Phoenix Film Festival: Billy Zane, Oliver Stone attend screenings for Centerpiece Films
PHOENIX (AZFamily)—The 25th Phoenix Film Festival is currently underway at the Harkins Theatres Scottsdale 101 location.
Saturday’s Centerpiece Films were Waltzing with Brando and a reunion event for Oliver Stone’s classic Vietnam War film Platoon.
Saturday’s first Centerpiece Film, Waltzing with Brando, stars Billy Zane as legendary Oscar winner Marlon Brando. Zane and director Bill Fishman were both in attendance to walk the red carpet and participate in a Q&A after the film.
When asked whether stepping into the huge shoes (and jowls) of Marlon Brando gave him any anxiety, Zane responded, “Understandably, many actors would be, including myself, would be certainly daunted by the opportunity.”
He added, “I had to opt for his level of authenticity which was to be loose and fluid and fairly joyful in the process is how I found myself. So, no, there wasn’t anxiety, which is completely counterintuitive, but I think it’s what made it work, for me, anyway.”
The second Centerpiece Film was the reunion event for the 1986 film Platoon. Director Oliver Stone, actors Keith David, Corey Glover, Paul Sanchez, and other actors and crew members who worked on the film were in attendance.
“It was a big experience for me. It was one of my first ones,” Stone said when asked about his thoughts on the film all these decades later.
“I won an Oscar, believe it or not, and we won Best Picture, believe it or not. It was a very low budget movie shot in the Philippines, and I was really surprised, but for some reason, it touched an emotion, and it went through people.”
Stone and the members of the cast and crew participated in a Q&A after the screening. Stone was then presented with the Phoenix Film Festival’s Honorary Copper Wing Award and a signed poster from the cast and crew.
The Phoenix Film Festival runs through Sunday, April 6. For tickets and a full schedule of the films playing, visit their website.
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