Michigan - Talk to the Hand

TWISTED screened at The Michigan Theater this weekend. Our biggest venue so far, the theater had 1700 seats, though we kept a few empty (ok - at least a few). As usual, we were really pleased with the response from the audience. Ann Arbor is, as Michiganders would have you know, approximately in the palm of the hand. Of course, Michigan is not a hand, it is a state. But that doesn't stop those meshugenna Michiganders from insisting otherwise.

We were originally supposed to have a screening earlier in the week, but the theater had a problem with our screener and never told us until a few hours before the show. We tried everything, to no avail. We thought we'd finally figured it out when our DVD distributor sent a digital file of the film. But a thunderstorm at the theater knocked out the power and let us know that the universe simply did not want us to play that night. We're sorry to those who showed up on Thursday - especially to the wonderful local twisters who worked hard to create sculptures at the theater. But we were happy to find the sculptures still in good shape for the weekend and we were appreciative to the twisters who came back to support the film.


All was well by Saturday, and Sara made a quick trip to Ann Arbor to do Q and A. Host/ former Eliot resident Lauren put up fliers around town and several people we met that morning had already heard about the screening. We were mentioned in some local papers and a few people heard about us on the radio and on The Today Show. One guy at the theater told us that his friend is a DJ who mentioned the film. A few callers complained that the film was filthy. If only they complained on air, perhaps we could have filled all 1700 seats. We don't know if the callers have seen the movie or just read about it, but we continue to be surprised by the attention given to adult balloons, such a small part of the film.

The rest of the weekend was spent eating (Lauren is a baker at the world-famous Zingermans - which is seen below with a balloon dog by the always busy cash register) and getting a quick tour of Ann Arbor.


On Saturday night, we went to Top Of The Park, an outdoor music fest and twisted all of the remaining balloons from that day's screening. Lauren had never twisted before, but made balloon dogs for kids like a champ. She sported the balloon dog T all weekend, though wisely chose to cover it up at home, so her bird would not decorate it.


Thanks to all those who made it out to the screenings. As has been the case in every city, it was great to see friends from childhood and college, and random people we've met along the way, at the screenings.