Gas Food Lodging
Whenever people ask me which film I felt I did the best job in, I say Gas Food Lodging. It is very dear to my heart. We went out to New Mexico and shot this film in the last little town before Mexico called Deming.
It was a magical time and place to be out in that desert. Anyone who has ever spent time in the desert of New Mexico will tell you what magical and beautiful place it is. I had a great time on this film.
We were a small crew and cast, and we all lived in the same motor inn. No room for ego trips on this one. Everyone dropped their shtick, and we became one unit. Everyone that worked on that film was truly there, because they wanted to be. It is a very personal film for me, in that it is a film about a young girl trying to find out about her father.
All of the actors were great to work with, as was Allison Anders. She takes great care of her actors, is very sensitive to them, and works very well with them. This is rare. I am proud of this film, and also proud that I won Best Actress at the Independent Film Awards for it. It is very close to my heart.
4 Responses to “Gas Food Lodging”
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I ejoyed watching this movie so much! That nice and very cute girl reminded me of your first big role in Return to Oz. I have to mention that that actress who got the role of Shade’s sister looked quite realistic to be your real sister, somehow shape of her face, her eyes, that just amazed me. The cast overall was very good and I have to say that the whole atmosphere has made me feel like I would really want to live that kind of quiet life.
It wasn’t a surprise to me how you can transform and play all variety of characters, but this one was special, I think because of those funny dresses and hats Shade wore, her attraction to those Mexican romantic movies, that was really cute and interesting to watch.
I’ll remember this one to be a very good and beautiful movie with sad, cheerful and funny moments.
It took me so long to seek this out on video when I was a teenager – having seen it on TV, I was desperate for a copy and it took me years, but along with ‘Labyrinth’ it’s my all-time favourite film! Everything about it is brilliant – I discovered so many great actors in it, discovered J. Mascis and Nick Cave from the s/track, and finally put together that the girl I loved in ‘The Worst Witch’ was also the girl from ‘The Craft’ :)
But I have to say that your performance in this film is what keeps drawing me back to it – Shade was such a fantastically warm and real character, and I wasn’t surprised to read you won an award for your acting! I thought the scenes between you and Ione felt very much like a true sisterly relationship – for all the bickering you could sense the underlying love. I also really love the scene between you and your (real) Mum – it makes me smile every time I see it!
One thing I’ve never understood though – the back cover of my video version has a picture of a man with a gun – surely from a different film??!!
I always thought it was cool that Ione Skye and you were cast as sisters in a Gas, Food Lodging because you really look like you could be related. It would be cool to see you, Ione, and Zooey Deschanel cast in a movie together because I think the three of you could pull off playing sisters really well.
I’m glad you won an award for this film. I have always felt like you deserve to win more awards for your performances, you have a very powerful screen presence.
@ Lou: Labyrinth is my all time favorite movie as well, I even learned how to contact juggle because of that movie. :D Went really well the year I dressed up as Jareth for Halloween.
Gas Food Lodging is one of the best films I have ever seen in my life. It is so damn haunting especially with that J Mascis musical score which underlines the whole thing.
Your clothes in that film were also awesome very grunge and of it’s day. I’m glad you have nice memories of this film as it is truly a magical piece of work