Last night was the premiere of “Harry Grows Up” (a short film starring a little boy named Lucas with my daughter Mazzy as his love interest) at the New York International Short Film Festival.
From the second Mazzy showed up on screen, I started crying.
The movie is a paraody of a classic New York love story. It is not sad. But there I was overcome with emotion. Like a mother watching her child get married or something.
Mike leaned over to me at one point and whispered, “She’s so tiny.” The movie was filmed last summer and Mazzy’s short hair, chubby cheeks and wobbly walking reminded me of how much she’s changed in such a short time.
It feels like yesterday and forever ago all at once.
The movie was received ridiculously well at the festival.
This could be because out of the 100 people in audience, at least 85 of them were related to the two miniature stars.
But I suspect it was more because my friend Mark Nickelsburg (the director) made a really special film.
Also, I don’t think it escaped anyone how amazing it is that Mark managed to wrangle two toddlers to follow a scripted story.
Yesterday, there was an interview with Mark in the New York Times about the making of the film where he revealed insider industry secrets like using images of Elmo on his iPhone to get Lucas and Mazzy to look at the camera.
Can’t you see Elmo surrounded by hearts in Mazzy’s eyes in the image up top?
Mark told me that after the film makes the festival rounds, he does have plans to release it online so someday soon, I will be able to share “Harry Grows Up” with all of you.
In the mean time, here’s the trailer for a little taste:
As you can see, Mazzy did not make it into the trailer. Don’t tell her. The last thing I need is a toddler starlet tantrum on my hands.
Truth be told, my daughter has already let the movie go to her head. Even though we did not take her to the premiere (it was past her bedtime and I don’t think she would have sat quietly through it).
When we got home, we asked the sitter (easily booked through UrbanSitter, thank you very much) how everything went.
She said that in the midst of a diaper changing stand-off, Mazzy made an announcement.
“I’m a movie star.”
OH, HELL NO.
We’re gonna put a lid on that real quick.
There will be many more tears shed if I end up with one of these:
She is going to want a personal shopper any day now!
will there be copies available on Canal Street soon? 🙂 and obviously Mazzy won’t be one of those stars, but will be more like Kiernan Shipka.
Dakota Fanning seems pretty grounded too. I wouldn’t even mind an Olsen twin. Those girls are savvy and shrewd.
Yes- someone who will buy her all the Giants t-shirts her dresser can hold.
I’d like to ask for an autograph now. Thank you.
i’d totally cry too! i cry whenever my husband mentions me dancing with my 22-mo son at his wedding. argh! that man! shameful. anyways, i can’t wait to see the movie. i will definitely need tissues!
perhaps without the eating disorder. where did those two go, btw? or maybe i’m not reading the right magazines, parenting doesn’t cover celebrities, do they? wait, i don’t read magazines, i have a 3 year old boy.
We demand to see the movie! I anticipate a similar bawl-fest at Anna’s preschool moving-up ceremony next week, where she’s only ‘moving up’ to the next room.
Can’t wait to see the movie. Love the trailer.
“As you can see, I’m hopelessly in love.”
Oh my.
Can you hear me swooning all the way out in California?
So cute. I can’t vouch for the olsen twins now but as someone who knew them a little at Mazzy’s age, they were sweet and adorable and their parents were really grounded, so Mazzy will be fine, right?
The trailer gave me chills so I can only imagine what the movie is like! This is so fun for you all. I bet it was just amazing to see her up there… 🙂
Wow…trailer gave me chills too. I want to see the movie! Looks adorable.
Not to mention billionaires. I would love it for my son to have his first billion before he turns 18. However, right now I would settle for him to stop following me into the bathroom