Wachowskis and Bright Do "Directors' Commentary" on Bound

And they said they'd be delighted!

This "director's commentary" on the movie, Bound, was one of the first of such commetaries... it was done for a Laser CD edition, before the advent of DVD's.

(Bound was the movie that Larry and Andy Wachowski made before their big hit, The Matrix. They asked me to consult on the lesbian characters and sex in Bound's script).

The Wachowskis, the editor, and I, were the only ones who showed up for the first hour, because the actors and everyone else were pretty dubious of these newfangled "commentaries." We were considered the real geeks who couldn't resist trying it out. It's all improvised;  we're just sitting down at a small table and watching the movie on screen.

I had a Coke and Larry and Andy had beer. Then Joey came in, during the first third, and he ordered something from takeout. This was before he was cast in his famous role in the Sopranos, and he was so grateful to the Brothers for this casting.

About a half-hour later, as if there were some kind of mystical "star radar," Gina Gershon arrived, looking like a million bucks, and ordered a slightly more complicated takeout order— and ANOTHER half-hour later, still tingling from her Academy Award nomination from a Woody Allen movie, Jennifer Tilly made a HUGE entrance. Her food and drink order was so ornate, someone's assistant came in and took notes.

How did they know to arrive in terms of box office numbers? I still don't get how they did it.

I loved making this commentary. L. and A. were the first ones to tell me that they learned more about making movies from director's commentaries than any film school education could offer. Our take on it was so funky, because there were no rules about "what to do," and there's more candor than usual. I certainly wanted to blurt out everything!

I'll post another clip of this soon, with my comments on the love scene between  Corky and Violet.

Comments

[C.S. Lewiston]

Laser CD? By any chance, do you mean one of the old 12-inch laserdiscs? I simply cannot imagine a 650-megabyte CD having enough room for a decent-quality video *and* an alternate soundtrack.

In any case, Susie, you sound great. I wonde if that movie is on DVD yet?

[Keith M Ellis]

That's one of my favorite commentary tracks, ever. I enjoyed the Wachowskis' insights into their filmmaking process; but the commentary takes a turn to the weird and delightful when Jennifer Tilly arrives. Basically, she gossips about people on the set.

One of the things I found most interesting in the commentary was your comment, Susie, about the lesbian authenticity of the emphasis on hands in the script and photography.

It's been years since I've listened to that commentary track—I'm sure I'd have more to say about it if I remembered it more clearly.

It was also, I believe, the first commentary track I ever listened to on a DVD.

[Ian softly]

After listening to this yesterday I went on with my recent "Six Feet Under" tear via Netflix -- only to encounter you, Susie, playing your bit part in the episode "Rainbow of Her Reasons." That's the one in which Fiona -- renowned ceramicist, friend of Sarah sister of Ruth, and deflowerer of Nate -- is sent off with a bong by her circle of friends.

You were in the cultural air yesterday, I s'pose.

[Greg]

Earlier today my roommate was watching the first Matrix film, inevitably leading to a discussion of the flaws in its sequels.

Is there anything that they could have done to save the franchise? he asked rhetorically.

I thought for a moment.

"Bring back Susie Bright."

"Who's Susie Bright?"

"The lesbian sex consultant on Bound."

(Thinks for a moment) "YES."