Honoring a Legend: Director Xaque Gruber's Journey with "Sallywood" Starring Sally Kirkland
An Insightful Conversation on Creativity, Collaboration, and the Art of Comedy in Film with Director Xaque Gruber
Filmmaker Xaque Gruber's journey to creating "Sallywood" is a compelling tale of ambition, friendship, and the quest for redemption in Hollywood. Drawing from his own experiences as a personal assistant to actress Sally Kirkland, Gruber crafts a semi-autobiographical narrative that explores the fleeting nature of fame and the enduring power of connection across generations. With a blend of humor and heartfelt moments, "Sallywood" not only showcases Kirkland's resilience but also highlights the struggles faced by those in the entertainment industry. As Gruber navigates this intricate landscape, he invites audiences to reflect on their own dreams and the relationships that shape them. Read further to learn more as Gruber has an in-depth discussion with Journalist John Wisniewski below.
1. Why did you want to pursue a career as a writer/director?
I began as an artist and an art teacher. In 2000, I wrote and published my first book, A Big Adventure In The Smallest State: A History of Rhode Island for All Ages. It began as a picture book (with the illustrations taking center stage), but in doing the research and writing, I learned how much I love writing. It became a chapter book with only one illustration per chapter. I discovered in that process that I was just passionate about writing as I was about making art. So, I began to explore writing more and more. I decided to shift gears and go into writing for TV. I drove to Los Angeles from New England in 2002 to begin a career writing for television, and I succeeded at writing for TV for years. during that time, I discovered writing short screenplays was a lot of fun. In 2015, I moved to Florida to take care of my parents, and decided to commit to shooting/directing my short film scripts. I had written in Los Angeles as writing samples - not necessarily to ever shoot, but upon moving to Florida to care for my parents, I decided "why not?" I found local cast and crew in Florida and directed my first short "The Pistol" which was a 10-minute short comedy film accepted by the Cannes Film Festival in 2018. This experience premiering at Cannes, and other festivals opened doors for me - as suddenly the entire world saw me as a legitimate director. Back in 2015, I wrote "Sallywood" a comedy based on my true adventures being Sally Kirkland's assistant. Sally agreed to play herself in the film, and once “The Pistol” became a known entity, and I was seeing myself as a film director, I decided to explore making my first feature, and now we have "Sallywood". So, it has been a very long river of events that led me to finally being seen as a film writer and director.
2. Do you have any favorite films?
So many! My all-time favorite - my default #1 - is Walt Disney's animated feature "Alice in Wonderland" (1951). I know every line, song, and word and love every crazy second of it. The film inspires me. I also place on the highest shelf many of those early Disney animated features (Snow White, Pinocchio, Fantasia, Bambi) and "The Wizard of Oz" (1939). My favorite comedies of all time are probably "Polyester" (1981) by John Waters and "Waiting For Guffman" (1996) by Christopher Guest. I love horror when it's done well - many of my favorite films are horror including "Psycho" (1960), "Rosemary's Baby" (1968), "The Omen" (1976), "The Shining" (1980). I am inspired by so many kinds of films. I loved "Parasite" (2019).
3. You are an artist as well a writer and director, so where does your creativity come from?
Yes, I see them as going hand in hand. Creativity all comes from the same fountain - it just emerges in different forms. Art is my first love. I have been drawing since age two I am told. I love drawing - and could just draw all day every day and be incredibly happy. Making a piece of art is a very pure process - it is just you and your medium in your art space. Writing involves sharing it with others to help craft it to be the best it can be, and directing involves an army of people (cast, crew, etc.). I do feel like I have two people living inside of me: one is an artist, and one is a writer, and I have to cater to them both in equal ways to satisfy myself.
4. Do you continue to draw and paint?
I draw and paint every day. I love doing it. I am currently working on several different new art series - one is a collection of illustrations about the time traveling adventures of my beloved late cat, Emma, for an upcoming book written by Raoul Mongilardi. I love landscape painting out in nature (plein air). My favorite medium for the last 20 years has been watercolor, but I weave many different other mediums into my watercolors (pencil, crayon, sometimes collage). My art studio is like my mad scientist laboratory. I have every kind of paper, and media in there to work with - and WOW it is a blast. I'm excited just thinking about it.
5. How did you meet Sally Kirkland and decide to make your film "Sallywood"?
I met her in 2002 when I first moved to L.A. from New England. I went to an art gallery where she was exhibiting her work. She hired me on the spot to be her assistant, but she didn’t even know my name. I had no idea what was going on, but I have a tendency to say “yes” to everything in life. I just said yes to Sally Kirkland, who I had loved my whole life from afar, and now suddenly I was up close and personal with her as her assistant managing everything imaginable. The film came about at my friend Jill Demby Guest's birthday party in 2014 where we were all sharing funny short stories about our life. I shared the story of how I became Sally Kirkland's assistant, and it made the room howl with laughter. They all said, "write that into screenplay" and so I did. Little by little the film came together. Jill is one of the Executive Producers for the film. I did not go around pitching the idea to Hollywood companies or pounded the pavement looking for investors. It was quite organic and unconventional the process of making “Sallywood.” I just made it and financed it with my core group of friends, neighbors, and acquaintances.
6. What was the concept behind the new film “Sallywood”?
The film is a comedy with layers of drama - much like life. It follows the path of my journey coming to Los Angeles, meeting Sally Kirkland - someone I admired for years (in the movie I call her my "muse") and then getting hired by her on the spot to be her assistant. We all may have fantasies of meeting our favorite star. In the case of Sally Kirkland, I imagined her living the high life in a mansion with a butler and giant chandeliers, but the reality was very different. She was basically broke, and broken, a victim of both ageism and an industry that treats its own as commodities not human beings. She was alone, no family, no husband, no loving partner, no children, living in an apartment not any better than mine. So, I entered her life at a time that was in fact perfect timing. I filled a need for her, and I suppose she filled a need for me too, as I was a new in a daunting & complicated city. This is a story of friendship and how two people from very different generations help each other navigate their way.
7. What was it like directing Eric Roberts and Keith Carradine?
I loved working with both of them. I would love to work with them again. Anyone who works with them at this point are lucky. Both are total pros. And in "Sallywood" both actors play versions of thorns in Sally's side. Eric plays Sally's sleazy agent, Clem. Keith plays Sally's long-lost love, George Corrigan, a famous director. At different points in the film, she goes to each man seeking help. They are both in a position to help her, but they both basically reject her. It is a bold move for Sally in the film, and a comment on how in this industry, you are often on your own really.
8. How has the film been received at film festivals so far, and by the press?
The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Is there even an adjective to describe how incredible that makes me feel? The greatest thing that can happen with a film is when it emotionally connects with an audience and we are. I sit in the theatre amidst the audience as they laugh or gasp or cry at different moments. I want my film to connect with the public as much as possible. I'm grateful to have been playing in festivals nationwide since April, and we've won awards in almost all of them. So far, we have almost 40 festival awards.
9. Do you have any favorite Sally Kirkland films?
Sally Kirkland in "Anna" is a masterclass in acting. It's the film that set me on my journey in “Sallywood”. I encourage anyone interested in great acting and storytelling to seek it out. It is hard to find now, but hopefully with “Sallywood”, a new interest in "Anna" will happen. It's no wonder that she was celebrated for "Anna" with so many awards and nominations. I have also loved her in so many other films ("Archeology of a Woman," "Ed TV," "Coffee Date," "Neo Ned") and TV appearances ("The Incredible Hulk," "Law & Order," "Roseanne," "Charlie's Angels," so many!) and theatre roles (I saw her in "Deepthroat" in the Linda Lovelace role at a small theatre on Melrose with Bruce Vilanch - and she was incredible).
10. What will your next film be, if you can tell us?
My goal right now is to find distribution for "Sallywood" - get it really out there into the world before I dive into my next film project. I do have many ideas for films - features and shorts. I only want to write comedy and bring humor back into cinemas. Comedy is in short supply these days at the cinemas - I don't know why. I have heard this from so many others too. We need comedy more than ever. Growing up, comedy films were everywhere - just as many as dramas - now they have almost disappeared. “Sallywood” follows in the footsteps of my favorite comedy films - the sophisticated comedies by Woody Allen, a dash of John Waters ("Polyester" is an all-time favorite), a dash of Christopher Guest ("Waiting for Guffman" is an all-time favorite), a dash of John Hughes (there are shades of "The Breakfast Club" in Sallywood), "Harold & Maude," "Arthur," "Tootsie," "The Incredible Shrinking Woman" (which also had a cameo by Sally Kirkland) - oh the list is long of comedies that have shaped by love for cinema. Look at what's playing at most cinemas now - it's dark and harrowing fare. I love a great drama, and I love a great horror movie, but there really should be a balance. The iconic masks of theatre are comedy and tragedy - they go hand in hand. So, whatever my next film is, it's going to be good, and be prepared to laugh.
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