smash" at this year's Sundance Film Festival.
Leon GastGalella's persistence in getting off-guard, candid shots of the world's most famous people has garnered him a broken jaw at the hands of Marlon Brando, slashed tires by Elvis's bodyguards and two famous lawsuits by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis - it's also earned his photos a permanent place in the Museum of Modern Art and several critically acclaimed photography books. "Smash" shows the inner workings of the famous Onassis vs. Galella trial, analysis on the Freedom of the Press and the First Amendment, and Ron's own paparazzi tricks of the trade. Interviews with Liz Smith, Dick Cavett, Marvin Scott, Thomas Hoving, Chuck Close, Harry Benson, Graydon Carter and Bonnie Fuller among many others depict Galella as a "parasite" and "national treasure".
"Smash His Camera" debuted June 7 on HBO as the first installment of the station's summer documentaries series. The film was recently picked up by Magnolia Pictures for theatrical release.
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