Austin360 blogs > Austin Movie Blog > Archives > 2010 > October > 22 > Entry
AFF loves Rosenthal
The Austin Film Festival kicked off Thursday night at the Paramount with a screening of the amusing, off-kilter comedic documentary “Exporting Raymond.”
Phil Rosenthal, the creator of television’s long-running comedy “Everybody Loves Raymond,” spent months making trips to Moscow to help start a Russian production of the TV show. The idea was to adapt the family situations shown in the American TV show for a Russian audience.
Rosenthal also took along a camera crew to follow him as he dealt with various Russian characters, such as a Moscow fashionista who was convinced that housewives should look really good on TV, rather than normal; a network chief who has a permanent frown; and a director who tunes him out when Rosenthal tries to explain that everyday family life can be funny.
“They were saying, ‘Why do we want to make it like real life?’” Rosenthal said after the screening. ” ‘We live real life everyday. That’s not funny.’ ”
Rosenthal doesn’t give up easily, however. In fact, he becomes sort of a pain to the Russians. But they finally open their ears and minds and get the point. The show is now No. 1 on Russian TV. Now the folks from Poland are calling.
Rosenthal got a standing ovation after the screening, and he looked surprised but grateful. He also cracked up the audience during the Q&A, moderated by Shane Black, with his hyperactive wit about cultural differences and universalities.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Austin Film Festival 2010
Comments
When commenting, we ask that you keep things civil and abide by our Visitor Agreement. To report comment abuse, click here.