Taking their own cues in ‘Blue’

Taking the art of improvisation to fresh and exciting levels, “Blue in Green” is one of the most important productions in the American Cinematheque’s Alternative Screen: Independent Film Showcase this year. The contemporary drama probing the ambiguous nature of desire and longing was made by Unica, a local group of actors, writers and filmmakers. It screens tonight.

The idea for the film, inspired by an actual incident, came from Stephanie Young. After group discussions, she, director M. David Melvin and co-cinematographer Kevin K. Shah developed the story, as extensive rehearsals began with a cast of 12. Each character was explored thoroughly beforehand, but the dialogue was entirely improvised.

“Blue in Green” flows so surely and seamlessly that one would not likely suspect any improvisation was involved. Shah, assisted by actress Laura Laurent, edited the film from 55 hours of unscripted footage, which was further revised and refined by “Blue in Green’s” core group. In addition to Melvin, Shah and Laurent, it included the film’s other cinematographer, Zak Forsman; producer Ron Austin; actress Malia Fields; and poet Gabriel Meyer.

“Blue in Green,” which is deftly supported by Tierney Sutton and Christian Jacob’s sophisticated bluesy-jazzy score, opens with Colleen (Elizabeth Logan), a Juno-esque dark-haired woman, preparing for her 35th birthday party in her home in a decidedly upscale L.A. suburb. Arriving early to help out is one of her staunchest friends, Megan (Rebecca Bardsley), who excitedly but also vicariously presses Colleen for details about her new romance with Dan, who is to be introduced at the party.

Next to arrive is Carla (Fields), who is Colleen’s other staunchest friend, dating back to their childhood. On the drive to Colleen’s house, Carla has argued with her husband, Sam (James Michael White), who dislikes Colleen, finding her manipulative. That he has agreed to come at all seems enough to Sam, but Carla presses her luck by leaning on him hard to give an impression he’s having a good time. Also arriving early is the quietly solicitous Olivia (Laurent), who proves to be the film’s pivotal character, the one individual best equipped to look beyond her needs to think consistently of others. In time the seven other guests arrive.

Unica’s approach allows its actors to create complex characters who elicit sometimes contradictory reactions. Bardsley’s Megan, for example, seems overbearing until she reveals her deep but tough-minded concern for Colleen. The lovely Laurent, Logan, Fields and White as well as Bardsley are most impressive. “Blue in Green” is an experiment that works and deserves to find its audience.

Working stiffs

“Beavis and Butt-head” creator Mike Judge made his live-action feature directorial debut in 1999 with the sharp and funny “Office Space,” which works as a white-collar romantic comedy and as a satire of today’s corporate realities. Bristling with shrewd observation, inspired humor and all-around smarts, the film is a winner about a guy who’s beginning to feel like a loser.

Ron Livingston’s Peter Gibbons is an amusingly average young man who is becoming bored to death working as a computer programmer in a vast generic office of an engineering company situated in an industrial park that looks exactly like a zillion others. He lives in a perfectly decent but seemingly immense apartment structure. He is as much “one of the crowd” as was James Murray in King Vidor’s silent classic “The Crowd” more than 70 years ago.

Working with astute production designer Edward T. McAvoy, Judge subtly evokes the creeping, relentless homogenization of modern life. The film captures the piling on of trivial regulations that reflect a steady, mindless insistence on conformity, eroding the workers of their sense of individuality and freedom -- even while insisting that they “express themselves.”

Peter is increasingly dissatisfied with his job but remains essentially timid in the face of his awful boss, played to scene-stealing perfection by Gary Cole as one of those dapper tyrants who rule with a casual, presumptuous drawl. Then his soon-to-be-former girlfriend insists he see a hypnotist, who casts a spell over Peter.

That’s when the fun begins in earnest, and “Office Space” takes flight as a zany adventure, including a romance for Peter with Jennifer Aniston’s pert, levelheaded Joanna, a waitress at a nearby theme restaurant where everyone has to wear buttons to show their “flair.” Indeed, the flier for the Nuart, which will show the film Friday night, advises patrons to “Wear your flair!”

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Screenings

American Cinematheque

“Blue in Green,” 7:30 tonight

Where: Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood

Info: (323) 466-FILM or www.americancinematheque.com

Midnights at the Nuart

“Office Space,” midnight Friday

Where: Nuart Theatre, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd., West L.A.

Info: (310) 281-8223 or www.landmarktheaters.com