"Answer This!" premieres to sell-out crowd at Emagine Royal Oak

from answerthismovie.com

The cast and crew of Answer This! returned to Michigan yesterday for a red carpet premiere at Emagine Royal Oak. In attendance was Arielle Kebbel, one of the stars of the show, and Chris and Mike Farah, the writer/director and producer of the movie, respectively. Ralph Williams, the former UM professor who plays Chris Gorham's father, was also in attendance; Chris Gorham, unfortunately, was in Europe filming Covert Affairs.

Motor City Trivia table

For the general audience, the movie started at 8pm, but for those who had purchased the $75 VIP tickets, to benefit local charities, the party started at 6:30, on the 2nd floor of the theater. Dinner and drinks were served, and Motor City Trivia was in attendance as well to get the party started with some one-on-one trivia. Arielle Kebbel arrived later, around 7:30, to mingle with the crowd, and the Farah brothers were in attendance there as well.

Before the movie started, Ralph Williams came to the front of the room to introduce the film, and Chris and Mike Farah, too, talked a little about the film and shooting it in Ann Arbor. Chris had been a student of Williams' at the University of Michigan, which is how he knew him and knew that he was perfect for the role of Elliot Tarson, Chris Gorham's father in the film. Williams said:

“In the 1990s, I had a brilliant student, who came to be a student in Near-Eastern studies, called Chris Farah. He came to my courses on the Bible and English … and then he disappeared. I saw him only once when I gave a lecture in Santa Monica, CA. I didn’t hear any more until about two years ago, when I got an email from him that said “Mr. Williams, I’ve written a script.” And I thought, how clever of him! And he said, “Would you do a part in it?”

actress Arielle Kebbel (left), who stars in Answer This!

Then he showed up in town with a producer. And I thought, this is curious, because I had expected him to show up with a handheld camera!"

Williams added: "To me, [Answer This! is] in some ways a love letter to Ann Arbor. I hope you enjoy it as much as I’ve enjoyed being a part of it.”

Chris Farah ended the short speech by saying: "If you love the movie – and you will love the movie – make sure to tell all of your friends. Word of mouth is how we’re going to get this going.”

Answer This! will arrive at Emagine Novi tomorrow (Friday, October 14th), and will expand to the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor on October 21st, as well as to other Midwest theaters, including Traverse City and Grand Rapids (see the film's website for more details).

Selling "Ice Tigers" t-shirts, which is the name of
Gorham's trivia team in the movie

Arielle Kebbel (left) and Chris Farah (right),
writer/director of Answer This!

Answer This! posters in Emagine's lobby

Dinner buffet (appetizers and entrees)

Panorama of the 2nd floor entertainment room where the
VIP party was held, Emagine Royal Oak