Tamara: Arclight Q&A with Mangold and Konrad

It took this audience awhile to relax but they eventually decided it was okay to laugh. They were silent otherwise and there was very nice applause at the end.

Nearly everyone stayed through the credits, waiting for the Q&A with director Jim Mangold and producer Cathy Konrad. This time they noticed credits like "assistant to Ben Wade" (instead of the expected "assistant to RC"), and laughed.

Not only is Dave Oliver (Russell's long time stand-in) visible for the first time ever in this film, but he has an amusing credit – Evil Bartender.

Questions posed by students and a professor about film making kept my hands in my lap as I swallowed my more fannish questions. Mangold and Konrad repeatedly said how Russell was the right man for the job, the one they had wanted from the beginning, as well as previous comments about how terrific the cast got on. Mangold is not a fan of big preparation or rehearsal beyond a basic group understanding of how everyone is going to play their character. Konrad noted, "This is not a film about the landscape, this is a film about the landscapes … the psychology … of the people." The pair agreed that they were pleased with how the addition of the father and son dynamic, and the contest for Will's loyalty, had enhanced the story. My favorite response came when Mangold took a rather flat question about the moral of the story and launched into a passionate tangent about a pet peeve I share - how annoyed he gets with films that try to tell you what to think. "A film should make you ask questions, not tell you what to believe!" He has an irreverent manner of speaking and a quick, witty mind which makes him easy to listen to and I imagine interesting to work with as well.

After, in the lobby, there was an easy, quiet opportunity for Darrin and myself to approach them. We both shook Mr. Mangold's hand. I said that we had each seen the film three times. They seemed surprised and pleased, rather than alarmed, which was fortunate.

He's very easy to talk to and so polite – he asked our names. I didn't want to take too much time so I chose one question – thanks to Secretariat – about the idea for Ben's sketches – as it was not in the original Yuma and clearly one of many things they've added to enrich the story. They consulted, as they do about every question, and Mangold said that had come from writer Stuart Beattie.

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From Darrin: The screening at the Arclight was terrific as usual, it's a massively wonderful theatre to watch films in for many reasons, not the least of which is the assigned seating arrangements, allowing you to enjoy your evening, rather than standing in line.  I got to take note of many more little details this third viewing, such as the excellent use of camera angles to convey different emotions during certain scenes as well as getting to hear a few more lines missed in previous viewings.  (As Tamara said, this audience was a bit quieter, in a paying-a-lot-of-attention way.)

The Q&A after was excellent.  So many times these forums are riddled with lame questions you can tell the guests just wish they wouldn't have to deal with, but in this case, both questions and answers were interesting in the extreme.  When Mr Mangold spoke to how films shouldn't be morality "lessons" and instead should be provocative and make you think, I almost stood up and applauded.  There's nothing worse than being "told" by a director, "you will cry here!" or "you will feel guilty here!" and I was absolutely delighted to find out that Mr Mangold felt the same way, and told him so in the lobby afterwards.  He's a very nice person, approachable and wonderfully smart.  No wonder I loved "Walk The Line" so much!  His "3:10 to Yuma" is a perfect celebration of all of that.  I hope Russell and he can work together again.  The wealth of spectacular story telling to be had with that pairing is something I'd love to see.

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From Gayle: Went to the Q&A at the Archlight last night. Saw Darrin, Tamara, Marce, Allison.  The theater we were in seats at least 300 people. Seats are reserved-- and  every seat was sold out.

Tamara and Darrin  both reported this was a more subdued crowd compared to the audience at the Premeire. But there was some giggling at the right times. I noted it when we first meet Ben Wade --and the "Gladiator" reference.  And this time I stayed to read  the end crawler (credits) and it is a hoot, ` I missed them at the premiere because had to leave my seat that night rather quickly.

Love the performances. Love the New Mexico scenery.
I usually notice music in a film-- and one of the things I really notice in both viewings is the way the sound of the train engines sounds almost as a piece of music. In some ways-- it reminds me of the heartbeat in the overtrack--of the film "Becket".(1964)

And being a student of films and at least part time--a entertainment publicist  --really enjoyed the Q&A afterwards. Magold and Konrad were friendly and informative. I did meet them afterwards. I was wearing a "3:10 to Yuma" crew shirt--though it apparently had also been handed out at Comic Con--but Mangold did comment about the fact that I was wearing it. I have been doing alot of word of mouth for this film-- and in fact had had some discussions with some Lionsgate publicists that day.One of the places I had promoted it was at large "Star Trek" convention in Vegas a month ago.

Anyways--for those of you who are waiting to see this film-- it is worth the wait.