Burzynski, the movie with special special guest

Still recovering from the giant Lost party on Sunday night - thanks to all of you who made it out. We'll have a little more on that another day, but today we're lucky to have a blog q&a with Eric Merola, director of Burzynski, The Movie, showing May 28th - June 3rd, for its North Carolina Premiere!! Can't get enough of what he has to say here? Well then you're in luck. Mr. Merola will be in attendance for the Saturday screenings, and either Friday or Sunday as well (keep checking the website for confirmation - we and Eric think Friday, but it'll be up there as soon as we know for sure).

Tell us your Winston-Salem connection in 140 characters (ie, a tweet)

I was born and raised in Winston-Salem, my parents moved to Winston from upstate in NY a year or two before I was born. I left Winston-Salem in 1997 when I was 26 yrs old to move to NYC

You used to work at the West End Café right?

My uncle, Rob Shay, is part owner of the West End Café as we know it now. But he fully owned the older West End Café that was a few doors down, when it was more of a “diner” sort of feel. I started working there as a short order cook when I was 17, and worked there until I went to college at East Carolina University – coming back to work there in the summers. I worked there on and off I think for over 5 years. The days of the West End Café were quite fun and memorable for me.

When and how did you get into film?

I always loved film. There was no film school in the NC area when I was there, so I studied advertising and painting. Once I moved to NYC I sort of worked my way into it.

So you worked on Capitalism: A Love Story with Michael Moore, did he give you any words of wisdom on documentary filmmaking?

Well, Moore is a huge documentary director, who has huge budgets and a huge team of people working with him. I never actually worked “with” him – it was always his team of producers.

How did you get the idea to make Burzynski?

I have always loved powerful documentary films, ones that go after the hard truths that the media generally doesn’t delve into. Once I found out about him (Burzynski), realized how huge the story was – and realized that nobody had taken it on before, it was a no-brainer for me.

Tell us about the movie, but you can’t use any words that you have previously used to describe it, except “and” and “the.”

It is an exercise in how the monetary system and the need to survive based on profiting off of each other – goes very wrong.

Tell us the coolest thing that has happened to you since you have started promoting Burzynski.

There are so many. I think the fact that the general public, and the mainstream, has welcomed it with open arms – vs. shying away from it, given it’s sensitive and possibly controversial nature. Also, being that even doctors with cancer – after seeing the film - get on a plane to Houston to receive his treatment.

When you left Winston, did you ever think there would be an indy theater where you could come screen your film?

Ha, no. But then again, I suppose like anywhere, it was a matter of time. Winston has a thriving arts community.

Name five things about Winston that you would bottle up and take with you if you could.

The atmosphere and the intimate nature of the old West End Café. My short-lived painting career I had there. My Mom. My Dad. The open and warm support from my friends there, always.

Here's the website (http://www.burzynskimovie.com/) where you can find out more about the movie and the director. Also, check out the preview below and tell me you're not in the least bit intrigued. I know I was. And it didn't disappoint. Hope to see you out at the movies next week (and this week if you'd like, and the week after next, and after that, and after that - ok I'll stop now).