Movie Star

We Honor Jean on her 80th Birthday

By Garry McGee, Co-producer Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg
and author of "Jean Seberg--Breathless"

We honor Jean Seberg on what would have been her 80^th birthday on November 13. For the past several years we have spent this time of year in her hometown, Marshalltown, Iowa, at the annual festival in her honor; however, due to the devastation to Marshalltown after the tornado earlier this year, the activites were cancelled but will resume next year.

By this time next year several Jean Seberg-related projects will be available for public consumption including our long-awaited documentary film of her life Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg. It has been years in the making, and many wonder why it is taking so long.  The answer? We are dealing with a public figure who happened to be a film actress, many clearances need to obtained, the hiring of an entertainment attorney, the purchase of insurance, and the never-ending challenging task of fundraising. We still work at raising the funds (see details below).

Aside from the cost, we decided that Jean’s story would be told through her words and those interviewed. “Cards” were used to a minimum, and there is no off-screen narration to move the story along. This is time consuming in trying to tell Jean’s complex story, but adds so much more than having a voice appear out of nowhere to speak to viewers. Of course, the latter is the easier way, but we felt Jean Seberg deserves the best that we could do within our power.

What is surprising in the course of these years, is how Jean Seberg has remained relevant. From fashion to the manipulation of the news media, she has been either in the forefront or a sidenote, but nonetheless a name that resonates. That is something no one could have predicted.

So much has been said, written, reported, and unfortunately fictionalized about Jean Seberg. Her story was filled with unbelievable peaks, and devastating lows. She was not a person who forced herself into the limelight to take away from others who were shining. She believed film directors were the boss, and she gave them the performance they wanted rather than, many times, trusting her own instincts. Her activism was low-key, and she did not use her involvement in such to further her career or public standing. She was a caring, intelligent person.

We need more people like the true Jean Seberg. She is sorely missed by many. It's important for those who never had the opportunity to know her to understand what is truth and what is fiction. In 2019, we will offer the true story with Movie Star.

If you would like to make a year-end contribution to the documentary project and add your name to the credits, there is still time!  Every bit helps!  Donations of $100 or more can be tax-deductible.  Visit HOW TO CONTRIBUTE by clicking HERE.  And are we ever grateful!

Jean Seberg Revisted

Jean Seberg would have turned 80 this week.

by Sara Jordan-Heintz
Marshalltown Times-Republican
November 11, 2018

Several lifetimes worth of triumphs and tragedies were packed into Jean Seberg’s 40 years on this earth. Thirty-nine years ago, she died in Paris of an apparent suicide, months shy of her 41st birthday.

The Marshalltown native, who became the darling of French cinema, is remembered as much for her film career as for her political activism and the FBI case in which she was involved.

Seberg’s image continues to grace the pages of modern-day fashion magazines. She has been the subject of several books and documentaries here [Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg among them] and abroad. In March 2018, it was announced Kristen Stewart would portray Seberg in the upcoming film “Against All Enemies.”

In 2011, a local campaign was started to host an annual Jean Seberg Festival, held during the month of her birth. Due to tornado damage sustained at the Orpheum Theater, the Swingin’ 60s Seberg FUNdraiser slated for this weekend was canceled.

“Once the Orpheum is repaired, we will again host events which will feature Jean’s life’s work and make known contemporary artists inspired by her legacy,” coordinator Nancy Adams said. “We believe Jean was a woman ahead of her time; a passionate, talented woman whose art, heart and words touched many and whose impact/effect lingers still. In the interim, locally, Jean’s story is being shared in classrooms at MCC through writing assignments and film showings, and updates on social media. Her worldwide circle of influence knows no bounds — never has.”

She was born Nov. 13, 1938, the second child of Dorothy and Ed Seberg. READ the rest of the story HERE!

Jean Seberg Day October 21 in Iowa

It was October 21, 2016 when the State of Iowa officially recognized international film star and Marshalltown, Iowa’s own Jean Seberg. A Proclamation was signed by Iowa Governor Branstad at the State Capitol declaring October 21 Jean Seberg Day.  Jean's family was joined by a small group of friends to witness the historic moment.

The following afternoon the award-winning documentary Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg was showcased at a special ‘Hollywood Backstories: Remembering Jean Seberg’ event at the State Historical Building in Des Moines.

The free screening packed the theater and a lively Q&A moderated by Liz Gilman of the executive producer of Produce Iowa. Jean's sister Mary Ann Shuey, Movie Star co-producer and Seberg biographer Garry McGee, and Nancy Adams, Curator of Jean Seberg/Orpheum Theater Collection, were the panelists. 

Attendees were then invited to visit the Hollywood in the Heartland Exhibit where a number of Seberg's movie memorabilia were on display.

The memorable event was sponsored by the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs and Produce Iowa.

The award-winning Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg will be released on DVD in January 2019.  The DVD can be pre-ordered for a limited time by clicking HERE.

-------------------------------

Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg is an award-winning documentary produced by Emmy-nominated filmmakers Garry McGee of McMarr, Ltd., Kelly Rundle and Tammy Rundle of Fourth Wall Films. The movie was funded in part with grants from the Iowa Arts Council, Humanities Iowa and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

 

View the New "Movie Star" Teaser!

Check out the new "Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg" teaser. In Jean's own words:

And, remember for a limited time you can preorder the award-winning "Movie Star" DVD by clicking HERE!

The DVD will feature the film by Emmy® nominated filmmakers Garry McGee (McMarr, LTD) and Kelly & Tammy Rundle (Fourth Wall Films), including soundtrack music by Amy & Adams**, and BONUS FEATURES.  Order today and SAVE! Click HERE and spread the word!

"Movie Star" Filmmakers Receive Emmy-Nomination for New Film on Good Earth

Kelly and Tammy Rundle of Fourth Wall Films  have received a Mid-America Emmy® nomination for their new documentary Good Earth: Awakening the Silent City. This is the Rundles' fourth Emmy® nomination. The Rundles are co-producers with Emmy® nominated filmmaker/writer Garry McGee (McMarr, LTD) on the award-winning documentary Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg.  

The Moline, Illinois-based independent production company successfully competed with 42 proposals by 36 other media production companies nationwide to win a contract to produce "Good Earth" for the visitors center at South Dakota's newest State Park, Good Earth at Blood Run.

Good Earth: Awakening the Silent City tells the fascinating and forgotten story of the Blood Run National Historic Landmark as told by a Native American grandfather to his grandchildren. Produced in 4K, the documentary combines vivid present-day views of the park's scenic vistas and wildlife with dramatic historical reenactments portraying daily life in the year 1650. 

The Good Earth site in Iowa and South Dakota was occupied between 1500 and 1725 by ancestors of the present-day Omaha, Ponca, Ioway and Otoe-Missouria tribes, making it one of the oldest long-term habitation sites in the United States.  At its peak around 1650, the site was home to 6,000-10,000 residents--more than Boston (2,000) and New York (New Amsterdam-1,000) in that same year--making It the largest city in what is now the United States.

Good Earth was an important Native trading center for pipestone, bison hides and culture.  The once-vibrant city featured hundreds of lodges, earthen mounds, and a serpent-shaped effigy mound an eighth of a mile long.

Fourth Wall Films is an Emmy® nominated and award-winning independent film and video production company formerly located in Los Angeles, and now based in Moline, Illinois.  The Rundles are the producers of the award-winning The Barn Raisers, Lost Nation: The Ioway series, Villisca: Living with a Mystery; the Emmy® nominated Letters Home to Hero Street (co-produced with WQPT-PBS); Country School: One Room - One Nation, River to River: Iowa's Forgotten Highway 6, and the soon-to-be released docudrama Sons & Daughters of Thunder.

The award-winning documentary Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg by the Rundles and Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker Garry McGee will be released on DVD late December/January.

Fourth Wall Films focuses on telling Midwestern stories through historical documentary films that reach viewers via PBS broadcasts, theaters, film festivals, national DVD release and online streaming.

To purchase Fourth Wall Films'  other award-winning documentaries on DVD, click HERE!

39 years after her death Jean Seberg is remembered & new documentary film readies for release

40-year-old Jean Seberg was last seen alive on August 30, 1979.  The international actress was discovered in her white Renault automobile several days later, parked not far from her Paris apartment.

Television and radio blasted the news and newspapers headlined the shocking story all over the world.  

The French in particular were moved by the passing of their adopted daughter. They preempted regular television programming with a showing of Bonjour Tristesse to honor the beloved actress from Marshalltown, Iowa.

Jean Seberg's grave in Jean Seberg's grave in Cimetière du Montparnasse, Paris, France. (Courtesy/Copyright Michel Ambruster.)

"In France, Jean is still regarded as the quintessential American girl in Paris, the free spirit," noted Garry McGee, Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg co-producer and author of Jean Seberg: Breathless. "Scarcely a day passes when someone doesn't stop and linger at the site, bringing an offering--and perhaps, too, another promise never to forget." 

39 years later, the first documentary film to focus on the private side of the famous actress is set for DVD release at the end of the year with PBS broadcasts to follow in 2019. 

"Movie Star is a tale of Hollywood and heartbreak, beginning when an unknown 17-year-old Iowa girl beat out 18,000 actresses to play Saint Joan in Otto Preminger's 1957 film. The documentary goes behind the scenes of her rocky life in the international film spotlight, her civil rights activism that drew FBI attention, and her mysterious death in Paris in 1979 - deemed a "probable suicide." That leaves room for doubt," said Kelly Rundle.  "And you will have to see the film to understand why."

Keep up on all of the Jean Seberg news and the December release of the award-winning documentary Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg by Garry McGee (McMarr Ltd.) and Kelly Rundle and Tammy Rundle (Fourth Wall Films) on DVD at JeanSebergMovie.com.

A Visual Tribute to Jean's hometown of Marshalltown, Iowa

 

On Thursday, July 19th Jean Seberg's hometown of Marshalltown, Iowa was devastated by a F4 tornado which destroyed and damaged its Main Street business district, homes, historic buildings, many old trees and vehicles.  Fortunately, there was no loss of life and few injuries.

Among the damaged historic buildings were the town's courthouse and the Orpheum Theater Center where Jean watched movies as a teen, and a number of her own films, including her first, Saint Joan, played to packed audiences.

We the producers of Movie Star: the Secret Lives of Jean Seberg decided to create a visual tribute to Marshalltown, Iowa using footage gathered downtown in 2012 for the documentary, and accoustic guitar music by Marshalltown native Mark Adams of Amy & Adams.  The song "Going Home" was the perfect fit for the video piece. Amy & Adams' music is featured in Movie Star.

We wish the residents of Marshalltown all the very best as you rebuild your beautiful city.

Producers Kelly & Tammy Rundle and Garry McGee
Fourth Wall Film & McMarr, LTD

#marshalltownstrong

---------------

Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg producers Garry McGee, Tammy Rundle and Kelly Rundle in front of the Orpheum Theater Center in Marshalltown, Iowa.

Keep up on all of the Jean Seberg news and the December release of the award-winning documentary Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg by Garry McGee (McMarr Ltd.) and Kelly Rundle and Tammy Rundle (Fourth Wall Films) on DVD at JeanSebergMovie.com.

Jean Seberg's hometown of Marshalltown struck by massive tornado

Photo from the Jean Seberg Collection, the IVCCD Orpheum Theater Center, Marshalltown, Iowa (All rights reserved.)

This historic image was taken in 1956 in downtown Marshalltown, Iowa during the big parade that welcomed a young Jean Seberg home to celebrate being selected from 18,000 hopefuls and cast in Otto Preminger's SAINT JOAN.

Yesterday, July 19, 2018, a massive tornado devastated the town, residences, buildings, cars, the charming Main Street businesses, and the historic Orpheum Theater Center--where Seberg's SAINT JOAN screened in 1957. It is currently home to the Jean Seberg Festival of the Arts, and the Orpheum's Seberg Collection.

Twenty seven tornadoes ripped through Iowa Thursday leaving destruction in several towns, including Bondurant and Pella. A number of people were injured, but thankfully no deaths have been reported.

Photo Marshalltown Times-Republican, downtown tornado devastation.

We share here a story from the Marshalltown Times Republican:

Four emergency alerts pinged through on cell phones. Sirens rang through downtown twice. At first, it seemed like nothing. Then it hit.

Devastating.

In a word, that is how small businesses and their owners, residents and anyone who witnessed the tornado that struck Marshalltown Thursday afternoon describe it.

As it happened

Local resident David Powers said he witnessed the destructive tornado on Church Street as it turned from black to an unnerving deep purple. At that point, he sought immediate shelter.

Places like the Marshalltown Public Library, the Animal Rescue League, the YMCA-YWCA and other local organizations began harboring passersbys and the patrons already at the facilities.

Sheila Just, of Kingdom Trucking, had no choice but to take cover in the bed of her semi with her dogs in the truck with her. Bricks, glass and other debris fell around her, even cracking the windows of her truck. But somehow, she made it out alive — she credits the work of a higher power.

Josh Gummert, an employee at Sub City, took the four customers in the restaurant down to basement as they heard the sirens going off. They heard loud cracking while they were in shelter. Now, they believe the noise was the glass shattering on the store front windows.

“We were looking toward the (Marshall County) Courthouse and it was dark, and all the sudden it swooped up … when we looked over between the trees, we could see the funnel — it was moving really quick,” said resident Selena Weitzell.

The steeple on the Marshall County Courthouse was gone. Bricks, glass, branches, flanks of wood and random debris scattered the streets. Residents took in the damage throughout town in the post-storm heat and humidity, moving branches and pieces of houses off their lawn and out of the street.

Parked cars were slightly damaged or totaled with entire trees on top of them. Some were in entirely different spots than they were originally parked. As people descended on the devastation, one woman shouted across the parking lot, “at least I still got a driver’s window.”

 
Video footage of the tornado captured by Mark Varnum (posted on Youtube 7/19/2018).  He noted where he was located when he filmed: "Northwest from 18th st. and HWY 30. Funnel touched down just west of the Soldier's home and went down Main St., Marshalltown, Iowa.

Downtown hit hard

In the aftermath it appeared that Main Street was hit especially hard, as if the tornado had a designated plan to head that route. Typical to other storms that have hit Marshalltown in recent years, the tornado seemed to pick up strength as it traveled west to east, but prominent evidence of the event can be seen largely throughout the northeast and northwest quadrants of Marshalltown.

Read the FULL STORY HERE!

Photo by Nancy Adams (curator of the Jean Seberg Colllection) - Orpheum Theater Center tornado damage.

CNN reported that ten people suffered injuries after a tornado struck the town of 27,000 people (located about an hour northeast of Des Moines). None of the patients are in critical condition, hospital spokeswoman Laura Rainey said.

Read the CNN coverage and view tornado video HERE.

---------------

Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg producers Garry McGee, Tammy Rundle and Kelly Rundle in front of the Orpheum Theater Center in Marshalltown, Iowa.

Keep up on all of the Jean Seberg news and the December release of the award-winning documentary Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg by Garry McGee (McMarr Ltd.) and Kelly Rundle and Tammy Rundle (Fourth Wall Films) on DVD at JeanSebergMovie.com!

'Movie Star' moving...stirring...fascinating

Work continues on the final editing of Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg and early preparations for DVD authoring, which will include (among other bonus features) filmmakers' commentary, extended interviews, behind-the-scenes documentary footage and photographs, closed captioning and a French translation of the film.

 

The documentary has won awards at several film festivals in the U.S. and accolades from a number of film critics.

Film critic Leah Gehlsen wrote: "Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg is a fascinating, little peek into the world of one of America’s most haunted and beautiful actresses. Jean Seberg grew up in Marshalltown, Iowa, and was discovered by Otto Preminger at the age of 17 during a nationwide casting call for his much-ballyhooed Saint Joan. The film was a critical ess-storm, but Preminger and Seberg got back in the ring for Bonjour Tristesse the following year. Although mesmerizing, and more of a critical darling than SJ, Tristesse didn’t quite provide the professional boost Seberg was after. Finally, in 1960, with Jean-Luc Godard at the helm, she made the French New-Wave masterpiece Breathless, and became an adopted daughter of the French cinema and a Hollywood sensation in one fell swoop. As the story typically goes, though, Seberg’s personal life went…awry. She married the wrong men, made the wrong friends, and went head-to-head with J. Edgar Hoover.

There is a tenderness in this telling of Seberg’s story that lends itself to a broader sympathy for the actress. It’s not the most objective of documentary techniques, but it’s genuine and the sympathy isn’t just an act. The film backs itself up with a real humdinger of a tale about the aforementioned Mr. Hoover and his neutralization of Seberg that’ll make you weep.

It’s clear here that the real beauty of Jean Seberg was in her intentions. Set against a backdrop of footage, old photos, and gentle conversations with her nearest and dearest, Seberg’s pure objectives are apparent. Her sister, high school drama teacher, friends made later in life, and extended family remember Seberg vividly and fondly, and that’s the real meat of the film. The Jean Seberg depicted here was a woman who made decisions based on frank assessment of the trials, tribulations, and advantages of others, who loved with little limitation, and whose self-awareness seemed almost the stuff of legend, especially considering her place in the limelight.

The movie breaks Seberg down into personas (actress, activist, icon) and divides her life as such, but it also maintains a chronology so the end result denotes a growth through her personal roles. It makes for a sharply delineated film that maintains an uncluttered delivery.

A lot of the film is a montage of footage and photos, and the rest is composed of interviews and Seberg quotes which cleverly shepherd the viewer through her life’s roles. The interviews span almost two decades and include everyone from her sister to admirers, but no interview is without momentum. This is a smartly-edited film, ushering us from beginning to end and helping us to draw the only conclusion there really is to draw: that Jean Seberg was a well-loved woman who probably deserved a life a little more well-lived than she got.

In what amounts to a moving and (documentarians, take note!) comprehensive piece with a strong rhythm, Movie Star is an intimate collage. It is stirring, but not schmaltzy, revelatory, but not disrespectful. It is precisely the kind of documentary that results from the truest admiration of the subject."

------------

To add your name to the credits of the award-winning Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg by Emmy-nominated filmmakers Garry McGee, and Kelly & Tammy Rundle and lock in your pre-order of the DVD for when it is released in December, make a contribution of $50 or more before August 1, 2018 by visiting our HOW TO CONTRIBUTE page!  It helps us in our final fundraising efforts AND gets YOU some great perks!

As always, we are VERY grateful for your support!

#jeansebergmoviestar #jeanseberg #actressactivisticon

Keep up on all the news regarding the December release of the award-winning Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg by Garry McGee (McMarr Ltd.) and Kelly Rundle and Tammy Rundle (Fourth Wall Films) on DVD at JeanSebergMovie.com!

Kristen Stewart Says Jean Seberg's French Accent was "Terrible"

Kristen Stewart in "Personal Shopper." (IFC Films publicity still)

 

In a recent article that appeared on the Festival de Cannes website, author Tarik Khaldi asked actress and director Kristen Stewart if she was "French at heart."

 

She replied, "Almost! I’m getting as close as I can. I’m playing Jean Seberg in Benedict Andrews’ Against All Enemies. A lot of the dialogue is in French, although her [Seberg's] accent is terrible."

 

In Seberg's French films, she purposely exaggerated her accent to varying degrees as requested by her directors (eg. Jean-Luc Godard in Breathless and Seberg's husband Romain Gary in Birds in Peru).

 

"Her [Seberg's] accent was deliberate and reflected her intelligence," Diamonds are Brittle director Nicolas Gessner said. "It was with 'tongue in cheek' because it showed her superiority. When she spoke French she spoke it very well--but with an accent. Not quite showing off with it but taking away the criticism. She didn't want people to think 'Oh c'mon. She thinks she's French because she speaks French'. She went ahead of that criticism. Even today, so many years later, I can hear her speaking."

 

When Stewart was asked if she went on a French film binge [Seberg made more than a dozen films in French], Stewart replied: "Not as much as I should have."

 

Jean Seberg in "Birds in Peru" (Universal publicity still).

 

Keep up on all the news regarding the December release of the award-winning Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg by Garry McGee (McMarr Ltd.) and Kelly Rundle and Tammy Rundle (Fourth Wall Films) on DVD at JeanSebergMovie.com!