Underground Film Journal

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Not Coming: The Beaver Trilogy

By Mike Everleth ⋅ September 25, 2009

Sept. 26
8:00 p.m.
92Y Tribeca
200 Hudson St.
New York, NY

Hosted by: Not Coming to a Theater Near You

Trent Harris‘ underground classic The Beaver Trilogy tells the same story of a young, eager performer three different ways. Part One is a documentary where TV news cameraman Harris meets “Groovin’ Gary,” an amateur celebrity impersonator from Beaver, UT. Gary invites Harris to come film a local talent show that features himself performing as Olivia Newton-John in front of the entire town.

Groovin Gary dressed as Olivia Newton-John in The Beaver Trilogy

Part Two of the Trilogy is an aborted re-enactment of Harris’ encounters with Gary starring Sean Penn right before the actor was to hit it big in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Part Three is a completed short film entitled The Orkly Kid that is a dramatization of the same events, but this time starring Crispin Glover.

The Beaver Trilogy is a funny and touching portrait of a truly unique character. This is a special opportunity to see an underground masterpiece that’s been kept out of release thanks to Sean Penn’s “big, fat fucking stupid face.”

The Beaver Trilogy (2000), directed by Trent Harris. 83 minutes.