Earlier this week I went to see owner of Killers Films-- the extraordinary producer, Christine Vachon, give a Q&A to promote her new book, A Killer Life. Christine Vachon is the (I do mean "the") auteur producer of the last 15 years. She has produced some of the best indie features of the last decade: Kids, Boys Don't Cry, Happiness, Far From Heaven, Velvet Goldmine. Just to name a few. There are oh-so-many more on her list of impressive credits.

Well, I met my friend Kristen at the Commonwealth Club in downtown San Francisco. Just before the lecture we had to pee and we ran off to the ladies room. As we were waiting for a stall to be available, Kristen was saying how she really wanted to tell Christine about her documentary work-in-progress on a transsexual lawyer and aspiring singer (F to M) who's she been following for 2 years. The bathroom stall opened and out walked Christine Vachon. I was stunned. I've seen Christine twice-- both times previously in NYC. Once at the IFP market (a craaazy place to schmooze) and the second time at the 10th anniversary of Swoon at some indie NYC theater. Neither of those times did I get to speak with her. I was laughing to myself because Kristen kept blabbing about how she wanted to talk with Christine. I was too stunned to say, "well, go ahead...that's her washing her hands before the lecture". There was no one else in the bathroom except the 3 of us. Killer. But, it was a missed opportunity. I didn't introduce myself or go on about how amazing her work is because I felt awkward Kristen was talking about her while she was overhearing! It's probably best...Killer Films doesn't produce documentaries. They are producing one on Rufus Wrainwright now-- but in general docs are not their cup of tea. They know how to brew and serve the most top-notch delicious indie features.

Her Q&A was really inspiring. She says producing indie films is like being asked to jump off tall buildings and being asked not to blink. Amen, I hear you sister!! She says once she went to see a fortune teller and the lady was reading her palm. The fortune teller said, "I can't figure out what you do. Are you a general in an army?" She had FOUR films in production this summer.

I admire her a lot for her consistent cutting edge body of work that, despite the growth of Killer Films, doesn't compromise to the common denominator of Hollywood banality.

The Todd Haynes feature film in-production on Bob Dylan's film "I'm Not There"  (starring Christian Bale, Julian Moore, Heath Ledger, Richard Gere, Adrien Brody) will likely be one big "let's blow anything Hollywood can do out of the water" firecracker!

They might stream the recorded lecture on the Commonwealth Club site. So, look out for that: