Trees Lounge - Behind the Bar

Trees Lounge - Behind the Bar

Em Marinelli

132 pages

6x9 size

ISBN 9798905350573 paperback

ISBN 9798905350580 hardback

“It’s a simple story. It’s just these characters, their behavior and human nature. That’s all I wanted to do.”

              -Steve Buscemi (Creator, Writer, Director, Actor, Trees Lounge)

“Steve was just real life. There was no bullshit or gimmicks or any of that. He created something real and beautiful.”

              -David Chase (Creator, The Sopranos)

In 1996, Steve Buscemi wrote, directed, and starred in one of the most honest, fearless independent films ever made. Shot in just 24 days on a super low budget, “Trees Lounge” became a beloved indie cult classic. I wanted to know how Buscemi did it, so I started asking questions. The result is this oral history. It features all-new interviews with the cast and crew-including Steve Buscemi, Chloë Sevigny, Mark Boone Junior and Carol Kane—telling the story of how “Trees Lounge” came to life and why it continues to resonate with audiences today. So pull up a stool, go behind the bar and hear the stories of how it all happened.

Em Marinelli (they/them) is a genderqueer Virgo, psychotherapist, and professor. They are the author of “Comfort Sequels: The Psychology Of Movie Sequels from the 80s and 90s.” Em’s essays have appeared in Variety Pack, Alan Squire Publishing, Anti-Heroin Chic, Hot Mess Press, and The Blue Rose Magazine. Em enjoys unbelievable amounts of artificial butter on their popcorn.

Follow Em @emsmarinelli