Last weekend Manny Marquez proposed to his long time girlfriend Leigh Wilson by making a short documentary called HWY 9: A Story About Love.
He then convinced his local theater in Hood River, OR to show it right before a screening on The A-Team.
This is the story behind it, as told by Manny to Barry Poltermann in an i-Chat last evening.
HWY 9: A Story About Love can also be watched below…
———————————
AIM IM with Manny Marquez <gastlycrumb>6/17/10 11:22 PM
Manny Marquez:
barry, you there
Barry Poltermann:
yeah man
glad you liked my blog post!
Manny Marquez:
Loved it man
Love Trek
Star Trek that is
Barry Poltermann:
me 2
Manny Marquez:
did you see that engagement film I made?
Barry Poltermann:
that was so fucking awesome man
i loved it
i saw it on sunday
Manny Marquez:
well, I thank you for that man
Barry Poltermann:
i nearly cried
seriously
Manny Marquez:
I took your advice
Barry Poltermann:
i teared up
Manny Marquez:
a couple a days later Leigh was like “you are so fucking about face”
I was cracking up
Barry Poltermann:
HAH!
Manny Marquez:
She loved it
Barry Poltermann:
i bet
Manny Marquez:
played to an audience in the theater man, she had ZERO idea it was coming
Barry Poltermann:
i loved that you told the story about wanting to make a western with robert duvall
Manny Marquez:
well, if you can’t shoot it, get someone saying it!
Barry Poltermann:
Good call
Manny Marquez:
funniest part is when it was about to start
the blu ray player fired up
and it said “tray open”
Leigh said “Oh man, they are playing the movie on Blu ray? How Lame!”
and I was like “yeah, that is so lame. I was expecting a print”
then it said “play”
and the film started
and from the first frame she looked at me and said “what is this!!!”
Barry Poltermann:
when did she figure out is was you?
Manny Marquez:
and I said “Oh, I forgot to tell you. i made you something.”
from the first shot she knew
she know my work
she knew immediatly
she knows how I frame
the things I choose to shoot
she knows me man
Barry Poltermann:
Yeah, it had Manny written all over it from the first frame
I was only surprised your dog didn’t show up.
Manny Marquez:
well, I was going to take him
but I had no idea where I was going
so at the last minute left him home
Barry Poltermann:
Poor Bandit…
Manny Marquez:
the thought of making him wait in the car while i ended up in a helicopter, a cave or some kind of bullet train made me sad
Barry Poltermann:
Good call.
what was the audience reactioin?
did they stop the movie?
Manny Marquez:
I was just going to go with it man
and that band played that dylan song, the actual song that is her ringtone and one of her favorites..without me asking them to play it
it was amazing
And I sing that Townes Van Zandt song
Barry Poltermann:
i liked that
Manny Marquez:
Dan Didier was telling me how much he loved that song
and i had it stuck in my head for weeks
so thanks to Dan, thats the song i used
Barry Poltermann:
did you get down on your knees?
did she say “yes” right there?
Manny Marquez:
I did, at the part that it says “the Proposal”
everyone in the theater turned around and was looking for us
Barry Poltermann:
awesome
she must have been floored
Manny Marquez:
leigh was crying and she said yes
Barry Poltermann:
of course, I WAS FREAKING CRYING!
i can’t imagine
Manny Marquez:
i put the ring on her and everyone was clapping and crying
magic man.
one guy said “I can leave now. after that, A-team will suck
Barry Poltermann:
so cool.
Manny Marquez:
the theater owner had told people in the other screen next door to come over
Barry Poltermann:
love it… i love that it was a-team!
Manny Marquez:
so the theater was packed
Barry Poltermann:
oh wow
Manny Marquez:
and all the employees came in too
it was magic man
i can’t believe i did it
and my crazy trip
i had zero plan
just got on the road and stopped and shot people
it really worked
that bar is a bar i lived behind for 4 months when i was a camera assisitent
I really do thank you man
you make me a better filmmaker
i know I say that all the time
Barry Poltermann:
dude, that was a nice movie
Manny Marquez:
but I mean
it
Barry Poltermann:
it was really pretty
and told a great little story
very warm.
very aboutface! Leigh is right!
Manny Marquez:
people really liked it
that felt good as a filmmaker
like no one questioned why A Team was not on
i found that odd
when it was all down I stood up and said “I know this isn’t what you all came to see, so I’d like to thank you for sitting through our film!”
Barry Poltermann:
ha!
well, it had them interested/curious… unexpected.
genuine
Manny Marquez:
ha
well, I just wanted to make sure you saw the film
since you were the inspiration for it!
Barry Poltermann:
thanks man… i don’t know about inspiration.
it wasn’t a very hard idea to come up with…. “hmmm… maybe manny should make a documentary!”
Manny Marquez:
brilliant
Barry Poltermann:
mind if i blog about it?
the proposal, aboutface style?
Manny Marquez:
do it man
Barry Poltermann:
gonna go to sleep now
cya
Manny Marquez:
later
thanks for chatting
talk to you soon
Barry Poltermann:
always a pleasure
night
Manny Marquez:
later