Not often do you get to watch an unreleased studio film, and even less often do you enjoy sitting through an interview with the lead star after the film, so when the San Diego Film Festival, as part of their incredible Summer VIP screening series, invited me to attend, I was excited. The film for July was The End of the Tour, starring one of my favorite actors, Jason Segel, in a very different role, one that he himself says will redefine the types of roles he takes in the future.

The event itself is a very VIP-style mix and mingle before the movie starts, with delicious tray-passed appetizers, everyone in cocktail party attire, with champagne and varietals of wine flowing freely. The Arclight in La Jolla is a superb venue for such an event, with their outdoor patio area, inside seating area, and posh theatre seating. Catching up with old friends, and meeting new ones, the mingling is as enjoyable as can be.

We all trickled into the theatre, found seats, and relaxed with glasses in hand, ready for The End of the Tour to start. The movie, a biographical drama, stars not only Jason Segel, as David Foster Wallace, but also Jesse Eisenberg, playing David Lipsky, the Rolling Stone reporter that never got this interview published in the magazine, but later on wrote a best-selling memoir Although of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself about his poignant, detailed experience shadowing Dave on his 5 day book tour of Infinite Jest. The movie captures the heart and soul of both men, and their intertwined time together. The film was directed by James Ponsoldt, with the screenplay by Pulitzer Prize-winner Donald Marguiles based on Lipsky’s memoir.

After the film, we were treated to a live interview with Jason Segel, who talked about the role, how he and Jesse would work through the scenes together, rehearsing scripted lines and improvising others. He mentioned how the work of David Foster Wallace impacted him personally, how it relates to his other amazing work including Forgetting Sarah Marshall and How I Met Your Mother, and how this poignant role may change the direction of his career. He was asked what he’s been up to since filming ended, and he said he’s been relaxing and not working on anything else, something he hasn’t done in over 10 years, and is now waiting… for the release of the movie, the reviews, and see what comes next.

Similarly, after such a unique and inspiring event, I’ll be eagerly waiting… for more San Diego Film Festival VIP screenings, VIP passes available now, and for the SD Film Festival itself, Sept. 30 – Oct 4th, 2015, get your passes today. I hope to see you there.

–

Rob Marlbrough is a movie fanatic, during the day his Clark Kent day job is WordPress development, and at night he covers and writes reviews of San Diego events, venues, and restaurants on DowntownRob.com, with a team of contributors, as well as on Twitter and Instagram, as @DowntownRob. Follow and say hi.